Chapter Summaries

Tang Ye interpreted his dream as a sign of good luck, then helped Manchester United fight back against Tottenham Hotspur in their Premier League match. After Rashford equalized in the second half, the match remained poised for a possible Manchester United comeback.

• Tang Ye checked a dream-interpretation website and decided that dreaming of a dead rat meant good luck, then shared his excitement about the Champions League knockout rounds with Marcus Rashford.
• Tang Ye improved his stamina and physicality during training before Erik ten Hag warned Manchester United that Tottenham Hotspur would be a difficult opponent.
• Harry Kane scored in the thirteenth minute to put Tottenham ahead, and Tang Ye suggested marking the wide midfielders and using the fullbacks to protect the center.
• Tang Ye nutmegged Ousmane Dembélé and scored with a far-corner curl to equalize, but Kane scored again before halftime to give Tottenham a 2–1 lead.
• Tang Ye set up a second-half attack with a cutback cross, and Marcus Rashford scored to make it 2–2 as Manchester United gained momentum.

Manchester United came from behind to beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-2, with Tang Ye scoring twice and becoming the club’s first-choice penalty taker. After the win cut the gap to Manchester City to five points, United went on to dominate Huddersfield, and Tang Ye helped build a 4-0 lead.

• Tang Ye scored a penalty to put Manchester United ahead 3-2 against Tottenham Hotspur, and the team held on to win away from home.
• Erik ten Hag told reporters that Tang Ye was Manchester United’s first-choice penalty taker, while Rodri explained that the manager had kept the change quiet to spare Tang Ye pressure.
• Manchester United moved to 63 points, five behind leaders Manchester City, and Tang Ye and Marcus Rashford discussed the challenge of chasing the title while competing in the Champions League.
• Manchester United took a 2-0 lead against Huddersfield through Tang Ye’s free kick before Haller finished a rebound to make it 3-0.
• Tang Ye sent a through ball to Juan Mata, who scored to extend Manchester United’s lead over Huddersfield to 4-0.

After Manchester United beat Huddersfield, Tang Ye upgraded his passing ability and helped Rodri score against Newcastle, while a fan’s bottle-throwing earned Tang Ye a yellow card for retaliating. Manchester United led 1–0 at halftime, and Tang Ye remained determined to punish Newcastle.

• Manchester United beat Huddersfield 4–0, and Dawson praised the team’s winter signings while predicting Tang Ye would win February’s Player of the Month award.
• Tang Ye upgraded Ronaldo’s Broccoli and raised De Bruyne Curved Through Ball to level five during training.
• Tang Ye watched Lionel Messi score against Atlético Madrid and reflected on the difficulty of matching his control and finishing.
• Tang Ye assisted Rodri’s opening goal against Newcastle with a reverse pass, bringing his league assist total above twenty.
• A Newcastle fan threw a water bottle that struck Tang Ye, and Tang Ye kicked it back at the fan and received a yellow card.
• Chris Smalling dispossessed Newcastle’s forward as Manchester United took a 1–0 lead into halftime.

Manchester United beat Newcastle 2–1 after Tang Ye received a yellow card for kicking a water bottle back at a fan, then Ashley Young scored a long-range chip on Tang Ye’s advice. With a Champions League tie against Villarreal approaching, Manchester United prioritized preparing for the knockout match, while Tang Ye improved his passing skills in training.

• Tang Ye discussed kicking the water bottle with Erik ten Hag and Mitchell van der Gaag, then joked to Rodri about smuggling bottles into stadiums to hit players.
• Anthony Martial came on for Juan Mata, and Tang Ye tested Martin Dúbravka with a long-range shot.
• Tang Ye urged Ashley Young to chip the keeper, and Young scored from about 30 meters as Manchester United beat Newcastle 2–1.
• Tang Ye told reporters that Villarreal were strong and that facing his former team in his first Champions League knockout match would be difficult.
• Mitchell van der Gaag said Manchester United would prioritize the Champions League tie against Villarreal over the FA Cup match.
• Tang Ye bought training items and raised his De Bruyne Cutback Cross skill from level 3 to level 4.

Tang Ye returned to Villarreal with Manchester United for his first Champions League knockout match, facing former teammates and a hostile home crowd. The match began with Villarreal dominating possession, but Manchester United held firm and Tang Ye created a dangerous chance for Martial.

• After Manchester United advanced in the FA Cup, Tang Ye told reporters he would give everything against his former club, and Erik ten Hag said Tang was fully committed to Manchester United.
• Tang Ye and Rodri arrived in Villarreal, greeted the fans, and accepted Erik ten Hag's decision that they could not visit old friends before the match.
• At the team briefing, Mitchell van der Gaag warned Manchester United that Villarreal had changed tactics and that Romelu Lukaku posed a major threat.
• Tang Ye greeted Bruno and other former teammates in the tunnel, then the Champions League knockout match began at the Ceramic Stadium.
• Villarreal pinned Manchester United back early, but David de Gea saved Lukaku's header and Smalling cleared a dangerous corner.
• Tang Ye nutmegged Bruno and slipped a through ball to Martial, whose shot Musacchio blocked; later, Tang picked out Rashford with a long pass as the match remained goalless.

Tang Ye assisted Ander Herrera to give Manchester United a first-half lead, but Villarreal equalized through Bruno after the break. The match remained level as Lukaku made an unexpected run toward the right flank.

• Tang Ye sent Rashford’s cutback across the box, and Herrera scored to put Manchester United ahead 1–0.
• Escribá told Villarreal’s defenders to deny Tang Ye space near the byline and the top of the arc.
• At halftime, ten Hag urged Smalling to contain Lukaku and told Tang Ye to focus attacks down Rashford’s side.
• Gómez and Gaspar created a chance for Lukaku, who passed back for Fornals and Bruno to set up Bruno’s equalizer.
• Tang Ye accidentally celebrated Bruno’s goal, mistaking the scene for a moment from the previous season.
• Lukaku controlled Asenjo’s clearance and drove sideways toward the right flank before accelerating forward.

Tang Ye led Manchester United to a 2:1 first-leg victory over Villarreal with two assists, then celebrated with former teammates and met Wu Lei. After the match, Escribá asked whether Tang Ye would ever join Villarreal, and Tang Ye’s answer prompted Escribá to jokingly chase him to keep him from returning to Manchester.

• Tang Ye won the ball back, then sent a first-time long pass to Marcus Rashford, who scored Manchester United’s go-ahead goal.
• Manchester United defended Villarreal’s late attacks and held on to win 2:1, with Tang Ye named Man of the Match for his two assists.
• Tang Ye congratulated Wu Lei on joining Villarreal and said he hoped to see him play at Old Trafford in the second leg.
• At dinner with his former teammates and Escribá, Tang Ye discussed the upcoming EFL Cup final against Arsenal.
• After the others left, Escribá asked whether Tang Ye would stay at Villarreal if the club were a giant; when Tang Ye said he would consider it, Escribá jokingly chased him, and Tang Ye fled calling for Rod and Bruno.

After Manchester United lost 0–2 to Chelsea, Erik ten Hag urged the team to focus on the EFL Cup final against Arsenal. Tang Ye regretted the defeat, while Erik ten Hag left the squad determined to win their first trophy together.

• Tang Ye hid his fear about Escribá from Rashford and Rodri during the flight back to Manchester.
• Tang Ye improved his defense, stamina, and overall rating through training, while Boer advised him to delay signing an Adidas endorsement deal until after the World Cup.
• Chelsea took a 1–0 lead through Morata, then Kanté scored a second goal as Manchester United struggled to break down Chelsea’s defense.
• Erik ten Hag substituted Tang Ye and Rodri in the 72nd minute, and Manchester United lost 0–2 at home to Chelsea.
• Erik ten Hag criticized the team’s attacking support and told the players that Manchester United could win the EFL Cup final against Arsenal.

Manchester United prepared to face Arsenal in the EFL Cup final, with Tang Ye eager to win a trophy in front of his father. Arsenal attacked immediately after kickoff, and Aubameyang scored from Mkhitaryan’s pass to put them ahead.

• Saint Dawson blamed Manchester United’s loss to Chelsea on Erik ten Hag’s tactics and praised Tom’s performance.
• Tang Zhengxiong announced he would attend the final, and Tang Ye looked forward to proving himself to his father.
• Manchester United practiced faster, more accurate passing as Erik ten Hag and Mitchell van der Gaag prepared the team for Arsenal.
• Tang Ye joined his teammates in leading Manchester United’s pre-match chant before the final at Wembley.
• Arsenal worked the ball through Iwobi and Mkhitaryan, and Aubameyang scored to open the match.

Tang Ye scored with an outside-of-the-foot curler to give Manchester United a 1-0 halftime lead over Arsenal in the EFL Cup final. In the second half, his bizarre long-range effort rebounded off Haller and set up Haller’s goal, leaving Manchester United 2-0 ahead.

• Tang Ye judged that Aubameyang’s early goal was offside, and the referee disallowed it.
• Tang Ye cut inside and scored with an outside-of-the-foot curler, putting Manchester United ahead 1-0.
• De Gea saved Aubameyang’s close-range shot, and Haller sent a later first-half chance over the crossbar.
• At halftime, Erik ten Hag told Manchester United’s players to use their fullbacks to create attacking overloads.
• Tang Ye helped win the ball back, then his long-range effort struck Haller, who volleyed the rebound into the net for a 2-0 lead.

Tang Ye scored a brace as Manchester United defeated Arsenal 3–0 to win the EFL Cup, earning his first trophy with the club. He celebrated with his teammates, received his medal and lifted the trophy.

• Tang Ye’s long-range shot set up Haller’s volley, giving Manchester United a 2–0 lead over Arsenal.
• Erik ten Hag brought on Luke Shaw, and Manchester United defended their lead as Arsenal struggled to create chances.
• Tang Ye scored in the 90th minute after combining with Rodri, completing his brace and making it 3–0.
• Manchester United held off Arsenal’s final attack, and the final whistle confirmed their EFL Cup victory.
• Tang Ye celebrated with his teammates, gave his medal to Tang Zhengxiong, and joined the trophy presentation.

Tang Ye celebrated Manchester United’s 3-0 EFL Cup final victory over Arsenal and earned the match MVP award. After Arsène Wenger said Arsenal had lost to Tom rather than Manchester United, Tang Ye reflected on the win before Erik ten Hag urged the team to focus on the league, FA Cup, and Champions League.

• Tang Ye celebrated Manchester United’s title with Rodri, Marcus Rashford, and his teammates, then collected the match MVP trophy and said the victory came from their shared effort.
• Manchester United’s players poured water into the championship trophy for Tang Ye to drink, and the club later placed him front and center in its championship posts and poster.
• Arsène Wenger told reporters that Arsenal had lost to Tom, not Manchester United, then left without explaining further.
• On the flight home, Tang Ye read reactions to the title, hesitated over a new Football Elements video mocking his play, and learned he was nominated for February’s Premier League Player of the Month alongside Mohamed Salah and others.
• At the March 1 meeting, Erik ten Hag congratulated the team but told the players to move on from the EFL Cup and pursue the remaining league, FA Cup, and Champions League honors.

Tang Ye celebrated his nineteenth birthday with his Manchester United teammates and received a system mission that would reward him for winning more trophies. On matchday against Crystal Palace, he was named Premier League Player of the Month, but Crystal Palace scored first.

• Tang Ye agreed to attend Marcus Rashford's school shuttle bus fundraiser and improved his heading attribute during training.
• Tang Ye and Boer discussed endorsement offers, then chose to wait until after the Champions League knockout tie before signing with Mengniu.
• Tang Ye celebrated his birthday with his teammates, gave them cake, and received an ultimate mission to win trophies for a talent enhancement reward.
• Tang Ye arrived for the Crystal Palace match and learned that he and Erik ten Hag had won February's Premier League monthly awards.
• Crystal Palace attacked in the 17th minute, and Sørloth scored after Rodri let Wan-Bissaka's wayward cross pass him.

Manchester United came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 4-2, with Tang Ye assisting and giving Haller the penalty that completed his hat-trick. As the team prepared for the North West Derby, Liverpool released a provocative poster showing Tang Ye’s father and declaring that the father was greater than the son.

• Crystal Palace took the lead, but Tang Ye assisted Haller’s equalizer and then helped set up Haller’s second goal for a 2-1 Manchester United lead.
• The referee rejected Manchester United’s penalty appeal after Haller went down in the box.
• Tang Ye won a penalty in the second half and handed it to Haller, who scored his hat-trick to make it 3-1.
• Erik ten Hag substituted Tang Ye and Haller, and Manchester United went on to defeat Crystal Palace 4-2.
• Tang Ye collected his Player of the Month award as reports noted Manchester United remained six points behind Manchester City and had donated to a school shuttle program.
• Ahead of the North West Derby, Liverpool released a poster showing Tang Ye’s father with the caption “Dad > Son.”

Liverpool fan Tang Zhengxiong publicly backed Liverpool against his son Tang Ye before the North West Derby, and Tang Ye gave Manchester United the lead with a long-range goal. As Liverpool began to threaten, Tang Ye was fouled by Virgil van Dijk and went down in pain just before halftime.

• Tang Zhengxiong told reporters that Liverpool came before Tang Ye and predicted his son would not beat Liverpool, while Tang Ye joked about the interview online.
• Tang Ye greeted Liverpool's players before kickoff, and Manchester United fans booed Tang Zhengxiong in the stands.
• Manchester United pressed Liverpool, and Tang Ye set up an attack that ended with him scoring from Haller's return pass to make it 1–0.
• Haller's volley was saved, then David de Gea blocked Mohamed Salah's shot as Liverpool counterattacked and found their rhythm.
• Tang Ye combined with Haller to get past Virgil van Dijk, who tripped him outside the penalty area; Tang Ye fell clutching his leg in pain.

Tang Ye shook off his anger after Virgil van Dijk fouled him and scored Manchester United’s second goal against Liverpool. Mané then forced a deflection off Eric Bailly for a late Liverpool goal, leaving Manchester United ahead 2:1 with fifteen minutes remaining.

• Virgil van Dijk fouled Tang Ye, who got back up and sent the resulting free kick wide while Manchester United went into halftime leading 1:0.
• Erik ten Hag urged Tang Ye to stay calm and outlined Manchester United’s second-half tactics.
• Erik ten Hag brought Anthony Martial on for Haller as Liverpool threatened, but Eric Bailly blocked Mané’s shot.
• Tang Ye combined with Juan Mata, dribbled past Dejan Lovren and Virgil van Dijk, and scored to put Manchester United 2:0 ahead.
• Tang Ye celebrated his brace by taunting Virgil van Dijk and exchanging gestures with Tang Zhengxiong in the stands.
• Mané’s shot deflected off Eric Bailly and went into Manchester United’s goal, cutting Liverpool’s deficit to 2:1.

Manchester United beat Liverpool 2–1 as Tang Ye scored twice and discovered he had become the club’s top scorer. As United prepared to face Villarreal, Tang Ye grew convinced that his former coach Escribá might be a serial killer, while the team trained and news coverage analyzed Tang Ye’s unusual scoring and playmaking numbers.

• Tang Ye blocked Emre Can’s shot, helped Manchester United hold off Liverpool, and celebrated their 2–1 derby victory.
• Tang Ye learned he had scored 16 league goals, placing fourth in the Premier League scoring charts and making him Manchester United’s top scorer.
• Tang Ye watched Escribá discuss Villarreal’s preparations and, after matching his remarks to an online list of serial-killer traits, secretly feared for Escribá’s safety.
• Tang Ye trained for the Villarreal match while Erik ten Hag focused on the importance of beating his former manager, and Tang Ye worried about what he might do if a friend turned out to be a criminal.
• Manchester United named Juan Mata in their lineup despite reports of a training injury, while FourFourTwo analyzed Tang Ye’s scoring, assists, and unconventional role.

Tang Ye helped Manchester United take a 2:0 lead over Villarreal in the Champions League second leg, scoring once and assisting Rashford, before a late Villarreal goal sparked a dispute. The chapter left the referee examining Villarreal’s goal after Manchester United’s players protested.

• Tang Ye sensed what he described as killing intent during his handshake with Escribá before the match.
• Tang Ye set up Rashford’s opening goal in the twelfth minute, putting Manchester United ahead on the night and 3:1 on aggregate.
• Tang Ye scored from a corner to make it 2:0, extending Manchester United’s aggregate lead to three goals.
• Tang Ye restrained Bruno and helped separate him from Ashley Young after the two captains clashed and were booked.
• Lukaku scored for Villarreal in first-half stoppage time, but Manchester United’s players protested the goal and the referee appeared to be checking for a problem.

Tang Ye helped Manchester United defeat Villarreal 3–1 in the second leg, advancing to the Champions League quarterfinals with a 5–2 aggregate win. After scoring the penalty that sealed the match, he faced the awkward prospect of dining with his former Yellow Submarine teammates.

• Tang Ye assured Marcus Rashford that Lukaku's first-half goal was offside, and the referee disallowed it after Tang Ye called for the whistle.
• Erik ten Hag told Tang Ye to sit deeper as Manchester United shifted toward defense for the second half.
• Sansone assisted Lukaku's goal early in the second half, cutting Villarreal's aggregate deficit to two goals.
• Tang Ye tried to stop Villarreal's counterattack, then launched a long pass to Rashford, who won a penalty after Musacchio brought him down.
• Tang Ye scored the penalty in the 83rd minute, securing Manchester United's 3–1 win and 5–2 aggregate progression to the quarterfinals.
• Tang Ye worried about having dinner with his defeated former teammates, while a fan's photo captured Escribá looking dejected behind Tang Ye's celebration.

Tang Ye mistook Escribá for a serial killer, then learned the truth and moved on to World Cup sponsorship work while Manchester United awaited the Champions League draw. Manchester United drew Juventus in the quarterfinals.

• Tang Ye nervously attended dinner with Escribá and the Yellow Submarine players, then asked Escribá to stop killing people.
• Escribá explained that his earlier threat had been a joke, and Tang Ye apologized after believing him.
• Tang Ye signed with Mengniu Dairy as a global brand ambassador and filmed promotional material, while Manchester United reminded him to limit commercial work until the season ended.
• Tang Ye watched Shevchenko conduct the Champions League quarterfinal draw with his teammates.
• Manchester United drew Juventus, while Manchester City drew Bayern Munich and Real Madrid drew Barcelona.