SWR: Chapter 601/605

Chapter 601: The Most Handsome Guy in Manchester Tonight

At the start of the game, Ferguson was sitting in the dugout. He had just taken a few sips of water and popped a piece of chewing gum into his mouth. Before he even had time to chew it a few times, he heard a wave of gasps erupt from the stands.

Then, he saw a sky-blue figure streaking across the pitch at astonishing speed. Startled, his eyes widened, and he shot up from his seat.

Right after that, he saw Suarez deliver a cross. The lightning-fast figure darted past Fletcher and O'Shea, cut into the left side of Manchester United's penalty area, and smashed a volley into the net.

Referee Howard Webb blew his whistle sharply, confirming the goal!

Ferguson was stunned.

"What just happened?" the old knight asked in disbelief.

"It was… too fast, I couldn't see clearly!" Mike Phelan shook his head in confusion.

Indeed, everything had happened in the blink of an eye.

Not only did the coaching staff on the sidelines miss it, but even the fans in the stands and many of the players on the pitch didn't catch what happened clearly.

How did a goal suddenly get scored out of nowhere?

Ferguson looked up at the big screen, where the broadcast was replaying the entire sequence.

From the moment Javi Martinez passed the ball to Robinho, Gareth Bale was already accelerating.

Without anyone noticing, he sprinted from near the halfway line into Manchester United's penalty area and struck a left-footed shot into the far corner. The speed and precision were simply jaw-dropping!

Ferguson was so shocked his mouth hung open.

My god!

Was that really a goal?

Just a fluke?

But the remaining rationality in Ferguson's mind told him it probably wasn't an accident.

Because Gao Shen had actually benched Filipe in this match and started Gareth Bale instead.

He had been puzzled by this before. Filipe Luís was one of Gao Shen's most trusted players, a veteran who had helped him win a domestic double at Real Madrid. There was no reason not to use him unless he was injured.

But Ferguson hadn't considered another possibility.

That Gao Shen planned to use Gareth Bale to strike a deadly blow!

This completely defied conventional logic, didn't it?

Gareth Bale had once gained some attention, but he was never a standout. Apart from his speed, the most memorable thing about him was the 24-game winless streak he had at Tottenham Hotspur. He was considered a jinx.

Who would've thought that this so-called jinx, who had barely made any impact this season would suddenly replace the mainstay Filipe in today's match?

Looking back now, this was likely a carefully planned move.

Did he really intend to unleash Gareth Bale from the start?

Ferguson felt a bit depressed. He turned and looked toward Gao Shen at the visiting team's technical area. He saw him giving Gareth Bale a thumbs-up from a distance, clearly celebrating Bale's goal. But at the same time, he made a hand gesture—like a forward slicing motion.

Damn it, is this guy encouraging Bale to keep tearing into United?

…

If Gao Shen knew what Ferguson was thinking right now, he'd definitely cry injustice.

When did I ever tell him to go even harder at Manchester United?

At most, I just told him to keep doing what he was doing, keep targeting United's right flank!

But truth be told, even Gao Shen was a little surprised by Bale's performance.

It was within expectations, yet still unexpected.

However, when he turned around and saw the stunned faces of the entire coaching staff as they celebrated, a deep sense of pride and satisfaction surged in his heart.

Gareth Bale hadn't let him down!

More importantly, if this tactic was executed properly, it was extremely difficult to defend against.

But after Bale's breakthrough, Gao Shen didn't find peace for long. A number of players started approaching him in private, asking when he'd give them some individual coaching and help them develop their own killer move.

Professional footballers all know—having a killer move is like carrying a lethal weapon on the pitch. Well, maybe not lethal, but it's definitely a nuclear threat to the opposition.

They weren't expecting to be as spectacular as Gareth Bale. Just being half as good, as long as it highlighted their strengths and characteristics, would be more than enough.

Gao Shen responded to every request, but he also calmed the players down and told them to take it slow.

That was perfectly normal.

If building a team were that easy, we might as well go to the moon.

…

The match resumed.

After Manchester United kicked off, Manchester City continued to press and apply pressure on the Red Devils.

Although they had conceded a goal, United's morale remained intact, and the players' fighting spirit was still strong.

Manchester United had always been a team that grew stronger when facing strong opponents. They wouldn't be knocked down just because of a single goal.

But Manchester City had tasted blood, especially with Gao Shen's pre-match tactical setup.

The Blue Moon attacked down both flanks tonight, mainly relying on Robinho and Robben cutting inside, while Gareth Bale's runs from deep had become a lethal weapon.

Put simply, the tactic was to draw Manchester United's defensive focus away from their left, allowing Bale to exploit space freely.

United responded by tightening their marking on Gareth Bale, especially Fletcher, who closely monitored that side.

At one point, just as Gareth Bale was about to accelerate, he was decisively fouled by Fletcher.

Robinho and Robben also repeatedly dribbled forward, putting pressure on Manchester United's defense and creating numerous threats.

This allowed Manchester City to suppress United, as if they were trying to devour them in one bite.

Ferguson's team compressed from the halfway line all the way back to the edge of their own penalty area, trying to contain City.

As the game began to reach a stalemate, in the 13th minute, Gareth Bale once again popped up on the left side of the halfway line and received a pass from Javi Martinez.

As soon as he got the ball, he saw O'Shea approaching from the nearest position, while Fletcher was charging in from midfield.

Facing O'Shea, Bale shifted the ball sideways to evade the challenge, then suddenly accelerated from the inside, squeezing between O'Shea and Fletcher, relying on his raw pace and explosiveness to break through.

All of Old Trafford gasped in unison, the crowd letting out a collective cry of shock.

Bale tore down the left wing at full speed, galloping forward with the ball.

Ferdinand quickly stepped up to intervene, and Bale initially slowed down slightly. But when he noticed Ferdinand blocking the inside route and attempting to keep him out of the penalty area, he adjusted his direction slightly and veered to the outside before accelerating again.

In a flash, the Welshman had left Ferdinand behind and tried to break through from the flank.

But Ferdinand's experience showed. He quickly turned and, just before Bale could reach full stride, decisively slid in with a tackle, poking the ball off Bale's foot and out of play for a corner.

It wasn't until that moment that United fans in the stadium finally exhaled in relief.

That last sequence had been nerve-wracking!

Anyone with a weak heart wouldn't have survived it!

"Gareth Bale is so quick, Manchester United's defense is struggling to contain him, especially O'Shea, who was almost left for dead in an instant."

"Ferdinand did very well there, not giving Bale a good chance."

"But we should also recognize—it's only the 13th minute, and Bale remains a massive threat."

"Gao Shen has once again delivered a big surprise tonight."

"Take a look at this Manchester City corner, it's actually being taken by Gareth Bale! My god, how good is he at set-pieces?"

"Corner driven to the near post—Javi Martinez gets his head on it!"

"Just over the bar!"

"High-quality delivery."

"Gareth Bale, easily the most impressive player in tonight's Manchester derby."

Bale, still panting after his disrupted run down the left, walked back slowly. As he passed the home team's technical area, he saw Ferguson standing tensely on the sideline, a serious look on his face.

In front of the away team's bench, head coach Gao Shen was also on his feet. He gave Bale a thumbs-up and pointed toward Manchester United, mouthing something. Bale couldn't read lips, but he could roughly guess what the coach had said.

"Kill them! You're the coolest guy in Manchester tonight!"

Bale smiled faintly, nodded, and jogged back with renewed energy.

…

Play resumed.

Manchester City continued their high press against United. They weren't stopping now, they wanted to drive the dagger in.

After regaining possession, City circulated the ball patiently, building up in United's half.

With David Silva, Rakitic, and Javi Martinez combining with the front three and the two center-backs, Manchester City maintained strong ball control.

Manchester United had no good way to counter this. All they could do was maintain defensive shape and try to break quickly after recovering possession.

But United's counterattack began to show cracks.

Lack of pace!

Whether it was Berbatov, Rooney, or the aging Giggs—none of them were particularly quick. Facing City's two mobile center-backs, they couldn't gain much ground on the break.

Javi Martinez's defensive coverage and the pressing from Rakitic and David Silva made it hard for United to mount any direct attacks.

The result was that Manchester City held possession, organizing carefully and pressing forward, while United could only respond with largely toothless counterattacks.

It wasn't until the 21st minute that Robinho once again carried the ball diagonally inward and laid it off to David Silva. But Silva, under pressure from Fletcher, turned, dribbled to the left, and passed to the rapidly advancing Gareth Bale.

As soon as the Welshman received the ball, he surged forward down the left touchline, not waiting for Fletcher to close in, and gradually approached O'Shea.

Just as United's right-back came in to challenge, he saw Bale suddenly hugging the touchline, sticking wide. He first faked a cut inside, then shifted gears, using his raw speed to power past on the outside.

The sheer explosiveness of the move caught O'Shea off guard. He had no answer, he could only turn and give chase from the side and behind, trying to prevent Bale from cutting in.

But this time, Bale wasn't even thinking about cutting inside. After leaving O'Shea behind, he reached the left edge of the penalty area. Without waiting for Ferdinand to close him down, he swung in a left-footed cross, driving the ball low to the back post.

Robben, who had just been lurking near the penalty spot and drawing defenders in front of Suarez, ghosted in from behind, met Bale's cross, and headed home from point-blank range, smashing the ball into Manchester United's net.

0-1!!!

(To be continued.)

Chapter 602: The Battle to Defend Pants

"Goalllllllllllllll!!!"

"Robben! Robben scores again!"

"That's his second consecutive game with a goal!"

"Manchester City now leads 0-2!"

"My God, Gareth Bale has once again blown past O'Shea. Manchester United's right-back is completely helpless in front of the Welshman, he's offering no resistance at all, letting Bale run riot!"

"Tonight's match has taken a completely unexpected turn. We could very well be in for a goal-fest, unless Manchester United finds a way to stop Bale's pace and breakouts down the left, it's hard to imagine what this Manchester derby is going to look like."

The familiar voice of commentator Andy Gray echoed from the Match of the Day studio.

The three hosts and the entire on-site production team were stunned.

They were all too familiar with Andy Gray's voice he was one of the show's own.

But now, the voice of the Premier League's top commentator sounded especially grating.

How had they conceded two goals in such a short amount of time?

"Shearer, didn't you just say Ferguson had everything under control?" Gary Lineker was visibly distressed and close to tears.

Alan Shearer looked embarrassed. He had just given Ferguson some awkward praise, but within two minutes of kickoff, United conceded, and now they were down by two. How long had it even been?

"Wow, looks like we're headed for a high-scoring game tonight!" Alan Hansen also found it hard to believe.

Who could disagree?

Based on how things were going, if Manchester United didn't make adjustments, they wouldn't be able to contain Gareth Bale at all.

Ferguson had in fact made changes, asking Fletcher to pay closer attention to Bale's flank. But City's dominance in midfield was evident, and Robinho and Robben were brilliant individually on both wings.

In this scenario, if United focused too much on Bale, gaps would open up in midfield. If they focused on the midfield, the left side would be exposed.

"Gao Shen is on a different level!" Shearer exclaimed.

Everyone nodded.

Six matches, six different tactics and playing styles—each one full of surprises and ingenuity.

What was this?

It was like Gao Shen was openly telling the entire Premier League: I'm not just here to win titles, I'm here to make all my opponents and fans kneel and sing Conquer!

"Damn it, even Benítez and Mourinho weren't this brutal!" Lineker was at a loss.

Looking at the way things stood, it really didn't seem like Manchester United could stop Gareth Bale.

That kid's speed was just insane!

"In fact, have you all noticed? Gao Shen is basically slapping the face of every Premier League coach right now," Hansen said bitterly.

Who could argue?

Who was Gareth Bale, really?

He'd transferred from Southampton to Tottenham as a left-back and was branded a jinx.

Why was he called a disaster?

Because Tottenham failed to win in 24 straight games with him in the squad. Even Spurs players thought he was cursed. Redknapp likely thought so too, which is why the moment Manchester City made an offer, he was sold.

And the result?

That "jinx" turned into a lucky charm at Manchester City!

You could imagine how shocked Tottenham fans, Redknapp, and the club must have been watching Bale's performance tonight and how deeply they must regret it!

They sold a future world-class winger for just €15 million!

But even more impressive was Gao Shen.

Who would have thought the player Tottenham treated as a burden would become a rampaging dragon on the left wing under his guidance?

At that moment, the live broadcast camera switched to the touchline and showed Ferguson making tactical changes.

"Ferguson is adjusting Manchester United's setup. We can see Rooney moving more toward the right side—that is, City's left. Clearly, Ferguson knows they can't let Bale keep wreaking havoc."

"But this also means United's attacking firepower up front will take a hit."

"There's really no other choice. Bale's momentum has to be stopped, or City's attacks will only get more dangerous."

Andy Gray's commentary had slightly eased in tone, but it still wasn't enough to lift Lineker's spirits.

"Tell me… can I keep my pants?" Lineker asked with tears in his eyes.

Everyone exchanged glances, not knowing how to answer.

Judging by the current situation, it wasn't looking good for his pants.

But saying that outright? That would just be cruel.

"There's still a chance, Gary," Hansen offered, trying to comfort him.

"Yeah, don't forget, Ferguson is famous for turning games around. Two goals isn't too much. As long as United can regain their composure and shut down Bale's flank, I believe they'll bounce back quickly."

Alan Shearer nodded, convincing himself too. "Don't you trust Ferguson?"

"Exactly. Ferguson and United are no pushovers. It's just two goals. They can catch up."

"Right, right. Don't overthink it. The game's just getting started."

"Look, Rooney is tracking Bale now, doesn't that count as shutting him down?"

"As long as the kid can't sprint freely, City has nothing to fall back on."

"Just think—how long did it take for United to flip the script in the Champions League final? And how much of this match has passed?"

Everyone tried to reassure each other, but they were all essentially saying the same thing:

It's okay. Your pants can still be saved!

Lineker finally relaxed a bit. He looked down at his crotch and confirmed his pants were still there. Feeling a little more reassured, he even reached down and gave the fabric a tug to make sure.

But just then, Manchester City suddenly launched an attack from the left of center.

After Robinho shook off O'Shea and cut inside, he passed the ball to David Silva, who arrived from behind. The Spanish midfielder drove into the left side of the penalty area, trying to break through, but Ferdinand had positioned himself perfectly.

David Silva had great technique but lacked the pace to beat Ferdinand by force. He quickly turned, skillfully shielded the ball, used his body to block Ferdinand, and laid it off.

Robinho, having moved laterally from the left side, received the return pass and drove the ball inward.

Vidic and Carrick both stepped up to defend, but Robinho feinted a shot, sending Vidic scrambling to block. In that moment, the Brazilian coolly slid a pass to the right of the penalty spot, just behind Carrick.

Rakitic suddenly surged forward from behind Carrick, met Robinho's pass first-time, and pulled the trigger.

Suarez had initially looked to latch onto the ball, but when he saw Rakitic advancing, he cleverly moved aside to avoid blocking the shooting angle.

The Croatian midfielder's powerful strike whipped past Suarez and flew straight into the right side of the goal.

Foster stood no chance.

"Goallllllllllllllllllllll!!!!!!"

"The ball is in again!!!"

"31st minute—Manchester City scores once more!"

"0-3!"

"A brilliant late-arriving strike from Rakitic!"

"Manchester City's attacking momentum tonight has been relentless, and United's defensive issues are being thoroughly exposed. Whether it's the left flank or the center of the penalty area, Carrick alone can't contain both David Silva and Rakitic."

"Manchester United are in real trouble now."

Andy Gray's commentary once again cast a gloomy shadow over the Match of the Day studio.

Everyone who had just been trying to console Lineker now found themselves awkwardly silent.

So this was Ferguson "keeping things steady"?

Didn't they just say United could make a comeback?

Now it was three goals down!

Lineker was on the verge of collapse.

Hansen and Shearer exchanged glances, utterly lost for words.

At this point, what else was there to say?

Mate, if it really comes to it, be brave, grit your teeth, and take them off!

Sensing the looks from his co-hosts, Lineker nearly lost it.

These are my pants. No one is taking them off!

I will defend my right to wear pants to the bitter end!

…

The flow of the game was completely beyond everyone's expectations.

No one had imagined that Manchester City would already be up three goals in just over thirty minutes of the first half.

It was absolutely stunning.

But judging from the match so far, the fact that United had only conceded three could almost be considered fortunate.

Whether it was O'Shea helpless against Gareth Bale, or Foster who could do nothing about the repeated shots, Manchester United's defense tonight was genuinely concerning.

After the third goal, Ferguson really had no better options. All he could do was instruct his players to tighten the formation and stabilize defensively. United fell into a more compact, conservative shape.

Their aim was to hold steady and stop the bleeding but Manchester City's waves of attacks didn't let up.

With only one game per week, City clearly held the advantage in fitness and form over United.

In the 43rd minute, Gareth Bale made another surging run forward. After receiving the ball on the left, he tried to break through, but Fletcher blocked his path, with Rooney tracking back to help.

Unable to move forward, Bale played it back to Robinho just outside the left corner of the penalty area.

The Brazilian, with his back to O'Shea, controlled the ball, took a step back, and laid it off to David Silva.

The Spaniard took the ball, evaded Fletcher's pressure, and moved toward the top of the arc. Then, just before reaching Carrick, he sharply changed direction, driving forward and attempting to get past him.

Suarez, positioned up front between Vidic and Ferdinand, constantly flirted with the offside line. The moment he saw David Silva beat Fletcher and move toward Carrick, he grew more alert.

Seeing Silva trying to push past Carrick, Suarez pointed behind Ferdinand and shouted urgently.

David Silva used his body to block Carrick and didn't release the ball right away. Instead, he continued his dribble, and just as he reached the top of the penalty arc, Ferdinand could no longer hold his position. He stepped up decisively, looking to double-team Silva with Carrick.

But just as Ferdinand moved forward, David Silva threaded the ball behind him.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 603: Premier League’s New Champion

Ever since Gao Shen took over as manager, he's always believed that South American players have a natural football intelligence.

This might stem from the environment they grow up in, their youth development systems.

European players tend to be more professional. Most of them come through formal youth academies, receiving systematic training. They're like standardized products. Of course, there are also some exceptional and creative talents among them, but there's often a mechanical feel to their play.

This craftsmanship isn't necessarily bad, it's not about good or bad, it's simply a difference in style.

Most South American players are self-taught, without formal academy backgrounds. They rely entirely on their own experience and instincts developed from childhood. They play with fewer constraints, doing as they please on the pitch, pulling off a wide range of spontaneous moves, giving their play a natural, free-flowing quality.

This shows on the pitch: European players make decisions that feel logical and sound, but often lack surprise.

South American players might do things that seem irrational, but every now and then, they'll pull off something truly unexpected.

It's not easy to say which is better.

But when building a team, it's important to consider that if a side is overly focused on logic and structure, then its tactics and patterns can be easily deciphered by the opponent.

Of course, just because you understand it doesn't mean you can stop it.

Take Gao Shen's use of Gareth Bale, for example can it be stopped?

Maybe in the first half, yes. But what happens when your stamina drops in the second half?

That's why Gao Shen wants to bring more South American players into his squad.

The key, though, is that they must be able to integrate seamlessly.

A perfect example of intelligent team play is Suarez's movement.

…

As David Silva dribbled toward Manchester United's penalty area, Suarez hovered between Ferdinand and Vidic.

He was sharp enough to avoid falling into an offside position, constantly adjusting his positioning based on the movement of United's two center-backs.

When Ferdinand decided to step up and challenge for the ball, Vidic clearly understood the signal and also pushed forward.

If Suarez hadn't reacted in time, he would've been caught offside.

Even if David Silva played the perfect pass, the Uruguayan would've been flagged if he'd gone too early.

But Suarez cleverly tracked Vidic's movement at first, retreating with him while pointing to the space behind and to the side of Ferdinand. Then, suddenly, he stopped, lining himself up almost level with Vidic and turned to sprint forward.

David Silva saw Suarez's signal and read it immediately, threading the ball into the space behind Ferdinand.

That initial retreat tricked Vidic into thinking Suarez was going to drop deeper.

But unexpectedly, Suarez turned and exploded forward.

As Silva released the pass, Suarez accelerated past Ferdinand and timed his run to perfection, evading the offside trap with a brilliant piece of movement.

The entire play unfolded in a flash, but explaining it in detail reveals just how intricate it was.

Suarez used clever footwork and movement to shake off Vidic, burst into the box behind Ferdinand, latched onto David Silva's through ball, and calmly slotted it past Foster with a low left-footed strike.

"Goallllllllllllllllllllll!!!!!!"

"0-4!!!"

"Oh my god, before halftime, Manchester City scores again—0-4!!!"

"Manchester United is being completely dismantled tonight, overwhelmed by Manchester City!"

"Ferguson's team is being torn apart at Old Trafford by a well-drilled, dominant Manchester City side."

"We're seeing not only a huge gap in possession but also a clear disparity in dangerous attacks and goals."

After scoring, Suarez sprinted off the pitch in celebration, elated, running with arms wide open.

In just six matches, he's already scored eight Premier League goals!

Something he could've never imagined before joining Manchester City.

Did he suddenly improve dramatically?

Sure, that played a part but more importantly, he now has better teammates around him than he ever had at Ajax. They create far more chances.

And he's only taken advantage of a portion of them.

What truly matters is that head coach Gao Shen hasn't just built an attacking system, he's also given Suarez his full support.

That alone makes Suarez feel electrified.

Joining Manchester City was truly the right choice!

"We can see that Manchester City's attack was incredibly well-executed, especially Suarez. His movement was so clever it completely threw Vidic off."

"He was like a cunning fox, weaving through Manchester United's defense."

"Eight goals in six matches, Suarez is currently the Premier League's top scorer!"

"0-4. Things have gone from bad to worse for Manchester United."

"Ferguson must come up with a better and more effective response at halftime, or this could turn into an outright massacre at the hands of Manchester City."

"This could go down as one of the most humiliating nights for United in the history of the Manchester derby!"

…

The first half ended 0–4.

Old Trafford fell into stunned silence.

Over 75,000 Manchester United supporters sat in confusion and anxiety.

United's players walked off the pitch with their heads down. Even as they passed Ferguson, none dared meet his gaze.

By contrast, the Manchester City squad were all smiles, high spirits across the board, as if they'd just hit the jackpot. The mood starkly contrasted with their neighbors in red.

After Gao Shen hugged each player, he sent them down the tunnel. Before heading in himself, he glanced at Ferguson, who looked slightly embarrassed. The two managers nodded at each other, then turned to their respective dressing rooms.

Back in the away locker room at Old Trafford, City's players were buzzing as they eagerly discussed the first half.

In truth, had they been more clinical, City could've scored even more goals.

But that's football, no one can guarantee perfection.

Most of the players focused their discussions on moments of miscommunication, missed chances, or moments of poor coordination.

And that was a good thing.

These were exactly the kinds of conversations a strong team needs to have.

For example, Suarez turned to Gareth Bale and said, "Try not to send in high crosses in the second half."

"Look at me, do I look like I can win headers against Vidic?"

His words sent the room into laughter.

"Then next time I go at O'Shea, I'll push harder and whip one across the six-yard box. Keep an eye out for a low ball," Bale replied with a grin.

Suarez froze.

The others were stunned too.

This guy still had energy left after that first half?

"Damn, Gareth—are you even human?" Zabaleta groaned.

They were both full-backs, how could there be such a gap?

You get to gallop down the left without pressure, while I'm stuck constantly on edge on the right. How do I explain this as an Argentina international?

The room roared with laughter.

"Actually, it was the boss's plan," Bale admitted. "He said my biggest advantage is my stamina. If we wear them down in the second half, the left wing will be mine."

There was a gleam of intensity in his eyes.

Back at Tottenham, Bale was considered a jinx after appearing in 24 straight matches without a win across two seasons.

Nobody had to say it to his face, he'd seen the comments from reporters and fans.

Of course it had left a mark.

When he moved to Manchester City, he came determined to prove himself.

And when Gao Shen reached out and personally called him, saying he never believed Bale was a "disaster star", those words meant everything.

Because of that call alone, Bale joined City without hesitation.

And now, after tonight's performance, he was brimming with confidence.

Never in his life had he played football like this.

Never before had he been in such a spotlight.

He had thoroughly dismantled a proud, arrogant Manchester United and left them powerless to respond.

What could be more thrilling than that?

"Gareth is right," a deep voice came from the doorway.

"Although United rotated their lineup, many of their players have played back-to-back games. Before the fifth round last weekend, they also had two weeks of international duty. Their energy levels are low."

"Fitness will be our biggest advantage in the second half. If it were me, I'd focus on tightening the midfield. So we mustn't rush things in the second half, we need to stay composed and play patiently."

"We have the midfield strength to hold possession, control the tempo, wear them down."

This was a tactic laid bare.

Even if Ferguson saw through it, what could he do?

He only had three substitutions.

What difference could that make?

"We'll continue playing the same way in the second half," Gao Shen said. "But we must stay calm, don't rush, don't panic. Most importantly, don't give them any chances."

"If United overloads the center, we'll exploit the wings. If they spread out to cover the flanks, we'll attack through the middle. One way or another, opportunities will come."

The entire dressing room nodded in agreement.

After seeing the first half, they all realized, Manchester United wasn't as invincible as they had imagined. There were plenty of flaws in their game.

On the contrary, once City took control of possession and tempo, United was forced into a passive role, defending and counterattacking.

"Everyone, you all know that we've won five in a row this season. Six straight is within reach. But I want more than that. I want us to use this match—this derby—to make our name known."

"I want to tell the entire Premier League—"

"The era of the 'Big Four' is over! The Manchester United era is over too!"

"We, Manchester City, are the new kings of the Premier League! We're going to build a brand new dynasty in this league!"

"And it all starts tonight!"

"After tonight, the sky over Manchester will be blue and soon, the sky over the entire Premier League will be blue!"

(To be continued.)

Chapter 604: Manchester City Went Crazy

It was already half past seven, but in the Middle East, the setting sun was still scorching everything on the earth.

There were still few pedestrians on the streets of Abu Dhabi.

It wouldn't be until later, when the sun finally dipped below the horizon and the temperature cooled, that people would begin to come out.

But inside Mansour's palace, it was unusually lively.

One of the UAE's most powerful nobles was hosting a unique banquet at his residence. The occasion wasn't a festival or an anniversary—it was a football match being played in Manchester, England.

The globally anticipated Manchester derby.

The live broadcast was provided by Al Jazeera Sports, and the Arabic commentator was narrating the game's progress.

Even if they didn't understand football, the nobles attending the banquet could clearly see the score displayed on the large screen.

Nearly 60 minutes into the second half, and the score was still 0–4.

The team in blue jerseys had fired in four goals against the red-shirted rivals.

Each time a goal was scored, Mansour would cheer excitedly, joining the celebrations without hesitation.

Everyone knew why he was so thrilled.

Recently, with Manchester City's growing reputation in the Premier League especially after Gao Shen took over as manager, the team had won five consecutive matches to start the season. This had brought global recognition to Abu Dhabi, the club's financial backer.

Just two days ago, the President of the United Arab Emirates summoned his younger brother, Mansour, to the palace and praised his investment in Manchester City, particularly his decision to hire a world-class coach like Gao Shen. He mentioned that during his foreign visits, Gao Shen's appointment had garnered positive attention.

The UAE President even stated that investing in Manchester City and bringing in a top coach was a move that elevated the international prestige of the UAE and Abu Dhabi.

Delighted by the praise, Mansour promised to continue his efforts to help Manchester City achieve greater heights.

Upon returning from the palace, he immediately planned this aristocratic gathering, inviting relatives and dignitaries to enjoy fine food and drink while watching the world-famous Manchester derby.

What made Mansour even prouder was that Manchester City had thoroughly dismantled Manchester United in this game, racing to a stunning 0-4 lead in the first half, leaving their opponents completely helpless.

Could there be anything more thrilling than this?

Many of the Abu Dhabi nobles had studied in the UK and were familiar with the Premier League. Naturally, they knew how strong Manchester United was.

They, too, were stunned. None had expected that just a year into investing in Manchester City, the club would crush United so thoroughly.

After all, last season, United had humiliated them.

Now, the mood at the banquet had reached a fever pitch. Every time Manchester City launched an attack, cheers echoed throughout the hall.

Whether or not they understood football, they all knew—when the blue team attacked, it was a good thing.

…

"It seems Gao Shen is a rare talent," said Sultan Jaber, seated beside Mansour, smiling as he praised the manager.

He was one of the UAE's most influential figures and held multiple government posts.

"He really is talented. Most importantly, he's young and full of ideas. I like him a lot," Mansour replied.

He had only met Gao Shen twice, but both times had left a deep impression.

Just then, a cry of disbelief came from the Al Jazeera commentator.

…

Ferguson had brought on Park Ji-sung for Berbatov at halftime.

Rooney was moved back to the center.

Park Ji-sung was positioned on the right flank, clearly to try to contain Gareth Bale's surging runs on the left.

But the effect was minimal.

Manchester City continued to generate chances, leaving Manchester United in an awkward position.

So, in the 60th minute, Ferguson made his second substitution, bringing on Anderson for Giggs.

Sneijder moved to the left, while Anderson and Fletcher partnered in midfield, forming a sort of 4-5-1 formation.

This did bring a temporary balance to the game, but it lasted for only about ten minutes.

In the 72nd minute, Gareth Bale popped up once again in Manchester United's half, receiving a pass from David Silva near the center line on the left flank.

Bale stopped the ball with his left foot and faked an inside cut, tricking Park Ji-sung into shifting to block but then he suddenly burst down the touchline, nudged the ball forward just before Park arrived, sprinted out of bounds to avoid contact, and flew past him from outside the pitch, catching up with the ball like lightning.

In a flash, all of Old Trafford gasped.

"Man and ball separated!"

"Bale just passed the ball to himself seconds later!"

"He's just too fast!"

Catching up with the ball, Bale charged forward, leaving Park Ji-sung in the dust. In the blink of an eye, he was already near the outer edge of United's penalty area, bearing down on O'Shea.

Accelerating again, Bale got tight to O'Shea, poked the ball toward the goal line, then exploded forward once more, bulldozing past him.

Simple. Direct. Brutal. Even cruel.

"Oh wow! Another one-on-one, he's done it again!"

"My god—Bale's past O'Shea!"

The Welshman reached the goal line, caught up with the ball, and drilled in a low cross near the six-yard box.

Suarez cleverly slipped between Ferdinand and Vidic, got his foot in before either of them, and stabbed the ball into United's net.

"Goallllllllllllllllll!!!!!"

"Fifth goal!"

"Manchester City is going absolutely crazy!"

"Oh my god, that's five goals tonight!"

"Park Ji-sung and O'Shea have been utterly overwhelmed on United's right side, they just can't handle Gareth Bale."

"The Welshman's pace is terrifying. Once he's off, it's over. There's just no stopping him!"

"0-5!"

"Ferguson needs to seriously reassess his tactics and lineup, this has been a disaster at home for Manchester United, especially their complete failure to contain Gareth Bale!"

…

Just three minutes later, Manchester United mounted an attack near Manchester City's penalty area.

Sneijder slipped a straight pass to Rooney, but the moment Rooney touched the ball, David Luiz closed in from behind.

The tall, long-legged Brazilian center-back extended his leg and cleanly poked the ball away. Then, using his strength to shield Rooney, he took possession and drove forward.

Before even exiting the defensive third, David Luiz launched a direct pass upfield to David Silva.

The Spanish playmaker was tightly marked by Fletcher. After settling the ball under pressure, he managed to turn slightly and, off-balance, poked it to the left.

Gareth Bale was already surging down the left wing, having once again left Park Ji-sung far behind. Before Silva's pass went out of bounds, Bale reached it first, touched it forward, and exploded down the flank again. Using his unmatched pace, he forced his way past O'Shea yet again and delivered another low cross across the face of goal.

Suarez, sprinting at full speed, shook off Ferdinand and Vidic, and met Bale's pass with perfect timing, slamming it into the back of the net once more.

0-6!!!

"Goalllllllllllllllll!!!!!!"

Suarez, overcome with excitement, sprinted straight toward Gareth Bale.

The two embraced tightly on the sideline, celebrating the goal and the victory with unrestrained joy.

"Hat trick!!!"

"Suarez capitalized calmly on his chances, two goals in just three minutes to complete his hat trick!"

"That's now ten Premier League goals for the Uruguayan striker this season!"

"Manchester City's attack is simply unstoppable!"

(To be continued.)

Chapter 605: Double Hat Trick

The game was nearing its end.

The score still stood at 0–6.

Manchester United had never found a way to deal with Manchester City at Old Trafford tonight.

Ferguson had used up all three of his substitutions, but they had no effect.

Gao Shen made two changes, first replacing Robinho with Filipe, then pushing Bale further forward.

But the Welshman didn't press too high. Instead, he roamed along the midfield line, maintaining his usual positioning.

This was to fully exploit Bale's pace and impact.

He wasn't suited to tight duels near the defensive line—what he needed was space to run.

Repeatedly, Bale attacked down United's right flank, relentlessly wearing down Park Ji-sung, Fletcher, and O'Shea, exhausting the entire right side of Manchester United's formation.

At the same time, Gao Shen subbed off Suarez and brought on Sturridge, continuing to apply pressure and wear down United's central defenders.

Manchester United did everything they could to contain Bale, even picking up two yellow cards in the process. Yet Bale remained active, although he couldn't create more chances or goals for a while.

But under Bale's repeated, high-speed sprints, United's right side, along with Ferdinand and others on the back line was utterly spent. Time after time, they had to chase him down and race back, completely drained.

By the 89th minute, the fourth official showed three minutes of added time. A collective sigh of relief swept across the field.

Finally, they could be free of the monster that was Gareth Bale.

His speed was beyond reason.

Manchester United launched another attacking attempt.

Bale had dropped very deep, already back in his own half, across the center line.

United passed the ball around the back and eventually worked it to the right, where O'Shea fed Park Ji-sung.

But before the Korean could even control the ball, Bale was on him. He leaned in, used his body to shove Park aside, poked the ball forward, and burst ahead, instantly shaking off the unfortunate Korean.

Park Ji-sung gave chase, but Bale's pace made catching up impossible.

O'Shea tried to cut him off just past midfield, but Bale didn't give him the chance, he sent the ball flying past him and accelerated once more.

Old Trafford was left stunned.

Another man-ball split!

This Welsh monster looked like he had wings.

With massive strides, Bale bypassed O'Shea in the simplest, most brutal way. He caught up with the ball at the edge of United's penalty area, burst inside, and, under pressure from the pursuing Ferdinand, unleashed a left-footed shot.

The ball flew straight into the right side of Manchester United's goal.

The placement. The angle. It was exactly the same as his opening goal.

"Goalllllllllllllllll!!!!!!"

"In the 89th minute, Gareth Bale scores again against Manchester United!"

"Unbelievable! He's been sprinting all game long, and here at the very end, he still has the legs to complete another high-speed run!"

"Even more shocking is that while running at full pace, he was able to replicate the same shooting technique as his earlier goal, perfectly identical. Unreal!"

"Gareth Bale, the young Manchester City winger, will become a household name after tonight's Manchester derby—a rising star in European football!"

"He's unstoppable!"

"So far this season, Manchester City has used six different tactical systems in six matches—each with its own flair. And tonight, Bale has completely stolen the spotlight, even outshining Suarez, who scored a hat trick."

"0-7!!!"

"Ferguson's team has been utterly humiliated!"

"It's the worst defeat ever at Old Trafford!"

"And with this, Manchester City will secure their sixth straight win, marking the best top-flight start in club history!"

"Gao Shen has truly proven himself worthy of being a two-time Champions League-winning coach. Every move he makes is masterful!"

…

Ferguson remained seated in the dugout for most of the game.

He couldn't remember how long he had been chewing his gum.

It had long lost its flavor.

But he didn't spit it out.

Just like this match, he had already lost, lost badly but the final whistle hadn't blown. He had to stay the course, even though he knew full well that City could still score more.

There was nothing he could do. That's just the rule of the game.

Manchester City were simply too good tonight. Gareth Bale, in particular, had been in unstoppable form.

The young left-back was virtually unchallenged all night on the left flank, repeatedly charging down United's right and wreaking havoc.

No one could stop him.

Because no one could match his pace.

Ferguson knew this scene all too well.

He'd once crafted a similar system for Cristiano Ronaldo.

Back then, he brought in Saha and Berbatov to help hold up the ball and pull defenders out of position, creating space for Ronaldo to attack with his frightening pace and explosiveness.

Once Ronaldo got going, he was nearly impossible to stop.

Before last season's clash against Gao Shen's Napoli, Ferguson had used that strategy 16 times and never scored once.

But it wasn't because the tactic didn't work. On the contrary, it wasn't because they could stop Ronaldo.

But the Portuguese didn't seize the opportunity, at least not in the way Ferguson had hoped for various reasons.

Not until the seventeenth attempt.

Now, as Ferguson sat in silence, he couldn't help but wonder was this poetic revenge?

Gao Shen was using the same tactical design Ferguson had once used against him, repeating the blow again and again.

Gareth Bale today was exactly like Ronaldo last season.

Ferguson suddenly felt a twinge of regret.

He had been desperately searching for Ronaldo's successor, trying to fill the void left by the Portuguese superstar. That's why he spent a massive €25 million to bring in Antonio Valencia.

But who would've thought that Gao Shen spent just €15 million to dig out Gareth Bale and tonight, Bale had used the exact same method Ferguson once used to humiliate Gao Shen, now turned back on him at Old Trafford.

Ferguson couldn't believe this wasn't deliberate.

"This kid's too ruthless!"

…

The match was almost over.

In injury time, Manchester United's players were physically and mentally drained.

Yet many of Manchester City's players were still full of energy.

Like Sturridge, who had come off the bench, and Gareth Bale, who had played the full 90 minutes.

In the second minute of stoppage time, Sneijder tried a through pass into the penalty area, but Javi Martinez blocked it. The Spaniard quickly chased the loose ball and released it down the left to Filipe.

The Brazilian full-back surged forward with the ball and reached Gareth Bale just ahead of Park Ji-sung.

Bale received the ball with his back to the pitch, standing tight along the left touchline. He stopped the ball sideways and immediately accelerated, not giving Fletcher a chance to close him down.

Even after 90 minutes, his burst of speed was explosive.

But this time, O'Shea and Fletcher closed him down together. Instead of driving forward, Bale threaded a left-footed pass into the left inside channel.

Sturridge, sprinting onto it, cut into the left side of the penalty area, drawing Carrick and Ferdinand's attention.

The English striker was sharp, he stretched out a hand to hold off Carrick and came to a complete stop just outside the box, slightly left of center.

At that moment, Carrick was directly in front of him, Ferdinand right behind, and Vidic positioned off to the right.

With O'Shea still out of position, United's left side was exposed.

Sturridge paused, read the situation perfectly, and slipped a subtle left-footed pass behind the defense.

And Gareth Bale was already there.

Sprinting in from the left corner of the box, he blazed past O'Shea and met the pass perfectly with his left foot.

A first-time shot.

Same angle. Same position. Same clean, composed strike as his previous two goals.

The ball rocketed toward the far post.

Foster, planted at the near post, could only watch as the ball flew past him—again.

"Goallllllllllllllll!!!!!!"

"That's the eighth goal!!!"

"My God—Manchester City has scored EIGHT goals tonight!"

"Gareth Bale completes a hat trick!"

"This is madness! Manchester City has gone completely insane tonight!"

"Unbelievable, Bale has scored a hat trick in the Manchester derby, and on top of that, he's also registered assists. Simply phenomenal!"

"The Welsh youngster dominated the left flank, tearing Manchester United's right side to pieces. Even in the final moments of the match, he still had the legs to explode into the box with that kind of pace and power."

"0-8!!!!"

"This is the most humiliating defeat in Old Trafford's history! It's also the most crushing loss of Ferguson's managerial career and it happened at home!"

"All three of Bale's goals were nearly identical. There's no way this wasn't part of Gao Shen's pre-match strategy, City kept feeding passes into that same zone over and over."

"And Bale delivered, every time—composed, clinical, ruthless."

"You can't deny that this was a calculated tactical setup by Gao Shen."

"Watching that moment when Bale surged past O'Shea again to storm into the box, I can only bow my head in admiration."

"Just look at Bale's expression after the goal, as he turned to glance at O'Shea, you could almost hear him say: 'My strides were too big, O'Shea. Please forgive me!'"

(To be continued.)