Chapter 33

Jin Taige carefully considered his options before ultimately choosing Phil Jones to replace the injured Kanté. Under Sir Alex Ferguson, Jones had frequently played as a defensive midfielder and performed well. His aggressive, fearless tackling had won over many Manchester United fans. Now, with the opportunity to start in the Manchester Derby, Jones was full of confidence and eager to prove himself.

Among Manchester United's young players, Jin Taige had the highest expectations for two: Rafael and Jones.

Rafael's role was already established. Since taking charge, Jin Taige had made him the undisputed starting right-back, valuing his attacking prowess and ability to support the offense.

Beyond Rafael, Jin Taige was particularly hopeful about Jones's development.

Signed from Blackburn in 2011 for €19 million, Jones was a versatile player who had shown promise across multiple positions. However, what endeared him most to Manchester United supporters was his fearless, hard-nosed defensive style a quality that made him a fan favorite.

Just minutes into the match, Jones made his presence felt.

Manchester City's No. 10, Agüero, received the ball from Giggs in midfield, accelerated forward, and drove toward the penalty area. Jones refused to let him pass so easily. As Agüero feinted and changed direction, thinking he had beaten the "big, clumsy defender," Jones lunged in from the side with a crunching tackle, sending both Agüero and the ball to the ground.

"Foul!" roared the Manchester City fans.

The referee, however, waved play on. He judged that Jones had cleanly won the ball.

Giggs ran over and clapped Jones on the back. "Phil, great tackle!"

Jones stood over Agüero, watching as the Argentine slowly picked himself up. He licked his lips slightly, his eyes full of determination.

You're not getting past me, little man.

Nasri helped Agüero to his feet. "You alright?"

Agüero shook his head. "That big idiot is brutal."

Nasri smirked. "Let's stay closer to the box. If we keep drawing fouls, we'll get free kicks. Maybe even a penalty. He's too reckless—sooner or later, he'll make a mistake."

Agüero nodded but said nothing, jogging back into position for the next attack.

The opening 20 minutes saw both teams attacking with intensity, but neither side managed to break through.

Manchester City's defense led by Kompany and reinforced by Yaya Touré and Fernandinho in midfield held firm against United's attack. On the other side, Manchester United's wide players, Ashley Young and Valencia, contributed both offensively and defensively. While they lacked the flair of Mahrez and Nani, their discipline helped contain City's dangerous forward trio of Nasri, Agüero, and Navas. As a result, City struggled to break through, and Negredo was left isolated up front.

Despite the lack of goals, the game had the intensity of a true Manchester Derby.

Raman's voice echoed through the live broadcast:

- "Fernandinho brings down Giggs! The referee blows for a foul Giggs is in pain. United's players surround the referee, demanding action. The decision? Yellow card for Fernandinho."

- "Rafael with a crunching tackle on Navas! The referee is quick to react yellow card for Rafael! Manchester City now have a dangerous free kick just outside the box." -"Chaos in United's penalty area! Ferdinand and Negredo both go for the header neither connects! The ball rolls out of play. Negredo is down Ferdinand too! Is the referee giving a penalty? No! The referee signals a free kick for United he spotted a push from Negredo. But Ferdinand got away with a physical challenge too."

The match was turning into a battle. In just 30 minutes, three players had already been booked. And the most aggressive of them all was Phil Jones.

Jones was in peak form. Something about the derby atmosphere, the boos from the home fans everything fueled him. He was playing his role to perfection, disrupting City's attack at every opportunity.

Nasri, Agüero, and Navas struggled to combine. Whenever they held the ball too long, Jones would lunge in either winning possession or sending them to the ground. So far, he had already broken up three dangerous attacks.

On the sideline, Scholes was pleased. "If Jones keeps playing like this, even when Kanté returns, his starting spot might be in jeopardy."

Jin Taige smiled but remained cautious. "If Jones can consistently maintain this level, he has the potential to become one of the best defensive players in the world. Strong defensively, physically dominant, versatile every coach dreams of a player like that."

However, Jin Taige also knew the risks.

In another timeline, Jones's career had been plagued by injuries. By the summer of 2018 before Jin Taige took charge Jones had suffered 27 injuries in his Manchester United career. A staggering number.

Jones had a strong mentality, but the injuries kept setting him back. He would find form, then get injured. Recover, regain confidence then another setback. It became a vicious cycle.

Jin Taige had often wondered was there a way to change Jones's fate? Could he find a way to keep him fit and unlock his full potential?

But right now, his main concern was more immediate.

Despite his excellent performance, Jones was playing on the edge. His tackles were aggressive borderline reckless.

Jin Taige furrowed his brow. "I just have one hope now Jones must not get booked. If he picks up a yellow, he'll have to hold back, and that'll put us in real trouble…"

x~X~x

Despite Scholes' praise for Jones, Jin Taige couldn't shake his concern. "I just have one wish now Jones must not get booked. His tackles are too aggressive. If he picks up a yellow card, he'll be in trouble…"

Barely two minutes after those words left his mouth, Jones received a yellow card.

It was the 43rd minute, just before halftime. Manchester City launched one last attack. Nasri, Agüero, and Navas combined at pace, using their technical skill to advance up the pitch. Agüero collected the ball at the top of the box, scanning for options. Negredo was tightly marked by United's center-backs, so Agüero decided to take the shot himself.

As he prepared to strike, Jones arrived fast and forceful. He lunged in, sweeping both Agüero and the ball to the ground.

"Jones takes down Agüero! That's a penalty!" Sky Sports commentator Raman shouted. "He's in trouble this could be a yellow card and a penalty!"

At a United supporters' bar, fans erupted: "That was clean! Jones got the ball!" Meanwhile, City fans at the Etihad Stadium rained down boos, convinced it was a reckless foul in the box.

The referee blew his whistle and pointed to the spot where the foul occurred just outside the penalty area. No penalty. A free kick instead.

"A close call," commentator Morris sighed. "The referee books Jones, but at least it's not a penalty. That was a real scare for United."

City's players swarmed the referee in protest. They argued that Jones' tackle was dangerous and deserved a red card. Agüero, still on the ground, pleaded that the foul had happened inside the box.

But the referee stood firm, waving them away. The decision stood free kick, yellow card.

Ferdinand walked up to Jones, patting his back. "Phil, that was close."

Jones exhaled. "I had no choice. If I didn't go in, Agüero had a clean shot."

Samir Nasri stepped up for the free kick. His technique was one of the best at City. He struck the ball with precision it curled over the wall, skimming just past the outside of the post. United fans held their breath before sighing in relief.

The first half ended in a tense, hard-fought stalemate. Both teams had picked up multiple yellow cards, but neither had found the breakthrough.

In the Manchester City dressing room, Manuel Pellegrini laid out his strategy for the second half. A composed and methodical coach, Pellegrini had earned the nickname "The Engineer" due to his background in civil engineering. Having managed top clubs in Spain including Villarreal, Real Madrid, and Málaga his tactical acumen was well respected. It was his ability to develop players and build cohesive teams that led City to bring him in from Málaga.

Now, he addressed his players. "Manchester United's attack has been underwhelming. Their biggest strength today is their defensive organization. Their wingers, Ashley Young and Valencia, don't offer the same offensive threat as Mahrez or Nani, but they provide defensive stability. This has made it difficult for us to break them down from the flanks."

Pellegrini turned to Nasri, Agüero, and Navas. "That means our best option is through the middle. I want the three of you attacking United's box relentlessly. Their center-backs are dominant in the air, but their weakness is turning quickly under pressure. Use your speed and movement force them into mistakes."

The trio nodded in agreement.

Pellegrini continued, this time focusing on a specific weakness. "United's defensive midfield has been solid today, but remember Phil Jones is on a yellow card. If we pressure him, we can exploit that."

Navas hesitated. "Jones has been tough to get past. Are you sure we should focus on him?"

Pellegrini nodded. "Yes. He's aggressive, but he's on thin ice. If we keep challenging him, he might make another reckless tackle. If he gets sent off, we'll have a huge advantage."

Nasri grinned. "Got it, coach. I'll find a way to draw him into another foul."

Agüero glanced at Nasri. The Frenchman had a reputation as a troublemaker, always looking for ways to provoke opponents. Seeing the mischievous glint in Nasri's eye, Agüero sighed. Being on the same team as this guy is great. Playing against him? That's another story…

Meanwhile, in the visiting dressing room, Jin Taige addressed his squad.

"City have attacked aggressively, but we've defended well. Our fullbacks have kept their wingers in check, and our midfield has held strong. But in the second half, we need to increase our attacking threat."

He turned to Van Persie. "Robin, you're losing energy out there."

Van Persie wiped sweat from his forehead. "The schedule has been intense. My legs feel heavy."

Jin Taige nodded. "I'll rest you in the second half. I'm bringing on Icardi. He's strong in the box and has great positioning. Ashley Young and Valencia when you get the chance, cross the ball in and look for Icardi."

With the attack settled, Jin Taige shifted his focus. He locked eyes with Jones.

"Phil, you've been fantastic today, but you need to stay disciplined. Your position is crucial if they get past you, our center-backs will be exposed. Keep pressing them, but be careful. We can't afford to go down to ten men."

Jones clenched his fist. "Boss, don't worry. As long as I'm on the pitch, I won't let City players get through me!"

Jin Taige paused, a sense of unease creeping in. As long as you're on the pitch?

That phrase made him nervous.

With the second half about to begin, both managers had made their adjustments. Manchester City would target Jones. Manchester United would push forward.