Chapter Summaries

Tang Ye helped Manchester United beat Southampton 3-1, then traveled to Paris for the 2018 Ballon d'Or ceremony amid reports that he had won the inaugural Kopa Trophy. The ceremony confirmed Tang Ye as the Kopa Trophy winner.

• Tang Ye and de Jong combined for Manchester United's go-ahead goal, and Manchester United went on to beat Southampton 3-1.
• Tang Ye learned through his agent that he had won the Kopa Trophy and that his Ballon d'Or ranking might be high, so he decided to attend the ceremony in Paris.
• Tang Ye traveled to Paris with De Bruyne and Agüero, greeted Neymar and Kylian Mbappé, and took a seat beside them at the ceremony.
• Tang Ye discovered that Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were not attending, then watched the ceremony begin with Kylian Mbappé.
• France Football announced Tang Ye as the winner of the inaugural 2018 Kopa Trophy.

Tang Ye won the inaugural Kopa Trophy unanimously and finished second behind Luka Modrić in the 2018 Ballon d'Or, leaving him proud but regretful. After the ceremony, Manchester United celebrated his awards, and the English FA chairman claimed Tang Ye had been robbed.

• Tang Ye accidentally picked up the Kopa Trophy before its presenter arrived, then accepted it from Mrs. Kopa.
• Tang Ye watched the Ballon d'Or rankings unfold and learned he had finished second, behind Luka Modrić and ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo.
• Tang Ye told reporters he felt both excited and regretful, while accepting that Luka Modrić had been outstanding and that dwelling on what-ifs would not help.
• Tang Ye and his friends joked in the mixed zone after a reporter slipped Mbappé a note.
• France Football announced Tang Ye had won the Kopa Trophy unanimously with 110 points, while Manchester United released a celebratory poster hinting at the Ballon d'Or.
• English FA chairman Greg Clark said the Ballon d'Or should have gone to Tom and accused La Liga players of receiving too much favoritism.

Tang Ye reacted calmly to finishing second in the 2018 Ballon d'Or voting, then joined Manchester United for their match against Arsenal. Arsenal took an early lead from a corner after Tang Ye had an offside goal ruled out.

• Fans compared Tang Ye and Luka Modrić's 2018 records, while the voting results showed Modrić first, Tang Ye second, and Cristiano Ronaldo third.
• Tang Ye said he was relieved the points gap was large and joked that he was now too embarrassed to like Ronaldo's Instagram posts.
• A report about Tang Ye declining to choose between Ronaldo and Messi was followed by a blogger's claim that he genuinely did not know who was stronger.
• Before the Arsenal match, Erik ten Hag explained that Tang Ye had refused to display his Kopa Trophy and told the team to focus on the game.
• Tang Ye set up a move that ended with his Rabona pass and Haller's shot, but the referee ruled the goal offside.
• Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno received a yellow card after shoving Haller, and Aaron Ramsey later won a corner that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang headed in for an early Arsenal lead.

Manchester United lost to Valencia but advanced from the Champions League group as winners, while Tang Ye recovered ahead of the North West Derby and was named in China’s preliminary Asian Cup squad. The chapter ended as Tang Ye and Manchester United prepared to face Liverpool at Anfield, with both teams’ starting lineups announced.

• Tang Ye traveled with Manchester United to Spain, where they lost 2-1 to Valencia but secured first place in their Champions League group.
• China announced its preliminary 23-man Asian Cup squad, including Tang Ye, who stayed with Manchester United instead of joining the team’s early training camp.
• Tang Ye and Rashford practiced ball tricks at Carrington while Manchester United’s coaches prepared for Liverpool’s front three.
• Liverpool supporters gathered outside Anfield amid protests and hostility before the North West Derby.
• Ten Hag urged Manchester United to seek all three points, and Tang Ye joined the team as they headed out for the match.
• The Liverpool and Manchester United starting lineups were announced, with Tang Ye set to face Fabinho and Rashford set to face Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Tang Ye scored a direct free kick to give Manchester United a 1–0 lead over Liverpool at Anfield, and Luke Shaw was forced off injured. The chapter ended with Liverpool pressing for an equalizer as Mané shot toward goal.

• Tang Ye and Manchester United started aggressively, creating several chances against Liverpool in the opening minutes.
• Tang Ye nearly scored from a free kick, then helped Manchester United launch more attacks as Liverpool's press began to trouble the visitors.
• Luke Shaw was injured in a collision with Dejan Lovren and was replaced by Ashley Young in the 24th minute.
• Tang Ye curled a direct free kick into the top-right corner to put Manchester United ahead 1–0.
• Liverpool attacked after the second half began, and Mané cut inside and fired a powerful shot toward goal.

Liverpool and Manchester United traded goals in a frantic first half, with Tang Ye assisting twice as United came from behind to lead 3-2. At halftime, Erik ten Hag urged United to stay disciplined and target Alexander-Arnold’s flank in the second half.

• Mané and van Dijk scored as Liverpool took a 2-1 lead, despite Manchester United protesting van Dijk’s challenge on Bailly.
• Tang Ye launched a long pass that helped Haller equalize for Manchester United at 2-2.
• Tang Ye received a yellow card for fouling Alexander-Arnold, matching his entire previous season’s total before this season reached its halfway point.
• In stoppage time, Tang Ye’s long through ball sent Ziyech through to score and put Manchester United ahead 3-2.
• Ten Hag praised the team’s first-half performance and instructed Rashford and Yang to attack Alexander-Arnold’s flank while United defended their lead.

Manchester United defeated Liverpool 4–3 after Tang Ye scored the winning goal in a high-scoring North West Derby. The win left United level on points with Manchester City and four points ahead of Liverpool, while Tang Ye planned to delay his return to China for the AFC Asian Cup.

• Klopp and Ten Hag urged their players to improve after Manchester United led Liverpool 3–2 at halftime.
• Salah scored in the 56th minute to equalize for Liverpool, and a later goal of his was ruled out for offside.
• Tang Ye scored in the 77th minute to put Manchester United ahead 4–3 after controlling Ashley Young’s cutback and beating Lovren.
• De Gea denied Firmino late in the match, and Manchester United held on to win 4–3, with Tang Ye earning the MVP award.
• Tang Ye told reporters he had contacted the national team and intended to stay with Manchester United longer as the club pursued the title.

Manchester United learned they would face Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus in the Champions League Round of 16, while Tang Ye watched Leicester City beat Manchester City and give United a chance to take the Premier League lead. The chapter ended as Manchester United’s match against Cardiff City began, with a win or draw enough to put them top.

• Manchester United players celebrated their North West Derby victory as their bus left Anfield, then watched the Champions League draw pair them with Juventus and Cristiano Ronaldo.
• Tang Ye and Rodri watched Leicester City take a 1-0 lead over Manchester City, and Tang Ye cheered for Leicester despite having predicted City would win.
• Kevin De Bruyne equalized for Manchester City, but Harry Maguire scored a late headed winner to give Leicester City a 2-1 victory and hand City their first league defeat of the season.
• Pep Guardiola dismissed a reporter’s question about Manchester United beating Cardiff City, while United fans looked ahead to a chance to move top of the league.
• Manchester United arrived to face Cardiff City, and the referee began the match.

Tang Ye helped Manchester United thrash Cardiff City 7-2, putting them top of the Premier League after 18 rounds. After claiming an Ivan Perišić template that seemed useless, he realized it might cancel out the side effects of his existing two-footed template.

• Tang Ye assisted Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford, then scored from distance as Manchester United raced to a 5-0 halftime lead over Cardiff City.
• Tang Ye assisted Lingard again before being substituted, finishing with one goal and three assists as Lingard completed his first Premier League hat trick.
• Manchester United won 7-2 and moved to the top of the league with 48 points, while Erik ten Hag declared that the season belonged to Manchester United.
• Tang Ye opened his Random Serie A Club Chest and received Ivan Perišić's Intermediate Left-Right Balance Template, but initially saw no improvement because he already had an Ultimate-level balance template.
• After hearing Rodri ask where his charger was, Tang Ye realized that combining the two templates might make their side effects cancel out.

Tang Ye prepared to leave Manchester United after the Huddersfield match to join China’s AFC Asian Cup training, while his teammates joked about the tournament and celebrated Christmas together. Rodri sang a Chinese patriotic song for Tang Ye, leaving Tang Ye feeling he had to win a trophy for him.

• Tang Ye improved his defense rating to 75 after dispossessing Rodri in training and told Mata and Valencia he would miss the Bournemouth match to join China’s AFC Asian Cup preparations.
• Tang Ye and his teammates discussed China’s chances in the tournament, and Rodri joked that he would join China if national teams could loan players.
• During Christmas training, Tang Ye slipped on an icy patch and fell, prompting Erik ten Hag to angrily demand to know why the pitch had not been cleared.
• Manchester United’s players shared a Christmas dinner, sang together, and wished the team well for the coming matches.
• Rodri sang a Chinese song about the Five-Starred Red Flag, and Ashley Young told Tang Ye he had to win a trophy for Rodri.

Manchester United beat Huddersfield 2-1 to finish the first half of the Premier League season unbeaten at the top with 51 points, as Tang Ye prepared to leave for the AFC Asian Cup. His teammates saw him off, while the press wondered whether United could hold their lead during his absence.

• Wang Chao backed Manchester United against Huddersfield, whose early pressure tested the hosts before Tang Ye helped set up Hakim Ziyech’s opening goal.
• Tang Ye acted as a decoy on a free kick, allowing Marcus Rashford to score and put Manchester United 2-0 ahead.
• Manchester United defeated Huddersfield 2-1, leaving the club with 51 points after 19 rounds and an unbeaten first half of the season.
• Ten Hag said Manchester United’s immediate goal was to stay first, while acknowledging Tang Ye probably would not play against Bournemouth.
• Rashford, Rodri, and Ashley Young saw Tang Ye off as he packed for the United Arab Emirates and the AFC Asian Cup.
• The Sun and The Guardian reported Tang Ye’s departure and questioned whether Manchester United could maintain their place at the top without him in January.

Tang Ye arrived in Abu Dhabi to join China’s preparations for the AFC Asian Cup, where Lippi worried about the team’s form and hoped Tang Ye’s improved abilities would help them reach the semifinals. As China began its closed-door warm-up against Abu Dhabi United, Tang Ye spotted two people with cameras hiding in a tree.

• Manchester United coaches Erik ten Hag and Mitchell van der Gaag worried about their difficult upcoming matches while Tang Ye traveled to Abu Dhabi.
• Tang Ye arrived at Abu Dhabi Airport, greeted Chinese fans, and was expected to play in China’s January 2 warm-up match.
• Lippi urged China to win its first two AFC Asian Cup group matches, while Tang Ye showed strong passing and ball-winning skills in training.
• Lippi and Massimo Maddaloni discussed Tang Ye’s powerful long-range shots and wondered whether Asian goalkeepers could stop them.
• Before the closed-door match against Abu Dhabi United, Tang Ye pointed out two people with cameras hiding in a tree.

Tang Ye helped China defeat Abu Dhabi United 6:2 in a closed warm-up match, while Lippi urged the team to build attacking options beyond Tang Ye. That night, Tang Ye received a mission to reach the AFC Asian Cup semifinals.

• Tang Ye scored with a backheel less than three minutes into the match, then helped China build a 3:0 lead with coordinated attacks and a corner routine.
• Lippi told the players to develop other attacking outlets so opponents could not shut down the team by targeting Tang Ye.
• Tang Ye directed China’s attacks in the second half and assisted Zhang Xizhe’s goal to make the score 4:1 before the starters were substituted.
• China beat Abu Dhabi United 6:2, with Wu Lei and Yu Hanchao scoring twice each and Tang Ye also scoring.
• Tang Ye received the Hero in Twilight mission, which required China to reach the AFC Asian Cup semifinals.

Tang Ye prepared for his AFC Asian Cup debut as China faced Kyrgyzstan in the Group C opener. After China controlled possession, Tang Ye scored in the 14th minute to give his team a 1–0 lead.

• Tang Ye watched the UAE draw 1–1 with Bahrain before joining his teammates to watch the match and prepare for the tournament.
• Tang Ye arrived at Khalifa International Stadium, where Pig Hero mascots swallowed him and fans cheered him during warmups.
• Lippi told China to raise the tempo gradually, and Tang Ye agreed before the team took the field against Kyrgyzstan.
• Tang Ye helped China dominate possession, but the referee called an offensive foul after he challenged Israilov.
• Tang Ye joined a counterattack, combined with Wu Lei and Wang Shenchao, then scored from Wang Shenchao's through ball in the 14th minute.

China surged to a 3-0 lead over Kyrgyzstan through Wu Lei and Tang Ye, but conceded twice in four minutes and went into halftime leading only 3-2. After Lippi urged the team to steady themselves, Tang Ye took charge at the start of the second half and dribbled into the penalty area.

• Tang Ye set up Wu Lei for China's second goal with a Rabona pass, then scored from 24 meters to make it 3-0.
• Feng Xiaoting fouled Lux in the penalty area, and Lux converted the penalty for Kyrgyzstan.
• After Zheng Zhi lost possession, Kyrgyzstan counterattacked and Lux scored from a low cross to make it 3-2.
• At halftime, Massimo Maddaloni criticized the team's shaky mentality, while Lippi told the players to stay composed and Tang Ye asked his teammates to combine with him.
• Tang Ye won the ball at the start of the second half, drove forward past defenders, and cut into Kyrgyzstan's penalty area.

Tang Ye scored a hat trick and assisted Wu Lei as China defeated Kyrgyzstan 5:2 in their AFC Asian Cup opener. After the match, a stadium worker retrieved Tang Ye’s ball from the roof and ran off with it, while South Korean media disputed China’s chances ahead of their upcoming clash.

• Tang Ye scored early in the second half to complete his hat trick and put China ahead 4:2.
• Tang Ye assisted Wu Lei for China’s fifth goal, and Zhang Yuning narrowly missed adding another.
• China defeated Kyrgyzstan 5:2, with Tang Ye named man of the match and awarded the match ball.
• Tang Ye accidentally kicked the signed ball onto the stadium roof, and a worker retrieved it before running into the tunnel with it.
• Reports noted that China could advance by beating the Philippines, while South Korean media emphasized that Son Heung-min had missed the teams’ earlier qualifiers.
• Tang Ye grew angry as he read the news on his phone.

Tang Ye entered the international match against Porto Youth and showed flashes of skill despite his slow, casual play. After Luneng’s coach rejected Porto’s offer to sign him, Tang Ye was sent to run laps and later invited his teammates to play CrossFire.

• Tang Ye came on in the second half and allowed Felix to advance, then helped Luneng attack by dribbling past a defender and assisting the goal that put them ahead 2-1.
• Tang Ye combined with Wang Ruiqi and attempted a through ball, prompting the Porto coach to offer money and a player exchange for him.
• Yang Guoen demanded Diogo Dalot in exchange, but the Porto coach refused and their negotiations ended.
• Yang Guoen ordered Tang Ye to run ten laps for his lack of effort, and Tang Ye complained to Luo Kang afterward.
• Tang Ye invited Luo Kang and other teammates to an internet café to play CrossFire.

As Manchester United prepared to face Tottenham without Tang Ye, China’s coaches moved Tang Ye into a shadow-striker role to test an adjusted attack. China dominated the Philippines in their second AFC Asian Cup match, taking a 3–0 lead before Lippi prepared another tactical change.

• Ferdinand argued that Manchester United’s defense was weak and suggested bringing Tang Ye back from the Asian Cup for the Tottenham match.
• Lippi moved Tang Ye into a forward role on the left, instructing him to cut inside and act as the center forward’s shadow.
• Tang Ye quickly adapted to the new position during training, prompting Lippi and Massimo Maddaloni to weigh its strengths and counterattack risks.
• China began aggressively against the Philippines, and Tang Ye scored with a left-footed strike after Zhang Yuning set him up in the fifth minute.
• Wang Shenchao headed in China’s second goal, and Wu Lei scored their third after Tang Ye created another chance.
• Tang Ye missed a volley from a corner, while Lippi sent the substitutes to warm up for an upcoming tactical adjustment.

Tang Ye scored a hat trick and made two assists as China beat the Philippines 8:1, securing qualification from the group with a match to spare. Afterward, he urged the team to beat South Korea and gave Football Association officials a cautious assessment of their chances of reaching the semi-finals.

• Tang Ye helped China take a 4:0 halftime lead, then followed Lippi’s instructions to play as a shadow striker in the second half.
• Tang Ye scored from a free kick and a penalty as China went ahead 6:1, while the Philippines scored once on a counterattack.
• China defeated the Philippines 8:1, qualified for the knockout stage, and Tang Ye finished with three goals and two assists.
• Tang Ye told Zheng Zhi that China should beat South Korea rather than settle for a draw in their next match.
• Cai Zhenhua asked Tang Ye whether China could reach the semi-finals, and Tang Ye said he could not be sure.

After China qualified for the knockout stage, Lippi prepared the team to face South Korea, and Tang Ye trained hard while bonding with Zheng Zhi. China and South Korea began their match, with South Korea pressing early as Tang Ye helped defend and then launched a counterattack.

• After China beat the Philippines 8-1, the team discussed the importance of defeating South Korea and maintaining momentum, while Tang Ye agreed with the plan to pursue three group-stage wins.
• Tang Ye trained for the shadow striker role and met Zheng Zhi in the gym, where Zheng Zhi said he would keep playing for China until they won a championship.
• South Korean media and fans expressed confidence ahead of the match, while Tang Ye stayed up to watch Manchester United beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0.
• Massimo Maddaloni reviewed South Korea's tactics with the China squad, and Tang Ye noted the threats posed by Son Heung-min, forward runs, and set pieces.
• China and South Korea kicked off, and South Korea created early chances before Tang Ye blocked a Kim Moon-hwan shot and carried the ball forward on a counterattack.