Vauxhall Motors Story: End Of Season Number Nine

Hello folks and welcome back to the Vauxhall Football Manager 2011 story! The time has finally come, my ninth season in charge is coming to an end and it could be a great finale as at the end of April 2019 we were still in contention for the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Champions League. I guess you’re pretty curious to find out what happened so the introduction ends here, let’s go staight to business!

As you might remember we were five points clear of Tottenham at the top of the Premier League table with only three games remaining so we needed just five more points to secure the title, that is if the Spurs would have grabbed nine out of nine in the last games. Our first test was against Manchester United, they were in 4th place before the game but since we had the crucial second leg against Lyon after four days I decided to rest two defenders: Marat Bykov and Pierre Touya.

Vauxhall vs Manchester United (Premier League)

Venue: Vauxhall Stadium

Attendance: 24,859

Starting line up: Luis Guilherme — Julian Marino, Mervin Simon, Louis Laing, Hans Larsson — Leandro Velasco, Indio, Marcos Fernandez, Tiago — Zé Carlos, Parana

Team Talk: For the fans!

My lads started the game very well, we enjoyed a good spell of domination but unfortunately Parana squandered a very good chance midway through the first half. The Red Devils were barely hanging in there and we finally managed to break the deadlock on the stroke of half time when Parana made ammends for the missed opportunity as he cleverly played the ball past a defender before slotting into the bottom corner.

Half time score: 1-0

Half time team talk: Pleased.

Half time substitutions: Abdallah Yaisien for Velasco, Walid Mechergui for Tiago, Ibrahima MBow for Ze Carlos

The second half started in an equally pleasing manner and we managed to double the lead after just five minutes when Parana made a good counter attack run before squaring for Marcos Fernandez who found the back of the net with a well executed first time finish. We were safely in control at that point but the visitors came back into the game just six minutes later thanks to a rather stupid own goal on a corner kick. That goal surely gave them some hopes but those ended quite soon as left back Hans Larsson restored our two-goal lead with a fine solo effort on the hour mark. The lads were playing beautifully, I was quite impressed to be honest, and we finished the game with three more goals, one from substitute left winger Walid Mechergui (a beautiful goal) and another two from hat-trick hero Parana. Not only that we beat Manchester United but you can say that we mopped the floor with them, it was a stunning performance from my lads and a clear message for Tottenham: we want the title!

Full time team talk: Well done!

Man of the match: Parana

Flop of the match: Zé Carlos

Match Stats

Video Highlights

click here to watch the highlights

Fortunately we didn’t have to wait any longer to celebrate the second consecutive Premier League title, Tottenham were held to a 2-2 draw at Hull so the title was ours with two games to spare! Way to go lads!

I didn’t allow any champagne or beer at the party though, the season was far from over and we had to meet Olympique Lyonnais in the Champions League semi final after just four days. As you remember the French team beat us 2-1 in the first leg in a match that saw Parana being sent off for elbowing an opponent. We had to grab a 1-0 win at home but I was expecting a very difficult game considering Lyon‘s abilities.

Vauxhall vs Lyon (Champions League Semi Final Leg 2)

Venue: Vauxhall Stadium

Attendance: 25,875 (sold out)

Starting line up: Luis Guilherme — Julian Marino, Mervin Simon, Marat Bykov, Pierre Touya — Leandro Velasco, Robert Ackermann, Marcos Fernandez, Tiago — Zé Carlos, Ibrahima MBow

Team Talk: For the fans!

The lads were full of confidence after the result against Man United so they started the game brilliantly and Zé Carlos had a pretty good chance after eight minutes but he was denied by a super-save from Hugo Lloris. He did score three minutes later though but the goal came as a result of Ibrahima MBow‘s great work, he made a very good run, his shot was parried and Zé Carlos had nothing left to do than to tuck the ball into the empty net. We continued to press forward and the reward came after another 10 minutes when Zé Carlos drilled a low cross that Ibrahima MBow somehow managed to bundle into the back of the net. Lyon woke up after that second goal and started to try their luck but they were unable to show more than a few shots from distance until half time.

Half time score: 2-0

Half time team talk: Pleased.

Half time substitutions: Graham Howson for Fernandez, Wellington Paulista for MBow

We started pushing forward again after the break, Lyon were hanging in there but with great difficulty. They could have punished us on 66 minutes when they threw away their first real chance of the match but my lads were not to be denied and Zé Carlos scored his second goal of the game on the stroke of full time after some very good work from substitute striker Wellington Paulista. We qualified for the Champions League final and we did that in style! The other semi final saw holders Manchester City beating Barcelona 4-2 on aggregate so we were going to meet Mourinho‘s millionaires once again…

Full time team talk: Congratulations!

Man of the match: Zé Carlos

Flop of the match: Leandro Velasco

Match Stats

Video Highlights

Click here to watch the highlights.

Here’s how our end of season schedule looked like, not great having the two finals in just three days…

I was hoping to count on Parana again for the Champions League final but UEFA decided to extend his ban to three games so he was going to miss the big final.

The last two Premier League games of the season were totally unimportant so I decided to rest all my important players against Chelsea. We lost that game but I was happy to see Zé Carlos bagging his 30th goal of the season in the previous game.

Here is the final Premier League table, we totally deserved the title after collecting 95 points and scoring exactly 100 goals. Tottenham finished second again, just like last year, but this time they pushed the title race a lot closer to the final day of the season. Chelsea and Liverpool were quite disappointing again while West Ham, Burnley and Bristol City will be playing Championship football next season.

Needless to say that I was elected Manager of the Season again, it’s my third consecutive award in the top flight!

But there was no time to celebrate as we had two huge matches ahead of us, the FA Cup final at Wembley and the Champions League final at Emirates Stadium. We were in front of a historic treble, did we pull it off? There’s only one way to find out and that is going to the next page… ;)

Go to the next page to read the rest of the story.

And now… the finals! First we had to meet Tottenham in the FA Cup final and I guess that was the perfect ending to a domestic season that saw the two teams fighting for the Premier League title. However, we had an advantage as we had just clinched the title and we also had beaten the Spurs in both matches: 3-2 at home in December and 1-0 away in April. Their line up was as strong as ever though with wonder-keeper David De Gea between the sticks, a rock-solid defense and a phenomenal strikeforce with Higuain and Dzeko. As far as we were concerned I fielded my best possible eleven even though I thought about resting a few players for the Champions League final. I decided against that eventually, mainly because some of my backups are not good enough to play such an important game.

Tottenham vs Vauxhall (FA Cup Final)

Venue: Wembley

Attendance: 90,000

Starting line up: Luis Guilherme — Julian Marino, Mervin Simon, Marat Bykov, Pierre Touya — Leandro Velasco, Indio, Marcos Fernandez, Tiago — Zé Carlos, Parana

Team Talk: You can win today!

7th minute — Leandro Velasco playes a fine ball over the top, Zé Carlos is clean through behind Tottenham‘s defense… but he is stopped with an illegal tackle! It has to be a red card! And it is, centre back Lovren is sent off!

31st minute — (that’s right, everything was dead-quiet until then) Dzeko manages to get in a header on a corner kick but it was straight into the keeper’s arms.

32nd minute — Leandro Velasco weaves past two defenders, he can try his luck from the edge of the area… left footed… weak shot, easily held by the goalkeeper.

36th minute — Marcos Fernandez plays a lovely through pass for left winger Tiago inside the penalty area, Tiago crosses into the six-yard box… and Zé Carlos finds the back of the net with a first-time finish! Well done! (click here to open the video)

Half time score: 0-1

Half time team talk: For the fans!

Half time substitutions: Walid Mechergui for Tiago

Half time stats

52nd minute — Tottenham midfielder Lucas tries his luck from 25 yards… easily held.

53rd minute — Left back Pierre Touya bends a good cross inside the box, Velasco gets the header on target… but De Gea holds the ball.

60th minute — Lovely move from Tottenham, Higuain has time and space to shoot from an angle… but Luis Guilherme dives and tips the ball behind for a corner.

61st minute — The last two substitutions, Abdallah Yaisien for Velasco and Robert Ackermann for Indio.

69th minute — Yaisien tries his luck from the edge of the area but the shot is straight at the keeper.

71st minute — Tottenham substitute centre back Toro makes a wild two-footed tackle on Parana! Come on ref, it’s another red! And it is, Toro is sent off!

74th minute — Gareth Bale tries an unlikely free kick shot from 40 yards out… Not bad, it went inches wide…

77th minute — Clever little cross from Marcos Fernandez, Zé Carlos meets it at the near post… and it’s in! Get in! (click here to open the video)

87th minute — Fernandez bends in a free kick cross, Marat Bykov jumps… and thumps in the header! 3-0, it’s all over! (click here to open the video)

90th minute — Fine move from my lads, Walid Mechergui is unmarked at seven yards… but his shot is diverted by the goalkeeper.

Full time team talk: Congratulations!

Man of the match: Zé Carlos

Flop of the match: Parana

Match Stats

We have won the FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history, that demanded a celebration :)

But there was no champagne this time either, we still had the Champions League final to look forward to. As I expected, Jose Mourinho made some wise comments again saying that he doesn’t really like me. The feeling is mutual, the only difference is that I don’t speak about my feelings to the media…

Man City… One of the few teams that had beaten us this season, they clinched a narrow 2-1 victory when we last met them, that was in February. They were the Champions League holders and probably the team that was dominating the competition since they had also won it in 2016 B.M. (that’s Before Mourinho). Their team was probably at least as good as Tottenham, with a fantastic Joe Hart between the sticks, a solid defense, an industrious midfield and a fabulous Belfodil as a lone striker. On the other hand I made three changes in my team: Louis Laing instead of Mervin Simon in defense as Laing appeared to be fresher, Robert Ackermann instead of Marcos Fernandez in midfield also for fitness reasons and last but not least Ibrahima MBow instead of suspended Parana upfront.

Manchester City vs Vauxhall (Champions League Final)

Venue: Emirates Stadium

Attendance: 60,361

Starting line up: Luis Guilherme — Julian Marino, Louis Laing, Marat Bykov, Pierre Touya — Leandro Velasco, Indio, Robert Ackermann, Tiago — Zé Carlos, Ibrahima MBow

Team Talk: For the fans!

2nd minute — Fierce shot from midfielder MacDonald… it comes back off the crossbar… but it bounces off Pierre Touya‘s back… and rolls into the back of the net… Damn, that’s exactly what I call a nightmare start! (click here to open the video)

7th minute — Man City counter attack, Belfodil finds room for a shot but he blazes it over.

10th minute — Robert Ackermann bends in a great cross… Leandro Velasco jumps and heads it… just wide…

14th minute — Tiago tries a powerful shot from the edge of the area, over the bar.

20th minute — There is more and more pressure on Man City‘s defense. Ackermann tries a header from 10 yards but it’s too weak and Joe Hart holds the ball easily.

22nd minute — Belfodil eases past Louis Laing and fires… into the side netting.

27th minute — Throw-in for Man City… it’s a long one into our box… Right winger Barreto cushions it, turns and fires it into the roof of the net… Damn, this is getting worse… (click here to open the video)

32nd minute — Ackermann is quite lively, he tries his luck from the edge of the area but the ball sails over the crossbar.

37th minute — Great play from left winger Tiago, he creates room for a cross, drills it into the six yard box… Zé Carlos is there… shoots… fantastic save from Joe Hart!

38th minute — Belfodil plays it past Laing again but the shot goes over the bar.

40th minute — Left winger Yavar tries his luck from 20 yards for Man City, easily held.

42nd minute — Leandro Velasco bends in a good-looking free kick cross, Marat Bykov powers the header… just over!

Half time score: 2-0

Half time team talk: For the fans!

Half time substitutions: Mervin Simon for Laing, Marcos Fernandez for Indio

Half time stats

55th minute — Zé Carlos plays a perfect through pass for Ibrahima MBow, he’s clean through… enters the penalty area… and shoots… just wide! Come on…

62nd minute — Tiago has time and space to shoot from 10 yards… fantastic save from Hart once again…

65th minute — Abdallah Yaisien comes in for Tiago

71st minute — Disaster strikes! Marat Bykov comes limping off the pitch and we can’t make any more substitutions. What should I do? I decided to leave things as they were, that means a risky 3-4-2 module but we had to score while losing 3-0 instead of 2-0 doesn’t really change too much.

79th minute — Good chance for Yaisien… but Joe Hart is unbeatable…

87th minute — Free kick from the edge of the area, Marcos Fernandez steps up… but fires just wide…

93rd minute — The cherry on the cake, Robert Ackermann gets injured so we finish the game with only nine players.

Full time team talk: Disappointing.

Man of the match: Zé Carlos

Flop of the match: Louis Laing

Match Stats

So, we did a double instead of a treble… Reaching the Champions League final at this point was a good achievement but I do regret not winning it as we were the better team on that particular evening. But you have to score if you want to win, we failed to do that and we paid the price.

As you can see from the stats Russian centre back Marat Bykov was our best player this season, he scoerd 11 goals and provided five assists while Zé Carlos came in second with his impressive tally of 32 goals and 16 assists. Parana did a very good job too while Leandro Velasco was as reliable as ever. There are a few players that will leave the club this summer, I’ll try to make a quick list here: Jack Butland, Wellington Paulista, Ravel Morrison, John Fleck and probably Radek Vecera if I’ll manage to sign a great Brazilian midfielder that I’ve been chasing last summer as well. In terms of transfers in, I want to buy a centre back, a striker and probably a better backup as a right/left winger.

The club is doing pretty well in terms of finances, the shareholders will surely get some benefits again this summer. I will be trying to persuade the board to make some further investments in the training and youth facilities, I guess they won’t be able to refuse me after a double :)

That’s about it for now my friends, thanks a lot for reading and for showing your support throughout this tense season. The next post will be about my job as Argentina manager, the Copa America is coming up and I’m quite curious to see if I can win it. Until then, I’m looking forward to reading your comments. You can always ask questions or make screen shot requests, you know that ;)