On December 19, the charter flight for the Manchester United team took off from Japan Yokohama. After a long flight of more than ten hours, it landed at Manchester Airport.
The moment the cabin door opened, the cold and humid England winter wind wrapped in drizzle hit our faces, in sharp contrast to the Yokohama dry winter night. The players dragged their tired bodies down the gangway, and many of them still had the tiredness caused by jet lag on their faces.
But no one expected that the first message waiting for them would dissipate most of everyone's sleepiness.
Ferguson walked at the front of the team, and his assistant coach Mike Phelan quickly came up to him, holding a fax in his hand.
"Boss, UEFA Champions League forced lottery results are out."
Ferguson took the phone and looked at the information on it. He glanced at it and saw no change in his expression.
He returned the phone to Phelan, looked back at the players behind him, and his voice was not loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly:
"Napoli."
The players looked at each other. Napoli? Napoli of Serie A?
Rooney was the first to react and whistled. "Oh, the team that Napoli. Maradona has been on. Not bad, it feels good to go to Italy to play away games."
Zhang Kuang was walking next to Rooney, and when he heard 'Napoli', his brows moved slightly. When he was playing for Auxerre of France, he was right to The Serie A team knows something about it. Napoli has performed strongly this season with Serie A. The trident composed of Cavani, Lavezzi and Hamšík on the offensive line is quite fierce.
This is a strong bone.
However, he smiled immediately.
So what about tough guys? Manchester United's performance in various competitions so far this season has made everyone in Europe feel scared.
After FIFA Club World Cup won the championship, the confidence of Red Devils reached its peak.
Ferdinand answered from behind, "Napoli? That's good. Among the second-placed teams in the group, they are considered strong. But..." He paused and said in a relaxed tone, "We are not even afraid of Barcelona Real Madrid, but are we afraid of Napoli?"
Everyone burst into laughter, and the laughter spread on the damp and cold airport runway.
Indeed, Manchester United now has confidence in facing everyone.
Ferguson didn't say anything more, he just urged the players to get on the bus and return to the base to rest.
The intensive schedule waits for no one: on December 21st, in the 16th round of Premier League, they will fly to London to challenge the Queens Park Rangers team away from home.
In three days, from Yokohama to Manchester, from the pinnacle of the FIFA Club World Cup finals to the muddy battlefield of the Premier League league, this is the daily life of a wealthy team.
After the players go home, they hand in their homework when it's time to hand in their homework, give gifts to those who need to give gifts, and give surprises to their children when they need to...
--
December 21, London, Loftus Road Stadium.
This is a compact and noisy stadium located in the White City area to the west of London and surrounded by residential areas.
When Manchester United's bus drove into the street where the stadium is located, many Queens Park Rangers fans had gathered on both sides. They held up blue and white scarves and booed the bus.
Premier League is like this, no matter who you are, no matter what trophy you won in Japan, you have to show your true skills when you come here.
In the locker room, Ferguson stood in front of the tactical board, holding a Mark pen in his hand.
He did not analyze the opponent's tactics as usual, but said, "You played two easy games on FIFA Club World Cup, but I hope you didn't get spoiled by that rhythm.
Here is Premier League, Queens Park Rangers is ranked low, but they drew with Chelsea and beat Tottenham Hotspur at home. If anyone is still thinking about the lights of Yokohama, this game will become your nightmare."
After saying that, he put down his pen, turned around and walked out of the locker room, closing the door behind him.
The locker room was quiet for two seconds, then Vidić stood up and clapped his hands. "Did you hear that? Don't let up. Press me right from the start and make them breathless."
"Fuck him!"
"Haha..."
The game kicks off on time at 7:45 in the evening.
Queens Park Rangers formed a 4-4-2 formation, and their strategy was very clear: shrink the defense and use side counterattacks to find opportunities.
But Manchester United gave them no breathing room from the first minute.
In the 7th minute, Carrick stole the ball near the center circle and made a diagonal pass to find Zhang Kuang on the left.
Zhang Kuang Facing Queens Park Rangers's right back, he first made a simple change of direction, leaving half a body of space, and then blasted a shot into the near corner with his left foot.
The ball hit the net like a cannonball, and the goalkeeper didn't even have time to make a save.
1:0.
Loftus Road Stadium was instantly quiet.
Manchester United fans who were traveling with the team occupied a corner of the visiting team's stands, and at this moment they burst into loud cheers.
Zhang Kuang ran towards the corner flag area, did his signature push down with both hands to celebrate, and was then hugged by Rooney who rushed up.
In the 34th minute, Zhang Kuang showed off its power again.
He received Rafael's through ball and cut into the penalty area. He made an emergency stop near the baseline and knocked down the defender. Then he hit the ball back in the middle. Rooney rushed over and scored with a push shot.
2:0.
Before the end of the first half, Hernández received a pass from Giggs and scored another victory with a header.
3:0.
In the 68th minute of the second half, Zhang Kuang scored twice. This time it was a long shot from outside the penalty area. The ball hit the defensive player's leg and redirected into the net. The goalkeeper was completely stunned.
4:0.
The final score was 4:0, Manchester United defeated Queens Park Rangers in the away game.
After the game, Sky Sports's commentators Martin·Tyler commented. "Manchester United showed no signs of fatigue after returning from Yokohama, but seemed to be injected with new energy.
Zhang Kuang's performance is frighteningly stable. He wore a hat on FIFA Club World Cup and returned to Premier League to score twice. This season, he seems to be challenging the limits of human understanding of the word 'state'."
--
Three days later, on December 23, Craven Cottage Stadium and Manchester United challenged Fulham in an away game.
Yes, this is part of the Christmas Devils schedule, they play almost every two or three days.
Fulham's home court has always been difficult to play, and London's team will never surrender easily at home.
But Manchester United's current state has reached an outrageous level. Zhang Kuang completed a hat trick in the first half.
In the 12th minute, a shot from the penalty area made it 1:0.
In the 31st minute, a free kick from the top of the penalty area scored directly. The ball bypassed the wall and went into the upper left corner, 2:0.
In the 44th minute, during the counterattack, he received a through ball from Pogba, single-handedly passed the goalkeeper and shot into the empty goal, 3:0.
At halftime, Manchester United already led 3:0.
Fulham's players walked back to the locker room dejectedly. The head coach stood on the sidelines with his hands in his pockets and a dull expression.
In the second half, Manchester United did not stop.
In the 57th minute, Rooney received Ashley Young's cross in the penalty area and scored with a header, 4:0.
In the 73rd minute, Hernández scored with his first touch of the ball after coming off the bench, a supplementary shot in the penalty area, 5:0.
5:0, another big victory.
After two consecutive away games, Manchester United's attack group went completely berserk.
Zhang Kuang scored 5 goals in two games, Rooney and Hernández also scored. Ashley Young's breakthroughs and crosses from the wing can create threats in almost every game.
The whole Premier League is talking about: How strong is this Manchester United?
"The Times" wrote in a comment on December 24: "Manchester United's offensive firepower has reached the highest level in history.
Zhang Kuang's personal performance is of course outstanding, but more importantly: Rooney is opening up space for him, and Hernández's ability to grab points in the penalty area is fully activated.
The midfield control of Giggs and Carrick leaves opponents in the dust, while the occasional outbursts of Pogba and Ashley Young can also catch opponents off guard. This Manchester United is not a one-man team, although the brilliance of one person does overshadow the others."
"Daily Mail" commented from another perspective. "Manchester United's schedule in December is one of the most intensive for Premier League. They have two more games than other teams FIFA Club World Cup. It seems that there are only two more games, but they have to endure the torture of remote travel.
But not only did they not fall behind, they actually produced the most terrifying offensive efficiency so far this season. Ferguson's rotation strategy is indispensable, and more importantly, the team's momentum has reached its peak."
"..."
Many media, commentators and fans are impressed by Manchester United's recent impressive performance and expressed their admiration.
--
December 26, Boxing Day, Old Trafford.
Manchester United vs. Wigan Athletic.
According to the Premier League tradition, the Boxing Day game is always full of festive atmosphere.
Old Trafford Stadium was decorated with lights and colorful decorations, and more than 60,000 fans wore red Christmas sweaters and sang loudly in the cold wind.
Wigan Athletic is ranked in the middle and lower reaches of the league. In theory, it is not the opponent of Manchester United, but they have always been known for their tenacity. However, in this game, they did not even have a chance to be tenacious.
Zhang Kuang broke the deadlock in the 8th minute.
The left side of the penalty area received a diagonal pass from Giggs, and a violent long-range shot hit the upper right corner of the goal and scored.
1:0.
In the 27th minute, Rooney took a long shot from outside the penalty area, and the ball hit the lower edge of the crossbar and bounced into the net.
2:0.
In the 43rd minute, Ashley Young broke through from the left and cut inside to shoot. The ball hit the far post and entered the net.
3:0.
In the 61st minute of the second half, Giggs took a corner kick. Zhang Kuang jumped high in the crowd and violently headed the ball into the net.
4:0.
In the 78th minute, Hernández came on as a substitute and then received a through ball from Carrick and scored with a single push shot.
5:0.
Another 5:0, the third consecutive victory.
"Manchester United is as strong as taking Viagra." A netizen commented on the social platform.
This comment was forwarded like crazy and became a hot topic on social media that day.
Indeed, in three consecutive games: 4:0, 5:0, 5:0, Manchester United's attacking group was like a sophisticated war machine, crushing its opponents in every game.
At the post-match press conference, Ferguson smiled when asked about the team's state, "I have nothing to say. Everyone has seen the performance of the players. I just hope that this state can be maintained until the end of the season."
--
December 31, the last day of 2011, Old Trafford.
Manchester United faces the last opponent of the year at home: Blackburn.
Everyone thought this was another easy victory.
Blackburn ranked at the bottom of the league and faced Manchester United who was in full form in the away game. It seemed that it was just a matter of losing a few goals. But no one expected that this game would turn into a crazy goal battle.
Only 5 minutes into the game, Blackburn gave Manchester United a start. Yakubu scored a goal with a supplementary shot in the melee in the penalty area, 0:1.
Old Trafford Stadium was instantly quiet.
But Manchester United didn't panic.
In the 12th minute, Zhang Kuang followed Pogba's through ball into the penalty area and scored with a violent long shot to equalize the score.
1:1.
In the 28th minute, Blackburn took the lead again when Roque Santa Cruz took a corner kick and scored with a header.
1:2.
Manchester United fans didn't have time to digest this conceded goal. In the 31st minute, Hernández received Ashley Young's cross in the penalty area and scored the goal, 2:2.
The two sides are like playing table tennis, you come and I go.
In the 38th minute, Hernández was brought down at the top of the penalty area. Zhang Kuang took the free kick and the ball went around the wall and into the upper right corner.
3:2!
Manchester United has overtaken it!
At halftime, the score was 3:2, and Old Trafford fans finally breathed a sigh of relief.
But Blackburn gave them a new scare in the second half.
In the 54th minute, Diouf took a long shot from outside the penalty area, and the ball hit Ferdinand and went into the net.
3:3.
The score was tied for the third time. Ferguson on the sidelines looked ashen.
In the 61st minute, Zhang Kuang stood up.
He received a pass from Giggs on the left side of the penalty area, shook off the defender and then volleyed into the far corner to score.
4:3!
Hat trick!
In the 78th minute, Ashley Young shot a curve ball from outside the penalty area into the far corner, and the ball hit the dead center.
5:3.
In the end, Manchester United defeated Blackburn 5:3 at home, ending 2011 with a crazy goal battle.
After the game, the BBC commented. "The process of this game was not very friendly to the hearts of Manchester United fans, but the result was perfect.
Zhang Kuang's hat trick once again proved that he is the kind of player who can change the game at critical moments. Blackburn played his best performance of the season, but Manchester United's offensive firepower is too strong."
After the game, the atmosphere in Old Trafford's locker room was so lively that it felt like celebrating the New Year in advance.
Zhang Kuang sat in his seat, took off his soaked jersey and put it on his shoulders.
The teammates were joking with each other, Rooney was humming in the corner, and Hernández was pulling Ashley Young to discuss how he played the world wave.
Ferguson opened the door and walked in. The locker room instantly became quieter.
With a satisfied expression on his face, the old gentleman glanced at everyone, and finally landed on Zhang Kuang.
"Zhang, do you have plans?"
"A trip to Paris, boss. I want to celebrate the New Year with my friends."
"With your dozens of girlfriends? How can your body bear it?" Rooney joked.
"Haha..."
The whole audience burst into laughter.
Ferguson also smiled and nodded, "Go, but come back before the 2nd, save some energy, Newcastle on the 4th."
Zhang Kuang patted his chest. "I understand."
Zhang Kuang changed clothes, got into the car arranged by the agent in the parking lot, and went straight to Manchester Airport. A private plane was already waiting on the runway, destination: Paris.
There is no other way. At this point, we can only rent a private jet, otherwise it will be too late.
--
Two and a half hours later, Zhang Kuang appeared in Paris's villa.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling window is the light of Eiffel Tower flashing in the night. The warm yellow light in the room, the soft jazz music, and the crisp sound of the clinking champagne glasses are intertwined.
There are already more than twenty people in the room: no need to introduce who they are, right? Anyway, they are all tall and thin, ranging from ten to nearly thirty years old.
All of them are gorgeous and extraordinarily charming, and they are quite convenient to wear. It must be convenient. If Zhang Kuang can't take it off, he won't be interested.
As soon as they saw Zhang Kuang entering the door, they immediately cheered.
"Zhang! The protagonist of the New Year is here!"
"How long has it been since we have been together so happily? How many days will it take this time?"
Zhang Kuang: "Three days, don't worry, I don't plan to go out these three days, I want to enjoy myself as much as I can."
"Wow, long live!"
"That's great."
"..."
That night, they communicated all night, from 2011 to 2012, from the living room to the kitchen, then to the bathroom, and finally to the bedroom and the balcony of the bedroom...