Saturday, September 16, 2023
Old Trafford — Home Dressing Room
Pre-Match
The analyst pulled the substitutes aside while the starters took their final instructions, and Demien listened to the short version of what the bench might be asked to bring if the match turned — better control through midfield, cleaner pressure-release passing, a change of tempo against Brighton's build-up if the press lost its shape.
It wasn't framed as a backup with nothing to do. It had a purpose, and he took it that way, even if sitting still while the teamsheet stayed pinned by the door with his name in the wrong column didn't get easier just because he understood the reasoning behind it.
