Starting with saving Manchester United

"So you're preparing to file a lawsuit so soon?"

When Yang Fan met Woodward in the head coach's office, the latter brought good news.

Manchester United's legal team has secured evidence and can file a lawsuit against Gary Neville at any time.

The charges are defamation and racial discrimination.

"All the evidence is readily available, and the legal team is on standby," Woodward said with considerable pride.

I don't believe you!

Yang Fan was certain that, given Woodward's self-serving nature, he wouldn't have been so proactive in suing someone other than Gary Neville.

"However, Yang, this time we can only file a lawsuit in your personal name."

Yang Fan understood.

The relationship between clubs and legends is always complex.

More importantly, the Glazer family and Woodward were far less popular in Manchester than the Class of '92.

The lawsuit was filed in Yang Fan's personal name, which is considered a private matter, and fans shouldn't have much to say about it.

But if Manchester United gets involved, then things will get really complicated.

In Yang Fan's previous life, which of Manchester United's famous managers and stars, except for Solskjaer, wasn't severely criticized by the Class of '92?

What can they do against Class 92?

Seeing Yang Fan remain silent, Woodward, fearing that Yang Fan might misunderstand, quickly added, "But Yang, don't worry, the club will take care of all the legal fees and everything else for you."

Simply put, Yang Fan is just using a title.

Yang Fan, however, didn't seem to care at all.

I've disliked these people for a long time, so it's good to teach them a lesson.

Otherwise, they'll really think I'm an easy target!

"Just take care of this for me," Yang Fan readily agreed.

Woodward was even happier.

Which boss doesn't like a subordinate who is "obedient," capable, and, most importantly, can make them look good in front of their superiors?

Moreover, he was Yang Fan's mentor.

If he had the authority, he would have even offered Yang Fan a formal coaching contract.

Speaking of formal contracts, we have to mention a news item from this morning.

According to a report by the German newspaper Bild, Bayern Munich midfielder Toni Kroos has denied having been in contact with Manchester United.

This can be seen as a signal that Toni Kroos is rejecting Manchester United.

Generally speaking, at this point, it basically means that Manchester United's attempt to sign Toni Kroos has failed.

Woodward also felt quite helpless about this.

"This deal was facilitated by Moyes, who was very interested in Tony Kroos, so we started working on it. But now that Moyes has been sacked, Tony Kroos is worried about the team's current situation."

Yang Fan had anticipated this.

"Also, there's something I need to make clear to you beforehand."

"you say."

"The rumors circulating outside that we have reached an agreement with Van Gaal are true."

Yang Fan wasn't surprised. "When did this happen?"

"The specific time was a long time ago. We had contact last year, and we basically reached an agreement when Moyes was dismissed. But Van Gaal will not take over the team midway through this season."

Woodward kept a close eye on Yang Fan's reaction as he spoke.

He continued speaking only after he found that Yang Fan was acting normally.

"Don't worry, Yang, we're on the same side. After these three games, I can see that you have a great talent for coaching."

"After this season ends, you will stay with the team to help me, and at the same time receive coaching training, striving to obtain the A-level, or even the pro-level certificate as soon as possible. Manchester United and I will definitely focus on developing you."

Yang Fan solemnly agreed on the surface, "Ed, don't worry, I definitely believe you!"

Yang Fan dared not gamble on the true value of Woodward's promise.

Just like in the workplace, he would never entrust his future to his superiors.

Especially bosses like Woodward who like to make grand promises.

But now that Yang Fan has decided to pursue a coaching career, temporarily aligning himself with Manchester United is entirely beneficial.

And we must do our utmost to achieve even better results.

When they coach independently in the future, this will be their bargaining chip when negotiating with the club!

……

Manchester United's entire management system is basically in a state of collapse.

Even if Woodward himself intervenes, the various departments may not be willing to fully cooperate.

Yang Fan was prepared for this; even a small mosquito is still meat.

Moreover, he relies most on his core team now.

Therefore, he took the opportunity to secure some resources for the team.

First and foremost is salary.

Players like Andy Walker, Paul Gaudino, and Paul Brand have been incredibly busy lately, and a raise would be the best reward for them.

Woodward needed Yang Fan's help right now, so of course he wouldn't refuse and agreed to everything.

Even before receiving the exact amount, he readily agreed to reimburse the expenses for the team's victory celebration last night.

There are also some equipment.

These are nothing to Manchester United, who are rich and powerful.

Yang Fan has come to a complete understanding that, let alone John Mottaf, even Woodward would find it difficult to take over these departments of Manchester United unless a major purge is launched.

The problem is, after the purge, who will take over the work?

As Yang Fan said before, each department is like an independent mountain.

From supervisors to employees, all the materials, data, intelligence, etc. they handle are stored on their own laptops or USB drives, and they take them home directly after work. This has been the norm in Carrington for the past few decades.

If they leave, these things will leave with them.

To change all this, a thorough reform from top to bottom is necessary.

Over the years, Ferguson has been like a towering tree, bringing Manchester United to unprecedented heights, but also covering up countless problems, both big and small.

Now that Ferguson is gone, all the problems have surfaced.

When Yang Fan saw Woodward off and was about to return to his office on the second floor, he heard a noise at the entrance of the indoor training area on the first floor. Curious, he went over to take a look.

"How could it be him?"

……

The team had a day off this morning. The players celebrated until the early hours of the morning last night, so they generally wouldn't come over until noon.

But in the indoor training area, Van Persie was doing simple shuttle runs.

Next to him was a trampoline.

This surprised Yang Fan.

In his memory, Van Persie was never a player who was hardworking enough to put in extra training sessions on his own.

That's something Cristiano Ronaldo did!

"Robin, why are you here so early?"

Yang Fan thought of the hug during last night's game, which saved him a lot of trouble, so he stepped inside.

Van Persie had just finished a set of shuttle runs when he saw Yang Fan. He immediately nodded and said, "I didn't have anything to do at home, so I came over early."

"Your knee is injured, so be careful with your extra training. I'll have Andy and Paul come over."

"No need, I just met with them on the second floor. It's just some simple rehabilitation training, and they agreed."

Yang Fan didn't say anything more and stood silently to the side watching.

After completing his shuttle run training, Van Persie did sprints on the trampoline, and then went to the weightlifting area to do barbell weightlifting.

Although the intensity wasn't high, I was still out of breath afterward.

"I'm getting old!"

Sitting to the side, panting heavily, Van Persie gave a self-deprecating bitter smile as he drank water.

"How could that be? You can still play for several more years."

Van Persie shook his head. "I know in my heart that if I can play, I will play; if I can't, I will retire and become a coach."

Speaking of coaching, Yang Fan remembers that not long before he transmigrated in his previous life, Robin van Persie had just stepped down from his position as manager of Feyenoord.

The reason for the dismissal, besides grades, was also the management problem of the locker room.

Yang Fan chuckled and said, "Then you should learn from Moyes and read more management books."

This playful remark brought a knowing smile to Van Persie's face.

Teasing and mocking Moyes is a running joke in the Manchester United dressing room.

"I know that my personality is not yet like that of a mature head coach."

"I'll learn slowly. Even a novice like me became the manager of Manchester United, didn't I?" Yang Fan said with a self-deprecating laugh.

Van Persie laughed again. "Honestly, you have a great personality."

How could it not be good?

Strictly speaking, I'm an old pickled vegetable nearing forty.

Van Persie couldn't hear what Yang Fan was thinking, but he himself recalled many memories.

He was an aloof and unsociable person.

At Manchester United, he didn't even have a single friend he could talk to.

But Yang Fan is quite special.

Although they had only talked a few times, he was willing to talk to Yang Fan more.

"You know what? I grew up being spoiled and pampered, and I've only recently come to realize that."

Yang Fan was somewhat surprised.

There's an old Chinese saying: "At thirty, one stands firm; at forty, one knows one's destiny."

But some people always mature earlier.

Thinking about it carefully, Van Persie's entire career was pretty messed up.

In the minds of many fans, he suddenly emerged in the 10/11 season, but that's simply not true.

At 28 years old, a professional athlete's body is already starting to decline.

What about when Van Persie was at his physical peak?

He spends at least a third of each season lying down.

Moreover, he used to play as a winger, and only recently transitioned to a center forward.

Wenger has always been good at judging people. Despite Van Persie's injury-prone nature, Wenger has always cultivated and trusted him, which shows Van Persie's talent and strength.

Once his health improved, he experienced a surge in his career in recent years.

How strong is Robin van Persie right now?

Slightly slower, but with exceptional footwork and rhythm; capable of shooting and passing with both feet; able to receive the ball with his back to goal and turn; can play as a center forward, striker, winger... on the flanks, in the center, or dropping back...

It can be said that apart from being a bit fragile, it has almost no weaknesses.

If his body hadn't been so fragile, who knows how high Van Persie would have gone?

"My father is a sculptor and my mother is a painter. They raised me from a young age, hoping that I would follow the path of art and be like them, but I chose to play football instead."

"They separated when I was very young, but they were both very proud. I inherited their personalities and from childhood to adulthood, whether at school or in clubs, I always gave the people around me a headache, except for my parents."

"You know what? When I was four years old, the first time I went to the youth academy of Rotterdam Elite, my mother had a big fight with my coach at the time. The reason was simple: she didn't like my coach, and then she took me and left."

"From them, I feel that geniuses should be indulged and pampered."

Yang Fan was speechless.

From an ordinary person's perspective, this kind of thinking is really messed up.

But ironically, geniuses are all so self-important.

Robin van Persie has always been rebellious, unconventional, and had a long history of misconduct since childhood.

Including the way he left Arsenal.

Even in 2026, many Arsenal fans still believe that Van Persie is a hypocritical and selfish guy.

"This past season was the most painful period of my life."

"I came to Manchester United for the title. I could have gone to Manchester City or other teams, but I chose Manchester United. Ferguson promised me that he would not retire within three years and that he would lead Manchester United to another Champions League title."

"I believed it, but what was the result?"

Van Persie was completely helpless about this matter.

They can't even file a complaint.

Because the other person is Ferguson!

"In the past 30 years, I have never felt so lost, nor have I ever thought so much. I gave up everything I had before, endured countless insults, and suffered the scorn of fans..."

"But now, I'm starting to doubt whether my initial choice was right. I'm starting to feel that I no longer enjoy being pampered and spoiled. I even feel like I've been abandoned..."

"Like when I was very young, my father would tell me to go find my mother, and my mother would tell me to go find my father. Maybe they both loved me, but I felt like a ball, being kicked around by them..."

Yang Fan listened silently.

If he didn't understand Van Persie in his previous life, he understands him to some extent now.

But what can be done?

This is the shitty life!

Arsenal fans would probably gloat and say: hypocritical Van Persie deserves this suffering.

Manchester United fans would say: You came to Manchester United and won a league title, be content!

But the proud and arrogant Van Persie felt: I could have won more.

"Do you regret joining Manchester United?" Yang Fan asked casually.

Van Persie shook his head bitterly. "I don't know."

Yes.

The most painful thing is that he can't even say whether he regrets it or not.

"If I could go back to 2012 and know in advance that Ferguson would retire in 2013, I would never have come to Manchester United, but now..."

"Then don't think about it too much!" Yang Fan interrupted him in a deep voice.

Van Persie looked at Yang Fan with some surprise.

"There's no use thinking about it now, so let's just roll up our sleeves and get to work!"

Yang Fan said loudly.

"Since we can't figure it out or see it clearly for now, let's just do it first."

"Do your best to finish this season, then go to Brazil for the World Cup in the summer. By then, you can transfer if you want, or stay with the team if you want. The most important thing is to have as many assets as possible on hand, right?"

Van Persie nodded emphatically.

He understands such a simple principle.

That's why he came over for extra practice.

But Yang Fan's words truly resonated with him from the bottom of his heart.

He felt that Yang Fan's current situation at Manchester United was no different from his own.

He became Manchester United's manager against his will.

A few months later, he had to hand over the managerial position to Van Gaal.

What should Yang Fan do next?