Monday, January 1, 2018.

The first day of the Manchester derby.

At Carrington's training ground, Manchester United's players have already begun their preparations for the next league fixture. Tomorrow, they travel to the Toffees at Goodison Park to take on Everton.

Two league games, just two days apart.

This is the Premier League's unique 'Christmas schedule'.

The continuous and intensive schedule is a test for every team and every player.

Ferguson looked over to the training ground.

As usual, the training sessions were completed by Ryan Giggs and Phelan and the rest of the United coaching staff. Ferguson stayed in his office, thinking about the team's technical and tactical arrangements for the next period of time, as well as ...... Transfer market.

With the arrival of January, the European winter transfer window has officially opened.

Half a season has passed, and each team will more or less expose some of the problems accumulated in the team.

For example, if a position is not performed well, new reinforcements need to be introduced to reinforce; Or maybe a player in a position is poached by another team and needs a new player to join the roster......

The winter break becomes an important period of adjustment.

Deal with the accumulated problems and adjust the team structure in a targeted manner, so that you can be fully prepared for the second half of the season.

For Manchester United, the departure of Ibrahimovic and the physical bottlenecks of some of the main players are some of the problems that the team needs to face and deal with.

On Alex Ferguson's desk is the latest fitness report from the coaching staff.

In the report, the team doctors lit up the yellow light of warning for the physical fitness of many of the team's main players.

For example, Chu Ge, such as Pogba, are all on this list.

The continuous non-stop games are a very serious test of the players' physical fitness.

This is especially true for players who need to start almost every game.

However, for Manchester United, this season has been relatively lucky.

Although there were some injuries to some players in the first half, the problems were not serious, and halfway through the league, the team did not have a "crutch group" and a large-scale injury wave as last season.

Of course, in order to avoid injuries, Manchester United did not make sacrifices.

The League Cup was "sacrificed" by them.

In this season's Carabao Cup, Manchester United played directly from the third round.

In order to ensure the fitness of the main players, from the beginning, Ferguson sent a substitute plus youth team squad in the League Cup.

Chu Ge, Pogba and N'Golo Kante were the main players who did not appear in the United League Cup.

Therefore, when the Carabao Cup reached the fifth round, Manchester United were beaten by a Championship team and withdrew from the League Cup ahead of schedule.

As the reigning champions of the League Cup, it is okay to be out early this season.

Thinking of this, Ferguson couldn't help but feel a little regretful.

However, he couldn't help it.

Despite two years of rebuilding under his hands, United's squad is still a little thinner than those Krypton.

In order to ensure that there is enough output in the league, he has to make trade-offs.

When I think of Krypton, Ferguson thinks of Manchester City.

It is heard that Manchester City have recently set their sights on another player, Athletic Bilbao striker Aymeric Laporte, and are ready to buy him.

The player Ferguson also liked it, but couldn't afford it.

Athletic Bilbao has no intention of selling the leading striker, and there may be only one way for any team to take Laporte from Bilbao, and that is to pay liquidated damages.

Laporte's liquidated damages are £57 million, about €65 million.

Manchester United bought Virgil van Dijk and Kylian Mbappe in the summer transfer window, and there is no budget for the winter transfer window.

Despite his covetousness for Laporte, Ferguson had nothing he could do.

It's Manchester City.

They also spent more money than Manchester United last summer, but even with Bilbao's hefty liquidated damages clause on Laporte's transfer, City didn't seem to back down.

Envy.

Ferguson also had to envy City's trenches.

Looking at the players running on the training ground, Ferguson wrote down the name of a player in his notebook.

Haaland.

The player was recommended to him by the team's new director, Braida.

It is still under observation.

Brajda has a high opinion of him, believing that the player has a lot of potential and could be up to the Reds' first-team rotation with a little training.

But Ferguson was hesitant.

"A child born in 2000 will only turn 18 this year. Can he really meet the requirements of Manchester United? ”

Ferguson shook his head.

Somehow, he suddenly remembered the name of an old fellow.

Wenger.

'If it had been Arsene Wenger, he would have been interested in the player. Ferguson thought to himself.

……

The next day.

Goodison Park.

Manchester United take on Everton.

Before the official start of the game, Chu Ge and Rooney exchanged the team flags of both clubs.

Looking at Rooney in a blue jersey, Chu Ge was still a little unaccustomed to it.

The captain of Manchester United and the former captain of Manchester United exchanged team flags, and this is the first time Chu Ge has encountered such a thing.

However, Rooney is clearly more adaptable than Chu Ge.

"Good job, Chu. You've done a great season! ”

Although he left the team, Lu Xiaopang has always followed the news of Manchester United.

He was satisfied.

Especially in the last game, Manchester United ended Manchester City's winning streak and Rooney was even happier.

He seemed to see his former figure in Chu Ge.

He also ended the unbeaten streak of a supposedly invincible team back then.

But the hero doesn't mention the courage of the year.

Rooney didn't bother to mention it again.

……

Prior to the defeat to Manchester United this season, City had failed to win only one game, and that was against Everton in the second round of the league.

Everton are not weak.

Especially on their home turf.

However, Chu Ge is in good shape today.

Only more than 20 minutes after the opening, Chu Ge broke through along the right side.

He followed what the media called the "Chu Ge Passage" and completed successive passes, cutting inside to the edge of the penalty area.

In front of the penalty area, he and Pogba completed a two-on-two cooperation against the wall, and Chu Ge took the ball in the penalty area.

Everton's defenders pressed Chu Ge closely, but Chu Ge still tried to force a kick at the goal.

The football went straight to the goal.

The Everton goalkeeper was brave enough to save the ball with one hand.

Forthwith.

Pogba scored the ball from the stoppage.

1：0。

Manchester United lead.

The game has since moved into a more familiar track for Manchester United.

In the 56th minute of the second half, after Chu Ge attracted a large number of defensive forces, he transferred a long pass, and the football was handed to Mbappe on the left side.

Mbappe cut inside the box and fired a volley into the Everton goal.

2：0。

Manchester United lead by two goals.

After scoring two goals, Ferguson made a personnel change.

Anthony Martial replaces Chu Ge.

Juan Mata replaces Pogba.

Two players who have played more games for the team were substituted at the same time.

subsequently

Juan Mata added another for United, while Everton pulled one back through Romelu Lukaku.

3：1。

Manchester United have all three points on the road.

Following the win over Manchester City, United quietly completed a six-game winning streak.

……

In this round of Premier League matches, the focus is not Manchester United vs. Everton.

It's another battle between red and blue.

Reds Liverpool host Manchester City with a blue moon.

In the first half of the league, Liverpool was swept 5:0 by Manchester City and once became a laughing stock among the giants.

From that round, Manchester City gained plenty of confidence and started their winning streak along the way. It wasn't until the last round of the league that their winning streak was ended by Manchester United.

This time, the two teams met in a narrow way.

Liverpool are naturally hoping for a beating.

Manchester City, on the other hand, will be hoping to draw confidence from their old rival once again and start a new winning streak.

The media is also paying close attention to the match.

In Manchester City's match against Manchester United, red prevailed over blue; This red and blue duel between Liverpool and Manchester City, which color will have the last laugh?

……

Chu Ge watched this game at home.

After the game against Everton, he returned to Manchester with his team-mates.

The next day, Liverpool vs. Manchester City.

The match was played at Anfield.

Just nine minutes into the game, Liverpool took the lead.

The player who scored the goal, Chu Ge is no stranger, that is Zhang Jiuling.

He received a pass from Firmino and fired a right-footed shot through Ederson's goal to make it 1-0.

The goal seemed to signal that this game would be a shootout.

Subsequently, players such as Sane, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Bernato Silva and Gundogan all scored.

In one game, seven goals were scored.

Two more than the last meeting between the two teams.

The difference, though, was that the goals scored in this game were relatively even, with Manchester City scoring three and Liverpool having four.

In the end, Liverpool won 4-3 at home against Manchester City.

After Manchester City's eighteen consecutive wins, they immediately suffered two consecutive defeats!

Red completes the second consecutive break!

At the end of the game, Pep Guardio's ramen sank like water.

Although he politely hugged Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, in the camera, people can clearly read the coach's dissatisfaction from Guardiola's expression.

Klopp, on the other hand, laughed.

The coach never seems to hide his emotions.

After watching this game, Chu Ge was also very happy.

He typed "haha" into a message to De Bruyne.

De Bruyne replied with a series of ellipses.

……

Manchester City: 58

Manchester United: 58!

"Manchester City has lost two in a row, and the points are tied by Manchester United!"

As soon as the match between Manchester City and Liverpool ended, the media couldn't wait to count the points.

They couldn't help but exclaim.

"Despite an unprecedented eighteen consecutive wins in Premier League history, Manchester City are still tied by their old rivals Manchester United!"

"In the first 22 rounds of the league, Manchester City have only dropped eight league points, drawing with Everton, losing to Manchester United and losing to Liverpool. Manchester United, like Manchester City, also only lost eight points, losing to Liverpool, losing to Manchester City, and drawing with Chelsea! ”

"Two games ago, Manchester United and Manchester City were as many as six points apart. And after two rounds, Manchester City's points advantage is gone! ”

What a surprise!

It's not just the media in England who are surprised, but the fans too.

Manchester City has won 18 consecutive games, but it is still tied with Manchester United for the top of the standings.

Both teams have 58 league points!

And the third-place team in the league, Chelsea, they only have 44 points now!

Crazy Manchester City.

Crazy Manchester United!

This season's Premier League is simply a fairy fight!

"Could it be that in this year's league, there will be two teams with more than 95 seasons at the same time, or even 100?"

The media in England were a little confused.

They had never seen anything like this before.

……

The most immediate knock-on effect of the two consecutive defeats was that just two days after the defeat to Liverpool, Manchester City's official website officially announced the completion of a transfer deal.

Athletic Bilbao striker Aportic Laporte has officially joined Manchester City!

In order to complete this transfer, Manchester City did not entangle with Bilbao more. They directly threw out liquidated damages, that is, 65 million euros, to take Laporte away from Athletic Bilbao.

It is clear that Pep Guardiola's side are feeling the pressure from Manchester United.

At the press conference of the new signings, Guardiola did not show too many smiles.

Seeing Laporte holding up Manchester City's shirt with a smile on his face, Guardiola was a little distracted for a while.

He remembered that summer.

That summer, Manchester City was a little hesitant about whether to spend liquidated damages, and as a result, this hesitation became an eternal regret for Guardiola and Manchester City.

The light of righteousness shone on Gua Shuai's bare head.

"We only threw down the liquidated damages today, right?"

Pep Guardiola was in a trance for a while.

……

When Manchester City announced the signing of Aymeric Laporte, Manchester United were quietly making another transfer.

They have made a formal loan application to Molde FC.

On loan Haaland.

For a period of six months.

The loan fee is 800,000 euros, plus a non-mandatory buyout of 6 million euros.

Molde are a Norwegian Premier League team, and their manager, Manchester United fans will certainly be familiar with it.

That's Alex Ferguson's erstwhile favourite, substitute killer Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

After receiving a loan request from Manchester United, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was caught in a dilemma.

Like Manchester United, he is also bullish on Haaland.

However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does not want to let Haaland go.

Erling Haaland is currently the team's main player, and Molde is still inseparable from the young goalscorer. Moreover, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is also unsure whether the youngster will be able to get enough playing opportunities in the United squad if Haaland is released.

He was lost in thought.

After some thought, Solskjaer called Haaland into his office.

He told the youngster about United's interest in Haaland.

Do you want to go, or do you want to stay?

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has given the option to Haaland to make his own choice.

……

While United were still waiting for Molde's reply, the Premier League continued.

And the FA Cup has begun.

The FA Cup is a bit more important than the League Cup.

However, in order to make the team have a better physical condition in the league, in the FA Cup, Ferguson still rotated.

Chu Ge did not play in the FA Cup.

However, the good news is that Manchester United still won this round of the FA Cup without any danger.

2：0。

Manchester United beat Derby County to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup.