Amsterdam Arena – Preseason Friendly: Ajax vs Manchester United
The stadium was half full, mostly locals curious to see their team test itself against a retooling Manchester United. No fanfare. No fireworks. Just two historic clubs and ninety minutes of silent judgment.
In the tunnel, Van Dijk looked across at the Ajax badge on the shirts ahead of him. Dutch soil, Dutch football. And now, him in red.
Starting XI – Manchester United
GK: David De Gea
RB: Antonio Valencia
CBs: Nemanja Vidic (C), Virgil van Dijk
LB: Patrice Evra
DM: Michael Carrick
CM: Toni Kroos
LAM: Nani
RAM: Shinji Kagawa
CAM: Wayne Rooney
ST: Robin van Persie
Bench: Casemiro, Marquinhos, Cancelo, Grimaldo, Salah, Son, Dybala, Lukaku
First Half – The Old Guard Holds
Ajax started sharp. Quick passing. Wide overloads.
For the first fifteen minutes, Vidic barked every instruction in Serbian-English hybrids, Van Dijk calmly sweeping the space behind him. The pair weren't a natural fit—yet—but the coverage was clean.
Carrick dropped between the centre-backs on goal kicks, building possession. Kroos stayed just far enough ahead to find Kagawa or Nani in pockets.
And up front?
Rooney and Van Persie interchanged constantly—one dropping deep, the other peeling off shoulders.
In the 23rd minute, it paid off.
GOAL – MANCHESTER UNITEDKroos → Rooney → backheel into space → Van Persie, first-time shot: 1-0.
Mason didn't celebrate. He simply turned to the bench and nodded. "Now they've seen it."
Second Half – The New Blood Arrives
At halftime, Mason made five changes:
Marquinhos on for Vidic
Grimaldo for Evra
Cancelo for Valencia
Casemiro for Carrick
Salah for Nani
The tempo shifted. Not faster—cleaner.
Casemiro barked in Portuguese, directing Kroos and Marquinhos like he'd been there years.Salah's first touch saw him burst 40 yards up the right flank, curling in a low ball Dybala nearly flicked into the net.
In the 68th minute, Mason whispered to Rooney:
"Come off. Let Dybala try that shadow space."
Rooney grinned. "You just want to see him float, don't you?"
Mason: "I want to see what happens when he vanishes."
Final Score: Ajax 0 - 2 Manchester United
In the 84th minute, Grimaldo intercepted a pass, found Kroos, who fed Son breaking the line, and the Korean calmly slotted the ball home.
No wild celebrations. But on the touchline, you could feel something:
This was Mason's team now.
Inside the Dressing Room – Postmatch
Vidic clapped Van Dijk on the back. "Strong. But don't let that Ajax boy spin you next time."
Van Dijk smirked. "I thought you had him."
Casemiro helped Carrick off with his boots. Quiet gestures. Mutual respect.
Salah and Grimaldo chatted in Spanish with Kagawa nodding along. The beginnings of chemistry.
Mason stood at the centre.
"You did what I asked. You played the structure—but made it yours. That's what we'll do every week now. Not play football. Build it."
Fault Lines and FormationsPreseason Friendlies – Week Two
Mason had three goals this week:
Test the 4-3-3 and 3-4-2-1 systems under match pressure.
Integrate fringe/new players against stronger opposition.
See how the team reacts when things don't go to plan.
The opponents were no pushovers:
Benfica – technical, compact, well-drilled.
Roma – aggressive, transitional, and ironically, Smalling's future club.
Athletic Bilbao – pressing monsters with relentless width.
Match One – vs Benfica (Neutral Venue, Geneva)
Formation: 4-3-3
GK: De Gea
DEF: Cancelo, Marquinhos, Van Dijk, Grimaldo
MID: Casemiro (CDM), Kroos (RCM), Rooney (LCM)
FWD: Salah (RW), Dybala (LW inverted), Lukaku (ST)
Outcome: Benfica 2 - 2 Manchester United
Summary:
United started brightly, pressing high.
Dybala scored early after cutting inside.
But Kroos and Rooney struggled to contain counterattacks, and Casemiro was overwhelmed when caught alone shielding the back four.
Benfica punished two sloppy giveaways.
Lesson:The 4-3-3 offered verticality but left the midfield exposed when both 8s pushed. Mason noted: Casemiro's not ready to hold it alone yet.
Match Two – vs Roma (Stadio Olimpico)
Formation: 3-4-2-1
GK: Henderson
CBs: Marquinhos, Vidic, Van Dijk
WBs: Grimaldo (LWB), Cancelo (RWB)
CMs: Kroos, Carrick
CAMs: Son, Kagawa
ST: Van Persie
Outcome: Roma 3 - 1 Manchester United
Summary:
Roma pressed Carrick into errors.
Grimaldo was caught high twice, exposing Marquinhos behind him.
Van Persie isolated up top; Kagawa and Son drifted too narrow.
Late consolation goal from Son after a nice Cancelo overlap.
Lesson:The 3-4-2-1 needed more aggressive midfielders. Kroos and Carrick couldn't cover the spaces left by wing-backs.Mason noted: If Casemiro starts here, maybe he plays next to Kroos, not Carrick.
Match Three – vs Athletic Bilbao (Old Trafford, final tune-up)
Formation: 4-2-3-1 (Return to Default)
GK: De Gea
DEF: Valencia, Rio, Vidic, Evra
DMs: Carrick, Casemiro
AMs: Kagawa, Rooney (central), Nani
ST: Van Persie
Outcome: Manchester United 1 - 0 Athletic Bilbao
Summary:
Tactical shape looked cleaner and more balanced.
Casemiro quietly excellent, shielding and distributing.
Nani man of the match, relentlessly attacking down the left.
Rooney nearly scored a stunner from 30 yards.
Goal from Van Persie, set up by a Carrick-to-Kagawa-to-Nani switch play.
Lesson:This team was most comfortable in the original 4-2-3-1.Mason scribbled in his notes:
"Start here. Experiment later."
Training Notes
Post-Bilbao, Mason split the squad:
Group A: Core starters trained in pattern play and final-third buildup.
Group B: Fringe and youth players worked on system drills in the 3-4-2-1 under Keiran McKenna.
Carrick pulled Mason aside after the Bilbao match:
"That 3-4-2-1—it could work. But not yet. They don't know each other well enough."
Mason nodded. "It'll be our shape for Europe. Once they learn to trust the spacing."