Chapter 459 - 459
📰 Sky Sports: Ling Comes Off Bench to Rescue Manchester United Against West Ham
📰 BBC Sport: United Maintain Perfect Start After Late Comeback at London Stadium
📰 Manchester Evening News: Ling Header and Penalty Keep Mourinho's Champions Rolling
📰 The Athletic: Rice Impresses, But Ling Decides It as United Survive West Ham Test
📱 @UnitedStand ✔
Ling came off the bench, scored a header, scored the penalty, and left with three points. This is why he never truly gets a rest.
| ↳ 📱 @StretfordEnd
| Reply: Mourinho tried rotation. Football said no, bring the cheat code!
📱 @WestHamWay
Rice was excellent. Then Ling came on and reminded everyone why excellent isn't enough against monsters.
📱 @GrealishCalves17
Grealish winning penalties is an art form. The contact was light, the roll was dramatic, the result was inevitable.
📱 @TacticalTim ✔
United's second-half shift was clear: pin West Ham's back line, isolate the space around Rice, then use set pieces and central overloads. Not pretty, but very effective.
After the sixth round of the Premier League, the standings were as follows:
Manchester United: 18 points.
Liverpool: 18 points.
Manchester City: 16 points.
Although Liverpool had not made many signings, their squad had continued to gel and was now close to perfect.
They had just defeated Chelsea 2–1.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Firmino each scored, with the former in excellent form recently.
He was currently ranked third among right-backs in FourFourTwo's rankings.
Fans questioned it.
What right did the Premier League's famous "Highway 66" have to rank in the top three?
The answer was simple.
Poor defense, but strong attacking contribution.
Moreover, Alexander-Arnold's recent defensive performances clearly showed the results of intense training.
"Trent, take care of yourself. Stop if you feel any discomfort." Klopp spoke earnestly.
Since losing to Manchester United repeatedly last season, Alexander-Arnold had seemed almost possessed.
Alcohol.
Entertainment.
All of it had been cast aside.
"I know."
Trent forced a smile, then continued training.
He was arguably the Premier League player who hated Jeremy Ling the most.
Two seasons ago, their matchup had given birth to the humiliating nickname "Highway 66."
A season ago, fans had stopped even comparing the two.
Trent was angry, resentful, and frustrated.
He felt Ling was like a thorn in his side, constantly whipping him forward.
"By the North West Derby on October 20th, I'll prove myself to the world." Trent muttered to himself.
Many players shared similar thoughts to Liverpool's crown prince.
In their eyes, Jeremy Ling was the demon king who had kidnapped the princess, and they were the brave knights fighting valiantly!
"Defeat Ling the bandit and seize the championship!"
That had become the mainstream sentiment across the Premier League.
...
📰 Sky Sports: United and Liverpool Stay Perfect as Title Race Builds Early Heat
📰 BBC Sport: Alexander-Arnold Form Fuels Liverpool Momentum Before October Showdown
📰 The Athletic: Premier League Rivals Unite Around One Goal: Stop Jeremy Ling
📰 Manchester Evening News: United Remain Top as Ling Becomes Everyone's Target
📱 @LFCView
Trent looks locked in this season. The North West Derby might be personal.
| ↳ 📱 @UnitedStand ✔
| Reply: It became personal the moment Ling turned that flank into Highway 66.
📱 @PremWatch ✔
United perfect. Liverpool perfect. City chasing. And somehow the whole league feels like it's training specifically to fight Ling.
📱 @TAAAgenda
October 20. Trent revenge arc. I believe.
| ↳ 📱 @StretfordEndTom
| Reply: We support your healing journey, but please don't confuse courage with survival odds.
...
Ling was still unaware that he had become public enemy number one.
At that moment, he was helping Havertz with a delivery at a farm in the suburbs.
That's right.
Havertz's other donkey had given birth.
This time, he was not fooled by Ling again and named the foal Fanta.
If there were more foals in the future, they would be named Sprite and Mirinda.
Ling had also kept a horse, named Windchaser, mainly because he was too lazy to think of anything more creative.
"Why does it feel like raising donkeys costs you more than raising my horse?"
Ling was a bit curious.
"Hmph! Cola only eats German feed, and the water can't be tap water either. Drinking British water makes him shed hair, so I buy special water."
Havertz stuck his nose in the air.
"No wonder you can't save any money. By the way, did you meet your online girlfriend in person?"
Ling looked at Havertz's pale lips.
"Yeah, she just came to Manchester a few days ago," Havertz replied softly.
In the match against West Ham, his performance had not actually been good.
In fact, he looked a little drained.
After all, young people at this age often had trouble controlling themselves.
"Take care of your health."
Ling could only pat Havertz on the shoulder and advise him.
He still remembered that in the future, Havertz not only grew taller but was also drained by his girlfriend to the point that he looked almost unrecognizable.
A complete wreck.
"Don't worry, she'll be going back to Germany in a while."
Havertz nodded.
"Don't say I didn't warn you. Bruno trains hard and performs well. Although he's a little older, the boss likes players like that."
Ling's expression turned serious, and his tone grew stern. "Think about De Bruyne and Salah from before. If you don't step up your game, be careful the boss loans you out."
He was not exaggerating.
Even though Mourinho's temper had improved a lot, there were still lines you could not cross.
If you did not play well, you were out.
Only then did Havertz take it seriously and put down the shovel in his hand.
"Cola, I might not be able to visit you much in the future. Remember to eat well, exercise more, get plenty of sun, and stay hydrated."
"Hee-haw! Hee-haw!"
...
September 26, 2019.
English League Cup third round.
Manchester United versus Rochdale.
Mourinho did not bother with the main squad this time, allowing the youth team to face the League One side.
But their performance was somewhat disappointing.
Tahith Chong.
Because of his family background, Chinese media had once placed him on a naturalization wish list.
His hairstyle and overall look made people naturally think of Gullit.
But appearance was not the key.
Skill was.
That was what ultimately determined everything.
Chong wanted to follow Ling's path, going from the academy to the youth team and then into Manchester United's first team.
But the problem was simple.
He just did not have that level of ability.
After struggling against the League One side for most of the match, Greenwood finally scored.
But then United conceded an equalizer in the 76th minute.
Andrew, still in high school and only 15 years old, scored the equalizer at Old Trafford.
He excitedly ran toward the sidelines, bathing in cheers that belonged entirely to him.
"Ling, I think you probably sucked all the talent out of the academy, which is why so few players from our generation made it."
McTominay had been reading a lot of translated fantasy novels lately.
Ling fell silent.
But honestly, that might actually be possible.
Otherwise, where had his cheat come from?
Maybe Manchester United's luck had simply gathered too strongly in one person.
After both sides battled for 90 minutes, Manchester United won on penalties.
Oh, it had nothing to do with Romero.
The shot simply went wide.
Manchester United narrowly advanced like that.
📰 Sky Sports: Manchester United Survive Rochdale Scare in League Cup Shootout
📰 BBC Sport: Greenwood Scores as United Youth Side Edge Through on Penalties
📰 Manchester Evening News: Mourinho's Youngsters Given Warning After Nervy Old Trafford Night
📱 @UnitedStand ✔
United youth team made Rochdale look like peak Barcelona for 20 minutes. We survived, but that was not fun.
| ↳ 📱 @StretfordEndTom
| Reply: Ling really did absorb the academy's entire talent budget.
📱 @AcademyWatchMU
Greenwood scored, which is good. The overall performance? Let's call it character building.
📱 @NeutralCupWatch
Rochdale teenager scoring at Old Trafford is what cup football is all about. United escaping on penalties is also what big clubs do when they're half-asleep.
October brought a touch of chill to Manchester, and Old Trafford welcomed another familiar guest.
Arsenal.
After the "King of the Europa League," Emery, was dismissed, Arteta took over the reins.
He had spent years learning diligently under Guardiola before returning.
His goal was to revive the Gunners and bring Arsenal back to Europe.
Well, perhaps not "back."
After all, they had never truly been there in the first place.
At the Old Trafford player tunnel, Ling met his old friend David Luiz and gave him a big hug.
"How's it going at Arsenal?"
"Pretty good. Arteta is a man with ideas. I think he's a bit like a young Guardiola."
David Luiz looked relaxed.
He was not lying.
After years of learning, Arteta did indeed have thoughts of tactical innovation. He wanted to bring the Gunners back into title contention.
Of course, there was no hope for that this season.
Which manager won a title immediately after taking over?
Well, some did.
Mourinho had done it several times.
But managers like that were few and far between.
"Wah... wah... wah..."
Suddenly, the sound of a young ball girl crying came from nearby.
Ling turn around, a cute little girl was wiping away her tears.
"Ahem."
Standing beside her was Arsenal's number 77 — Bukayo Saka.
"Why are you crying?"
Ling recognized the little girl.
She was the child of a die-hard Manchester United fan and had even asked him for an autograph at a signing event before.
"He looks scary!"
The little girl sobbed between words.
Ling fell silent.
Saka also fell silent.
Was this racism?
Probably not.
It was most likely just a child's brutally honest attack!
Ling and Saka stared at each other for a moment, both feeling a little helpless.
Saka had no energy to complain, but he did not mind too much either. His mentality was actually quite good.
"Then who do you want to walk out with?" Ling asked kindly.
The little girl looked around and seemed to cry even harder.
Aubameyang looked too intense.
Nicolas Pépé looked too serious.
Guendouzi's hair made her hesitate.
Torreira was not quite her type either.
Then she spotted Chambers.
This guy was a typical Wenger-type player.
What was a Wenger-type player?
Famous at a young age, bought for a low transfer fee, average after several years at the club, gradually fading into obscurity while wasting talent — the kind of player who was neither useful enough to keep nor worthless enough to throw away.
But he was handsome.
He was ranked fifth on the Premier League's "Best-Looking Players Born in the 1990s" list.
As for the top four?
First place: Ling.
Actually, Ling looked sunny rather than traditionally handsome.
But his footballing ability boosted his looks infinitely.
Second place: Chilwell, who looked a bit like a young Beckham.
After this small episode, the players from both teams walked onto the pitch and began their pre-match preparations.
📰 Sky Sports: Manchester United Host Arsenal as Arteta Faces First Old Trafford Test
📰 BBC Sport: Ling Starts Against Rebuilding Gunners After United's Perfect League Run
📰 Manchester Evening News: David Luiz Returns to Old Trafford as Arsenal Search for Stability
📰 The Athletic: Arteta's Arsenal Project Meets Mourinho's Finished Machine
📱 @UnitedStand ✔
Arteta at Old Trafford already feels like a man walking into a final exam after reading one Guardiola notebook.
| ↳ 📱 @StretfordEndTom
| Reply: And Mourinho is the teacher who marks in red ink.
📱 @ArsenalTalk
Saka starting at 18. This is the future. Please ignore the fact that the present is terrifying.
📱 @NeutralPremWatch
United look settled, Arsenal look like a rebuild, and Ling is starting. This could get ugly fast.