Against Chelsea pt2

Chelsea's Counterattack

When De Bruyne received the ball, only Ferdinand and Smalling stood between him and the goal. Hazard and Oscar surged forward alongside him, creating a 3-on-2 overload.

Manchester United were in serious trouble.

At this moment, United's fullbacks—Evra and Rafael—were caught too high up the pitch. Kanté, tangled with Lampard, had fallen to the ground. No one was left to track back and defend.

Mourinho's eyes lit up. His midfield tactical setup had worked perfectly.

Halftime Team Talk – Mourinho's Instructions

During halftime, Mourinho praised his team: "Excellent first half. Keep it up. Terry, you and Cahill must communicate better. If Ramires is beaten, one of you must cover immediately. Don't let them into the box so easily."

"Understood," Terry replied. As Chelsea's captain, he took responsibility for United's threatening first-half attacks.

"United pressed hard, but their fullbacks left huge gaps. Their stamina will drop in the second half, and their defensive timing will slip. Hazard, Oscar, De Bruyne—exploit those gaps and hit them on the counter."

The trio nodded in agreement.

The Counterattack Unfolds

Just after the second half began, Ramires intercepted Anderson's pass and found Lampard. Lampard launched a long ball to De Bruyne, who sprinted down the flank.

De Bruyne glanced up and saw Hazard and Oscar making runs into the box. He accelerated, driving toward the byline.

On the touchline, Jin Taige stood up, his eyes fixed on the unfolding danger. He prayed silently: *Hold on. Please hold on.*

Fan Reactions

In the Red Devil's Bar, a bearded fan roared at the TV: "Raman, you're full of crap! We'll hold them off!"

"Absolutely!" the crowd echoed.

Across the globe, thousands of United fans held their breath, their eyes glued to the screen.

Sky Sports Commentary – Raman's Excitement

"De Bruyne is sprinting toward the byline! Rafael is 7-8 meters behind—even Usain Bolt couldn't catch him now!"

"Hazard and Oscar are in the box, ready to pounce!"

"Ferdinand is marking Oscar, Smalling is on Hazard, and De Gea is poised to react."

"De Bruyne looks up and delivers a low cross!"

"Oscar and Ferdinand miss it at the near post! The ball rolls deeper!"

"De Gea hesitates—it's too far out for him to claim!"

"Hazard gets there first! He shoots past Smalling—straight toward the far corner!"

"De Gea dives—but the ball's too quick!"

"It hits the post! And bounces out! United survive!"

Raman slammed the desk in frustration, while his co-commentator Morris chimed in: "United almost paid the price for their aggressive tactics. Chelsea aren't Swansea—they're coiled vipers, ready to strike when you least expect it. Jin Taige needs to adjust."

Jin Taige felt the weight of the moment. The roar of the crowd echoed in his chest, a stark reminder of the stakes. He turned to Rafael: "Don't push so high! Stay deeper and prioritize defense!"

Rafael, drenched in sweat, nodded. He knew he'd been caught out and raised a hand in acknowledgment. Evra, equally exhausted, also dropped deeper.

United's attacks slowed. Giggs and Nani struggled to break through Chelsea's defensive wall alone. Anderson's solo efforts went nowhere, leaving van Persie and Rooney isolated in the box.

Kanté, wary of another counter, stayed deeper, shielding the backline.

By the 75th minute, Jin Taige made changes. He brought on Alonso and Jones for Evra and Rafael, then pulled Rooney back to support Anderson, leaving van Persie as the lone striker.

Mourinho responded by replacing Schürrle with Azar on the right, introducing Torres centrally, and swapping Lampard for Essien. De Bruyne made way for Mata.

Chelsea's strategy remained clear: hit United on the break.

Stalemate Continues

Mata and Torres, fresh off the bench, immediately threatened United's goal. Twice they combined dangerously, but Kanté's timely interventions saved the day.

By the 81st minute, the score remained 0-0.

In the second round of the Premier League, Manchester United faced Chelsea at home, and now the match has progressed to the 81st minute, with neither side having broken the deadlock at 0-0.

Jin Taige and Mourinho had made their tactical adjustments, yet their teams had struggled to find the target. With solid defensive efforts from both sides, there had been few moments of exquisite collaboration, resulting in a final score that remained at 0-0.

Meanwhile, Raman continued his commentary on television: "If it weren't for Manchester United's slice of good fortune, they would have found themselves trailing 1-0. It has become evident that Jin Taige excels only against teams similar to Swansea; they are simply not equipped to compete at the Premier League level."

"Even though Manchester United did not secure victory in this fixture, Mourinho's side failed to score at Old Trafford, which serves as evidence of Jin Taige's successful transformation of the team's defense," Morris interjected.

Raman shook his head in disbelief: "A formidable team must press on; however, mere defense is insufficient. Currently, Manchester United harbors numerous weaknesses: Giggs lacks pace, Carrick is sluggish, and Anderson is overworked. This aging midfield is rife with vulnerabilities. Is Jin Taige pinning his hopes on Nani? Or perhaps Mahrez?"

As Raman continued his commentary, Jin Taige had retreated to the locker room with his players.

Feeling the oppressive weight of being held to a draw at home, the players displayed a collective sense of disappointment.

Recognizing their effort, Jin Taige offered them words of comfort: "You all performed admirably, and I appreciate your hard work. Now, let's unwind with a shower, and take a day off tomorrow. I expect each of you to return for training the day after."

At the post-match press conference, Jin Taige and Mourinho sat flanking each other.

A reporter posed a question to Mourinho: "Are you satisfied with today's result?"

"Of course not," Mourinho replied curtly, "I failed to attain the points I sought today."

"Mr. Jin Taige, how do you assess this match?"

Jin Taige remarked without hesitation: "Though we did not earn any league points today, we will reclaim them at Stamford Bridge in the latter half of the season!"

As the coaches of both teams remained resolute, this fierce battle between red and blue concluded in a stalemate.

With an eye on the forthcoming third round of the Premier League scheduled for August 31, where Manchester United will venture to Anfield to confront Liverpool, Jin Taige was acutely aware that he would face Brendan Rodgers for the first time.

On the morning following the match, the players enjoyed a day of rest. Jin Taige afforded Scholes and Ferran the same privilege. He retreated to his office alone, eager to analyze Liverpool's lineup and playing style.

Brendan Rodgers, the Liverpool coach who had recently taken the helm in 2012, was someone Jin Taige knew somewhat. At a prior reception, Jin Taige had dismissed Rodgers with disdain, mocking his lackluster performance in failing to guide Liverpool out of the European competition last season.

Despite his earlier remarks, Jin Taige held a deep respect for Rodgers. From what he knew, although Rodgers faced challenges during the 2012-2013 season, he emerged triumphantly in 2013-2014, leading Liverpool on a relentless pursuit of the league title—an endeavor tragically halted by Gerrard's fateful slip, which cost the team their remarkable efforts throughout the season.

Upon assuming the role at Liverpool, Rodgers shifted the team's strategy from defensive counters to emphasizing possession and organized play, favoring young, technically skilled players. Numerous youth team talents blossomed under his tutelage, earning their rightful places in the first team, with Sterling being his most noteworthy disciple, alongside the acquisitions of Sturridge and Coutinho—significantly bolstering Liverpool's attacking prowess.

Thus, even as Jin Taige had belittled Rodgers at the reception, he regarded him as a formidable adversary in his ambition for a "treble."

Yet, despite this lofty goal, Jin Taige realized that in pursuing his ambitions, he must confront Rodgers with unwavering resolve.

Jin Taige's table was cluttered with newspapers from days past. The source of this renewed attention was the bet he had made—vowing to eliminate Liverpool.

At the gathering a few days prior, Jin Taige had wagered that Manchester United would prevail against Liverpool. He had declared that should he fail, he would leap off the Tower Bridge into the Thames.

As numerous media outlets covered this bold proclamation, it soon became the focal point of discussion, particularly with the match between the Red Devils and the Red Army approaching in the third round of the Premier League.

Contemplating his actions, Jin Taige realized that the audacious statement and wager had been made in a moment of fervor. However, the pressure weighed heavily on him. Liverpool presented a formidable opponent; defeating them was no less challenging than winning the Premier League itself. With his words now irrevocable, Jin Taige was left with no choice but to prepare meticulously for the crucial encounter at Anfield on August 31.

He dedicated the entire morning to scrutinizing Liverpool's tactics. In the afternoon, he opted for a brief respite from club duties. He cherished time spent with his children and wife, relishing the joys of family life.

After dinner, Jin Taige engaged his two children in playful exploration within the living room. His phone buzzed; it was Ferran. "Ferran said my call couldn't have come at a better time. My Battlestar is engaged in a crucial battle against the giant Doraemon monster!"

"Tiger! Quickly switch on the TV and tune into Entertainment and Sports Channel 2; they're discussing you!" Ferran urged.

As he switched to Entertainment and Sports Channel 2, Jin Taige was taken aback by what he saw on the screen. There he was, featured prominently.