Chapter 642: Respite!

The final whistle had not yet arrived, but some of the Manchester United supporters had already seen enough.

They watched from the away end as the Wigan players gathered around Leo, then gradually dispersed while the broadcast replayed his goal.

A few supporters remained standing with their arms folded.

Others shook their heads, exchanging frustrated remarks with the people beside them.

Beyond the advertising boards, Wigan’s home support kept singing, celebrating a match that had somehow become more astonishing with every passing minute.

When the referee finally directed the players towards the tunnel, the difference between the two sets of supporters was impossible to miss.

Wigan fans clapped their players off, some leaning over the barriers to shout their names.

The away end, meanwhile, had grown noticeably quieter, more than a graveyard.

United’s players walked towards the tunnel with their heads lowered, and several supporters watched them go without applauding.

The score on the stadium screens remained impossible to ignore.

WIGAN ATHLETIC 4–2 MANCHESTER UNITED.

At the Sky Sports studio, the cameras settled on Kelly Cates and Jamie Redknapp.

The latter, as a former Liverpool player, had spent much of the first half shouting and jumping in ecstasy as the match went on.

Even now, with the players off the pitch, he looked as though he hadn’t quite caught up with everything he’d witnessed.

"Well, Cates," he began, turning towards his colleague, "I think we need to take a breath and work out what we’ve just watched. Manchester United started this match brilliantly.

They went two goals ahead, they looked comfortable, and for the first twenty-five minutes, Wigan were struggling to get a foothold. Then, in the space of nine minutes, everything changed."

Cates nodded, leaning forward with her hands clasped and a smile on her face.

"I think the most important thing is that Wigan didn’t panic when they went two down. They were getting frustrated. Leo was being crowded out, their passing was rushed, and United were finding space through midfield.

There were moments when you wondered whether Wigan had finally come up against a side capable of making them uncomfortable for a full ninety minutes."

"And then they scored."

"The question for United now is whether they can change the game without making it worse," Cates added as Jamie nodded.

"Because chasing two goals can tempt a team into doing too much too soon."

"Exactly. They need to get back into the match, but they can’t turn every possession into an attack. Wigan are dangerous when they win the ball and find space to run into.

If United’s full-backs both push on and the midfield loses possession, they’re leaving themselves exposed."

"So you’d want a little more control first?"

"For the first ten minutes, certainly. Get the ball moving, make Wigan defend, and see whether you can create something without forcing it.

An early goal changes the picture. But if they concede again, there’s a real danger this gets away from them."

The two went at it for a while, addressing the tones of the game and what both sides could do to ensure they stayed in the game or kept their lead.

Eventually, the fifteen-minute break ticked to its end, prompting the duo to relinquish the feed back to the stadium where the camera cut to Ten Hag near the touchline, speaking briefly to Amad before the winger took his position where Garnacho had been a while back.

Lindelof was settling alongside Varane, while Casemiro had moved closer to the centre-backs.

"Welcome back folks, and we have some changes on our hands. Those changes suggest United want a different balance," Bower observed as he came over the broadcast.

"Amad gives them another way to carry the ball forward, and Lindelof may offer a calmer presence at the back. Casemiro dropping deeper should help them build, too."

"Provided they can get the ball to him in good positions," Fletcher replied.

"And provided the players ahead of him give him options. You can’t solve a problem like this with substitutions alone. United need to make better decisions on the pitch."

Still, it wasn’t just Ten Hag making the changes.

Dawson had spent the interval watching the first half again in his head, particularly the periods when United had managed to escape Wigan’s press.

His team had scored four, but they had also spent long stretches chasing the ball.

The lead was substantial, but the match was not yet finished.

And so, with his changes, Tiehi came off, and Jordan Henderson took his place beside Leo in the double pivot.

Whatmough was also withdrawn after appearing to pick up a knock during the first half, meaning O’Shea replaced him at centre-back, making his way into position beside Curtis Tilt.

Through the stream of players making their way off the pitch, Leo appeared with the captain’s armband strapped around his upper arm.

To that, a few supporters pointed him out to the people beside them.

Others began applauding, and the sound spread across the home stands until the applause became a warm, sustained roar.

Leo glanced towards the supporters and then raised a hand in acknowledgement before continuing towards the pitch.

"There’s another interesting development," Bower said

as the camera followed him.

"Leo Calderon is wearing the captain’s armband for Wigan Athletic. This is only the second time we’ve seen him take on that responsibility, and he’s doing it in a match that has already demanded an extraordinary amount from him."

"It’s a significant decision from Dawson," Fletcher replied.

"Leo’s only eighteen, and he’s already carrying so much of the creative responsibility. Now he’s being asked to lead the side as well. But I don’t think it’s simply about his age or his ability.

Look at the way he reacts when Wigan concede possession. He demands the ball, he keeps asking for it, and when things go wrong, he doesn’t disappear."

On the pitch, Henderson walked beside Leo as the two approached their positions.

"Right,"the former Liverpool captain said, speaking low enough that the nearby players wouldn’t hear every word.

"You’ve got the armband now, so let’s use your head a bit. You don’t need to chase every ball from one side of the pitch to the other. Pick your moments.

If you want to go forward, let me know, and I’ll make sure there’s someone behind you."

Leo nodded before looking towards the other half.

"And let’s go score some more," Henderson added, causing Leo to turn to him, raising an eyebrow.

"That’s the idea, isn’t it?"