The offside controversy quickly passed, and Manchester United began preparing for next week's match.
The early season schedule was relatively relaxed, so the main players' physical condition was generally not an issue.
Aside from injuries, the starting lineup remained quite stable.
Gao Nuo gradually got used to his central position, scoring in two consecutive games, which led the coaching staff to fully accept his starting role.
On the training ground, the Manchester United players were laughing and chatting, and the team atmosphere was very harmonious.
With a three-game winning streak, the team's form was getting better and better, and they were much more enthusiastic in training.
After half a month of intense training, Gao Nuo's shooting attribute improved a bit.
Aside from not being able to enjoy Wang Qing's "delicious food," Gao Nuo was quite satisfied with his single life.
As Gao Nuo solidified his starting position, Su Xun Sports' standing in the domestic sports equipment industry rose steadily, showing signs of becoming the top domestic brand.
Gao Nuo's "SX-GAO.1" series of football boots were selling like hotcakes, with the new red and yellow colorway being the most popular.
Zhao Dong had great vision, investing most of the profits into technology development and new material research, and had already started preparing for the creation of the second-generation football boots.
This afternoon, because they had the afternoon off, Gao Nuo, who had just finished training, was about to drive home when Sun Hai suddenly called.
"Little Gao, congratulations on becoming a starter.
Your recent performance has been excellent!"
"Coach Sun, please don't praise me.
I still have a long way to go."
"You kid has big ambitions.
You're still not satisfied with this performance?"
"Haha, if you don't have ambition, can you still be considered a young person?
How are things with you?
Is the base running smoothly?"
"The base is going well.
I have good news for you: because of your excellent performance, a team in Spain has contacted us, showing interest in a partnership."
"That's great, Coach Sun.
Brother Yu has three kids who play well.
Could you arrange something for them?"
"Alright, if there's an opportunity, I'll definitely send them out.
You keep playing well, kid.
I have a meeting, so I'll stop here."
"Okay, okay, goodbye Coach Sun."
After a pleasant conversation, Gao Nuo, back home, felt even more motivated.
He gave up resting and immediately entered the system space, continuing to fiercely practice shooting, shooting, shooting!
On August 26, 2023, in the 4th round of the English Premier League, Manchester United played an away game against Leeds United.
The Rose Derby never lacked attention, and Leeds United's media had already started building hype before the match, aiming to defeat the in-form Manchester United.
Leeds United fans even made strong statements, vowing to show Neymar the intensity of the Premier League, which drew strong reactions from Manchester United fans.
Derby matches are always full of tension.
Both sides fielded their full starting lineups, and the Rose Derby was on the verge of erupting.
In the 12th minute of the match, Neymar used a 'Marseille turn' to get past one opponent, then a 'Ronaldo chop' to weave between two center-backs.
Just as he was about to enter the penalty area, he was directly tackled to the ground by Leeds United's full-back.
Neymar clutched his ankle, his face contorted in pain.
The Referee issued a yellow card to Leeds United's full-back, and the home crowd erupted in loud boos.
In the 22nd minute of the match, Gao Nuo was pushed to the ground while contesting a header, but the Referee did not call a foul.
In the 24th minute of the match, Leeds United stopped Manchester United's counter-attack with a foul, receiving their second yellow card.
In the 31st minute of the match, Neymar was again tackled from behind by a Leeds United defender, and the Referee issued the third yellow card.
In the 39th minute of the match, Dalot was elbowed in the face during an attack, suffering a broken eyebrow bone and being forced to leave the field due to injury.
Leeds United received their fourth yellow card.
Ten Hag repeatedly appealed to the fourth official without success, and in a fit of rage, he cursed, leading the Referee to issue him the fifth yellow card of the match.
The first half of the match was very ugly, with constant interruptions.
Manchester United only threatened the goal a few times through set pieces.
During halftime, in the Manchester United locker room, everyone, already fuming, was completely ignited by Ten Hag.
"Lads, perk up.
They want to play physically, so we'll give them what they want.
Don't use dangerous tackles, use your bodies to show them what Manchester United's intensity is all about!"
In the second half, the Manchester United players, having received their instructions, no longer held back.
In the 46th minute of the match, Casemiro directly knocked down a Leeds United forward, receiving a yellow card.
In the 53rd minute of the match, Neymar performed a series of fancy dribbles on the wing.
Amidst the boos of the home crowd, a Leeds United defender again brought him down, and as he got up, he stepped on Neymar's hand.
Gao Nuo, who was right there, couldn't stand it.
His idol had been fouled maliciously, and Gao Nuo's blood rushed to his head.
With red eyes, he charged at the opponent, his tall frame repeatedly bumping the opponent with his chest, pushing the Leeds United defender all the way off the field.
Seeing that Gao Nuo had lost his temper, the Leeds United defender made the first move.
In the Referee's blind spot, a small movement struck Gao Nuo's abdomen.
Good boy Gao Nuo didn't intend to fight.
He instinctively reached out and pushed the opponent away.
The "experienced" Leeds United defender immediately clutched his face and fell to the ground, starting to roll around.
Players from both sides gathered around.
Seeing that the incident was about to escalate, the Referee, in order to control the situation, directly showed Gao Nuo a red card.
This completely enraged Manchester United.
The players immediately surrounded the Referee.
Casemiro, hot-tempered and a man of few words, directly pushed the Referee.
At the fourth official's reminder, the Referee also showed a red card to the Leeds United defender, and then showed a second yellow card to Casemiro for pushing him, which resulted in two yellows equaling a red, and he was sent off.
Ten Hag on the bench went ballistic, cursing, throwing his tactics board, and throwing water bottles without restraint.
The Referee could only show another yellow card, and Ten Hag also received two yellows equaling a red.
Ten Hag, having received the card, said nothing and walked directly to the stands, standing upright on the platform of the Manchester United players' tunnel amidst a chorus of boos.
Issuing four red cards simultaneously, the Referee for this match was also helpless.
Although he controlled the situation and no fight broke out, a post-match investigation was inevitable.
Gao Nuo and Casemiro, who had been sent off with red cards, returned to the locker room.
The two, already good friends, became even closer.
Casemiro spoke first: "Gao, you kid is too inexperienced.
You should have just fallen to the ground; don't push him.
At most, you would have gotten a yellow card."
Gao Nuo was still angry and said grumpily, "How could I think so much?
This game was played too dirty today."
Casemiro, having experienced many ups and downs, had already calmed down and comforted Gao Nuo: "This is nothing.
Fouls are part of the game.
When I was at Real Madrid, every year playing Atlético Madrid, it would happen a few times.
It's hard not to get heated."
Gao Nuo was still very angry: "I don't really feel anything when I get fouled, but seeing that guy intentionally step on Neymar's hand, I couldn't tolerate that."
Casemiro laughed heartily, his tone becoming even more affectionate: "Kid, I like your temper.
I accept you as my brother.
If anything happens in the future, just tell me."
"Big Brother!"
"Second Brother!"
Gao Nuo not only received the first red card of his professional career but also gained Casemiro's friendship.
It's hard to say whether it was good or bad.
