[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-start-with-r9-template":3,"chapter-start-with-r9-template-start-with-r9-template-chapter-135":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},1388738,1840,"Chapter 135 - 135","start-with-r9-template-chapter-135",135,"\u003Cp>Even after throwing his body forward in a desperate lunge, Phil Jones was still a step too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alvaro Morata had time. He had space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He swung his boot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the gaze of 75,000 fans, the ball didn't ripple the net.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn't even test David De Gea. It flew high, wide, and soaring into the Stretford End stands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Trafford instantly erupted—not with fear, but with piercing jeers and cruel laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morata lowered his head, staring at his boots in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were his lucky shooting boots. How could he have missed the target by five yards?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, Eden Hazard was so furious he dropped to his knees, slapping the wet turf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Diego would have scored that,' Hazard thought bitterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He missed Diego Costa. He missed the beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Conte's 3-4-2-1 formation was a demanding system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It required a forward who could serve as a pivot—a wall of muscle who could hold up the ball, bully defenders, and link play.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Diego Costa was a master of the dark arts. He would fight two center-backs, shield the ball, and lay it off to Hazard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Morata was different. He was softer. He was elegant, yes, but he drifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He fell over at the slightest contact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a pivot, Chelsea's attack was broken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hazard and Willian were forced to dribble through entire midfield lines just to reach the final third.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was exhausting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fucking hell!\" Hazard cursed under his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is truly unbelievable,\" Tyler said while shaking his head. \"A shot from that distance didn't even hit the target. Morata started the season on fire, but he looks lost now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He lacks the bite of Diego Costa,\" Gary Neville analyzed. \"His finishing is erratic. His chemistry with Hazard is non-existent. Chelsea paid a fortune for a striker who looks like he wants to be anywhere else.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>@CFC_Fan: Diego died for this. Bring him back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>@UnitedArmy: Agent Morata doing the Lord's work. 666.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>@Neutral: Hazard deserves better. He's creating magic, and Morata is kicking field goals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>76th Minute\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The game was slipping away. Antonio Conte could no longer remain seated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Losing to Manchester United twice in a single season? Unacceptable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Losing to Mourinho? Personal. Losing the Top Four? Terminal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Abramovich wouldn't forgive this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Conte threw his last dice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cesc Fabregas ON. Danny Drinkwater OFF. Olivier Giroud ON. Willian OFF.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chelsea shifted to a 3-4-1-2. Two big strikers up top. Aerial bombardment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mourinho responded instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw the giants coming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eric Bailly ON. Juan Mata OFF.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>United shifted to a 4-3-2-1 Christmas Tree. David Luiz pushed up into defensive midfield, acting as a screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was classic Mourinho.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn't trying to keep the ball. He was building a wall. He added height to the box to counter Giroud and Morata, and density in the middle to suffocate Hazard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>81st Minute\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The aerial assault began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victor Moses overlapped down the right wing. He whipped a dangerous cross toward the penalty spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two blue towers charged forward. Olivier Giroud, showing his class, flicked the ball on with a deft header.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alvaro Morata was waiting behind him, ready to power it home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Eric Bailly was there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ivorian defender had been out injured for months, but his aggression hadn't faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't jump for the ball; he jumped into the man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A subtle, \"dark arts\" nudge in the ribs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ouch!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morata grimaced, thrown off balance mid-air. His header was weak and looping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David De Gea took one step and plucked the ball from the air with arrogant ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"De Gea collects!\" Martin Tyler shouted. \"And look at him! He's not wasting time! He throws it long immediately!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>De Gea launched a javelin throw toward the halfway line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jesse Lingard read the flight perfectly. He used his lower center of gravity to back into Cesc Fabregas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fabregas was a genius passer, but he wasn't a fighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lingard muscled him aside, letting the ball bounce. He flicked it sideways with his heel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It fell to Ling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>United had a 3-v-4 situation. They needed speed, but they also needed patience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Ling could even control the ball, he heard the footsteps coming from behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump-thump-thump.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was N'Golo Kante.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Frenchman was relentless. He had been beaten once, but he hadn't given up. He was charging in like a heat-seeking missile, ready to tackle through the man if necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling's mind raced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'If I try to turn, he takes me out.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He made an audacious decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of trapping the ball, Ling stopped dead. He raised his arms to widen his frame and shifted his hips, turning his back to the onrushing Kante.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kante didn't expect Ling to stop. He tried to slam on the brakes, but his momentum betrayed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CRUNCH.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kante slammed into Ling's back. It was like running into a brick wall. The violent recoil nearly sent the Frenchman tumbling backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Physics is impartial and Ling was stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling absorbed the impact, using Kante's momentum against him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew exactly what he was doing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was buying time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Now.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling glanced over his shoulder. He saw the blur of Paul Pogba surging past Rudiger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling spun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a flick of his right foot, he lifted the ball over the recoverng defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ball arced like a rainbow, bypassing Chelsea's steel curtain and dropping perfectly into the right channel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The transition hub!\" Neville shouted. \"The strength to hold off Kante, and the vision to find Pogba! That is world-class play!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paul Pogba collected the ball. He was running against Antonio Rudiger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rudiger was fast, his high-knee running style eating up the ground. But Pogba used his long legs to shield the ball, driving into the box.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jesse Lingard made a fierce run to the near post, dragging Gary Cahill with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ball soared over both their heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It floated toward the penalty spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cesar Azpilicueta was there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chelsea captain was a brilliant defender, but he was 1.78m (5'10\"). Romelu Lukaku was 1.91m (6'3\").\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a mismatch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lukaku leaped. He hung in the air for a second, towering over the Spaniard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His forehead met the ball with terrifying force. It rocketed past Courtois' despairing hand and tore into the net.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>2-0 Manchester United!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>WHOOSH!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Trafford exploded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fans waved their scarves, sensing victory. With 15 minutes left and a two-goal cushion, the game was done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the sideline, Antonio Conte shook his hands in frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at his team. Hazard was exhausted, hands on his hips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morata looked like he wanted to cry. Rudiger was arguing with Cahill. And Kante... even Kante looked defeated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What damn bad luck,' Conte thought. 'He broke us.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mourinho showed no mercy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scott McTominay ON. Ling OFF. Michael Carrick ON. Jesse Lingard OFF.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>United parked the bus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chelsea pumped long balls into the box, but without spirit, they were easily repelled. Giroud fought alone, isolated and frustrated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peep-peep-PEEP!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The final whistle blew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manchester United 2 - 0 Chelsea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mourinho pumped his fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had beaten his rival, protected his fortress and he had found his new talisman!\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>",1190,"2026-06-05T22:48:23.062Z",1,"novelbin.me","d187e5664dad5cf2f88659d3a944a88672e25ed6ac89fcee748896b3e4359e23","start-with-r9-template-chapter-39","start-with-r9-template-chapter-134",371,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstart-with-r9-template-cover.jpg"]