September 22nd.
Southampton Training Ground.
Tactics Meeting Room.
"Manchester United's number 23 excels in technical skills and dribbling, prefers his right foot..."
Coach Pellegrino clicked on the match footage, briefly described Jeremy Ling's technical characteristics, then continued in a low voice.
"Remember, when defending against him, the defensive midfielder must drop early to establish the first line of defense."
"For the second defensive line, the full-back and center-back should maintain parallel positioning, forcing him toward the byline whenever possible."
"Yoshida Maya, you need to remind Cedric not to recklessly commit to tackles."
"Simultaneously, focus on preventing crosses rather than contesting aerial duels. Van Dijk, you'll be responsible for marking Lukaku in the penalty area, cutting off his connections with teammates."
Everyone in the room nodded in understanding.
"Boss, what if Rashford plays?" Yoshida Maya suddenly asked.
"The outcome of this match doesn't depend on the wings but on midfield. With Manchester United missing Pogba, our midfield depth is fully capable of overpowering them."
Pellegrino chuckled lightly upon hearing this and switched the screen to another interface.
Southampton's current double pivot consisted of Romeu and Lemina.
The former excelled at front-on interceptions and possessed above-average passing organization skills.
The latter demonstrated formidable jumping ability, physical presence, and athleticism, particularly adept at engaging in physical battles in defensive situations.
As long as these two could suppress Fellaini and Matic, Manchester United's three central midfielders would struggle due to lack of support, significantly reducing their offensive threat.
What troubled him, however, was Southampton's equally weak attack, unlikely to pose much threat to the opposition.
Yet there was an alternative solution: creating substantial obstacles to Manchester United's attacking buildup, transferring that pressure directly onto their defensive line.
Of course, this was easier said than done - execution would ultimately depend on the players' implementation.
Pellegrino suddenly slammed the table forcefully, his tone turning grave.
"After only one win in the first five Premier League matches, both fans and management have grown dissatisfied. This match must be won - there's no alternative."
"I expect you to give your all, not just for others but for your own futures as well."
As he spoke, he subtly glanced toward the corner of the meeting room where Van Dijk sat.
Since the summer transfer window opened, Van Dijk had submitted a transfer request to Southampton to join Liverpool.
But for Southampton, maintaining league stability meant they couldn't afford to lose their defensive cornerstone, leading them to reject the request without hesitation.
Yet Pellegrino didn't want to create animosity, and his words carried an implicit message:
Play well this season, increase your market value, and the club won't stand in your way next year - they might even celebrate your departure.
Van Dijk remained silent.
He was a late bloomer, having only reached the Premier League at age 24.
With advancing age, his athletic condition would inevitably decline.
That's why he wanted to join a top club early to secure a brighter future.
Though the club would rather bench him than let him go - appearing like a lose-lose situation - the player's losses were ultimately immeasurable.
After careful consideration, Van Dijk gave a slight nod.
Having made his decision, he would perform well in the upcoming matches to pave his way to Liverpool next year.
Seeing this, Pellegrino couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
....
Meanwhile.
At Carrington Training Ground, the pre-match tactical meeting was also underway.
"First and foremost, we must play very conservatively in this match. It might not look pretty on the field."
"But that's fine. All I want is victory."
Mourinho scanned the room, his tone filled with determination.
With Manchester United's current squad configuration, going all-out in attack as in previous matches would inevitably lead to a disconnect between offense and defense.
Moreover, with crucial Champions League fixtures ahead, they must strive to secure victories in the simplest manner possible.
Defensive counterattacks...
Under these circumstances, explosive vertical speed is indispensable, making Rashford the primary choice for the wings.
However, in deadlocked situations, Jeremy Ling could be deployed as a tactical wildcard.
The Manchester United players grew somewhat tense, recalling similar scenarios from last season.
After taking the lead, they had shifted to all-out defense.
Yet repeated errors emerged—whether it was Fellaini conceding a penalty or De Gea fumbling saves—ultimately leading to equalizers.
Noticing the players' expressions, Mourinho pointed to his own eyes.
"Everyone, look at me. If I say you've undergone a transformation, would you believe me?"
"Don't question my judgment—let the stats speak for themselves."
"Phil Jones: 3 tackles and 5 aerial duels won, all successful last match, plus 1 interception and 11 clearances."
"Bailly..."
"Ling..."
"Fellaini..."
"..."
"This match may be extremely challenging, but with sufficient determination and fighting spirit, we will undoubtedly secure victory."
Mourinho's voice grew increasingly fervent as he counted off each player's offensive and defensive statistics on his fingers.
After a long pause, the meeting room fell silent again.
Unconsciously, the United players straightened their postures, their gazes no longer evasive.
Watching Mourinho speak with such conviction, Ling genuinely felt the man's unique charisma.
Even with a more mature soul, those two rounds of motivational speeches left him feeling fired up.
Of course, Mourinho had also made many mistakes, even terrible ones.
But those seemed irrelevant to him.
Over the past month, Mourinho had treated him exceedingly well—providing training guidance, match opportunities, and daily care.
Ling didn't consider himself ungrateful and was willing to give his all on the pitch.
Both for himself and for the manager.
Still, he felt Mourinho should tone down the constant emotional appeals.
No one could sustain that level of motivation through an entire season—it was utterly draining.
Naturally, He would never voice these thoughts aloud.
...
As both teams held tactical meetings, anticipation for the match skyrocketed.
First, considering the teams' nicknames—Red Devils versus Saints—there was a sense of direct confrontation.
Secondly, from the Premier League's intricate factional landscape, Southampton was famously dubbed "Liverpool's B-team," their top subordinate.
Renowned for their extreme aggression against other Premier League powerhouses, they became remarkably tame when facing Liverpool.
Southampton fans mirrored this trait, arrogantly taunting on social media:
'United just got lucky facing weak opponents.'
'Manchester bastards, we'll make you regret coming to St. Mary's!'
'And that overhyped Chinese kid—hope he doesn't cry when Yoshida Maya and Cédric mark him.'
True to their volatile nature, United fans retaliated fiercely with a barrage of "friendly" greetings.
Amid this atmosphere, time quickly passed to the next day, and the sixth round of the Premier League was about to begin.
Southampton versus Manchester United!