Surprisingly, Ajax scored first, leaving Man United fans utterly unprepared—after all, they were last season's Premier League and Champions League champions, while Ajax had been eliminated in the Champions League qualifiers.
A intense sense of crisis grew among Man United fans, with some even believing this lineup was terribly flawed.
This was a classic case of being torn between hope and fear—because they had achieved great success before, any downward trend now felt unacceptable.
"It's alright, friendlies are for identifying problems. Don't put too much pressure on yourselves."
Ling jogged over, wearing the captain's armband. "From now on, improve communication on the pitch. Speak your minds!"
Ling firmly patted Maguire's shoulder, speaking earnestly in a calm tone.
He knew actions spoke louder than words, so after the match resumed, he took the lead in maintaining frequent communication with his teammates.
Maguire's tense nerves began to relax, gradually integrating into Man United's defensive system.
His transfer fee exceeding €50 million wasn't just due to his homegrown status—his abilities were undeniable.
Last season, he was the only outfield player in the Premier League to play every minute of every match. During England's World Cup quarter-final against Sweden, fans even hailed him as the "God of War."
Man United quickly found their rhythm. In the 35th minute, Maguire made a precise interception before diagonally passing to the right flank.
Kovacic controlled the ball in one motion, dribbled past Frenkie de Jong, and passed along the touchline to Mahrez.
The 2015-16 Premier League MVP and dribbling king immediately showcased his skills.
Though not physically imposing, his ball control was exceptionally deft.
With consecutive touches and shifts in balance, he cleanly bypassed Nicolás Tagliafico and cut back from the right side of the penalty area.
Rashford, hearing a familiar call, decisively let the ball run past him.
As the camera swiftly panned, two figures came into view.
Ling and De Ligt.
The sharpest spear and sturdiest shield of the younger generation—the youngest captains of Man United and Ajax—clashed head-on in that moment!
Two stepovers followed by a shoulder drop and change of direction!
The sheer amplitude of the moves was enough to make knees ache just watching.
High up in the commentary gantry, Peter Drury was already in mid-season form.
Peter Drury: "And here comes Jeremy Ling! Staring down Matthijs de Ligt! Oh, the footwork! Twisting, turning... De Ligt is left chasing shadows! Ling bursts forward like an arrow from a bow! He slides... he strikes!"
Facing André Onana, Ling went to ground for a sliding shot!
Compared to De Gea, Onana's diving speed was noticeably slower, and the ball slipped under his arm into the net.
1-1!
Drury: "A Dagger to the heart of Ajax! The Golden Boy shines even in the summer sun! What a breathtaking display of agility! He wears the armband, and he bears the responsibility!"
This crucial goal acted like a shot of adrenaline, helping Man United's players rediscover last season's form.
However, the shortcomings in the lineup were quickly exposed.
Neither Maguire nor Lindelof possessed strong mobility, necessitating a sufficiently robust defensive midfielder to cover them.
McTominay clearly hadn't yet reached Matic's level.
Consequently, Ajax aggressively targeted United's defensive channels, continuously delivering dangerous passes.
Just before halftime, Dušan Tadić scored another goal. 1-2.
In the second half, Mourinho began making tactical adjustments to identify the optimal center-back pairing.
After all, United's foundation was built on defense.
As long as they could stabilize the backline, their counterattacks—leveraging the formidable speed of Ling, Rashford, and Mahrez—would maximize goal-scoring opportunities.
When Eric Bailly replaced Lindelof, Maguire immediately felt more comfortable, as Bailly provided substantial defensive solidity and recovery pace.
The two coordinated seamlessly—one pressing aggressively, the other providing cover—organizing the defense with remarkable efficiency.
In the 65th minute of the match, Pogba and Ling executed a series of quick one-twos on the flank.
Ling drew three defenders before slipping the ball through a narrow gap.
Pogba followed up with a long switch pass.
Drury: "Pogba switching the play beautifully... Mahrez brings it down with the touch of an angel! He cuts inside... Oh, magnificent!"
Mahrez controlled the ball effortlessly, cut inside toward the center, and curled a left-footed shot into the net!
2-2!
Drury: "The trademark Riyad Mahrez curler! A stroke of absolute genius! He announces his arrival in Manchester red!"
His left foot was undoubtedly world-class, though his right foot remained amateur-level—similar to Argentina's perennial vice-superstar Ángel Di María.
Yet, this was precisely the type of player United had lacked.
The remainder of the match saw few dramatic moments as both teams made numerous substitutions.
Ultimately, United secured a 4-3 victory.
....
In the post-match interview, Ten Hag beamed with satisfaction. "We delivered an outstanding performance, completely controlled the game, and created numerous clear chances—though unfortunately, we didn't convert them all."
...
July 26th.
The entire Man United squad traveled to China for the International Champions Cup, facing AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Borussia Dortmund within a week.
The International Champions Cup, also known as the Guinness Cup, was essentially a commercial tournament with limited competitive significance.
Clubs generally approached it with minimal seriousness, often treating it casually.
At the Nanjing Olympic Sports Center, 99% of the tens of thousands of spectators were Ling's fans.
Every move he made—dribbling, breaking through, making runs, passing, or shooting—was met with deafening cheers from the crowd.
Despite the scorching 38°C heat in Nanjing that day, Ling insisted on playing the full match. Fortunately, the intensity was manageable, or he might not have endured.
After three rounds, United recorded two wins and one loss, accumulating 7 points to claim the International Champions Cup China title.
(Over in the US, Tottenham, as expected, won the North American zone championship, earning Harry Kane his second career trophy. His first? The Algarve U17 International Invitational eight years prior.)
...
As the summer transfer window's August 9th deadline approached, United's management convened another meeting focused on recruitment.
True to his reputation as the top-spending coach in the Top Five Leagues, Mourinho—having already exceeded €200 million in signings—still sought another mobile defensive midfielder, ideally in the mold of N'Golo Kanté.
However, the Premier League's Financial Fair Play regulations required clubs to maintain related revenues equal to or greater than related expenditures each season.
While United remained some distance from the penalty threshold, they needed to preserve sufficient financial flexibility for contingencies.
Therefore, unless Man United sold more players, it was impossible to bring in new signings.
Not to mention that a defensive midfielder like Kanté would probably require at least €80 million, forcing Mourinho to abandon his plans.
At this moment, the Man United squad was holding a farewell ceremony for the departed.
Ibrahimović, Mata, Darmian, Fellaini, Rojo, Smalling...
They were departing from Man United one after another, heading toward their own poetry and distant horizons.
Whether with reluctance or resignation, all their emotions transformed into a thousand indescribable feelings of sorrow.
Ibrahimović draped his massive arm over Ling's shoulder. "Didn't you once ask me how I managed to persist for so long?"
"The most important thing is to do what makes you happy. Don't care about others' opinions—you're doing it for yourself, not for anyone else. So you have to believe in yourself to keep going longer."
"Of course, I'm not telling you to become selfish," Zlatan continued. "I just hope you'll think more about yourself. Do you know what your biggest flaw is?"
Ling shook his head and took a sip of his drink.
In the over a year since joining Man United's first team, what he would miss the most was Ibrahimović.
To outsiders, Ibrahimović seemed selfish and hot-tempered, but in Ling's eyes, he was a gentle tough guy who had shared invaluable experience in every aspect.
How to overcome laziness, how to support and make runs...
Without Ibrahimović's guidance, his growth wouldn't have been as rapid, and he might never have won the Champions League.
"You tend to shoulder too much pressure yourself, which isn't necessarily a good thing," Ibrahimović said.
"We're all playing in top leagues; no one has time to wait. You need to learn to put pressure on your teammates, to bring out their best. Some can handle more, some less, and some just can't manage it. You have to figure that out on your own. That's what truly taking responsibility means—not blindly carrying everything alone."
"I hope to see a more mature Jeremy in the future. As for training hard, I won't say much—you're already better at it than I am. Sometimes I really wonder if you're a machine!"
Then Ibrahimović raised his glass high and addressed the room.
"I'm thrilled to have been your teammate and to have shared this incredible journey. I'll never forget it. At Man United, I won the Europa League, Champions League, Premier League, Community shield, League Cup—five trophies in total—fulfilling the promise I made. Next, I'll conquer American soccer. I'm sure we'll meet again on the pitch!"
The Man United players raised their glasses one by one, offering their sincerest blessings.
Ling stared at the swirling liquid in his glass, pondering Ibrahimović's words deeply.
Since his rebirth, he had indeed grown accustomed to handling everything himself.
But that would never make him a true leader.
He recalled his conversation with Mourinho.
Responsibility encompasses many aspects, including pushing teammates—his previous understanding had been too narrow.
Soon after, Marouane Fellaini approached Ling.
"I'm heading to your homeland tomorrow to join Shandong. Anything you want to tell me?"
"I suggest you climb Mount Tai first, to truly experience that land," Ling said with a smile. "Make sure to maintain your competitive spirit and professionalism. I believe you'll come to love the Chinese fans, and they'll love you too."
Finally, Ling added jokingly, "If you run into trouble, just drop my name. Though I can't guarantee it'll work."
After clinking glasses with Ling, Fellaini nodded seriously.
The clinking of glasses and rounds of drinks dispelled the melancholy of parting.
Tonight was the first time Ling had gotten drunk since his rebirth—both to commemorate the days of fighting alongside his teammates and to stride toward a bright and brilliant future.
...
August 11th.
The British Isles became a whirlwind of activity.
With the Premier League's landscape of multiple strong contenders, who would lift the final championship trophy?
Would it be the heavy metal storm of Liverpool, the flawless Manchester City, the ever-adaptable Tottenham, the new-era Arsenal, or the title-defending Manchester United?
Or would a new miracle unfold?
This season's Premier League was undoubtedly going to be even more thrilling!
...
Old Trafford.
Seventy thousand fans packed the stands to capacity, their enthusiastic cheers rising as a red tide surged across the Theatre of Dreams.
The floodlights beamed down on the pristine green grass.
High up in the commentary gantry, the microphones went live.
Peter Drury: "A new chapter, a blank page! The curtain rises once more on the greatest show on earth! Welcome to the Theatre of Dreams for the opening night of the 2018-19 Premier League season! It is Manchester United, the reigning Kings of England and conquerors of Europe, taking on the Foxes of Leicester City!"
Jim Beglin: "And what a narrative we have tonight, Peter. In the summer transfer window, Manchester United poached two key players from Leicester City. Now, coincidentally, the two teams meet in the season opener. It's bound to be a spicy, exciting match!"
Drury: "Indeed, Jim! How will Harry Maguire and Riyad Mahrez perform against their former employers? Can the Golden Boy, Jeremy Ling, maintain his breathtaking dominance from that historic night in Kiev?"
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I'll be releasing a midfielder mc this week, he is half norwegian and half chinese so its gonna be easier to manage and cant find any good owner or manager fic but i found a good goalkeeper one!