Return to Chaos

The summer of 2013 was eventful.

On July 1, 2013, Brazil defeated Spain 3-0 to win the Confederations Cup, securing their third consecutive title.

In addition to several high-profile managerial changes across Europe, the summer transfer market was buzzing with activity.

The most eye-catching moves came from La Liga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Real Madrid splashed the cash, first spending €91 million to sign Tottenham star Gareth Bale, then €30 million to secure Malaga's rising star Isco, and another €30 million to bring in Real Sociedad's Asier Illarramendi. They also spent €6.5 million on Bayer Leverkusen's right-back Dani Carvajal, €6 million on São Paulo's Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, and promoted young striker Álvaro Morata from their reserve team.

Jin Taige had considered targeting Casemiro and Carvajal, but both had already signed with Real Madrid before he took over. He could only watch as two bargains slipped into Real Madrid's hands. In his memory, despite spending €170 million that summer, Real Madrid would go on to win the Champions League, making the investment worthwhile.

Barcelona also made a splash, winning the race to sign Brazilian sensation Neymar for €57 million. Jin Taige sighed inwardly. This was another transfer that would shake the football world. The Brazilian, who would later command a world-record €220 million transfer fee, had officially arrived in Europe, ready to write his own legend.

Meanwhile, Atlético Madrid sold their star striker Radamel Falcao to Monaco for €60 million. Many doubted Atlético's future without him, but Jin Taige knew better. Diego Costa, Falcao's replacement, would soon emerge as a world-class forward and lead Atlético to the La Liga title. Of course, that was in his memory. In this parallel world, things might unfold differently.

Compared to La Liga's flurry of activity, Serie A was relatively quiet. Juventus' biggest signing was defender Angelo Ogbonna from Torino for €13 million, followed by striker Carlos Tevez from Manchester City for €9 million.

Napoli sold their star striker Edinson Cavani to Paris Saint-Germain for €64 million. To replace him, they spent €37 million on Real Madrid's Gonzalo Higuaín and €9.5 million on José Callejón. They also signed "Belgian Messi" Dries Mertens from PSV Eindhoven for another €9.5 million.

Other Serie A clubs made no major moves.

In the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich spent €25 million to reunite Pep Guardiola with Thiago Alcântara from Barcelona and €38 million to pry Mario Götze from Borussia Dortmund.

Dortmund, in turn, signed Shakhtar Donetsk's star Henrikh Mkhitaryan for €27.5 million, defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos from Werder Bremen for €9.5 million, and striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Saint-Étienne for €15 million. The latter deal left Jin Taige particularly frustrated.

While world football was abuzz, Premier League clubs were also spending big.

Manchester City completed five major signings: €30 million for Fiorentina's Stevan Jovetić, €20 million for Sevilla's Álvaro Negredo, €30 million for Shakhtar Donetsk's Fernandinho, €14 million for Sevilla's Jesús Navas, and €4 million for Atlético Madrid's Martín Demichelis. The Arab-backed club had spent over €100 million to back new manager Manuel Pellegrini.

Chelsea, another wealthy club, was more restrained. Their biggest signing was midfielder Willian from Anzhi Makhachkala for €32 million.

Arsenal broke their transfer record, spending €42.5 million to sign Mesut Özil from Real Madrid.

Surprisingly, Tottenham Hotspur emerged as the biggest spenders. They reinvested the €100 million from Gareth Bale's sale, plus an additional €20 million, to sign seven players: Étienne Capoue, Paulinho, Roberto Soldado, Nacer Chadli, Vlad Chiricheș, Erik Lamela, and Christian Eriksen. It seemed manager André Villas-Boas had ambitions beyond just a top-four finish.

Everton became the loan kings of the summer. They borrowed Tom Cleverley and Adnan Januzaj from Jin Taige, Barcelona's Gerard Deulofeu, Manchester City's Gareth Barry, and Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku.

Liverpool, meanwhile, kept a low profile.

While every big club made headlines, Jin Taige's signings—15 unheralded youngsters—drew skepticism. *The Sun*'s reporter Wolf repeatedly questioned Jin Taige's suitability for Manchester United.

"I bet Mr. Jin Taige will soon return to coaching the youth team. If Sir Alex Ferguson sees his recommendation leading Manchester United into the relegation zone, I wonder what he'd think."

Major newspapers like *The Daily Telegraph*, *The Times*, and *The Guardian* were equally pessimistic.

"Manchester United's goals for the new season should be adjusted, perhaps replacing 'title defense' with 'top-four contention,'" wrote *The Daily Telegraph*'s Carol Ink.

*The Times*' Leslie bluntly stated, "I think the board made a mistake. Even if Mourinho wasn't an option, Everton's David Moyes would have been a better choice. He has years of Premier League experience, far more than Jin Taige."

*The Guardian*'s Tony was even harsher: "Jin Taige is clearly a youth team coach at heart. Most of his signings are in the youth team. I suspect he's preparing for his eventual return there."

When Jin Taige returned to England from Asia, he saw these reports and knew he had to act.

---

That night, Jin Taige had dinner with his wife, Wenna, and their two children, Joa and Elisa. The kids hadn't seen their father in weeks and clung to him, unwilling to let go.

After dinner, Jin Taige gave them gifts from Japan: a giant Doraemon plush toy for Elisa and a space fortress model kit for Joa. The children were thrilled, and Jin Taige played with them until late.

Once the kids were asleep, Jin Taige returned to the bedroom, where Wenna was waiting in a seductive pink lingerie set. Jin Taige smiled. *Crossing over hasn't been all bad...*

The next morning, Jin Taige arrived at Carrington refreshed. With Wenna now a full-time mom, he could focus entirely on his work.

Jin Taige had grown fond of Joa and Elisa, treating them as his own. Wenna, with her blend of Western independence and Eastern grace, was the perfect partner. Jin Taige felt lucky to have landed in such a loving family.

At Carrington, the first-team training ground was empty. Jin Taige had given the players two days off after their long trip. He had arranged to meet Woodward in his office to discuss the media backlash.

Jin Taige poured himself a glass of water, recalling Ferguson's advice: "If you're thirsty, water is the best solution. It's simple but effective."

He felt the same about his team. They didn't need flashy tactics—just simple, direct victories.

Woodward arrived shortly after. "Tiger, what's so urgent?"

Jin Taige handed him a stack of newspapers. "Read these."

Woodward skimmed the headlines, his expression darkening. "They're tearing into you."

Jin Taige nodded. "We need to fight back. The players are demoralized, and these articles aren't helping. We need something to boost morale."

Woodward thought for a moment, then pulled out his phone. "I know just the person."

He dialed a number. "Hello, Mr. Hall? We've agreed to your interview request. Can you come by this afternoon?"

After hanging up, Woodward explained, "Hall's a reporter for the *Manchester Evening News*. He's a die-hard United fan. This'll be our chance to set the record straight."

That afternoon, Hall arrived at Carrington. He was a young man in his 20s, with gold-rimmed glasses and a polite demeanor.

Jin Taige greeted him warmly. "Call me Tiger. Let's keep this casual."

The interview began in a relaxed atmosphere. Hall asked about team building, and Jin Taige gave measured, diplomatic answers. He praised the players and emphasized continuity from Ferguson's era.

As the interview wound down, Hall asked, "Mr. Tiger, what's your goal for the new season?"

Jin Taige leaned back, the setting sun casting a golden glow on his face. "My goal is simple: the Treble."