ILSL (I Love Soccer League)

[GLOBAL ICON]

Hi guys. I'm back. I know I've said this many times in this year only to go out once again without posting something significant. But this time, I plan on hanging around a little longer. What I like about this section is that it never gives up on people. You may fail once but everybody is open to accepting you again with open arms and open hearts. I like being around such people even if it may not be physically. It is what brings me back to this place. And now, I hope I am better than ever.

Why soccer? I had an itch for writing something episodic but booking wrestling shows (or entire feds for that matter) is just too much of a time-sucking parasite. So I selected something less time-consuming, interesting and I plan on making it entertaining for you guys. Soccer is my new-found love (well, umm, it's an ex-flame ready for another relationship) and I felt I could give it my twist and put it up for my best buddies on the humble internet. So with that I present to you:

I Love Soccer League (ILSL)

Here, I will start off with how the real-life soccer pre-season starts - with the changes in management and transfers. I will dish out episodes which will contain 4 parts each (which means 4 stories). You will see clubs vying for the signatures of different players from different clubs in the more early episodes. When I'm done with these transfer sagas, I will move on to the real action - the on-field action. I plan on covering all major leagues like I said in the Lounge thread. BTW, the "major leagues" are the English, Spanish, German, French and Italian leagues and of course the Champions League and Europa League. And if I get enough information (or time for that matter), I would also love to do the MLS from USA. I plan on having my own results, winners and on and off field storylines.

I'll do press conferences, relationships in clubs among players and personal lives. Hopefully, some WAGs too . And you can expect some WWE-esque theatrics in some of the stories I present. After all, I was born on WZ Forums writing for the E, so it's natural that I use some of their style and flair in other projects.

This people, for me, is a way to get back to writing (I hope to make a profession out of it) while still providing entertainment not only for myself but for all of you. Please feed me back on your opinions and support me through this thing.

The preview for the first episode is coming up soon.

 

[GLOBAL ICON]

I Love Soccer League (ILSL)

Episode 1: Preview

Pep Guardiola takes over treble-winning Jupp Heynckes as the manager of FC Bayern Munchen. Follow his debut in a press conference at the Allianz Arena and also the unveiling of new starlet, Mario Gotze.

Sir Alex Ferguson, perhaps the greatest coach of the decade, retires after leading his Manchester United to a 20th Barclays Premier League title. Replacing him is the "Chosen One" David Moyes. Take a sneak-peek at how Moyes will fit in at the club and into the boots of Sir Alex.

Jose Mourinho returns to the Stamford Bridge! The first episode of ILSL will bring to you a video filmed by ChelseaTV.

Florentino Perez is leaving no stone unturned in the search for La Decima (the 10th European crown). Take a close look as he brings back Carlo Ancelotti and French legend Zinedine Zidane to the prestigious club of Real Madrid.


AND MORE!! Don't forget to tune into the first-ever episode of the ILSL for it promises to be exciting and magnetic. You won't find a better place for entertainment football. That is a promise.​

 

[GLOBAL ICON]

I Love Soccer League (ILSL)

Episode 1: "Hot potato-ing the hot seat"

(Part 1)
Mr. Tiki-Taka Himself:

The Allianz Arena in Munich, Bavaria:

The sound of thunderous applause is filled in the Allianz Arena, home of the treble-winning FC Bayern Munchen, as press reporters and fans alike gather for the official unveiling of Mr. Tiki-Taka himself, Josep Guardiola and the promising German youngster Mario Gotze. A panel is set up on a stage with the President Uli Hoeness, CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and sporting director Matthias Sammer occupying places on the panel.

Sammer: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Allianz Arena.

Thunderous applause once again

Sammer: I, Matthias Sammer, welcome all of you on behalf of our President Mister Uli Hoeness, the CEO Mister Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and the entire board. You all know why we have gathered here today – today we officially unveil Josep Guardiola and Mario Gotze to the world in Bayern colors. But before we get to that, please welcome our treble-winning captain, Philipp Lahm.

More applause as Philipp Lahm walks in a “Football is Coming Hoam” t-shirt, jacket and jeans. He sits on the vacant chair next to Sammer.

Reporter 1: Lahm, you won everything last season that you competed for – the Bundesliga, the Pokal, the DFL Supercup and of course, the Champions League. How do you feel?

Lahm: Oh… it feels great. Only a handful teams have won the treble and to be one of those is an awesome achievement. But what adds to the taste is that I have won it friends. The guys have been marvelous on and off the pitch and to have come back from losing the Champions League final a year ago right here in the Allianz Arena, I say my team and me, we have come a long way not only as players, but also as people.

Hoeness: Right. So before we head to the much-anticipated arrival of Mister Josep Guardiola, we have received a message from our ex-coach, Jupp Heynckes which we would like to share with the world.

Hoeness points towards a big screen set up next to the stage where Heynckes’s recorded message is played.

Heynckes: I’m sorry I couldn’t be there live to greet the Bayern fans in the first meet of the 2013-14 season. Firstly, I would like to thank all our fans for supporting me and the players in the whole season. Your unconditional, vocal support helped us gear up for and face tough challenges which ultimately led to the historic treble.

Lahm nods in agreement.

Heynckes: The Bavarian fans helped me and my team reach for our goals and especially after the heartbreak of losing the final in the Allianz Arena, you have exceeded all our expectations. You motivated us and helped us and I am eternally grateful for that.

Some hardcore Heynckes fans applause

Heynckes: I am happy that I, through my team, was able to give back your trust in the form of trophies – the Super Cup, the Bundesliga, the Pokal and the Champions League. This Bayern side has created history and I am honored seeing guys like Lahm, Robben, Ribery and Schweinsteiger rise up and face their failures, beat them and etch their place in history.

Applause for Lahm

Heynckes: I am also thankful to Mister Hoeness and company for keeping faith in my abilities and allowing me to do what I loved, how I loved it and to what extent. I apologize for having to quit this job and I have received negative response from some of the Bayern faithfuls but you people must understand that my health was taking a toll on me and I couldn’t hold on to such a high profile job of managing such a historic team any longer. I am happy to go out on a winning note and my last memories of the job will be of winning the unprecedented treble.

Heynckes gets visibly emotional as he addresses his fans

Heynckes: In the end, I have completed three successful stints with FC Bayern Munchen and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I hope my players, my bosses and my fans did as well.

More applause

Heynckes: One last thing before I say my final goodbye in the Allianz Arena, I hope you people respond well to my successor, Pep Guardiola. He is a man of class, dignity and success and he too, like me, will bring more glory to this club. I hope you, the fans and my players show the same faith and respect to him as you did to me for he is destined for great things here. He will not only lead Bayern to trophies but he will do so in an honorable way. I can say that the board has made the right choice in picking Pep as the next coach because he, with his cool, calm head can manage such a beautiful club with beautiful tactics.

Hoeness seems to agree

Heynckes: And lastly, Thomas Muller, Bastian, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery have all been shortlisted for the UEFA Best Player in Europe award and I hope one of them wins it for they deserve it because they have been an integral part of the best team in Europe this season.

Cheers for the four gems of Bayern

Heynckes: With that, I say goodbye to my friends. We may never meet in person, but all of you have a place in my heart and I hope I have carved out a place of my own in your hearts. Goodbye and thank you for bearing with me. Goodbye.

Heynckes’s teary face fades into a black background and the people focus back on the panel set up on the stage

Sammer: That was pretty emotional indeed. Jupp Heynckes is one of the, if not the, most successful coach in the history of Bayern Munich and that in itself is a great achievement. So, one more round of applause for Jupp, please.

Sammer is obeyed by the people

Rummenigge: And now ladies and gentlemen, it is time to announce the arrival of Jupp Heynckes’s successor – Pep Guardiola!!!

Thunderous clapping ensues as the slick, lean Josep Guardiola walks through the curtains and waves his hands at the people in attendance. Pep shakes hands with his bosses and his captain and then takes his seat next to Rummenigge.

Hoeness: Welcome to FC Bayern, Pep.

Guardiola: Thank you mister Hoeness. I am honored to be here.

Reporter 2: Pep, sir, first off all, I welcome you to the Allianz Arena on behalf of all the fans and my fellow reporters.

Guardiola: Thank you very much.

Reporter 2: My first question to you is: How do you plan on managing this side that has won everything that there is to win under Jupp Heynckes?

Guardiola: Well, I’ll give it to you straight: I won’t be changing Bayern into Barcelona. That is for sure. Bayern, as we all know, is a club with great history and I understand that it has its own prestige and individualism to keep. One or two things will be changed of course and I will like to put in my inputs to a winning formula.

Reporter 3: Will you be able to cope up with the pressures of maintaining such a high winning percentage all the while playing beautiful, attacking football like Bayern does currently?

Guardiola: I did that at Barcelona and that is what prompted the board to sign me, isn’t it?

Pep laughs

Guardiola: Coping up to pressure is one of the major challenges in football and only those who can land up at Bayern Munich. I am here as the official manager so I hope I can live up to the expectations.

FCB.tv reporter: It is being rumored that it is you who insisted on buying Mario Gotze from Borussia Dortmund at a whopping fee of 37 million Euros.

Guardiola: Umm, I did not mention any such thing in my contract clause. Signing Gotze from Dortmund was the board’s decision and I haven’t played a part in it. Though I like to play with attack-minded players like young Gotze, I certainly did not ask for him to be signed. But let me tell you, he will play a key part in my team.

FCB.tv reporter: What will your team exactly be?

Guardiola: Well, I haven’t yet decided on it fully but let’s say it won’t be an exact carbon copy of Jupp’s team. You will come to know of it as the season goes along.

Reporter 3: Jurgen Klopp has said that he is ready to be your Jose Mourinho in Germany. Your thoughts?

Guardiola: Not everybody can be Jose Mourinho. And I don’t want to compete in the same battles all over again. There is a reason why I left Barcelona and that reason is I conquered everything there was for me to conquer, and that includes Mourinho. When I signed up for Bayern, I knew Germany would have different challenges for me, the biggest and most daunting being Jurgen Klopp. So I would like to be himself with Borussia Dortmund instead of trying to be Mourinho at Madrid.

FCB.tv reporter: Do you see Klopp’s Dortmund as the biggest threat to Bayern this season?

Guardiola: Well, yes, certainly. If there is a team that can beat Bayern, it has to be Borussia. We will be careful of them for they will be our toughest challenge not only in Germany but also in Europe. Not that I consider the other teams lesser but Borussia has had many upsets against us in the past two years or so, so I wouldn’t be taking any chances against them.

Reporter 4: What will your objectives be for the 2013-14 season?

Guardiola: Trophies. Plain and simple. I can deliver trophies and that is the reason why the board has selected me to replace Jupp Heynckes as the manager. My first and foremost aim is to build my squad as players and as people but trophies will be taking second place to none. I want to win everything that I can and that includes not only the treble but also the German Super Cup, the European Super Cup against Chelsea and the Club World Cup.

Reporter 4: The UEFA Super Cup against Chelsea will pit old foes against each other again. Are you looking forward to meeting Mourinho again?

Guardiola: I am not here to answer questions about Mourinho. There is a time and place for that. Next question please.

FCB.tv reporter: Will you be adding on some talent into the squad.

Guardiola: I have certain names in my head, though I haven’t made a list yet. We’ll see how the pre-season games go and I will be making changes along the way. So you should keep your eyes and years open.

Pep takes a sip from a bottle of water placed in front of him and Sammer takes it from there

Sammer: Now, if the Q&A session with Pep is done, I would like to call on Bayern’s latest acquisition, Mario Gotze.

Mixed reactions erupt as Mario Gotze walks into the room in a red t-shirt and jeans with his trademark hairstyle. He too shakes hands with the men on the panel and takes his seat next to his new captain.

Sammer: Mario, welcome to FC Bayern Munchen.

Gotze: Thank you sir.

Lahm: Before we proceed, I would like to request all the fans of FC Bayern to welcome Mario as one of our own for he is indeed one of our own. Mario is a great young talent and he will only improve with the opportunities he has at Bayern and your support will help him go further in his career. He can be a future Ballon d’Or winner and I hope all you people will support him through this phase of his career. He is destined for greatness here. I know it’s going to be a little difficult to adjust considering where has been previously but I know over the course of time, he will forge an unbreakable bond with not only his teammates but also the fans.

Mario Gotze acknowledges Lahm’s request

Reporter 2: Mario, are you looking forward to new challenges here?

Gotze: Yes of course. There is an amazing coach to work with, amazing teammates not only from Germany but from the world and a very supportive captain in Philipp. There are more trophies to win and I look to playing on a regular basis and I most certainly welcome the challenge of trying to keep my place in the first team alongside some world-class players.

Reporter 3: Arjen Robben currently holds the position in which you have played your entire career. Will you enjoy working with him?

Gotze: Why not? We’ve met many times before and he is a great player. I know he has many things to teach me and I am more than ready to learn those things for Arjen has much knowledge about the game. As to playing in his position, it will be tough because he has trademarked that position at Bayern and is playing in the best form of his life but I am ready to challenge for it. And with a new coach, who knows? I may be playing in a different position altogether.

Reporter 1: Umm, Mario, we saw you celebrating from the stands when Ilkay Gundogan leveled the scores for Dortmund in the Champions League final.

Gotze: I was a Dortmund player back then. Now I am a Bayern player and I will direct all my loyalties towards this club. There is absolutely no doubt about that.

Another reporter gears up for another question but Sammer stops him

Sammer: That’s it. No more questions please. We would now like to hand Gotze his jersey and I would request Mister Hoeness and Pep to do the honors.

All the men get up from the panel. Sammer receives the jersey from his staff and he hands it to Hoeness. Pep and Hoeness then hand the jersey over to Gotze who looks more than happy receiving the no. “19”. They shake hands and Mario hugs Philipp. All the men pose for photographs following which Sammer, Hoeness and Rummenigge leave. Lahm, Gotze and Guardiola stay back to sign autographs.

(Part 2)
David Moyes – the right choice?:

Sir Alex Ferguson is an enigma. The longest reigning manager of a club in the history of football, Sir Alex won more trophies for United than Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City won in their entire history, combined. With 13 trophies in 25-odd years, Sir Alex has truly defined success. Being at the top of a club for such a long time successfully is not an easy job. And Sir Alex has done with a style only he can do. The daunting figure of a chubby old man exercising his jaws with chewing gum still haunts many managers who tried to upstage him and failed, miserably. He has given Manchester United the name, the fame and the status of the most recognized club in the world; from the stands of Old Trafford to the slums of Africa. Man United is a phenomenon in itself, and Sir Alex Ferguson is the reason why.

Alas, he will no longer be a part of the Red Devils on the field. At the end of another successful season, “Fergie” as he is fondly called, decided to hang up his giant sized boots as manager of M.U. But it is not just a man walking off into the sunset with his head held high. When Ferguson leaves, he takes with him the history, the success, that lasting effect and a hand raised to protect and bless the club. Not only will we be deprived of seeing the fur coat-covered, gum chewing enigma in the dugout, we will also be missing the one-to-one with the refs, the soft touch given to the United boys and the infamous “Fergie time”.

Sir Alex has indeed left big boots to fill. He is after all a treble-winning coach. He has the experience of managing greats like David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Roy Keane, Rood van Nistelrooy, Nemanja Vidic and young, exciting players like Wayne Rooney, David de Gea, Carlos Tevez and of course, Cristiano Ronaldo. He is the most respected manager in the world and a role-model for many other successful ones. But, unfortunately, he is leaving behind his legacy. He will no more be in charge at Manchester United FC. He will indeed hang up his boots. And there is one man who is going to take over: David Moyes.

David Moyes, the former Everton manager, was handpicked by Sir Alex to succeed him at the famous club. However, some people might question Ferguson’s decision. Moyes has served at Everton for a dozen years. But he hasn’t won a single trophy during that time. No EPLs, No F.A. Cups, and certainly no Champions Leagues. And at United, especially after the two and half decades of Ferguson, Moyes has to succeed. He has to deliver those trophies. And he has to deliver them with a sucker punch. Granted he has a better squad at his new club than he did at his old one, Moyes is still inexperienced at the highest levels. After all, Everton doesn’t compete with the likes of Chelsea, Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool for the trophy. Nor does Everton have to face up to European giants like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and AC Milan. With zero experience and tons of expectations, David Moyes has a humungous task staring him in the face.

Not just on field, but off field too, Moyes will have to learn the United-way of conducting himself. You’re allowed to say only as much as is asked and emotions have to be kept at home. Ferguson mastered this during his term and it has a greater importance in the post-Ferguson era. How Moyes walks and talks will be scrutinized not only by the critics but also his bosses. And he has to believe in his players on-camera even if he doesn’t off it. A man of his age, people would have expected Moyes to know this, but apparently he doesn’t. Here’s what he had to say when a reporter asked him how he was going to fit in two world-class players in Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie into his team:

“Wayne isn’t a world-class player. He is a replacement at best. I do not have to worry about putting both of them in my first team because Wayne will clearly play second-fiddle to RvP. He will be a substitute; a bench-warmer.”

If all those pressures of being in his spot weren’t enough, Moyes has now come under the scanner for these hideous remarks made towards his own spotting, Wayne Rooney. He must clearly be frustrated for Rooney chose to leave Everton for United when he was the manager for the former. The higher authorities at Old Trafford are clearly and rightly not impressed and they are scheduled to have a meeting with him later in the week.

Moyes now has a higher mountain to climb than he already did. Now, he has to win back the hearts of disgruntled fans. He has to win back the confidence of his bosses. And he has to win back the trust of his players.

Vidic: Horrific. Whatever Moyes said was horrific. I did not expect this from a full-grown adult. Let alone a football manager at such a level.

Scholes: Sir Alex never did this to his players, how much ever he hated them. Well, he didn’t hate too many players, which is why he is the most respected manager ever. Sir Alex chose to sharpen players who didn’t have his full trust. Moyes chose to launch a verbal attack on a player he put on the map. That shows the difference in characters.

Giggs: I am absolutely stunned and disappointed.

van Persie: There are no hard feelings between me and Roo. We do whatever we have to do and whatever is best for the team. I scored more goals last season but Rooney has been here for, like, ever and I can never put him beneath me. He is a player I like to be along with and I like to learn from him. Whatever Moyes said were his thoughts and I do not, DO NOT, support those comments. Roo is a friend and will forever be a greater player.

What happens in the meeting with bosses remains to be seen. But there sure will be consequences. The only thing Moyes will be thankful for is the presence of Sir Alex Ferguson in the board room. He may be daunting for his opponents, but he sure has a soothing, blessing cover for his one of his own. And Moyes, we hope, is one of his own.



(Part III)
The Happy One comes home:

Video:

A plain, pitch black screen as the video starts playing. Faint drum beats can be heard in the background. A dim light flashes on the screen and slowly makes way for the face of Roman Abramovich, the owner of Chelsea Football Club. A smiling Abramovich then gives way to the Chelsea FC logo. We cut to a dark room with just a spotlight showing two men seated on chairs next to each other. The two men look upwards and they are revealed as the captain and vice-captain of the London club, John Terry and Frank Lampard, respectively.

Terry: 2012-13, a season of success. Manchester United won their 20th Barclays Premier League championship and their 13th under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Lampard: Manchester United and their local rivals Manchester City dominated the league. And on the European stage? Bayern Munich destroyed everything that came in their path. And they won the UEFA Champions League. Congratulations.

*The two applaud sarcastically*

Terry: And what happens to the team that Bayern a season ago for the title in their own backyard? What happens to the club that has won the most championships in England in a decade? What happens to Chelsea who also won a major trophy last season – the UEFA Europa League?

*Lampard nods his head in apparent disgust*

Terry: Chelsea is considered and rendered an outcast; an afterthought. And that, my little friends, is injustice.

Lampard: We do not tolerate injustice!!

*Lampard smashes his fist into his thigh*

Terry: What have our young talents – Hazard, Mata, Oscar, Ramires and Lukaku – done to be considered lesser than a Messi, a Ronaldo and a Ribery? Nothing!

Lampard: But those days are past us. Those days when the Blues were considered weak are behind us. Now, the 2013-14 season brings a new dawn; a new beginning. Now comes the time when Chelsea will be placed where it truly belongs – in the big leagues among the big clubs.

Terry: And it will only be a matter of time before Chelsea will become the biggest club ever… EVER.

Lampard: The 2013-14 season brings hope, success and justice back to the Stamford Bridge. The 2013-14 season brings a coach that will ensure the riches are Chelsea’s.

Terry: Yes, people. The wait is finally over. The days of Chelsea sitting in the rafters are finally over. Now, Chelsea will shine in the spotlight. For now we have a manager that inflicts success upon us and pain upon others. He is one of us.

Lampard: He is the “Special One”; the Lord of the football world. He has won a Champions League with Porto, a treble with Inter Milan and a league championship in Spain with Real Madrid. But, most important of all, he has guided our very own club to two Premier Leagues.

*Terry raises two of his fingers*

Lampard: And now is his second coming. He will be coming to save us from the injustice and misery the world has put us through. He returns for us, he returns for our fans, he returns for Mister Abramovich, he returns for himself and he returns for trophies. And mark my words, he will win trophies. He will guide this empire to its highest point of glory.

Terry: He is a true leader. He is a man of vision. He is a man of character; a man of trophies. Success begs for him to grace it, records plead for him to break them. He knows Chelsea like the back of his hand and his mere presence will instill the qualities of superstars, of champions in me and my fellow Blues. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, he is “The Happy One”… and he’s coming HOME!

*The tunes of “I’m Coming Home” plays as some highlights of “The Happy One’s” previous stint with Chelsea are shown*

The song is cut mid-way and an eerie screech follows. The screen returns to black for a moment before a spotlight is switched on. Into focus walks a man in leather shoes, and a chic suit. “Kashmir” from Led Zeppelin stings in as the spotlight shows the man’s face. He is Jose Mourinho himself.

Mourinho: My life, my career is regarded by many as a fairytale. Right from the days of being an assistant at Barcelona to leading Real Madrid past the Catalans, people believe I’ve come a full circle.

*Shots of Mourinho in his managerial role at both Barca and Madrid are shown*

Mourinho: The Champions League with Porto (Shots of Mourinho running on the Old Trafford touchline), the treble with Inter (Shots of Mourinho lifting the CL trophy), the double-whammy with Chelsea (Mourinho poses with his team during the trophy presentation)… they believe everything is a fairytale.

*Mourinho nods his head in disagreement*

Mourinho: But unfortunately, I do not believe in fairytales. No, I don’t. Whatever has happened to me in the fifty years that I have lived, whatever has happened to me in my career is thanks to me. Not some higher force I haven’t seen yet.

*The Chelsea boss plays it arrogant*

Mourinho: I have toiled day and night for achieving what I have. So my life cannot be a fairytale. It has no fairies. It has nothing but a demon. I am that demon.

*He moves his hand through his salt-n-pepper hair*

Mourinho: These records, these trophies that I have in my cabinet, these memories that flood my mind like it was yesterday, all these things are proof that I am the best in the world at what I do. And nobody is even close. Not Alex Ferguson, not Pep Guardiola, not Kenny Dalgish. I am the best in the world. I am the “Special One”.

*Mourinho points towards himself in some flair*

Mourinho: But the world, huh? It doesn’t seem to agree. It doesn’t render me as the best manager in the world. You know why? Only because I’m not a fairy who has that cheesy smile and waves her wand at small children. Because I am a man of reality. It is because I do not share hugs and kisses; it is because I talk truth even if it is bitter.

*Mourinho seems to be angry at such people*

Mourinho: And these people include fans of clubs to which I gave a new name, a new status. Why? Just because I moved on? Ridiculous. See, just like this great club, I too am a victim of injustice. I too am a victim of being put through misery. But that is the reason I decided to come back where I belong.

*Mourinho moves his hands over a big Chelsea logo painted on a wall of the room*

Mourinho: That is the reason I came back to Chelsea. Together, we will wipe out the injustice. Together, we will create a new space for ourselves. Together, we will be the best in the world. And when we’re done, we will no more be outcasts and afterthoughts; we will be the most sought after duo in the world – me and Chelsea – the Kings. We will rule this football kingdom.

*Applause can be heard in the background*

Mourinho: I have returned home for a purpose. I will fulfill that purpose. I will not let you down. I will be responsible for Chelsea standing up for what’s right. We will represent what’s right. We will represent justice. I promise that I will win trophies but more importantly, I will win back the faith, honor and respect that Chelsea commands. I am the “Special One” and I will do something special; something that you’ll be proud of. Something that will make us the best… in the world!

*Chants of “Long live Chelsea! Long live Mourinho!” echo in the room as Jose lets out his first smile on screen*

The camera zooms in on Mourinho’s face, zooms in on his black eyes and then… darkness*

[End of video]

(Part IV)
The Power of Money:

1) Florentino Perez has indeed done everything in his power to end the ever-lasting chase for La Decima. And this season, he has brought in a former Champions League winning manager Carlo Ancelloti to replace the pompous, troublesome Jose Mourinho. Many would say he’s got a great deal and why shouldn’t they? Ancelloti can do everything Mourinho can do and sometimes do it better and he does it with a cool head. Supporting Ancelloti will be the former Real Madrid player and French legend Zinedine Zidane. If two big money signings for the coaching staff wasn’t enough, Perez has launched bids for Isco from Malaga, Illaramendi from Real Sociedad and Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspur.

2) Napoli have acquired the services of ex-Liverpool and Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez. The Spaniard will be looking to capture the Serie A with the Naples side, a title which eluded them by just 5 points when Juventus beat them last season. Benitez brings with him one of the earliest signings of the transfer window: Pepe Reina from his former club Liverpool FC. Pepe Reina is said to have a great relationship with Benitez but he isn’t too happy with how Liverpool have gone about in Napoli’s bid to acquire him.

Reina: Of course I am happy to be with Rafa. Napoli is a great club and it can surely win the Serie A this season. Rafa will add that extra something the club was missing last season and I can feel the trophy in my hands already. And of course, I am excited to play Champions League football. (When asked about leaving Liverpool): I am not happy. The guys there didn’t even try to hold onto me for a bit longer. (The guys at) Liverpool have disappointed me.

3) Also, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City have landed new bosses. Ancelloti, who led PSG to their first Ligue 1 title in many years was snatched away by Real Madrid. The Qatari bosses of the French capital have managed to replace the Italian with one of France’s greatest players, Laurent Blanc. The former France national team manager will have to handle the pressure of managing so many superstars in Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ezequiel Lavezzi and the prospect of increasing the resources if PSG manage to secure the services of their long-time dream signing Edinson Cavani from Napoli.

Manchester City have gotten rid of Roberto Mancini. The Italian couldn’t do anything substantial in England and Europe last season and he has been replaced by over-achieving Manuel Pellegrini. The former Malaga boss will take charge at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester without the services of Carlos Tevez who was picked up by Juventus in another early signing. However, with a squad as deep as City’s, and surely more to come, Pellegrini will be expected to lead City to multiple successes. After all, he almost led a depleted Malaga squad into the semi-finals of the Champions League last season.​

Transfers:

• Mario Gotze [Borussia Dortmund (GER) to Bayern Munich (GER)]
• Pepe Reina [Liverpool (ENG) to Napoli (ITA)]
• Carlos Tevez [Manchester City (ENG) to Juventus (ITA)]

That's it ladies and gentlemen. This was the first episode of the ILSL. Tune into the second episode (which is coming very soon) for more details and stories on the new coaches and new signings. Good bye folks.