The alcohol from the family dinner was beginning to pull Ling's eyelids down, but his mind was still racing at 100 miles per hour, replaying the match tape in his head.
There were so many areas in his performance that needed improvement.
Defensive Awareness: On the right flank, his positional sense was still too vague.
He had lost track of David Silva three or four times.
Against a lesser player, he might have gotten away with it, but Silva was a ghost.
One moment he was there, the next he was gone, drifting into the half-spaces.
If not for Mata's interception and De Gea's heroics saving, those lapses could have cost them the game.
Midfield Link-up: His coordination with the central pivot wasn't frequent enough.
He had isolated himself too often, leaving Pogba and Matic to deal with the overload.
That was why Fernandinho had found it so easy to dictate the tempo in the first half.
"I need to work harder," Ling muttered to the ceiling. "I need to watch more tape."
He washed his face with cold water, the adrenaline finally fading into exhaustion.
He collapsed onto his bed, and within seconds, he drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep, the taste of Maotai still lingering on his tongue.
...
Late at night and into the early morning, the results of the 21st Round of the Premier League were finalized.
The European sports media machine roared into life.
The Sun:THE SPECIAL ONE RETURNS! Mourinho Masters Pep in Tactical Chess Match.
The Guardian:Chinese Youngster Shines at the Theatre of Dreams: Is Ling the Heir to the Throne?
Daily Mail:Ling's One Goal and One Assist Show Kingly Demeanor—Has the Curse of the No.7 Finally Been Broken?
BBC Sport:Arsenal 1-1 West Brom: Wenger's Men Stumble Again. Top Four Hopes Fading?
Sky Sports:Chelsea 5-0 Stoke City: Conte's Blues Rampant, But Title Defense looks Mathematical Only.
The Telegraph:Tottenham 1-1 West Ham: Son Heung-min Stuck in Goal Drought as Moyes Frustrates Spurs.
News of the Manchester Derby result swept across the continent.
Beating Manchester City—the team that looked invincible—sent shockwaves through the market.
Top clubs who had previously viewed Ling as a marketing gimmick or a fleeting wonder finally began to take him seriously.
Reports surfaced that scouts from Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain had been present at Old Trafford.
Even Chelsea and Arsenal were rumored to be preparing inquiries, though they knew it was futile.
Manchester United held the aces, but everyone loves a bargain, and they couldn't resist testing the waters.
...
With the January transfer window officially open, the internet forums were ablaze with speculation.
Reddit / r/soccer:
@Kloppite:Guys, change of plans. Liverpool is officially in the title race. We just dropped £75 million on Virgil van Dijk. Our defense is fixed. I ask you, who can compete with us now?
@BarcaDNA:Don't celebrate too soon. I heard Coutinho is definitely coming to Camp Nou. He's already faking a back injury to force the move. Enjoy VVD, but you're losing the Magician.
@UnitedStand:Speaking of transfers, remember when we were linked with Alexis Sánchez all summer? Now that we have Ling balling out on the right, do we even need him?
@CityBlue:If United don't take Sánchez, he's coming to the Etihad. Pep wants him. Imagine Sane, Aguero, Sterling, and Sánchez. It's over.
@Gunner4Life:Don't remind me. Sánchez, Ozil, Walcott, Giroud... it feels like everyone is leaving. We are going to bleed talent this month.
@HalaMadrid:Meanwhile, Zidane is just chilling. No signings for three consecutive winter windows. He trusts the squad.
@NeutralFan:This January is going to be insane. Van Dijk for a world-record fee, Coutinho for £140m, Sánchez swap deals... It's an era of great competition.
...
Monday Night Football: The Studio
The studio lights were bright, illuminating the giant touchscreen where Jamie Carragher stood with a mischievous grin plastered across his face.
Sitting at the desk, Gary Neville looked noticeably uncomfortable.
"Let's look at the table," Carragher said, his Scouse accent thick with amusement. "United are top. Unbeaten in 21 match. And yet..."
Carragher paused for dramatic effect.
"At the start of the season, some retired Manchester United legends claimed Mourinho's tactics were 'too conservative.' They said he wasn't the 'United Way.' They said he wasn't the right man to lead the revival."
Neville shifted in his seat while taking a sip of water.
Carragher continued. "If someone had even half of Mourinho's tactical talent, Sir Alex Ferguson probably would have handpicked him as his successor years ago. Maybe that person would have been sitting on the Manchester United bench last night instead of in a TV studio."
"Of course," Carragher smirked, "I might have also lost a perfect broadcast partner."
The studio crew burst into laughter.
Carragher's mention of "some retired players" was practically reading out Gary Neville's passport number.
"Look at Jose," Carragher said, pointing to the screen. "He never played in a top league. His playing career is non-existent compared to the legends. Yet, he has the most trophies. And what about... someone else?"
"He's always spouting certain phrases."
Carragher pretended to scratch his head, feigning memory loss.
Then, he raised his voice three octaves.
"I remember now! All that talk about how 'The Europa League isn't a real trophy!' How 'United's tradition is attack, attack, attack!' How 'Certain players showed more fight in my day!'"
Beside him, former Manchester City midfielder Michael Brown—the guest pundit—was trying hard not to laugh.
His mouth twitched uncontrollably.
He was thinking he would never accept another guest spot with these two; the crossfire was brutal.
Neville's expression darkened.
He knew he was cornered. He had been critical, but so had Scholes, Ferdinand, and Schmeichel.
But those three had the luxury of hiding.
When the tide turned, they could stay quiet on Twitter.
Neville had a contract.
He had to face the cameras every Monday.
'This fucking guy 'Neville thought bitterly. 'After all these years, you'd think he'd show some mercy.'
Though, if he was honest, Neville knew he would have done the exact same thing to Carragher if Liverpool were top of the league.
Sir Alex Ferguson had once famously said about the pair: "If they'd just shut up, Premier League managers would have half their problems solved."
Neville's mind raced.
How could he salvage his reputation? If United actually went on to win the league, perhaps—his previous comments would be replayed forever.
He would lose all credibility with the United fanbase.
He needed a strategy.
A humble, sincere apology was the only play here.
But his pride screamed against it!
Then, his eyes caught the replay of Ling's goal on the monitor. The step-overs. The finish. The celebration.
'Better to act early', Neville decided. 'Get ahead of the narrative.'
Gritting his teeth, Gary Neville stood up.
He walked to the center of the studio and bowed slightly toward the camera lens.
"I would like to make a statement," Neville said stiffly. "I apologize for my previous criticisms of Mourinho."
The room went silent, even Carragher's jaw dropped.
"He is an excellent coach," Neville continued, sounding like a hostage reading a ransom note. "My misunderstanding stemmed from my own limited tactical knowledge compared to his genius. From now on, I will approach football with more rationality, objectivity, and a comprehensive perspective."
"I will not blindly worship or disparage others based on temporary results."
Silence.
Then, Carragher burst into hysterical laughter. "Are you serious? Did your PR agent write that for you?"
As Neville probably predicted, the internet did not show mercy.
@RedArmy:Is this a deep fake? Gary Neville apologizing? I've seen it all.
@LiverpoolFC_96:Why couldn't you have done this earlier? You've been moaning for six months!
@UnitedLegend:United legends are trash pundits. Look at our Liverpool legends... actually, Carragher is all talk too. They deserve each other.
@ValenciaCF:Can't imagine what would happen if Neville actually coached United. Oh wait, we know.
@TacticalTim:I think he could win a title!
@ScousePower:With his coaching skills? A title?
@BanterFC:The Championship is still a title! Ask Newcastle!
Seeing the screen filled with mockery, Neville actually breathed a sigh of relief.
It worked.
The fans were venting their anger now.
They were laughing at him, but the venom was gone.
By the time May arrived, if United lifted the trophy, this apology would be old news.
"Alright, alright, settle down," Carragher wiped a tear from his eye.
He knew not to push his luck too far. "Let's move on to the football."
"Gary," Carragher said, adopting a more serious tone. "How would you assess the performance of United's new number 7? Do you think he can reach Ronaldo's level? As a United veteran, what would you say to him?"
Neville's eye twitched again.
Two easy questions and one potential career-ender.
If he hyped Ling too much, he'd look biased and If he criticized him, the fans would eat him alive after the apology.
Neville cleared his throat as he went into 'Pundit Mode.'
"First of all, Ling's performance has been truly impressive. The way he shifts his body weight... honestly, his dribbling skills remind me of Ryan Giggs in his early years. Giggsy used to weave past defenders on the wing with that same effortless balance."
"Most importantly," Neville continued, "he is very young. He has unlimited potential. I believe, if he stays grounded, he can lead Manchester United to glory."
Finally, Neville allowed himself a moment of genuine self-reflection.
"You asked what I would say to him? I would say: keep working hard. Talent alone isn't enough."
Neville sighed, looking at the footage of Ling sprinting back to defend in the 89th minute.
"During my playing days, my talent wasn't comparable to Giggs, Beckham, Butt, or Scholes. I wasn't even as talented as my younger brother, Phil. So I had to keep training extra hours. I had to outwork everyone just to stay on the pitch. Ling has the talent... if he has the work ethic too? He will be unstoppable."