It Begins

Jin Taige was furious.

He stood up and glared at Woodward with an unfriendly expression. "You discussed a transfer with the players behind my back?"

Woodward quickly explained, "Dear Tiger, you know me well. We have a contract, and transfers are your responsibility. How could I negotiate with players privately?"

"Then how do you know they're willing to leave?" Jin Taige's expression darkened.

"At the same time we received these offers, Hernández and Welbeck's agents contacted me. They said their players wanted to leave," Woodward explained, spreading his hands. "Clearly, Real Madrid and Arsenal had already reached agreements with the players before making formal offers."

Jin Taige sighed and sat down, feeling defeated. Still, he wasn't ready to give up. He decided to speak with the players directly.

Jin Taige first called Hernández aside. The two sat on the edge of the training ground, and Jin Taige got straight to the point. "I don't want you to leave. With you, our tactics can be more flexible."

Hernández smiled. "Boss, I appreciate your honesty. Since you're being direct, I'll do the same. I want a starting position. Can you guarantee me that?"

Jin Taige hesitated. "This..."

Hernández pressed on. "If you promise me, I'll stay."

Jin Taige looked at him for a long moment before finally sighing. "I'm sorry..."

"Thank you, Boss," Hernández said, genuinely touched. Jin Taige could have lied to keep him, but he chose honesty. That respect meant a lot.

Jin Taige added, "Even if you go to Real Madrid, can you guarantee a starting spot? The competition at the Bernabéu is fierce."

Hernández countered, "One option is a guaranteed bench role. The other is a chance to fight for a starting spot. Which would you choose?"

The conversation ended there. Jin Taige had lost "Little Pea," and it stung. But this was the reality of professional football.

Next, Jin Taige called Welbeck. Before he could speak, Welbeck said, "Boss, please let me go to Arsenal. I want to play regularly. Wenger has promised me that."

Jin Taige was silent for a long time. Finally, he patted Welbeck on the shoulder and walked away, heading back to his office where Woodward was waiting.

Two days later, Manchester United announced two loan deals:

1. Javier Hernández was loaned to Real Madrid for €2 million, with a €20 million buyout clause.

2. Danny Welbeck was loaned to Arsenal for €2 million, with a €19 million buyout clause.

The news sparked mixed reactions, but Jin Taige had no time to dwell on it. His first real test was approaching: the Community Shield on August 11 against Wigan Athletic—the same team they had just faced in a friendly.

Woodward explained that the friendly had been scheduled months earlier, long before Wigan won the FA Cup and qualified for the Community Shield.

Despite the familiarity with Wigan, Jin Taige took the match seriously. He delivered a rousing pre-game speech, firing up the players and emphasizing the importance of the game.

Jin Taige fielded the same lineup that had beaten Wigan in the friendly: De Gea in goal; Smalling, Ferdinand, Evra, and Rafael in defense; Kanté, Carrick, Giggs, and Nani in midfield; and Rooney and Van Persie up front.

The team executed Jin Taige's tactics flawlessly. They dominated from the start, with Van Persie scoring twice—first from a Giggs cross and then from a Carrick through ball. Manchester United won 2-0, and Jin Taige claimed his first trophy as manager.

On August 17, 2013, the Premier League season kicked off. Manchester United's first match was against Swansea at the Liberty Stadium.

As the team bus arrived, Jin Taige looked over his squad list. The departures of Hernández and Welbeck had reduced the team to 24 players, but he was confident in the group he had.

Starting XI:

- Goalkeeper:*De Gea

- Defenders: Smalling, Ferdinand, Evra, Rafael

- Midfielders: Carrick, Kanté, Giggs, Nani

- Forwards: Rooney, Van Persie

Substitutes: Alisson, Jones, Alonso, Anderson, Mahrez, Valencia, Icardi

In the locker room, Jin Taige addressed the team. "The Premier League has finally started! Ryan," he turned to Giggs, "this is your 20th opening day. How does it feel?"

Giggs shrugged. "It's just another game."

Jin Taige laughed. "Fair enough. But for me, it's my first. So, Ryan, as a veteran, any advice?"

The players chuckled.

Jin Taige then turned to Kanté. "Brother, you're new to the Premier League too. Ready for your debut?"

Kanté nodded firmly. "I'm ready, Boss."

"Good," Jin Taige said. "But if you're not, I can always sub you out."

Kanté's eyes widened. "No, no, I'm ready!"

Jin Taige laughed again. "Relax, it's a joke. But seriously, we're all in this together. Robin," he looked at Van Persie, "you've been here before. What do you say to the new guys?"

Van Persie stood up. "Last season, we crushed Swansea to give Sir Alex a perfect send-off. Today, let's do the same for Boss Jin Taige!"

The locker room erupted in cheers.

As the players took the field, the Liberty Stadium roared with boos. Jin Taige paused for a moment, taking in the atmosphere. "Paul," he said to Scholes, "do they always greet visitors like this?"

Scholes grinned. "The louder the boos, the stronger the opponent. They're scared of us."

Jin Taige clenched his fists. "Then let's give them something to really boo about."

In the commentary box, Morris and Raman were analyzing the match.

Morris: "Manchester United are fielding a familiar lineup, with Kanté replacing Anderson in midfield. He's been impressive in pre-season."

Raman scoffed. "Kanté? A free transfer from Boulogne? Is Jin Taige serious? This isn't the French second division. This is the Premier League!"

Morris defended the decision. "Kanté has been solid in pre-season. He brings energy and defensive stability."

Raman wasn't convinced. "We'll see. But if Jin Taige thinks he can win the Premier League with players like Kanté, he's in for a rude awakening."

The match began, and Manchester United immediately took control. Within five minutes, they had two clear chances: a Van Persie shot that grazed the post and a Rooney header that went just over the bar.

Laudrup, Swansea's manager, was already on the sidelines, shouting instructions. He glanced at Jin Taige, who was calmly observing the game, and thought, This young coach is not to be underestimated.