The floodlights of Old Trafford cast their glow over the pitch as the match between Manchester United and Derby County was about to begin. The commentators' voices rang out, filling the airwaves with excitement.
"Welcome, everyone, to what promises to be a thrilling encounter here at Old Trafford," the first commentator, a deep-voiced veteran, said. "We've got a star-studded Manchester United lineup on the field tonight, with Bruno Fernandes pulling the strings in midfield, Marcus Rashford leading the attack, and, of course, the legendary Wayne Rooney, returning to face his former club, Derby County."
His colleague, the second commentator, responded with a slight chuckle. "Yes, you're absolutely right. Manchester United are rolling out their best, looking to get a win and build some momentum as they push for a top-four finish. They've got their usual starting lineup—De Gea in goal, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelöf, and Shaw in defense, with Pogba, Bruno Fernandes, and Fred in midfield. And then up front, Rashford, Ighalo, and Greenwood. This is the kind of game they expect to dominate. But..."
"But don't discount Derby County just yet," the first commentator interjected. "They've been a revelation in the FA Cup this season, unbeaten in their campaign so far. And they've got some exciting young talent. Their new star, David Jones, has been on fire, scoring two goals and assisting once in his last two FA Cup matches. And let's not forget that stunning goal he scored against Crystal Palace—an absolute beauty."
"Right, he's been a player to watch," the second commentator agreed. "That goal against Palace was something special. It'll be interesting to see how he handles the pressure tonight. Can he keep his form against one of the Premier League's heavyweights? It's a big test for him, and for Derby County as a whole. They'll need all hands on deck if they want to stand a chance."
The atmosphere in the stadium was electric, the tension palpable as the players took their positions on the field. The sound of the crowd, a mix of roaring chants and nervous anticipation, filled the air. The players, too, were ready—this was no ordinary match.
As the referee blew his whistle, signaling the start of the game, the ball was passed to Bruno Fernandes, and the pace of the match quickly picked up. Manchester United immediately took possession, but Derby County wasn't backing down. In the first few minutes, it was clear that the Rams weren't intimidated by their opposition's reputation.
Derby's midfield, led by Jason Knight and the ever-impressive Max Bird, was holding its ground against United's dynamic trio of Pogba, Fernandes, and Fred. The Rams pressed high, and their pace was impressive. They weren't giving Manchester United a chance to settle into their rhythm, disrupting their flow with tactical precision.
David, playing just behind the front two, was caught off guard by the intensity of the game. The way Derby County was controlling the tempo was impressive—he had expected United to dominate, but they seemed sluggish, off the pace. His eyes darted around, trying to process what was happening.
'Wait,' David thought, his mind racing as he sprinted up the pitch. 'These guys are supposed to be third in the Premier League, right? Top of the table, fighting for a Champions League spot? How are we outplaying them right now?'
His confusion grew. United had been expected to come out with all guns blazing, but instead, it was Derby County dictating the play. Every time the ball came near United's defense, it was Derby County players making clever runs, cutting off passing lanes, and forcing United into mistakes.
In the 11th minute, as the ball was passed out wide to Marcus Rashford, David couldn't help but blink and glance at his teammates. Rashford, usually a threat with his pace, was struggling to find space. Harry Maguire, normally solid at the back, looked shaky. And Bruno Fernandes, the maestro of United's midfield, had yet to make any real impact.
'This can't be happening,' David thought, feeling a sudden wave of disbelief. 'We're playing the team that's third in the Premier League, one of the biggest clubs in the world, and we're controlling the game... How?'
David felt a strange mix of excitement and disbelief. He had always admired United from afar, watching them on TV as a young boy, dreaming of playing in a stadium like this one day. But now, as he stood on the pitch, it was becoming clear that things weren't what he had imagined. The team he had once thought of as unstoppable was being outclassed by a Championship side. Was this what it was really like in the top flight? Or had he, in his eagerness, overestimated them?
The ball was switched quickly across to Luke Shaw on the left wing, who tried to break forward, but Derby County was all over him. David saw an opportunity and sprinted toward the space, calling for the ball. He knew this moment could be his—his chance to showcase his talent on one of the biggest stages in the world. But the situation was strange; he wasn't feeling the pressure that he thought would be there. The game wasn't moving at the pace he had expected from a Premier League powerhouse.
As the match pressed on, David found himself thinking back to his younger years, watching Manchester United take the Premier League by storm with their attacking brilliance, their lightning-fast counterattacks, their ruthless pressing. He had expected to face the same intensity tonight. But now, he wondered: Had I been too idealistic? Were these "top" teams just names and reputations, or did they really have the firepower to back it up?
"Come on, Jonesy!" Jason shouted from across the field, snapping David out of his thoughts. "Get in there! This is our game!"
David nodded, shaking off his doubt. There was no time to dwell on the past or the label of Manchester United. Right now, it was just him, the ball, and the chance to make his mark.
With the game in full swing, David knew one thing for sure: he wasn't going to let this moment slip away.