Chapter 60: Making Manchester United Cry — Facing Schalke
Old Trafford.
Most of the Manchester United fans had already left.
It wasn't that they were disappointed in United — they knew their players had tried their best.
They simply didn't want to watch Arsenal fans singing the Arsenal anthem and doing the Mexican wave on their own turf.
The more ecstatic the Arsenal fans were, the deeper the pain for United supporters.
They had never been humiliated like this at this stadium before.
They held their heads high and tried to keep their tears in their eyes,
they loudly told friends beside them: "We didn't lose to Arsenal — we lost to that boy."
"Losing to the brutal emperor who scored five and assisted twice isn't shameful, because he is an emperor…"
And they were convinced United was not the worst-off debtor to the brutal emperor — someone else would suffer more than United!
At the same time, they also believed this grudge would be repaid.
Sir Alex Ferguson and the Manchester United players were pale; this was the first time since the club's founding that fans had abandoned them collectively.
Even in the dark days under Liverpool's dominance there had been no mass early exits by the fans.
Tonight it happened.
Jesse Lingard cried, Rio Ferdinand's eyes were wet, Wayne Rooney's eyes were red…
They wanted to salvage something in the remaining ten minutes, but Arsenal were airtight and their midfield distribution was orderly…
United's players fought alone as if they'd forgotten football is a team sport.
The result was inevitable.
Beep!
The match ended!
At the whistle, Lingard, Nani, Rooney… all burst into tears as if after a World Cup defeat.
Especially captain Wayne Rooney, sitting on the turf and sobbing like a three-year-old — but no one mocked him; even Arsenal fans averted their eyes.
In that moment, these crying men were also heroes.
Ferguson turned and walked away without even shaking Arsène Wenger's hand.
Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen rushed over after the whistle and hugged Xia Qi tightly: "Thank you!"
If the match had ended in an Arsenal defeat, Vermaelen would have been a sinner — he'd assisted van Persie immediately after the opening whistle.
"Captain, should we go thank the fans who traveled with us?"
"Yes."
Arsenal players linked hands and bowed before the Arsenal supporters' stand to show their thanks!
Xia Qi generously kicked the match ball up into the stands.
At Vermaelen's suggestion, all the players threw their shirts to the fans…
Xia Qi and the others had already gone down the tunnel when the Arsenal fans still refused to leave, continuing to celebrate on the pitch. Singing the Arsenal anthem in the enemy's heart and laughing loudly — such moments they wanted to last.
Post-match press conference.
Ferguson chewed gum as he walked into the room greeting familiar journalists — someone unaware might think he'd been the night's winner.
Sir Alex Ferguson: "Tonight's match is my shame, Manchester United's shame, Old Trafford's shame…
"But I'm still proud of the boys. They fought with Red Devils spirit in adversity. Especially Ashley Young's save, and Nani taking Xia Qi on."
An Arsenal-supporting reporter in the row: huff, huff…
Nani's pulls, elbows and pushes were revealed again in slow motion — not something to be proud of.
But little did they know, time will make people forget Nani's little fouls. In future people will only remember that Nani dared to take on Xia Qi.
"As for Xia Qi, I'll say this: we're lucky he's in England.
"As Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard age, having young talents like Xia Qi, Jack Wilshere, Jesse Lingard emerge — that's the Premier League's greatest success.
"Xia Qi's 23 goals in seven matches makes him the outstanding one among these young talents.
"If he keeps developing like this, next year the Golden Boy award belongs to him.
"I honestly can't find a reason why manager Roy Hodgson wouldn't call him up for England?
"If you call Xia Qi up, I'd suggest calling Jack Wilshere as well — history shows the best club partnerships often remain the best partnerships at international level."
Ferguson's long spiel actually had one core aim: the last sentence — get Wilshere and Xia Qi into the national team.
That was precisely what Arsène Wenger feared most.
Arsène Wenger: "England's qualification prospects look optimistic. Hastily inserting new members would require reworking the team chemistry and could jeopardize England's results. I don't think Roy Hodgson needs to take that risk when qualification is already favorable."
The difference of opinion sparked wide controversy. Online media quickly took sides; each camp defended its stance and neither would yield.
…
After this round of Premier League fixtures, Arsenal were the biggest winners.
Title rivals slipped: surprising draws away from home.
West Ham 0–0 Manchester City, Swansea 1–1 Chelsea.
After ten rounds, the table looked like this with Arsenal top.
Arsenal: 7 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss — 23 points
Manchester United: 7 wins, 0 draws, 3 losses — 21 points
Manchester City: 6 wins, 3 draws, 1 loss — 21 points
Chelsea: 6 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss — 20 points
…
Xia Qi was also the round's standout and the media heaped praise until it made him shy.
"Ice Emperor arrives at the Theatre of Dreams — the Nine-Five Supreme secures the half!"
"Goal in the first half, assist in the second, seven goals annihilate the Red Devils."
"Red Devils' sorrow — Arsenal's revenge night, staged by the Ice Emperor."
On the way to the airport, hearing regional legend-level chatter increment his fame, Xia Qi kept smiling.
Besides, Xia Qi earned 10 attribute points from the system reward and unlocked a hidden double-United task.
But none of that was his greatest reward.
On the flight back to London, Arsène Wenger deliberately sat next to him and asked in detail about Mario Balotelli.
That suggested another hidden task might be fulfilled.
Thinking about leaving three stripes' legends on future pitches and airing jerseys in front of sworn enemies gave Xia Qi more reasons to work hard.
Back at Jack's boarding home,
he found agent Joanna waiting.
"Hi, Anna — why didn't you call me?"
Joanna glanced toward Jack's family in the living room and gestured for Xia Qi to come to his room.
"Xia, Three Stripes and Little Diagonal Hook want you to endorse them, but the price isn't high. Decide which first and I'll negotiate."
"Three Stripes and…"
"Never mind, sign a short-term contract. I believe my future will be better."
"Okay. I'm here mainly because Manchester United assistant Gary asked to meet me."
"What?"
"He's retiring but still scheming. I won't go anywhere — I'm good here."
"Understood. I also think staying put is better — you're Arsenal's undisputed starter, so it's not appropriate…"
"Don't worry, Anna. I'm not that superficial."
After a short interlude, Xia Qi resumed preparations.
After the league, Arsenal would host their third Champions League group opponent — FC Schalke 04.
(END CHAPTER)
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