Chapter Summaries

Cantona resolved to support Manchester United from the stands until his suspension ended, while Dejan Lu and his teammates prepared in Vienna for the Champions League final against AC Milan. As the final approached, Dejan Lu drew a Johan Neeskens single-match experience card before the match began.

• Cantona decided to attend Manchester United's upcoming matches and cheer for his teammates, planning to return as a champion after his suspension.
• Dejan Lu and Redondo sketched a Pokémon flashback, and Manchester United's players recorded a team song before finishing their league campaign.
• Manchester United traveled to Vienna, where the players settled into their hotel and prepared under heavy media attention for the final against AC Milan.
• Dejan Lu and Ferguson attended a press conference with Capello and Baresi, where they discussed the match, Paolo Maldini, and Dejan Lu's personal life.
• Before the final, Dejan Lu drew a Johan Neeskens Single-Match Experience Card from the 1978 World Cup final.

Manchester United faced reigning Champions Cup holders AC Milan in Vienna, where Dejan Lu gave United the lead with a spectacular solo goal. Milan restarted play and pressed forward, while Paolo Maldini tricked Dejan Lu and drove past him.

• Dejan Lu and Paolo Maldini exchanged greetings before the two teams entered the packed stadium for the final.
• Manchester United and AC Milan lined up in their starting formations, and the match began with Milan building attacks through Albertini.
• Dejan Lu pressed Milan’s midfield, helped defend a set piece, then beat Desailly and Donadoni with turns before combining with Scholes and scoring a long-range goal.
• Maldini encouraged Desailly after Dejan Lu’s goal, and Milan restarted play with Van Basten and Simone organizing an attack.
• Dejan Lu asked Maldini to join Manchester United, and Maldini answered yes before knocking the ball forward and sprinting past him.

Manchester United fell behind AC Milan 1–4 by halftime after David Beckham was sent off and Marco van Basten scored a hat trick. Dejan Lu insisted Manchester United could still win, and both teams prepared for a tense second half.

• Paolo Maldini assisted Marco van Basten to equalize, but Dejan Lu immediately tested Maldini with a dribble and won a dangerous corner.
• David Beckham was sent off for retaliating against Boban, and Dejan Lu and Ferguson tried to reassure him as Manchester United continued with ten players.
• Van Basten scored again to put AC Milan ahead, then completed his hat trick on a counterattack after Rossi stopped Scholes’s attempt.
• Albertini scored just before halftime to give AC Milan a 4–1 lead, while Dejan Lu told Schmeichel and Maldini that the match was not over and warned Maldini not to pop the champagne.
• Ferguson planned to bring on Ince and use three holding midfielders to contain Van Basten, while Capello warned AC Milan not to relax against Dejan Lu.

Manchester United came back from 1–4 down to defeat AC Milan 5–4 in the Champions League final, with Dejan Lu driving the rally. After the match, Dejan Lu urged Paolo Maldini to keep going despite Milan’s crushing defeat.

• Paolo Maldini secretly opened champagne at halftime, while Manchester United began the second half with a 4–2 deficit and one fewer player.
• Dejan Lu set up Brian McClair’s goal, then scored a long-range lob to bring Manchester United within one goal of AC Milan.
• Manchester United equalized in stoppage time when Redondo turned a corner scramble into a goal.
• Dejan Lu created another corner, and Gary Neville scored from Andy Cole’s header to give Manchester United a 5–4 victory.
• Ferguson, Beckham, and Manchester United’s players celebrated winning the Champions League, while Dejan Lu encouraged the devastated Paolo Maldini to keep going.

Manchester United celebrated their dramatic Champions Cup victory over AC Milan, then returned to England to prepare for the FA Cup final against Everton. As the team traveled to Wembley seeking an unprecedented treble, Dejan Lu drew a single-match experience card for Wayne Rooney.

• Dejan Lu encouraged Paolo Maldini and Van Basten after Manchester United defeated AC Milan, while the Milan players accepted their medals and left the pitch.
• Steve Bruce and Bryan Robson lifted the Champions Cup as Manchester United celebrated; Dejan Lu joked with Johansson, and Sharpe embarrassed Ferguson by advertising for a girlfriend on camera.
• At the press conference, Ferguson defended his substitutions and Beckham, while Dejan Lu credited his teammates and rejected claims that he could win matches alone.
• After the team returned to Manchester, reports praised the final and said Matthäus might join a London club; Dejan Lu anticipated another season of Premier League clashes.
• Manchester United traveled to Wembley for the FA Cup final against Everton, with Ferguson warning the players that Dejan Lu would not start.
• Dejan Lu drew a lottery card granting him Wayne Rooney's single-match experience from Everton's 2002–2003 match against Arsenal.

Manchester United celebrated winning the treble, and Dejan Lu agreed to film a wilderness survival program with several football stars. After catching fish and sharing food in the Varese Mountains, Dejan Lu’s group went looking for Gary Neville and Totti and realized they had lost their way.

• Scholes scored a late long-range goal to win the FA Cup final, and Manchester United celebrated completing the treble with Dejan Lu on the bench.
• Dejan Lu attended the championship parade at Old Trafford and thanked the fans, while Ferguson praised him and the team.
• Monica arranged new endorsements and a Sky Sports hiking program, so Dejan Lu assembled a group of teammates and football stars for a three-day mountain trip.
• Dejan Lu, Baggio, Totti, Beckham, Gary Neville, Redondo, and the Schmeichels began filming in the Varese Mountains and caught fish for dinner.
• Gary Neville and Totti wandered off, got lost, and were found still arguing; Baggio realized the group had lost its way too.

Dejan Lu and the other players survived a difficult wilderness shoot before returning to Manchester, where Arsenal’s major signings made them a looming rival. After Manchester United lost their season opener, Dejan started against West Ham and opened the scoring with a powerful free kick.

• Dejan Lu led the group to a ranger’s cabin, warned Totti about poisonous oleander, and helped them find wild fruit before they followed the lake back to the resort.
• Dejan Lu discussed Figo’s transfer rumors with Redondo and told reporters that Matthäus joining Arsenal would affect Manchester United.
• Manchester United returned from the summer break, lost 3–2 to Villa, and Ferguson announced that Dejan would start the next match.
• Dejan Lu drew a Frank Lampard single-match experience card and spotted the young Lampard in West Ham’s matchday squad.
• Dejan Lu began Manchester United’s match against West Ham and scored with a powerful free kick that burst the ball’s inner bladder.

Manchester United thrashed West Ham, and Dejan Lu scored an early goal before being substituted, while the newspapers discussed Arsenal’s ambitions. At Wembley for the Charity Shield against Blackburn, Dejan Lu scored a spectacular solo goal, but Blackburn quickly equalized, leaving Ferguson blaming Lee Sharpe for the defensive lapse.

• Ferguson substituted Dejan Lu for Giggs after Manchester United went 2–0 ahead against West Ham, and the team eventually won 5–0.
• Newspapers reported Redknapp’s praise of Lampard and Arsenal’s confidence after signing Bergkamp, Lothar Matthäus, and Petit.
• Manchester United defeated Wimbledon and Everton before Cantona returned to the squad for the Charity Shield against Blackburn.
• Dejan Lu drew a Jesse Lingard single-match experience card before Manchester United faced Blackburn at Wembley.
• Dejan Lu dribbled past Blackburn’s defenders and chipped Flowers to score an early solo goal.
• Shearer equalized for Blackburn, and Ferguson blamed Lee Sharpe for leaving too much space during the attack.

Manchester United beat Blackburn 5–1 in the Charity Shield, with Dejan Lu scoring a hat-trick before Ferguson substituted him. After the celebrations, Little Schmeichel ran away from home and arrived at Dejan Lu’s house, where he explained that his father had found his essay praising Lee Sharpe.

• Shearer gave Blackburn an early lead, but Dejan Lu scored to put Manchester United back in front and later completed a hat-trick as the team won 5–1.
• Ferguson substituted Dejan Lu, and Manchester United celebrated winning the Charity Shield at Wembley.
• Dejan Lu returned home and watched the first episode of the Sky Sports program with The Princess before a long call with Cantona interrupted them.
• Little Schmeichel arrived at Dejan Lu’s house with a backpack, asking to stay after running away from home.
• Little Schmeichel explained that Peter Schmeichel had found his essay, titled “My Idol, Lee Sharpe.”

Dejan Lu comforted Peter Schmeichel as he learned that his father, Anthony, had been a Danish-Polish double agent, then helped Manchester United continue a strong run of wins. In the North-West Derby against Liverpool, Dejan Lu broke through their defense and scored the opening goal, leaving McManaman angry after losing their duel.

• The Princess persuaded Kasper Schmeichel to stay the night, gave him pocket money, and fell asleep beside Dejan Lu.
• Peter Schmeichel told Dejan Lu that his father, Anthony, had been exposed as a spy and forced to work as a double agent for Denmark and Poland; Kasper later joked that he might have many uncles.
• Dejan Lu scored five goals against Spartak Moscow and later added a hat-trick against Bolton, while Manchester United's reserves lost 3-0 to York City and Ferguson criticized the team.
• Manchester United beat Rosenborg 5-0, and Dejan Lu drew a Fernando Torres single-match experience card before the North-West Derby against Liverpool.
• McManaman tried to beat Dejan Lu early in the match, but Dejan Lu surged forward, evaded Liverpool's defenders, and scored past David James.
• McManaman glared at Dejan Lu after the goal, angry that Dejan Lu had turned their one-on-one contest into a run through Liverpool's whole defense.

Dejan Lu scored twice in Manchester United’s 3-1 first-half lead over Liverpool, overwhelming their defense with his speed and dribbling. Liverpool pulled one back through Fowler, but Dejan’s solo run restored United’s advantage before halftime.

• Dejan Lu burst past Liverpool’s defenders and scored, then celebrated with his teammates as Manchester United took the lead.
• Fowler scored for Liverpool after Redknapp’s pass sent him into the penalty area, reducing the deficit.
• Schmeichel angrily berated Manchester United’s defense for allowing Fowler’s goal.
• Dejan Lu beat McManaman and Redknapp, drove forward from his own half, and scored again to make it 3-1.
• The first half ended with Liverpool retreating to the tunnel, while Giggs learned he would likely come on after the break.
• In the dressing room, Neville teased Beckham about his phone, and Dejan Lu returned it while joking with the team.

Manchester United crushed Liverpool 6–1 as Dejan Lu scored five goals, then advanced past York City despite the congested schedule. Ferguson blamed the Professor for opposing a fixture change, setting off a public feud, while Dejan Lu later received a costly watch from McClair and drew a Gianfranco Zola experience card before Manchester United’s match against Chelsea.

• Dejan Lu scored his fifth goal against Liverpool, breaking the North-West Derby record, and left the pitch to rest as Manchester United went on to win 6–1.
• Dejan Lu returned home, read the Professor’s criticism of Ferguson’s request to reschedule matches, and heard that the managers’ feud was likely to intensify.
• McClair invited Dejan Lu and Redondo to an arcade, lost a game to Dejan Lu, and gave him a £340,000 watch.
• Dejan Lu came on against York City and recorded a goal and an assist, helping Manchester United advance 4–3 on aggregate.
• Ferguson accused the Professor of jealousy at a press conference, and the two managers began trading public barbs.
• Manchester United traveled to face Chelsea, and Dejan Lu drew a 1997 international friendly experience card featuring Gianfranco Zola.

Manchester United took an early lead against Chelsea when Eric Cantona finished a move created by Dejan Lu’s skillful dribbling. Dejan Lu then deliberately missed a penalty he believed had been wrongly awarded, earning applause from Chelsea and leaving both teams to resume play with the score unchanged.

• During warm-ups, Gullit and Eddie Newton discussed Dejan Lu’s courage and reputation, while Mark Hughes resolved to prove himself against his former club.
• Chelsea began with patient possession through Gullit, but Manchester United pressed and gradually took control of the ball.
• Dejan Lu dribbled past several Chelsea defenders and drew Frank Sinclair away before passing to Cantona, who scored to put Manchester United ahead.
• After play restarted, Dejan Lu beat Gullit and won a penalty when he fell in the box, and Andy Myers received a yellow card for protesting the referee’s decision.
• Dejan Lu deliberately sent the penalty wide, and the players and supporters applauded his refusal to benefit from what he considered a wrong call.
• Harin restarted play, and Chelsea cautiously built possession in their own half rather than launching a quick attack.

Manchester United beat Chelsea 2–1 despite Scholes’s red card, then won their next two matches before preparing to face Arsenal. Ferguson and the Professor traded barbs at a packed press conference, where Dejan Lu joked about his importance to the team and ended the questioning; the chapter left him about to offer the Professor a Monica’s Hamburgers membership card.

• Scholes was sent off for a dangerous tackle, but Manchester United kept their first-half lead and Dejan Lu scored a free kick before Gullit’s late goal left the score 2–1.
• Dejan Lu and Redondo bought a magazine and a lottery ticket after the match, and Dejan Lu later read newspaper coverage of the victory and the growing rivalry with Arsenal.
• Manchester United beat Middlesbrough 2–0 and Rosenborg 3–0, then traveled to Highbury to face Arsenal in a crucial league match.
• Ferguson and the Professor argued over Manchester United’s strength and Arsenal’s attention to their rivals during the pre-match press conference.
• Dejan Lu said Manchester United depended on all eleven players, ended the press conference, and drew a Mark Overmars Single-Match Experience Card.
• Dejan Lu encountered the Professor before warm-ups and asked whether he wanted a membership card for Monica’s Hamburgers.

Dejan Lu and Lothar Matthäus faced off as Manchester United visited Arsenal, with Matthäus scoring first and Dejan Lu answering with a spectacular equalizer. The chapter ended with Dejan Lu’s shot flying past David Seaman into the bottom corner.

• The Professor joked with Dejan Lu before Steve Bruce gave him the captain’s armband, and Dejan Lu accepted Matthäus’s challenge to play the full ninety minutes.
• During the opening exchanges, Dejan Lu matched Matthäus’s pace, while the two sides’ players repeatedly clashed and Keane received a yellow card.
• Matthäus struck a powerful long-range shot to put Arsenal ahead, drawing cheers from the Highbury crowd.
• After Schmeichel launched a quick throw to Dejan Lu, Dejan Lu raced past Arsenal’s defenders, forced a save from Seaman, and scored from the rebound.

Manchester United and Arsenal traded goals as Dejan Lu repeatedly broke through Arsenal’s defense, while Lothar Matthäus struggled to contain him. Dejan Lu put Manchester United ahead again with a second-half goal, then beat several defenders and shot toward the far corner.

• Dejan Lu scored from a rebound to bring Manchester United level, and Matthäus moved into a deeper role to help mark him.
• Arsenal created chances through Matthäus, Petit, Bergkamp, and Wright, while Dixon fouled Dejan Lu and sparked a clash between the teams.
• Dejan Lu led a long attack that ended with Keane’s tame shot, and Ferguson brought Giggs on for Butt at halftime to strengthen the wings.
• Irwin sent Dejan Lu a long pass, and Dejan Lu controlled it in the box before scoring to put Manchester United ahead.
• Dejan Lu beat Platt, Dixon, and Petit before cutting inside and shooting past Seaman toward the far corner.

Manchester United held off Arsenal’s late comeback attempt, and Dejan Lu scored again to secure a 4–2 victory despite a mass confrontation that left United with three players sent off. At the press conference, Dejan defended his teammates and insisted that none of them were bad people.

• Matthäus advised Bergkamp to shoot whenever he got the chance, while Manchester United decided to make him run by moving the ball around instead of passing directly to Dejan Lu.
• Wenger brought on John Hartson and Ray Parlour in the 83rd minute, and Bergkamp scored from Matthäus’s long pass to make it 3–2.
• After Petit fouled Dejan Lu, players from both teams fought, and referee Paolo Dakin sent off Redondo, Keane, Cantona, and Petit while booking four others.
• Dejan Lu returned after changing his torn sock, helped Manchester United manage the game with nine players, then scored to extend the lead to 4–2.
• Manchester United ran down the final minutes and won at Highbury, where Ferguson and Wenger later argued over the referee and the teams’ fouls.
• At the press conference, Dejan Lu defended his teammates’ red cards, blamed Petit’s foul for triggering the fight, and said that none of his teammates were bad people.

Manchester United traveled to Japan for the Toyota Cup amid intense attention focused on Dejan Lu, while the team’s reserves drew with Nottingham. In the opening of the final against Gremio, Dejan Lu nearly scored after a long ball and a sharp spin, leaving Scolari impressed.

• Ferguson praised Manchester United’s performance, and Dejan Lu hosted a barbecue where teammates discussed retirement plans, investments, and Kasper Schmeichel’s ambitions.
• Manchester United beat Southampton 4-1 and Coventry before flying to Tokyo, while Kidd stayed behind to lead the reserves against Nottingham.
• Dejan Lu attracted enormous crowds in Japan, met Akinna Nakamori and Kyoko Koizumi at a bowling alley, and took part in sponsor events and interviews.
• Manchester United’s reserves drew with Nottingham before the first team faced Gremio in the Toyota Cup final at Tokyo National Stadium.
• After Parister launched a long ball forward, Dejan Lu drove into the penalty area and beat Francesco Alce with a Genoa Spin, but Danli saved his shot and Scolari watched in surprise.

Manchester United overwhelmed Gremio as Dejan Lu dazzled with dribbling and scored a remarkable chipped goal before setting up Eric Cantona for another. Gremio struggled to respond, and Manchester United extended their lead to three goals.

• Alberto da Costa tried to answer Dejan Lu’s early long-range shot with flashy dribbling, but Redondo dispossessed him and Manchester United recovered the ball.
• Dejan Lu beat Gremio’s defenders on the left and crossed for Eric Cantona, who scored to give Manchester United the lead.
• After Dejan Lu was denied a penalty, Redondo fed him at the edge of the arc, and Dejan Lu chipped the ball over Danli to score a spectacular second goal.
• Gremio threatened through Jardel and Nunes, but Nunes’s close-range shot went straight into Schmeichel’s arms.
• Dejan Lu intercepted the ball after Scholes’s backheel, drove forward, and set up Cantona to score his second goal and Manchester United’s third.

Manchester United won the Toyota Cup 7–0 over Gremio, but a stomach-flu outbreak derailed their league campaign and let Newcastle move ahead in the standings. As Manchester United prepared to face Newcastle, Dejan Lu drew a Kevin Keegan single-match experience card.

• Dejan Lu scored and assisted as Manchester United overwhelmed Gremio, then the team won the Toyota Cup 7–0 and he gave Phil Neville the Man of the Match car key.
• Manchester United’s players were mobbed by fans in Tokyo before returning home, where stomach flu sidelined nearly the entire first team.
• Manchester United’s depleted side dropped points and lost to Liverpool and Leeds United, allowing Newcastle to take the Christmas lead.
• Kevin Keegan and Ferguson traded insults in the media ahead of their December 26 league match, with Newcastle four points ahead of Manchester United.
• Dejan Lu drew a Kevin Keegan Single-Match Experience Card for Hamburg versus Dortmund in the 1978–1979 Bundesliga season.