Chapter 30

In the fourth round of the Premier League, Manchester United defeated Crystal Palace 2-0 at Old Trafford. Icardi and Martial each scored, securing the victory.

While satisfied with the result, Jin Taige was most pleased with the debut of Wilfried Zaha, whom Manchester United had loaned to Crystal Palace.

Perhaps due to facing his future manager, Zaha played with high intensity. His dribbles down the wing posed a serious threat. If not for Kanté's crucial interceptions, Zaha might have had a clear shot on goal.

In the 76th minute, Zaha was substituted. As he walked off, Jin Taige approached him, patted his shoulder, and said, "Good performance."

Zaha, with a determined expression, replied, "I hope to return here soon."

Jin Taige nodded. "If you keep playing at this level, it won't take long. Even if you don't want to come back, I'll make sure you do."

With his left hand on Zaha's shoulder, Jin Taige led him toward the home fans' stand. Raising his right hand, he signaled for applause. The Old Trafford faithful responded with a round of cheers.

Zaha, visibly moved, looked at his young manager, full of anticipation for his future return to Manchester United.

After the match, Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway shook hands with Jin Taige and said, "Tiger, if possible, loan me Zaha again next season."

Jin Taige thought for a moment. "If he's out of form and playing poorly, I'll let him stay at Crystal Palace."

As Jin Taige walked away, Holloway realized "Wait… If Zaha is out of form and playing poorly, why would I even want him?"

Despite the victory, Jin Taige had concerns Anderson was still too selfish with the ball. Instead of making key passes, he often tried to take on defenders alone, wasting scoring chances. If Giggs had played instead, Manchester United might have won 5-0.

After weeks of observation, Jin Taige was losing patience. Anderson ignored tactical instructions in both training and matches. Jin Taige had repeatedly told him to focus on teamwork and reduce dribbling, but he simply wouldn't listen.

Maybe it wasn't deliberate disobedience maybe this was just the way Anderson played. But Manchester United's system didn't allow for that style, unless he was at the level of Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi. If that were the case, Jin Taige would have gladly built a team around him.

Now, Jin Taige had made up his mind if Anderson didn't improve soon, he'd be sold next summer.

September 17 marked a significant moment Jin Taige's first-ever UEFA Champions League match as Manchester United's manager. The opponent: Bayer Leverkusen, at home.

With back-to-back home games, the squad was in good form. Jin Taige took the match seriously and named his starting lineup:

- Formation:4-4-2

- Goalkeeper:De Gea

- Defense:Smalling, Ferdinand, Evra, Rafael

- Midfield:Kanté, Giggs, Mahrez, Nani

- Forwards:Rooney, Van Persie

- Bench:Alisson, Alonso, Jones, Ashley Young, Valencia, Icardi, Martial

Most pundits expected Manchester United to dominate. However, Jin Taige was wary. He studied Leverkusen's front three and frowned.

Leading the attack was Stefan Kießling, a reliable veteran striker. Behind him were two dangerous new signings Son Heung-min, the promising South Korean winger, and Emre Can, a talented midfielder recently acquired from Bayern Munich.

In the football world that Jin Taige knew, Son Heung-min became a lethal weapon for Leverkusen, wreaking havoc in the Bundesliga and Champions League before moving to Tottenham for €25 million in 2015. Emre Can, meanwhile, would join Liverpool in 2014 and develop into a strong box-to-box midfielder.

Although on paper this match seemed straightforward, Jin Taige felt uneasy.

Manchester United's attack was in fine form. The team played with fluidity and confidence.

In the 21st minute, Van Persie opened the scoring. He latched onto a Giggs through-ball and finished clinically in the box 1-0.

Eight minutes later, Mahrez added a second. Cutting inside from the wing, he had no passing options, so he went for goal. His powerful long-range shot found the back of the net 2-0.

Inside 30 minutes, Manchester United had a comfortable lead.

Then, things unraveled.

For the next fifteen minutes, Manchester United became sloppy. Whether it was complacency or fatigue, their intensity dropped.

In the 37th minute, Leverkusen capitalized. Their front three combined fluidly, pulling apart Manchester United's defense. Kießling outmuscled Smalling and slotted home 2-1.

Before halftime, Leverkusen struck again. Son Heung-min dazzled on the left flank, drawing multiple defenders before cutting back to Emre Can at the edge of the box. The midfielder took a touch and unleashed a powerful strike into the top corner 2-2. De Gea could only watch.

To make matters worse, just before halftime, Smalling pulled up with a muscle injury. Jin Taige knew he wouldn't be able to continue.

At halftime, Manchester United trudged back to the dressing room, the score tied 2-2. Jin Taige sat down, his brow furrowed. This wasn't going to be easy.

XXXX

Jin Taige was on his way to the locker room, still reflecting on the events of the first half. How had his team conceded two goals in quick succession?

At the start of the match, Manchester United had performed exceptionally well. Both the attacking and defensive players displayed the dominance expected of the reigning Premier League champions. Leverkusen struggled to find their rhythm. However, after United took a 2-0 lead, their defensive stability crumbled.

The second goal they conceded was a stunning long-range strike from Emre Can. The shot had both power and precision almost unstoppable. Even if he attempted it a hundred times,he might not score again.

The first conceded goal, however, left Jin Taige frustrated. Leverkusen had built up play through midfield, with their attacking trio executing a series of quick passes. Son Heung-min made a diagonal run into the penalty area, slipping past the defense. Stefan Kießling then outmaneuvered Chris Smalling and slotted the ball into the net. The biggest issue with this goal was Smalling's poor positioning, which allowed Kießling to gain the upper hand.

Jin Taige sighed. He had always felt that Smalling struggled in key moments. As the supposed successor to Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidić, his positional awareness and decision-making often fell short, particularly in high-pressure matches. Against weaker teams, these flaws were less noticeable.

Since taking charge of Manchester United, Jin Taige had high expectations for Smalling. The defender was disciplined, worked hard in training, and had good chemistry with teammates. His height also made him a valuable asset. In Taige's mind, Smalling was the third-choice center-back behind Ferdinand and Vidić. Even though United had signed Virgil van Dijk and Eric Bailly that summer, those players were still adapting. As a result, Smalling carried a significant defensive burden.

Yet after observing him in competitive matches, Jin Taige realized that Smalling was still far from being an elite center-back.

Besides Smalling's struggles, Taige was also surprised by N'Golo Kanté's inconsistent performance. He lost several duels uncharacteristic for a player known for his tenacity. The German side played physically, but was Kanté really that outmatched?

Still pondering these issues, Jin Taige entered the locker room.

The players were drinking water and discussing the first half. When they saw him enter, they immediately greeted him:

"Boss!"

Jin Taige took a seat. "No need to stand. Just listen to me." He scanned the room before continuing. "The match schedule has been intense. Everyone needs to manage their fitness carefully."

The players nodded.

Jin Taige remained silent for a moment, his expression serious. The players felt the tension. They knew he was unhappy with the first-half performance.

"You played strangely in the first half," Taige finally said. "Before taking the 2-0 lead, you had the spirit of the Red Devils. But after that, what happened? Why did you stop playing aggressively?"

His words made the players lower their heads in shame.

Instead of dwelling on mistakes, Taige shifted his focus. "Don't underestimate our opponents. Any team that qualifies for the Champions League is strong. The German teams, in particular, are disciplined and physically imposing. Their attacking trio is dangerous—we need to be extra cautious."

He turned to Smalling. "How's your injury?"

Smalling shook his head. The team doctor stepped in. "It's not too serious, but he won't be able to continue in the second half."

Jin Taige glanced toward the warm-up area. "I expected this. Jones will replace Smalling."

Next, he looked at Kanté. "Kanté, you don't seem like yourself today. Are you fatigued from the Crystal Palace match?"

Kanté shook his head. "Boss, my stamina is fine, but… my knee feels uncomfortable. I'm struggling to generate power."

Jin Taige's expression hardened. Kanté was the backbone of his midfield he couldn't afford to lose him.

The medical staff quickly examined Kanté's knee. Jin Taige watched anxiously. After a few moments, the doctors gave their assessment. "There doesn't appear to be a major issue. It's likely fatigue from the last match. However, knee problems can be tricky. We recommend a full medical evaluation after the game."

Jin Taige asked Kanté, "Can you continue? If not, I'll sub you out."

Kanté immediately waved his hands. "The team needs me. The second half will be physically demanding. I can manage, boss."

Jin Taige hesitated but nodded. "Alright. Giggs, help out defensively in midfield."

"Got it, boss," Giggs replied.

When the second half began, Jones replaced the injured Smalling. His aggressive playing style gave United a much-needed boost. With Ferdinand guiding him, the defensive line regained its stability.

Kanté also improved, though Taige noticed that he was still favoring his right leg. However, his tactical awareness compensated for his limited movement. Giggs also followed instructions, dropping deeper to support the midfield defense.

Leverkusen attempted to continue their attacking momentum, but United's adjustments had neutralized their threat.

By the 70th minute, the score remained 2-2.

United's defense was now solid, but their offense struggled. Jin Taige surveyed his forwards and frowned. The attack was not clicking. His mind raced, searching for a solution…

XXXX

Hey umm sorry about not uploading life just got weird and troublesome but I'm backish.... yeah