After the Manchester United players returned to the locker room, the assistant coach had already set up the tactics board.
Mourinho got straight to the point.
"Actually, the first half wasn't bad. Both offense and defense were executed well. That goal was just an accident, a moment of magic we couldn't prevent."
"From now on, pay attention to your positioning—stay a bit deeper than in the first half. Manchester City's forwards are used to making runs using their speed and exploiting the space behind our defensive line."
"Also, the intensity of the midfield press must not drop, and we need to increase the speed of our counterattacks."
"Remember how we defeated Manchester City last time? We'll apply the same pressure at the same point in the match."
"If it doesn't work, try to shift the ball to the left flank."
At this point, Mourinho looked at Ling, his tone very serious. "I need you to tear through their defense on the wing. If there's an opportunity, drive straight into the penalty area."
There were no elaborate tactical instructions, just a simple demand.
While this task might be difficult for others, Mourinho believed Ling could accomplish it—a trust without reservation.
Naturally, it was based on Ling's ability.
Ling suddenly grinned, revealing his pearly white teeth.
He had confidence in himself too!
Although Kyle Walker was fast, his defensive movements weren't standardized—that was the key to breaking through.
He would use tight-space dribbling to complete the breakthrough.
...
Meanwhile, in the home team's locker room.
Guardiola was tirelessly analyzing the game, the tactics board covered in dense arrows and circles that made one's scalp tingle just looking at it.
In today's European football scene.
When it came to controlling and refining possession and attack, if Guardiola claimed to be second, no other coach would dare call themselves first.
"Maintain numerical superiority in zones 12 and 14, creating two sufficiently wide vertical channels to deliver the ball to our forwards."
Guardiola pointed at the tactics board, his expression excited, even bordering on frenzied.
His "Guardiola's 20-Zone Theory," compared to traditional theories, included two additional half-zones, specifically tailored for two attacking midfielders.
...
The fifteen-minute break passed quickly, and the Etihad Stadium once again erupted into noise.
"Good evening, dear viewers!"
"Welcome back to the second half!" Peter Drury announced.
"The score is temporarily tied at 1-1!"
"Neither team has made substitutions. I believe, after halftime adjustments, the upcoming match will be even more thrilling."
Sitting in the broadcast studio, Peter Drury watched the players taking their positions, a strong sense of anticipation rising within him.
"In the last Manchester derby, Manchester United secured victory with a goal from Ling."
"Would history repeat itself today?"
Tweet!
With the referee's whistle, the second half began!
Manchester United pushed forward aggressively after kickoff, attempting to seize the initiative early.
But Manchester City's defensive resolve was unexpectedly firm.
They built an iron wall in midfield, with even their forwards dropping back to defend.
Relentless pressing, high-intensity challenges—the midfield seemed to transform into a bloody meat grinder, with frequent transitions between attack and defense keeping everyone on edge.
Manchester City continuously threatened from the flanks.
If not for David Luiz and Smalling's intense focus, coupled with De Gea's stellar form, the scoreline might have already changed.
As Manchester City's possession rate steadily increased, time flew by.
In the 65th minute.
Fernandinho intercepted in the defensive half and immediately launched a diagonal long pass to Bernardo Silva on the right.
Manchester City players sprang into action.
From a bird's eye view.
No more than two players occupied each vertical zone, and no more than three in each horizontal zone.
A perfect execution of the 3-2 principle.
Sane and B Silva quickly stretched wide, drawing Manchester United's fullbacks out and leaving large gaps in the half-spaces.
The two attacking midfielders advanced to occupy the two half-spaces in the final third.
"Here comes Manchester City's classic play!" Beglin noted.
"Utilizing the two half-spaces for precise final-third actions, with a variety of methods!"
"Switching play, penetrating passes, cutting inside for shots, and 45-degree crosses!"
Amid the cheers of Manchester City fans, Bernardo Silva gradually slowed down and played the ball back into the right half-space.
De Bruyne spotted another gap.
Just as he adjusted his stance, he suddenly heard a teammate's warning. But it was too late to pull back, as he was bumped the moment he passed the ball.
"Beautiful! Ling's interference from the back caused De Bruyne to make a rare mistake!"
"The ball is kicked towards Pogba!"
"Manchester United launches a counterattack! The Reds are on the march!"
Pogba didn't showcase his individual skills this time, selflessly opting for a lob pass to the left flank.
After losing possession, De Bruyne quickly retreated several meters, preparing to press immediately.
Ling's gaze locked onto the descending ball while also spotting the lurking De Bruyne.
The outside-of-the-right-foot bounce control was perfectly executed.
De Bruyne couldn't quite reach it, yet felt compelled to try.
Sometimes the body moves faster than the mind—though he struggled to suppress his tackling impulse, his leg instinctively swept out.
In that split second.
Ling's instep gently cushioned the ball, sending it soaring lightly over De Bruyne's outstretched leg.
Then he instantly accelerated, darting toward the penalty area with lightning agility.
His running route was meticulously chosen—directly engaging Kyle Walker while preventing Fernandinho's intervention.
Creating brief one-on-one space for himself.
Sweat streamed down Kyle Walker's forehead, his eyes burning, yet he resisted the urge to blink.
He knew his defensive role was crucial.
Potentially decisive for the match's outcome.
Ling's right foot made rapid consecutive touches with the outside blade, suggesting an imminent decisive move.
In the blink of an eye.
Ling sprang into action!
The inside of his right foot cut the ball toward the outside lane.
Kyle Walker quickly adjusted but dared not commit to a tackle.
Before he could decipher the opponent's intention, a flurry of mesmerizing moves followed.
Right foot's inner arc swept past the ball's front, then the outside blade flicked it outward.
This was precisely what Kyle Walker anticipated—planting his left foot firmly, he stabbed precisely toward the ball.
Ling detected Walker's move.
Instantly altering his dribbling approach, he sharply cut the ball with his instep!
The timing, power, and angle were impeccable!
Kyle Walker gritted his teeth, abandoning his center of gravity to step forward again.
Crack!
With that crisp sound, Walker's ankles—and his heart—seemed to shatter.
As if anticipating this, Ling suddenly shifted his body, using his left instep to check the ball.
Evading Walker's interception in the nick of time!
Manchester City fans in the stands witnessed it all, their expressions gradually freezing in disbelief.
But they soon regained composure.
Though Kompany was advanced in years and nearing retirement, his defensive experience remained vast, particularly in covering situations.
He deliberately waited for Ling's move to fully develop before stepping in to tackle, but what follows filled him with instant regret.
What defines top-tier weight shift and movement fluidity?
After checking the ball, Ling instantly made another touch, bursting forward like an arrow released from its bow!
By the time Kompany arrived, it was already too late!
Within mere square meters, Manchester United's number 7 wove through defenders, delivering a performance that dimmed the Etihad Stadium's brilliance.
Ederson directed teammates to cover the central area while positioning himself at the near post.
No shooting angle, no passing lanes.
So what if you've beaten all the left-side defenders?
Ling stood like a lone lighthouse in vast oceans, isolated near the penalty area byline.
Alternative thinking patterns led him to the solution!
With a delicate lift of his right foot, he plucked at everyone's heartstrings.
Ederson swiftly reached out to save, but he had too little time, and could only watch in despair as the ball soared over his head.
A brilliant rainbow seemed to appear in Manchester City's penalty area, arching over the Manchester grey!
"OTAMENDII!"
"An overhead kick clearance! No.... he didn't manage to clear it—the ball hit the net!"
"IT'S A GOAL!!!" Peter Drury roared, his voice cracking with emotion.
"The ultimate display of individual heroism!"
"He single-handedly tore through Manchester City's right flank like paper!"
"With his incredibly nimble dribbling and an imaginative chip shot, Ling has helped Manchester United regain the lead!"
"Absolutely unbelievable! The audacity! The brilliance!"
Drury was so excited he became almost incoherent, his voice trembling.
This was exactly the scene he had been waiting for!
Jim Beglin also rose to his feet in the commentary box, rubbing his eyes in disbelief as if unable to comprehend what he had just witnessed.
This kind of breakthrough was truly astonishing, especially against Manchester City!