After passing through the academy training area and reaching the first-team pitches, Ethan could hear Mourinho shouting from a distance.
He was always the most passionate person on the training ground.
Viewed from the future, New Manchester United's first-team squad that season was truly filled with stars.
The three goalkeepers were Petr Čech, Manuel Almunia, and Joe Hart.
Čech had become New Manchester United's first-choice goalkeeper during the second half of the previous season. After displacing Almunia, his performances remained extremely consistent, leaving the Spaniard with little opportunity to reclaim his place.
Almunia was also very capable.
He was quiet by nature and never caused trouble. Even though he had been restricted to cup matches and less important fixtures during the second half of the season, deputising for Čech, he continued to train diligently and demonstrated his ability whenever selected.
He was also dependable and more experienced than Čech, which was why Mourinho valued him highly.
Sometimes, finding a player willing to serve as a reliable understudy was harder than finding a gifted first-choice player.
Almunia was unquestionably an important member of New Manchester United's goalkeeping department, and his value to the squad was almost equal to Čech's.
Joe Hart was one of the scouting department's latest discoveries.
He had come from Shrewsbury, and after New Manchester United's scouts identified him, the club invited him for a trial.
Ethan did not remember much about Hart, but any player whose name had remained in his memory from his previous life had to possess something special, so he approved the signing.
Hart was 15 years old and would represent New Manchester United in reserve-team matches.
The previous season's third-choice goalkeeper, David Green, had decided to join Droylsden, where he could compete for a starting place.
At New Manchester United, he clearly lacked that opportunity.
It was also worth noting that Droylsden had won promotion to League Two, reaching the professional divisions for the first time in the club's history.
New Manchester United had provided them with considerable assistance, including loaning Sulley Muntari to them for two years.
Droylsden had now decided to apply for a Special Talent Clause on his behalf.
At left-back, Abidal had departed, but Patrice Evra was ready to step forward.
The Frenchman was already one of New Manchester United's longest-serving players, and his ability had improved considerably over the previous few years.
He trained extremely hard, while his defensive positioning and tackling had also developed.
Mourinho believed he was capable of replacing Abidal.
Philipp Lahm, who had arrived as part of the agreement with Bayern, had not yet learned English.
New Manchester United had already hired a private tutor for him.
His ability to play on either side of the defence also appealed greatly to Mourinho, and he was expected to earn an important place in the squad that season.
On the right, Kolo Touré remained the undisputed first choice.
Bosingwa had improved over the previous two years, but his development had not kept pace with New Manchester United's rise.
Mourinho had warned him repeatedly that unless he worked harder and continued improving, opportunities would become increasingly difficult to find.
The first-choice centre-backs were John Terry and Curtis.
The two English defenders had formed the heart of New Manchester United's back line during the previous season.
Their qualities complemented one another, while their understanding was excellent, making them an outstanding partnership.
Giorgio Chiellini had also improved considerably.
He was not yet ready to displace either starter, but he was strong enough to place them under pressure.
Brede Hangeland, meanwhile, had informed the club that he wanted them to consider an offer from Copenhagen.
The Danish club had initially offered £2.5 million for the Norwegian centre-back.
Hangeland hoped that regular football and strong performances closer to home would improve his chances with the national team.
Copenhagen offered a geographical advantage New Manchester United could not provide.
Although the Red Rebels would compete in the UEFA Cup, they still could not guarantee him a starting place.
New Manchester United had therefore agreed to consider his request and was currently negotiating with Copenhagen.
The Danish club had raised its offer to £3 million, but the Red Rebels were holding out for £4 million.
Copenhagen had made a considerable profit from Daniel Jensen's transfer several years earlier, and New Manchester United had no intention of repeating that mistake.
The gap between the two clubs did not appear impossible to overcome.
Ethan had also made it clear that the transfer fee would be used to sign another defender.
His target was Red Star Belgrade centre-back Nemanja Vidić.
Vidić had already represented his national team and was eligible for a British work permit.
His valuation was also within the same range.
If Vidić joined, New Manchester United's defence would be composed almost entirely of players capable of becoming leading stars in Europe, and perhaps even the world.
They were still young, but Ethan had every reason to believe the back line they formed would be no weaker than the previous season's.
With so many gifted defenders training together, competing for places, and pushing one another to improve, Ethan was highly optimistic about their development.
Compared with the defence, which had lost one first-choice player, the midfield remained largely unchanged.
Juninho and Marcos Senna were still the leading pair, while Michael Essien and Daniele De Rossi remained with the club.
Essien in particular had resisted repeated approaches from Manchester United and chosen to remain loyal to the Red Rebels.
Yaya Touré had also demonstrated considerable ability since joining training.
His attacking qualities were especially impressive.
He was strong in both directions and worked diligently throughout matches.
Mourinho had already made it clear that Yaya would be an important member of the midfield.
As for Kaká, little needed to be said.
He would become the most important piece in New Manchester United's tactical system.
Competition in midfield was fierce, but the options on the wings were equally formidable.
Franck Ribéry had spent two years with the club and had improved considerably.
He trained extremely hard, had adapted to both the team and life in England, and had also become physically stronger.
He would be a serious contender for a place in the starting lineup.
Cristiano Ronaldo possessed outstanding technique and pace, but his combination play and decision-making still needed improvement.
His movements were often spectacular without being sufficiently effective.
During a meeting with the coaching staff, Ethan had suggested that Ronaldo should simplify his game and place greater emphasis on improving his finishing.
Within Mourinho's tactical system, Kaká would operate slightly deeper than a traditional attacking midfielder.
His position would fall somewhere between central midfield and the number ten role, but he would constantly move forward and back.
When New Manchester United attacked, Kaká could surge forward and become the centre of their play, determining the direction of attacks and providing a clear focal point.
When possession was lost, he could retreat and recover his position.
His ability to drive through the centre would also become one of New Manchester United's most effective methods of breaking through defensive lines.
In particular, his capacity to change the tempo of a match in an instant was exactly what such a gifted player should provide.
Kaká's movement between midfield and attack would work in tandem with Didier Drogba, while the two wingers would be asked to cut inside more frequently and contribute goals.
In that respect, Cristiano Ronaldo's finishing was not yet reliable enough.
Even when he remained wide, his crossing was still inconsistent.
Arjen Robben was expected to begin the season as the first-choice left winger.
Mourinho believed that Robben and Alexander Hleb would provide greater pace and penetration than the previous season's wide pairing and cause opponents even more problems.
Up front, Drogba would remain the leading striker.
He had performed very well the previous season, scoring 17 goals, roughly the same number as Olić, while also contributing more assists and exerting a greater influence on the team's overall play.
David Villa would compete with Drogba.
However, whenever Villa started, New Manchester United's approach would need to change.
Villa did not possess Drogba's overwhelming physical presence, but his pace, technique, and movement were qualities Drogba lacked.
Rodrigo Palacio would continue to serve as a versatile attacker.
He could play as a striker, an attacking midfielder, or on either wing.
A player with that kind of flexibility would never struggle to find opportunities.
The first-team squad contained 24 players.
Mourinho believed the competition between them would help New Manchester United produce even better results that season.
As the manager, he understood clearly that the squad had not weakened, despite what the outside world claimed.
It had improved again.
At times, even Mourinho could not help admiring Ethan.
The players he identified were always talented and capable.
More importantly, most were still unknown and undervalued when New Manchester United signed them.
Once such players developed at the club, their loyalty would naturally be far stronger than that of footballers who moved only for money.
Anyone who doubted that only needed to look at Curtis, Essien, and Terry.
Terry had even rejected an approach from Chelsea, the club that developed him.
He believed he would receive more opportunities at New Manchester United, while at Chelsea he would probably remain a substitute.
He also preferred the atmosphere and his teammates at Newton Heath.
Drogba had made a similar decision.
He had rejected approaches from Guingamp and Marseille that summer because he wanted to remain at New Manchester United and continue improving.
The Red Rebels offered their players more than salaries.
They provided regular football and a clear path towards becoming better players.
At this stage of their careers, the size of their wages was not the most important consideration.
What mattered was whether they could continue developing.
New Manchester United provided comprehensive support through the sports science laboratory, the coaching staff, and specialists such as Moniz and Meulensteen.
All of those resources could significantly accelerate a player's progress.
Once their ability improved, they would be capable of earning higher salaries wherever their careers eventually took them.
There was no need to rush.
New Manchester United was also deliberately building a deeper sense of trust and attachment between the players and the club.
Besides offering financial guidance, the Red Rebels supported them in many other areas.
The Red Rebel Foundation, for example, worked with players to establish charitable projects in their names and organised aid programmes in Africa and other regions.
The players welcomed those initiatives, particularly African footballers such as Essien and Drogba, who had been among the first to participate.
A much larger support system was also being planned and developed.
Ethan believed the players would become increasingly loyal to New Manchester United because the club could offer them more than footballing success and financial rewards.
It could also help them build a positive public image and develop a stronger sense of social responsibility.
That left them feeling both satisfied and proud.
Ethan stood quietly beside the pitch and watched the squad train.
He then mentioned the proposed friendly against Wimbledon to Mourinho.
The manager agreed immediately.
Travelling to London for the match would be useful, as the team needed several fixtures before the competitive season began.
Besides the Wimbledon friendly and the annual Newton Heath Cup, New Manchester United intended to arrange five additional pre-season matches against opponents of varying strength.
The purpose was to prepare the squad and refine their tactics.
At that moment, Professor Fryer, the head of the sports science laboratory, hurried towards them carrying a document wallet.
"Good, you're both here. I think you need to see this."
His expression was unusually anxious.
(To be continued.)