Chapter 453 - 453
Over the next few days, Ling's schedule was simple.
Training.
Recovery.
Tactical sessions.
More training.
With his arrival at St George's Park, England's atmosphere had also changed.
The team already had many excellent players, but Ling brought a different kind of pressure.
He did not shout at people or deliberately act like a superstar, but when a player valued at over 200 million euros still followed every recovery routine, every video session, and every training requirement with strict discipline, everyone else naturally found it difficult to slack off.
As the saying went, one took on the color of one's company.
In a good environment, even lazy players became embarrassed to be lazy.
...
September 5, 2019.
England played a closed-door training match against the England U21 side at St George's Park.
This match was essentially a tactical exercise, because several U21 players were also candidates for future senior-team promotion.
Southgate wanted to test Ling's position in a more central role while also giving the younger players a chance to experience the level of the senior squad.
Southgate had actually asked Ling whether he wanted to manage his minutes during the upcoming Euro qualifiers, but Ling felt the competition still mattered.
Since he had only recently joined England's setup, every minute with the team would help.
There was no need to overuse him, but there was also no need to hide him.
It was better to use the international break properly and build rhythm before stronger opponents arrived later.
"Harry, Sterling, as two of the main attacking points up front, both have strong finishing ability," Southgate said as he looked at the tactical board. "If Jeremy plays as the advanced midfielder in a 4-3-3 or a free No.10 in a 4-2-3-1, he can link the midfield and attack while still making runs into the box when the forwards create space."
He suddenly thought of some of the classic attacking-midfield structures in modern football.
A team needed a player who could receive under pressure, turn safely, pass forward, and arrive in the box at the right time.
Of course, Ling's case was different.
He possessed superior physicality, which allowed him to hold the ball even under pressure from multiple defenders and still distribute it safely.
That meant his individual strength could be transformed into a collective advantage.
"This flexible shape might be our best weapon for the European Championship," Southgate murmured.
Facing the U21s did not bring much pressure, and the senior team quickly took control of the rhythm.
"Here!"
Sterling drove to the byline and played a cutback to the edge of the box.
Ling, positioned slightly left of center, curled in his trademark inswinging shot.
The U21 goalkeeper did not even get a hand to the ball.
"The pressure is too strong," Sancho said from the sidelines, watching as two or three young players swarmed Ling but still could not dispossess him.
"Ling can execute the tactical idea perfectly, so everything looks smoother," Henderson chimed in.
"Now England really do have another layer."
In the end, the senior team defeated the U21s 8–0.
...
After the match, the U21 players immediately surrounded Ling.
Autographs, photos session and questions.
To them, Ling was not only an idol but also the clearest proof that a young player could rise unbelievably fast if talent, discipline, and the right opportunity came together.
Henderson clicked his tongue from a distance.
If they waited another ten years, wouldn't England's dressing room be full of Ling's little fans?
Now that was what you called a real ball boss.
But he thought it was actually quite good.
Because he could tell Ling genuinely cared about football development, not only in England but also in China.
Otherwise, why would someone worth hundreds of millions not just enjoy life, but instead take on the thankless task of youth training, overseas recommendations, and building pathways for kids?
Those recommendation letters relied on Ling's connections, but in football, connections were often more valuable than money.
...
📰 Sky Sports: Ling Impresses in Closed-Door England Training Match Ahead of Euro Qualifiers
📰 The Athletic: Southgate Tests Ling in Central Role as England Build New Shape
📰 BBC Sport: England Prepare for Kosovo and Bulgaria With Ling Set for First Competitive Appearances
📰 Manchester Evening News: United Star Brings Club-Level Standards Into England Camp
📱 @ThreeLionsWatch ✔
Ling playing as a free No.10 for England sounds unfair. He can carry, pass, shoot, press, and still arrive like a striker!
| ↳ 📱 @StretfordEndTom
| Reply: Welcome to our life. United have been abusing this cheat code for two years.
📱 @EnglandTalks ✔
Southgate testing Ling centrally is the right call. England have runners everywhere. What we need is someone who can connect them under pressure.
📱 @CNFootballRealist
Zhu Chenjie getting minutes in Belgium and Ling still helping young Chinese players go abroad. This is what real football development looks like, even if the national-team situation still hurts.
📱 @YouthCoachLiu
The most important thing Ling brought back to Chinese football isn't a shirt. It's standards.
...
Time passed quickly.
September 10.
Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina.
Kosovo's capital was not large compared to Europe's major football cities, but the atmosphere around the stadium was intense and full of noise long before kickoff.
The streets near the ground were narrow and crowded, with blue Kosovo flags hanging from balconies and fans gathering outside bars, cafés, and small shops.
The stadium itself was not a grand modern arena like Wembley or Old Trafford, but that gave it a different kind of pressure.
The stands were close to the pitch, the noise stayed trapped inside, and every touch felt like it happened under a magnifying glass.
Today, the stadium was especially lively.
England fans had arrived early, filling their away section with white shirts, flags, and songs.
Mixed among them were also plenty of Chinese fans wearing Manchester United shirts, England shirts with Ling's name, or simple black jackets that made their support less obvious.
Some of them still had complicated feelings.
But they had come anyway!
"Look, it's Ling! He looks even sharper than on TV!"
"Can we take a photo?"
"Jeremy! Over here!"
"Come on, England!"
"Ling, don't get injured!"
The bus carrying the England squad stopped at the stadium entrance.
Amid the enthusiastic welcome from fans, the players waved as they entered, with Ling staying behind briefly for an interview.
"Jeremy, regarding today's match, are you confident of winning?"
A BBC reporter extended the microphone.
"Of course. This is my first official competitive match for England after the friendlies, and it's also an important step in our Euro qualifying campaign."
Ling smiled. "We need a victory, but more than that, we need a good performance. The team has to keep improving its chemistry and prove that we can turn potential into results."
"What would you like to say to the fans who traveled here?"
"First, thank you for the support. Whether you came from England, China, or anywhere else, I appreciate it."
Ling glanced toward the fans behind the barrier and waved. "I won't say too much. I'll try to give you a match worth remembering."
Then he walked into the stadium.
The away dressing room was simple, much smaller than what England players were used to in the Premier League, but no one complained.
Football did not always have much to do with facilities or equipment.
Think of the stars who emerged from the favelas of Brazil, the rough pitches of Africa, or small towns across Europe.
Many of them had grown up playing on terrible surfaces with terrible boots and still became world-class.
A player could not blame the dressing room for failing to perform.
Soon, the broadcast began.
"ITV Sport, live from Pristina!"
"Good evening, everyone. Tonight we bring you UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying action from Group A, with Kosovo hosting England."
"Kosovo are in blue tonight, setting up in a compact 4-5-1 shape, while England wear white and line up in a 4-3-3."
"Goalkeeper: Jordan Pickford."
"Defenders: Kyle Walker, John Stones, Harry Maguire, and Ben Chilwell."
"Midfielders: Declan Rice, Jordan Henderson, and Jeremy Ling."
"Forwards: Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane, and Jadon Sancho."
"Ling has been deployed in midfield by Gareth Southgate tonight, though we all know that role will probably be more flexible than it looks on paper."
Gary Neville looked down at the pitch and added, "Southgate has a reason for optimism. Ling gives England something very different in that central area. He can receive under pressure, drive through midfield, and still arrive in the penalty area like a striker. Kosovo will need to be extremely careful with the space between their midfield and defensive line."
The camera returned to the pitch.
England's tactics were straightforward enough for anyone to understand.
Use width, move the ball quickly and attack the box early.
Truthfully, England did not need to overcomplicate things against this kind of opponent.
Rather than clinging to possession for the sake of possession, it was better to keep the structure clear and make full use of the physicality, pace, and finishing power in the squad.
Not long after kickoff, Chilwell broke down the left flank, reached the byline, and sent in a cross.
Ling had started from midfield.
Then he accelerated.
The timing of his run was perfect. He arrived between the centre-back and full-back just as the ball dropped, leaping forward with momentum and meeting it with a powerful header.
By the time Kosovo's goalkeeper reacted, the ball was already lying motionless in the back of the net!
"What?!" Clive Tyldesley gasped. "If you've only just turned on your television, you've already missed Jeremy Ling's first competitive goal for England."
Gary Neville laughed in disbelief. "That was frighteningly quick. The timing of the run, the leap, the header — he attacked that ball like a centre-forward, but he started from midfield. That's the problem he creates."
England fans were stunned for half a second.
Happiness had arrived too suddenly.
The next moment, the away section erupted into thunderous cheers.
Even some Kosovo fans applauded reluctantly. Their own net had been breached, but the goal truly deserved praise.
After scoring, Ling exchanged a celebratory high-five with Chilwell.
Chilwell could not stop smiling.
He had assisted plenty of good players before, but assisting a Ballon d'Or-caliber player in an England qualifier still felt different!
"Southgate's tactical adjustment is very clear," Neville continued. "Kosovo's defenders are not especially tall, and England have Kane, Ling, Maguire, and Stones. Early crosses and second-phase attacks make sense. But what makes Ling different is that he isn't just waiting in the box. He can start the move, arrive late, and finish it himself."
England organized another attack almost immediately.
"Beautiful! Jeremy Ling plucks the ball out of the crowd and clips a lofted pass over the top!"
"Sterling is through!"
"Is there a chance — the goalkeeper brings him down!"
"The referee points to the spot!"
"Only a few minutes have passed, and England already have the chance to make it two!"
Sterling picked himself up from the turf and handed the ball to Ling, winking as he said, "It's not that I missed the one-on-one. I created this penalty especially for you."
"Don't worry," Ling replied, taking the ball. "I won't sky it."
Kane, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow.
"That's usually England's line."
Ling smiled.
He could feel that after the initial awkwardness of his arrival, the overall atmosphere in the England team was becoming better and better.
The players were starting to understand each other's habits, and everyone was pulling in the same direction.
Beeeeep!
The referee blew his whistle.
Ling took his run-up and struck the ball powerfully toward the top left corner.
It was a display of confidence!
Even though the goalkeeper guessed the right direction, he still could not stop it.
The cheers from the England fans grew even louder!
Many Kosovo fans also began to relax.
After all, watching a Ballon d'Or-level player in action usually required spending a few hundred euros.
Since winning was already close to impossible, they might as well enjoy the show.
📰 BBC Sport: Ling Scores Inside Opening Minute as England Strike Early in Kosovo
📰 Sky Sports: Ling Marks First Competitive England Start With Goal and Penalty!
📰 The Athletic: Southgate's Central Ling Experiment Pays Off Immediately
📰 Manchester Evening News: United Star Takes Club Form Into Euro Qualifiers
📱 @ThreeLionsWatch ✔
Ling's first competitive England goal came before half the pub had sat down. Midfielder on the team sheet, striker in the box, cheat code everywhere else!
| ↳ 📱 @StretfordEndTom
| Reply: That late run from midfield is pure Manchester United Ling. We warned you all!
📱 @EnglandTalks ✔
Sterling "creating" a penalty for Ling instead of missing a one-on-one is elite PR. I respect it.
📱 @KosovoBlue
We are losing, yes, but at least we're watching Jeremy Ling live. Tickets suddenly feel underpriced.
📱 @CNFootballRealist
Seeing him score for England still feels strange, but the level is undeniable. This is the player Chinese football produced, lost, and still needs to learn from!
📱 @YouthCoachLiu
People can argue about the shirt forever. I'm watching his movement and showing it to my academy kids tomorrow.