[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-start-with-r9-template":3,"chapter-start-with-r9-template-start-with-r9-template-chapter-58":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},1388873,1840,"Chapter 58 - 58","start-with-r9-template-chapter-58",58,"\u003Cp>On the Manchester United substitutes' bench, the atmosphere was tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Zlatan, looks like our luck isn't great today,\" Ling whispered, covering his mouth as he leaned toward the giant Swede.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ibrahimović, draped in a training bib, merely smirked, his trademark arrogance in full display.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Luck is for the weak, menino. That is because the lion has not yet entered the arena.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several grueling months of recovery, he was finally back in the squad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His return to the pitch was imminent, and the very air around him seemed to crackle with anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling just smiled without replying, his mind already working.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He mentally reviewed the first half in case he was called upon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>United had launched numerous attacks, mostly targeting the high line and the spaces behind the Benfica defenders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Portuguese side's players were exceptional at executing their offside trap, luring United's forwards into positions that repeatedly nullified their threats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, while United had dominated possession, they hadn't created many genuine, clear-cut scoring opportunities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the half ticked into injury time, Manchester United won a corner kick on the right side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mkhitaryan raised two fingers and whipped a swift delivery toward the penalty spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Romelu Lukaku, a behemoth among men, outjumped several defenders and powered a header into the net.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before he could even begin to celebrate, the referee's whistle blew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The goal was disallowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The referee ruled that Lukaku had used his marker for leverage, a foul while jumping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This ignited the Estádio da Luz.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Benfica fans, who had been nervous, erupted with deafening boos and whistles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They seized the opportunity to mock and taunt the man in the technical area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Judas! Judas, what's the score?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can you only play by parking the bus, you coward?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're not special anymore!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kicking you out back then was the right decision!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whenever they recalled how their hated rivals, Porto, had won the Champions League, the league title, and the cup under this man, it made their blood boil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Mourinho remained utterly unresponsive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face was stone cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He ignored the abuse and quickly made his way down the tunnel toward the locker room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few minutes later, the dressing room was silent as Mourinho addressed his team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Listen. Do not be frustrated,\" he said, his voice calm and analytical. \"They cannot maintain this focus for the full 90 minutes. They cannot. It is impossible to sustain that high-intensity offside trap for an entire match.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We will keep increasing the tempo. Keep the pressure. The focus remains on the left flank. I want more breakthroughs down the wings, more one-on-ones. Force them to make a decision.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked past the starting XI to the bench.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes found Ling. \"Ling. As usual. Warm up properly. You will be on around the 70th minute to finish them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mourinho meticulously explained the tactical adjustments, and soon, the players from both teams returned to the pitch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second half kicked off with the referee's whistle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manchester United's attacking strategy had clearly shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marcus Rashford, playing on the left, began to utilize his blistering speed, frequently taking on his man rather than looking for a pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rest of the team, heeding their manager's words, began to reduce the intricate passing near the box and opted for more long-range shots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Benfica's goalkeeper, Mile Svilar, was a Belgian prodigy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was also only 17 years old, and his overall technical ability was still raw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with United's relentless, calculated long-range efforts, he gradually grew flustered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He parried a shot he should have caught.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He punched when he had time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Benfica's entire formation had to push forward, breaking their deep, compact shape to prevent United's players from easily taking shots from distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this, as Mourinho had planned, left even more space behind their defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, in the 63rd minute, the plan bore fruit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nemanja Matić intercepted a pass in midfield and immediately, without hesitation, sprayed it to the left wing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rashford accelerated explosively from a standstill, knocking the ball past the Benfica full-back, who, in a panic, grabbed a fistful of his shirt and pulled him down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beeep!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Darren Fletcher (Commentator): \"Oh, that's a cynical, cynical foul. Rashford was just too quick, and the defender had no choice but to haul him down. A clear yellow card, and a very dangerous free kick for Manchester United on the left side of the attacking third. This is prime territory...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rio Ferdinand : \"This is what they've been working on, Daz. Forcing the defenders into bad situations. Now, who's on it? Mkhitaryan? Mata?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fletcher: \"No... it looks like Marcus Rashford fancies it himself. He's placed the ball. He's going for it...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rashford quietly took five steps back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took a deep breath, his eyes locked on the top corner, recalling the thousands of hours he'd spent studying his idol's free-kick technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His run-up and shot were executed seamlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ball soared high toward the top of the goal, looking for all the world like it was going over... before it suddenly, violently, dipped and swerved with no spin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A perfect knuckleball.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Svilar, the 17-year-old keeper, had positioned himself too far forward, expecting a cross.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He jumped too late and could only wave at the air as the ball rocketed past him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paid the ultimate price for his inexperience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fletcher: \"RASHFORD! OH, A STUNNING STRIKE! A VICIOUS KNUCKLEBALL! He's caught the young keeper completely off guard, and Manchester United have the lead! What a goal from Marcus Rashford!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Estádio da Luz was stunned into silence, save for one small corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The traveling United fans responded emphatically, erupting in joy, returning the earlier taunts with interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go on, shout now! Where's your famous atmosphere?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Judas? He just shut you up!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can't even park the bus properly, why bother playing football?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the sidelines, Mourinho added fuel to the fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to the main stand, the one that had been abusing him, and slowly, deliberately, raised a single finger to his lips in a \"zip it\" gesture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stands instantly grew chaotic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Benfica fans, incensed, began hurling whatever they had—water bottles, keychains, lighters, and some even tried to dismantle the seats to throw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, with the intervention of riot police holding shields, the chaos was quickly brought under control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The match resumed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mourinho didn't opt for a conservative defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, he stuck to the plan and made his substitution in the 70th minute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the touchline, Marcus Rashford and Jeremy Ling exchanged a high-five.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That free kick was brilliant, man!\" Ling said, his smile genuine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haha, thanks. Go finish them off!\" Rashford replied, breathing heavily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the competition between the two young wingers was intensifying for that starting left-wing spot, it didn't affect their relationship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, they grew closer, pushing each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation on the pitch changed once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following Mourinho's instructions, Ling continued the ferocious attacks down the left flank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What troubled the Benfica players was that Ling's technical style was completely different from Rashford's.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rashford was all explosive, straight-line pace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling was more adept at using his intricate footwork, his body feints, and his close control for successive breakthroughs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling seized the opportunity to showcase everything he had learned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Low crosses with his left foot. 45-degree diagonal crosses from wide areas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cutting inside and unleashing curling shots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he constantly switched up his arsenal, Benfica's defensive line grew increasingly disorganized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within just ten minutes, the right-back Pereira and the midfielder Fejsa each received a yellow card for cynically hacking him down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Ling was also covered in mud and grass stains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, his intelligent playing style—knowing when to release the ball and how to ride a tackle—helped him avoid any serious injuries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>83rd minute of the match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Benfica managed a rare attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pereira overlapped and delivered a cross from the byline, but under pressure from Smalling, Raúl Jiménez's header lacked power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>De Gea comfortably caught the ball mid-air and, in one motion, immediately threw it to Daley Blind on the left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing Pereira's press, Blind deftly lofted a first-time pass forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling controlled the ball smoothly, quickly looked up, and delivered a stunning, 50-yard cross-field switch to the opposite flank before Fejsa could close him down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Benfica had committed too many defensive resources to their right side to deal with Ling, their left was now dangerously exposed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Juan Mata was already in position, cushioning the ball for Mkhitaryan, who was making a central run.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Armenian then played a perfect, diagonal through-pass that sliced open Benfica's defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lukaku, one-on-one, easily slotted the ball into the near corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>0-2!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fletcher: \"Well, that is just a glorious team goal! From one end to the other in the blink of an eye! De Gea... to Blind... to Ling. And what a ball that is from Jeremy Ling! A magnificent, raking pass! Mata to Mkhitaryan... and Lukaku finishes it off! That is Mourinho football at its absolute, clinical best!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>United fans erupted once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lukaku's celebration was particularly bold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He faced the main home stand, cupped both ears, and rhythmically shook them, asking, \"I can't hear you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This provoked the recently calmed Benfica fans into another outburst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A volley of insults was hurled across the stands, keeping the riot police busy once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Keep it low-key, Rom! We're on their turf, after all,\" Mata hurried over to intervene, ever the professional.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ling, your long passes are getting better and better,\" Lukaku grinned, deftly shifting the conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling mimicked a foolish chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's all thanks to Carrick's coaching in training.\" Mata sighed helplessly, feeling as though he were babysitting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would be better if Ibrahimović were here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then again, he suddenly thought, if Zlatan were on the pitch, the celebrations would likely be even more extravagant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>86th minute of the match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mourinho substituted Mkhitaryan, bringing on the young Scott McTominay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Benfica's manager, Rui Vitória, his face as gloomy as stagnant water, replaced one of his defenders with a forward in a last, desperate gamble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vitória and Mourinho had a history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back when Mourinho coached Benfica, Vitória was a youth team coach at the club.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had even been one of the ones who secretly set traps, aligning with the new leadership that forced José out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, for Vitória, this wasn't just a loss; it was a humiliation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He needed a face-saving goal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a matter of pride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the pitch, McTominay quickly ran to his position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His heart was filled with anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was his Champions League debut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He and Ling were both academy graduates and had been roommates for three years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their bond was special.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whenever he watched Ling dominate the field from the bench, he felt happy for his friend but also a complex twinge of jealousy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he knew the immense effort behind Ling's success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had cut back on his own leisure activities and focused on training, striving to catch up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Scott,\" Ling called out, \"remember you're playing as an attacking midfielder now—make quicker, forward runs into the box!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, McTominay had been positioned as a defensive midfielder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But having started as a center-forward in the academy, his tall frame and sharp instincts made him particularly impactful when making late runs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mourinho's decision to field him in Mkhitaryan's role was an experiment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Got it!\" McTominay responded loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the restart, United's midfield control waned, so they conceded possession while slightly dropping their defensive line—a classic lure tactic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Benfica players pressed higher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fesa slipped a through ball to Pizzi, who linked up with Jiménez.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lindelof and Smalling were prepared, sandwiching the striker between them to cleanly win the ball.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>United then launched a rapid counterattack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Herrera spotted Ling's diagonal run and delivered a sweeping cross.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling controlled the ball in stride and surged toward the byline. Pereira, the former Barcelona fullback, tugged and grabbed desperately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his exhausted, 60kg frame was no match for Ling's acceleration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the gaze of tens of thousands, Ling gradually decelerated after entering the penalty area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was waiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simultaneously, Lukaku, Matic, and McTominay transformed into the \"Manchester Air Force,\" attacking the near, middle, and far posts—a multi-pronged aerial assault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Benfica's defense instantly fell into disarray.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rúben Dias instinctively marked the most threatening presence—Lukaku—leaving the others unmarked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as defenders rushed out to challenge Ling, his right foot suddenly swung.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a vicious, whipped cross, resembling both a curling shot and a pass, making his intentions impossible to read.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ball spun like a brilliant rainbow, arcing down toward the far post.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And there, rising high, was Scott McTominay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He transformed into a B-2 stealth bomber, powerfully heading the ball into the back of the net.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>0-3!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Estádio da Luz erupted for a final time... with the sound of thousands of home fans getting up and leaving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the roaring cheers from the away end, McTominay instinctively sprinted toward the corner flag and celebrated with an impassioned, slightly clumsy knee slide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he stood up and tightly embraced Ling, so excited he was almost incoherent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ling! I scored! I scored! I scored in my Champions League debut, just like you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling's smile was genuine as he shouted back over the noise, \"Scott, that's right! You did it! What a header!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>McTominay couldn't calm his excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having joined United's academy at just 5 years old, he had Red Devils blood in his veins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His short stature as a child meant he rarely got playing opportunities and even suffered bullying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, someone had told him: \"Talent isn't something that reveals itself easily.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he persevered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling's sudden rise had validated those words, and now his own years of hard work were finally paying off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at his good friend, countless memories flashing through his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back when Ling had fought two older youth players to stand up for him, Ling had been banned from training for a week and got scolded by Sir Alex Ferguson himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was precisely because of this that their bond grew stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>McTominay suddenly whispered, \"Thank you, man. For everything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"None of that sentimental stuff with me,\" Ling scoffed, deliberately putting on a disdainful expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're buying me a meal when we get back. There's a new Nando's just opened outside the training ground.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>McTominay's emotional moment vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A Nando's? That's it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And... Ling,\" he asked tentatively, \"can you set me up with another pass later?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"See? Always in a rush,\" Ling laughed, patting him on the shoulder. \"I'll pass to you if there's a chance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the sidelines, Mourinho watched with heartfelt satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His first impression of McTominay had been that this freckle-faced kid was like a \"mad dog\"—not as an insult, but because he possessed an indescribable, fearless ferocity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was why he'd promoted the average-performing kid in the first place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now it seemed his judgment was accurate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both his young players were performing excellently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Rui Vitória, on the other side, could no longer bear to watch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned away angrily and walked down the tunnel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a complete and utter defeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the match resumed, Benfica's morale was at rock bottom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peep-peep-peep!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the referee blew the final whistle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Benfica 0-3 Manchester United!\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>",2537,"2026-06-05T22:48:23.062Z",1,"novelbin.me","1ed4472acf9d54694b4d2cb6e23b3c035d03ab129aec276caf3883c4e6162e3d","start-with-r9-template-chapter-59","start-with-r9-template-chapter-57",371,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstart-with-r9-template-cover.jpg"]