Once Mourinho left for the press conference, the locker room fell into complete silence.
Ling, however, wasn't too affected.
He wasn't arrogant by nature and could handle criticism.
Being reprimanded for a poor performance was normal—he'd just work harder to improve and win back his manager's trust.
But not everyone could accept such harsh scolding.
As the bridge between the players and the coach, Ling knew he had to step in and ease the tension.
He turned to the Croatian midfielder.
"Mateo, you've been at Man United for over half a year now. You should understand the boss's personality," Ling said calmly. "When it comes to chasing victory, he focuses on the issue, not the person. Even if there's friction, as long as the goal is the same, he remains your ally. You can ask Mata or Mkhitaryan about that. I'm telling you this because the boss wants you to stay sharp and become better."
After a brief pause, Ling smiled. "A while back, when I was chatting with the boss, guess what he asked me? He asked me what kind of boots you liked. He wanted to gift them to you after you scored your first goal of the season."
Hearing this, Kovačić's expression softened.
He had felt targeted by the coach earlier, but Ling's words reassured him.
"Of course, don't overthink it. We've all been on the receiving end of the boss's scolding," Ling joked, lightening the mood.
Then he grew serious again, scanning the locker room.
Perhaps due to his mental maturity and the countless hardships he had endured, Ling carried himself unlike a typical 19-year-old.
The Man United players instinctively straightened their postures, respecting him.
"If you don't meet the gaffer's standards, he'll give you one chance, then another," Ling said earnestly.
"But if you keep making mistakes after that, your playing time will be over. Whether in football or life, courage, honesty, positivity, and friendship are all extremely important. Failure is unavoidable, but how we respond to failure can be controlled. We must show our desire to win!"
Ling's words came from the heart.
He hoped everyone could treat each other like family, standing shoulder to shoulder with fighting spirit.
The players nodded one after another and began reviewing their shortcomings together.
The dressing room soon returned to its lively atmosphere.
In truth, 90% of the world's problems can be resolved through communication.
When Mourinho pushed the door open to return, his icy expression gradually softened upon seeing the united team.
Noticing Ling's gaze, he put on a stern face and said, "Let's go. Hurry back to Manchester. There are still many matches waiting for us."
...
Although the internal issues were resolved, external skepticism surged like a tidal wave.
Fans of other clubs were desperate to see Manchester United fail.
@BayernFan_99: Gotta say, Nagelsmann's tactics are really impressive. He totally neutralized Ling!
@ChelseaPride: Mourinho has run out of ideas. It was the same at Chelsea—win the Premier League and then fall apart in the next season!
@ToonArmy: United play us next. Hope they maintain today's sloppy form so Newcastle can get an upset!
@RedDevilsDaily: It's just one draw; you haters are writing them off way too early.
@UtdTactics: Ling didn't perform too well, but the guy has played massive minutes recently. He's not a god, he's allowed an off day!
The Manchester United players ignored the external noise, focusing all their energy on training.
The four-day adjustment period passed quickly.
Manchester United hosted Newcastle United at Old Trafford, kicking off the eighth round of the Premier League season.
By halftime, the scoreboard displayed 1-1. United's goal came from a towering header by Ling, while Newcastle's equalizer was scored by Yoshinori Muto, who tapped in a low cross from Matt Ritchie just before the break.
The Japanese forward had transferred to Newcastle from Mainz this season.
After scoring, Muto provocatively glanced at Ling, believing that if an Asian player like Ling could establish himself in the Premier League, he could do the same.
At halftime, Mourinho praised his players for their attacking performance, noting that Rafa Benítez's defensive tactics were resolute.
But Newcastle couldn't sustain such high-intensity running forever.
Around the 65th minute, Man United began to ramp up their attacks.
Even center-back Harry Maguire pushed past the halfway line.
Mourinho then made a bold tactical substitution, taking off defender Eric Bailly and bringing on Ander Herrera.
Initially, Kovačić's face was etched with bitterness, thinking he was the one being subbed off.
But when he realized Mourinho was keeping him on and sacrificing a defender to chase the win, Kovačić's eyes transformed—from lifeless to full of vigor!
Daring to substitute a center-back for a midfielder in a tied match made Kovačić feel an unprecedented level of trust.
His emotions soared!
That contagious energy revitalized Man United's offense.
All thoughts of defensive caution were cast aside as Ling led the charge.
Peter Drury: "Old Trafford holds its breath as the Red Devils lay siege! The ball is swiftly shifted right... Pogba orchestrates... Rashford dances on the edge!"
Jim Beglin: "It's brilliant interplay, Peter. They are pulling Newcastle apart."
Peter Drury: "Pogba slides it into the area... LING IS THERE! A flick of the heel! Oh, majestic! He glides past Lascelles like a ghost through the mist! He shoots... AND HE SCORES! A strike of pure velvet! Manchester United restore their lead, and the Stretford End finds its voice once more!"
2-1!!!
Amid the roaring cheers, Ling retrieved the ball from the net, gesturing for his teammates to hurry back to the center circle.
Two goals weren't enough!
He intended to use a resounding victory to announce his return to the top of the scoring charts.
Ling was brimming with self-confidence—a precious asset forged through countless setbacks.
His teammates were swept up in the wave of exhilaration, giving their all to win back possession.
In the 87th minute, Newcastle's defense was breached once more.
Peter Drury: "Kovačić with a driving run, he feeds it to Ling. Ling accelerates! He splits Federico Fernández and Lascelles! He's through! It's just him and Martin Dúbravka!"
Jim Beglin: "Watch his feet, he's going for the Pendulum!"
Peter Drury: "A devastating sway of the hips! He leaves the goalkeeper clutching at thin air! He rolls it home! A masterpiece painted in Manchester red! Ling seals the victory with a breathtaking hattrick!"
3-1!!!
Ling sprinted toward the corner flag, leaping high and punching the air in triumph!
"Ling, one more goal and you'll break into the top three of the scoring charts! Don't forget, you've played two fewer games!" Matić shouted, running over to hug him.
"What did I say earlier?" Ling yelled back, clenching his fists. "If we hunger for victory, we will surely reap the rewards! Heaven helps those who help themselves!"
Even Yoshinori Muto had to drop back into his own half to desperately help defend as United kept attacking until the final whistle.
In the end, Manchester United secured a resounding 3-1 victory.
However, external critics still felt it wasn't enough, claiming Newcastle was an easy opponent.
Mourinho simply left one remark during the post-match interview.
"In our next match, we visit Stamford Bridge. I hope you'll still say the same after we defeat Chelsea!"
...
When break finally arrived, the Carrington Training Base became quiet and deserted.
Ling, accustomed to using this free time to improve his skills, stayed back to train.
After finishing his session that day, he received a call from Maria.
"Jeremy, do you have any plans for the short holiday?" she asked.
Ling wiped his sweat with a towel. "How about we go down to Brighton?"
There was a long silence on the other end.
Then, Maria's voice came through, tinged with a teasing, suggestive tone.
"Do you want to go to the famous clothing-optional beach down there?"
Ling nearly spat out his water.
He truly hadn't had such indecent thoughts!
He had just previously visited Brighton for an away match and thought the coastal city would be perfect for a quiet vacation.
"N-No! Alright, but we can't go to that specific beach," Ling stammered, his face flushing. "There are too many perverts and paparazzi there!"
Maria's melodic laughter echoed through the phone, filled with absolute delight.
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