Chapter 507: Hazard
On the evening of October 24th, in the fourth round of the League Cup, a rotated Manchester United lineup defeated Swansea 2-0 away, advancing to the fifth round of the League Cup this season.
Four days later, at 12:30 PM on October 28th, Manchester United hosted Tottenham at Old Trafford for the tenth round of the Premier League. This match was a clash between the top team and the third-placed team in the league, making it the highlight of the round.
Despite an upcoming away game against Roma in Italy in three days, Mourinho fielded his strongest lineup for this match. Due to a clause in his contract, Harry Kane missed the game.
After an intense battle, United secured a last-minute victory with Bruno's goal in the 81st minute, achieving their tenth consecutive Premier League win and setting a new record for the best start in Premier League history. However, United did not widen the gap at the top of the table. Manchester City narrowly defeated West Brom 3-2 away, maintaining an impressive record of nine wins and one draw in the first ten rounds, trailing United by only two points.
From the third place onward, the points gap widened significantly. Despite losing, Tottenham remained in third place with a record of six wins, two draws, and two losses, earning 20 points. Chelsea ranked fourth with six wins, one draw, and three losses, garnering 19 points, followed closely by Arsenal with the same record but an inferior goal difference.
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Riding the momentum of ten consecutive league wins and seventeen straight wins in all competitions this season, Manchester United traveled to Rome, aiming for their eighteenth consecutive win. Having already established a five-point lead over Roma and an eight-point lead over Atletico Madrid in the first three rounds, a win in this match would secure United's place in the knockout stage two rounds early and potentially clinch the top spot in the group.
United were determined to win this match, but after a fierce contest, they could only draw 3-3 with Roma. Considering the circumstances, even securing one point at the Stadio Olimpico was fortunate. In the match, El Shaarawy, who did not start in the first leg, shone with a brace, and Perotti added another goal. For United, Bruno also scored twice, with Harry Kane netting an equalizer.
Just 38 seconds into the game, Kolarov crossed from the left, and Dzeko headed it down between Maguire and Van Dijk. El Shaarawy volleyed it into the top left corner, giving Roma a 1-0 lead. El Shaarawy's 38-second goal was the fastest in Roma's Champions League history and the fastest goal in this season's Champions League.
Bruno equalized for United in the 20th minute, cutting inside from the left and curling the ball into Roma's net. In the 37th minute, Nainggolan's cross from the left was inexplicably allowed by Lindelof, and El Shaarawy volleyed it home to make it 2-1 for Roma.
Just before halftime, Bruno's header from a corner brought United level again at 2-2. In the 63rd minute, Gundogan's misplaced pass was intercepted by Kolarov, who passed to Perotti. Perotti's shot from the left found the bottom corner, giving Roma their third lead of the match.
United equalized again in the 87th minute when Bruno drew all the defenders and passed to Harry Kane, who calmly slotted into an empty net.
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United's first match in November was against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. This was another tough game for United.
Before the match between United and Chelsea, another key match had already concluded at the Etihad Stadium. Manchester City defeated Arsenal 3-1 at home, temporarily topping the table by one point with an extra game played.
On November 5th, at 4:30 PM, Stamford Bridge, with a capacity of 41,000, was packed to the brim.
The match started tentatively for the first ten minutes, after which Chelsea began to attack aggressively. Playing at home, Chelsea were determined to win. United anticipated Chelsea's tactics and played a defensive counter-attacking game. Defense was the priority, and a 0-0 draw would be an acceptable result as it would keep them ahead of City on goal difference and retain the top spot.
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As Chelsea's star player, Eden Hazard continually threatened United's defense from the wings. To contain him, Bruno occasionally helped out on the flanks. In the first fifteen minutes, Hazard and Bruno had three direct encounters.
In the first two, Hazard used his teammates and his own skills to get past Bruno. In the third encounter, in the 14th minute, Hazard attempted to outmaneuver Bruno again. But Bruno anticipated Hazard's move and swiftly tackled the ball away. While Hazard managed to avoid the tackle, he lost control of the ball, which Bruno cleared to Kante, who then passed to Gundogan.
Hazard was visibly frustrated, muttering a curse under his breath. Despite successfully stopping Hazard, the match wasn't going well for United. Though they had a slight advantage, Chelsea's aggressive and direct style posed significant challenges for United's more organized and intricate playstyle.
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Chelsea fielded their strongest lineup for this match. Courtois was in goal, with Azpilicueta, Christensen, and Rudiger forming the back three. Moses, Matic, Fabregas, and Alonso made up the midfield, while Willian, Lukaku, and Hazard spearheaded the attack. Fabregas played a role similar to Bruno, linking the midfield and attack while also contributing defensively. Hazard and Willian operated on the wings, with Lukaku positioned as the central forward.
In the 23rd minute, United launched a counter-attack. Bruno received the ball in midfield, passed to Kante, and continued forward. Kante's pass to Gundogan was intercepted by Fabregas, and the ball fell to Hazard. Hazard sprinted forward, with Bruno trailing behind, determined to stop him at all costs. Hazard quickly passed the ball, and Willian moved centrally, drawing away Maguire.
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After passing the ball, Hazard continued his run forward. Bruno, momentarily distracted, saw Willian pass the ball back to Hazard, who then crossed it into the box. Lukaku chested the ball down and volleyed it past De Gea, who was caught off guard. Stamford Bridge erupted in cheers.
Despite the setback, United didn't push forward aggressively to equalize. Mourinho maintained a cautious approach, prioritizing defensive solidity.
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Hazard was highly active, frequently switching flanks and causing problems for United's defense. Bruno had to focus more on defense, often helping out against Hazard. Hazard seemed particularly energized when facing Bruno, enjoying the challenge.
When Hazard received the ball, he would sometimes turn his back to Bruno, unexpectedly opting for a slower, more controlled approach rather than a direct run. Bruno, however, was ready, anticipating Hazard's moves and effectively blocking his path.
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"Hey! That's obstruction!" Hazard protested to the linesman after being dispossessed by Bruno, who shrugged off the complaint and continued playing.
The first half ended with Chelsea leading 1-0. Mourinho praised United's defensive organization, noting their success in limiting Lukaku's chances. However, Hazard remained a constant threat.
During halftime, Mourinho instructed his team to continue their defensive focus and look for counter-attacking opportunities. Chelsea, on the other hand, aimed to increase their lead, knowing a one-goal advantage was fragile against United's potent attack.
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