Chinanews client, Beijing, January 17th (Reporter Xing Rui) It was another 6 am, 28-year-old Ma Jun got up from bed early.
He has to arrive at the company for the morning shift before 7 o'clock every day this week.
Although sleepiness came like a tide, Ma Jun still couldn't control his inner joy staring at the phone screen.
His beloved team has reached the top of the league table after the New Year for the first time in 8 years.
Manchester United temporarily returned to the top of the Premier League table.
It was January 13th.
From morning to noon, Ma Jun has been brushing news about the "Red Devils".
Looking at the overwhelming news reports, Ma Jun seemed to recall himself 8 years ago.
At that time, he was still living a carefree college life in the ivory tower.
Except for daily classes, he spends almost all his time on the green field.
At that time, the Ma Jun was full of hope and vision for the future, just like the "Red Devils" who just won the Premier League championship, they all have a bright future.
Data map: Pogba returned after recovering from the new crown.
Shortly after Manchester United won the Premier League title, coach Ferguson announced his retirement from the team for 23 years and 7 months.
At that time, the 71-year-old man, almost by himself, created the most glorious golden age in Manchester United's history.
Ma Jun still remembers the night Ferguson retired. He had just finished strength training on the school team and saw this news when he walked out of the gymnasium.
"I didn't feel much at the time, Ferguson just retired, and he did not leave Manchester United. And I always think he will come back." Ma Jun's memories were slightly sad, because his premonition never became a reality.
Ma Jun in college, wearing a number 8 jersey.
Photo courtesy of the interviewee.
Perhaps many fans feel similar to Ma Jun.
After all, at the time, the "Red Devils" assembled Rooney, Van Persie, Giggs and other generals in the lineup, and the "Old Sir" will continue to play in the management of Manchester United.
For a coach, Manchester United will still be on the right path.
But no one thought that after Ferguson retired, Manchester United would no longer be prestigious and fell into a long period of turmoil and trough.
Data map: On the evening of May 9, 2013, Manchester United officially announced that Moyes will become the team's new coach, replacing Ferguson, who has just announced his retirement at the end of the season.
The picture shows the data map of Moyes.
Ferguson's fellow Moyes has become the new head of Manchester United.
Due to his excellent performance in coaching at Everton, Moyes was also high hopes for Ferguson: "Just give him time and space, so that he has more practical experience, I believe that a brand new Ferguson II will be born, I hope I You can see a more powerful'Red Devil' born in the hands of Moyes!"
In this way, with the support and trust of Manchester United's meritorious coach, Moyes started the "Red Devils" journey.
Unlike coaching Everton, Moyes faced world-class superstars, winning fans, and pervasive media at Manchester United.
For someone like Moyes who has never coached a top team, all this is a huge challenge.
The ending of Moyes disappointed the "Red Devils" fans.
That season, Manchester United ranked seventh in the Premier League and missed the Champions League.
This is the first time Manchester United has fallen out of the top three since the establishment of the Premier League.
It didn't take long for the Scot to dismiss get out of class sadly.
Moyes is not incapable, but it takes more than ability to run a giant team like Manchester United.
Maybe he and Manchester United met at the wrong time.
Data map: On December 9, 2015, in the final round of the Champions League group stage, Manchester United lost 2-3 away to Wolfsburg, ranking third in Group B and missed the top sixteen.
The picture shows Manchester United coach Van Gaal sitting on the coach bench disappointed.
After learning the lessons of Moyes, Manchester United set its sights on the world-class coach, Van Gaal and Mourinho took office one after another.
However, none of them was able to lead Manchester United back to the glory of the Ferguson period.
After Van Gaal settled in Manchester United, he made a big deal and spent more than 200 million pounds in the transfer market.
Fans jokingly called him "Fan Chuyi", at that time Manchester United became "Yi Jianlian".
The massive expansion failed to exchange Manchester United's rebound. 10 months later, Van Gaal was "fired".
In the past few years after Ferguson retired, Ma Jun missed the time that "Old Sir" led the team very much. He repeatedly watched the video of Ferguson's retirement dozens of times.
It's just that time is gone, Manchester United's most glorious moment, and Ma Jun's college life, all have ended.
Data map: In 2018, Mourinho was fired by Manchester United.
In 2016, the year Mourinho took office, Ma Jun took to the job.
Even if he is busy at work, Ma Jun still finds time to play football, but compared to his college days, he has less and less time to run on the green field.
During the term of "Magic Bird", Manchester United's performance has improved: in 2017, he won the first European Union championship in team history, and in 2018 he won the Premier League runner-up. This is the best league ranking since Ferguson retired.
In Ma Jun's view, Mourinho's arrival is a shot for Manchester United. But he also felt that: "The Portuguese concept is not suitable for Manchester United."
During the "Red Devils" period, Mourinho still couldn't handle the relationship between the locker rooms, and the news of "the generals' discord" made the headlines several times.
In the end, he did not escape the curse of "Mu Sansan".
Data map: On May 21, 2017, England, the 38th round of the 16/17 Premier League, Manchester United 2-0 Crystal Palace, players' families came to help.
Rooney's son was active on the court and "smashed" himself into the goal.
During this period, what made Ma Jun most regrettable was that his favorite player Rooney left the team in 2017.
He recalled the scene when he received the news of Rooney leaving the team late at night: Ma Jun was about to go to bed while watching the video while crying: "I hope in my heart that he can retire at Manchester United, just like Giggs and the others."
"For me, it's like dropping a leaf from the tree of life." Ma Jun really felt the taste of youth slowly disappearing at that time.
The year Mourinho dismissed get out of class, Ma Jun changed a job that he preferred.
He has a clearer plan for the future and his life has become busier.
In Manchester United's game in the early hours of the 13th, Ma Jun did not stay up late to watch football like college.
If he has not graduated yet, he will definitely borrow two batteries that are the same as his laptop in advance. After the dormitory lights are turned off, he will take a small bench to the corridor to watch the game.
How long is 8 years?
It is enough for countless people who love the "Red Devils" like Ma Jun to take off their jerseys and exit the stadium, while Manchester United is also in the throes and ups and downs, learning how to succeed again.
The "Double Red Club" poster released before the Manchester League.
Image source: Manchester United Football Club
Solskjaer's arrival has rekindled hope for Manchester United fans.
The idea that Sir Alex Ferguson will return to take over the team in a certain period of time also completely disappeared from Ma Jun's mind.
Judging from the current situation, this seems to be the closest time Manchester United has been in the post-Ferguson era.
Ma Jun also believes that as long as the time is given to Suo Shuai, this man with Manchester United genes will definitely lead the team to make a comeback.
In the blink of an eye, the calendar turns to today, late at night, the "double red club" between Manchester United and Liverpool will bring the battle for the top of the Premier League to a high point.
This time, Ma Jun decided not to miss it again.
(Finish)