[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-start-with-r9-template":3,"chapter-start-with-r9-template-start-with-r9-template-chapter-106":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Start with R9 Template",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1388675,1840,"Chapter 106 - 106","start-with-r9-template-chapter-106",106,"\u003Cp>\"Lukaku's hold-up play has been non-existent today,\" Gary Neville critiqued sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Positioning, balance, touch—it's all lacking. Against a team like City, if the ball doesn't stick, it keeps coming back at you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I suspect Mourinho has seen enough,\" Martin Tyler added. \"He needs a focal point. Someone who can bully Otamendi and bring others into play.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And here is the change. Manchester United substitute number 9, Romelu Lukaku, for number 10—Zlatan Ibrahimović.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lukaku trudged off, head down, knowing he hadn't impacted the game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ibrahimović stopped him at the touchline, gripping his shoulder firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't dwell on it. Keep pushing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, the Lion strode onto the pitch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He swept a commanding gaze around Old Trafford, fixing his eyes immediately on Nicolas Otamendi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The message was clear: You're mine now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The game resumed with United sticking to the plan: solid defense and direct long balls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, they had a target man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zlatan, despite being 36, used his immense experience to disrupt City's rhythm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately engaged Otamendi in several physical duels, throwing elbows and using his frame to dominate the mental battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>63rd Minute, De Gea launched a high ball forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ibrahimović backed into Otamendi, pinned him and cushioned a perfect header down to Jesse Lingard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lingard controlled it, looking to turn, but Fernandinho was there in a flash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The City midfielder poked the ball away, sparking a transition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Danger here,\" Neville warned. \"United are exposed!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fernandinho fed David Silva. The Spaniard turned into space, accelerating toward the United backline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling, realizing the defense was out of shape, sprinted back. He saw the danger—if Silva released that pass, Sane was through on goal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't hesitate. Ling lunged in, wrapping his arms around Silva and dragging him to the icy turf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tweet!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Referee Michael Oliver blew his whistle instantly, reaching for his pocket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yellow Card.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling stood up and nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no complaints.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a calculated, cynical foul. If he hadn't done it, the consequences would have been fatal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A yellow card was a fair price to pay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David Silva looked up from the ground, frustrated. He glared at United's number 7.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This kid wasn't playing like a rookie; he was playing with the cold calculation of a veteran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the sidelines, Mourinho furrowed his brow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>City's pressure was suffocating. United were pinned back, unable to breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They needed to hold on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Across the technical area, Pep Guardiola was plotting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Get Gundogan and Mangala warming up,\" Pep instructed his assistant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stroked his chin, muttering to himself. \"If we can't win the aerial duels against Zlatan, we go to a false nine. We use movement. We switch to a back three to overload the midfield.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guardiola punched his palm. He had the answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>65th Minute into the game, the free kick was 38 meters out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too far for a shot, perfect for a cross.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"David Silva stands over it,\" Martin Tyler narrated. \"Inswinger toward the near post...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ball curled in viciously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chris Smalling rose to clear it. He had a free header.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Smalling!\" Tyler shouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the defender misjudged the flight of the ball in the swirling snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of heading it wide, he made a mess of the contact, the ball skidding off his forehead and dropping into the danger zone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leroy Sane was the quickest to react. The German winger ghosted in behind the defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A point-blank volley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"GOAL FOR MANCHESTER CITY!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's in! City are level!\" Tyler screamed. \"Despite the height disadvantage, they score from a set-piece! It's a scrappy goal, but they all count!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Disaster for Chris Smalling,\" Neville groaned. \"He has to clear that. He's headed it right into the danger area. United are punished for a basic individual error.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twitter (X) Trending: #ManchesterDerby #Sane\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>@RedDevil_Analysis: Smalling... I have no words. Basic defending. You learn that in the academy. Head it AWAY from goal! 🤦‍♂️\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>@CityZen: GET IN! SANE YOU BEAUTY! JUSTICE! 🔵\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>@TacticalTim: People blaming Ling for the foul need to learn football. If he doesn't foul Silva there, Sane is 1v1 with De Gea. Ling saved a goal; Smalling gifted it back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>@UnitedFan: Smalling has been shaky all season. We miss Bailly so much. This is going to be a long 25 minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>@PunditPat: Sterling's movement created the panic, but Sane applied the finish. Game on!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Trafford: Away End\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoa!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The away section erupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sixty minutes of tension, the City fans unleashed a torrent of noise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the moment. The \"Noisy Neighbors\" were here to spoil the party.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the snow, the famous anthem began to rise, haunting and melodic compared to United's chants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Blue Moon...\" \"You saw me standing alone...\" \"Without a dream in my heart...\" \"Without a love of my own...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the pitch, David Silva celebrated with his teammates, but he kept one eye on Ling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Is the kid rattled?' he wondered. 'Is he blaming himself for the foul?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling's face was ice cold. Calm and unbothered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silva frowned. 'This boy is dangerous.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My mistake. Sorry, lads.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chris Smalling punched his own thigh in frustration. He looked ready to sink into the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several United players moved to console him, but a booming voice stopped them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zlatan Ibrahimović stepped into the center of the circle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes were blazing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do not feel sorry for yourself,\" Zlatan barked, cutting Smalling off. \"Have you all relaxed because we were 1-0 up? This is a war!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at each of them—Ling, Pogba, De Gea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We are a team. We pay for mistakes together. We have paid the price. Now?\" Zlatan pointed at the City goal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now we make up for it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The only way to fix this is to put the ball in their net. Do you understand?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The United players stared at the giant Swede.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fear of losing was replaced by the fear of disappointing Zlatan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They nodded vigorously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's go!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Read 30 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>patreon (.)com\u002FNewbietranslator\u003C\u002Fp>",996,"2026-06-05T22:48:23.062Z",1,"novelbin.me","32c1c9dced1a755df5138bd84e2a7e1f66c7a30b66827249d3a888e49be04244","start-with-r9-template-chapter-5","start-with-r9-template-chapter-4",371,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstart-with-r9-template-cover.jpg"]