League Cup Final

The day after the match, Kenneth's performance against Liverpool received praise from several English football figures.

Roy Hodgson, the current England manager, commented, "I haven't seen a 16-year-old play this well since Rooney."

When asked about Kenneth Lee, Gary Lineker said, "I've watched all his matches for Manchester City's senior team since his debut in December, and I have to say he always makes a positive impact whenever he's played."

Alan Shearer, during a Sky Sports segment, remarked, "It's still early to say, but last year we lost Lampard and Gerrard, and this year, we've found Kenneth Lee."

Praise kept pouring in, but Kenneth no longer paid much attention to it. He expressed his gratitude but preferred to stay focused on the next game.

While Pellegrini might not typically trust young players, he wasn't foolish. Kenneth's performances in every match he played made it clear to him that this was the kind of player who could shine in his early career.

As a result, he asked Kenneth to continue training with the senior team.

On March 1st, Manchester City only had a recovery session after their previous match. Then, on March 2nd, they conducted tactical training, and on March 3rd, they held a light training session and a match preview ahead of their game against Chelsea at Wembley Stadium the next afternoon.

The following day, at noon, Manchester City departed for Wembley.

Sitting on the bus next to coach Ruben Cousillas, Kenneth reviewed his attributes.

Yesterday, he allocated 3 attribute points to agility, balance, and pace.

Several attributes he had focused on recently had already reached their limit.

[Agility: 85]

[Balance: 85]

Both had reached their cap, so Kenneth couldn't add more attribute points to them. Meanwhile, some of his other focused attributes were close to their limit.

[Acceleration: 82]

[Dribble: 83]

[Ball Control: 83]

These three attributes likely had the same cap of 85. Kenneth planned to max out all three before shifting his focus to other attributes.

Pace represents a player's top speed, while acceleration measures how quickly a player reaches their maximum speed. In tight spaces, acceleration matters more, and as a midfielder, Kenneth often plays in such conditions, which is why he always prioritizes upgrading acceleration.

Thus, 75 for pace was actually sufficient for Kenneth.

After maxing out those attributes, Kenneth planned to focus on overall passing. He aimed to increase all his passing attributes to 85. His short passing was already 85, so he would focus on long passing, through balls, and crossing.

Once he achieved these goals, he would become a midfielder with the technical abilities to compete at the top club level.

The Manchester City bus arrived at Wembley. Kenneth and his teammates disembarked and began preparations for the final. Although the League Cup didn't garner the same attention as the FA Cup, it was still a final, so many City fans traveled from Manchester to support their team.

Both Chelsea and Manchester City wanted to win the trophy, but neither fielded their best starting XI due to packed schedules. Both teams were competing in the league and had tough opponents in the Champions League.

Jose Mourinho had a strong record in finals, so Chelsea fans were likely more confident heading into the game.

In this match, Pellegrini fielded Joe Hart; Bacary Sagna, Vincent Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy; Fernando, Yaya Toure, Navas, James Milner; Edin Dzeko, and Aguero.

On the bench were Kenneth Lee, Fernandinho, Frank Lampard, Willy Caballero, Mangala, Kolarov, and David Silva.

Meanwhile, Chelsea employed a 4-2-3-1 formation with the following starting lineup: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Ramires, K. Zouma; Willian, Fabregas, Hazard; and Diego Costa.

The two league matches between Manchester City and Chelsea this season both ended in draws, showing the teams were closely matched.

The early stages of the match reflected this balance.

In just the 3rd minute, Chelsea launched their first attack. Ivanovic surged down the right flank with confidence, delivering a teasing cross toward Diego Costa in the box. Costa poised himself, but Joe Hart, alert and decisive, darted forward to claim the ball securely, quelling the danger.

Chelsea maintained their pressure, probing City's defense for openings. In the 9th minute, Eden Hazard showcased his dazzling skill. Gliding past multiple City players on the left wing, he weaved his way into a dangerous position before slipping a clever pass to Fabregas. The Spaniard attempted to capitalize, but Fernando's persistent pressure disrupted him, forcing a rushed shot that veered wide of the right post.

City had their first significant chance in the 15th minute. Yaya Toure, combining his physical presence with exceptional vision, spotted Sergio Aguero making a run. With precision, Toure threaded a through ball into Aguero's path. The Argentine's intentions were clear, but Chelsea captain John Terry, calm and composed, intervened with a well-timed challenge to halt Aguero's progress before he could test the keeper.

The match's intensity climbed steadily as both teams pushed for an early advantage. In the 22nd minute, Chelsea orchestrated another promising attack. Willian, combining neatly with Ramires in a quick one-two exchange, slipped into City's penalty box. With only Hart to beat, Willian unleashed a low, driven shot, but Joe Hart, once again, proved his worth. Diving sharply, he parried the ball away, preserving the deadlock and earning applause from City's supporters.

Both teams were finding moments of brilliance, but defenses on both ends stood firm, setting the tone for an evenly matched contest.

Manchester City began to build their attack patiently, shifting the ball across the field in search of an opening. Their persistence paid off a few minutes later when Yaya Toure, surveying the field from deep, spotted Jesus Navas in space on the right. With his trademark precision, Toure launched a long, curling pass toward the winger.

Navas controlled the ball expertly with his foot, but his moment of freedom was fleeting as Azpilicueta closed him down with relentless determination. Undeterred, Navas shifted his body and dribbled inward, slipping past Azpilicueta's tight marking. Just as he found a sliver of space, Kurt Zouma stepped in aggressively, pressing him and cutting off his route forward.

Navas, calm under pressure, pivoted and passed the ball back to Aguero, who had dropped deep to provide support. The Argentine, always a step ahead, turned swiftly to evade Ramires, using a deft touch to escape the midfielder's challenge. Spotting Edin Dzeko making a move into the box, Aguero sent a quick pass toward him.

Dzeko leaped to meet the ball, locking horns with Cahill in a fierce aerial duel. The ball ricocheted off their contest, bouncing to the right. James Milner, surging into the penalty area, pounced on the loose ball and lined up a shot. But just as he pulled the trigger, Ivanovic lunged forward, his block sending the ball spinning out of play.

"Come on, lads!" Pellegrini called out from the sideline, his calm demeanor hiding the urgency in his voice. He gestured for his players to stay focused as they prepared for the ensuing corner.

From the corner, City sent players forward, hoping to capitalize on the set piece. However, Chelsea's aerial prowess came to the fore, their defenders rising high to clear the ball decisively. The clearance fell to Fabregas, who immediately looked to spring a counterattack.

Before Fabregas could release the ball, Yaya Toure stormed in, clipping his leg as he tried to intercept the play. Fabregas tumbled to the ground, clutching his shin and writhing in pain.

"Ref!" Mourinho bellowed from the touchline, his arms spread wide in protest. "That's a deliberate foul!"

The referee blew his whistle sharply, halting play. Diego Costa, never one to shy away from confrontation, stormed toward Toure, shoving him in the chest. "What's your problem?" Costa barked, his voice echoing over the buzz of the crowd.

Toure, towering over Costa, clenched his fists and stepped forward, but before he could retaliate, his teammates and Chelsea players rushed in to separate the two. The referee, unfazed by the chaos, calmly reached into his pocket and brandished a yellow card for Toure.

"Keep your head, Yaya," Kompany warned, placing a firm hand on his teammate's shoulder.

Meanwhile, Mourinho smirked from the sideline, turning to his bench. "They're cracking under pressure," he muttered, his voice loud enough for the cameras to pick up.

As the dust settled, Pellegrini quietly adjusted his tie, masking his frustration as he shouted instructions to his players. "Focus! We can't afford lapses like that!"

In the 38th minute, Chelsea's attack ignited with Willian orchestrating the play. Picking up the ball in midfield, he darted toward the penalty area, his every movement purposeful. Spotting Fabregas, he slipped him a sharp pass before sprinting forward. Fabregas, with a flick of his boot, lobbed the ball over City's defense, returning it to Willian in stride.

Willian faced Demichelis near the edge of the box. With a pull-back and a swift turn, he left the defender flat-footed, drawing a collective gasp from the crowd. Now with a clear view, he passed to Diego Costa, who was wrestling to escape Kompany's relentless marking.

Costa, struggling to create space, flicked the ball toward the bottom corner with his outstretched foot. The strike seemed destined for the net, but Joe Hart, once again proving why he was City's last line of defense, threw himself at the ball, deflecting it with a firm hand. The rebound skidded dangerously close to goal before Fernando, calm under pressure, cleared it with a thundering kick upfield.

"Well done, Hart!" Kompany roared, clapping his hands as he regrouped his defense. The City bench erupted in applause, their relief palpable.

The match pressed on, both teams battling for control. Then, in the 45th minute, Chelsea found another chance to break the deadlock. Ivanovic surged forward on the right but was halted abruptly by a late challenge from Clichy. The referee's whistle pierced the air, awarding Chelsea a free kick.

Willian stepped up to take it, the weight of expectation heavy on his shoulders. The Brazilian scanned the box, eyes locking onto Diego Costa as he whipped in a curling cross. Costa leapt to meet it, but Demichelis, with a towering header, sent the ball away from immediate danger.

Yet, fortune favored Chelsea. The clearance dropped directly to Ivanovic, lurking just outside the melee. Without hesitation, the Serbian defender struck the ball cleanly on the half-volley, driving it through a sea of bodies and into the back of the net.

"Goal!" Mourinho exploded with elation on the touchline, pumping his fists in the air. He turned toward the Chelsea fans, gesturing wildly for more noise, his celebrations as theatrical as ever.

On the opposite sideline, Pellegrini exhaled sharply, his expression stoic yet tinged with frustration. He remained seated, arms crossed, his focus already on how to respond in the second half.

But Ruben Cousillas, City's assistant manager, was less composed. He marched toward Mourinho, his face flushed with anger. "Can you tone it down? It's only 45 minutes, and you haven't won yet!" Ruben snapped, his voice cutting through the noise.

Mourinho turned, an exaggerated look of mock confusion on his face. He cupped his hand to his ear and leaned toward Ruben. "What?" he said, his smirk growing wider.

Then, with calculated arrogance, he added, "You're going to lose this trophy and the league this season, loser. You won't win anything this year."

Ruben bristled, his fists clenching at his sides. "Say that again, and—"

Mourinho, unfazed, pointed toward Kenneth on the bench, his voice dripping with condescension. "Hey kid, if you want to be a winner, join Chelsea. Ask Lampard about Chelsea."

Before Ruben could finish his retort, "Shut your mo—", a City staff member quickly pulled him back, diffusing the situation. Mourinho chuckled to himself, turning back to his technical area with a swagger that only further stoked the fire.

The halftime whistle blew moments later, and Manchester City headed into the tunnel trailing 1-0. While Chelsea celebrated their lead, City's bench simmered with determination. For all of Mourinho's antics, the game was far from over.