Michael Sterling stood outside the old stone church. He was wearing his best suit. He adjusted his tie which felt too tight.

Next to him Arthur Milton was brushing crumbs off his jacket.

"Arthur," Michael said. "Please tell me you did not eat the confetti."

"It looked like candy Boss," Arthur admitted. "It was just colored paper. Very dry."

Today was a big day. Danny Fletcher was getting married.

The Prince of Barnsley. The boy who had scored the goals that took them from League One to the Premier League. Today he was scoring the biggest goal of his life.

The doors opened.

Danny Fletcher walked out holding the hand of his bride Emily. They looked perfect. Danny was smiling so wide it looked like it hurt his face.

Behind them came the squad.

It was a sight to behold.

The Barnsley players were trying to look civilized.

Diego Nunez was wearing a tuxedo. But Diego was too big for normal clothes. The jacket was straining across his massive chest. He looked like the Incredible Hulk trying to go to a prom.

Sergio Ramos walked next to him wearing sunglasses even though it was cloudy. He looked like a movie star.

Enzo Silva the Pitbull was crying. He was sobbing loudly.

"It is so beautiful!" Enzo shouted. "The Prince has a Princess!"

"Stop crying Enzo," Jamie Vardy said patting him on the back. "You are getting snot on your expensive suit."

"I cannot stop!" Enzo wailed. "I love love!"

The reception was held at a nearby hotel.

Michael sat at the main table. He watched his team.

Usually he watched them running and sweating. Now he watched them eating and dancing.

Diego Nunez approached the wedding cake. It was five tiers high. It was a masterpiece of sugar and cream.

Diego looked at the cake. He looked at the tiny plastic bride and groom on top.

"Boss," Diego whispered to Michael. "Is the little plastic man edible?"

"No Diego," Michael said quickly. "Do not eat Danny. Even the plastic version."

"Okay," Diego grunted. "I will just eat the bottom floor."

Later on the dance floor chaos erupted.

The DJ played a slow song. Danny and Emily were dancing.

Then the DJ played Despacito.

Sergio Ramos jumped up.

"My song!" Ramos shouted.

He grabbed Diego Nunez.

"Come Bull! We dance!"

Diego and Ramos danced. It was terrifying and amazing. Ramos moved with Latin rhythm. Diego moved like a refrigerator falling down stairs. But they were happy.

The night ended with the tossing of the bouquet.

All the single ladies gathered.

But Enzo Silva did not understand the tradition. He thought it was a corner kick.

The bride threw the flowers.

Enzo jumped. He jumped higher than everyone.

"I GOT IT!" Enzo screamed.

He caught the flowers in mid air. He landed and celebrated like he had scored a goal.

"I won the flowers!" Enzo cheered.

"Enzo," Arthur sighed. "That means you are the next to get married."

Enzo went pale. "Married? But I am married to football!"

THE HANGOVER MATCH

Two days later the mood was very different.

Danny Fletcher was gone. He was on a plane to the Maldives for his honeymoon. He deserved it. But the Premier League schedule did not care about romance.

Barnsley had a match.

They were playing against Crystal Palace at The Fortress.

Michael stood in the dressing room.

The players looked tired. They had danced too much. They had eaten too much cake.

"Okay," Michael said. "Danny is drinking a coconut on a beach. We are here in the rain."

"I hate rain," Isaiah King muttered. "It ruins my hair."

"We have to win without our top scorer," Michael said. "Danny scores forty percent of our goals. Who is going to step up?"

He looked at Jamie Vardy.

"Jamie. You lead the line."

"I am ready Boss," Jamie said. "But my knees feel like they are made of rusty metal."

"Use oil," Michael said. "We need sixty minutes from you. Just sixty."

He looked at the defense.

"Sergio. Diego. Clean sheet. If we cannot score we must not concede."

"The door is locked," Ramos promised. "Nobody enters my house today."

THE MATCH

The game was a grind.

Crystal Palace were tough. They were organized. They knew Barnsley were missing their main weapon.

Minute 20.

Barnsley had possession but no teeth. They passed the ball nicely. Kai Sora was moving it well. But when they got to the box Danny was not there to finish it.

Jamie Vardy tried. He ran the channels. He chased the defenders. But he was isolated.

Minute 40.

Palace had a chance. Eze dribbled past Enzo Silva. He shot.

Jan Visser saved it. The giant Dutchman tipped it over the bar.

"Wake up!" Jan shouted to his defense. "I am busy today!"

HALFTIME

0 to 0.

"It is sticky," Arthur said in the dugout. "Like old toffee."

"We need a spark," Michael said.

He looked at the bench. He saw Leo Stone.

The fifteen year old had played well in Seoul. He had scored against Newcastle.

"Leo," Michael said. "Warm up."

MINUTE 70

The game was still goalless. The fans were getting nervous. They missed Danny Fletcher.

Michael made the change.

OFF: Jamie Vardy

ON: Leo Stone

Jamie walked off. He looked exhausted.

"I ran a marathon Boss," Jamie gasped. "Give me a Red Bull."

Leo ran onto the pitch. He looked tiny next to the Palace defenders.

But size does not matter when you are a ghost.

Minute 80.

Leo received the ball from Ramos.

He turned. He did not pass back. He looked forward.

He saw Erik Olsen making a run.

Leo played a through ball. It was a risky pass. It had to go through three defenders.

It went through them like water through a sieve.

Erik Olsen collected it. The Viking was in on goal.

He did not smash it. He remembered what Danny Fletcher did.

He placed it.

GOAL.

1 to 0.

The stadium roared with relief.

"THE BABY AND THE VIKING!" Arthur shouted. "THEY DID IT!"

Barnsley held on. Ramos and Diego headed every ball away. They celebrated every clearance like a goal.

FULL TIME

Barnsley 1. Crystal Palace 0.

It was not pretty. It was not the beautiful football of the Seoul tour. But it was three points.

THE NEWS

Michael sat in his office after the game. He was drained.

Winning without Danny was huge. It proved they were not a one man team.

Arthur walked in. He was not smiling.

Usually after a win Arthur was happy. He would be eating a celebratory pie.

Today he was holding his phone. His face was white.

"Boss," Arthur said. "Did you see the news?"

"What news? Did Enzo get married?"

"No," Arthur said. "Look at the Manchester City result."

Michael opened his laptop.

MANCHESTER CITY 0 - 3 BOURNEMOUTH

"They lost again," Michael said. "That is three losses in a row. They are in crisis."

"Read the headline below it Boss," Arthur whispered.

Michael scrolled down.

BREAKING NEWS: MANCHESTER CITY SACK MANAGER.

THE CHAMPIONS ARE LEADERLESS.

CLUB STATEMENT: "WE NEED A NEW DIRECTION."

Michael felt a cold shiver.

Manchester City. The richest club in the world. The team that won everything. They had fired their manager.

"They will be looking for someone," Arthur said. his voice trembling. "Someone young. Someone who wins. Someone who builds dynasties."

Michael looked at the phone. It was silent.

But he knew. He knew how the football world worked.

In a boardroom in Manchester wealthy men were looking at a list of names.

And the name Michael Sterling was definitely on that list.

"Arthur," Michael said closing the laptop.

"Yes Boss?"

"If my phone rings tonight do not answer it."

"Why Boss?"

"Because temptation is a dangerous thing," Michael said. "And Manchester City is the biggest temptation of all."

THE CALL

Michael drove home. The rain was falling softly now.

He pulled into the driveway of The Summit. The lights of his mansion were warm and inviting.

Sarah was waiting for him. She looked happy.

"Good win," she said kissing him. "Leo is getting better every week."

"He is," Michael said. "How is the bump?"

"Kicking," Sarah smiled touching her stomach. "I think we have a striker in here. Or maybe a kung fu fighter like Enzo."

They sat down for dinner.

Then it happened.

Michael phone rang.

It was sitting on the table. The screen lit up.

It was not a number he knew. But the area code was 0161.

Manchester.

Michael looked at the phone. Sarah looked at the phone.

"Are you going to answer it?" Sarah asked.

Michael stared at the vibrating screen.

He thought about the new stadium.

He thought about the wedding today.

He thought about Diego eating the cake.

He thought about the tiny shoes in the nursery.

Manchester City could give him the world. They could give him Haaland. They could give him billions.

But could they give him a family?

Michael reached out.

He pressed the red button.

DECLINE.

He turned the phone over.

"No," Michael said. "I am having dinner with my wife."

Sarah smiled. It was a smile that lit up the room.

"Good answer Coach," she said.

Outside the wind howled around the Yorkshire hills.

The biggest shark in the ocean was circling. Manchester City would call again. They always did.

Michael took a bite of his dinner.

"Pass the salt please," he said.

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