Chapter Summaries

Manchester United faced West Bromwich in a rain-soaked New Year’s Day match at The Hawthorns, where Wayne Rooney and Zhang Kuang put United ahead twice around James Morrison’s equalizer. United led 2-1 at halftime after surviving sustained West Brom pressure, and Ferguson urged his players to shore up midfield and exploit the hosts’ slow defenders.

• West Brom attacked early, but Rooney headed in Zhang Kuang’s cross in the third minute to give Manchester United the lead.
• Morrison volleyed home from the edge of the area in the 14th minute to equalize for West Brom.
• Zhang Kuang beat Steven Reid with two stepovers and scored a long-range strike in the 28th minute to restore United’s lead.
• United created further chances through Zhang Kuang and Berbatov, while Odemwingie narrowly missed a late first-half equalizer.
• At halftime, Ferguson criticized United’s defensive performance and told Fletcher and Carrick to protect the penalty area, Neville to contain Thomas, and Zhang Kuang and Rooney to counterattack behind West Brom’s defenders.
• The teams switched ends and began the second half with Manchester United leading 2-1.

Zhang Kuang led Manchester United to a 4-1 away win over West Brom with two goals and two assists, including a spectacular scorpion kick and a corner assist. After the match, Rooney’s injury proved superficial, and Zhang Kuang arranged a group photo with the Hong Kong Football Team and Manchester United players before telling the team manager he would leave the squad.

• Zhang Kuang scored with a scorpion kick from Rooney’s cross, extending Manchester United’s lead to 3-1.
• Neville left the match to applause, then Odemwingie missed a penalty for West Brom.
• Zhang Kuang delivered a corner that Berbatov headed in, making it 4-1 and giving Zhang two goals and two assists.
• Zhang Kuang retaliated against Brunt after a vicious tackle and received a yellow card; Rooney later suffered a calf injury after another Brunt challenge but returned during stoppage time.
• Manchester United held on to win 4-1, and Zhang Kuang was named man of the match; Rooney’s injury was confirmed as superficial.
• Zhang Kuang took a group photo with the Hong Kong Football Team and Manchester United players, then told the team manager he would leave the squad.

Manchester United welcomed new signing Javier Hernández and faced Stoke City at Old Trafford, where Stoke packed the defense and marked Zhang Kuang with multiple players. United broke through when Dimitar Berbatov scored in the 27th minute, but Stoke grew more aggressive after falling behind.

• Zhang Kuang treated his Hong Kong teammates to dinner, then returned to prepare for the match and found that three new girls had joined the Britain Study-Abroad Squad’s surprise.
• Manchester United signed Javier Hernández for £6 million and sold Nani to Valencia for €21 million; Hernández met Zhang Kuang and received encouragement from his new teammates.
• Hernández made the matchday squad as Manchester United hosted Stoke City, whose defense repeatedly crowded Zhang Kuang and dealt with his attacks through physical challenges.
• Zhang Kuang drew Stoke defenders toward him and switched the ball to Wayne Rooney, whose shot forced a save from Asmir Begović.
• Rooney backheeled the ball through Collins’s legs, Rafael crossed into the box, and Berbatov scored to give Manchester United a 1-0 lead in the 27th minute.

Zhang Kuang scored twice and assisted Hernández as Manchester United beat Stoke City 5-1, with his bizarre fifth goal becoming a sensation. After the match, his agent told him that several clubs, including Manchester City, Chelsea, and Real Madrid, had made enormous offers for him.

• Zhang Kuang scored a spectacular solo goal after a fifty-meter counterattack to put Manchester United 2-0 ahead at halftime.
• Whitehead headed Stoke City back into the match, but Zhang Kuang scored again with a diving header to restore United's two-goal lead.
• Zhang Kuang assisted Hernández, who scored on his Manchester United debut and made it 4-1.
• Zhang Kuang scored a remarkable goal with his body after Rooney's cross, helping United finish the match with a 5-1 victory.
• Zhang Kuang was named player of the match with three goals and one assist, while the media and fans made his unusual goal a sensation.
• Zhang Kuang's agent told him Manchester City had offered £100 million, Chelsea £90 million plus add-ons, and Real Madrid €120 million for him.

Zhang Kuang established Xionghua Football School with He Qigang, then returned to Paris and watched Messi win the 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or. He left the chapter determined to keep performing until he earned a place among the award’s top contenders.

• Zhang Kuang and He Qigang planned free football schools in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, with alternative education and career paths for students who did not become professionals.
• Zhang Kuang rejected an ownership stake in He Qigang’s proposed agency but agreed that it could represent students voluntarily and contribute up to 5% of its annual income from them to football.
• Zhang Kuang and He Qigang signed a cooperation agreement on January 8 and established Xionghua Football School, with branches in Shenzhen and Hong Kong and experienced youth-development staff lined up.
• Zhang Kuang attended the Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup final, where Guangdong Team won 3-2 and claimed the trophy 4-3 on aggregate, then congratulated players from both teams.
• After returning to Paris, Zhang Kuang cooked for the women at home and watched Messi win the 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or after Zhang Kuang had been excluded from the shortlist.

Zhang Kuang returned to Manchester United, rejected a collection of major transfer offers, and prepared for the away match against Tottenham Hotspur. He helped Rooney score an early opener at White Hart Lane, while Tottenham’s first dangerous reply went over the bar.

• Zhang Kuang returned to Carrington, where Ferguson told him about the club offers and Zhang Kuang said he planned to stay at Manchester United for now.
• Zhang Kuang and Berbatov traded jokes in the tunnel before Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur began their match at White Hart Lane.
• Tottenham Hotspur used Ekotto and Palacios to crowd Zhang Kuang, but Giggs’s pass let him break free and send a diagonal ball to Rooney, who scored in the fourth minute.
• Ber used his pace to get past Rafael in the ninth minute, but his shot flew over Van der Sar’s goal.

Manchester United held a 2-0 lead over Tottenham Hotspur at halftime after Zhang Kuang scored a dazzling solo goal, then faced a fierce Tottenham attack after the break. In the 51st minute, Zhang Kuang broke forward again as Palacios and Ekotto were left arguing, with only Dawson and Gallas between him and goal.

• Manchester United survived a Tottenham counterattack when Van der Sar saved Lennon's shot and Vidić blocked Van der Vaart's rebound, then Gómez and Dawson stopped Berbatov and Zhang Kuang at the other end.
• Zhang Kuang evaded Palacios's sliding tackle, dribbled past Dawson and Gallas, and chipped the ball over Gómez to put Manchester United 2-0 ahead.
• Tottenham Hotspur pressed forward while Rafael picked up a yellow card and Palacios was booked for fouling Zhang Kuang; Van der Sar made further saves before halftime.
• Ferguson told Rafael to avoid another card, instructed the team to counter through Zhang Kuang and Rooney, and had Hernández prepare to enter.
• Redknapp pushed Tottenham's fullbacks forward, and Van der Sar tipped Crouch's header over the bar as Tottenham began the second half aggressively.
• After Van der Sar punched away a Tottenham corner, Giggs sent Zhang Kuang on a break; Zhang shook off both markers, and Ekotto and Palacios collided and began arguing, leaving Dawson and Gallas to defend.

Manchester United survived Tottenham Hotspur’s pressure after Rafael was sent off, with Zhang Kuang scoring a late solo goal to secure a 1-3 victory. The match ended with the visitors celebrating at White Hart Lane and Zhang Kuang exchanging praise and a shirt with his opponents.

• Zhang Kuang created chances for Rooney and Berbatov, but Gómez saved both shots as Tottenham Hotspur continued to threaten.
• Ber scored from a rebound to make it 1-2, then Rafael received a second yellow card and was sent off; Rooney was also booked while arguing with the referee.
• Ferguson replaced Berbatov and Rooney with Fabio and Evans, leaving Zhang Kuang alone up front as Manchester United defended with ten men.
• After Van der Sar launched a long kick, Zhang Kuang fought past Tottenham Hotspur’s defenders and scored to extend Manchester United’s lead to 1-3.
• Van der Sar and Ferdinand stopped Tottenham Hotspur’s last attacks, and the final whistle confirmed Manchester United’s victory; Zhang Kuang and Ber exchanged praise and shirts.

Zhang Kuang helped Manchester United beat Tottenham Hotspur before the team continued winning through the next two league fixtures. Ferguson rested Zhang Kuang and Berbatov against Wolverhampton Wanderers, ending United’s unbeaten run with a 2-1 defeat and leaving the media focused on Zhang Kuang’s absence ahead of the Manchester City match.

• Zhang Kuang discussed his scoring record and United’s strength with reporters after helping the ten-man team defeat Tottenham Hotspur.
• Manchester United beat Birmingham 6-0 and Aston Villa 3-1, while Zhang Kuang celebrated the Lunar New Year with greetings and gifts for fans.
• Ferguson rested Zhang Kuang and Berbatov against Wolverhampton Wanderers, and United lost 2-1 as Hernández scored their only goal.
• McCarthy praised Wolverhampton Wanderers’ performance and said they had identified and exploited United’s weaknesses.
• Ferguson accepted responsibility for the defeat, defended his rotation decision, and told reporters Zhang Kuang would return for the match against Manchester City.

After United lost to Wolves without Zhang Kuang, fans and media blamed the defeat on the team’s dependence on him. Zhang Kuang and Ferguson urged the squad to move on, and United prepared to face Manchester City at Old Trafford, where the chapter ends as the derby is about to begin.

• United fans, rival supporters, and newspapers and television pundits reacted to the Wolves defeat with celebration and criticism, emphasizing United’s reliance on Zhang Kuang.
• Zhang Kuang posted that one defeat did not change United’s standing and promised the team would pursue the league and Champions League titles.
• Zhang Kuang’s teammates called to support him after his post, while Ferguson confronted the dejected squad at Carrington and urged them to answer their critics against Manchester City.
• Ferguson told reporters United’s attacking trident would return for the derby and said the team relied on every player, while Mancini vowed City would beat United.
• On February 12, 2011, 75,322 spectators filled Old Trafford for the Manchester derby, where a huge tifo depicted Zhang Kuang celebrating over Xiongba.

Manchester United hosted Manchester City in the derby, and Zhang Kuang scored a flying header in the sixth minute to put United ahead. City created several dangerous chances but had not equalized by the time Richards’s tackle tripped the assistant referee in the sixteenth minute.

• Manchester United and Manchester City supporters traded chants and banners before the match, while commentators discussed City’s plan to double-team Zhang Kuang.
• Zhang Kuang mocked City’s marking plan in the tunnel before both teams emerged and the derby began.
• David Silva tested United early with a shot that Vidić deflected wide, and Rooney then crossed for Scholes to find Zhang Kuang breaking free of Barry and Milner for a headed goal.
• Yaya Touré set up further City attacks, but Van der Sar saved Silva’s curling shot and Tevez headed a corner against the post.
• Richards’s sliding tackle tripped the assistant referee, and Marriner gave him a verbal warning without showing a card.

Manchester United built a 2-0 lead over Manchester City through Zhang Kuang’s assist for Berbatov, but Silva pulled one back after Džeko’s header in the second half. Manchester City trailed 2-1 with nearly half an hour remaining.

• Zhang Kuang burst past Barry and Milner, then set up Rooney, whose shot Joe Hart saved; Kompany later received a yellow card for fouling Rooney.
• Van der Sar saved Tevez’s one-on-one shot, and O’Shea stopped Silva from scoring on the rebound with a clean tackle.
• Zhang Kuang threaded a pass between Barry’s legs, and Berbatov scored to give Manchester United a 2-0 lead before Milner received a yellow card for bringing Zhang Kuang down.
• Ferguson instructed Manchester United’s defenders at halftime, while Mancini replaced Kolarov with Wright-Phillips and later substituted the injured Milner for Džeko.
• Džeko flicked on Wright-Phillips’s cross, and Silva scored to cut Manchester City’s deficit to 2-1.

Zhang Kuang scored twice and assisted once, sealing Manchester United’s 3-1 derby victory over Manchester City with a spectacular bicycle kick. After the match, he celebrated with the fans, changed his ticket giveaway rules, and watched his boastful declaration spread worldwide.

• Tevez scored for Manchester City, but Hernández joined Manchester United and helped create attacking pressure as the match continued.
• Rooney crossed for Zhang Kuang, who scored a bicycle kick in the 81st minute to put Manchester United ahead 3-1.
• Manchester United defended their lead, with Van der Sar saving Tevez’s final shot before the match ended.
• Zhang Kuang received the man-of-the-match award and told reporters that Manchester United could bear the pressure of being kings.
• Ferguson praised Zhang Kuang’s goal, while Mancini admitted Manchester City had been beaten by individual talent.
• Zhang Kuang learned that fans who received paired giveaway tickets had caused a scandal, so he changed future draws to award one ticket per winner.

Zhang Kuang returned to Auxerre with Manchester United for their Champions League round-of-16 first leg, receiving a heartfelt welcome from the home fans before kickoff. Auxerre set up defensively, but Manchester United began the match with fierce pressure.

• Zhang Kuang told reporters he did not oppose private freedom but would not use his ticket lottery to facilitate fans’ encounters, and his teammates teased him about the controversy.
• Manchester United advanced to the FA Cup quarterfinals with Hernández’s goal, then traveled to Auxerre for their Champions League match.
• Auxerre fans applauded Zhang Kuang and displayed old photographs and a banner welcoming him back; Ferguson told him to play freely.
• Jean Fernandez urged Auxerre’s players, especially Coulibaly, to prove themselves against Manchester United, and Coulibaly exchanged a friendly handshake with Zhang Kuang.
• The match began with Auxerre defending deep in a 5-4-1 formation, while Manchester United pressed aggressively.

Manchester United and Auxerre traded dangerous attacks, with both goalkeepers making crucial saves, before Zhang Kuang headed home Giggs’s cross to give United a 1-0 lead. Zhang Kuang did not celebrate, acknowledging the Auxerre fans and former teammates as he returned to the center circle.

• Zhang Kuang controlled Evra’s long pass and set up attacks, but Sorin saved Rooney’s shot and Coulibaly blocked Zhang Kuang’s effort.
• Zhang Kuang backheeled Giggs’s pass through Hengbart’s legs, then saw his long-range shot blocked by Coulibaly.
• Pedretti earned a yellow card for a foul on Scholes, then launched a counterattack that ended with Van der Sar saving Oliech’s one-on-one shot.
• Sorin saved Berbatov’s tight-angle attempt, while Vidić blocked Birsa’s long-range shot as Auxerre continued to threaten.
• Giggs crossed into the box, and Zhang Kuang broke between Hengbart and Mignot to head the ball past Sorin and put Manchester United ahead 1-0.
• Zhang Kuang declined to celebrate, clapped back at the Auxerre supporters, and exchanged a brief, proud moment with Coulibaly before walking toward the center circle.

Manchester United beat Auxerre 4-0 at Stade Abbé-Deschamps as Zhang Kuang recorded two goals and two assists on his return to his former club. After accepting the player-of-the-match award and returning to Paris, Zhang Kuang opened the system he had not checked.

• Manchester United led Auxerre 1-0 at halftime, and Ferguson urged the team to exploit the space Auxerre would leave when they pushed forward.
• Auxerre lost Contout to a muscle strain, and Zhang Kuang broke past Hengbart and Mignot before assisting Berbatov to make it 2-0.
• Zhang Kuang scored his second goal after Dudka deflected Berbatov's shot into his path, putting Manchester United 3-0 ahead.
• Hernández scored from Zhang Kuang's pass in the 88th minute, and Manchester United finished with a 4-0 victory.
• Zhang Kuang exchanged shirts with Birsa, received the player-of-the-match trophy, and spoke about his mixed feelings over beating his former club.
• After returning to his Paris villa, Zhang Kuang opened the system he had seemingly not checked.

Zhang Kuang spent his accumulated qi and blood points and an Upgrade Card to advance his cultivation, gaining improved physical abilities and two minor spells. Manchester United then strengthened their hold on the Premier League title, while Zhang Kuang’s scoring record and the team’s 83 points after 30 rounds drew widespread attention.

• Zhang Kuang calculated that he had 1,119.5 qi and blood points, then used 1,000 points and an Upgrade Card to reach the qi refining first layer advanced stage.
• Zhang Kuang gained the Tiny Object Grasping Technique and Faint Sound Listening Technique, and found that his football skills had improved as well.
• Manchester United beat Wigan Athletic 6-0, with Zhang Kuang scoring three goals and providing two assists, then defeated Liverpool 5-3 after Zhang Kuang scored a hat trick and added two assists.
• Manchester United beat Arsenal 2-0 in the Football Association Cup quarterfinals and Auxerre 3-0 in the Champions League, advancing in both competitions; they were drawn against Chelsea in the Champions League quarterfinals.
• Manchester United beat Bolton 4-1 to reach 83 points after 30 league rounds, leaving them eight points clear of the title with eight matches remaining.
• Media and fans across Europe celebrated Manchester United’s near-record title win and focused on Zhang Kuang’s 58 goals and 27 assists in the Premier League.

Zhang Kuang joined the Hong Kong Team after his record-breaking Premier League season and helped Philippe Troussier prepare a side built around his abilities. The chapter ended as Zhang Kuang and the Hong Kong Team took the field for their first friendly against Uzbekistan, with Troussier choosing a 4-2-3-1 formation.

• Asian media and fans celebrated Zhang Kuang's 58 goals and Manchester United's near-certain Premier League title, while criticism erupted over his playing for the Hong Kong Team.
• Zhang Kuang arrived in Hong Kong to a huge welcome and agreed with Philippe Troussier that the coach would control the team's tactics and management.
• During training, Troussier found that Zhang Kuang and the naturalized players were far stronger than most of the squad, and he taught the team to pass into the space ahead of Zhang Kuang's runs.
• More than forty thousand fans gathered at Hong Kong Stadium for Zhang Kuang's Hong Kong Team debut, while CCTV-5 broadcast the match instead of the China National Team's friendly.
• Zhang Kuang and his teammates walked onto the pitch to face Uzbekistan, and commentators announced the Hong Kong Team's starting lineup in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Zhang Kuang made his Hong Kong debut against Uzbekistan, helping Hong Kong recover from an early goal and take a 2-1 lead. After scoring twice, he left the team ahead as the match continued.

• Uzbekistan took the lead in the ninth minute when Alexander Geynrikh scored after Jeparov's pass split Hong Kong's defense.
• Zhang Kuang equalized in the sixteenth minute with a long-range shot after turning between two defenders.
• Hong Kong settled into the match, and Zhang Kuang set up Zheng Shaowei for a chance that Zheng shot over the crossbar.
• Fan Chun-yip rushed out to clear Haydarov's attack, then Shane Lowry made a sliding tackle to prevent another Uzbekistan threat.
• In the thirty-fourth minute, Li Weilian crossed low from the right and Zhang Kuang finished at the near post to give Hong Kong a 2-1 lead.

Zhang Kuang scored four goals as the China Hong Kong Team beat Uzbekistan 4-2 in their first match under Troussier, despite defensive and midfield weaknesses. After the win, Troussier discussed the team’s World Cup prospects at a press conference, where a reporter questioned whether Zhang Kuang had interfered with tactics or selection.

• Zhang Kuang celebrated his first-half goal with his teammates as the Hong Kong Team went into halftime leading Uzbekistan 2-1.
• Uzbekistan equalized in the 52nd minute, and Troussier substituted Bai He for Jack Xu.
• Bai He, Cris Kong, and Li Weilian combined to set up Zhang Kuang’s hat-trick header, putting the Hong Kong Team ahead 3-2.
• Cris Kong played Zhang Kuang through in the 84th minute, and Zhang Kuang rounded the goalkeeper to score his fourth and make it 4-2.
• Troussier substituted Zhang Kuang and Cris Kong, and the Hong Kong Team held on to win after Fan Chun-yip saved a late shot.
• At the press conference, Troussier praised Zhang Kuang’s impact and described the team’s weaknesses, before a reporter asked whether Zhang Kuang had interfered with tactics or personnel decisions.