Chapter 518: A New Era Begins
Manchester United's 2-1 victory over Atlético Madrid with an almost entirely reserve lineup garnered more attention than their previous thrashings of Arsenal (4-0), Watford (5-0), and Newcastle (8-1). True football connoisseurs understand that while big wins are impressive, the real test of a team lies in tightly contested matches like this one.
Atlético Madrid has been one of the most successful teams in recent Champions League history, reaching the finals twice (2013-2014 and 2015-2016), the quarterfinals in 2014-2015, and the semifinals in 2016-2017. Their consistent performance has placed them second in UEFA's club rankings, behind only Real Madrid, who have won the tournament three times in the past four years.
Given Atlético's formidable reputation, United's win with a reserve squad was nothing short of astonishing.
"Being able to beat a strong team like Atlético Madrid with a reserve lineup demonstrates Manchester United's squad depth and tactical maturity. In such intense matches, their ability to hold on and clinch a victory is key to achieving good results over a long season," wrote Duncan Castles in his column for The Times. He emphasized that big wins are one-offs, while tough, closely fought victories speak volumes about a team's resilience and stability.
Media Praise for Manchester United
Manchester United's excellent form earned them widespread media praise. As December began, Bruno Fernandes had scored 30 goals across all competitions for United and provided 17 assists. This meant he had contributed to 47 goals, a staggering figure considering United had scored 91 goals in total in all competitions, giving Bruno a hand in more than half of them.
United boasted the most potent attack in Europe, averaging 3.64 goals per game with their 91 goals in 25 matches. Paris Saint-Germain came second with 75 goals in 16 Ligue 1 games, 25 Champions League goals, and 2 in the French Super Cup. Real Madrid, considered the strongest team in world football, had 53 goals from 14 La Liga matches, 17 in the Champions League, 4 in the Copa del Rey, and 5 in the Spanish Super Cup.
While Bruno's 30 goals were impressive, other United players also contributed significantly, totaling 61 goals. Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, and Kylian Mbappe each scored in double digits, with 13 players finding the net throughout the season.
The Manchester Evening News dedicated an entire page to United's stellar performance, headlined "The Frenzied Bruno and Astonishing Manchester United."
The Guardian, a known supporter of United, praised Mourinho and the players under the title: "Who Can Stop Them?" The article featured the Premier League standings and United's upcoming fixtures before Christmas:
Premier League Standings:
Manchester United - 15 wins, 45 points Manchester City - 14 wins, 1 draw, 43 points Chelsea - 9 wins, 2 draws, 4 losses, 29 points Liverpool - 8 wins, 5 draws, 2 losses, 29 points Arsenal - 9 wins, 1 draw, 5 losses, 28 points
Upcoming Matches:
December 10 - Premier League: Manchester United vs. Manchester City December 13 - Premier League: Manchester United vs. Bournemouth December 17 - Premier League: West Brom vs. Manchester United December 20 - EFL Cup: Bristol City vs. Manchester United December 23 - Premier League: Leicester City vs. Manchester United
Of these five matches, only Manchester City posed a significant threat to United's unbeaten run. The other four teams were mid to lower-tier Premier League clubs or a Championship side, making an upset unlikely.
European Golden Ball Awards
On December 7th, the 2017 Ballon d'Or ceremony, organized by France Football, took place at the Eiffel Tower in Paris. By 7:40 PM, 27 out of the top 30 players had been announced, leaving only Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, and Lionel Messi in contention for the top three spots.
As expected, Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo won his fifth Ballon d'Or, beating out Bruno and Messi. His girlfriend, Georgina, received a special gift—a baby outfit adorned with five Ballon d'Or trophies.
Ronaldo's 2017 performance had been extraordinary, scoring 42 goals and providing 9 assists in 46 appearances for Real Madrid. He led them to victory in the Champions League, La Liga, and the Spanish Super Cup, with more silverware expected from the Club World Cup.
Unlike some previous years where critics claimed Ronaldo "rode on the team's success," in 2017, he was instrumental in Real Madrid's success, scoring crucial goals in both the Champions League and La Liga title races. His exceptional performances, especially in the Champions League knockout stages, solidified his claim to the Ballon d'Or.
Bruno Fernandes's Exceptional Year
Some fans felt that Bruno Fernandes might have had a shot at the Ballon d'Or due to his outstanding 2017 performance. Bruno had played 53 matches for Manchester United, scoring 53 goals and providing 34 assists, leading United to win six trophies: the Premier League, Europa League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, Community Shield, and UEFA Super Cup. Bruno achieved a full sweep of individual honors in the Premier League and won the 2016-2017 European Golden Shoe, surpassing Messi.
For the Portuguese national team, Bruno's performance outshone even Ronaldo's. In the World Cup qualifiers, he scored 19 goals and provided 13 assists, becoming the top scorer and assist provider in the UEFA zone. He also shone in the Confederations Cup, scoring 6 goals in 4 matches, leading Portugal to victory.
Overall, Bruno had directly contributed to 111 goals in 2017, surpassing his 2016 record of 122 goals and assists combined. With seven matches left in the year, Bruno was on track to set a new record, further solidifying his status as one of the best in the world.
Despite these achievements, Bruno's absence from the 2016-2017 Champions League, where he played in the Europa League instead, was a significant disadvantage compared to Ronaldo's stellar performances in Europe's top competition. Ronaldo's back-to-back Champions League titles and his decisive performances in the knockout stages were crucial in his retaining the Ballon d'Or.
The Future: Bruno's Era
Objectively speaking, Ronaldo, nearing 33 years old, despite his greatness and dedication, cannot escape the natural decline that comes with age. His slow start in the current season's La Liga hinted at this inevitable decline. In contrast, Bruno, nine years younger, was entering the peak of his career.
Since the new season began, Bruno had led United to a 15-game winning streak in the Premier League, scoring 23 goals and providing 12 assists. His form was explosive.
Bruno's performances were equally impressive in the Champions League, where he had 5 goals and 5 assists in five matches, maintaining a contribution rate of two goals per game.
Given his young age and incredible form, it's clear that as Ronaldo and Messi age, the football world is on the brink of a new era—Bruno Fernandes's era.
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