As the sun cast its golden hue over Old Trafford on September 14th, the fourth round of the Premier League was set to begin in full swing. The atmosphere was electric, with Manchester United fans filling the stands, eager to see their team continue their dominant run after their emphatic 3-0 victory over Liverpool.
With a grueling fixture schedule ahead, Tiger King knew he had to be ruthless. This fixture would test the depth and endurance of his squad.
The fourth round of the Premier League had arrived, and just three days later, Manchester United would embark on their Champions League campaign.
Balancing the squad was crucial, and for this game, Tiger King made a bold decision—a full rotation of the starting lineup.
Thus, as the team sheet was revealed, there was a collective murmur in the crowd.
The team he sent out was a mix of youth and experience. The formation was still a 4-4-2:
- Goalkeeper Alisson between the posts, his composure a reassuring presence.
- Phil Jones and Virgil van Dijk forming the central defensive pairing.
- Alonso and Valencia stationed at full-back, offering both defensive cover and attacking support.
- Kante and Anderson tasked with controlling the midfield battle.
- Ashley Young and Jesse Lingard operating on the flanks.
- Shinji Kagawa in a free role behind the young Anthony Martial, who was handed his first start as the lead striker.
The team may have lacked the star power of United's usual first-choice eleven, but it was far from weak. Valencia and Young, veterans from the Ferguson era, still had the ability to trouble defenses with their relentless running and dangerous deliveries. Kagawa's technical finesse and Martial's raw pace and power posed a direct threat to Crystal Palace's backline.
Almost all the usual starters were missing—a deliberate and ruthless decision by Tiger King.
Some saw it as a gamble. Crystal Palace, despite their limitations, were still a Premier League team, capable of causing an upset if given the chance. But Tiger King remained unfazed. He trusted his squad depth, and this was the perfect opportunity for the fringe players to prove their worth.
As the referee blew the whistle to start the match, the question lingered in everyone's mind—would this bold rotation pay off? Or was Tiger King taking a dangerous risk so early in the season?
As the game kicked off, it was clear that this would be no easy contest. Crystal Palace, sensing an opportunity against a rotated side, defended deep and looked to exploit any mistakes. United, despite dominating possession, struggled to break through in the first half.
One player, in particular, failed to meet expectations—Anderson. The Brazilian attempted to dictate play creatively but often overcomplicated things, making unnecessary errors and giving away possession. Tiger King's frustration on the touchline was evident, and by the 60th minute, he had seen enough. Darren Fletcher was called into action, replacing Anderson and bringing much-needed stability to the midfield.
With Fletcher's composure helping settle the game, United gradually took full control. The breakthrough finally arrived late in the second half.
The first goal came from Shinji Kagawa, whose intelligent movement created space for himself inside the box. A well-worked team move saw Valencia whip in a dangerous cross from the right, and Kagawa met it with a perfectly placed finish, sending Old Trafford into celebration.
With the deadlock broken, the pressure eased, and Manchester United began to play with more freedom. Just before full-time, Anthony Martial put the game beyond doubt. The young striker, showing the potential that had earned him a place in the lineup, outpaced his marker and slotted home a confident finish, announcing himself to the Old Trafford faithful.
As the final whistle blew, the scoreboard read 2-0 in favor of Manchester United. A hard-fought victory, but a victory nonetheless.
Beyond the result, there was another reason for Tiger King's satisfaction—the performance of Wilfried Zaha. The young winger, on loan at Crystal Palace, had finally made his debut. Watching from the sidelines, Tiger King observed closely. Though Zaha was still raw, his bursts of speed and attacking intent hinted at a bright future.
As the final whistle echoed through Old Trafford, Tiger King strode onto the pitch, his eyes scanning for one player in particular—Wilfried Zaha. The young winger had been one of Crystal Palace's brightest sparks in the match, showing glimpses of the raw talent that had convinced Manchester United to sign him.
Spotting him near the halfway line, Tiger King approached and patted Zaha on the shoulder.
"Good performance," he said with a nod of approval.
Zaha, still catching his breath, managed a small but earnest smile. There was a hint of nervous excitement in his expression as he replied, "I hope to return here soon."
Tiger King's eyes gleamed with confidence. "Be assured, if you play at this level, it won't take long. Even if you don't want to come back, I'll have to call you back."
A flicker of determination crossed Zaha's face. Tiger King then did something unexpected—he placed a firm hand on Zaha's shoulder and guided him toward the stands where the home fans were gathered. Raising his right hand, he waved repeatedly, signaling to the supporters.
The response was immediate—a wave of applause erupted from the Old Trafford faithful.
Zaha stood frozen for a moment, overwhelmed by the sight and sound of thousands of Manchester United fans acknowledging him. This was his dream, his future. Standing beside Tiger King, who had publicly acknowledged him in front of the fans, he suddenly felt a surge of excitement. One day, he would return here—not as an opponent, but as one of them.
As the team walked off the pitch, Tiger King allowed himself a small smile. His rotated squad had done the job, keeping Manchester United's winning momentum alive. But there was no time to celebrate—bigger challenges lay ahead. The Champions League was next.
As the players left the pitch, Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway made his way toward Tiger King with a wry smile. The two shook hands, their teams having battled fiercely over the last 90 minutes.
"Tiger, if possible, continue to lend Zaha to me next season," Holloway requested with a hopeful grin.
Tiger King scratched his chin as if contemplating it seriously before responding, "If he's in bad form and not playing well, I'll let him stay at Crystal Palace."
Holloway's smile faltered for a second as he processed the words. Then, as Tiger King walked away, it suddenly hit him—that was nonsense!
"Wait a minute! If Zaha isn't playing well, why would I want to loan him again? That's just perfunctory talk!" Holloway muttered to himself, shaking his head with a chuckle.
Looking at Tiger King's back as he disappeared down the tunnel, Holloway couldn't help but sigh.
This man was sharp, calculated, and hard to outmaneuver—even off the pitch.
Although Manchester United secured the victory and several young players impressed, Tiger King was far from satisfied.
One player, in particular, frustrated him—Anderson.
The Brazilian midfielder had once been a promising talent, but in this match, he had shown the same flaws that had plagued him for years. He held onto the ball for too long, ignoring passing opportunities and slowing down the team's rhythm. Time and again, his poor decision-making cost Manchester United potential goal-scoring chances.
Tiger King couldn't help but think: If Giggs or even Fletcher had played in his place from the start, this game could have easily ended 5-0.
After weeks of observation, his patience had run thin. Anderson's issues weren't limited to just this game—he lacked tactical discipline, often disregarded instructions in training, and refused to adapt his style to the team's system. It was as if he played on instinct, completely detached from the structured, fast-paced style Tiger King was trying to instill.
Perhaps, Tiger King mused, it wasn't intentional defiance—maybe Anderson simply couldn't play any other way. Some players, like Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, could justify breaking tactical conventions with their brilliance. But Anderson? He was not in that category.
With a sigh, Tiger King came to a decision. He would monitor Anderson a little longer, but if nothing changed, he wouldn't hesitate to offload him next summer.