Manchester United's heir apparent, but can't play football.

Chapter 136 Old Fan's New Experiment?

"If you dress like that, don't follow me. It will make me look effeminate and incapable of taking care of myself."

Li Luo spoke to the two blonde, wavy-haired staff members.

The staff member looked helpless: "I'm sorry, Li, but Mr. Platini asked us to take you to the restaurant."

"No need, I know where the restaurant is."

Li Luo quickened his pace and encountered a familiar figure at the corner of the corridor.

Lukaku.

Many netizens are complaining that this increasingly overweight guy is not suitable for the Premier League, but he scored 20 goals and provided 7 assists for Everton last season, and his fighting power is gradually reaching its peak. His stats may get better and better in the next few seasons.

"Li, the summer transfer window closes in two days."

"Ok?"

Lukaku's cheeks flushed slightly (his skin was too dark to see clearly): "My childhood dream."

Li Luo nodded: "I saw an interview where you said your childhood dream was to join Chelsea, and you achieved that dream, but you were later sold."

"."

He heard from Jack that Lukaku changed agents in April 2015 – Raiola, the same agent as Pogba, who was asking for an extremely high price and had many, many conditions! It was equivalent to two De Bruynees, so Van Gaal and the Manchester United management decided to give up.

Speechless all the way.

After finishing their meal at the buffet restaurant, the two said goodbye in a hurry.

The Manchester United delegation returned to the hotel.

Van Gaal and Giggs are also making intensive preparations.

"We still have about ten days to prepare."

"Barcelona is nothing special. After losing Xavi, they play a fake possession and real counter-attacking style, greatly reducing the midfield transition and directly giving the ball to MSN in the frontcourt."

"What does this mean? It means that we can control the game by relying on Li!"

"The La Masia number 4 position only truly shone after I improved it. I'll show the Manchester United midfielders how to play it!"

Li Luo stayed in his hotel room, also carefully studying Barcelona's recent match videos.

With complete concentration, the spatial rehearsal capability was brought to its fullest potential.

Countless red lines intertwine to form models from God's perspective.

"Neymar, Suarez, Messi."

"Pique and Mascherano in the defense"

After a long time.

He collapsed onto the bed, exhausted.

Before I knew it, I drifted off to sleep.

With the summer transfer window nearing its close, a series of news reports have emerged.

Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea joins Real Madrid for €4100 million; Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas joins Manchester United on a free transfer.

Real Madrid's fax machine malfunctions, De Gea transfer plans cancelled! Navas transfer plans cancelled!

Metro: Manchester United cancels transfer talks with Monaco regarding Martial, saving €8000 million in transfer fees!

The Sun: Manchester United cancels transfer talks with Everton over Lukaku, saving €120 million in transfer fees!

Time flies, and a few days later, it was Premier League match day again.

The entire Manchester United team has arrived in Swansea, Wales' second-largest city.

Van Gaal didn't sit idly by; he grabbed Maranda and kept explaining the key points of the La Masia power forward position, leaving the little black egg completely bewildered.

And he kept muttering something like "using Barcelona's heritage to fight against a Barcelona that has lost its heritage"?
"Boss, I don't understand!"

"What? You can't even understand French anymore?"

Morata looked relaxed: "Don't be afraid, I'm here. I scored against Barcelona in last season's Champions League final."

Upon hearing this, De Bruyne's expression brightened.

Rooney and Carrick smiled and encouraged everyone, "Don't get distracted, our opponent tonight is Swansea!"

Li Luo held his tablet and watched Swansea's match video intently: they didn't park the bus, they attacked fiercely, and in the last league match they drew 2-2 with Chelsea away from home, taking more shots than Chelsea.

Free Field.

Locals prefer to call it the White Stone Stadium.

The temperature in Swansea this month is 10-15 degrees Celsius, and the fans in the stands are not dressed very lightly.

"Zhuangdianertai! Zhuangdianertai! Good evening, viewers!"

"We are now broadcasting live the second round of the 2015/16 English Premier League season."

Swansea City will host Manchester United!

"Swan Island vs. Red Devils".

"Last season, Li Luo scored a header to equalize against Swansea in his Premier League debut. In their second encounter, Swansea thrashed Manchester United."

"Can Van Gaal redeem himself tonight? Let's wait and see!"

The commentator then explained the history and stories of the city and the club.

Coach Zhang interjected, "Van Gaal is about to begin a long experiment."

Player tunnel.

The atmosphere was tense.

In last season's matchup, Swansea thoroughly humiliated Manchester United.
Forward Gomis made a 'throat-slitting' gesture towards the Manchester United bench after scoring a goal;
Defender Williams mocked Lingard, saying, "Your ball control is worse than an amateur's. Is Van Gaal your father?"

There was no communication between the two teams.

Pre-match press conference.

Van Gaal was not angered by the Premier League media this time.

"I don't want to talk about past failures. This season's Manchester United is brand new."

"Swansea managed to draw with Chelsea in their last match?"

"I watched the video and I think Chelsea weren't in good form that day."

"This does not mean that Swansea is that strong."

The other side.

Swansea manager Gary Monk, 36, said confidently, "The result won't change much; we are very good at dealing with possession-based teams."

This guy's coaching career was very short, only a year and a half.

His original identity was the captain of Swansea.

Because the head coach at the time was fired, the club let him play football while also coaching.

The result broke several team records, thrashing Manchester United and defeating Arsenal twice, leaving Premier League fans in disbelief.

Beep!
Accompanied by the referee's whistle.

The game officially begins.

Swansea have possession.

Gomis kicks off and passes the ball back to the backfield.

"Now we will introduce the starting lineups of both sides."

"Swansea's formation is 4-5-1!"

Goalkeeper: Fabianski.

"Defenders: Norton, Federico, Williamson, Neal."

Midfielders: Ayew, Ki Sung-yueng, Sigurdsson, Shelvey, Routledge.

Forward: Gomis.

"Manchester United's formation is 4-2-3-1!"

Goalkeeper: De Gea.

"Defenders: Luke Shaw, Blind, Smalling, Darmian."

"Double defensive midfielders: Maranda and Schneiderlin."

"Central midfielders: Mata, Li Luo, De Bruyne."

Forward: Morata.

Studio.
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Van Gaal's midfield and attacking lineup has changed again, with veterans Rooney and Carrick relegated to the bench.
-
This lineup seems pretty reliable. Wanyama, whom Manchester United faced last round, is the fourth-highest tackler in the Premier League, while Schneiderlin is the top tackler; otherwise, so many clubs wouldn't be vying for him.
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With several defensive statistics ranking in the top three in the Premier League, Schneiderlin's overall ability is definitely sufficient for Manchester United's squad, and their fighting power is higher than the opposing midfield.
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[Last season, in the match against Arsenal, Schneiderlin made three anticipatory interceptions, cutting off 272's through balls.]
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In short, this guy rises to the occasion when facing strong opponents. Against the Premier League's Big Six, his defensive stats actually improved, averaging 4.8 interceptions and 4.1 tackles per game, the highest in the Premier League.
-
Don't get your hopes up too high; Van Gaal might just ruin this kind of player.
-
At least, Manchester United's midfield is now more solid.

The football was being passed around quickly.

Swansea, playing at home, were in high spirits.

Routledge received a pass from his teammate on the wing.

Then, prepare to start a high-speed sprint.

Snapped!
The ball was lost.

Schneiderlin, who is 186cm tall, hooks the ball with his right foot and steps with his left foot to block the opponent's supporting leg.

"A clean and decisive steal!"

"A defensive midfielder with anticipation skills." "A precise combination of advance observation, blocking routes, and opportune positioning!"

"Hey, Van Gaal, don't rush him from the sidelines. If you do, Schneiderlin will get so nervous he won't be able to play."

Schneiderlin was genuinely nervous: the defense was fine, but Van Gaal's challenge of transitioning from defense to attack and simplifying complex situations was proving difficult to achieve in the intensity and pace of the Premier League.

Snapped!
He spread his body to protect the ball, resisting counter-pressing, and then passed the ball back to Manchester United's defense.

Courtside.

Van Gaal roared.

"What's the use of a defensive midfielder in a top club who can only defend and intercept?"

That roar.

This has made Schneiderlin forget how to play defense.

"Blind's strategy was very clear: a long pass to find Li Luo. This long pass showed his skill, with a perfect curve and a precise drop, finding Morata precisely."

"Charge for the top!"

"Swansea's defenders can't compete with Morata!"

"A header pass, perfectly set up Li Luo who's making a high-speed run!"

"A perfect, unspoken understanding!"

Snapped!
Before the ball even hit the ground, Li Luo delivered a clean and decisive pass with the instep of his foot! The Swansea players who were pressing him had just rushed in front of him when the ball slipped through the gaps, leaving the entire field of big men empty-handed. Manchester United's attack instantly tore through Swansea's encirclement.

"That's the essence!"

"A crucial, brilliant pass!"

"In a confined space, a sharp blade is drawn!"

Mata understood perfectly and stealthily cut into the gap in the flank from the left wing, timing it flawlessly.

He stepped forward to receive the ball, secretly marveling: every time he received a pass from Li, it felt like being back in the Spanish national team, so comfortable.

Take the opportunity to go.

Then, using the momentum of his body, he jumped lightly. The three movements were fluid and graceful, easily dodging Williams's flying tackle.

"Head towards the near post!"

"Shoot into the far corner!"

"Have it!"

"Brilliant teamwork!"

The football grazed the inside of the right post and went into the net.

0:1! ! !

"Pretty!"

"Mata scores!"

"An assist from Li Luo!"

"This attack, from the long pass from the backfield to the header, the brilliant pass, the passing and running connection, the shaking off the defense and the finishing move, every link was perfectly coordinated, making it a textbook example of passing and running in the Premier League."

"A style of play typical of elite clubs!"

Manchester United players rushed to the corner flag and celebrated wildly.

Luke Shaw didn't forget to make a "throat-slitting" gesture towards the Swansea bench, and the Swansea players turned pale: they had also made the same gesture towards the Manchester United bench last season.
Mata gave Li Luo a grateful hug.

"Thank you, Li."

Morata slapped his forehead and said, "Wasn't that a great shot, Lee?"

Li Luo nodded seriously. There are differences in the level of playmaking. Morata's level is much better than the center forwards he has worked with in the past.

Studio.

The goal was replayed in slow motion from various angles.
-
[Sigh, my Luo has grown to 178cm and his fighting power has decreased a lot. A few months ago, when he received the pass from Morata, he could display an unparalleled footwork frequency, left foot, left foot, left foot, right foot, frantically dribbling and breaking through the middle head-on. That was a true offensive core.]
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[Nonsense! My Luo Mingming has longer legs and a larger reach, that crucial assist that tore through the defense was passed so easily through the crowd! How could someone with shorter legs reach it that quickly?]
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Growing taller isn't all bad; at least Li Luo doesn't look inferior standing next to young models.
-
[That's right, The Sun even spread a rumor last year: Lok Gor had to stand on tiptoe to reach the chubby model!]

Courtside.

Van Gaal remained calm but was inwardly pleased, and clapped lightly: "This attack was beautifully executed. Lee's awareness, vision, and passing were superb, ensuring the quality of the offensive chain."

Giggs and Manchester United staff celebrated excitedly.

Tonight we can finally avenge our defeat.

"Other Premier League clubs are developing key players on the wings."

"Our Lee is active in the most dangerous area in the middle of the Premier League, and he is still very comfortable."

The two front lines of the Premier League do not provide fertile ground for the opponent's midfield maestro to survive, so Van Gaal's experiment tonight further highlighted the ability of the Chinese genius.

The other side.

Monk frowned.

In past encounters, Swansea have been able to easily cut off the connection between Rooney and Van Persie, and easily use physical battles to strangle Manchester United's midfield operations, thereby taking the initiative.

Tonight, Hua Guoli seems to be somewhat different from the previous group in Van Gaal's system.

Next game.

Swansea experienced what Southampton was like.

No.

It must have been an even more painful experience.

There is no way to fight back.

Not being able to touch the ball for a long time feels like being walked like a dog.

Manchester United seemed to have a haloed hero, firmly controlling possession and significantly improving their attacking and defensive capabilities.

Schneiderlin, due to his poor footwork at this stage, quietly switched positions with Blind.

"Swansea started out with a very fierce and aggressive approach, but gradually lost their temper."

"This group of Manchester United players gelled very quickly."

"De Bruyne goes without saying, this player has a very high floor."

"Mata and Morata are both excellent players who can seamlessly integrate into the Spanish national team's passing and control system. Mata even served as Xavi's wingman for Iniesta and Busquets!"

"Brend is also good."

"Coach Van Gaal's experiment tonight was very effective."

"With a stronger midfield, there's no need for defensive midfielders to distribute the ball; let the center-backs do it. This is keeping up with the times."

"The players in the midfield and forward positions have excellent footwork, which ensures the stability of their passing and receiving. They are also very intelligent and will play around Li Luo."

“Crushed, crushed.”

"Manchester United have found part of the answer."

The Swansea players were frustrated; they fought desperately but rarely managed to touch the ball.

Chinese prodigy Li Luo, after taking the lead, switched forms again: Web Weaver.

The football glides lightly, sometimes tapping slowly to find gaps, and sometimes suddenly accelerating into a rapid, penetrating beat, like a precisely planned rhythmic game.

Li Luo's Manchester United teammates moved in sync with him like a swarm of buzzing flies: Mata cut into the flank to create space in the defense, Morata dropped back to receive the pass and relieve the pressure of pressing, De Bruyne became the rhythm switcher, and Luke Shaw made forward runs down the wing to widen the attack. Every movement was precisely timed to the beat of their tacit understanding.

Li Luo's passing is like a sharp scalpel; sometimes it's a through ball that rolls low to the ground between the defenders' feet, and sometimes it's a long diagonal pass that loops over the heads of the crowd. Every pass is so precise that it seems to have been measured with a ruler.

There were no sprints, no explosive plays, no unnecessary dribbling, and no wasted opportunities to win possession. Every touch of the ball he made precisely cut through Swansea's defensive space.

Passing, positioning, and space-cutting were seamlessly integrated, and even the breathing of all the Manchester United players seemed to rise and fall in sync with Li Luo's control of the game. He carved out an overwhelming sense of order amidst the intense midfield battle.

Van Gaal and the Manchester United staff had flushed cheeks and were breathing rapidly.

Everyone remembers the embarrassing situation last season: despite having an average of 56% possession, the passing and control were like wet cotton thread, weak and powerless, and it was also very frustrating. In many games, they missed good opportunities by passing the ball around.

But this season, with Li Luo as the midfield linchpin and soul of the team, everything has completely changed! Manchester United no longer "possesses possession for the sake of possession," but instead turns possession into a sharp weapon, with every pass concealing a deadly intent, perfectly demonstrating the essence of attacking football. Possession is not just about passing, but also about laying the groundwork to tear apart the defense.

This is the dignity a top club like Manchester United should have! It's not about playing haphazardly, but about crushing the opponent with absolute control.

Manchester United fans around the world watching on TV must be thrilled.

So cool.

It was even more enjoyable than the passing and control in the opening match against Southampton.

Without Li Luo, Lao Fan's passing and control style is so boring it's boring to watch people fall asleep.

With Li Luo, Manchester United was like a house that had been without power for two days, suddenly having electricity again! In the instant the lights suddenly came on, even the dust seemed to come alive in the beams of light. Every touch of the ball, every advance, made you want to clench your fists, feeling exhilarated!
In the Champions League group stage match a few days later, can Manchester United put on a similar performance against Barcelona?
finally.

The referee blew the final whistle.

Swansea 0-3 Manchester United.

Mata, Luke Shaw, and De Bruyne each scored a goal.

Li Luo provided two assists, and his statistics were extremely impressive.

Morata provided one assist and made two perfect plays.

The Manchester United coaching staff is very satisfied with the result.

Van Gaal and Giggs embraced each other excitedly, jumping around.

(End of this chapter)