chapter 649: Ambitions
Bruno clapped his hands and said, "I think Mr. Mourinho is absolutely right. We need to reduce the time we spend holding the ball in midfield. It makes West Ham's defense too easy—if they block our midfield, we can't move forward."
After rallying his team with passion, Bruno calmly analyzed the situation.
"I want everyone to keep running during the game. Luke and João, push forward and support the attack—don't worry about defense for now. We must score as quickly as possible. Don't feel like you have to pass the ball to me for every play or rely on me to organize our attacks... Here's my thought—let's get the ball to the wings directly, or even play long balls to Harry up front. My job will be to draw West Ham's attention.
"They're sticking to me like glue, so I don't have many chances to pass effectively. But since they're committing two or three players to mark me, there must be open spaces elsewhere. I might not be able to deliver the ball there, but you can. They're not paying much attention to you, and we can exploit that. Get the ball to whoever poses the biggest threat."
When Bruno finished, his teammates nodded in agreement.
"I don't have anything more to say. Let's speak with our feet, lads. We've got 45 minutes left, and we have the hope—and the ability—to win this game!"
Second Half Adjustments
As the second half began, West Ham's players immediately noticed a difference in Manchester United. The team had shifted tactics completely.
In the first half, United players had frequently passed the ball to Bruno, relying on him to dictate the tempo and organize attacks. This played perfectly into West Ham's defensive plans—they focused on tightly marking Bruno, which stalled United's offense and allowed West Ham to dominate.
But now, United bypassed Bruno in their build-up play, effectively removing him as the focal point of their attacks. Instead, they emphasized wing play. With two highly skilled and fast fullbacks and wingers, United began utilizing their strengths.
Although Bruno wasn't directly organizing attacks, he still guided the team with hand signals and vocal instructions. After all, West Ham could mark his body, but they couldn't silence his mind.
"Pass to Marcus!"
"Send it into the open space!"
"Play it back! No chance forward!"
"Good, good… switch it long to the right!"
"Send it to me—harder! Great…"
When his teammates did pass to him, Bruno occasionally let the ball roll past him, fooling West Ham's defenders. He moved and gestured like a coach on the field, directing the game with his arms and voice.
United Equalize
United's new approach caught West Ham off guard, and the visitors capitalized on the confusion.
Just 11 minutes into the second half, United launched an attack. De Gea sent a long ball upfield, and Bruno, leaping higher than Noble, headed it down to Gündoğan. Following Bruno's instructions, Gündoğan quickly passed to João Cancelo on the right flank.
Cancelo advanced with the ball, drawing West Ham's defenders toward him, before sending a precise through ball to Harry Kane, who had drifted wide. Kane took the ball to the byline and whipped in a cross.
In the center, Rashford challenged Diop for the header, but neither could make contact. The ball sailed across the goalmouth to the far post, where Mbappé was waiting. Without hesitation, the Frenchman swung his leg at the ball.
"Mbappé! A thunderous volley!"
The ball rocketed into the near corner of the net. West Ham goalkeeper Fabianski dove desperately, but he could only graze it with his fingertips.
"GOOOOOAL!!!" the French commentator screamed. "Mbappé! He's equalized for Manchester United! What a strike—simply stunning!"
Celebration and Resolve
Mbappé raced to the sideline, celebrating wildly before being mobbed by his teammates.
"Well done, Kylian! That was amazing!"
"What a screamer! You smashed it!"
"I thought the play was over, but there you were at the back post… brilliant!"
"Did you see Fabianski's face? He couldn't believe it!"
Grinning, Mbappé replied, "Isn't this what we're supposed to do? We're chasing Arsenal's 49-game unbeaten record!"
"Damn right! Let's make history!"
With the equalizer, United's confidence soared. When West Ham resumed play, United immediately applied pressure, launching wave after wave of attacks. Before the restart, Bruno had fired them up with a simple directive:
"We need more goals. 1–1 isn't enough. 2–1 isn't safe. Let's aim for 3–1, 4–1!"
United's sole focus became relentless offense. The idea of sitting back and defending never crossed their minds. They trusted their defensive skills, but they believed in their scoring ability even more.
We're chasing the Premier League's unbeaten record. West Ham is just another hurdle we have to clear.
West Ham, shaken by the equalizer, tried to push forward and restore their lead. However, their attempts only left them exposed to United's ferocious counterattacks.
Bruno's Subtle Role
Bruno continued to limit his touches, acting more as a decoy than a playmaker. United's attacks largely bypassed him, focusing instead on direct passes to the forwards. Bruno spent most of the half running into space and shouting instructions.
However, when West Ham eased their focus on him, Bruno immediately took advantage. Requesting the ball, he delivered precise passes to dangerous areas, reigniting United's attacks.
West Ham's captain, Noble, struggled to adapt to United's new strategy. Tasked with marking Bruno, he found himself chasing shadows, unable to contribute to his team's defense. Whenever he considered abandoning Bruno to help his teammates, United would quickly exploit the space, proving the futility of his dilemma.
Manchester United had turned the tide, and their relentless pursuit of victory was clear.
Faced with a crucial decision, West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini had two options:
Solidify their defense and aim to hold onto the 1–1 draw until the end.Push forward and try to regain the lead.
After careful consideration, Pellegrini chose to attack.
West Ham United was not known for its defensive prowess. Last season, they conceded 69 goals in 38 Premier League matches, the second-most in the league. This season, they had already let in 11 goals in their first six matches, making them the fourth-worst defense in the league.
On the other hand, their opponents, Manchester United, boasted the most potent attack in the Premier League. With West Ham's fragile backline, trying to withstand United's relentless attacks seemed unwise.
Instead, Pellegrini decided to exploit his team's offensive strength, led by Arnautović, Anderson, and Yarmolenko. They had the ability to trouble Manchester United's defense and score goals.
But beyond tactics, Pellegrini's greater motivation was to defeat Manchester United at home and end their remarkable unbeaten streak. Such a victory would undoubtedly boost morale for the entire team and their fans.
Last season, under David Moyes, West Ham managed to escape relegation despite being a favorite for the drop. After investing heavily in the summer transfer market, the Hammers aimed higher this season. Pellegrini had no intention of letting his team languish near the relegation zone again.
Standing on the sideline, Pellegrini signaled to his players with a sharp whistle and emphatic gestures. He urged them to push forward and not remain bogged down in their own defensive third.
The Catalyst
To spark their attack, West Ham needed a player capable of driving their offense, a dynamic figure to act as the engine. Like a stationary train, the team needed a powerful locomotive to set it in motion.
Pellegrini scanned the field.
Anderson, the attacking midfielder, was tightly marked by Kante.
Noble, their captain and orchestrator, was occupied by Bruno.
Rice was too young for such responsibility, and Obiang's offensive capabilities were negligible.
That left only Andriy Yarmolenko, the Ukrainian winger hailed as the "new Shevchenko" by his countrymen. Yarmolenko possessed impressive dribbling and passing skills, making him the most logical choice.
Cupping his hands around his mouth, Pellegrini shouted, "Andriy! Andriy!"
Yarmolenko looked over.
"Take the ball and attack!" Pellegrini instructed, gesturing for him to push forward aggressively.
Yarmolenko nodded, acknowledging his manager's orders.
Yarmolenko's Charge
Noble passed the ball to Yarmolenko, who immediately surged forward, driving the ball past the halfway line. Facing him was Manchester United's left-back, Luke Shaw, with Mbappé lurking nearby to help.
Yarmolenko feigned an inside cut, tricking Shaw into shifting his weight. Then, with a sharp touch, he pulled the ball back and accelerated down the sideline, leaving Shaw behind.
"Luke Shaw was like a traffic cone against Yarmolenko!" the West Ham commentator cheered. "He got left in the dust!"
Yarmolenko darted into the penalty area and unleashed a powerful shot. De Gea managed to get a hand on the ball, deflecting it. Before Arnautović could pounce on the rebound, Maguire cleared the danger with a decisive kick.
Although West Ham didn't score, Yarmolenko had announced himself as a major threat. His presence on the right flank made United's defense increasingly uneasy.
Bruno surveyed the situation and turned to Kante. "N'Golo, you stay on Anderson. I'll take care of Yarmolenko."
Kante nodded without hesitation. He was familiar with Bruno's defensive capabilities and had no reason to doubt him.
A Fierce Duel
Yarmolenko's successful dribble and dangerous shot inspired his teammates to direct more passes his way. The right flank became West Ham's primary avenue for attack, with Yarmolenko spearheading their efforts.
But when he received the ball again, he found Bruno standing in his way.
Undeterred, Yarmolenko pushed the ball forward and tried to accelerate past him.
Bruno turned awkwardly to chase but kept close. While Yarmolenko was slightly faster, he had to control the ball, giving Bruno a chance to catch up. Bruno placed a hand on Yarmolenko's shoulder while extending his foot to poke the ball away.
Sensing the challenge, Yarmolenko abruptly stopped and used the outside of his left foot to pull the ball back. Bruno overshot, but his grip on Yarmolenko's shoulder remained firm.
Yarmolenko attempted to pivot and cut inside, but Bruno's hold disrupted his balance. Realizing he couldn't get past, Yarmolenko theatrically collapsed to the ground, clutching his ankle.
The referee's whistle blew, signaling a foul against Bruno.
A Tactical Battle
Bruno extended a hand to the fallen Yarmolenko. "Come on, get up. You've made your point."
Grinning, Yarmolenko got to his feet and brushed off his shoulder. "You did grab me pretty hard."
"And yet you're clutching your ankle," Bruno retorted with an exasperated eye roll.
West Ham took the free kick, with Arnautović heading the ball wide under pressure from Van Dijk. Despite the missed opportunity, Pellegrini was convinced of Yarmolenko's potential as their offensive lynchpin.
For the remainder of the match, West Ham funneled their attacks through Yarmolenko. However, Bruno shadowed him relentlessly, sticking close and anticipating his every move.
Yarmolenko's attempts to cut inside were thwarted, as Bruno was always waiting. When Yarmolenko tried to take the ball down the sideline, Bruno lunged to poke it out of bounds.
Yarmolenko's only hope was to use his speed to break free, but such opportunities were rare. From a stationary start, Bruno's positional awareness neutralized Yarmolenko's acceleration. The Ukrainian winger struggled to find space against the tenacious Portuguese midfielder.
Bruno's defensive efforts stifled Yarmolenko's influence, ensuring that West Ham's most dangerous outlet remained contained. The match continued to teeter on a knife's edge, with Manchester United determined to reclaim their lead.
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