[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-start-with-r9-template":3,"chapter-start-with-r9-template-start-with-r9-template-chapter-131":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},1388734,1840,"Chapter 131 - 131","start-with-r9-template-chapter-131",131,"\u003Cp>Ling wiped sweat from his forehead. It was only the 10th minute, but he felt like he had played an hour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew N'Golo Kante's task today was undoubtedly to restrict him, even if it meant sacrificing Chelsea's shape and giving Paul Pogba freedom on the other side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be said that Antonio Conte's tactical design was clever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Danny Drinkwater's defensive ability was certainly not on par with Kante's, but his long-range passing could link up with Eden Hazard in the attacking third.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Hazard's dribbling prowess posed a significant threat to Manchester United's defense, forcing Pogba to drop deep and cover, effectively neutralizing the mismatch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'No time to dwell on it.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling moved quickly to receive a throw-in from Luke Shaw. He felt the presence behind him immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He played a one-touch pass back to Nemanja Matic, denying Kante the chance to press and tackle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When facing a player like Kante, you must be decisive. Any hesitation is death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In their last encounter at Stamford Bridge, Ling had beaten Kante once, only for the Frenchman to reappear in front of him three seconds later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like playing against his twins!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What a nuisance...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'So, how do you get past the \"Unbeatable Kante\"?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling had previously studied this question carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That means making tactical adjustments, using horizontal shifts and vertical runs to lure Kante into changing his movement direction, causing him to lose his effectiveness as a defensive shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, while it sounds simple, executing it is extremely difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, there's another method: breaking through by sheer individual ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Kante's expansive defensive coverage is complemented by his outstanding one-on-one defending ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He leverages his low center of gravity and quick movement to execute precise and rapid tackles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling was certainly more interested in the second method, as his greatest strength lies in his dribbling skills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, in the following phase of the match, he didn't find a suitable opportunity and had to wait patiently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unconsciously, the match reached the 12th minute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Andreas Christensen, recovering from his Barcelona nightmare, intercepted a pass intended for Romelu Lukaku.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He played a sharp diagonal ball to the left flank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Danny Drinkwater laid it off to Marcos Alonso.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the Spaniard touched the ball, Old Trafford erupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOOOOOOOO!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The noise was deafening, vitriolic. It wasn't just rivalry; it was personal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In 2011, Alonso had been involved in a drunk-driving accident in Madrid that resulted in the death of a 19-year-old woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paid a €61,000 fine and received a driving ban, but avoided prison time. Football fans never forget.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time he touched the ball at away grounds, he was reminded of his past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alonso ignored the hate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He showcased excellent footwork to evade Juan Mata and drove forward. He cut the ball inside to the center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eden Hazard collected it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hazard one-on-one with Pogba!\" Tyler shouted. \"Look at the balance! He shifts right, then left! He's created space!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hazard dropped his shoulder, ghosting past Pogba's lazy leg. He was driving at the heart of the defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a figure with frizzy hair surged forward from the defensive line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David Luiz.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who admire him call him an \"aggressive ball-winning center-back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who dislike him call him a \"PlayStation defender\"—controlled by a kid who holds down the sprint button.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the David Luiz who was humiliated 7-1 by Germany. But this was also the David Luiz who had won the Champions League.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he missed this tackle, Hazard was through on goal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But David Luiz didn't miss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped up with perfect timing, reading Hazard's feint. He crunched into the tackle, winning the ball cleanly and sending the Belgian stumbling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Beautiful!\" Gary Neville cheered. \"David Luiz shows no mercy against his former club! That is exactly why Mourinho played him! He steps into the midfield and wins it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"United on the break!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David Luiz didn't just clear it; he passed it to Matic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling saw the transition. He signaled for Luke Shaw to overlap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling drifted inward from the left flank, dragging the defense with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Kante was man-marking him, Kante followed. Cesar Azpilicueta also tucked in, terrified of leaving space centrally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This left the left wing completely wide open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Matic saw the picture. He struck a diagonal pass into the space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ball skidded across the wet turf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luke Shaw exploded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he first emerged at Southampton, Shaw was hailed as \"Gareth Bale's successor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a bullet train. But after his horrific leg break against PSV two years ago, the doubts had crept in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he finished? Was he too heavy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mourinho had questioned his brain, his body, and his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But today, Luke Shaw ran like he was 19 again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt the wind rushing past his face. He burned past Victor Moses. He was free.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He's rapid!\" Neville shouted. \"Look at Shaw go! He's catching up to his old self!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shaw reached the edge of the box. Lukaku was screaming for it in the middle. Ling was arriving late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shaw looked up and whipped a cross in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ball sailed harmlessly over everyone's heads and landed straight in the gloves of Thibaut Courtois.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uh...\" Tyler paused. \"After all these years, Luke Shaw's crossing is... consistent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He passed it straight to the keeper.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If Luke Shaw had Kieran Trippier's right foot, he would be the best left-back in the world. But alas.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>@TacticalTim: The battle between Conte and Mourinho is intense. Kante is nullifying Ling, but Ling is dragging Kante out of position to create space for Shaw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>@RedArmy: Shaw's run was world-class. His cross was Sunday League.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>@ChelseaBlue: Hazard is looking dangerous, but Luiz is playing like he has a point to prove. This is going to be a long afternoon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>@UnitedStand: Our midfield is too slow. Mata and Matic can't run. We rely on Ling for everything. If Kante shuts him down, do we have a Plan B?\u003C\u002Fp>",992,"2026-06-05T22:48:23.062Z",1,"novelbin.me","10e9d81d3a874d6e2a45c659da73172987b535d557b8500a1c3bbed6764cf12b","start-with-r9-template-chapter-132","start-with-r9-template-chapter-130",371,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstart-with-r9-template-cover.jpg"]