Carrington — Tactical Suite, Morning Before Crystal Palace
The coaching suite was dimly lit, screens glowing with paused footage. On one wall: a looping clip of Palace in transition. On the other: a tactical board marked in red and blue magnets, triangles half-formed, midfield zones circled in dry-erase red.
Michael Carrick leaned back in his chair, arms folded. Still elegant in motion even when sitting still. He wasn't just Grant's assistant. He was the conduit between the past and what came next.
Mason Grant stood at the board, marker in hand.
To his left, Eric Steele, the goalkeeping coach. To his right, Ricardo Formosinho, his sharp-eyed tactical analyst. And pacing slowly at the back, Rene Meulensteen, back in an advisory role.
🎯 The Core Question
"So," Grant began. "What do we want them to see when United step onto the pitch?"
Not "how do we play?"Not "who starts?"
But what should it feel like to face them?
Carrick was first to respond.
"Aggression. Not in tackles. In decisions. We play forward even when we're thinking sideways."
"Tempo without chaos," Formosinho added. "Like Bayern's best seasons."
Grant nodded, scribbling as he spoke.
"Possession that hurts. Transitions with teeth. Fullbacks wide, but narrow under pressure. False width."
Meulensteen offered a warning.
"But don't forget the ghosts," he said. "The crowd doesn't cheer passing maps. They cheer risk. They cheer belief."
🧠 Carrick's Turn
Carrick stood now, moving to the screen. He played a clip — United vs Palace from the previous season. Slow buildup. Pass after pass. Nothing daring.
"Look at this," Carrick said. "It's safe. But it dies. We can't keep the ball just to say we did."
"So what's the fix?" Grant asked.
Carrick pointed to the shape.
"Triangle pressing. Triggers from Casemiro. Kroos or Carrick drops into the first phase, but we pull wide with Cancelo and Grimaldo. When the ball's lost, we collapse in numbers, not retreat."
Grant turned, marker poised.
"So we press only when we outnumber. No solo hunters."
"Exactly," Carrick said. "Force them to make a decision. Fast."
🧩 Tactical Identity Snapshot
In Possession:
3-2-5 shape with Casemiro or Carrick pivoting between the lines
Cancelo & Grimaldo push high and wide
Dybala floats as a hybrid 10/winger
Kroos links the back line and final third with diagonals
Out of Possession:
4-4-2 mid-block with Son and Dybala dropping into banks
Lukaku leads press in straight line
Casemiro triggers counter-press when the ball enters Zone 14
🔥 Final Words
Grant set the marker down. The room was quiet.
"We play to provoke. Not to react. Every pass, every movement — it should say to the opponent: You don't belong here."
He looked around.
"Tomorrow isn't just about points. It's about tone. We show them what it's going to be like to face United from now on."
Carrick gave the faintest nod.
Meulensteen just smiled.
Private Conversations. Private Promises.
🧠 Toni Kroos — The Metronome
Location: Office. Early July. Carrington. Rain tapping gently against the windows.
Grant didn't sell a dream. He sold clarity.
"You don't need to be a hero here. Just be the one who sets the rhythm no one else can match."
Kroos looked up. Still cautious.
"And if others don't follow the tempo?"
"Then we replace them," Grant said simply. "This team will learn to think at your speed — or they'll watch from the bench."
Kroos didn't smile. But he nodded. Slowly.
🐺 Heung-min Son — The Unselfish Star
Location: Carrington walking track, late afternoon.
The sun dipped behind the roof as Grant and Son jogged in slow circles.
"You'll make the runs no one applauds," Grant said.
"I've done that before," Son replied. "For Kane. For Korea."
Grant looked at him.
"Do it here, and you'll be remembered for the goals you made possible. Not just the ones you scored."
Son didn't speak again. He didn't need to.
🧱 Romelu Lukaku — Redemption & Responsibility
Location: Gym room. Empty except for the hum of machines.
Lukaku gripped the resistance rope harder than necessary.
"I've heard it all. Lazy. Clumsy. Not United level."
Grant handed him a towel and leaned forward.
"Then let's show them what you are. You don't need to convince them with words. Let the net do the talking."
"What if I miss?"
"Then you run it down and win the next ball. You're not here to be perfect. You're here to be relentless."
🎭 Paulo Dybala — The Free Spirit
Location: Tactical suite, lights off, screen glowing with clips of Baggio and Riquelme.
Dybala pointed at the screen.
"They weren't always trusted."
Grant looked at him.
"But they always trusted themselves. And so do you."
"Where do I play?"
"Where you see the game before the others do."
Dybala blinked, then smiled. Finally.
"False nine, or true ten?"
"Call it whatever you want," Grant said. "As long as you see the space before anyone else does."
These weren't tactics.
They were seeds.
Planted in private, destined to bloom under lights.