Recaps

Manchester United took control against Bolton as Zhang Kuang scored and assisted Hernández, putting his side 2-0 ahead. The chapter ended with Ferguson pleased by their performance while Berbatov watched their partnership with an unreadable expression.

• De Gea saved Petrov’s early shot, and Jääskeläinen tipped Zhang Kuang’s long-range effort over the bar.
• Kevin Davies earned a yellow card for elbowing Phil Jones, and Boyata blocked Hernández’s shot near the goal line.
• Mark Davies injured his thigh while tracking Zhang Kuang but continued playing until Bolton substituted him for Pratley.
• Pogba passed through Bolton’s midfield, and Zhang Kuang scored from outside the penalty area to give Manchester United a 1-0 lead.
• Neville revealed that Zhang Kuang had helped develop Pogba by identifying and correcting five weaknesses in his game.
• Zhang Kuang beat Robinson near the byline and set up Hernández to score Manchester United’s second goal, while Berbatov watched their celebration.

Manchester United overwhelmed Bolton 6-0, with Zhang Kuang scoring a hat trick and Pogba contributing two assists. After the match, Ferguson brought Zhang Kuang to the press conference and publicly asked reporters to question him about his improved scoring.

• Bolton earned three first-half yellow cards as Manchester United took a 2-0 lead through goals from Zhang Kuang and Hernández.
• Ferguson told Carrick to help defend against high balls and instructed Zhang Kuang to keep attacking Robinson, while Coyle switched Bolton to a deeper counterattacking setup.
• Zhang Kuang scored directly from a free kick in the 52nd minute to make it 3-0.
• Pogba's corner found Zhang Kuang, who headed in his third goal in the 71st minute to complete his hat trick.
• Welbeck and Anderson scored late goals as Manchester United finished with a 6-0 victory over Bolton.
• Ferguson attended the post-match press conference with Zhang Kuang and asked reporters to question him about his improved scoring ability.

After Manchester United thrashed Bolton 6-0, Zhang Kuang and Pogba drew praise in post-match interviews and media coverage, while Zhang Kuang’s scoring record sparked comparisons with Messi. Manchester United then beat Benfica 4-1 in the Champions League, and the chapter ended with their upcoming Premier League match against Chelsea looming.

• Ferguson praised Pogba’s two assists and explained that Manchester United had promoted academy players after rivals refused to sell their targets at reasonable prices.
• Zhang Kuang attributed his improved finishing to talent, while Coyle admitted Bolton had failed to contain him or Pogba in the 6-0 defeat.
• Media outlets celebrated Zhang Kuang’s hat-trick and compared his scoring figures with Messi’s, prompting Zhang Kuang to decide to focus on football instead of the debate.
• Manchester United beat Benfica 4-1 in their opening Champions League group match, with Zhang Kuang scoring twice and Hernández and Rooney adding goals.
• Manchester United prepared to host Chelsea in the Premier League, with Chelsea third in the table after four rounds.

Manchester United and Chelsea met at Old Trafford after days of buildup, with both managers outlining their plans for the Premier League clash. After De Gea saved Drogba’s early shot, Zhang Kuang broke through Chelsea’s press and scored a long-range goal to put Manchester United ahead.

• Newspapers and broadcasters across Britain, Europe, and China previewed the Manchester United-Chelsea match and focused on Zhang Kuang and Drogba.
• Ferguson joked about Zhang Kuang’s scoring record, then warned that Chelsea and Drogba posed a serious threat; Boas said Chelsea had prepared specifically for Manchester United’s attack.
• Ferguson instructed Zhang Kuang and Rooney to exploit the space behind Chelsea’s defense and assigned Vidić to contain Drogba.
• Manchester United and Chelsea took the field at Old Trafford, where Boas surprised the commentators by choosing a 4-4-2 formation.
• Drogba turned under pressure from Vidić and shot toward goal in the fourth minute, but De Gea dived to save the attempt.
• Zhang Kuang evaded Ivanović and Ramires in the ninth minute, then struck from around thirty meters and beat Čech to give Manchester United a 1-0 lead.

Zhang Kuang gave Manchester United an early lead against Chelsea with a spectacular long-range goal, then helped them dominate the first half despite Chelsea's dangerous attacks. He capped the half with a curling free kick to make it 2-0.

• Zhang Kuang beat Ivanović and scored from thirty metres in the ninth minute, putting Manchester United ahead and sparking a huge celebration.
• Vidić blocked Drogba's shot in the seventeenth minute, and Terry cleared Zhang Kuang's corner before Čech saved Rooney's volley in the twenty-third.
• Lampard received a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Zhang Kuang, who avoided injury and warned him not to do it again.
• Čech denied Hernández at close range after Zhang Kuang created a chance, and De Gea later caught Drogba's header.
• Zhang Kuang scored a curling free kick in stoppage time, extending Manchester United's lead to 2-0.

Zhang Kuang scored twice in the first half as Manchester United led Chelsea 2-0, then helped set up Hernández's goal after the break. Drogba pulled one back for Chelsea, leaving Manchester United ahead 3-1 as Chelsea prepared to restart.

• Zhang Kuang scored a deceptive free kick in first-half stoppage time to give Manchester United a 2-0 halftime lead.
• Ferguson told Manchester United to stay focused, while Boas planned a more attacking formation and prepared Tuncay to replace Meireles.
• Zhang Kuang, Rooney, and Hernández combined for a goal in the 58th minute, extending Manchester United's lead to 3-0.
• Drogba turned past Vidić and scored in the 64th minute, reducing Chelsea's deficit to 3-1.

Manchester United beat Chelsea 3-1 as Zhang Kuang scored twice and assisted once, then won praise and questions about his extraordinary abilities. After a strong run of club results, Zhang Kuang returned to Hong Kong ahead of a crucial World Cup qualifier against Iraq, while fans argued over whether to keep supporting the struggling China National Team.

• Ferguson tightened Manchester United’s defense after Drogba scored, and both teams made substitutions as the match continued.
• Pogba made a confident interception after coming on, while Manchester United saw out the game and defeated Chelsea 3-1.
• Zhang Kuang exchanged shirts with Drogba, collected the man-of-the-match award, and faced reporters who questioned his form and supposedly inhuman reactions.
• Ferguson, Vidić, Boas, and Terry discussed Zhang Kuang at their press conferences, and Neville rejected the claim that he was not human.
• Manchester United won several subsequent matches, including a 5-3 Champions League victory over Basel, before Zhang Kuang flew to Hong Kong for the Iraq qualifier.
• Fans debated China Hong Kong’s qualification prospects and mocked supporters who continued calculating theoretical routes for the winless China National Team.

Zhang Kuang attended flag ceremonies at the Shenzhen and Hong Kong Xionghua schools before rejoining the Hong Kong Team’s preparations for their World Cup qualifier against Iraq. On October 11, both teams arrived at a packed Hong Kong Stadium, where Iraq’s players hoped to win the match and its bonus.

• Zhang Kuang reached Shenzhen, visited the football school, and joined Wu Guohua for a ceremony presenting flags to the U9, U10, U11, and U12 teams.
• Zhang Kuang congratulated the selected students and urged them to work hard on the difficult road toward becoming professional players.
• Zhang Kuang attended a similar flag ceremony at Hong Kong Xionghua School, then told reporters that the Hong Kong Team would advance against Iraq.
• Troussier drilled the Hong Kong Team in a 4-2-3-1 formation and warned the players after the reserves troubled the first team in a practice match.
• At their pre-match press conferences, Troussier expressed confidence in Zhang Kuang and the Hong Kong Team, while Zico called Zhang Kuang Iraq’s most dangerous opponent.
• On October 11, fans filled the area around Hong Kong Stadium as the Hong Kong and Iraqi teams arrived; Iraq’s players focused on the financial importance of winning the match bonus.

Hong Kong took on Iraq in a crucial World Cup qualifier, with Zhang Kuang and Li Weilian scoring to give the home side a 2-0 halftime lead. Iraq threatened through Younis, but Fan Chun-yip and Hong Kong’s defense kept them from scoring before the break.

• Troussier urged Hong Kong’s players to beat Iraq, and the teams entered a roaring Hong Kong Stadium for kickoff.
• Jack Xu sent Zhang Kuang through behind Iraq’s defense in the sixth minute, but Kassid reached the ball first and the referee ignored a shirt pull.
• Fan Chun-yip saved Younis’s close-range shot in the thirteenth minute.
• Zhang Kuang scored with a powerful long-range strike in the nineteenth minute to put Hong Kong ahead 1-0.
• Li Weilian finished a move involving Cris Kong and Zhang Kuang in the thirty-eighth minute, extending Hong Kong’s lead to 2-0.
• Lee Chi-ho returned after a head clash, and Fan Chun-yip’s teammates defended an Iraqi corner before halftime ended with Hong Kong leading 2-0.

Zhang Kuang scored a hat trick as the Hong Kong Team defeated Iraq 5-1 to extend their qualifying group lead with three straight wins. After the match, he praised Iraq’s resilience and criticized the lack of domestic striker development, while the China National Team remained scoreless and lost to Jordan.

• Troussier urged the Hong Kong Team to withstand Iraq’s second-half attack, while the China National Team trailed Jordan 0-1 at halftime.
• Cris Kong’s free kick set up Zhang Kuang’s header in the fifty-first minute, giving Hong Kong a 3-0 lead.
• Zhang Kuang stayed on his feet after Shakir fouled him in the box and scored to complete his hat trick and make it 4-0.
• Younis scored for Iraq, but Cris Kong restored Hong Kong’s four-goal lead with a solo effort for 5-1.
• Hong Kong beat Iraq 5-1, and Zhang Kuang exchanged shirts with Younis before praising his teammates and criticizing the national team’s striker development in an interview.
• Commentators discussed the China National Team’s scoring problems and the obstacles preventing promising domestic players such as Wu Lei and Yu Hanchao from moving abroad.

After Hong Kong’s 5-1 win over Iraq, Zhang Kuang questioned why China’s national team and football authorities failed to address its obvious scoring problems. He returned to Manchester, helped United beat Liverpool and Oțelul, and the chapter ended just before the highly anticipated Manchester derby against City.

• Troussier praised Hong Kong’s victory over Iraq, while Zico admitted Iraq had failed to contain Zhang Kuang and focused on securing second place in the group.
• Chinese media and fans debated whether the national team’s lack of top-class forwards explained its inability to score, and Zhang Kuang drafted but deleted a Weibo post about the issue.
• Zhang Kuang reviewed the national team’s poor shooting statistics and wondered why its coaches and the Football Association had not identified the attacking problem.
• Zhang Kuang returned to Manchester and scored twice and assisted once as Manchester United beat Liverpool 3-1 at Anfield.
• Zhang Kuang scored in Manchester United’s 4-0 Champions League win over Oțelul Galați, giving United three straight group victories.
• Before the Manchester derby, broadcasters discussed the teams’ lineups, midfield battle, and the pressure on young players making their first appearance in the fixture.

Manchester United and Manchester City traded goals in a high-scoring Manchester derby at Old Trafford, with Zhang Kuang twice equalizing after City took the lead. The chapter ended with the score 2-2 in the thirty-third minute, as the match remained wide open.

• Ferguson rallied Manchester United before the derby, and the teams entered Old Trafford to begin the match.
• In the eighth minute, Yaya Touré drove forward and assisted Agüero, who scored to put Manchester City ahead 1-0.
• Zhang Kuang equalized in the fourteenth minute with a curling free kick that beat Joe Hart.
• In the twenty-second minute, Silva scored from Balotelli’s pass to restore Manchester City’s lead at 2-1.
• In the thirty-third minute, Zhang Kuang cut inside and struck a powerful low shot past Joe Hart to make it 2-2.

Manchester United fell behind Manchester City after a frantic first half and conceded again early in the second, but Zhang Kuang completed a hat trick to cut the deficit to 4-3. He carried the ball back to the center spot as United prepared to chase an equalizer.

• Mancini replaced Milner with Džeko, who scored from close range to put City ahead 3-2 before halftime.
• Ferguson berated United's defense and midfield in the dressing room, while Mancini and Milner argued in City's dressing room.
• City threatened immediately after halftime, then Balotelli scored from a rebound to extend their lead to 4-2.
• United pressed forward, but Kompany blocked Rooney's shot and Lescott stopped Hernández's follow-up on the goal line.
• Ashley Young crossed from the right, and Zhang Kuang headed the ball into the far corner to complete his hat trick and make it 4-3.
• Zhang Kuang collected the ball from the net and placed it on the center spot while City's players watched.

Manchester United fought back from a 3-5 deficit to draw level with Manchester City, but Nasri scored the winner in the eighty-eighth minute and City held on to win the eleven-goal derby 6-5. Zhang Kuang finished with three goals and two assists, then headed toward the tunnel after accepting that United had lost.

• Balotelli scored from a deflected shot to put Manchester City 5-3 ahead, but Zhang Kuang assisted Rooney’s long-range goal two minutes later.
• Zhang Kuang set up Hernández’s equalizer in the eightieth minute, making the score 5-5 and giving United renewed hope.
• After Mancini substituted Balotelli for Nasri, Nasri scored in the eighty-eighth minute to put Manchester City ahead 6-5.
• Manchester United pushed forward in stoppage time, but Kompany cleared Zhang Kuang’s header and Smalling stopped Agüero’s counterattack shot on the goal line before the final whistle.
• Manchester City won 6-5, and Zhang Kuang, named man of the match for his three goals and two assists, walked toward the tunnel as United fans applauded.

Manchester City beat Manchester United 6-5 at Old Trafford, taking top spot despite Zhang Kuang’s hat trick and two assists. Manchester United recovered with four straight wins, and Zhang Kuang’s next challenge was the World Cup qualifying match between China and China Hong Kong.

• Zhang Kuang accepted responsibility for Manchester United’s defensive problems after the derby, while Ferguson praised his performance and Mancini celebrated Manchester City going top.
• The ninth-round standings placed Manchester City first and Manchester United second, while Zhang Kuang led the scoring chart with 24 goals.
• Manchester United beat Aldershot 3-0 in the League Cup, Everton 4-0, Oțelul Galați 4-0, and Sunderland 3-0 as Ferguson adjusted the defense.
• Zhang Kuang scored eight goals across those four matches, including hat tricks against Everton and Sunderland, and Manchester United kept four consecutive clean sheets.
• The international break began, with China scheduled to face China Hong Kong in the fourth round of the Asian World Cup qualifying group stage.

Zhang Kuang returned to Hong Kong, trained with the team, and traveled with them to Beijing for a tense World Cup qualifier against the China National Team. The match began in freezing conditions, and despite the national team's early pressure, they failed to convert their chances as the Hong Kong Team defended compactly.

• Zhang Kuang returned to Hong Kong, met He Qigang and the He Family patriarch, then helped improve the starters by repeatedly attacking them in training.
• The Hong Kong Team arrived in Beijing, where the cold weather worried Troussier and drew both support and abuse toward Zhang Kuang from fans and reporters.
• Camacho said the China National Team needed to win, while Troussier planned to defend and counterattack as the teams prepared for the match.
• Zhang Kuang and the Hong Kong Team walked out at the sold-out Workers' Stadium, and Kim Dong-jin started the qualifier.
• The China National Team pressed early, but Fan Chun-yip saved Du Wei's header, Zhao Xuri volleyed over, and Gao Lin missed another clear chance.

The Hong Kong Team took a 2-0 lead over the China National Team before halftime, with Zhang Kuang scoring both goals on counterattacks. The chapter ended with the national team trailing at home and Camacho having made two early substitutions.

• Gao Lin was ruled offside after Zheng Zhi sent him through on goal.
• Cris Kong tested Yang Zhi with a long-range shot, and Zhang Kuang headed the resulting corner wide.
• Leung Chun-pong, Jack Xu, and Cris Kong set up Zhang Kuang’s first goal in the twenty-fourth minute, prompting abusive chants from fans at Workers' Stadium.
• The national team pushed forward, but Qu Bo hit the crossbar and Zhang Kuang continued to threaten on counterattacks.
• Camacho changed the national team to a 4-4-2, but Poon Yiu-cheuk’s cross let Zhang Kuang volley in his second goal in the forty-first minute.
• Fans abused Zhang Kuang and threw a bottle, security guards removed several offenders, and the referee ended the first half with the Hong Kong Team leading 2-0.

The Hong Kong Team beat the China National Team 3–0 at Workers' Stadium, with Zhang Kuang scoring a hat trick before being substituted. The defeat ended the national team's World Cup qualification hopes, while the Hong Kong Team qualified for the final ten with two rounds to spare.

• Camacho urged the China National Team to defend Zhang Kuang while trying to score, as Troussier planned for the Hong Kong Team to exploit gaps on the counterattack.
• The China National Team created several chances early in the second half, but Fan Chun-yip saved Yu Dabao's shot and other attempts missed or were blocked.
• Cris Kong sent Zhang Kuang through in the fifty-third minute, and Zhang Kuang dribbled past Du Wei, Sun Xiang, and Yang Zhi to score his third goal.
• Troussier substituted Zhang Kuang for Lo Kwan-yee after the hat trick, and the match slowed as the China National Team's attacks failed to score.
• Kim Dong-jin blew the final whistle on a 3–0 Hong Kong Team victory, ending the China National Team's qualification hopes and securing the Hong Kong Team's place in the final ten.

After Zhang Kuang’s hat trick led the Hong Kong Team to a 3-0 win over the China National Team, Camacho resigned and the defeated side faced renewed scrutiny over its lack of scoring power. The Hong Kong Team returned home to prepare for Jordan, knowing a win would secure first place in the group.

• Zhang Kuang credited his teammates and coaching staff for the victory, then accused those who paid fans to abuse him of betraying China.
• Camacho told the national team he would resign, and the dejected players packed up in silence while Zhang Kuang’s teammates celebrated.
• Camacho announced at the press conference that he was quitting because he could not fix the team’s lack of finishing, while Troussier confirmed the Hong Kong Team had qualified.
• Zheng Zhi told reporters he had no answers after the national team’s elimination, and security stopped angry fans from attacking Hong Kong supporters outside the stadium.
• Chinese football figures debated the shortage of capable strikers as the Hong Kong Team returned home to prepare for its match against Jordan.

Hong Kong faced Jordan in a crucial final-20 qualifier as coach Troussier insisted his already-qualified team would still pursue first place. Zhang Kuang nearly scored early, then met Cris Kong’s corner at the near post, with the outcome left unresolved.

• Troussier said Hong Kong would field a strong team and aim to finish first, while Jordan coach Adnan Hamad suggested Zhang Kuang should save his energy for Europe.
• Fans filled Hong Kong Stadium for the match, and both teams emerged for the anthems and lineup announcements.
• Jordan began by building patiently, but Chan Wai-ho cleared Ahmed Hayel’s cross in the third minute.
• Jack Xu launched a counterattack in the ninth minute, and Zhang Kuang headed Lee Chi-ho’s cross just over the crossbar.
• Cris Kong delivered an inswinging corner in the twelfth minute, and Zhang Kuang leaped to meet it at the near post.

Zhang Kuang scored twice as the Hong Kong Team dominated Jordan and took a 2-0 lead into halftime. Jordan struggled to create chances against Hong Kong’s organized defense, while Hamza Dawood continued playing despite an ankle injury.

• Zhang Kuang headed in Cris Kong’s corner in the twelfth minute to put the Hong Kong Team ahead 1-0.
• Jordan tested Fan Chun-yip with long shots and crosses, but Hong Kong’s goalkeeper and defenders kept the attacks out.
• Zhang Kuang scored from twenty-eight meters in the twenty-seventh minute, extending Hong Kong’s lead to 2-0.
• Jordan increased its midfield pressure, while Hamza Dawood briefly received treatment for his injured left ankle and returned to play.
• Cris Kong and Zhang Kuang threatened from a corner, but Shafi saved Zhang Kuang’s header.
• Jordan’s final attacks failed, and the Hong Kong Team went into halftime leading 2-0.

Hong Kong overwhelmed Jordan 4-0 to qualify for the final-10 round as group winners. Zhang Kuang scored a hat trick and assisted Cris Kong before being substituted, and the team celebrated its historic advance.

• Jordan replaced the injured Hamza Dawood with Sabah Al-Hamad, but Hong Kong kept defending firmly and Zhang Kuang threatened Shafi's goal.
• Zhang Kuang scored his third goal in the 54th minute after Shafi saved Ren Qiu's shot, extending Hong Kong's lead to 3-0.
• Zhang Kuang sent Cris Kong through to score Hong Kong's fourth goal, and Cris Kong celebrated by taking a drink from Troussier's water bottle.
• Troussier substituted Zhang Kuang after his three goals and one assist, and the crowd gave him a standing ovation.
• Jordan came close with headers that skimmed the crossbar and post, while Lee Chi-ho received Hong Kong's first yellow card and Poon Yiu-cheuk played through a cramp.
• Referee Hilali ended the match at 4-0, confirming Hong Kong's qualification for the final-10 round as group winners.

Zhang Kuang led the Hong Kong Team to a 4-0 win over Jordan, securing first place in their qualifying group, then dismissed questions about the China national team. After returning to Manchester, he rejoined training as Ferguson prepared him for the Swansea match.

• Zhang Kuang said he had no comment on the China national team's 0-1 loss to Iraq and argued that national development mattered more than football results.
• Troussier praised the Hong Kong Team's victory and said Zhang Kuang might miss the final group match if Manchester United needed him; Hamad blamed Zhang Kuang for Jordan's defeat and hoped Hong Kong would field its strongest side next time.
• Cris Kong credited Zhang Kuang's pass and the space he created for his goal, while Zhang Kuang hosted a celebration dinner before flying back to Manchester.
• Newspapers and fans celebrated the Hong Kong Team's perfect group record and compared its success with the China national team's elimination; Jordanian fans criticized Hamad's tactics.
• Zhang Kuang returned to Carrington, where Ferguson welcomed him back and told him to score against Swansea; Carrick spotted him during warm-ups and greeted him excitedly.

Zhang Kuang led Manchester United through a run of wins that restored their Premier League lead, but the team suffered a shock League Cup exit and a scandal over players’ behavior. After Manchester United thrashed Aston Villa, Zhang Kuang’s inclusion on the Ballon d’Or shortlist sparked controversy over whether he would win.

• Zhang Kuang scored a hat trick as Manchester United beat Swansea 4-0, then scored again in a 4-2 victory over Benfica that secured qualification as Group C winners.
• Zhang Kuang scored another hat trick in Manchester United’s 6-1 win over Newcastle, and Manchester United returned to the top of the Premier League after Manchester City drew with Liverpool.
• Manchester United rotated their squad against Crystal Palace and lost 2-1 at home, exiting the League Cup; reports then showed Zhang Kuang with several women and Rooney visiting a brothel, prompting Ferguson to impose stricter training attendance.
• Zhang Kuang scored four goals as Manchester United beat Aston Villa 5-0, leaving them securely atop the league table.
• Messi, Zhang Kuang, and Cristiano Ronaldo were named to the Ballon d’Or shortlist, prompting fans to question the award’s fairness, while Zhang Kuang said the fans would judge whether the result was fair.

The Ballon d'Or debate intensified as Zhang Kuang’s statistics and Cristiano Ronaldo’s comments fueled arguments between English and Spanish media. Zhang Kuang then led Manchester United through a perfect Champions League group stage and into the Club World Cup final, where they faced Santos.

• English and Spanish newspapers, pundits, and supporters argued over whether Zhang Kuang or Messi deserved the Ballon d'Or, and Cristiano Ronaldo said the numbers favored Zhang Kuang.
• Zhang Kuang scored a first-half hat trick as Manchester United beat Basel 5-1, finishing the Champions League group stage with six wins and a record 15 goals for him.
• Zhang Kuang scored twice as Manchester United defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-1, then Ferguson and the squad flew to Japan for the Club World Cup.
• Zhang Kuang scored twice in the first half of Manchester United’s 5-0 Club World Cup semifinal win over Al Sadd before being substituted at halftime.
• Manchester United and Santos lined up for the Club World Cup final in Yokohama, with Zhang Kuang starting alongside Rooney and Hernández against Neymar, Borges, and Robinho.