[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-start-with-r9-template":3,"chapter-start-with-r9-template-start-with-r9-template-chapter-25":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},1388708,1840,"Chapter 25: Bloodstained Despair and Rising Hope","start-with-r9-template-chapter-25",25,"\u003Cp>After seeing the grouping results, Ling analyzed the qualification prospects of each Premier League team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First up was Manchester United.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the star-studded Champions League teams, they not only avoided traditional powerhouses like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Juventus, but were also drawn into a group with Benfica, Basel, and CSKA Moscow—their luck was simply phenomenal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very least, advancing from the group stage shouldn't be too much of a problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, with relatively weaker opponents, the chances of getting playing time would be much higher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manchester City's luck was also excellent—truly befitting a team backed by heavy financial investment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liverpool, who barely made it into the Champions League at the last moment, also landed a dream draw, with Sevilla being the only strong team in their group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Klopp might feel a bit unaccustomed to it, given that he used to face Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern, and Juventus year after year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only now did he finally realize that it wasn't his fault—it was just Borussia Dortmund's fate to be perpetually unlucky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remaining two Premier League teams weren't as fortunate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chelsea and Atlético Madrid, like a pair of star-crossed lovers, always had endless stories between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Serie A powerhouse Roma also in their group, the qualification scenario remained highly unpredictable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tottenham, grouped with Real Madrid and Dortmund, would have to start preparing for the Europa League if they made even the slightest mistake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling shook his head, pushing his expectations for the Champions League to the back of his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled up videos of Leicester City's first two matches and began studying them carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under normal circumstances, the defender marking him would be Danny Simpson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simpson was also a graduate of Manchester United's youth academy, making him a senior of sorts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had once been highly regarded by Sir Alex Ferguson and was promoted to the first team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Come to think of it—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Giggs was embroiled in the \"sister-in-law scandal,\" Simpson was confirmed to have had an affair with Giggs' sister-in-law, Natasha.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coupled with his later struggles with alcoholism and indulgence, he was eventually cast out by Manchester United.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this ordeal seemed to awaken him, transforming him into a different person who dedicated himself to rigorous training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, he became a key player in Leicester City's miraculous 2015\u002F16 title-winning campaign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling repeatedly paused the match footage, jotting down Simpson's technical traits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every player has their own defensive habits, and these are precisely what can be exploited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, most fullbacks adopt a square stance, complemented by a staggered step to counter the opponent's dominant foot, thereby limiting their attacking options.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Simpson prefers to engage physically with a single-leg block, almost like a tiger pouncing downhill—a high-risk, high-reward gamble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The potential payoff is huge, but so are the risks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as he moved quickly enough and deliberately touched the ball early to shake off the pressure, breaking through would be straightforward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it's easier said than done—execution in practice is far more challenging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he knew it, Ling had drifted off to sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>.....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, his precise internal clock woke him up early.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After freshening up, he headed downstairs to begin the day's training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since most of the Manchester United players were either away on World Cup qualifiers or enjoying their holidays,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carrington Training Ground was nearly empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling had to handle everything himself—first fetching the equipment from the gear room, then humming a tune as he made his way to the training pitch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Faria, aren't you supposed to be on holiday?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling asked in surprise upon arriving at the training ground and finding someone already there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The boss predicted you'd stick around, so he asked me to supervise your training,\" Faria replied, pulling out a tablet while sighing inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only had the boss personally adjusted the training plan, but he also demanded daily reports on progress and results.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had been years since Faria last saw Mourinho take such a keen interest in a young player.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jeremy Ling's performance and talent must have truly captivated him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The training content was all very basic and was quickly completed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling wiped the sweat from his forehead and quickly walked over to Faria.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sir, there are a few tactical questions I don't understand. Could you help explain them to me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His thinking was simple: Faria had followed Mourinho for 15 years, so his tactical understanding must be quite advanced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very least, he should be able to clear up Ling's doubts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Faria's expression turned peculiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He probed, \"Are you referring to the tactics against Leicester City?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling scratched his head somewhat sheepishly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back when Mourinho was coaching Real Madrid, Iker Casillas had leaked internal information and tactics to his girlfriend without permission, leading to an irreparable conflict in the locker room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of this, Mourinho was particularly sensitive about such matters, and Ling's inquiry about tactics felt a bit like he was prying like an insider.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To his surprise, Faria didn't seem too concerned and casually replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Actually, the coaching staff has already completed the analysis in advance. Let me give you a brief overview.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Leicester City's main tactic is straightforward: solid defense combined with quick counterattacks.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They particularly like to deploy five players in midfield, creating a barrier between the opponent's midfield and defensive line, making it difficult for the opposition to penetrate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"However, this opens up space on the wings.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At that point, if—and I mean if—the players on the field are skilled at dribbling, they can use rhythmic ball control to continuously push Leicester City's defense back toward the penalty area.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This creates space for teammates in the central areas, making the team's attacking buildup more multi-dimensional.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifteen minutes later, after finishing his explanation of Leicester City's overall tactics, Faria suddenly remembered Mourinho's instructions and added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By the way, analyze it again yourself tonight and write up a summary for me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling's mouth twitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought to himself that even with the head coach away, he still had to do tactical review homework.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nevertheless, he replied softly, \"Yes, Mr. Faria.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Training, review, summaries…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling meticulously completed his daily schedule without fail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew he didn't have much time and had to improve his abilities as much as possible before the match began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His relentless, almost desperate, work ethic even shocked Faria, who raised his estimation of Ling another notch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During this period, the Chinese national team played their final two Asian qualifying matches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They eventually defeated Uzbekistan 1-0 and Qatar 2-1.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, these belated victories did little to cheer up Chinese fans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because they had been eliminated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since 1981, China's quest to qualify for the World Cup had been trapped in a vicious cycle of fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apart from their success in 2002, every other attempt had ended in failure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was even more regrettable was that the national team had faltered at the final hurdle seven times—a painful history stained with disappointment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Chinese fans fell into despair, they instinctively turned their gaze toward distant England, hoping to see a rising star there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Ling found himself thrust into the online trending topics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pressure is a double-edged sword; it can have both positive and negative effects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he were still the inexperienced youngster he once was, he probably wouldn't have been able to handle it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, having been reborn, he possessed strong mental fortitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He remained largely unaffected by the outside chatter and continued to train with his feet firmly on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stars shifted and time moved forward to September 8th.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Manchester United players had all returned and gathered in the tactical meeting room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap, tap, tap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A crisp sound echoed through the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling instinctively looked up toward the meeting room entrance and saw Mourinho walking in unhurriedly, carrying a tactical board under his arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Mourinho said something that made his heart race.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now I'll announce the starting lineup for our match against Leicester City in two days.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I think i make a mistake, the current season is 2017\u002F2018 where manunited will finish second in the league and just recently win europa league.\u003C\u002Fp>",1375,"2026-06-05T22:48:22.783Z",1,"novelbin.me","b8e149b9b7943884ed37be97fcc128c892732a23cb8008b94adb8a22cb979095","start-with-r9-template-chapter-26","start-with-r9-template-chapter-118",371,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstart-with-r9-template-cover.jpg"]