Chapter 648: The Target
West Ham United, determined to play the dragon slayer and end Manchester United's unbeaten streak in the Premier League, played aggressively from the start. Every player was relentlessly running and pressing United's midfielders and defenders.
Bruno quickly realized that as soon as he received the ball, West Ham's players would swarm him. Regardless of which direction he passed, there was always a risk of interception.
In essence, he had walked straight into the trap West Ham had set for him.
Mark Noble marked him tightly, but he wasn't the one tasked with winning the ball back. That responsibility rotated among Declan Rice, Felipe Anderson, or Pedro Obiang. Sometimes, even Yarmolenko or Arnautović would drop back to intercept.
For most players, this level of pressure would be overwhelming. But for Bruno, the greater the challenge, the greater the opportunity.
Even while surrounded, Bruno worked tirelessly to identify weaknesses in West Ham's setup. Though it was difficult, and he occasionally lost possession or misplaced passes under pressure, Bruno persisted. He believed that if he could execute just one perfect pass, it would be enough to create a significant threat to West Ham's goal.
Recognizing Bruno's struggles, his teammates began to adjust. The other two midfielders moved closer to him, reducing the distance between them to ease his passing options.
However, this came at a cost. With more players dropping deeper to support Bruno, the connection to the forward line weakened.
Strikers Harry Kane, Rashford, and Mbappé were forced to drop back to link up with the midfield. But as they moved further from West Ham's goal, their ability to pose a threat diminished.
The game became a midfield battle, with neither team able to create clear chances.
Stalemate
By the 25th minute, the game remained deadlocked. Both teams struggled to break through.
José Mourinho appeared content with the situation. A draw, especially away from home, was an acceptable outcome for United. He remained seated on the bench, showing no urgency to make adjustments.
In contrast, West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini was less patient. A draw wasn't enough for him, especially at home. He had come into this match with ambitions of ending United's unbeaten run.
While Pellegrini's strategy of targeting Bruno had succeeded in limiting the midfielder's influence, it also stifled his team's attacking potential. The midfield was overcrowded, leaving Arnautović isolated up front with little support.
Determined to shift the momentum, Pellegrini stood up from the bench and signaled for his full-backs, Zabaleta and Masuaku, to push higher up the pitch and join the attack.
Zabaleta, known for his attacking prowess, and Masuaku, with his powerful shot and decent crossing ability, were tasked with exploiting the wide areas.
A Tactical Shift
The introduction of West Ham's full-backs into the attack immediately changed the game.
As the midfield battle continued, Zabaleta and Masuaku began to stretch United's defense, creating space and opportunities.
United's defense suddenly found itself under pressure. David de Gea, United's goalkeeper, became the busiest man on the pitch, making several crucial saves to keep the game level.
In the 40th minute, Bruno received the ball in midfield but was quickly surrounded by Noble, Anderson, and Rice. Noble applied constant pressure, poking at Bruno's feet to disrupt his control. With no viable forward pass, Bruno was forced to play the ball backward.
The pass went to Virgil van Dijk, who hesitated, scanning for options. Arnautović, sensing an opportunity, charged at him, forcing a rushed pass to Luke Shaw on the left flank.
Shaw, under pressure, barely managed to control the ball near the sideline. As he adjusted his footing, Zabaleta pounced.
Shaw tried to nutmeg Zabaleta with a quick flick, but the experienced Argentine anticipated the move. Closing his legs just in time, Zabaleta intercepted the ball and surged forward into United's half.
A Dangerous Break
"Zabaleta breaks free!" the commentator roared. "This is the moment West Ham have been waiting for! Just De Gea and the two United center-backs stand in his way!"
Bruno, having moved after passing the ball, was the closest United player to Zabaleta. Chasing back from an angle, he realized the urgency of the situation.
Without hesitation, Bruno lunged into a sliding tackle, aiming for Zabaleta's heel.
The Argentine full-back anticipated the challenge. Flicking the ball forward, Zabaleta leaped over Bruno's outstretched legs, landing gracefully and continuing his run.
"Bruno misses! Zabaleta's through!"
United's center-backs, Maguire and van Dijk, scrambled to cover Zabaleta. But with space opening up behind them, danger loomed.
In the center of the pitch, N'Golo Kanté stood alone, trying to hold off the wave of attackers rushing forward.
What would happen next? Could United's defense withstand West Ham's assault?
Zabaleta chose not to take the shot himself. Spotting Arnautović positioned in the middle, he passed the ball across.
The ball slipped through the gaps between Maguire and Van Dijk, with Kanté completely losing track of Arnautović behind him.
The towering Austrian forward, standing at 1.92 meters, comfortably controlled Zabaleta's pass, adjusted his stance, and unleashed a shot. De Gea dove for the save, but it was too late.
The ball rolled into the net, brushing past the goalpost.
"GOAL!!!" the West Ham commentator roared. "Arnautović! Marko Arnautović! What a strike! West Ham take the lead with a brilliant counterattack!"
Arnautović, elated, sprinted to the sideline. Cupping his hands behind his ears, he urged the fans to cheer louder, his message clear: he wanted the applause and the adoration to reach fever pitch.
The 50,000 fans at the London Stadium did not disappoint. Their roars of celebration reverberated throughout the arena, as if they intended to shake the massive structure to its foundations.
"Long live West Ham!"
This would be the only goal of the first half. Despite West Ham using the momentum to push harder and try to finish off Manchester United, the Red Devils, under Bruno's leadership, tightened their defense. They held off West Ham for the remainder of the half, preventing any further changes to the scoreline.
West Ham entered halftime with a 1–0 lead.
Halftime Talk
In the visitors' locker room, Mourinho addressed his players with a calm yet commanding tone.
"We conceded a goal, yes, but what concerns me more is how we performed in the first half."
Turning to Bruno, he continued, "Our midfield was bogged down by West Ham. They have five midfielders, while we only have three. Engaging in a tug-of-war in midfield with them? That's playing straight into their hands."
As an astute observer, Mourinho clearly saw the situation on the pitch. Using simple and precise language, he explained the tactical pitfalls to his team.
"So, we need to change things up in the second half. Bruno, you'll need to reduce your time on the ball. In fact, sometimes you'll have to avoid receiving the ball entirely. Our attacks don't always have to go through you."
Bruno nodded without protest. He had encountered similar situations before. In fact, during the first half, he had already tried to adapt, but the overall lack of intensity and sharpness from his teammates had made things difficult.
Mourinho shifted focus to the entire team.
"We need quicker passing and better movement off the ball. Both flanks must come alive. West Ham's full-backs are charging forward to assist; why can't ours do the same? If we can stretch their defense by attacking down the wings, their midfield will be forced to cover those areas, and Bruno will have more space in the middle."
On the tactical board, Mourinho sketched out the adjustments and reiterated the plan for the second half, ensuring every player understood their role.
As the team prepared to return to the pitch, Mourinho left them with a final motivational push:
"We're trailing, yes. But if we want to chase Arsenal's unbeaten record, we must give everything we have in the next 45 minutes. I know some of you may have lost the hunger after last season's unbeaten run and six trophies. But why not aim for something even greater? We're already 46 games unbeaten in the league—just three more, and we'll match Arsenal's 49-game record. Four games, and it's ours to break!"
Reigniting the Fire
Mourinho's words sparked something in the players. Many of them, including Bruno, seemed to have a sudden realization:
Why not go for Arsenal's record?
Indeed, the idea of becoming the team that rewrites history was intoxicating. They only needed to avoid defeat in three more Premier League games to equal Arsenal's legendary record. A fourth unbeaten match would make Manchester United the undisputed kings of the Premier League era.
Last season's triumphs had dulled the team's motivation, but now, a new goal re-energized them.
As they stepped back onto the pitch, Bruno clenched his fists, brimming with determination.
Bruno Rallies the Troops
While waiting for West Ham to emerge, Bruno gathered his teammates for a quick huddle on the field.
"I have to say," Bruno began, his voice loud and clear, "chasing the 49-game unbeaten record is a fantastic goal! Imagine this—when people talk about the longest unbeaten streak in Premier League history, they'll think of us. Doesn't that excite you?"
"Yes!"
"You're right, Bruno. Breaking the record would be incredible!"
"We've already gone 46 games unbeaten. If we win this one, that's 47. After that, 49 is just around the corner!"
The players responded enthusiastically, their voices rising in unison.
Bruno smiled and nodded. "Exactly, lads! And let's be real—West Ham? They've been our punching bag for two seasons now. Are we seriously going to let them stop us just before we make history? No chance! If we fight as one, if we give it everything we've got, I know—we all know—we can break that record!"
The players roared back:
"Break the record!"
"Take them down!"
"West Ham's got nothing on us!"
"Let's score and finish this!"
With renewed vigor and a clear goal in sight, Manchester United returned to the field, ready to turn the game around.
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