The morning sun rose over Manchester, illuminating a city divided by color but united in conversation.
By the time the newspapers hit the stands, the narrative of the Premier League's fifth round had been set.
The back pages were dominated by the two Manchester clubs, but the tone was starkly different.
Manchester City 6-0 Watford.
It was a demolition.
Pep Guardiola's machine was humming with terrifying efficiency.
In attack, Kevin De Bruyne had transformed into a conductor with a bird's-eye view of the pitch, his right boot delivering laser-guided missiles that sliced through Watford's defense.
Sergio Agüero bagged a hat-trick, while Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling, and Nicolás Otamendi joined the feast.
Even in defense, the 24-year-old John Stones looked imperious, his ball-playing ability finally matching his defensive positioning.
The media verdict was unanimous: Guardiola's philosophy had taken root.
The "Blue Moon" was rising, and they looked like the champions-in-waiting.
In comparison, Manchester United's 3-0 victory over Everton, while solid, felt... ordinary.
It was efficient, yes.
But it lacked the terrifying, suffocating dominance of their noisy neighbors.
...
Carrington Training Complex.
The crisp autumn air filled the training grounds.
On the sidelines, two imposing figures stood side by side: José Mourinho and Zlatan Ibrahimović.
Even in a tracksuit, recovering from a knee reconstruction, Zlatan projected an aura that could be felt from fifty yards away.
On the pitch, Jeremy Ling noticed a subtle shift in the atmosphere.
The rondo drills were sharper. The tackles were snappier. No one was jogging; everyone was sprinting.
Ling recalled a rumor from his days in the academy.
Paul Pogba, the club's record signing, had once arrived late for breakfast.
Zlatan hadn't let the manager handle it; he had given Pogba an earful himself.
Since then, Pogba's discipline had tightened.
What a taskmaster, Ling thought, wiping sweat from his brow.
The harmony in the dressing room wasn't just down to good vibes; it was down to the hierarchy.
Zlatan was the Sheriff.
He was the senior figure, Mourinho's lieutenant on the pitch, and, like Pogba, a Mino Raiola client.
He bridged the gap between the manager and the ego-filled squad.
Mourinho wanted Zlatan back not just for goals, but for control.
Clap! Clap!
"Gather round!" Mourinho's voice cut through the morning air.
The squad jogged over, forming a semi-circle.
"Announcing the squad for the League Cup match against Burton Albion the day after tomorrow," Mourinho said, pulling a sheet of paper from his pocket.
He looked at them sternly. "We are fighting on four fronts. Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup. With our squad depth, playing every minute is impossible. You will rotate, or we will win nothing."
He read the list.
Luke Shaw and Chris Smalling, returning from injury, were in. Zlatan was left out—too risky for a lower-league scrap.
"Left Wing... Jeremy Ling."
Ling clenched his fist by his side.
Yes.
In his mind, a digital counter ticked over.
System Mission Progress:Goals Needed: 3Assists Needed: 3
September only had four matches left: Burton (Cup), CSKA Moscow (UCL), Southampton, and Crystal Palace (PL).
He needed to hit his targets this month.
Why? Because October was the gauntlet.
After the international break, United would face Liverpool in the North West Derby and Benfica in the Champions League.
The North West Derby.
The hatred between Liverpool and Manchester was deep, spanning a century of industrial and footballing rivalry.
That match would be a war.
If Ling wanted to start that game, he needed to pad his stats now. He needed to be undeniable.
After training, while others headed to the showers, Ling went to the video analysis room to submit his homework on Burton's full-backs.
Then, he found Michael Carrick.
"Ten more minutes of long passing, Michael?"
The veteran captain smiled. "Let's go, kid."
...
September 21st. Old Trafford.League Cup Third Round: Manchester United vs. Burton Albion.
The stadium wasn't as full as a Champions League night, but 50,000 fans still made for an intimidating atmosphere for the Championship visitors.
From the first whistle, the gap in class was comical. United didn't just control the game; they strangled it.
5th Minute.
Jeremy Ling received the ball on the left touchline.
His marker, a sturdy Championship defender named Brayford, crouched low.
Ling didn't hesitate.
Step-over. Drop the shoulder. Go.
He burst past Brayford as if the defender were standing in treacle.
Reaching the byline, Ling looked up and spotted Marcus Rashford peeling away from his marker in the box.
Zip.
A low, hard cross skidded across the turf.
Rashford, playing centrally today, met it in stride and calmly slotted it into the far corner.
1-0. (Ling Assist +1)
17th Minute.
Michael Carrick, rolling back the years, sprayed a laser-guided pass to Daley Blind on the overlap.
Blind centered it, and Rashford, hungry for goals, smashed home his second. 2-0.
The Burton players looked dazed. They were chasing shadows.
36th Minute.
Rashford turned provider.
Holding up the ball with surprising strength, he laid it off to Jesse Lingard.
The Englishman curled a shot from the edge of the box, a deflection taking it past the wrong-footed keeper. 3-0.
The game was effectively over by halftime. But Jeremy Ling wasn't done. He had an assist, but he needed a goal.
The Second Half.
60th Minute.
United were circulating the ball with arrogant ease.
Ling drifted inside, leaving the flank open. He played a sharp one-two with Rashford at the top of the arc.
Rashford's return pass was weighted perfectly, splitting the center-backs.
Ling burst through the gap.
The goalkeeper rushed out, spreading his arms like a starfish.
Ling didn't shoot.
With a drop of the shoulder, he rounded the keeper to the left. The net was gaping.
He tapped it in with his left foot.
4-0. (Ling Goal +1)
Old Trafford cheered for the youngster.
He punched the air, glancing at the VIP box where Mourinho sat.
Job done.
Mourinho made a flurry of substitutions moments later, taking Ling off to preserve him.
In the 87th minute, with United's defense mentally in the locker room, Burton scrambled a consolation goal.
It barely muted the cheers.
Final Score: Manchester United 4-1 Burton Albion.
As Ling walked down the tunnel, he did the math.
System Progress: On track.
Confidence: Sky high.
The month of harvest had begun.
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Any other change do you want me to make? Mc is now play for england for sure!
Should we make interlude chapter of his decision to naturalize or his parents perspective ?