Ferdinand had medium-length hair. Two years after joining Manchester United, he had already grown into one of the best defenders in the world.
He had also been Manchester United's hairstylist before Pogba.
His hair color was ever-changing, and his hairstyles were just as varied.
Even his naturally curly hair hadn't stopped him from becoming a trendsetter.
Today, Ferdinand sported a short buzz cut, with distinctive dreadlocks at the back of his head.
He was slightly taller than Huang Kaiwen and considerably heavier, but Ferdinand had good agility and speed. That was the foundation of his success.
Ferdinand didn't panic at all when Huang Kaiwen came pressing him.
He often dribbled past opponents before passing to a teammate.
As for Cristiano getting dispossessed, Ferdinand didn't care in the slightest. When Cristiano got carried away, plenty of people could take the ball off him.
He, Rio Ferdinand, wasn't some reckless show-off like that.
As soon as he got the ball, Ferdinand repeatedly feinted left and right.
When Huang Kaiwen didn't come charging in, Ferdinand didn't think much of it.
He subtly nudged the ball forward, pretending it had gotten away from him, then chased it toward the sideline.
A lot of attacking players would come after him. If they did, they'd fall for the trap.
Once they closed him down, Ferdinand would suddenly flick the ball with his heel, turn, and pass. That move worked almost every time against attacking players.
Just as he expected, Huang Kaiwen chased him to the left, and Ferdinand smirked.
No matter how good you are going forward, you'll still be eating my dust.
Ferdinand suddenly flicked the ball with his heel, then turned with agility that belied his build.
His opponent didn't keep up, just as he'd expected.
Clack—
The moment Ferdinand swung his foot to pass forward, a foot blocked the ball.
It struck Huang Kaiwen's foot and bounced into the penalty area.
What?
Ferdinand hurriedly turned to chase back. Huang Kaiwen ran alongside him into the box. Ferdinand was closer, so he got his body between Huang Kaiwen and the ball first. No more showing off—he kicked it to Brown, who had run back to help.
Brown drew back his right leg, ready to send the ball upfield.
Thud—
Seedorf rushed in to block the clearance, turning and lifting his foot to stop the ball.
Pirlo, nearby, reacted quickly and brought it under control. Before Keane could close him down, he casually pushed it with the inside of his foot to Huang Kaiwen.
Huang Kaiwen was at a loss with the ball just outside the penalty area.
Kaka had a defender marking him, Crespo had one too, and Seedorf was marked as well.
Manchester United's defense was far too focused.
They were making things difficult for Huang.
Huang Kaiwen could only grit his teeth and push forward.
The ease had vanished from Ferdinand's face. He watched Huang Kaiwen with a grave expression.
Ferguson had repeatedly stressed how talented this Milan player was. If Ferdinand got torn apart, the manager would surely turn the hairdryer on him in the dressing room.
A Croqueta. It had to be a Croqueta!
Seeing Huang Kaiwen's movement, Ferdinand had already figured it out.
Huang Kaiwen's Croqueta was incredibly effective and deceptive.
But he wasn't going to let him show off in front of the most expensive defender in world football!
Rio Ferdinand snorted and prepared to counter the move.
He'd spent plenty of time having his teammates help him train how to defend against Huang Kaiwen's Croqueta.
It was time to show off his real skills!
Ferdinand narrowed his eyes. He judged that Huang Kaiwen's right-footed touch toward him had to be a feint. The moment Ferdinand stuck out his foot, Huang Kaiwen would knock the ball onto his left.
That was the essence of the Croqueta:
Make the defender commit before he could shift his weight, then run right past him.
Ha!
I'll take that ball.
Ferdinand quickly moved to his right, ready to dispossess Huang Kaiwen as soon as he knocked the ball onto his left.
But Huang Kaiwen didn't knock the ball onto his left at all.
He simply dribbled straight into the penalty area.
Ferdinand stood there, questioning his life choices.
Sure enough, no genius was ever that simple.
He'd predicted my prediction. No wonder he could wear number 10 for Milan!
"Shit!!!!"
Ferguson roared at the pitch. "What the hell are you standing around for? Have you suddenly had a brain hemorrhage? The seven-week-pregnant cat in my garden is more agile chasing butterflies than you are!"
Fortunately, Brown had already made it into the penalty area to cover.
Brown didn't dare stick out a foot for fear of giving away a penalty. He simply kept using his body to squeeze Huang Kaiwen.
Huang Kaiwen was in a difficult spot.
Cesare Maldini was good at defending, but his attacking was genuinely lacking.
In that situation, it was difficult to force a turn and send a decent cutback. He couldn't turn that far.
The Manchester United goalkeeper was right in front of him, constantly adjusting to face him. Huang Kaiwen gritted his teeth.
If they wouldn't let him pass it back, he'd shoot.
With the end line close and no angle left, Huang Kaiwen forced himself into a slight turn and took a shot.
Brown saw his chance and bumped Huang Kaiwen again. Caught off guard, Huang Kaiwen ended up shooting with the sole of his boot.
The shot was feeble, and the ball wobbled toward Howard at the near post.
Ferguson breathed a sigh of relief.
At least Huang Kaiwen hadn't managed to get any power behind that shot. The danger was over.
But then Ferguson clutched his chest.
He'd seen the American goalkeeper, Howard, crouched at the near post, let the ball pass between his hands and into the goal.
Howard's turn to look back at the ball was downright comical.
Assistant coach Phelan hurried to steady Ferguson.
"I'm fine." Ferguson stubbornly pushed his assistant away and shouted at the pitch, "Idiot! You need to prove yourself because Roy Carroll's injured, and you're trying to get yourself sent to the bench? And you, Cristiano! Do you think you're Maradona or Cruyff, that you don't have to defend? Rio, I suspect you're always zoning out because you spend too much time on your hair..."
Howard and Cristiano had both joined Manchester United the previous year. The American goalkeeper had made a good start at the club.
But then he started having his mishaps.
Howard's "butterfingers" had directly led to Manchester United's elimination by Porto the previous year.
After that, Howard lost his starting spot. He put in a great performance in the FA Cup final at the end of the season and helped Manchester United win the trophy, so Ferguson decided to give him another chance.
Of course, the biggest reason was that Carroll was injured, leaving Ferguson no choice but to play Howard.
Now Ferguson finally understood why people said the United States was a football desert.
Even a 63-year-old striker like him could've kept that shot out. Yet Howard had let it in.
Then there was Huang Kaiwen, who'd scored.
He could handle both attack and defense. Ferguson had thought Huang Kaiwen was only good at attacking, but after watching him in person today, he'd seen how active he was at winning the ball back and how good he was at defending. He'd even read Ferdinand's move and timed his tackle perfectly.
He had a good sense of timing and excellent positioning.
There were no weaknesses in either his attacking or defending.
He was a complete player!
As Ferguson watched Huang Kaiwen, Huang Kaiwen was watching him too.
Huang Kaiwen was celebrating with his teammates, who were thanking Howard for the gift of a goal, when he heard the Manchester United manager's furious yelling.
Scary.
Ferguson really was one of the best managers around.
But his temper was far too explosive.
How could he ever relax and coast if he played for a manager like that?
At this rate, he'd get yelled at eight times a day.
He might even end up depressed. Would the University of Manchester let him into a postgraduate program, he wondered?
Then he looked at his own manager, Ancelotti, who was always smiling and never got angry about anything.
Huang Kaiwen felt a little lucky to have joined Milan. Compared with Ferguson's temper,
even Ancelotti's odd, rambling habits didn't seem so hard to put up with.
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