Chapter Summaries

Tang Ye learned that his mission was to unite nine lords, including Cristiano Ronaldo, while Manchester United prepared to face Atlético Madrid in the Champions League. The chapter ended with Simeone ordering his defenders to get physical against Tang Ye after his long-range shot was saved.

• Tang Ye realized that the system's mission included turning Cristiano Ronaldo into his lackey, while Ousmane Dembélé and de Jong teased him about gaming.
• Cristiano Ronaldo told Dalot that he intended to prove Erik ten Hag wrong, and China fans discussed the upcoming match against Japan as well as Tang Ye's Ballon d'Or odds.
• Manchester United drew Atlético Madrid in the Champions League group stage, and Simeone suggested Cristiano Ronaldo's age would limit him.
• Felix greeted Cristiano Ronaldo and Tang Ye before Manchester United and Atlético Madrid began their match.
• Tang Ye received a pass from de Jong and tried a long-range shot that Oblak saved, prompting Simeone to demand that his players press and rough him up.

Manchester United fell behind to Kieran Trippier’s corner goal, but Tang Ye inspired a comeback with a clever assist for de Jong and a direct free kick. After Griezmann missed a penalty, Tang Ye set up Cristiano Ronaldo, whose shot left Atlético Madrid facing another goal as the chapter ended.

• Erik ten Hag protested Simeone’s touchline shouts while Atlético Madrid defended deep against Manchester United’s possession.
• Hermoso knocked Ousmane Dembélé down in the air, but Hibbert awarded Manchester United a direct free kick, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s ensuing goal was ruled offside.
• David de Gea saved Felix’s header, but Kieran Trippier scored directly from a corner to put Atlético Madrid ahead 1-0.
• Tang Ye beat Koke with a Rainbow Flick and, while falling, nudged a through ball to de Jong, who equalized for Manchester United.
• Tang Ye scored from a direct free kick to give Manchester United a 2-1 lead, and Griezmann then missed a penalty for Atlético Madrid.
• Tang Ye sent a long pass to B. Fee, who chipped the ball to Cristiano Ronaldo; Ronaldo held off Felipe, controlled the ball, and fired a shot.

Manchester United beat Atlético Madrid 3–1, prompting debate about Cristiano Ronaldo’s role and the team’s dynasty, while Simeone said the season would test whether United could maintain its dominance. The squad then joked about the 2020 and 2021 Ballon d’Or awards before the story moved to a 4–0 win over West Ham United, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring twice and Luke Shaw adding another goal.

• Cristiano Ronaldo scored Manchester United’s third goal against Atlético Madrid, celebrated in front of the hostile crowd, and later missed another chance as the match ended 3–1.
• A YouTube blogger criticized Ronaldo’s reactions to teammates’ goals, while online commenters argued over his personality and place in Manchester United’s attack.
• Simeone praised Manchester United’s players and said the 2021–22 season would be crucial to the club’s continued dominance, particularly for Cristiano Ronaldo and the fullbacks.
• Manchester United players discussed the canceled 2020 Ballon d’Or and the upcoming awards, and Ousmane Dembélé joked that they would boycott future ceremonies if Tang Ye lost either award.
• Manchester United overwhelmed West Ham United, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a brace and Luke Shaw making it 4–0 after Tang Ye set him up for a long-range shot.

After Manchester United’s unbeaten start continued, Tang Ye discussed his Ballon d’Or chances, rejected a Saudi Pro League offer, and received a mission to keep three consecutive clean sheets. The chapter ended with fans comparing his game ratings after Pro Evolution Soccer released a 101-rated card based on his past performances.

• Manchester United defeated West Ham United 4-0, and Tang Ye told reporters he expected to contend for the Ballon d’Or while offering to support Cristiano Ronaldo’s Golden Boot bid.
• Manchester United beat Aston Villa 2-0 to record their sixth straight Premier League win, while Tang Ye rejected a lucrative Saudi Pro League offer from Boer.
• Tang Ye received a system mission to keep three consecutive clean sheets and realized he would need to complete the final one with China after returning home.
• France Football announced the 2021 Ballon d’Or shortlist, which included Tang Ye, Cristiano Ronaldo, Haaland, and eleven players from Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund combined.
• FIFA 22 rated Tang Ye 97, and fans discussed how high his rating might rise.
• Pro Evolution Soccer released three Tang Ye Hero Moment cards, including a 101-rated card based on Manchester United’s 2020 Champions League semifinal against Bayern Munich.

Manchester United beat Everton 3-0 before Tang Ye prepared to return to China for the Saudi Arabia qualifier. After a tense dispute over the last steak, Erik ten Hag confronted Cristiano Ronaldo and accused him of revealing his ambitions too early.

• Manchester United defeated Everton 3-0, and Erik ten Hag defended his decision to keep Tang Ye on the pitch for the full match.
• Tang Ye discussed his late departure for China with Cristiano Ronaldo and joked with Manchester United teammates about playing games and joining the national team.
• The players found only one steak left, and Tang Ye offered it to Cristiano Ronaldo before Erik ten Hag took it and gave it to Tang Ye instead.
• After the team meeting, Cristiano Ronaldo confronted Erik ten Hag about their relationship, and ten Hag told him he had revealed his ambition too early.

China prepared to face Saudi Arabia in a crucial World Cup qualifier, with Escribá targeting a third straight win and Tang Ye drawing intense attention from fans. The match began before a packed stadium, and Tang Ye broke through Saudi pressure to send Wei Shihao forward on an early attack.

• Zhang Lu argued that beating Saudi Arabia mattered more than saving energy for Japan, since losing both matches could damage China's qualifying position.
• Fans gathered to watch China's warm-up and complained about expensive, scarce tickets, while Chen Xuyuan said the Football Association planned reforms to fight scalpers.
• Tang Ye signed autographs and deflected fans' questions about Erik ten Hag and Ferran Escribá's dispute before the match.
• Escribá started Zhang Yuning in place of Elkeson as China faced Saudi Arabia in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
• After kick-off, Tang Ye took control of a poor pass, evaded Al-Faraj and Al-Shehri, and played a through ball for Wei Shihao.

The China national football team took a 1–0 lead over Saudi Arabia through Jiang Guangtai, then weathered pressure before halftime. After Escribá urged the team to support Tang Ye more effectively, the second half began with Kanno fouling Tang Ye and Wei Shihao confronting the referee over the lack of a yellow card.

• Tang Ye backheeled Wu Xi’s pass into the penalty area, where Jiang Guangtai scored in the 19th minute to put China ahead 1–0.
• Tang Ye drove forward and set up Wu Lei for a shot that went wide, then later headed away a Saudi attack as China’s defense came under pressure.
• At halftime, Escribá told the team that unclear responsibilities and failing to support Tang Ye had contributed to their loss of possession.
• Mitchell van der Gaag treated Tang Ye’s scratched arm, while Escribá explained that opponents targeted top players and praised Tang Ye’s ability to endure contact.
• After play resumed, Kanno fouled Tang Ye, and Wei Shihao complained to the referee that Kanno had repeatedly committed fouls without receiving a yellow card.

The China national football team beat Saudi Arabia 2–0 despite Wei Shihao being sent off, earning their third straight win in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. After the match, Jiang Guangtai received the MVP award, while Tang Ye and Escribá celebrated the team's achievement.

• Tang Ye took a quick free kick that led to Zhang Yuning scoring China’s second goal after Wei Shihao’s shot was saved.
• Tang Ye missed a penalty, but China kept its two-goal lead as the match continued.
• Wei Shihao retaliated after Fahad struck him in the face and received a red card, leaving China with ten players.
• Tang Ye and the China national team defended their lead, and the final whistle confirmed a 2–0 win and three consecutive victories.
• Jiang Guangtai received the MVP award, and Tang Ye praised his performance in interviews.

After China beat Saudi Arabia, Escribá praised Tang Ye while implying Erik ten Hag had kept him from returning to the national team on time. As China prepared to face Japan, Tang Ye upgraded his set-piece talent and received a new goal-scoring mission.

• Escribá credited the fans for China's win and said Tang Ye remained the best, then suggested he might have been forced to delay his return by Erik ten Hag.
• Chinese fans debated whether Tang Ye should report to the national team ten days before matches as China and Japan sat level on nine points.
• Japanese media published a monster card depicting Tang Ye as a 72-meter Cosmic Dinosaur, and Tang Ye liked and reposted it.
• Tang Ye completed his mission of three consecutive clean sheets and received a Common Talent Optimizer, which he upgraded to Excellent.
• Tang Ye used the optimizer to raise his set-piece talent from Once in a Millennium to Center of Attention before receiving a mission to score eight goals.

As the China-Japan qualifier approached, Tang Ye assessed Japan’s composed players while Japanese fans and the media focused on him. After the pitch inspection, he met actress Kana Momonogi, who invited him to make an action movie with her, and he showed interest pending his club’s approval.

• Chinese tourists discussed Tang Ye’s reputation and China’s chances against Japan while touring Saitama.
• Japanese fans invited Tang Ye to play games online, and the media reported that Kana Momonogi was cheering for Japan.
• At the joint pitch inspection, Hajime Moriyasu watched Tang Ye and took notes, while Maya Yoshida greeted Tang Ye and asked to exchange shirts after the match.
• Tang Ye told his teammates that Japan’s players seemed mentally composed and their defense would be difficult to face.
• Tang Ye met Kana Momonogi in the stadium tunnel, signed her shirt, and learned that she was a celebrity fan.
• Momonogi invited Tang Ye to make a movie with her, and Tang Ye expressed interest in an action film but said he would need his club’s approval.

Tang Ye faced Japan in a high-profile Asian Cup qualifier as online celebrity coverage and a Weekly Shonen Jump poster amplified the buildup. China and Japan began the match, and Tang Ye left the story having dispossessed Wataru Endo in midfield.

• Kana Momonogi posted a photo with Tang Ye, prompting speculation and a wave of online comments about the China national team.
• Zhou Ye won three awards at the 2021 Weibo Movie Night, while Tang Ye and the national team dominated the event's trending discussions.
• Reports revealed that Tang Ye had bought a private jet through his company, PPBond, as fans gathered for the China-Japan match in Saitama.
• Tang Ye told reporters that Japan was a strong, nearly evenly matched opponent, though he believed China had the better chance of winning.
• Weekly Shonen Jump released a poster depicting Japan's players as blue-clad samurai facing a giant dinosaur labeled TangYe.
• The match began, and Tang Ye poked the ball away from Wataru Endo after Japan advanced through midfield.

China struggled against Japan’s defensive press, fell behind to Kyogo Furuhashi’s goal, and had Tang Ye’s apparent equalizer overturned by VAR. Japan then extended its lead through Yuya Osako, leaving China trailing as the match continued.

• Tang Ye tried to break Japan’s press, but Japan forced Jiang Guangtai to pass back to Yan Junling.
• Junya Ito crossed for Kyogo Furuhashi, who scored to put Japan ahead 1–0 in the 18th minute.
• Tang Ye beat multiple defenders and scored, but the referee disallowed the goal after a VAR review of his collision with Junya Ito; Escribá received a yellow card for protesting.
• Tang Ye tested Shuichi Gonda with a curling shot, but Gonda pushed it away.
• After Japan’s corner was headed out imperfectly, Takefusa Kubo passed to Yuya Osako, who scored to increase Japan’s lead.

China national football team went into halftime trailing Japan 0:2 after Yuya Osako scored and bowed mockingly to Tang Ye. Escribá changed the formation, and Zhang Yuning scored in the second half to cut the deficit to 1:2.

• Yuya Osako scored Japan's second goal, bowed to Tang Ye, and later apologized, but Tang Ye ignored him and focused on the match.
• At halftime, Tang Ye urged his teammates to stop dwelling on Osako's gesture and play more boldly, while Escribá planned a switch to a 4-4-2 formation.
• China brought on Jin Jingdao for Wu Lei, and Gaku Shibasaki received a yellow card for fouling Tang Ye.
• Tang Ye's set-piece pass found Zhang Yuning, whose shot went wide.
• Tang Ye sent Zhang Yuning a long pass in the 62nd minute, and Zhang Yuning evaded defenders before scoring to make it 1:2.

After Zhang Yuning pulled one back, Tang Ye scored a spectacular equalizer to bring the China national football team level with Japan at 2:2. Japan pressed for a late winner, but Yan Junling saved Ritsu Doan’s shot as the match ended in a draw.

• Zhang Yuning scored from Tang Ye’s long pass, cutting Japan’s lead to 2:1.
• Escribá made a triple substitution, and the China national football team shifted into a 4-4-2 as Tang Ye helped drive their attack.
• Tang Ye dribbled past Japan’s defenders and scored from long range to equalize at 2:2, then bowed toward the VIP box where Shinzo Abe and Fumio Kishida were watching.
• Tang Ye helped stop Japan’s attacks and launched Zhang Yuning toward goal, but Zhang Yuning could not reach the pass before it went out.
• In stoppage time, Yan Junling saved Ritsu Doan’s curled shot, and the match ended without Japan finding a winner.

China came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Japan, as Tang Ye and Zhang Yuning helped the team rally and Escribá condemned the referee and Yuya Osako’s celebration. The chapter ended with fans speculating that Tang Ye had confronted his teammates in the halftime dressing room.

• Zhang Yuning and Tang Ye scored as China recovered from a 0-2 deficit to draw 2-2 away against Japan.
• Tang Ye led China’s players in bowing toward the VIP stand, while Escribá later greeted officials and Hajime Moriyasu.
• Zhang Yuning nearly revealed that something had happened in the dressing room at halftime before Feng Xiaoting stopped him.
• Escribá criticized the referee and Yuya Osako’s celebration, saying the referee was even more disgusting than Erik ten Hag.
• Fans followed China’s bus and urged Tang Ye to help choose a city for the next match against Japan.
• A Bilibili creator analyzed Zhang Yuning’s interview and speculated that Tang Ye had cursed out his teammates in the dressing room.

Tang Ye scored a hat-trick as Manchester United beat Sevilla 3-0, then argued with Cristiano Ronaldo over a missed pass. Erik ten Hag faced questions about Tang Ye’s national-team availability and the dispute, with Manchester United’s upcoming derby against Liverpool looming.

• China drew 2-2 with Japan, and Tang Ye was named the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers’ representative midfielder while Ferran Escribá received a fine.
• Tang Ye scored twice against Sevilla, including a direct free kick, and completed his hat-trick to put Manchester United 3-0 ahead.
• Tang Ye criticized Cristiano Ronaldo for shooting instead of passing to him when he was unmarked, and they continued arguing in the tunnel after the match.
• Manchester United beat Sevilla 3-0, and Erik ten Hag was asked about Tang Ye’s national-team return, the disagreement, and the team’s upcoming fixtures.
• Ten Hag denied Escribá’s accusations, while the chapter left Manchester United preparing to host Liverpool on October 25.

Manchester United and Liverpool prepared for their ninth-round North West Derby as players and pundits debated World Cup qualification, team strength, and the value of United’s star-studded lineup. The chapter ended with both teams’ starting lineups introduced and the derby about to begin.

• Tang Ye, Dembélé, Rodri, and de Jong joked about China’s World Cup qualification and Dembélé teased Tang Ye with a bow.
• Erik ten Hag tried to stop Tang Ye from answering a call from Escribá, then became upset when he learned the caller was Spanish.
• Escribá confused Tang Ye about whether he should return early from international duty, while Ten Hag called him back to training.
• Ferdinand and Carragher traded barbs about their clubs’ squads, and Ferdinand boasted that United’s starting lineup was worth over €1.1 billion.
• Manchester United fans sang a chant celebrating the 2020 Champions League squad, and commentators introduced Liverpool’s lineup while debating the teams’ relative strength.

Manchester United and Liverpool traded goals in a tense North West Derby, with Tang Ye and Rodri scoring for United and Mohamed Salah netting twice for Liverpool. The teams reached halftime at 2:2 after Luke Shaw was injured, while Tang Ye and Cristiano Ronaldo argued over tactics and free kicks in the dressing room.

• Manchester United pressed early, but David de Gea saved Salah’s counterattack before Tang Ye scored an outside-of-the-foot volley to put United ahead.
• Salah equalized after Liverpool played through United’s midfield, but Rodri restored United’s lead with a header from a free-kick scramble.
• Salah struck again to make it 2:2, and Luke Shaw was forced off after colliding with Ibrahima Konaté.
• Tang Ye and Cristiano Ronaldo argued over whether United should rely on crosses or pressing as they headed to the dressing room.
• Tang Ye challenged Ronaldo over his free-kick requests and asked why he had not celebrated Rodri’s goal immediately, before Rodri stepped in to calm them down.

Manchester United beat Liverpool 5-3 to extend their Premier League winning streak to nine matches, despite Mohamed Salah scoring a hat-trick. Cristiano Ronaldo scored before Erik ten Hag substituted him, leaving him visibly unhappy as the chapter ended with debate over his role and playing time.

• Erik ten Hag told Manchester United to stick with their high-pressing tactics and made two defensive substitutions at halftime, bringing on Dalot and Martínez.
• Cristiano Ronaldo scored from de Jong’s through ball to put Manchester United ahead 3-2.
• Erik ten Hag substituted Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcus Rashford in the 62nd minute, and Ronaldo walked to the bench looking confused and unhappy.
• B. Fee and Anthony Martial helped Manchester United press Liverpool, and Tang Ye scored from Ousmane Dembélé’s cutback to make it 4-2.
• Mohamed Salah completed his hat-trick after Lisandro Martínez failed to deal with a bouncing ball, narrowing the score to 4-3.
• Dalot scored a long-range goal, and Manchester United won 5-3; Ferdinand praised Ronaldo’s finishing while Carragher questioned his substitution.

After Manchester United beat Liverpool, Cristiano Ronaldo criticized Erik ten Hag’s decisions and admitted his playing style might conflict with the team’s demands. Tang Ye weighed whether to return early for the Tottenham match while considering how to integrate Ronaldo, as a newspaper analysis outlined the tactical mismatch.

• Cristiano Ronaldo said he was unhappy about being substituted and suggested that Erik ten Hag and other coaches could be mistaken about football’s evolution.
• Ronaldo’s interview went viral, and commentators debated his conflict with Ten Hag, his place in the team, and whether Tang Ye would play against Tottenham.
• Tang Ye asked Rodri and Ousmane Dembélé whether he should return early for the club match, but he remained undecided about balancing club and national-team demands.
• Tang Ye reflected that he had been too idealistic in expecting Ronaldo to change quickly and considered how to integrate him without changing his personality.
• The Daily Star published an analysis arguing that Ronaldo’s penalty-box style clashed with Manchester United’s high-pressure pressing, but its editor admitted he had not found a solution.