[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-start-with-r9-template":3,"chapter-start-with-r9-template-start-with-r9-template-chapter-23":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},1388705,1840,"Chapter 23: Ling's Opportunity","start-with-r9-template-chapter-23",23,"\u003Cp>In the following days, Ling lived a routine life between three fixed locations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While others might find it monotonous, he thoroughly enjoyed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whenever he felt exhausted, he would just open the system and look at his steadily increasing attributes, immediately regaining his motivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to limited daily training time, he could only focus on ball control and dribbling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, with the system module's existence, it could significantly enhance training effectiveness in these areas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for long passes and weak foot training, they wouldn't show immediate results and could only be developed gradually over time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the results of the second round of Premier League matches came out, they once again surprised everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arsenal lost 0-1 to Stoke City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering Stoke only finished 13th last season and weren't particularly strong overall, yet they dominated the game, playing proactively and passionately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In contrast, Arsenal, after conceding a goal just two minutes into the second half, saw their defensive coordination fall apart, with players' morale hitting rock bottom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simply put, they lacked fighting spirit, tactics, and toughness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenger found himself embroiled in dismissal rumors again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only were players like Sánchez and Chamberlain wanting to leave the team, but external fans were adding fuel to the fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps his departure from Arsenal was only a matter of time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This match served as a wake-up call for Mourinho, who held a different view from the general consensus - because Stoke City really weren't weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at their players - Choupo-Moting, Jesé, Zouma, Shaqiri - all were castoffs from big clubs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A team pieced together from such players reminded Mourinho of when he coached Inter Milan, leading a group of rejects to conquer European football.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in the third round of Premier League matches, Manchester United would face Stoke City away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he needed to prepare in advance, aiming to leave with three points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another match that caught his attention was Manchester City's 1-1 draw with Everton.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two managers took charge of Manchester United and Manchester City respectively last season, both choosing to tear down and rebuild.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet their final league positions differed by three spots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though factors like injuries played a role, a loss was still a loss—something Mourinho never shied away from.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a former colleague and rival of Guardiola, he never doubted the other's capabilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a season of transformation, Manchester City had become title contenders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mourinho grew increasingly eager for the Manchester derby, wondering what the outcome would be this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, he heard a \"thump-thump\" sound and walked to the window, curiously looking down at the training pitch below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two people were practicing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In this situation, besides playing a diagonal long ball to the wing, you can also hold possession to draw the opponent's attention, then wait for a teammate to support and create a numerical advantage in that area.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carrick gestured with his finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His ability to read the game was exceptional, even surpassing Pogba's, as he clearly explained the wing attacking patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling nodded, taking it to heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter the task, using one's brain could achieve twice the result with half the effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Football was no exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Focusing solely on technique while neglecting football intelligence would limit future achievements—Balotelli was a living example.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By the way, don't be too rigid in wing attacks. Make frequent vertical or horizontal runs to pull the opposition defense out of shape.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm not too familiar with dribbling aspects. It's a shame Ryan (Giggs) left.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carrick thought of his old partner; if he were still here, he could have offered Ling plenty of guidance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After chatting a while longer, the two left the training ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mourinho returned to his seat and began preparing the squad list for the next match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rashford had started two consecutive games and needed rest to recover.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling wasn't yet ready, leaving only one option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This match would be a good opportunity to test Martial's form and give him another chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he failed to seize it, he had no one to blame but himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>.....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed day by day, and soon it was August 27th.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the Britannia Stadium on the banks of the River Trent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The match had reached the 86th minute, with Stoke City trailing Manchester United 1-2.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then, Martial drove down the wing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kurt Zouma, the defensive powerhouse who had joined Stoke City from Chelsea, flew into a sliding tackle and cleanly won back possession.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps due to fatigue, Martial only made a token effort to press after losing the ball.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zouma easily adjusted his stance and delivered a precise through ball to a teammate upfront.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xherdan Shaqiri turned away from Matteo Darmian, drove to the byline, and sent in a cross.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ball sailed over all Manchester United defenders and dropped toward the back post.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An unmarked Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting met it with a header, scoring his second of the game to equalize for Stoke City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Britannia Stadium erupted instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stoke City fans cheered hysterically, celebrating what was nearly a last-gasp equalizer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only had they ended Manchester United's two-match winning streak, but they also halted United's cross-season league clean sheet record at 534 minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even more satisfying than winning!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the touchline, Mourinho's face turned ashen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maintaining an advantage throughout the match, only to be pegged back at the death—anyone would be furious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, this goal should never have happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Martial only needed to press immediately after losing possession, and Zouma wouldn't have been able to deliver such a high-quality pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This, as Zouma's former head coach, Mourinho could confirm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were just technical issues, they could still be addressed through training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But a poor attitude...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether last season or this one, Mourinho felt he had given Martial plenty of opportunities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet if the player didn't cherish them, he couldn't blame the manager for being harsh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the final whistle blew, the score remained unchanged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manchester United's first draw of the new season had arrived unexpectedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the substitutes' bench.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The players sensed the chill emanating from Mourinho and didn't dare to breathe too loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling was no exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He silently reminded himself that when games were nearing their end, he must fight even harder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, a single minor mistake could waste the entire team's efforts throughout the match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how outstanding your previous performance had been, you would become the team's culprit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after United's draw, he would likely soon feature as a starter, possibly even in the next match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the following two weeks were dedicated to international fixtures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Players like Rashford, Lingard, and Mkhitaryan would return to their national teams for World Cup qualifiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering their physical condition, Mourinho would probably rotate them as substitutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That left only himself and Martial for the left-wing position, didn't it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the way, United's next opponent was Leicester City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The very team that had created a miracle in the 2015-16 season.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Kanté had left, key players from that title-winning squad like Vardy and Mahrez remained, and they had added the solid Maguire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While their overall strength had declined somewhat, they were still a force to be reckoned with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he could seize this perfect opportunity and help United defeat Leicester City, he would take a significant step toward securing a regular starting spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lost in thought, Ling followed his teammates into the dressing room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the door closed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling frowned, subtly stepping back to position his teammates in front of him.\u003C\u002Fp>",1240,"2026-06-05T22:48:22.783Z",1,"novelbin.me","2547be4c545cb987c9fe9dd0ab46f2e4caeb396688a36876792d693b6c64f497","start-with-r9-template-chapter-24","start-with-r9-template-chapter-117",371,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstart-with-r9-template-cover.jpg"]