Chapter 44

On October 26, in the ninth round of the Premier League, Manchester United lost 0-2 at home to the underdog Stoke City. Despite creating several dangerous chances, United failed to find the back of the net.

In the post-match interview, Jin Taige praised his players' efforts and attributed the loss to "bad luck."

After this game, some media outlets started to criticize Manchester United. However, Jin Taige wasn't concerned about the noise. His focus was already on the upcoming League Cup quarter-final match against Norwich, scheduled for three days later.

Taige initially thought that playing four consecutive games at home would keep the players fresh and in good form, but things didn't go as expected. Out of the three home games so far, they lost two, both against weaker opponents. The missed opportunities frustrated him. But he was determined to win the next match losing cup games meant elimination, with no chance to recover.

On October 29, Manchester United welcomed Norwich City to Old Trafford for the League Cup quarter-final.

The game was significantly easier for United. Norwich had gone nine league matches without a win and were more focused on relegation survival than cup success. As a result, they fielded a lineup mixed with reserves and youth players.

Taige felt confident. Even Norwich's strongest lineup wouldn't have posed much of a threat. To ensure victory, he sent out a strong starting eleven, using a balanced 4-4-2 formation:

- Goalkeeper: De Gea

- Defenders: Rafael, Smalling, Vidic, Evra

- Midfielders: Mahrez (right), Giggs, Kanté, Martial (left)

- Forwards: Rooney, Van Persie

Substitutes: Alisson, Alonso, Jones, Young, Valencia, Carrick, Icardi.

From the kickoff, United dominated. Mahrez and Martial relentlessly attacked down the flanks, stretching Norwich's defense to its limits.

19th minute: Kanté intercepted a pass in midfield and quickly passed it forward to Giggs. The veteran playmaker drew three defenders before launching a precise long ball to Mahrez on the left wing. Mahrez sprinted past his marker and crossed into the box. Rooney met the ball with a low shot into the bottom corner. 1–0 United.

31st minute: Right-back Rafael surged forward to support the attack. Martial, noticing his overlapping run, shifted inward, drawing defenders away. Rafael cut the ball back to Martial, who calmly slotted it past the keeper. 2–0 United.

42nd minute: Evra, showing his experience, faked a pass and drove forward before releasing the ball to Mahrez on the wing. Mahrez accelerated to the byline and delivered a pinpoint cross into the box. Van Persie met it with a powerful volley. 3–0 United.

By halftime, the game was all but over.

In the second half, Taige made substitutions to rest key players:

- Icardi replaced Van Persie.

- Jones replaced Kanté.

- Carrick replaced Giggs.

Carrick, returning from injury, quickly settled into his rhythm. His calm presence and pinpoint passing helped United maintain control.

83rd minute: Carrick spotted Icardi making a run into the box and delivered a perfect long pass. Icardi connected with a volley, sending the ball past the helpless Norwich goalkeeper. 4–0 United.

On the sidelines, Jin Taige smiled with satisfaction. "This is the kind of performance we need," he said.

The final whistle confirmed a comfortable 4–0 win for Manchester United. The victory not only secured a place in the League Cup semi-finals but also restored some much-needed confidence to the team.

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After the match against Norwich, Jin Taige faced the media with a smile. "Today's game was fantastic," he said. "The players gave their best, and this is the real Manchester United. I love this victory."

With this win, Manchester United put the disappointment of the 0–2 loss to Stoke City behind them. Taige finally felt some relief.

Later that day, the League Cup semi-final draw revealed United's next opponent: Stoke City. The match was set for December 18.

Taige turned to Scholes with a grin. "I've been thinking about that Stoke defeat for days. This draw is exactly what I wanted. We'll show them what Manchester United is really made of."

However, there was no time to savor the Norwich win. Just two days later, United traveled to London for their next Premier League fixture against Fulham.

On October 28, the team arrived in London, preparing for the match at Craven Cottage, located on the River Thames. Fulham were struggling this season, hovering near the relegation zone with just one league win. Taige was confident about taking all three points.

Given the packed schedule and the team's recent fatigue, Taige rotated his squad, sticking with his familiar 4-4-2 formation:

- Goalkeeper: De Gea

- Defenders: Rafael, Smalling, Van Dijk, Alonso

- Midfielders: Ashley Young (left), Carrick, Kanté, Valencia (right)

- Forwards: Rooney, Icardi

Substitutes: Alisson, Evra, Jones, Fletcher, Kagawa, Nani, Martial.

Several key players, exhausted from recent matches, were given a well-deserved rest.

Notably absent from the squad was Anderson. Taige had lost faith in the midfielder. His inconsistent performances and poor attitude in training sealed his fate. Assistant coach Mike Phelan later mentioned that Anderson's agent was already searching for a new club. Taige didn't mind whether Anderson wanted to leave or not, he'd be gone by summer.

Fulham lined up with a defensive 4-4-1-1 formation. Their squad lacked star power, but one name stood out: Dimitar Berbatov.

Berbatov had spent four successful seasons at Manchester United, delighting fans with his elegant, effortless style. During his time at Old Trafford, he helped the team win a Champions League, two Premier League titles, and three League Cups. In 2012, he joined Fulham, where he quickly became their main attacking threat. Last season, he scored 15 league goals, finishing as the club's top scorer.

Taige instructed Smalling, who had once been Berbatov's teammate, to mark him closely.

Kickoff

From the opening whistle, Manchester United went on the attack. Ashley Young and Valencia launched repeated crosses into the box. Icardi occupied the defenders, while Rooney hovered behind, waiting for loose balls. Meanwhile, Carrick pushed forward, ready to unleash one of his trademark long-range shots.

The pattern mirrored their recent match against Norwich: relentless pressure in the opening 20 minutes but no goals to show for it.

Taige remained calm on the sideline. He trusted the players to find a breakthrough.

In the 31st minute, Fulham counterattacked. Their goalkeeper launched a long ball toward Berbatov, who expertly controlled it with a soft touch. Smalling closed in, determined to stop him.

Berbatov, with his signature calmness, feinted left, then dragged the ball backward through Smalling's legs. The defender turned too late Berbatov was already in the box with only De Gea to beat.

Desperate, Smalling grabbed his former teammate's arm. Berbatov stumbled and crashed to the ground.

The stadium erupted.

"Penalty!" roared the home crowd.

The referee wasted no time, pointing to the spot and pulling a red card from his pocket. Smalling was sent off.

Manchester United's players protested, arguing for a yellow instead of a red, but the decision stood.

Berbatov stepped up to take the penalty. He waited for De Gea to move, then coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

Fulham 1–0 Manchester United.

Taige clenched his jaw on the sideline. A goal down and a man down things had just become far more complicated.

Down a goal and a man, United were in serious trouble.

Jin Taige quickly adjusted tactics, taking off Icardi and bringing on Phil Jones to partner with Virgil van Dijk in central defense. This change stabilized the back line, but it weakened the team's attacking threat.

Fulham took advantage of their numerical superiority and pressed forward, but United's midfield, anchored by N'Golo Kanté, held firm. The first half ended 1–0.

Half-Time Adjustments

During the break, Taige urged his players not to sit back. "We're a goal down, but that doesn't mean we stop attacking. Stay disciplined, but go for it in the second half."

In the 60th minute, Taige made his second substitution: Anthony Martial replaced Michael Carrick. Martial's pace immediately injected energy into United's attack. He combined well with Wayne Rooney, creating several dangerous moments.

Fulham responded by sitting deeper. Their coach, Martin Jol, replaced an attacking midfielder with a defender, shifting to a more defensive formation to protect the lead.

In the 70th minute, United came agonizingly close. Valencia whipped in a cross from the right, and Rooney met it with a powerful header. The ball clipped the top of the crossbar and went out.

Taige reacted with another substitution, bringing on Nani for Ashley Young. He hoped Nani's dribbling skills would create chances by cutting inside from the left. Unfortunately, Nani struggled to break free from Fulham's defenders.

On the sideline, Taige shook his head. "Every time I put Nani on, I feel like I'm gambling," he muttered to Scholes.

Scholes smirked. "Yeah, and today it looks like the dice rolled sideways."

Despite pushing hard in the final minutes, United couldn't find the equalizer. Fulham held on for a 1–0 victory, securing their first league win of the season.

After the match, Taige faced the media. "The penalty was fair, and the red card was justified," he admitted. "But with the busy schedule, the fatigue is showing. My players gave everything today, and I'm proud of them despite the result."

Champions League Challenge

United returned to Manchester the same day and, just two days later, boarded a flight to Spain for their fourth Champions League group-stage match against Real Sociedad.

The game was held at Anoeta Stadium on November 4. Taige needed a win to lift the team's morale after the league defeat. He kept the same 4-4-2 formation but rotated the lineup slightly:

- Goalkeeper: De Gea

- Defense: Rafael, Smalling, Vidic, Evra

- Midfield: Kanté, Giggs, Mahrez, Martial

- Forwards: Van Persie, Rooney

Substitutes: Alisson, Alonso, Jones, Ashley Young, Valencia, Nani, Icardi.

Real Sociedad lined up in a 4-3-2-1 formation. Claudio Bravo anchored their defense, while Antoine Griezmann spearheaded the attack.

From the start, United pressed forward. Mahrez and Martial repeatedly tested the flanks, while Van Persie and Rooney tried to find gaps in the middle. Giggs pushed up to support the attack, and even Evra and Rafael made overlapping runs.

Despite United's relentless attacks, Sociedad held firm. The Spanish side defended aggressively, often going in hard on United's wingers. The referee allowed play to continue after several tough challenges, much to Taige's frustration.

On the sideline, he repeatedly complained to the fourth official. "How many fouls does it take to get a whistle here?" he shouted. The official barely acknowledged him.

As the first half ended goalless, Taige crossed his arms and shook his head. "This isn't looking good," he muttered.