The press room at Old Trafford was buzzing. The air carried a mix of excitement and residual tension from the 4-2 victory over Bayer Leverkusen. The journalists were eager—some with genuine interest, others sharpening their knives. Cameras flashed as Tiger King strode in, his expression composed but sharp. Beside him, Robin van Persie, still gleaming from his hat-trick heroics, settled into his chair with the relaxed confidence of a man who had just dictated the evening's script.
The club's press officer gave a brief nod. "First question."
A familiar voice spoke up—one of the more respected journalists in the room, "Robin, brilliant performance today, a perfect night. How do you feel?"
Van Persie leaned into the mic, flashing a small grin, "Brilliant. Nights like these remind us why we play football. The hat-trick? Sure, that's nice. But more than that, it's about the fight, the belief, the way we responded after they pulled it back to 2-2."
Another Journalist picked up from there, "Your thoughts on the new Gaffer?"
Robin van Persie responded confidently, "We showed what it means to be Manchester United today. The team was fantastic, and we fought back like true Red Devils. We're moving in the right direction, and I believe there's a lot more to come from this squad."
A chorus of murmurs followed—agreement, perhaps some skepticism, but admiration nonetheless.
Then, predictably, the questions turned to Tiger King, "Gaffer, an update on Rio Ferdinand? He was substituted at halftime—anything serious?"
Tiger King nodded. "Rio had a small niggle. Nothing serious, but we won't be taking any risks. He'll be resting for a week."
The journalist followed up, "And N'Golo Kanté? He looked a little fatigued towards the end."
"Yes, he's been immense, but we could see signs of fatigue. We'll be giving him a break in the next match to keep him fresh for the challenges ahead."
Before the next question came, Tiger caught sight of a new face. A face that had been conspicuously absent for a while.
The room tensed. Immediately picked up on who Tiger landed his sights on. A few chuckles. A few whispers. Then, a journalist, one who clearly enjoyed stirring the pot, decided to strike first.
"Well, well, look who decided to show up. Patrick, where were you after the Liverpool match? You seemed to have gone missing."
A smirk tugged at Wolfe's lips. "Missing? No, no, I was just giving you lot time to process what happened. A 3-0 win at Anfield—now that's worth talking about, isn't it?"
Tiger King tilted his head slightly, amused "Really? Because I don't recall you rushing to praise us when we dominated Liverpool in their own backyard. I remember the headlines before the match, Wolfe—'Manchester United to be exposed,' 'Anfield will be their reckoning.' And then? Silence. So tell me, were you speechless or just waiting for a chance to twist the narrative?"
The room tensed again. A verbal duel was brewing. Wolfe folded his arms, meeting Tiger King's stare head-on.
"Twist the narrative? No, I deal in reality, Tiger. And the reality is, that win was impressive, but it was one battle in a long war. Don't expect me to shower you in praise just because you did your job. The real tests are still ahead."
There was a flicker in Tiger King's eyes—something between amusement and restrained fire. "Wolfe, let me remind you—you don't dictate when Manchester United is 'worth talking about.' We write our own stories. And tonight, we wrote another damn good one."
Before Wolfe could retort, van Persie cut in. His voice was light, but there was steel beneath the humor. "One kill is done. We're waiting for the second." Then, without breaking eye contact, he turned his gaze to Wolfe, his smirk widening. "Be ready to jump off Tower Bridge."
The room exploded with laughter. Some of the journalists were in stitches. Others, knowing Wolfe's reputation, simply waited for his response.
Wolfe clenched his jaw, clearly irritated. "Cute, Robin. We'll see how long you can keep the bravado when the real challenges come."
Tiger King leaned back, his expression one of complete control. "You keep waiting for us to fall, Wolfe. But let me tell you something—this isn't a house of cards. It's Old Trafford. And tonight, you saw what we're building."
The press room went silent for a second—then erupted again. Tiger King had just delivered a knockout blow. Wolfe, realizing he had lost this round, simply scoffed, leaned back in his chair, and folded his arms. The battle between the press and the manager would continue.
A journalist, still grinning from the earlier exchange, finally brought the conversation back to tactics. "Tiger, one last thing—why Martial over Valencia? Many thought Valencia would have been the safer bet."
Tiger King's expression softened slightly, but his tone remained authoritative. "Martial isn't just a striker. Back at Lyon, he played on the left flank, where he developed his dribbling, pace, and cutting inside onto his right foot. He's fearless, unpredictable. Valencia is balanced—compact in offense and defense. But tonight, we needed a sharp knife, not a sledgehammer. And Martial? He delivered."
The nods of approval around the room confirmed that Manchester United's manager had made his point.
The press officer cleared his throat. "That's all for tonight. Thank you."
As Tiger King and van Persie stood, Wolfe remained seated, arms still crossed, his expression unreadable. The battle between the press and the manager would continue.
But for tonight? Manchester United had won.
Manchester United had put together three consecutive, emphatic victories following their draw against Chelsea—a ruthless 3-0 dismantling of Liverpool at Anfield, a composed 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace, and an electrifying 4-2 triumph over Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.
The media, with the notable exception of The Sun, were showering praise on Manchester United—celebrating Tiger King for managing a seamless transition from the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson. Even the staunchest critics had begun to acknowledge the strides the club had made under his leadership.
So much so that the very next day after the Champions League match, club CEO Ed Woodward personally visited Tiger King's office, carrying an armful of newspapers. He dropped them on the desk with a satisfied grin.
"Take a look at these," Woodward said.
Tiger King glanced at the headlines, a smirk forming. "All this... because of the 'darts competition,'" he mused. "When we maintain a good relationship with the media, life becomes easier. Otherwise, if we spend all our time arguing with reporters, when do we find time to manage the team?"
Woodward chuckled. "Tiger, the person I admire most is still Sir Alex Ferguson. The fact that he saw your potential and chose you as his successor… that might just be the greatest decision of his legendary career. Manchester United is lucky to have you."
It was true—life was good for Tiger King. His team was thriving in the league, they had made a winning start in the Champions League, and the young talents signed in the summer were flourishing. The senior players fully trusted his leadership, and even the usually relentless press had turned into admirers.
Even The Sun's most notorious journalist, Wolfe—the same man who had been Tiger King's loudest critic—had been notably quiet. Instead, Wolfe had redirected his fire towards Chelsea, resuming his infamous clashes with José Mourinho. That man always needed someone to pick a fight with.
But amidst all this success, there was one concern that weighed on Tiger King's mind—Kanté.
After the Leverkusen match, the team doctor had conducted a full medical examination, and the results were concerning. Kanté had a slight injury to his right knee. Though not serious, the doctor advised a minimum of two weeks' rest, warning that rushing his return could have long-term consequences.
Tiger King didn't hesitate. "We need Kanté for the next ten, maybe fifteen years. I'm not risking him for a few games now."
Kanté, ever the warrior, was visibly disappointed. He knew the team was heading into a crucial stretch of fixtures. But Tiger King reassured him. "Take the time to recover properly. I need you fit and ready for the long run."
With that decision made, the team turned its focus forward. The date was September 18th. United had just conquered Leverkusen.
Up next? The Manchester Derby.
On September 22nd, Manchester United would head into battle against their fiercest rivals—Manchester City.
At the pre-match press conference ahead of the highly anticipated Manchester Derby, Tiger King exuded calm confidence.
Facing the media with the same composure he showed on the touchline, he made his intentions clear: "We've won three in a row. The team's in rhythm, the spirit is high. We'll carry that momentum into the derby. It's our city too—and we're playing to win."
Across town, Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini struck a different tone.
The newly appointed "Engineer" was measured and diplomatic in his remarks: "I won't predict the outcome. This is football. But I promise you—it will be a match worth watching. A proper Manchester Derby."
The contrast in tone reflected more than just personality—it captured the narrative unfolding in English football. Tiger King, bold and fearless, had brought Manchester United charging into a new era, while Pellegrini was still feeling out the contours of his new post.
Despite City's impressive early form—a perfect 12 points from four games, top of the table—the media leaned toward Tiger King's Manchester United. His side had just navigated a challenging start to the season, facing top opposition in rapid succession.
As Reporter Hall of the Manchester Evening News noted in his column that morning: "The Premier League is shaping up to be a titanic battle this season. Mourinho returns as 'The Special One', Pellegrini arrives with his tactical precision, and now, Tiger King has emerged as the 'Red Devil's Inheritor.' Spurs and Liverpool look sharp, and Arsenal dare to dream again. The contest for the four Champions League spots is going to be brutal—six teams fighting tooth and nail, with even Everton, often overlooked, quietly proving they can hang with the elite."
He went on: "Manchester United have been thrown into the fire early—Chelsea, Liverpool, and now City in the first five rounds. They held Chelsea, silenced Anfield, and now step into a blue cauldron at the Etihad. It's a trial by fire for Tiger King, but he's passed every test so far. The real question is: can he claim the city next?"
As the sun began to set over Manchester, the air was thick with anticipation. The city was split in red and blue. The stakes were clear—not just three points, but bragging rights, pride, and momentum in a title race that was heating up faster than anyone had expected.