Chapter 419: League Cup Final
On the afternoon of February 26, 2017, at the new Wembley Stadium in London, the atmosphere was electric as players from both teams waited in the tunnel to step onto the pitch. The stadium announcer was introducing the lineups, and each name was met with a roar of approval from the fans.
The new Wembley Stadium can hold up to 90,000 fans. For this match, around 42,000 Southampton supporters and nearly 50,000 Manchester United fans filled the stands.
Commentators were also setting the scene: "This is Manchester United's ninth League Cup final. They've won the title four times before, in 1992, 2006, 2009, and 2010. The Red Devils have won their last five matches at Wembley. In contrast, this is Southampton's first-ever League Cup final."
"This is Mourinho's fourth League Cup final. He won all three of his previous finals. If he wins today, he will tie with Ferguson and Brian Clough as the most successful managers in League Cup history."
The starting lineups were displayed on TV screens:
Manchester United (4-2-3-1):
Goalkeeper: De GeaDefenders: Valencia, Van Dijk, Maguire, RojoDefensive Midfielders: Herrera, KanteMidfielders: Mata, Bruno, LingardForward: Ibrahimovic
Mourinho fielded his strongest lineup, as expected.
Southampton (4-2-3-1):
Goalkeeper: Fraser ForsterDefenders: Cedric Soares, Maya Yoshida, Stephens, BertrandDefensive Midfielders: Romeu, Steven DavisMidfielders: Ward-Prowse, Tadic, RedmondForward: Gabbiadini
Southampton's lineup surprised many. They benched key players like Boufal and Shane Long, opting instead for Gabbiadini as the striker.
Seeing Southampton's lineup, Mourinho smiled slightly. It confirmed his pre-match suspicion that Southampton wasn't fully committed to winning the League Cup. Manager Puel's psychological tactics were more of a smoke screen; Southampton was prepared to adapt based on how the game unfolded.
For Southampton, the League Cup offered a rare chance at silverware, but facing a formidable Manchester United, they had little expectation of winning. Puel's lineup showed a mix of regulars and rotated players, suggesting a cautious approach—if United faltered, Southampton would pounce; otherwise, they wouldn't overextend themselves.
Puel, like Mourinho, closely watched the match unfold. For Southampton, a League Cup win would be a bonus, but losing wouldn't be devastating. Despite Puel's confident pre-match statements, they were largely for show.
The key would be the opening phase of the match. If United could assert dominance early or take an early lead, it would likely demoralize Southampton.
As the match began, the atmosphere was electrifying, with the stands lit up by camera flashes and the roar of fans.
Southampton launched the first attack, but it quickly fizzled out without threatening United's goal. The expressions on the Southampton players and coach showed they weren't too disheartened. They knew the real challenge lay in United's response.
United took control, with Kante passing to Bruno, who outmaneuvered Romeu and orchestrated an attack. Rojo made a decoy run, drawing defenders away and allowing Bruno to send a precise cross towards Ibrahimovic.
Ibrahimovic controlled the ball beautifully, but just as he prepared to shoot, Yoshida nudged him. The slight push didn't affect Ibrahimovic's balance, who then passed to the onrushing Lingard.
Lingard, charging like a tank, collided with Stephens and fell in the box. Cries of "dive" from Southampton fans clashed with "penalty" from United supporters. Referee Marriner pointed to the spot: penalty for United.
Southampton's manager Puel was furious, protesting vehemently. Meanwhile, Mourinho celebrated, indifferent to the controversy. Replays showed Stephens tripping Lingard, confirming the penalty decision.
Lingard took the penalty, sending Forster the wrong way and scoring. The stadium erupted as United led 1-0 within three minutes—a perfect start for Mourinho's men.
Lingard's celebration, kissing the United badge, delighted nearly 50,000 United fans in attendance. Mourinho and his assistant Faria high-fived, knowing this early goal set the stage for a more comfortable match.
Puel, however, was livid, muttering under his breath, knowing the match had just become significantly harder.
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Cortez10