Chapter 22
Chapter 22
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: The Miracle of the Lower League Team in the FA Cup (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Manchester United took a 1-0 lead thanks to Ban Yeager's opener.
No matter how you sliced it, they were clearly the underdogs against West Ham right now.
Unable to accept defeat, West Ham ramped up their attacking efforts even more aggressively.
But they couldn't break through easily. Marc Bernal, their new signing, was proving to be a massive factor.
United's existing midfielders weren't defensive specialists by nature—they were all central midfield types, regardless of skill.
Bernal, however, was a true defensive midfielder at heart.
Handed the number 6 shirt right from the start, he'd made his presence known, and now he was showcasing it unfiltered on the pitch.
And because he played soccer with such intelligence...
He'd instantly sussed out Manchester United's game plan.
"Tch!"
A hooking tackle that snatched the ball from Luis Paqueta mid-central run.
Immediately passing it to Ban Yeager.
Bam!
'These guys aren't human...'
Incredibly, Ban Yeorin had read Marc Bernal's mindset almost perfectly.
Thanks to Marc Bernal's solid fundamentals and quick adaptation, passes were flowing to Ban Yeager more smoothly than ever.
The more the ball went to Ban Yeager, the easier the game became.
——
They say everyone has a solid plan until they get punched in the face.
It fit every manager who'd ever faced Ban Yeager to a tee.
West Ham United's boss, Graham Potter.
A tactician always in the mix for EPL jobs, highly rated for his strategic mind.
He'd put the most thought into countering Ban Yeager for this Manchester United clash.
His solution? Assign Freddy Potts as a dedicated marker.
"This can't be happening..."
One dedicated marker didn't mean just blocking Ban Yeager with a single guy.
It meant committing at least one full-time for 90 minutes, no matter what.
In other words, an extra man if he had the ball, two in dangerous areas... maybe more piling on.
In modern soccer's organic team movements, losing one player hurt—but it was necessary.
Ban Yeager's on-ball ability was just that off-the-charts.
"Hazard... no, way more calculated."
Too instinctive for pure talent—always the optimal play.
Like he was computing every detail on the pitch.
"What do we do? Add more markers like the other teams?"
Billy Reid, his assistant coach, asked Potter.
"You think that'd work?"
"Pardon?"
"Forcing it would cost us more than we gain. We need more organization. Get Chinaza Nwosu ready."
Tweet!
35th minute of the first half.
West Ham made a sub on their goal kick timing.
Early card before halftime—desperate, trailing 2-0.
West Ham needed a goal to carry into halftime for any shot at victory.
So they pulled their Ban Yeager marker, Potts, for Nwosu—better at attacking than man-marking.
Judging Ban Yeager unmarkable one-on-one, Potter went all-in on team organization.
Despite his low work rate, sticking a marker on him evened the numbers—or worse for West Ham.
Potter flipped it: ignore Ban Yeager entirely, fight 11v10.
Sounded brilliant in theory.
With ball possession, as long as they didn't lose it, numbers favored them.
Five minutes after the sub...
Yeeeeeeah—!!!
United fans cheered a goal—problem was, they wore red.
Everyone has a plan.
Until they face Ban Yeager.
——
Tweet! Tweet! Tweeeet!!
First half between Manchester United and West Ham United ended.
Both teams got a 15-minute halftime.
Fans cooling off after the hype.
But their fingers couldn't stop.
Had to brag: "I saw this madness live."
He'd shone in every game before, but this one mattered extra.
"Ban'll keep this form in the Prem... his class is absolute..."
"Right, Dad. Don't forget—he said he'd take us to the top!"
The Smith family praising Ban Yeager.
United fans, including them, were dead certain of promotion after hitting 3rd—thanks to him.
But promotion worries didn't end there.
They'd skyrocket.
Squad weaker than their relegation Prem days (19th).
Could this lot survive top flight?
Every promoted team's nightmare—United no exception.
Natural question: How many starters hold up in Prem?
And...
Would their core, dominant in League Two, Ban Yeager, translate up top?
His hat trick obliterated those doubts.
Dad and son hugged in tears; granddaughter Victoria eyed Ban Yeager with intrigue.
Thousands tuned in late after the hat trick news.
No way they'd sub out Ban Yeager cluelessly.
Second half kicked off with both teams subbing.
Summerville in for underperforming Paqueta; Jared Bowen shifted central.
Tame sub for a 3-0 deficit.
Lineup was already best XI, and performance gap wasn't huge—made sense.
The winners, Manchester United, burned three cards.
Dominating, so rotation for the next league game.
Core player with minimal mileage? Ban Yeager stayed on full time.
Swap batteries in positions running near him...
And United rolls an tireless destroyertank.