[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-start-with-r9-template":3,"chapter-start-with-r9-template-start-with-r9-template-chapter-38":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},1388732,1840,"Chapter 38 - 38","start-with-r9-template-chapter-38",38,"\u003Cp>September 22nd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Southampton Training Ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tactics Meeting Room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Manchester United's number 23 excels in technical skills and dribbling, prefers his right foot...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coach Pellegrino clicked on the match footage, briefly described Jeremy Ling's technical characteristics, then continued in a low voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Remember, when defending against him, the defensive midfielder must drop early to establish the first line of defense.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For the second defensive line, the full-back and center-back should maintain parallel positioning, forcing him toward the byline whenever possible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yoshida Maya, you need to remind Cedric not to recklessly commit to tackles.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Simultaneously, focus on preventing crosses rather than contesting aerial duels. Van Dijk, you'll be responsible for marking Lukaku in the penalty area, cutting off his connections with teammates.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone in the room nodded in understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Boss, what if Rashford plays?\" Yoshida Maya suddenly asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The outcome of this match doesn't depend on the wings but on midfield. With Manchester United missing Pogba, our midfield depth is fully capable of overpowering them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pellegrino chuckled lightly upon hearing this and switched the screen to another interface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Southampton's current double pivot consisted of Romeu and Lemina.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The former excelled at front-on interceptions and possessed above-average passing organization skills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The latter demonstrated formidable jumping ability, physical presence, and athleticism, particularly adept at engaging in physical battles in defensive situations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as these two could suppress Fellaini and Matic, Manchester United's three central midfielders would struggle due to lack of support, significantly reducing their offensive threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What troubled him, however, was Southampton's equally weak attack, unlikely to pose much threat to the opposition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet there was an alternative solution: creating substantial obstacles to Manchester United's attacking buildup, transferring that pressure directly onto their defensive line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this was easier said than done - execution would ultimately depend on the players' implementation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pellegrino suddenly slammed the table forcefully, his tone turning grave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After only one win in the first five Premier League matches, both fans and management have grown dissatisfied. This match must be won - there's no alternative.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I expect you to give your all, not just for others but for your own futures as well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, he subtly glanced toward the corner of the meeting room where Van Dijk sat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the summer transfer window opened, Van Dijk had submitted a transfer request to Southampton to join Liverpool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for Southampton, maintaining league stability meant they couldn't afford to lose their defensive cornerstone, leading them to reject the request without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Pellegrino didn't want to create animosity, and his words carried an implicit message:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Play well this season, increase your market value, and the club won't stand in your way next year - they might even celebrate your departure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Van Dijk remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a late bloomer, having only reached the Premier League at age 24.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With advancing age, his athletic condition would inevitably decline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's why he wanted to join a top club early to secure a brighter future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the club would rather bench him than let him go - appearing like a lose-lose situation - the player's losses were ultimately immeasurable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After careful consideration, Van Dijk gave a slight nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having made his decision, he would perform well in the upcoming matches to pave his way to Liverpool next year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Pellegrino couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Carrington Training Ground, the pre-match tactical meeting was also underway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"First and foremost, we must play very conservatively in this match. It might not look pretty on the field.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But that's fine. All I want is victory.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mourinho scanned the room, his tone filled with determination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Manchester United's current squad configuration, going all-out in attack as in previous matches would inevitably lead to a disconnect between offense and defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, with crucial Champions League fixtures ahead, they must strive to secure victories in the simplest manner possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Defensive counterattacks...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under these circumstances, explosive vertical speed is indispensable, making Rashford the primary choice for the wings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, in deadlocked situations, Jeremy Ling could be deployed as a tactical wildcard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Manchester United players grew somewhat tense, recalling similar scenarios from last season.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After taking the lead, they had shifted to all-out defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet repeated errors emerged—whether it was Fellaini conceding a penalty or De Gea fumbling saves—ultimately leading to equalizers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noticing the players' expressions, Mourinho pointed to his own eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everyone, look at me. If I say you've undergone a transformation, would you believe me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't question my judgment—let the stats speak for themselves.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Phil Jones: 3 tackles and 5 aerial duels won, all successful last match, plus 1 interception and 11 clearances.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bailly...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ling...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fellaini...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This match may be extremely challenging, but with sufficient determination and fighting spirit, we will undoubtedly secure victory.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mourinho's voice grew increasingly fervent as he counted off each player's offensive and defensive statistics on his fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long pause, the meeting room fell silent again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unconsciously, the United players straightened their postures, their gazes no longer evasive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Mourinho speak with such conviction, Ling genuinely felt the man's unique charisma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with a more mature soul, those two rounds of motivational speeches left him feeling fired up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Mourinho had also made many mistakes, even terrible ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But those seemed irrelevant to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the past month, Mourinho had treated him exceedingly well—providing training guidance, match opportunities, and daily care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling didn't consider himself ungrateful and was willing to give his all on the pitch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both for himself and for the manager.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, he felt Mourinho should tone down the constant emotional appeals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one could sustain that level of motivation through an entire season—it was utterly draining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, He would never voice these thoughts aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As both teams held tactical meetings, anticipation for the match skyrocketed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, considering the teams' nicknames—Red Devils versus Saints—there was a sense of direct confrontation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Secondly, from the Premier League's intricate factional landscape, Southampton was famously dubbed \"Liverpool's B-team,\" their top subordinate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Renowned for their extreme aggression against other Premier League powerhouses, they became remarkably tame when facing Liverpool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Southampton fans mirrored this trait, arrogantly taunting on social media:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'United just got lucky facing weak opponents.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Manchester bastards, we'll make you regret coming to St. Mary's!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'And that overhyped Chinese kid—hope he doesn't cry when Yoshida Maya and Cédric mark him.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True to their volatile nature, United fans retaliated fiercely with a barrage of \"friendly\" greetings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid this atmosphere, time quickly passed to the next day, and the sixth round of the Premier League was about to begin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Southampton versus Manchester United!\u003C\u002Fp>",1099,"2026-06-05T22:48:22.783Z",1,"novelbin.me","36ec0305f7b099d7afd1111473e1128cce10d0f84278e7d5770911d7a842776c","start-with-r9-template-chapter-130","start-with-r9-template-chapter-129",371,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstart-with-r9-template-cover.jpg"]