Manchester United's performance this season isn't bad at all. On the contrary, the Red Devils are in great form, with a defense even stronger than it was in the 2007-2008 season—especially when it comes to their midfield setup.
So far, they've kept six clean sheets in the Champions League group stage.
In the Premier League, they've conceded just 18 goals in 26 matches.
If you put that kind of performance in any league or any era, it would be considered outstanding.
Unfortunately for them, Ferguson's side ran into a powerhouse in Manchester City.
The tactical system Gao Shen built and the strong squad he assembled have allowed City to remain competitive on all fronts.
According to British media, if Manchester City were split into two separate teams, both could still make the Champions League semifinals.
That alone says everything about the strength of this City squad.
Still, no matter how strong your team is, it's never easy to beat Manchester United at Old Trafford.
You need the right time, the right place, and the right people.
The 2-0 lead early in the match had Sky Sports commentator Andy Gray excited, but Gao Shen remained calm.
And as it turned out, his composure was well-founded.
Ferguson quickly adjusted his tactics, reinforcing the midfield to stabilize the defense.
After the adjustment, United slowed the tempo, surrendered more possession to City, and shifted to a more defensive setup.
City continued to build patiently.
But with Ferdinand and Vidic anchoring the back line, and Fletcher, Sneijder, and Anderson in midfield, United's defense remained rock-solid.
Both sides had one excellent chance during the rest of the first half.
In the 31st minute, Gareth Bale drove the ball down the left flank into the box and sent in a direct pass. Van Persie made a smart run, stopped abruptly, turned, and laid the ball back. Hazard followed up with a shot, but it hit the post. A great chance to extend the lead was wasted.
United then countered off a goal kick. Sneijder played a brilliant through ball, and Zabaleta lost track of his man. Valencia used his pace to burst forward, broke into the box, and had a one-on-one chance, but Neuer made a crucial save.
At the start of the second half, Ferguson made a substitution, bringing on Lass Diarra for Sneijder.
This change clearly signaled United's intent.
Ferguson was going all-in on defense and counterattacking.
From that point on, the rhythm of the game stayed largely the same.
City controlled the ball and the tempo, patiently building their attacks, while United held their shape and waited for counter opportunities.
This led to a bit of a deadlock, and the match started to lose its excitement.
Even Andy Gray admitted that he hadn't expected the first ten minutes to be the most exciting part of the derby, with the rest of the game becoming rather dull.
But in the 87th minute, United managed to break through. They played the ball out to the right wing, where Valencia dribbled down the flank and whipped in a low cross. Kompany, who was marking Rooney, slipped and lost his footing. Rooney pounced on the chance, sliding in and scoring to pull one back for United.
In the end, though, Manchester City came away with a 2-1 away win at Old Trafford.
…
"Let's get a drink later. See you at the usual place!"
As soon as the final whistle blew, Ferguson came over to shake hands with Gao Shen, as tradition demands.
Gao Shen smiled and nodded in agreement.
After Ferguson walked off, Gao Shen noticed his players leaving the pitch with downcast expressions. Zabaleta and Kompany even had their heads lowered. To an outsider, it might've looked like City had lost the match.
Gao Shen walked over, smiling, and hugged them one by one.
"Listen to those boos from the crowd. That's the best kind of recognition we can get!" he encouraged them.
Gao Shen knew Zabaleta well. He wasn't a full-back with elite individual ability, but he was incredibly diligent and executed tactical instructions to perfection.
That said, marking Valencia when City was on the front foot was a real challenge.
With the backline pushed up, the space behind was huge. And considering Zabaleta didn't have Valencia's pace or explosiveness, it was a tough matchup.
But overall, Zabaleta had done well. He made a few errors, but they weren't really mistakes—more like getting beaten due to the opponent's superior ability.
What could anyone say?
Was he supposed to match Valencia for pace?
Ferguson's current tactics were quite interesting. He used three central midfielders, two wingers, and Rooney up top.
Berbatov was his hidden weapon, and Owen was practically a backup's backup.
This meant United were focused on sitting deep and countering, letting City push forward and take initiative.
Under Ferguson, both Nani and Valencia had become top-tier wingers in Europe.
They shared common traits—both were quick and could create something on their own. Nani, in particular, might be United's best performer this season. That meant Leighton Baines had his hands full tonight, and Fernandinho had to provide constant support on that side.
As for Kompany's slip, it was just bad luck.
In this English weather, the pitch was slippery. With so much activity in the box, the turf was filled with ruts and divots. A slip was almost inevitable.
It was just unfortunate that it led to a goal.
Outside of that one incident, Kompany had a perfect game.
Since Gao Shen took over two seasons ago, Kompany's growth had been rapid. He was now widely regarded as one of the best center-backs in Europe.
Unfortunately, the media and fans often remember only the mistakes. They'll criticize Kompany and Zabaleta regardless of how well they played otherwise.
"Alright!" Gao Shen hugged Kompany and patted his head. "Stop walking around like you just lost. Hold your head high!"
That loud encouragement finally made the players lift their spirits.
"It's my fault that goal happened!" Gao Shen said seriously.
The players were stunned. Zabaleta wanted to say something, but Gao Shen raised his hand to stop him.
"You know that kind of low cross Valencia made? I taught him that. Or rather, I figured it out by studying him."
When he finished, he shrugged helplessly. That look on his face made the City players laugh.
"Boss, we have to admit, that guy is really a pain to deal with!" Zabaleta finally opened up and vented.
Everyone burst out laughing again.
But from another angle, you could say Gao Shen's training of Valencia was pretty effective.
Gao Shen had long become indifferent to such things. It was normal in European football.
There would be more and more of these situations in the future. Everyone just had to get used to it.
…
At the post-match press conference, Gao Shen publicly defended his players.
He said Zabaleta did very well, and Kompany shouldn't be blamed for an accidental slip.
"I hope people will recognize the consistency and performance of these players throughout the game, not just fixate on one mistake. That's unfair to their hard work and contribution."
Gao Shen then gave several examples.
In the 20th minute, United launched a quick counter. Nani broke down the left, beat his man, and whipped in a sharp cross. Rooney was already positioned at the far post, but Kompany anticipated it perfectly and cleared with a decisive header.
A minute later, United came back on the attack. This time, Kompany used his body to shield Rooney, disrupting the play and breaking up the move.
"Most people remember the mistake, but in the 57th minute, when United played a through ball to Rooney, Kompany chased him down and made a perfect sliding tackle from the side just as Rooney was about to shoot. He took the ball cleanly."
Gao Shen declared that Kompany was already a world-class center-back.
"I'd even say he deserves Man of the Match!"
This was Gao Shen's strongest show of support for Kompany.
In truth, with City winning the match, the criticism from the media and fans would be minimal. But with team morale running high, Gao Shen wanted to keep it that way.
More importantly, at center-back, Jerome Boateng still needed time to grow, and Gary Cahill could only be a backup. That left Gao Shen relying on David Luiz and Kompany.
Speaking of Boateng, Gao Shen couldn't help but feel frustrated.
It had been over half a year, and despite constant reminders, Boateng still hadn't shaken off some bad habits.
It's not that there hadn't been any improvement, but changing ingrained habits is incredibly difficult.
This is why many coaches don't like developing players or simply don't have the patience.
Even if a coach manages to develop someone, the player might get sold anyway.
If he's not sold, then what about the results the team needs in the meantime?
Honestly, aside from the players Gao Shen brought in, the most cost-effective signings in recent years were Kompany and Zabaleta—especially Kompany.
That deal was an absolute steal.
If the Abu Dhabi group hadn't taken over, City might never have been able to keep a player like him.
…
After the press conference, Gao Shen returned to the dressing room, said a few words to his coaching staff and players, and then left alone through the inner corridor to his and Ferguson's "old place."
During the holidays or whenever he visited Old Trafford, Gao Shen would have someone send a couple of cases of Chilean wine to Ferguson's home or office.
Lately, wine from his family's own production had become his go-to gift.
Keep the wealth in the family, as they say.
When Gao Shen knocked and entered, Ferguson was already drinking.
At his level, losing wasn't a big deal. Even the previous heavy loss was something he could handle and quickly move on from.
But every time he saw Gao Shen, he couldn't help but throw out a few jabs—complaining the wine was too bitter or something like that.
But the old guy was just being petty.
He'd openly praised Gao Shen in the media before, saying the wine was excellent.
Which only proved that Gao Shen's long-term bribery strategy was working.
"I don't know why, but every time I see you, I feel like you're a sly one. Are you trying to trick me?" Ferguson asked.
(To be continued.)