Rebuilding the Theatre

Manchester United's first friendly match of the East Asian tour took place at the Osaka Athletic Stadium against the Thai Lions All-Star Team. From the start, Manchester United aggressively attacked, pinning their opponents in their own half and leaving them gasping for breath.

The match felt almost like a training session at Carrington. Almost every Manchester United player showed off their individual skills. Anderson attempted long-range shots, Nani dazzled with his dribbling, and other players displayed their flair with tricks and flicks. But despite their dominance, the score remained 0-0 after 20 minutes of the second half.

While the crowd cheered and seemed thrilled by the spectacle, Jin Taige's brow was furrowed. What the audience saw as star power, Jin Taige saw as glaring flaws.

Anderson was too focused on fancy tricks and long shots, missing several clear opportunities to drive forward. Van Persie and Rooney were isolated in the penalty area, forced to drop deep to receive the ball, only to be immediately swarmed by the Thai defense. Giggs, no longer as fast as he once was, struggled to find passing options when he tried to cross from the left. On the right, Nani relied solely on brute force, a tactic that worked in the fast-paced Premier League but was ineffective against the Thai Lions' compact defense. He repeatedly lost possession.

What disappointed Jin Taige the most was the defense. With the attack struggling to break through, the defenders pushed higher and higher, leaving gaps at the back. A quick Thai striker exploited this, breaking through Manchester United's midfield and charging toward goal. Only Vidic stood between him and De Gea. The Thai striker calmly rounded De Gea and slotted the ball into the net.

The Thai Lions led 1-0.

Jin Taige couldn't sit still. He made several substitutions, but the team's performance didn't improve. The score remained 1-0 until the final whistle.

After the match, the Thai Lions players eagerly exchanged jerseys with the Manchester United players, who were gracious in defeat. Jin Taige approached the Thai coach and shook his hand. "Congratulations, sir. Your team played brilliantly."

When the Manchester United players returned to the locker room, they were surprised to find Jin Taige already waiting for them. His stern expression made everyone uneasy.

Some players, however, didn't seem too bothered. After all, it was just a friendly match. But Jin Taige saw it differently.

"You played well today," Jin Taige said, nodding at the players. "You beat your opponents 1-0. Very tenacious."

The players were confused. Giggs spoke up, "Boss, we didn't win. We lost 0-1."

Jin Taige's eyes widened, as if he'd just realized something. "Oh, I saw you holding the Thai Lions' jerseys and thought you were the Thai team."

He turned to Anderson. "You had some great long shots today. Perfect, except for the fact that none of them went in."

Then he looked at Nani. "Your dribbling was impressive. You beat three players, the corner flag, and the linesman. I'll send a report to FIFA suggesting they award points for that."

The players were stunned. They were used to Jin Taige's calm and cheerful demeanor, but today he was scathing in his criticism.

The rest of the players hung their heads. The loss was a collective failure, and everyone bore some responsibility. Nani looked embarrassed—he had squandered several good chances to pass. Anderson, however, seemed defiant. He confronted Jin Taige directly. "Boss, didn't you tell us to 'enjoy football' to play well?"

Scholes, standing nearby, tensed up. He hadn't expected Anderson to challenge Jin Taige so openly. He glanced at Jin Taige, unsure how he would respond.

Jin Taige raised a thumb. "Anderson, I'm impressed by your memory. But let me ask you, what do you think 'enjoying football' means?"

"Playing with freedom and expressing myself," Anderson replied confidently.

Jin Taige shook his head. "You're wrong. 'Enjoying football' doesn't mean doing whatever you want. It means finding joy in the true essence of the game. What do you think football is about?"

Scholes chimed in softly, "Hard work, teamwork, dedication, and responsibility."

"Exactly!" Jin Taige's voice rose, startling the players. His face flushed with passion as he continued, "You can only enjoy the thrill of victory if you're resilient. You can only savor hard-earned success if you're diligent. If you put the team first and are willing to sacrifice for it, you'll earn respect and love. And if you have the courage to take responsibility and give your all, even in defeat, you can leave the pitch with your head held high and enjoy the fans' applause."

He looked at Anderson and the rest of the team. "This is what I mean by 'enjoying football.' To enjoy, you must first learn to give. Always strive for victory, play as a team, and never give up. This is the spirit of Manchester United."

With that, Jin Taige left the locker room without another word, leaving the players in stunned silence.

After a moment, Scholes broke the silence. "Get cleaned up and changed. We have another game in a few days. Let's not disappoint the boss again."

When the team boarded the bus, Jin Taige was already seated in the front row, scribbling in a notebook. The players, sensing his mood, quietly took their seats at the back. The bus drove slowly toward the team's hotel.

Scholes sat beside Jin Taige and asked gently, "Boss, what are you writing?"

Jin Taige replied in a low voice, "I'm thinking about the starting lineup for the next game."

Scholes sighed. "Today's performance was terrible. At this level, we might not even qualify for the Champions League next season."

"I agree. Scolding them was necessary, but now we need to focus on the next game," Jin Taige said, handing the notebook to Scholes.

Scholes glanced at it. "You've changed almost the entire starting lineup? That's good. It's a friendly, after all. More players need to find their form."

Over the next three days, Jin Taige convinced Woodward to reduce some commercial activities. The team trained at Cerezo Osaka's facilities, focusing on teamwork and discipline.

Jin Taige noticed a change in the players. They were passing more, dribbling less, and showing greater energy. He nodded to himself. *The next game should be better.*

Three days later, Manchester United faced Cerezo Osaka in their second friendly. This was a stronger opponent, a top-tier Japanese team known for their technical play.

Before the match, Woodward pulled Jin Taige aside. "Tiger, you have to start Shinji Kagawa. This is his home country, and we need to consider the sponsors."

Jin Taige nodded. "I was already planning to play him."

"Brilliant, Tiger!" Woodward beamed.

In truth, Jin Taige wasn't starting Kagawa just for the sponsors. He wanted to shake up the lineup.

The starting XI was almost entirely changed. De Gea remained in goal, but the center-back pairing was now Jones and Smalling. Evra and Rafael kept their full-back roles. In midfield, Fletcher and Kagawa replaced Carrick and Anderson. Ashley Young and Valencia took the wings, while Welbeck and Hernandez formed the strike partnership.

This lineup, mostly backups from last season, delivered a strong performance.

Just five minutes in, Kagawa, energized by the home crowd, combined brilliantly with Hernandez. Kagawa feigned a shot at the edge of the box, sending a defender sliding, then calmly slipped the ball to Hernandez, who finished with a precise shot into the far corner.

Manchester United led 1-0.

The players celebrated enthusiastically, praising Kagawa for his vision and pass. Jin Taige stood on the sidelines, pumping his fist in celebration.

Cerezo Osaka fought back, creating chances of their own. Ashley Young and Valencia delivered dangerous crosses, but Welbeck's finishing let them down. Evra and Rafael also joined the attack, and just before halftime, Hernandez struck again. Rafael's cross found Welbeck, who headed it back for Hernandez to volley home.

Manchester United led 2-0 at halftime.

In the locker room, Jin Taige praised the team. "It seems my words got through to you. You've embraced the spirit of Manchester United. Keep it up!"

"Yes, boss!" the players shouted, eager to build on their lead.

But the second half brought a twist. Cerezo Osaka made two substitutions, bringing on younger, faster players, and shifted to a defensive counterattack strategy.

Jin Taige watched closely. "They're sitting back and hitting us on the break."

Scholes nodded. "With their strength, attacking us was suicide. Their coach finally figured that out."

The tactical change worked. Within 20 minutes, Cerezo Osaka scored twice, exploiting the gaps left by Manchester United's high line. Kagawa and Fletcher were overrun in midfield, while Jones and Smalling struggled to cope with the pace of the Japanese attackers. De Gea was left helpless.

Jin Taige made a few substitutions to freshen things up, but the score remained 2-2 until the final whistle.

Manchester United's second friendly ended in a draw.