Wembley Stadium echoed with the "Wembley Song" as Manchester United fans stood shoulder to shoulder, jumping and dancing, reveling in the joy of victory.
Although the scoreline wasn't a massive blowout—Manchester United had only managed two goals—the fans knew that replicating last season's "7-up" would be harder than reaching the heavens.
After all, their January schedule was brutal, and Jose Mourinho was bound to choose the least draining approach to close out the game.
Thus, in the latter stages of the match, Manchester United focused on defense, leaving only Ling up front as a counterattacking threat.
Moreover, even without significant reinforcements, Tottenham Hotspur had improved considerably compared to last season.
Currently, among Europe's top five leagues, it's unlikely any team could put seven past Spurs.
So, for today's 2-0 result, Manchester United fans were satisfied, offering warm applause to their players.
Harry Kane approached Ling and extended his right hand. "Congratulations! Your performance today deserved this win."
The English star's character, sportsmanship, and fighting spirit are rare gems in world football.
He always prioritizes the team, making "selfless" the most fitting description of his game.
Though sometimes, his deep loyalty can be his own undoing.
Ling firmly shook Kane's hand and smiled. "You played well too."
He specifically only said "you" because Tottenham's midfield and defense made quite a few mistakes in this match—like Harry Winks' risky pass that led to the opening goal.
Honestly, Ling felt that Spurs were somewhat holding Kane back.
With Kane's talent—Golden Boot winner in the 15-16 and 16-17 seasons, and third in the scoring charts in 17-18—how could he have failed to win a single trophy?
But then again, Kane's luck was tough.
In the 15-16 season, Spurs were just one step away from the Premier League Title.
But what happened? Leicester City pulled off a damn miracle.
In the third-to-last match against Chelsea, Kane and Son Heung-min scored two early goals for Spurs, but Gary Cahill and Eden Hazard quickly equalized.
In the end, Kane could only watch as Leicester City clinched the title early.
Ling held back what he really wanted to say, he couldn't exactly advise Kane to leave his boyhood club sooner.
"Looking forward to our next meeting," Ling said.
With that, he turned and left, leaving Kane puzzled.
Next meeting? That would probably have to wait until next season's league matches, unless Spurs and Manchester United both advanced in the Champions League to face each other.
"Maybe it's better if we don't meet!" Kane shuddered inexplicably.
He had actually struggled quite a bit today.
Up front, there was the immovable N'Golo Kante sweeping up and cutting off his connections with teammates.
At the back, there was the towering Harry Maguire, making it difficult to win aerial duels.
Manchester United's tactical setup had neutralized him.
Beside him, Son Heung-min patted Kane's shoulder. "Let's keep pushing, H. We need to secure a top-four finish so we can play in the Champions League next season."
...
In the post-match press conference, Mauricio Pochettino admitted to tactical errors, but one specific statement sparked heated discussion across England.
"Currently, the top three in the standings—Manchester City, Manchester United, and Liverpool—can buy whoever they want. That's the financial power of big clubs."
Pochettino's meaning was clear: he was mocking the others for buying their success.
It's well known that the head coaches of the top three teams are all masters of sharp tongues, and they didn't let it slide.
Pep Guardiola fired back directly: "You can't achieve great things without star players. That's the reality of today's football world. If you can't learn to accept it, you must have the ability to change the reality yourself!"
Jurgen Klopp and Mourinho didn't stay idle either, each refuting the Spurs boss with their own viewpoints.
In short, their message was clear: Our spending brings results, while some teams' spending is like throwing money down the drain.
Meanwhile, Maurizio Sarri, who was studying tactics at home, felt a sting from the media chaos.
He took two fierce puffs of his cigarette. "In the English League Cup semifinal the day after tomorrow, I'll show Manchester United what we're made of!"
But soon he scratched his head worriedly.
Chelsea had just played their 22nd round league match yesterday, narrowly defeating Newcastle United 2-1.
Logically, with an extra day of rest compared to Manchester United, his players should be in better physical condition.
Yet he still felt uncertain.
After all, the strength Manchester United displayed against Spurs, both in attack and defense, gave off a formidable impression.
"If it comes to it, I'll start Mateo Kovacic as the right midfielder. His ability to drive forward will enhance our attacking play," Sarri thought.
In the previous match, he had kept Kovacic on the bench, worried about insufficient team cohesion after the recent swap deal.
But now he had no time to waste; he needed to find immediate solutions to boost the team's strength against Mourinho.
And Kovacic was the best candidate.
...
Two hours after the Tottenham and Manchester United match concluded, the final game of the Premier League's 22nd round began: Manchester City versus Wolverhampton Wanderers!
It was an overwhelming domination from start to finish.
In the 10th minute of the first half, Leroy Sane assisted Gabriel Jesus for the opening goal.
Just before halftime, Raheem Sterling drew a penalty after being fouled in the box, and Jesus calmly converted the spot-kick.
The Brazilian prodigy was no longer lost, gradually fulfilling his massive potential.
Alistair Mann: "Manchester City are a sky-blue kaleidoscope! The front three constantly interchange positions to dizzy the opposition's defense! Kevin De Bruyne wraps his foot around it... it's a classic low-driven curler!"
Michael Brown: "Conor Coady has to deal with it, but he can't sort his feet out!"
Alistair Mann: "Into his own net! A cruel twist for Wolves, but Manchester City are simply inevitable tonight!"
Ling watched the replay of the 79th-minute own goal from his living room. "Their fluid movement is tough to track," he remarked to himself.
Previously, Manchester United struggled against such tactics because both Maguire and Nemanja Matic were physically strong but slower players, inevitably putting them at a disadvantage against quick, agile opponents.
But now, with Kante sweeping in front of the defensive line, Manchester United's defensive pressure would ease considerably.
However, the second Manchester Derby wouldn't happen until April 25th. By then, Guardiola might have cooked up something entirely new.
Ling turned off the TV, knowing the 3-0 outcome was already sealed.
At the same time, the broadcast viewership dropped by more than half, presumably consisting mostly of frustrated Manchester United fans who were constantly hoping for City to slip up.
But Manchester City remained annoyingly steady.
After this round of matches, the Premier League standings saw little change.
The title contenders in the first tier remained tightly bunched.
Meanwhile, teams in the second tier fought tooth and nail for Champions League spots.
The media capitalized on the hot topics.
"Manchester's Twin Giants Lead the Standings!"
"Jeremy Ling Scores a Brace, Extending His Stellar Form. He Now Leads the Top Scorer Chart by Two Goals Ahead of Mane!"
"Pochettino Clashes With Club Chairman Levy; Highly Likely to Leave at the End of This Season."
@PremStatMan: The competition in the Premier League is too intense. We might see a team reach 100 points this season and still not win the title!
@UtdFaithful: Does Manchester United have a chance to win six trophies this year? We've already won the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup.
@FootballNerd: Modern football isn't like it was ten years ago. The competition is too fierce. But if Ling wins the UCL and the league again, he's a lock for the Ballon d'Or!
Not to mention other fans, even Manchester United fans themselves didn't dare to seriously imagine winning six trophies.
After all, even during the peak era under Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United never achieved a sextuple.
The opponents they face this year are simply too strong—teams like Atlético Madrid, Barcelona, and Real Madrid in the Champions League, and Liverpool and Manchester City domestically.
...
Amidst the external doubts, January 16th arrived, and the first leg of the English League Cup semi-final kicked off at Stamford Bridge.
The match reached the 28th minute, with the LED screen on the sidelines showing 1-0.
Chelsea was temporarily in the lead. Mourinho rubbed his temples, gazing worriedly at the pitch.
Since Manchester United had just finished a high-intensity match two days prior against Spurs, players like Ling, Pogba, and Matic had played the full 90 minutes.
Forcing them to start today risked injuries that would derail their primary league and European campaigns.
Thus, Mourinho opted for a half-rotated lineup, deploying a 4-2-3-1 formation.
The defensive line consisted of Luke Shaw, Phil Jones, Eric Bailly, and Antonio Valencia.
The defensive midfield pairing was Kante alongside McTominay.
The attacking midfielders were Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard, and Mahrez, with Lukaku serving as the lone striker.
Starting steadily posed no issues initially, as Mourinho's intention was to aim for a draw and go all out upon returning to Old Trafford.
But he underestimated Sarri's burning desire for a statement victory.
Chelsea not only fielded their full-strength lineup but unleashed a storm of attacks.
The midfield press dispossessed McTominay of the ball. Kovacic played a diagonal pass to Cesar Azpilicueta overlapping on the flank.
Peter Drury: "Azpilicueta uses a quick feint to create the yard of space! He drives toward the byline and delivers the low cross into the center! HAZARD IS THERE! He slots it home! Stamford Bridge roars its approval!"
Although the media often claims Sarri only knows one tactical approach, he certainly has a knack for orchestrating fluid attacks.
After scoring, Chelsea's morale soared, and they continued to launch fierce assaults.
Fortunately, Mourinho adjusted promptly.
Thanks to Kante's extensive coverage and McTominay's relentless tenacity, they managed to stubbornly block Chelsea's advances through the center for the rest of the half.
After the break, Chelsea suddenly seemed to lose their edge.
This was because Mourinho shifted Kante to the left side to specifically stifle Kovacic's forward drives.