Chapter 504: Unexpected Predicament
Huddersfield is located in the northwest of England, just 40 kilometers from Manchester. As a newly promoted team this season, Huddersfield had spent 45 years in the lower leagues of English football. Their promotion to the Premier League last season was seen as somewhat lucky.
They participated in the promotion playoffs as the fifth-placed team in the Championship, first eliminating Sheffield Wednesday on away goals, and then drawing 0-0 with Reading in the playoff final, ultimately winning promotion through a penalty shootout.
However, those familiar with the history of English football know that Huddersfield was once the strongest team in English football. They won the old First Division three years in a row from the 1923-1924 season to the 1925-1926 season, becoming the first team in English football history to achieve this feat.
However, since World War II, Huddersfield had declined. They had not been promoted to the top flight since being relegated from the old First Division in 1972, until now.
At the start of the new season, Huddersfield performed very well in the Premier League, even ranking in the top three in the first three rounds. However, as the season progressed, their underdog status faded, and after eight rounds, they had only managed 2 wins, 3 draws, and 3 losses, ranking 12th in the league.
Especially since their two consecutive wins at the beginning of the season, Huddersfield had not won in six consecutive league matches. In this context, Huddersfield welcomed the Premier League giants Manchester United.
...
Manchester United, carrying the momentum of eight consecutive Premier League wins and fourteen consecutive wins in all competitions, traveled north from Manchester to Huddersfield with an overwhelming momentum.
After all, one team was playing in the Premier League for the first time in history, and the other was Manchester United, who had won the Premier League title fourteen times. One team had not won in their last six Premier League matches, while the other had eight consecutive wins without conceding a goal in the new season.
In everyone's view, this was a match without any suspense, with the only uncertainty being how many goals Huddersfield would concede at home.
However, when the game began, the development was completely unexpected.
Due to consecutive tough matches against Liverpool and Roma within a week, Mourinho made extensive rotations to Manchester United's lineup, with many main players, including Bruno, not starting. Only goalkeeper De Gea and Valencia continued to start.
United suffered a blow in the 23rd minute when center-back Phil Jones was injured and couldn't continue. Mourinho had to replace him with Lindelof.
This substitution disrupted United's rhythm, and the home team Huddersfield began to take control of the game.
Huddersfield took the lead in the 28th minute. Mooy intercepted Mata at the center line, advanced and passed the ball to Ince, whose shot was saved by De Gea, but Mooy followed up and scored from 10 yards.
Five minutes later, the home team doubled their lead. Lossl's long ball was misjudged by Lindelof, allowing Depoitre to go around the advancing De Gea and score, making it 2-0.
Conceding two goals in five minutes completely stunned United's makeshift lineup. They didn't recover their composure for the next ten minutes.
It wasn't until injury time in the first half that United had their first threatening shot. Fellaini's shot from the edge of the box was blocked by Tommy Smith.
...
At halftime, Mourinho tore into his players in the dressing room, leaving them looking like frightened quails, heads down, not daring to retort.
For fifteen minutes, Mourinho berated them for five, then spent five minutes on tactical adjustments before leaving the dressing room.
The dressing room was dead silent, with the players looking lost. Everyone had the same feeling: without that man, they felt directionless.
But they took some comfort in knowing that man would be back at the start of the second half.
Yes, in the dressing room, Mourinho had already made arrangements for a substitution at the start of the second half. Captain Bruno would come on.
Indeed, as the second half began, the fourth official raised the substitution board. Number 13 Juan Mata off, number 8 Bruno Fernandes on; number 39 Scott McTominay off, number 9 Harry Kane on.
Using all three substitutions at the start of the second half, Mourinho was going all-in. This clearly showed his determination: he wanted his players to win back their pride with a victory!
...
Coming on as a substitute, Bruno did not take his familiar attacking midfielder position but formed a front three with Harry Kane and Lingard, playing as the left winger.
As soon as the second half began, United focused their attacks down the left, with Bruno looking very active and energetic.
Tommy Smith closely marked Bruno. Aware of Bruno's reputation, Smith was cautious, giving him no chances and constantly sticking to him, trying to use his physical strength.
Having played for years in the Championship, Smith prided himself on his physicality. Even against Tottenham's renowned Son Heung-min, he had held his own. Although Bruno was more famous and perhaps more skilled, Smith believed he could match him physically.
In the 49th minute, in their first physical confrontation for the ball, Smith realized something was wrong. Despite pushing hard, he couldn't outmuscle Bruno, who quickly recovered his balance and maintained possession, even finding an opportunity to cross, although Kane couldn't get to it.
...
Smith was surprised, realizing Bruno's physical strength was impressive. He took a closer look at Bruno's arms, visible under his loose jersey, and saw defined muscles, confirming his assessment.
But the game moved quickly, leaving Smith no time to ponder. Bruno soon received another pass and advanced once more.
This time, during a counter-attack, Bruno carried the ball to Huddersfield's box alone, facing Smith and two other defenders.
Expecting Bruno to slow down and wait for teammates, Smith was caught off guard when Bruno accelerated into the box, leaving him behind and firing a powerful shot that just missed, flying over the bar and into the stands.
Huddersfield's 20,000 fans breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Even manager David Wagner was startled.
...
Bruno shook his head in frustration as he walked back. That shot had been too rushed.
"Calm down! Calm down!" he reminded himself. Rushing was a scorer's worst enemy.
Scoring a single goal wasn't difficult, but consistently scoring required not only skill but strong mental fortitude, especially maintaining a calm mindset.
"Good job!" Lingard congratulated him.
"It would've been better if it had gone in," Bruno laughed.
Lingard replied, "Looks like you're in good form today."
Bruno nodded, agreeing he felt good, but not exceptional.
"Ashley, be more aggressive. I can hold the ball, trust me," Bruno said to Ashley Young.
Young had been shaken by conceding two goals in the first half and was playing cautiously.
"I'll move outside if you cut inside, or vice versa. If needed, I'll cover for you," Bruno assured.
Young gave a thumbs up, indicating he understood.
Although older, Young respected Bruno's status and influence on the team and in world football.
...
United soon launched another attack, this time from a counter-attack. Harry Kane intercepted the ball and passed it to Bruno on the left.
As Bruno charged diagonally into the box, Young followed Bruno's instructions, overlapping on the wing.
Bruno, drawing defenders, suddenly passed to the byline. Young received the ball, drove into the box, and crossed to the far post.
Kane, arriving late, calmly slotted the ball into Huddersfield's net.
1-2, United pulled one back!
This was just sixteen minutes into the second half!
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