Manchester United vs Aston Villa.
That was the only thing on David Jones's mind throughout the night before matchday. He lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. It wasn't an official match, just a friendly, but that didn't matter to him. The excitement was still there, coursing through his veins, keeping him wide awake.
This match wasn't just another game—it was a chance. A chance to impress, to prove himself, to cement his place in the squad.
Thanks to Manchester United's deep run in the Europa League last season, reaching the semifinals, their first Premier League game of the new campaign had been postponed. Erik ten Hag, a meticulous tactician who left nothing to chance, had seen this as an opportunity. He didn't want to throw his squad straight into the fire without testing them first, so he arranged the only pre-season game for any Premier League team that summer—a final tune-up before the real battles began.
