Chapter 23 – "Fire and Rain"

29 September 2012

Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur – Matchday 6, Premier League

The skies above Old Trafford were grey and weeping.

Rain drizzled over the stadium as the team bus rolled to a stop, red umbrellas and soaked scarves gathering outside the gates. Alex stepped down into a storm of flashes. The match against Liverpool had changed everything.

"Eyes up," Rio muttered beside him. "This one's a fight."

The United dressing room buzzed with quiet intensity. Shirts hung like battle armor, steam drifted from the showers, and the scent of liniment clung to the air. The rain outside drummed softly on the stadium roof.

Rooney stood at his locker, tugging on his socks with that usual game face—somewhere between ready and rabid. Across from him, Scholes methodically tied his boots, gaze fixed on the floor as if playing out the game in his head already.

Alex sat between Cleverley and Chicharito, slipping on his shin pads. This was the closest he'd been to a Premier League starting XI again since Anfield — even though he wasn't starting today, the bench seat felt warmer. Closer.

Mike Phelan entered with a clipboard. "Right, lads. Eyes up."

All chatter stopped.

"Spurs are coming fast and wide. Dembélé and Sandro will try to bully midfield, and Bale? He's gonna be on turbo down the left. I want our backline talking, tight, and compact. Got it?"

Nods. Focused eyes.

Sir Alex stepped in a second later, fixing the room with that legendary stare. The room straightened instantly.

"Listen," he said, voice low and calm. "You don't let one big win turn you soft."

He paced slowly.

"Tottenham will come at us like they always do. But we're Manchester United. They play to hurt. We play to win."

He stopped by Rooney and clapped him on the shoulder. "Lead by example."

Then he glanced at Scholes. "Keep us ticking."

He turned his head toward Alex. "And you…"

Alex looked up. The whole room seemed to glance his way too.

"…Be ready."

The boss didn't say more. Didn't need to.

As the coaches filed out, boots clattered onto tiled floors. Carrick leaned over to Alex.

"They're gonna boo Bale hard. You'll see. Just wait 'til you're on the other end of it."

Alex gave a short laugh. "I've already seen Liverpool away."

Rooney chuckled, taping his wrist. "Yeah, and you made Anfield cry. If you do that again today, I'll buy your dinner for the rest of the month."

Chicharito chimed in with a grin. "Make it two months if he scores the winner!"

Nani spun his headband in hand. "Let's just get out there. I'm feeling sharp today."

Evra slapped the wall near the door. "Let's go, boys. Focus."

And as they lined up to walk the tunnel, the tension thickened — not fear, but anticipation. The kind that buzzes just before the whistle, when the world holds its breath.

Alex tightened his jacket around him. He wasn't starting. But tonight, that could change with a single nod from the gaffer.

PRE-MATCH COMMENTARY – SKY SPORTS

Manchester United Lineup

Formation: 4–2–3–1

GK: David De GeaRB: RafaelCB: Rio FerdinandCB: Jonny EvansLB: Patrice EvraCM: Michael CarrickCM: Paul ScholesRW: Antonio ValenciaCAM: Shinji Kagawa LW: NaniST: Wayne Rooney (Captain)

Bench: Anders Lindegaard, Phil Jones, Anderson, Tom Cleverley, Danny Welbeck, Javier Hernández, Alexander Marshall

Tottenham Hotspurs Lineup

Formation: 4–2–3–1

GK: Brad FriedelRB: Kyle WalkerCB: Jan VertonghenCB: William GallasLB: Benoît Assou-EkottoCM: SandroCM: Mousa DembéléRW: Aaron LennonCAM: Gylfi SigurðssonLW: Gareth BaleST: Jermain Defoe

Bench: Hugo Lloris, Steven Caulker, Tom Huddlestone, Clint Dempsey, Jake Livermore, Andros Townsend, Emmanuel Adebayor

Commentator Build-Up Segment (Sky Sports)

Martin Tyler:"Good evening and welcome to Old Trafford for what promises to be am intense clash between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. Let's take a look at the starting lineups — and there's plenty to talk about."

Gary Neville:"For United, no Van Persie tonight, and that tells me Sir Alex is rotating a bit ahead of a the Champions League match next week. But that front four? Rooney, Kagawa, Valencia, and Nani — still world-class on their day."

Martin Tyler:"And we see Paul Scholes in midfield again. The ageless wonder. He'll need to keep up with Tottenham's runners."

Gary Neville:"Speaking of which — look at that Spurs attack. Bale, Lennon, and Defoe — pure pace and aggression. Villas-Boas has set them up to hit United on the counter."

Jamie Redknapp (cutting in):"I'll tell you what I like — the midfield pairing of Sandro and Dembélé. They'll get stuck in. But if United control the ball through Carrick and Scholes, Spurs could be chasing shadows."

Martin Tyler:"Of course, one name to watch on the bench: young Alexander Marshall. The 16-year-old changed the game against Liverpool last week. Will Sir Alex turn to him again?"

Gary Neville:"Look, if the kid gets on — and it's tight — I wouldn't bet against him having another moment. But Spurs will have done their homework."

KICKOFF – FIRST HALF

The match exploded from the start.

Spurs didn't hesitate — they came flying out like a team possessed. White shirts zipped forward with urgency and precision, moving like a unit that had drilled every counterattack a thousand times.

Gareth Bale was electric. Every touch, every run, sparked panic. The ball stuck to his feet like it was stitched there. He breezed past Rafael twice in the opening minutes, forcing Carrick to drop deeper just to contain the space he left behind.

Sir Alex stalked the touchline, already shouting instructions."Stay compact! Stay compact!"

7th minute – GOAL TOTTENHAM.

A long diagonal ball from Vertonghen soared over the midfield press, bending away from Evans' reach. Bale timed his run to perfection, ghosting in behind the line. One touch to steady. Another to cut inside.

He dropped his shoulder and rifled a low left-footed shot past De Gea before anyone could react.

Commentator 1: "Bale's just peeled them apart like paper. What a finish."Commentator 2: "You give him that space, he'll bury you. Pure class from the Welshman."

The away section erupted. Old Trafford sat in stunned silence except for groans and a few angry shouts.

Evans slammed his fists together in frustration. Rafael looked rattled, chewing the inside of his cheek as he jogged back.

Tottenham weren't done.

They pressed high, forcing rushed clearances. Scholes and Carrick tried to establish rhythm, but Spurs swarmed every loose ball. Lennon nearly made it two in the 19th minute — bursting down the flank and firing just past the far post.

Alex, in his tracksuit, warmed up on the sideline. His eyes tracked Bale like a hawk."He's the storm today. And they can't stop it."

He jogged in silence, jaw tight. He could feel it — Sir Alex would need him soon.

26th minute – GOAL TOTTENHAM.

This time it was clinical, surgical.

Sigurðsson picked the ball up in the half-space and turned smoothly, gliding between Scholes and Carrick. He slipped a perfectly weighted ball behind Ferdinand.

Defoe was already on the move. One drag-back spun Ferdinand like a top. Then a low, calm finish into the far corner past De Gea.

Commentator 1: "Two-nil. Sir Alex looks absolutely livid."Commentator 2: "Spurs are carving United open. This is not the script Old Trafford had in mind."

The camera cut to Sir Alex — red-faced, pacing the technical area. Phelan was already whispering in his ear.

Alex stood by the sideline, arms crossed, eyes locked on the pitch."Keep me warm. Keep me ready."

United were stunned. They looked winded, disoriented, and worse — they looked slow. But they weren't done yet.

They began clawing their way back, inch by inch.

Rooney dropped deeper, practically playing as a third midfielder. He began demanding the ball, spraying it wide, holding off defenders. Valencia started to stretch the pitch down the right. Slowly, the momentum shifted.

45th minute – GOAL MANCHESTER UNITED. KAGAWA.

Rooney received the ball near the halfway line, turned sharply, and spotted movement.

Kagawa, silent for most of the half, ghosted into the space between the lines. Rooney chipped a teasing pass forward — soft enough to tempt the keeper, sharp enough to beat the defenders.

Kagawa's first touch was divine, cushioning it with the outside of his boot. His second was a low shot across Friedel into the far corner.

Commentator 2: "Lovely control and finish! That was class from Kagawa!"Commentator 1: "And that's the lift United needed going into the half. Just before the whistle!"

Old Trafford roared — not just relief, but belief.

Kagawa jogged to the corner flag, fingers pointed skyward. Rooney jogged after him, clapping. Scholes merely nodded — there was still work to do.

As the whistle blew for halftime, Sir Alex turned to Phelan and tapped his watch."Ten minutes. Then we change it."

Alex knew what that meant.His time was coming.