[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-start-with-r9-template":3,"chapter-start-with-r9-template-start-with-r9-template-chapter-9":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},1388682,1840,"Chapter 9: Let's Crush the Opponents","start-with-r9-template-chapter-9",9,"\u003Cp>August 11th. Carrington Training Base\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The training base was bustling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The coaching staff had decided on a new selection method: a full 11-v-11 trial match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First-team and youth-team players were mixed together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youth players would be scored on their performance, which would be combined with their training results to determine the final promotion roster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the pitch, Mourinho held a tactical board, his voice deep as he read out the names.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Red Team: De Gea, Tuanzebe, Matic, Ibrahimovic, McTominay, and Ling...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"White Team: Pogba, Valencia, Rashford, Lukaku, Gomes...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked up, his eyes sweeping over every player.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The teams are balanced. I've explained the tactics. I expect every one of you to take this seriously.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then fixed his gaze on the first-team players. \"And this isn't just a selection for the youth. Any senior player who fails to meet my expectations... you'll find yourself on the bench when the season starts. Or even relegated to the second team.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'The teams are balanced,' he thought, scanning the names. 'This won't be a one-sided stomp.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Red team! Huddle up!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ibrahimović's voice boomed across the pitch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gathered the younger players around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"McTominay, defensive mid. You, kid... Ling. Left flank. When we attack, you watch me. You make your runs off me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at all of them with a fierce grin on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lads, you should be thrilled to play alongside me. We are a team now. Get your spirits up. Let's crush them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Truly, the Great General,' Ling thought, a small smile on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man's domineering presence was enough to get anyone's blood pumping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling ran to his position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was glad to be on Ibra's team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't about idol worship; it was about simplicity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You build the attack around Zlatan, and you will get chances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It also suited Ling's style perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could either dribble and drive, or he could use Ibra's hold-up play to make quick runs in behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew what Mourinho was looking for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first team was desperate for explosive wingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, he would show them everything he had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, Pogba looked utterly nonchalant, almost bored, while Lukaku rubbed his gleaming head, looking a bit lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The referee's whistle blew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The White Team kicked off, immediately passing and moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just three minutes in, Pogba received a pass in midfield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw McTominay thundering in for a tackle and, with an effortless, lazy-looking pull-back, he was past him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His talent was undeniable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Paul! Paul! On!\" Rashford screamed, pulling wide into acres of space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pogba completely ignored him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He continued his surging dribble, right into the heart of the defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Angel Gomes closed in from the side, trying to apply physical pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of the collision echoed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gomes, completely outmatched in weight class, tumbled to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pogba advanced to the edge of the box and unleashed a powerful shot. It arrowed toward the top right corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>De Gea launched himself, getting his fingertips to the ball to tip it just over the bar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brilliant!\" Ling, who was tracking back, couldn't help but shout.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the sidelines, Mourinho's face was dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Idiot,' he thought, his jaw tightening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What is the most crucial quality for that position? Sacrifice! And what does he do? A show. A performance.' He'd seen Rashford wide open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'He ignores the simple pass to try a trick. In his own half! If he loses that, we're exposed. He'll never learn.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mourinho was already considering the reality of benching his star player.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't let them shoot from there!\" De Gea yelled, clapping his hands furiously. \"Close them down! Work together!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The match resumed with a corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rashford swung it in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lukaku won the header but, under pressure from Tuanzebe, couldn't get it on target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The intensity was palpable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spurred by Mourinho's warning, every player was fighting for their spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling could feel the sheer difference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was Premier League intensity. Every second was a battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to stay alert, constantly checking his surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The game settled into a stalemate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the 16th minute, Pogba got the ball again, looking to drive through the center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was still annoyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If not for Mourinho, he wouldn't even be here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Wouldn't it be better to be getting a new haircut?' he thought, frustrated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'They're just youth team kids. I can dribble past them all.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frustrated, his touches became careless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tried to flick it past McTominay, but his touch was too heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>McTominay's eyes lit up. He stretched his long leg out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pogba, realizing his mistake, tried to hook the ball back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But someone was quicker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Matic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He'd read the play, pouncing on the loose ball like a predator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Top-class interception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a second's hesitation, Matic didn't just clear it; he sprayed a perfect, driven pass out to the left flank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mourinho's eyes narrowed, focusing on the winger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling glanced over his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Antonio Valencia was charging at him, intent on crushing him before he could even receive the ball.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A plan formed in Ling's mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Valencia was rapid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn't taking the kid lightly, but he was confident. 'He won't have time to turn.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling adjusted his feet, feinting a step to his left as if to take the pass inward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Valencia bought it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shifted his weight, stretching his powerful leg to intercept.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that exact moment, Ling let the ball run across his body, twisting to his right and taking it in full stride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glided right past Valencia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smooth. Effortless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Valencia's face was a mask of pure astonishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'How?' he thought, scrambling to turn. 'My defensive skills weren't top-tier, but i was a senior pro. How did a youth player just do that to me?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the sidelines, the frost on Mourinho's face instantly melted, replaced by shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rui,\" he said, his voice low. \"Has Ling... improved again? He's faster than he was two weeks ago.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Boss,\" Faria replied, a small, knowing smile on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That kid. He trains with an incredible dedication. He's always the first to arrive and the last to leave.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1019,"2026-06-05T22:48:22.783Z",1,"novelbin.me","4c7cafd6877cdfb2d052d998b967c15c0efac92340eddeea130d956f10116425","start-with-r9-template-chapter-109","start-with-r9-template-chapter-8",371,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstart-with-r9-template-cover.jpg"]