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Chapter 66: Interview With Vieira
🕑 Added 2025-06-10 14:53:26 +0000 UTCThat night, the whole of London was buzzing with the news of Arsenal’s dramatic win over Manchester United.
<<Manchester United ambushed at the Emirates!>>
<<Ferguson leaves London empty-handed>>
Among the coverage, Kai, whose performance stood out, quickly became the center of attention.
<<No. 4: Arsenal’s Great Wall>>
<<Arsenal vs Manchester United: The Comeback Story, Directed by Arsene Wenger>>
Headlines like these flooded every sports column across the city.
In the London Sports Daily, a reporter named David Wilson penned a detailed feature:
"In the recent Arsenal versus Manchester United clash, we witnessed one of the most breathtaking counter-attacks in recent memory.
Arsenal equalized with a brilliant finish from Suarez, and in the dying minutes, it was Kai who stepped up to seal the win with a stunning match-winner.
But this game wasn’t just about one goal—it was about a shift. A transformation. One thing I find hard to describe with words alone. If you haven’t watched it, go find the full match video.
The Arsenal we saw that night wasn’t the same team people have mocked over the years. No more 'pretty football without bite.' This time, the Gunners fought for every blade of grass—and at the heart of it all was an 18-year-old kid.
Some might question what gives him the right to wear Arsenal’s iconic No. 4 shirt, a number forever linked with legends.
But after this game, you won’t ask that again. He’s earned it, and whether he’s going to elevate that number to new heights, grab some popcorn and let's watch the journey.
One goal, five tackles, four interceptions, four clearances, and a key pass. You wouldn’t expect that from an 18-year-old, but that’s exactly what Kai delivered.
He was rated 9.5 after the match, the highest of any player on the pitch. The Premier League itself acknowledged his brilliance.
For someone this young, he’s already created something unforgettable. Just imagine what’s next."
—Excerpt from the Premier League section of The London Sports Daily, by David Wilson.
...
At Manchester City’s training facility, Zheng Xin waited in a conference room for a special interview guest.
Though three days had passed since the match, Kai’s popularity had only grown.
Especially in London, Arsenal fans were already calling him 'the next Vieira'—high praise for anyone wearing red and white.
To dive deeper into the sentiment, Zheng Xin arranged to speak with Patrick Vieira, now the head coach of Manchester City’s youth team.
Vieira, a French international, had retired in 2011 after an illustrious career.
Though his exit from Arsenal wasn’t exactly amicable, he had never spoken ill of the club. Every time he mentioned Arsenal, it was with warmth and understanding.
His grace only made fans miss him more. Many still blamed themselves—or the club—for his departure.
When this old transfer saga came up, Arsenal fans would often lament: "We were blind—we picked Fabregas instead."
...
In the conference room, Zheng Xin double-checked his gear: laptop, recorder, notebook.
Moments later, the door creaked open.
Vieira poked his head in with a grin. "I’m not late, am I?"
The once fiery Arsenal captain now seemed relaxed and approachable.
"Right on time," Zheng said, standing to greet him. "Zheng, from China’s CCTV Sports Media. Just call me Zheng."
"Nice to meet you, Zheng."
They shook hands and took their seats.
Once settled, Zheng turned on the recorder. "Shall we begin?"
"Absolutely," Vieira nodded.
Zheng smiled. "We’ll start light—what’d you have for lunch?"
"Pasta," Vieira chuckled.
Zheng raised an eyebrow. "Just pasta? That’s it?"
Vieira shrugged. "Old habit from my Arsenal days. The club was pretty strict."
Zheng laughed. "So that’s why Ljungberg always looked like a model."
Vieira burst out laughing. "That is why he got all those underwear endorsements."
With the ice broken, Zheng eased into the football questions.
"People used to joke that Arsenal wasn’t a Premier League team. While others shot from outside the box, you lot tried to pass the ball into the net. Anything to say about that?"
Vieira laughed again. "It’s true. But honestly, Wenger’s football was simple—pass, move, shoot. Everyone worked together."
"How did Wenger shape that kind of team?" Zheng asked.
"He brought in players with personality—guys who made the locker room fun. We enjoyed coming in every day. But there weren’t many like that, which hurt our squad depth. That’s why we often struggled at the end of seasons."
Zheng leaned forward. "Alright, here comes a tougher one."
Vieira smiled. "Let’s hear it."
"If the club hadn’t asked you to leave in 2005… would you have stayed at Arsenal until retirement?"
This time, Vieira fell silent.
Zheng noticed his expression darken slightly, a flash of something unspoken in his eyes.
Gently, Zheng added, "You don’t have to answer if it’s too much."
Vieira gave a small smile, but said nothing more.
The silence said plenty.
Zheng eventually broke it. "Let’s change the topic—something lighter. Did you catch Arsenal’s last match?"
Vieira smiled, visibly relieved. "Against United?"
"Exactly," Zheng said, snapping his fingers. "What did you think?"
"It was a fantastic game—really rich with action. That’s the Arsenal I remember."
"Anyone in particular stand out to you?"
Vieira chuckled. "You’re fishing for me to talk about number four, aren’t you?"
Zheng grinned. "You caught me. So, what do you think of him?"
"It’s impossible for me not to notice the No. 4—that was my shirt, after all. To be honest, Kai’s performance blew me away. You don’t expect that kind of poise from an 18-year-old."
Zheng’s excitement grew. "A lot of people are saying he’s the next Vieira. Thoughts?"
To his surprise, Vieira waved his hands quickly. "No, no, no. He’s not me. We’re completely different kinds of players."
Zheng looked puzzled. "But his style—it does resemble yours."
"Sure, in some ways. But that doesn’t mean much. There are lots of players with similar traits. Look, Keane and I were similar—tough, combative. That’s why we clashed so often. I like to think I was more measured, though. Keane was… let’s say, more temperamental."
He paused, then added, "But Kai? He’s cut from a different cloth. You’ve got to know the difference between being tough and being a villain."
Vieira tapped his chest and said, "Keane and I? We were the villains. Kai? He’s a proper tough guy."
"If you asked me to compare him to someone else in world football, I have a name."
"Who?" Zheng asked, clearly intrigued.
Vieira smiled. "Effenberg."
Zheng blinked. "Stefan Effenberg? Really?"
It was an unexpected answer.
After all, Effenberg wasn’t just any captain of Bayern Munich—he lead the Bavarians to a UCL title and multiple domestic titles. Being compared to him arguably meant more than being called the next Vieira.
Vieira tapped his temple. "Kai’s stronger than us up here. Watch him closely. The way he plays, the way he reads the game—he’s got something special. And with players like him, Arsenal’s future looks very bright."
