Manchester United – Tactical Training Room
Although the team had neither a match nor training scheduled today, Sir Alex Ferguson invited the entire squad to watch a youth match:
Ajax U15 vs Sporting CP U15.
After the viewing, he promised to treat everyone to dinner as a reward for Manchester United's recent run of impressive performances.
They had been on fire lately.
"Oh, our little Red Devil is in trouble," Ryan Giggs joked with a grin.
Everyone knew Ferguson adored those two kids.
If Manchester United signed them one day, no one would be surprised.
"Ajax's overall level is clearly stronger," Peter Schmeichel commented calmly.
"That Van der Vaart… his technique is ridiculous! David, looks like you'll have plenty of challengers in the future. These kids are getting scarier every year," Gary Neville teased.
"I'm not as naturally gifted as Van der Vaart," David Beckham admitted without hesitation.
Confident people don't deny their flaws.
Because they know no one can touch their strengths.
Among the crowd, the baby-faced assassin, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, quietly posted on social media:
"Come on, Kai!"
Solskjær liked Deng Kai very much. In a previous interview, Deng Kai had listed Solskjær among the three Manchester United players he admired most that year.
That was rare.
Perhaps because of that, Ferguson had been giving Solskjær more opportunities this season, using him more flexibly off the bench.
Amsterdam Arena – Match Continues
The match had reached the eighth minute.
Rafael van der Vaart once again dazzled on the right half-space. Though his final shot drifted wide, the home fans applauded wildly.
In the 10th minute, van der Vaart received a pass from Wesley Sneijder, slipped through a defender with a nutmeg, combined in a quick one-two, and created another dangerous chance.
Arrogant. Confident. Untouchable.
In the 12th minute, Sporting finally responded.
Cristiano Ronaldo beat his marker and cut inside for a shot. But in rushing the strike, he failed to generate power. The goalkeeper collected easily.
The keeper immediately rolled the ball to Sneijder, who had dropped deep.
Sneijder adjusted once — then launched a pinpoint long pass to van der Vaart.
Van der Vaart beat Semedo on the left, cut inside again, and forced Duarte into a desperate foul.
The referee blew the whistle and showed a yellow card without hesitation.
"Trouble. Another free kick — and from an even better position," Paul Scholes muttered.
"Oh, do they even need a decoy? Ajax are being overly cautious," Dwight Yorke laughed.
Sneijder stood over the ball alongside van der Vaart.
Both right-footed.
But Sneijder's left foot was a weapon too — a true two-footed monster.
Anyone with half a brain assumed van der Vaart would take it.
He was the star.
The primary free-kick taker.
The hottest player on the pitch.
Van der Vaart positioned himself slightly further back for a longer run-up. Sneijder stood closer — seemingly just a decoy.
The referee whistled.
Sneijder moved first.
Slow steps.
A cover run…
BOOM!
The ball flew.
Three-quarters of Sporting's wall didn't even jump.
The goalkeeper reacted late.
Too late.
The ball curled viciously into the net.
"GOAL! Sneijder! He takes it himself!"
"Two–nil! Ajax are on fire!"
"Both goals from free kicks! How the hell do you defend that?"
Van der Vaart and Sneijder celebrated wildly.
A golden midfield pairing in the making for the Netherlands.
Two goals in twelve minutes.
Ajax were cruising.
Deng Kai's Gamble
Deng Kai immediately gathered his teammates.
No more waiting.
Time to gamble.
Otherwise, they might as well pack up and go home.
"Sporting's players are grouping up. Deng Kai is signaling something… Is he changing tactics?" the commentator said.
The camera cut to Coach Maxa.
He looked confused.
But he couldn't show weakness — not in front of Ajax's staff.
So he nodded confidently, pretending this was all part of the master plan.
Sporting's shape shifted.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelino moved centrally — almost like shadow forwards.
Miguel Veloso abandoned zonal defense and tightly marked van der Vaart man-to-man.
"This is dangerous," Andy Cole frowned. "Leaving space like that…"
Roy Keane analyzed coldly:
"Three players in the center won't increase attacking chances. It'll just crowd the defense and kill width."
Beckham nodded.
"They're trying to force Sneijder deeper. But they forgot the second goal came from Sneijder's long pass from deep. He's still deadly."
Solskjær added:
"And by pulling the wingers back to cover for Veloso, they've basically surrendered both flanks."
"They should thank God Ajax don't have David out there — otherwise they'd concede ten bloody goals."
Beckham's crosses were legendary.
Sixty-five percent of Manchester United's Champions League goals that season were headers.
Eighty percent of those came from Beckham's deliveries.
Give up the wings against Manchester United?
That's tactical suicide.
Scholes' Realization
Only Paul Scholes remained silent.
Thinking.
Calculating.
Understanding.
He had a bold idea.
So outrageous he almost didn't dare say it.
No team, two goals down, would dare declare:
"Fine. You play for sixty minutes first."
But that's exactly what Scholes suspected.
Sporting weren't trying to neutralize Sneijder.
They were trying to exhaust him.
Exhaust van der Vaart.
Drain them physically.
Veloso's relentless man-marking wasn't about stopping flair.
It was about forcing constant movement.
If that was Deng Kai's real intention…
Then this wasn't cowardice.
It was psychological warfare.
Scholes stared at the screen.
When fans discuss masters, masters discuss Scholes.
And Scholes, right now, was studying Deng Kai's tactics with burning intensity.
Enjoying it.
Because somewhere inside, he realized—
This kid wasn't just talented.
He was dangerous.
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