Succeeding Sir Alex

"When did you come Boss?" replied Tiger, knowing he would have to respond to the question, yet still looking to delay to get his thoughts in order.

"I came from the moment you mentioned crisis." Ferguson's face was serious as he responded, with no expression visible on his face.

At that moment, a young player on the field suddenly collapsed to the ground.

McGuinness, the most experienced of the staff, immediately recognized an opportunity—one thing he had learned over the years was to never get involved in the tense situations Tiger King seemed to attract. Without so much as a glance toward the ongoing discussion, he swiftly turned and sprinted toward the fallen player, using the perfect excuse to remove himself from the awkward silence.

"Scottie! What's wrong? Are you injured?" he called out, his voice filled with concern as he crouched beside the rookie, leaving the others behind to deal with Ferguson's lingering question.

The others quickly caught on to what McGuinness had done. Without hesitation, they followed his lead, suddenly finding urgent tasks that needed their immediate attention—checking equipment, adjusting cones, or simply walking away with forced expressions of focus.

No one wanted to be caught in the crossfire of Ferguson's pointed question and Tiger King's impending response. It was an unspoken rule—when tensions ran high, self-preservation came first. Within moments, the once-attentive group had dispersed, leaving Tiger alone in the spotlight, with all eyes still fixed on him.

"Tiger, let's sit down and talk."

"Good jazz."

The two sat on the coach seat looking at the players who had restarted tactical training and remained silent for a long time.

Ferguson started the conversation "How are you?"

"Much better Boss"

Ferguson studied Tiger King closely before nodding in satisfaction.

"I think you look a lot better. McGuinness told me your spirit has changed a lot over the past few months," he remarked. Then, with a knowing smile, he added, "That's right. The past should stay in the past. Focus on being a coach—maybe one day, you'll take my place."

Tiger King chuckled, shaking his head. "If I want to reach your level, Sir, I'll need at least ten more years of studying."

Ferguson, however, disagreed. He shook his head firmly. "I don't think you're far off even now."

"Oh?" Tiger King froze, caught off guard.

Ferguson leaned in slightly, his voice steady and deliberate. "You've already noticed that the first team is 'crisis-ridden'—that's the mark of a real coach."

Tiger suddenly flushed, "Sir, it was just a slip of tongue, a mistake. Please don't take it seriously."

Tiger King thought Ferguson was angry, however, Ferguson was anything but. He shook his head and explained, his gaze deep and contemplative

"Everyone says Manchester United's lineup is strong enough, that the age structure is balanced, and that we have plenty of talented players waiting in the wings. But only I truly understand the problems within this team."

He paused, studying Tiger King carefully before continuing. "You were the first person to speak up about it in front of me, and that reassures me. So, Tiger—what do you think about the future of the team? I want to hear your thoughts."

The weight of the question settled between them. This wasn't just casual conversation—Ferguson was testing him, looking for insight, for vision. Tiger King straightened slightly, knowing his next words would carry significance.

However, that didn't mean he wasn't embarrassed. In fact, he wanted to find a hole in the ground and crawl into it right then and there.

"How dare I talk nonsense in front of the Jazz Boss"

Ferguson let out a small chuckle, shaking his head as he looked at Tiger King. His voice carried a mix of amusement and reassurance.

"Over 20 years of mentoring, apprenticeship, and coaching together, and you still don't understand me?" he said, raising an eyebrow. "Don't you know my temper by now? Just speak your mind—I won't get angry."

There was a challenge in his tone, but also a sense of trust. He wasn't looking for flattery or hesitation—he wanted the truth, straight and unfiltered.

Here he was, talking down about a team that was on the verge of winning the Premier League. What kind of nonsense was that?

If someone had said the same thing to him, he could imagine his reaction—grabbing a few clubs and smashing them over the guy's head a couple of times while shouting, "Are you crazy?!"

But it was too late to take his words back now. Ferguson was watching him, waiting. He had to own it.

At the same time, over on the First Team's training ground, the atmosphere was light and relaxed. The players, led by Captain Giggs, were finishing up their recovery jog, their movements easy and unhurried. With just over a month left in the league season, Manchester United held a comfortable 7-point lead over second-place Manchester City. With only four matches remaining—and none of their upcoming opponents posing a significant threat—the league title was practically secured. 

Yet, despite their dominance in England, their European campaign had been a disappointment. After successfully advancing from the group stage, Manchester United had the misfortune of facing a formidable Real Madrid side in the Round of 16. Over two legs, they fought hard but ultimately fell short, losing 2-3 on aggregate. 

Their domestic cup performances had been just as frustrating. Both the FA Cup and League Cup runs had ended prematurely, stripping them of any chance to compete for additional silverware. 

And so, by mid-April, the urgency that had driven the team earlier in the season had faded. The players trained with ease, laughter ringing across the pitch as they enjoyed their near-certain league triumph. 

What they didn't know, however, was that elsewhere—on the training ground of the youth team—a conversation was unfolding. A conversation between two men that would shape the future of some of them, in ways they could not yet imagine.

Looking at Ferguson who was expecting a serious answer, Tiger King was silent for a moment. 

In his memory, Tiger King had always been a man of few words—serious, stubborn, and reserved. But Jin Taige was different. Though he had lost the memories of his past life, his temperament remained unchanged. He was decisive and daring. Even though he had only recently begun to integrate into this world, those around him had already sensed a shift in his demeanor.

When he had faced Ferguson just now, his respect for the legendary coach was undeniable. But upon hearing Ferguson's pointed question, a fire ignited within him.

"I am a coach now too. Since the boss wants to hear my thoughts, I'll tell him exactly what I think."

With that decision made, Tiger King no longer hesitated. He reached for a tablet from the nearby seat, turned to Ferguson, and spoke with confidence.

"I think there are hidden dangers in almost every position in the first-team squad."

He tapped the screen, pulling up squad details as he continued.

"Goalkeeper position: De Gea is the undisputed starter—an exceptional young talent. Given time, he has the potential to become a top-class goalkeeper like Casillas. However, our backup goalkeeper, Lindegaard, is limited in ability. If De Gea gets injured, the entire team's defensive stability will take a major hit."

"Defense: This season, our best center-back pairing has been Ferdinand and Vidic. But let's be honest—they're aging. At most, they have a year or two left at the top level. Jones and Smalling are promising but lack experience, and their performances remain inconsistent. Evans is unreliable. As for the full-backs, Evra on the left and Rafael on the right are solid, but we don't have proper backups for either. They've been lucky with injuries this season, so this issue has gone unnoticed, but if we don't address it, it'll become a major problem."

"Midfield: Scholes retires this year, Giggs will retire next year, and even Carrick is getting older. While our younger midfielders have decent technical ability, none of them are at the world-class level of Giggs or Scholes. Once they're gone, our midfield quality will drop significantly. Most importantly, ever since Keane left, we haven't had a true defensive enforcer—a tough, dominant presence in midfield. That, in my opinion, is Manchester United's most urgent issue."

"Attack: This is where we're in the best shape. Rooney and Van Persie are leading the line well, Hernandez has a natural goal-scoring instinct, and Welbeck has great potential. At the moment, the forward line is our strongest area."

Tiger King paused briefly before summarizing his thoughts.

"So, for next season, I believe our top priority should be reinforcing the defense, especially at center-back. Second, we need to urgently find a dominant defensive midfielder to bring balance and stability to the team. If the budget allows, signing a pacey forward could also give us more tactical variety."

He had spoken at length, outlining his concerns without hesitation.

Ferguson remained silent for a moment. He simply watched Tiger King, his sharp eyes studying his former player with renewed interest. As Tiger King's words settled in the air, Ferguson's expression gradually shifted—his eyes gleaming with something between admiration and contemplation.

When Tiger King finally finished, Ferguson closed his eyes for a brief moment, exhaled deeply, and then opened them again.

Ferguson carefully studied the disciple in front of him—the same one who had once made him so heartbroken. He observed him in silence for a moment before finally speaking, his tone cold and measured.

"If my successor were you, how do you think Manchester United should move forward?"

Tiger King didn't hesitate. His answer came without a second thought.

"Bring the old with the new—build another young team like the Class of '92."

Ferguson raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Oh?" he murmured, a hint of surprise in his voice. "You're not afraid of instability? A sudden overhaul like that could lead to unpredictable performances."

Tiger King's expression remained firm, unwavering.

"The arrow is already on the bowstring—it has to be released. If we don't make changes now, we'll be waiting for our downfall in a few years. Only by building a young, energetic team can we ensure Manchester United's dominance for the next 10 to 15 years!"

His eyes burned with determination, a fire flickering within them. At that moment, he wasn't just discussing strategy—he was envisioning it. In his mind, he could already see the Red Devils' future, brighter and more glorious than ever.