Tiger King stood on the sidelines, arms crossed, his sharp gaze dissecting every movement on the training ground. The players had responded to his outburst with more focus, their passes crisper, their runs sharper—but something was still missing.
Earlier that day, he had finally snapped. After watching another sloppy training session filled with careless passes, unnecessary dribbling, and a complete lack of urgency, Tiger had blown his whistle hard and stormed onto the pitch.
"I told you to enjoy football," he said, his voice sharp as a blade. "Not to turn training into a damn circus! What the hell is this?"
The players exchanged uneasy glances. Some looked to Rooney, others to Vidic, hoping for an answer. No one spoke.
Tiger pointed toward the distant goalpost. "According to the way you're playing right now, even a bottom-half Premier League team would put two or three past you without breaking a sweat!"
Silence. Heavy, suffocating silence.
"You think this is how champions train?" His voice was lower now, but no less intense. "You think this is how Ferguson built a dynasty? By playing around like amateurs?" He let the words hang in the air. The weight of them pressed down on every single player.
Then, just as abruptly as his fury had erupted, he straightened, exhaled, and said calmly, "Training is over. Get out of my sight."
As he walked off the pitch, his boots crunching against the grass, he heard hurried footsteps behind him.
"Captain, what's wrong with you today?" Tiger didn't need to turn to know it was Scholes.
Scholes caught up, falling in step beside him. "Why the sudden anger? This isn't like you."
Tiger sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Paul, tell me the truth… Have I made a mistake telling them to 'enjoy football'?"
Scholes didn't hesitate. "No. Football is meant to be enjoyed. But enjoying football doesn't mean laziness. It means loving the fight. Loving the challenge. Loving the hunger."
Tiger nodded slowly, his thoughts racing. Scholes glanced back toward the players, now dispersing, their faces still pale from the dressing down they had just received. Lowering his voice, he said, "Their hunger… it's fading."
Tiger frowned. "What do you mean?"
Scholes looked ahead, his expression unreadable. "They've won everything, boss. Some of them don't have that same burn anymore."
The words hit Tiger like a hammer. He had seen this before. The rise and fall of great teams—Inter under Mourinho, Milan under Ancelotti. When success became a habit, hunger faded. And hunger was what separated champions from legends.
He continued watching the players as they walked off the training ground. He could see the concern on Rooney's face. The frustration in Vidic's body language. The quiet contemplation in Carrick's slow steps.
Comfort breeds complacency. And complacency kills dynasties.
If his squad thought they could coast through the season and expect success, they were in for a rude awakening. The fire needed to be reignited. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Now.
He had been patient long enough. It was time to remind them what it meant to wear the badge of Manchester United.
This was the first true test of Tiger King's squad under his leadership. Though the opposition in Thailand, Hong Kong, and Japan was weak on paper, he knew better than to take anything lightly. Complacency had no place in his team.
Even so, the commercial aspect of the trip frustrated him. Endless sponsorship events, photo sessions, and media obligations drained the energy of the players. By the time they arrived in Japan, he could see the fatigue setting in. That's why he insisted on a full rest day before their first match. The players needed recovery, mentally and physically, if they were to approach these games seriously.
Woodward, however, was in a different world altogether. The commercial director beamed as he checked the club's soaring financial figures. The business deals struck during this tour were filling United's coffers, and he couldn't have been more pleased. But football wasn't won in boardrooms—it was won on the pitch.
The 4-4-2 was set. Tiger had no intention of overcomplicating things. The squad was already accustomed to this shape under Ferguson, and stability was the key to early success. Tactics could evolve, but first, the fundamentals had to be drilled in.
The lineup for the first match was chosen with care.
Goalkeeper: De Gea, the undisputed number one.
Defenders: The legendary partnership of Ferdinand and Vidic at the heart of the defense, flanked by Ashley Young at left-back and Rafael at right-back.
Midfield: The reliable Carrick for control, Kagawa for creativity. Giggs and Nani provided width.
Forwards: Rooney and Van Persie, the spearheads of the attack.
There is no limit on the number of substitutes and substitutions in this friendly match, so Tiger King simply registered everyone to substitute.
This was the backbone of the squad that had conquered England last season. The same warriors who had lifted the Premier League trophy under Sir Alex Ferguson. But now, under Tiger King, they had to prove that they could do it again.
There were some notable changes—not radical, but precise. Evra was gone, and in his place, Ashley Young was repurposed as a left-back. It was an unconventional move, but Tiger saw potential in Young's pace and attacking instincts, much like Valencia's transition to right-back. Anderson, with his inconsistency and underwhelming displays, was out. In his place, Kagawa was trusted to provide the creativity and link-up play that the team needed.
This was still United's title-winning core—Vidic, Ferdinand, Carrick, Giggs, Rooney, Van Persie. But could they still dominate? That was what this tour was about to reveal.