Man United's players were in no rush, patiently circulating the ball.
The match seemed uneventful, but the fans kept the atmosphere lively with their own entertainment.
On the bench, Mourinho sat with Faria, discussing transfer targets.
"Leicester City has agreed to release Harry Maguire. They want 50 million euros, and Woodward is negotiating the price. Additionally, they intend to include Riyad Mahrez in the deal."
"And Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Crystal Palace."
"..."
Mourinho frowned and said, "We're still far from the squad I want. If we're to compete for the quintuple that Man United has never achieved, there are many areas we need to strengthen."
"Boss, I know. We still need a right winger, a right back, and a central midfielder. But the key is, which club would put their prized assets on the transfer market?"
"Just like you definitely wouldn't sell Ling."
Faria gave a bitter smile.
"Sigh, let's leave it at that for now. After the World Cup ends, we'll see if there are any suitable players."
Mourinho sighed in frustration. Having money but being unable to spend it was truly vexing.
"Boss, did Marina Granovskaia approach you the other day? Was it to discuss Ling?" Faria's eyes darted around as he tentatively asked.
"Yes, Abramovich plans to sell a few players and spend 90 million to buy Ling."
Mourinho didn't hide the truth.
Faria curled his lip, "They're dreaming."
Unnoticed, the first half ended with the score still 0-0.
...
Back in the dressing room.
Rashford pulled a bottle of champagne from the bathtub, "Opening champagne at halftime guarantees defeat? I refuse to believe in that superstition!"
Pop!
With a muffled sound, the crisp aroma filled the air.
"Ahem!"
Mourinho cleared his throat lightly, making the Man United players freeze in fear.
He said gravely, "You need to learn to respect the game—that's an essential quality for champions!"
"If you're satisfied with today's achievements, then the Champions League final at the end of the month will only end in crushing defeat."
"Don't lose yourselves in victory. The road ahead remains long. Only through twice the hardship can we truly restore Man United to its peak."
"Everyone here, you're all still young, many just kids, so be even more humble."
Mourinho scanned the room, making eye contact with each person.
He wasn't trying to spoil the mood intentionally, but he had once lost himself in championship glory, only to suffer painful failure afterward.
Yet why was he able to rise again?
Because he dared to face both failure and success, adept at summarizing experiences and learning lessons from them.
Carrick patted the embarrassed Rashford and said with a smile, "July 31, 2006—I'll always remember that day."
"That's when Sir Alex Ferguson gave me the number 16 jersey, whose previous owner was Man United captain Roy Keane."
"I'd imagined many possible ways to leave—slinking away without achievements? Retiring gloriously as a veteran player? Or fading into the background accomplishing nothing?"
"But I never expected it would be like this, wearing the captain's armband to lift the Premier League trophy once more."
Carrick looked at the familiar dressing room decor, "I'm fortunate to have been your teammate. Let's walk this final stretch together, and send me off with victory."
The Man United players nodded one after another.
Ling's expression was filled with reminiscence.
Back when he asked Carrick to teach him long-passing techniques, they had developed a relationship of both mentor and friend.
"Plant foot further back!"
"Don't forget to tighten your core!"
"Contact point not accurate enough!"
"..."
Those scolding words echoed in his ears, making him deeply emotional.
Some might say Carrick lacked presence, had poor defensive skills, only passed safely...
But after a full year together, Ling knew this man's true strength.
...
The fifteen-minute break passed quickly, and players from both teams returned to the pitch.
The ball changed hands through a series of passes before arriving at Richarlison's feet.
A classic Pendulum Dribble!
Richarlison attempted to overpower Carrick using his physical strength.
But Carrick anticipated the move, positioning himself advantageously to intercept, then locked his gaze forward.
His body tilted slightly!
Crack!
With a crisp sound, the ball lifted off the ground and soared toward the front field.
Ibrahimović turned sideways, holding off Doucouré, then swung his right leg backward in a classic scorpion kick!
The ball bounced once more toward the left front.
Craig Cathcart quickly turned to chase the ball but suddenly heard a gust of wind, instinctively glancing back.
A red figure sprinted out, swiftly brushing past him!
From Man United No. 16, to Man United No. 10 and finally to Man United No. 7.
Three generations completed the baton pass.
One-on-one!!!
Heurelho Gomes decisively charged out of the goal, fiercely lunging for the ball.
The next moment.
Ling demonstrated to Richarlison what a true Pendulum Dribble is!
His upper body swayed at high frequency while his lower legs executed rapid strides, all without losing any speed.
This kind of impactful breakthrough maximally satisfies humanity's primal, blood-stirring desire for conquest, showcasing the charm of football to the fullest.
It made pulses race and hearts surge!
The instant Gomes shifted his center of gravity.
Feint turned into reality!
A gentle touch of the right foot, effortless and graceful!
Under Richarlison's stunned gaze.
Gomes was left stumbling and falling awkwardly as Ling dribbled past elegantly, calmly slotting the ball into the empty net!
Whoosh!
Old Trafford erupted in roaring cheers, while the Brazilian prodigy stood frozen in place, questioning life for the first time.
Could a human even perform such a move?
The entire body swayed rapidly, the center of gravity shifting repeatedly.
It meant the knee ligaments had to endure the acceleration, sudden stops, and directional changes of the body's full weight in a short span—and multiple times at that.
Richarlison thought of his own pendulum move and wished he could vanish into the ground.
After scoring, Ling sprinted to the camera, lifted his jersey to reveal a white undershirt inscribed with the words:
"For Michael Carrick, our respected captain!"
Carrick's eyes reddened slightly at the sight.
Then he noticed young players like Rashford, Lingard, Phil Jones, and McTominay running over one after another, lifting their jerseys as well.
The sorrow of parting instantly melted into warmth.
Soon, the match resumed.
Man United, with morale at its peak, did not relent, launching wave after wave of storm-like attacks.
In the 82nd minute.
Ling broke through on the wing, cut inside on the right side of the penalty area, and delivered a diagonal cross.
McTominay, charging forward like a B-2 stealth bomber, headed the ball powerfully into the net!
2-0!
With little time remaining, the referee did not add much stoppage time, soon blowing the long-short-short final whistle!
The 38 rounds of the Premier League had come to an end!