Richard definitely knew about Prozone—the name itself had become synonymous with pioneering data analytics in football. But he didn't know the people behind it, so he decided to be cautious. He needed to make sure he had the right person in front of him.
"Please come to Maine Road," Richard said. "You'll be most welcome—Manchester City will be playing Charlton Athletic in the second leg of the playoffs."
"Of course, I'll be there," Mylvaganam replied with a smile. At least it wasn't an outright rejection—or someone looking to get a free ride off his product. It was a start.
With that, Richard nodded politely and rose from his seat. He didn't waste any more time—he headed straight back to Manchester.
The journey from Charlton to Manchester typically took between three and a half to four hours, depending on the traffic. By the time the city lights of Manchester came into view, Richard had already made a decision: he needed to hold an emergency meeting with John Robertson.
