FA Cup Fourth Round: January 27th
The magic of the cup took Manchester United to Huish Park to face Yeovil Town, a League Two side fighting for their lives in the basement of the football pyramid.
Mourinho didn't even pretend to be stressed. He watched from the stands, sipping a hot coffee, while his assistant Rui Faria prowled the technical area.
United fielded a completely rotated XI—Sergio Romero in goal, Scott McTominay in midfield, and youngsters filling the bench.
It was a demolition.
Result: Yeovil Town 0 - 4 Manchester United.
...
The clock on the Sky Sports News wall ticked down. The yellow tie of Jim White was glowing on television screens across the country.
23:00 GMT. One hour left.
At Carrington, the fax machines were humming and Ed Woodward was sweating.
Negotiations for Barcelona's Samuel Umtiti had collapsed over wage demands. West Brom had refused to sell Jonny Evans for anything less than a king's ransom.
United needed bodies.
23:45 GMT.
BREAKING NEWS:MANCHESTER UNITED ANNOUNCE DOUBLE SIGNING.
The official club Twitter account dropped the graphics.
David Luiz arrived from Chelsea for a fee of €35 million.
Mateo Kovačić joined from Real Madrid for €39 million.
The total spend was significantly under the €100 million budget Mourinho had been promised, but in the inflated January market, getting two elite players was a coup.
...
The next morning, United held a simple welcoming ceremony at the training ground.
David Luiz, with his iconic frizzy hair and infectious grin, needed no introduction.
He walked in and immediately bear-hugged Nemanja Matic, his former teammate at Benfica and Chelsea.
Within five minutes, the dressing room was louder, filled with Luiz's practical jokes and laughter.
He was the chaotic energy the squad needed.
Mateo Kovačić was quieter, but constantly smiling. The Croatian midfielder had left Real Madrid—the biggest club in the world—for one reason: playing time.
He idolized Luka Modrić, but he couldn't spend his prime years watching his idol from the bench.
Inter Milan had wanted him on loan, but Kovačić wanted the fire of the Premier League.
Initially, Kovačić felt the nerves of a new schoolboy.
But as he looked around the locker room, he relaxed.
The atmosphere was professional and the players were charismatic.
His eyes landed on Ling.
While others were joking with Luiz, Ling was in the corner, meticulously tying his boots with a focus face.
Kovačić watched him during the first training session.
The way Ling sprinted for every loose ball, the way he stayed behind to practice shooting... it reminded Kovačić of himself.
'I have come to the right place', Kovačić thought. 'Here, they want to work and win.'
....
The next day.
Manchester United embarked on their journey to London with a brand-new lineup, heading to White Hart Lane.
Known as the infamous "Devil's Home Ground," it had suppressed countless teams.
Since the inception of the Premier League, Liverpool had only won twice there, while their city rivals Arsenal had managed just three victories.
The most pitiful, however, was Manchester United, who had long been plagued by the "White Hart Lane Curse."
It wasn't until April 2003 that they secured their first victory against Tottenham at this stadium.
But Chelsea had a particular fondness for White Hart Lane.
They had remained unbeaten there for 18 years, making it almost feel like their own home ground.
Moreover, Tottenham had already begun renovation and reconstruction plans.
Today marked Tottenham's final match at White Hart Lane, after which their home ground would temporarily relocate to Wembley Stadium.
As a result, the attendance for today's match exceeded 37,000, with all four stands packed with Tottenham fans clad in white jerseys.
They were here to witness Tottenham defeat Manchester United and bestow one last glory upon White Hart Lane!
...
Inside the narrow tunnel, the air was thick with tension.
Son Heung-min stood in the line, staring at the back of Ling's head.
A sense of crisis gnawed at the South Korean star.
Just six months ago, Ling was an unknown reserve.
Now? He was wearing the Manchester United Number 7 and he had scored 18 Premier League goals.
Son had developed a bad habit recently.
Every weekend, he checked the scores.
Did Ling score?How did he play?
He watched the highlights, analyzing Ling's movement. He admired him, yes, but he also burned with competitive fire.
'I cannot fall behind.'
Ahead of him, Harry Kane adjusted his captain's armband.
He looked at the club crest on his chest—the fighting cock.
Kane had scored 100 Premier League goals for this club. He had stayed loyal when Madrid came calling.
Tonight, he wanted to defend his home.
As the players emerged, a massive TIFO unfurled in the South Stand.
It depicted a proud cockerel standing atop a football, with the words "Harry Hotspur"—the Shakespearean knight from Henry IV who gave the club its name.
The roar from the crowd was deafening!
...
"Good evening and welcome to a historic night in North London!" Martin Tyler's voice boomed. "It is the 25th Round of the Premier League. Tottenham Hotspur versus Manchester United."
"United sit top of the table, 13 points clear of Spurs," Gary Neville added. "But form goes out the window tonight. This is about emotion."
"Let's look at the teams. Mauricio Pochettino sticks with his 4-2-3-1. The headline news is the inclusion of their record signing, Davinson Sánchez. The €42 million Colombian center-back starts alongside Vertonghen. He is fast, strong, and here to stop the United counter."
"For United," Tyler continued, "Mourinho makes a tactical shift. With Mkhitaryan gone to Arsenal, there is a hole at Number 10. He has chosen Jesse Lingard over Juan Mata. He wants Lingard's energy. He wants him to be a pest, to run beyond Ling and Lukaku."
...
Peep!
Romelu Lukaku tapped the ball back to Nemanja Matic, who laid it off to Phil Jones.
Usually, United would circulate possession. Not tonight.
Phil Jones, never known for his finesse, looked up.
He saw the Spurs defensive line stepping up high, trying to compress the pitch early.
Jones leaned back and launched a long, hopeful hoof upfield.
00:03 The ball spun high into the London night sky, dropping toward the edge of the Tottenham penalty area.
00:06 Jan Vertonghen stepped forward to win the header, but Romelu Lukaku used his immense strength.
He backed into the Belgian defender, chesting the ball down into the path of Jesse Lingard.
00:08 Lingard didn't hesitate.
He slashed a left-footed volley toward goal. Hugo Lloris, Tottenham's captain, reacted brilliantly.
He dove to his right, parrying the ball away.
00:09 But he didn't push it wide enough. The ball spilled loose into the left side of the six-yard box.
00:10 Davinson Sánchez, the £42m signing, was flat-footed.
He turned slowly. But a red blur was already moving.
Ling had gambled.
While everyone else watched Lingard shoot, Ling had sprinted. He arrived before anyone else processed what was happening. He didn't smash it. He simply poked the ball past the scrambling Lloris.
00:11
Ripppp.
The ball hit the back of the net.
GOAL!
The time on the scoreboard froze at 00:11.
White Hart Lane, which had been a cauldron of noise seconds ago, fell into a stunned, vacuum-like silence.
37,000 people stood frozen.
A fan in the front row still had his hot dog halfway to his mouth.
A steward dropped his walkie-talkie and Mauricio Pochettino hadn't even sat down on his bench yet!
Ling didn't care about the silence.
He screamed, sprinting toward the corner flag. He dropped to his knees, sliding across the wet turf, arms spread wide.
"UNBELIEVABLE!" Martin Tyler screamed, finally finding his voice. "ELEVEN SECONDS! MANCHESTER UNITED HAVE STUNNED TOTTENHAM!"
"They haven't even touched the ball!" Gary Neville laughed in disbelief. "Spurs haven't touched the damn ball! It's a long ball from Phil Jones, a knockdown, and Ling is there! That is lightning!"
Lukaku, Lingard, and Pogba mobbed Ling, piling on top of him.
Ling laughed as he lay on the grass.
'Luck favors the runner, 'he thought.
If he had stopped when Lingard shot—if he had admired the play like a spectator—he wouldn't have been there.
'Opportunities aren't waited for. They are fought for.'
In the center circle, Harry Kane stood with his hands on his hips, staring at the sky.
Phil Jones stood in his own half, looking bewildered.
He had imagined many things happening today.
Getting an assist in 11 seconds wasn't one of them.