Chapter 40

Liverpool's attack had stalled. With Van Dijk shadowing Suárez, and Fletcher reinforcing the defense, United had weathered the storm.

Jin Taige saw the shift in momentum this was their chance to equalize.

He whistled toward Xabi Alonso and made a forward motion. Alonso immediately understood and pushed further up the pitch.

At the 69th minute, Taige made two decisive substitutions:

1. Icardi was replaced by Rooney, who moved into the central striker role.

2. Anderson replaced the exhausted Shinji Kagawa, adding creativity in attack.

With these changes, Manchester United's offense became much sharper.

Previously, United's attack had been structured around Rooney feeding Icardi, making Icardi the main finisher.

With Martial replacing him, the system changed.

- Rooney occupied Liverpool's defenders in the box.

-Martial, playing as a shadow striker, had space to exploit with his pace.

And it nearly paid off immediately.

Martial sprinted to the edge of the box and unleashed a powerful shot but Mignolet held onto it.

Despite the substitutions, one player was playing with something extra to prove Anderson.

He had been frustrated by his lack of game time. He believed he was being unfairly overlooked by Taige in favor of players like Kagawa.

When Anderson came on, Kagawa offered a handshake but Anderson ignored him completely.

"A Japanese with limited ability is starting ahead of me? Taige must be blind."

He stormed onto the pitch with one goal in mind—proving his worth.

Unlike Kagawa's precise passing play, Anderson brought raw aggression and direct dribbling. He was a wrecking ball in Liverpool's half, disrupting their defense.

Liverpool's backline couldn't cope with the shift they were used to a technical playmaker, not a bull charging straight at them.

In the 78th minute, Martial picked up the ball near the halfway line.

Henderson moved to close him down, but Martial outpaced him with ease, sprinting forward.

- Rooney positioned himself inside the penalty area, expecting a pass.

- Lucas Leiva rushed toward Martial, trying to cut him off.

Martial was about to slip a pass to Rooney but then he spotted Anderson, completely unmarked.

At the last second, Martial changed his mind and laid it off to Anderson.

Inside the box, Rooney and Martial were waiting for a return pass.

But Anderson had other ideas.

"This is my moment."

With no hesitation, he unleashed a low-driven strike.

The ball skidded across the turf unstoppable.

GOAL!

3-3! Manchester United had equalized!

Anderson raced toward the North Stand, sliding on his knees in celebration as Old Trafford erupted in deafening cheers.

Taige and Scholes fist-pumped on the sidelines, feeding off the crowd's energy.

The match was now anyone's to win.

Taige wasn't satisfied with a draw.

In the 88th minute, he made another attacking change Nani off, Valencia on.

Valencia made an immediate impact.

He delivered a pinpoint cross from the right wing.

- Rooney rose highest, meeting the ball with a thunderous header.

- Mignolet barely managed to punch it away.

But the ball fell to Anderson, lurking outside the box.

Anderson didn't think twice.

A first-time strike drilled low, through the crowded penalty area…

GOAL!!!

Manchester United had turned the match around in the final minutes!

4-3!

Old Trafford exploded in celebration.

Fans embraced, screamed, and chanted, while Taige and Scholes hugged on the sidelines.

"No matter what Anderson's attitude is off the pitch tonight, he is Manchester United's hero!"

In the 88th minute, Anderson struck again, giving Manchester United a 4-3 lead. Liverpool threw everything forward in the final moments, but United held firm. Even Rooney dropped deep into the defense, and Anderson, known for his attacking mindset, joined the effort to protect the lead. The three minutes of stoppage time expired, and Old Trafford erupted—United had won.

At the post-match press conference, Jin Taige was in high spirits. "I told you earlier—no matter how many times we face Liverpool this season, we will beat them. Some of you doubted me. Now do you believe it? We won. The second kill is complete!" His confidence filled the room. Brendan Rodgers, unwilling to face the media after the loss, sent his assistant, who attempted to shift the focus by praising Liverpool's three goals and expressing disappointment over the result.

Shortly after, the FA Cup draw took place in London. Scholes turned to Jin Taige. "Do you think they'll give us Arsenal or Chelsea again?" Taige smirked. "If I had a choice, I'd want Manchester City. That 1-4 loss still stings. I want revenge—the sooner, the better!" However, United avoided a major rival, drawing Norwich City in the Round of 16. It wasn't the easiest fixture, but it was far from the worst possible outcome.

Three days later, United hosted West Brom in the Premier League. The fixture carried historical weight—West Brom was the opponent in Sir Alex Ferguson's final game as United manager. With squad rotation in the previous match, United's starting lineup was fresh. Vidic returned from injury and partnered Smalling in central defense. Jones, back from suspension, played alongside Giggs in midfield. Taige warned him to control his aggression, and though Jones listened, he still picked up a yellow card. Scholes laughed. "Jones is finally evolving."

United secured a 2-0 win, collecting another three points and continuing their chase of league leaders Manchester City. Jones put in a dominant performance, breaking up West Brom's attacks, while Taige felt reassured seeing Vidic back in action. To ease him back into form, Taige substituted him at halftime, bringing on Van Dijk for the second half. After the game, Taige checked in. "How do you feel?" Vidic nodded. "Boss, don't worry, I'm good." Taige sighed in relief. "This stretch without you and Rio has been brutal." Vidic looked over at the pitch. "They did well. Honestly, I don't think it'll be long before Leo and I can think about retirement." Taige immediately shut that down. "Your contract runs until 2016, and I need you both for this team. We're fighting for the treble. Don't even think about it." Vidic didn't argue. Instead, he looked up at the sky above Old Trafford, taking it all in.

With Jones and Vidic back, Taige's defensive worries eased slightly, but injuries remained a concern. Ferdinand was out for at least two more months, but Taige personally delivered his contract extension, ensuring he could retire at United with dignity. Visibly moved, Ferdinand signed without hesitation. Carrick was progressing in his rehab, while the most promising news was that Kanté had resumed ball training.

Seeing how much Kanté's absence affected the team, Taige began planning for reinforcements in defensive midfield for the summer transfer window. For now, Jones was filling the role, but a long-term solution was needed.

With back-to-back wins behind them, United turned their focus to the Champions League.

XXXX

On October 2, 2013, Manchester United traveled to Ukraine to face Shakhtar Donetsk in the second round of the Champions League group stage. Jin Taige took this match seriously. Shakhtar had dominated the Ukrainian league for four consecutive seasons and possessed a strong squad, especially with the two Brazilian stars they signed in 2010.

Alex Teixeira, who arrived for €6 million from Vasco da Gama, had developed into Shakhtar's attacking core, attracting attention from Europe's elite clubs. On the other wing, Douglas Costa, a quick and skillful dribbler, had been signed for €8 million. Rumors suggested Bayern Munich were keeping an eye on him.

Understanding the challenge ahead, United traveled a day early to prepare. Shakhtar lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Teixeira and Costa supporting striker Luiz Adriano. Taige stuck with his usual 4-4-2: De Gea in goal, a backline of Vidic, Smalling, Evra, and Rafael; Jones and Giggs in midfield, Mahrez and Nani on the wings, with Van Persie and Rooney leading the attack.

From the start, United faced serious difficulties. Shakhtar played aggressively, disrupting United's rhythm. Mahrez and Nani were repeatedly fouled, but the referee let much of it go. The rough play unsettled United's attack. Jones responded with his typical fiery intensity, battling for every ball in midfield. The first half ended goalless, with both teams locked in a physical contest.

At halftime, Taige made adjustments. He replaced Nani with Valencia to prioritize crossing over dribbling. He also brought on Anderson for Giggs, hoping the Brazilian could recreate his magic from the Liverpool match.

But Anderson disappointed him. Despite instructions to release the ball quickly and avoid unnecessary contact, he played selfishly, dribbling into trouble instead of linking play. It was a costly mistake.

In the 63rd minute, Shakhtar's defensive midfielder Fernando dispossessed Anderson cleanly and launched a counterattack. Douglas Costa raced down the wing, cut inside, and delivered a precise pass into the box. Teixeira controlled the ball and fired into the far corner. De Gea couldn't stop it.

Shakhtar led 1-0.

Taige slammed his hands together and cursed.

Scholes sighed. "Captain, you shouldn't have brought on Anderson."

Taige gritted his teeth. "This is his last season at United. I gave him chances, but he refuses to take them."

Taige didn't mind players who liked to hold the ball—when it made sense. Mahrez, for example, had already earned Giggs' trust as his successor. But Anderson's dribbling was aimless. He slowed the attack, ignored his teammates' movement, and made United weaker.

Now trailing, Taige made another substitution. He brought on Marcos Alonso for Evra, pushing Alonso forward to provide more attacking width.

Finally, in the 80th minute, United equalized. Alonso's aggressive runs stretched Shakhtar's defense, creating space on the left. Vidic, ever the experienced leader, shifted wide to cover, allowing Jones to drop back and maintain the defensive shape.

Taige nodded in approval. "There's no replacement for experience," he thought. Vidic and Ferdinand might not have the speed of younger defenders, but their tactical intelligence still made them elite.

With United pushing forward, Alonso combined with Mahrez in a quick passing sequence before sending a cross to the near post. Van Persie flicked it on, and Rooney, perfectly positioned, slotted it home.

1-1.

That was the final score. United had fought hard for a draw, earning a valuable point in Ukraine.

After two group-stage matches, Manchester United and Shakhtar both had four points, topping the group. Leverkusen, with three points, followed closely behind, while Real Sociedad remained pointless at the bottom.

Taige had expected smooth qualification, but seeing the competition, he realized it wouldn't be as simple as he had hoped.

XXXX

In the second round of the Champions League group stage, Manchester United drew 1-1 away to Shakhtar Donetsk.

There was little time to rest. Just a day after returning home, on the afternoon of October 4, Jin Taige led his squad to Sunderland in northeast England, preparing for their next Premier League fixture the following day.

This was United's third game in a week, and the fatigue was evident. In training, Taige noticed his players were sluggish, their energy drained from the back-to-back away fixtures.

A large-scale rotation was necessary. The only bright spot was the return of Kante, whose recovery delighted Taige. After multiple confirmations from the medical team, he felt confident enough to include him in the starting lineup.

For this match, United deployed a 4-4-2 with several second-choice players. Alisson started in goal. The defense featured Jones and Van Dijk as center-backs, with Alonso and Rafael at fullback. In midfield, Fletcher partnered with Kagawa, while Young and Valencia played out wide. Up front, Icardi and Martial led the attack.

Despite the changes, Taige believed United's strong defense would keep Sunderland at bay. That prediction proved accurate—Sunderland barely threatened. However, to Taige's frustration, United also struggled to create chances.

Sunderland played ultra-defensively, parking all 11 players in their own half. They had no intention of counterattacking. Their sole objective was clear—grind out a draw against the defending champions. The home crowd booed their team's lack of ambition, but Sunderland remained disciplined in defense.

One player stood out—John O'Shea.

A decade-long servant of Manchester United, O'Shea had joined the club in 1999 and, after loan spells at Bournemouth and Antwerp, returned to establish himself as a reliable utility player. From 2001 to 2011, he witnessed United's highs and lows, playing alongside legends before moving to Sunderland in 2011.

In the tunnel before kickoff, O'Shea glanced at United's lineup and felt a pang of nostalgia. Apart from Rafael, Fletcher, and Valencia, he hardly recognized the rest. Even these three had once been juniors under his watch, now seasoned professionals.

"United's legacy continues," he thought, reminiscing about his own journey.

At Manchester United, he had lifted the Champions League, five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and three League Cups. The club had given him the stage to shine, and he had poured his best years into it. His fondest memories—thrilling matches, crucial goals, last-ditch tackles—were all painted in United red.

Lost in thought, O'Shea barely noticed someone approaching him.

"Brother, long time no see!"

Startled, he looked up. "Paul?"

It was Scholes. The former United midfielder, now an assistant coach, had come over to greet him.

"It's good to see you," Scholes said warmly.

"Yeah, it really is," O'Shea replied, glancing around. "Ryan's not playing today?"

Scholes shook his head. "The last match was too intense. They're getting a rest."

"How's coaching?"

"Good, but every time I walk out of the tunnel, I still feel like running onto the pitch," Scholes admitted with a chuckle.

"You retired, Ryan's benched—this is looking good for us," O'Shea joked.

Scholes smirked. "We're still getting three points."

"Let's see about that."

As the teams walked out onto the pitch, O'Shea made a detour to United's bench. He hugged Giggs, Vidic, Evra, and Rooney—former teammates who were happy to see him thriving as Sunderland's defensive leader. Leaving United had been his choice, and his old friends sincerely wished him well.

But once the match began, sentimentality vanished. O'Shea was ruthless. He marshaled Sunderland's defense with precision, thwarting United's attacks time and again.

United pushed hard. Icardi and Martial searched for gaps in Sunderland's deep block. Young and Valencia bombarded the flanks, delivering cross after cross. Alonso and Rafael surged forward to overload the wings. Yet, Sunderland held firm, their defense impenetrable.

Despite their best efforts, United couldn't break through.

The final whistle blew—0-0.

Sunderland had executed their game plan to perfection. Their ultra-defensive approach secured them the point they wanted. United, despite dominating possession, left frustrated.

Two consecutive away draws left Taige in a foul mood. In football, no team could win every game, but these were two matches where United should have taken all three points.

As the team bus headed back to Manchester, Taige sat in silence, lost in thought.

Now, at last, he could turn his attention to another pressing matter…