Chapter 32

In the cheers of the fans, Manchester United's 2013-2014 UEFA Champions League campaign began with a victory. Manchester United defeated Leverkusen 4-2 at home, securing a strong start in the competition.

After the match, Scholes asked Jin Taige, "Captain, Marshall usually plays as a striker or second forward in training. What made you decide to play him on the wing?"

Jin Taige smiled. "When Martial was at Lyon, he played as a winger on occasion, so he's familiar with the role. With the score at 2-2, if I had brought on a more experienced player like Valencia, he might have been trapped by the opponent's defense just like Nani was. Valencia has solid passing ability and balance between offense and defense, but in terms of explosiveness, Martial is stronger. So I sent Martial on to attack Leverkusen's strong but heavy back line, and it paid off."

Scholes was impressed. "Captain, your tactical decisions are becoming more and more like Sir Alex Ferguson's."

Jin Taige laughed. "Paul, I wouldn't go that far. I still have a long way to go to match the boss."

In the locker room, Jin Taige praised the team's performance. He gave the players the next morning off to rest before they resumed preparation for the packed fixture schedule ahead.

With this Champions League win added to their earlier 3-0 victory over Liverpool and 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, Manchester United had now secured three consecutive wins across all competitions. Jin Taige's squad was in excellent form, and everything was going smoothly.

After these wins, the English media shifted their tone. Where there had once been doubts about Jin Taige's leadership, there was now widespread praise.

Manchester United's CEO, Woodward, even visited Jin Taige's office, bringing a stack of newspapers for him to see.

Jin Taige smiled. "See? This is all thanks to the 'darts tournament.' If we build good relationships with the media, life is much easier. Otherwise, if we spend all our time arguing with journalists, how can we focus on managing the team?"

Woodward nodded in admiration. "Tiger, the person I respect most is Sir Alex Ferguson. He's brilliant finding a young, talented coach like you was a masterstroke. This is Manchester United's good fortune."

Everything was going well for Jin Taige. The English press was on his side, the team was performing, new signings were proving their worth, and the veterans were fully backing him.

Even Wolf, the notorious Sun journalist who had been critical of him, had shifted focus to Chelsea. He was now clashing with Mourinho instead. A journalist like Wolf always needs someone to criticize, but for now, Jin Taige was in the clear.

The only concern on his mind was Kanté.

After the last match, Jin Taige had the medical team thoroughly examine Kanté's knee, and they found a minor injury. While not serious, the doctors advised a two-week rest to avoid long-term issues.

Jin Taige followed their advice. He wanted Kanté to be a pillar of Manchester United's midfield for the next decade, not risk his future over a few matches.

Kanté was disappointed he wanted to be on the pitch during this crucial stretch. But Jin Taige reassured him, "Take care of your injury first. I need you at 100%."

Time passed quickly. After defeating Leverkusen at home on September 17, Manchester United prepared for their next major test an away derby against Manchester City on September 22, in the fifth round of the league.

Though officially an "away" match, the distance between Old Trafford and Etihad Stadium is just under 20 kilometers a short 20-minute drive. Travel fatigue was not a concern.

Despite Manchester United's global fanbase, within the city itself, Manchester City has historically had a larger local following. Originally, Manchester only had one major club Manchester City so many of the city's football-loving families supported them for generations. Even as Manchester United grew into a global powerhouse, City fans continued to view their club as the city's true team.

At the pre-match press conference, Jin Taige confidently told reporters that he aimed to continue United's winning momentum in the derby.

Manchester City's new manager, Pellegrini, took a more reserved approach. He did not predict the outcome but promised an exciting match for the fans.

Leading into the match, most of the media favored Jin Taige's Manchester United.

City had actually been in better form, winning all four of their league matches and topping the table with 12 points. United sat in second place with 10 points from three wins and a draw. Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool, and Everton followed, while Chelsea struggling with three consecutive draws had dropped to tenth.

The *Manchester Evening News* published an analysis by journalist Hall, discussing the Premier League's early trends.

"The season is still young, so it's too early to determine how things will unfold. But one thing is certain this season promises to be thrilling. 'The Special One' Mourinho is back, 'The Engineer' Pellegrini is making his mark, and 'The Red Devils' Heir' Jin Taige is taking charge at Old Trafford. Tottenham and Liverpool are pushing for a breakthrough, while Wenger's Arsenal dreams of another league title. The battle for the top six will be fiercely contested."

"Manchester United has already faced Chelsea, Liverpool, and now Manchester City within the first five rounds an intense early challenge for Jin Taige. So far, he has drawn with Chelsea and beaten Liverpool. Now, the question remains how will Manchester United fare against their city rivals?"

XXXX

As Jin Taige stepped into the Etihad Stadium, a deafening chorus of boos erupted from the Manchester City supporters. Tens of thousands of home fans greeted their city rivals with hostility, their jeers even louder than those directed at Manchester United when they played at Anfield.

After a few Premier League away matches, Jin Taige had grown accustomed to the hostile atmosphere. He smirked and turned to Scholes. "Is this how Manchester City fans treat their neighbors? There's an old saying: 'Distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors.' After all, we share the same city shouldn't there be some friendliness?"

Scholes, however, was serious. "A city derby is an essential part of European football culture. For many teams, even if they don't win the league, as long as they beat their local rivals, the fans will be happy for the entire season."

Jin Taige chuckled and patted Scholes on the shoulder. "Paul, I'm just joking. Relax. We know this opponent well. They've signed a lot of new players this summer, but they're still in the early stages of building chemistry. The reason they've won their first four games is that they haven't faced any of the 'Big Six' yet. I don't think we'll have much trouble today."

Phelan nodded enthusiastically. "Tiger is right. We're going to win this!"

Manchester City lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation:

- Goalkeeper: Joe Hart

- Defenders: Kolarov, Nastasić, Kompany, Zabaleta

- Midfielders: Yaya Touré, Fernandinho (holding); Nasri, Agüero, Navas (attacking)

- Striker: Negredo

Their bench was stacked with talent Milner, Džeko, Javi García, Richards, Lescott, Pantilimon, and Jovetić strong enough to rival many Premier League starting lineups.

Manchester United, as usual, went with a 4-4-2 setup:

- Goalkeeper: De Gea

- Defenders: Smalling, Ferdinand, Evra, Rafael

- Midfielders: Phil Jones (replacing the injured Kanté as the defensive midfielder), Giggs (captain), Ashley Young, Valencia

- Forwards: Van Persie, Rooney

On the bench sat Alisson, Alonso, Van Dijk, Mahrez, Nani, Martial, and Icardi strong reinforcements ready if needed.

Before kickoff, the two managers exchanged a handshake.

Pellegrini smiled. "This should be a fantastic match."

Jin Taige nodded. "No doubt. Good luck."

The referee blew the whistle, and the match began.

Morris and Raman were in the commentary booth for Sky Sports.

Morris introduced the starting lineups before Raman made his prediction. "I don't fancy Manchester United in this one. I think they'll suffer a heavy defeat at the Etihad."

Morris raised an eyebrow. "Why do you say that? Based on recent form and squad strength, the teams seem evenly matched."

"Because they don't have Kanté today," Raman argued. "In their first four league matches, Manchester United scored nine goals and conceded just one and that was from a free kick. That tells us their defense has been outstanding, and a key reason for that is Kanté."

Morris smirked. "Not long ago, didn't you call him 'a nobody from the French league'?"

Raman flushed slightly. "I'll admit, I underestimated him. But we've all seen his impact. Even in their Champions League match against Leverkusen, when Kanté was slightly injured, Manchester United conceded twice. He has already become the defensive core of this team. And now, without him, Manchester United will be vulnerable against City's attack. I think they'll be in trouble today. Morris, even as a United fan, don't you think I have a point?"

Though Raman's words were sharp, Morris nodded. "I hate to say it, but you're not wrong. Kanté's absence is a huge blow. Jin Taige's decision to start Phil Jones in his place is definitely a gamble."

Jin Taige himself was well aware of the risk. But what choice did he have? Last season, under Sir Alex Ferguson, United rarely played with a dedicated defensive midfielder not because Ferguson disliked the system, but because the squad lacked a true holding midfielder. That's why Ferguson relied on attacking football, aiming to outscore opponents rather than out-defend them. Against weaker teams, that strategy worked, and United managed to win the league.

However, in Europe, against elite clubs, their defensive vulnerabilities were exposed. This was evident when Real Madrid eliminated them in the Champions League Round of 16.

This season, with Scholes retiring and Premier League clubs strengthening their squads, Jin Taige had made defensive solidity a priority. Kanté's arrival had proven vital, and his performances had silenced any doubts about his ability. Jin Taige believed that, barring injuries, Kanté would be a cornerstone of his treble-winning ambitions.

But now, after just four league matches, Kanté was sidelined. Fortunately, it wasn't a serious injury, but his absence for this critical fixture was a significant setback.

After much deliberation, Jin Taige decided to deploy Phil Jones as the defensive midfielder. Jones had occasionally played in that role under Ferguson and had performed admirably. His aggressive defensive style had earned him praise from United fans. Today, he was eager to prove himself in Kanté's absence.

As the match got underway, Jones clenched his fists, ready for battle.

Manchester United had no choice but to fight without their midfield anchor. Would their resilience be enough to overcome their city rivals?

The Manchester Derby had begun.