65: The pressure of being at the top of the table and the shadow of the "Red Devils"

After the loss to Wycombe, the atmosphere at Victoria Park was a bit tense for the next home game.

Fans worried about the team's form, fearing that their magical momentum might have run out.

Lin Feng's adjustments were simple.

He put Chris Smalling and Jordan Henderson into the starting lineup.

He told Old John, "We need people who can run, young people who aren't afraid to die."

Once the match started, Henderson ran back and forth in the midfield, every tackle of his like an outlet for the frustration of the previous game.

He tightly marked Notts County's playmaker, giving the opponent no comfortable opportunities to get on the ball.

Smalling was also much more stable in the defense; he no longer hesitated, every clearance was clean and decisive, and several crucial aerial duels left Notts County's forwards empty-handed.

In the first half, Vardy seized a counter-attacking opportunity.

He received a through ball from Mark Tinkler, used his speed to beat the opposing defender, and calmly slotted the ball into the far corner, scoring a goal.

Victoria Park erupted in long-suppressed cheers.

In the second half, Gylfi Sigurðsson received a layoff from Snodgrass outside the box; he didn't adjust, directly unleashing a powerful long-range shot that flew into the top corner, making the score 2-0.

Hartlepool United won, stopping their downward trend and re-establishing their position at the top of the league.

After the match, the players didn't celebrate much; they just silently walked into the locker room, all with a burning desire in their hearts.

That loss to Wycombe was like a thorn, stuck in everyone's heart.

A few days later, the highly anticipated FA Cup quarter-final draw was broadcast live on Sky Sports.

In the lounge of the Phoenix Training Center, the players were all gathered around the television.

Old John squeezed a stress ball in his hand, his palms covered in sweat, his eyes fixed on the screen, afraid of missing any detail.

Vardy leaned back on the sofa, arms crossed, his gaze sharp.

Smalling and Henderson, the two newcomers, tried to maintain calm expressions, but their clenched fists betrayed their tension.

The draw guest, a retired veteran player, slowly took a small ball from the glass bowl and twisted it open.

"Hartlepool United," he read out the name.

The lounge was silent; everyone held their breath.

The guest picked up the second ball.

He first glanced at the slip of paper, a subtle, playful smile curling at the corner of his mouth, as if he knew this would cause a huge sensation.

"They will host..." He paused, seemingly deliberately building suspense, or perhaps making sure of the words on the paper. Time seemed to slow down, every second stretching endlessly, the players' hearts in their throats.

"...Manchester United."

"Boom!"

The deathly silence in the lounge was broken a few seconds later by an uncontrollable groan.

This was followed by a series of gasps.

The stress ball in Old John's hand dropped to the floor with a "smack," rolling into the corner.

He stood with his mouth open, staring at the television screen as if he had seen some incredible monster, his face filled with shock and a hint of despair.

Vardy licked his dry lips; his eyes showed not fear, but a kind of ignited excitement.

That beast-like craving made all the blood in his body boil.

Smalling and Henderson exchanged glances; they both saw the same emotion in each other's eyes—awe, but even more, a desire for a challenge.

They knew this would be the most important match they had ever played, and their best stage to prove themselves to the world.

In Lin Feng's office, he was also watching the live broadcast on television.

When the name "Manchester United" was read out, his face showed no expression, as if the opponent drawn was just another League Two team.

He simply picked up his teacup and took a small sip.

The tea was slightly cool, but it brought him an unprecedented clarity.

But in his mind, the system interface flashed with a blue light, emitting a crisp notification sound.

"Ding! Epic Challenge Mission detected: Confront legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Mission completion will affect the system's core module upgrade progress."

The corner of Lin Feng's mouth finally curved into an almost imperceptible arc, a confident smile with a sense of control.

"Ferguson... Very good," he said softly. His eyes were deep, as if he could already see the thrilling game of chess that would unfold on the pitch in the future.

The next day, the headlines of the sports sections in almost all of England's newspapers were the same, massive titles occupying the most prominent positions on the page.

"League Two Dark Horse Challenges Red Devils' Hegemony!"

"Dragon Slayer's Ultimate Test: Hartlepool United Hosts Manchester United!"

"Can Ferguson's Team Avoid an Upset in the North?" The media frenzy reached unprecedented heights, with analyses, predictions, and odds flooding everywhere.

Hartlepool's fans went wild.

They knew their team had almost no chance of winning, but that didn't stop them from dreaming.

In the fan pubs, some were already boasting about seeing Vardy dribble past Ferdinand, and Schmeichel saving Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick.

The entire town was buzzing, people discussing the upcoming "Match of the Century" in the streets and alleys.

In Manchester, Sir Alex Ferguson was asked about this at a press conference.

He leaned back in his chair, chewing gum, and spoke in his distinctive Scottish accent.

"Hartlepool United has had an excellent season; any team that reaches the FA Cup quarter-finals deserves respect."

"They have beaten Premier League teams, which shows they have their own characteristics and strength."

"We will take this match seriously and will not give the opponent any chances." His tone, though calm, conveyed his respect for the opponent and his absolute desire for victory.

In the office of the Hartlepool Mail, Sophie Green opened a new document.

She took a deep breath and typed a few words into the title bar: "Epic Showdown: When the Northern Storm Meets the Red Devils."

She began frantically collecting information on Manchester United, studying their tactical system, analyzing the characteristics of every star player, from Cristiano Ronaldo's dribbling and breakthroughs to Rooney's attacking power, and Scholes' passing and distribution.

She knew this report could be another peak in her career, possibly even surpassing her previous reports on Chelsea and Arsenal.

Less than two weeks remained until the FA Cup quarter-final at home against Manchester United.

The entire town of Hartlepool was immersed in an atmosphere that was both tense and excited.

The players were sweating profusely at the Phoenix Training Center, every touch of the ball, every run, carried a desire for victory and an aspiration for glory.

Lin Feng stood by his office window, watching the players training hard at the Phoenix Training Center.

He knew this would be the team's toughest, yet most glorious battle of the season so far.

A true battle, challenging a legend, a crucial match that would determine the future direction of Hartlepool United.

His eyes gleamed with strategic brilliance, as if he could already see that day, the Red Devils on Northern soil, shaken by the Northern Storm.