In the world of football, someone compiled a unique "Happiness Leaderboard."
This wasn't about the top goal-scorers or assist providers but rather the players who missed the most scoring opportunities.
Without a doubt, Raheem Sterling ranked first.
Whether it was at Liverpool or Manchester City, with so many expert passers feeding him the ball right in front of the goal, Sterling still managed to miss countless opportunities.
It was almost as if scoring was poisonous to him.
For coaches, having Sterling on their team was anything but joyful.
That said, aside from his finishing, Sterling's dribbling skills were exceptional. With his speed, explosive power, and excellent positioning, he frequently created dangerous chances.
At only 16 years old, Sterling had already been dominating at the U18 level!
The match officially kicked off.
Just two minutes into the game, Adnan Januzaj, a bit too excited, slid into an opponent, earning a yellow card.
The incident nearly caused tempers to flare between the two sides, but the referee intervened quickly, pulling both teams apart.
Don't be fooled by their young ages; these players were deeply influenced by rivalries and often felt a confrontation was inevitable when they faced off.
On the sidelines, Ole Gunnar Solskjær was already shouting instructions.
At 11 minutes and 24 seconds, Sterling dribbled down the left flank, dodging Jack Rudge, and unleashed a curling shot.
The ball struck the post with a loud "clang," causing United fans to gasp in shock!
"The post's been hit! Surely, a goal can't be far off?" Jamie Carragher exclaimed smugly. "I have to admit, Sterling's directional change in that dribble was absolutely brilliant!"
Paul Scholes said nothing.
He could only cheer when United's players performed well.
At 14 minutes and 28 seconds, Manchester United finally had a counterattacking chance.
Midfielder Mats Daehli passed to forward James Wilson.
Wilson, recalling how Ye Chen had scored a knuckleball from this position yesterday, decided to attempt a similar shot himself...
But his attempt sailed high over the crossbar, leading Scholes to groan. "Oh my goodness, what kind of shot was that? Ole needs to have him practice shooting more!"
"Paul, is this the level of United's academy forwards? They look more like U8 players than U18s!" Carragher teased.
"Don't rush to judgment," Scholes retorted. "I called Ole last night, and he told me we have a very talented forward!"
"Oh, really? It wouldn't happen to be that short, white-haired guy, would it?" Carragher raised an eyebrow.
"Of course not. Ole said he's a Chinese player!"
"A Chinese player? Are you sure Ole wasn't talking about porcelain or tea? They play football too?" Carragher said incredulously.
Scholes glanced at the roster. "He's on the squad list. His name is Chen Ye..."
"Paul, stop kidding yourself. If he's that good, why isn't he starting?" Carragher retorted.
Scholes was momentarily at a loss for words.
But while they were talking, the situation on the pitch changed dramatically!
Liverpool midfielder Emre Can sent a long ball to the left, targeting Sterling.
Sterling controlled the incoming ball with a deft touch, earning applause from the crowd.
United's right-back Michele Fornasier wasted no time, charging forward to defend. But Sterling wasn't intimidated, dribbling forward. Just as they were about to clash, Sterling changed direction effortlessly, leaving Fornasier behind as if he were a stationary cone.
Center-back Wilkinson stepped in, but before he could intercept, Sterling fired a shot.
The ball curved beautifully toward the far post's top corner.
Goalkeeper Liam tried to make a flying save but couldn't even graze the ball with his fingertips.
"Whoosh!"
The crisp sound of the ball hitting the net reverberated as Sterling sprinted toward Liverpool's fan section, celebrating exuberantly.
"Who's next!"
Manchester United trailed 0-1 at home to Liverpool.
The stadium turned into a paradise for Liverpool fans, who cheered wildly.
Carragher shouted, "Gooooooooooooooal! A magnificent long-range strike from Sterling! Liam had no chance!"
Even Scholes admitted, "The dribbling and finish were seamless. Sterling is clearly a cut above the U18 level!"
Solskjær frowned. "Adnan, stick close to Sterling!"
Januzaj nodded. "Got it, coach!"
Perhaps due to his special training with Ye Chen, Januzaj's marking proved effective.
Having already received a yellow card, Januzaj avoided tackling but positioned himself to block Sterling's inward runs, relying on Fornasier to cover any wide moves.
Surprisingly, the duo managed to stifle Sterling's attacks, rendering him less effective.
Relieved at successfully marking Sterling, Januzaj smirked and occasionally glanced toward the bench.
After all, his defensive moves were skills he'd honed with Ye Chen.
The first half ended quickly, with United trailing by a goal.
During halftime, Ye Chen approached Solskjær eagerly. "Coach, will I have a chance to play in the second half?"
Solskjær looked at Ye Chen, pausing before responding.
The scene brought back memories of himself asking his own coach the same question more than 20 years ago.
"Go warm up!" Solskjær finally instructed.
"Yes, coach!" Ye Chen didn't bother heading to the locker room. Instead, he immediately jogged onto Old Trafford's pitch.
The game was being broadcast live!
Since U18 matches weren't particularly lucrative for advertisers, the broadcast cameras focused on the pitch.
Ye Chen ran two laps along the sideline, then practiced a few shooting moves with a ball.
He wasn't alone; Kyriano and Tom were also warming up.
Clearly, Solskjær wasn't satisfied with the team's first-half offense and might make substitutions early in the second half.
Meanwhile, Liverpool's players seemed relaxed, joking around as if victory was assured.
"Ding! Match mission issued: Score a goal or provide an assist in the second half!"
"Success will earn a Bronze Chest; failure will result in a random deduction of five points!"
Hearing the system prompt, Ye Chen knew his moment was coming.
What he didn't realize was how much determination it took for Solskjær to make that decision!