Chapter 695: He Desperately Wants a Goal
After Bruno took the shot, it felt like it was going in, but Fährmann made a spectacular save, pushing it away.
The Schalke 04 goalkeeper had already conceded four goals, yet he seemed to grow stronger as the game progressed. Early in the second half, he pulled off another incredible save, showing he was still in great form.
Bruno, on the other hand, looked up in frustration. Wiping the sweat off his face with both hands, then grabbing his hair, his disappointment was evident. He desperately wanted to score a goal.
"Just one minute into the second half, Manchester United have already created a dangerous chance," the commentator said. "Bruno's driving run and sudden shot forced a critical save from Schalke 04 goalkeeper Fährmann."
"Corner for Manchester United."
United quickly took the corner, creating more chaos in Schalke's box, but Cancelo's shot didn't hit the target. Schalke cleared the ball, but it quickly ended up back at United's feet.
Even with a four-goal lead, the Red Devils continued to play aggressively. Bruno, in particular, seemed determined to get on the scoresheet. His teammates were equally focused, showing no signs of letting up.
...
At the start of the second half, Schalke 04's players adopted a more conservative approach, unlike their first-half strategy of attacking head-to-head with United.
However, they weren't content to simply sit back either. For example, in the 51st minute, they intercepted the ball near their own box and launched a counterattack. Embolo dropped back to receive the pass, but before he could settle the ball, Kanté immediately stole it back, passing it to Gündoğan.
Gündoğan quickly shifted the ball to the left, where Luke Shaw sent it forward without stopping, delivering it to Bruno.
Once again, it was a one-on-one situation, and United's counterattack was swift.
Bruno's first touch included a feint, pretending to cut inside but instead pulling the ball back toward the baseline, attempting to burst past his marker.
However, van Hohmaert wasn't fooled this time and stayed tight, tracking Bruno to the edge of the box.
Near the baseline, Bruno slowed down, facing van Hohmaert directly.
The Dutch defender, standing at 1.87 meters, was playing as a makeshift right-back in this match. He hadn't performed well, failing to fulfill his manager's expectations.
He was particularly frustrated because Rashford hadn't been particularly dangerous tonight, but Bruno, United's playmaker, repeatedly invaded his zone and caused chaos.
Bruno's ambidexterity made him a nightmare to defend, as he could dribble, pass, shoot, and create opportunities from both feet. Van Hohmaert's only option was to stay hyper-focused.
...
When Bruno slowed, van Hohmaert immediately followed suit.
Bruno was waiting for exactly that.
Noticing his opponent's slight hesitation, Bruno suddenly accelerated, bursting forward with such speed that it caught van Hohmaert off guard, forcing him to chase.
With no room left before the baseline, Bruno used his burst to gain just enough space to poke the ball into the box before stepping out of bounds.
Under the rules, the ball remained in play.
"Bruno pulls off a brilliant move at the baseline! He's beaten van Hohmaert and broken into the box!"
"Let's see what United can make of this attack!"
Once inside the box, Bruno quickly scanned the area and spotted Kanté.
Unable to shoot, Bruno made the smart choice, delivering a cutback pass to Kanté rushing into the box. However, Kanté's shot soared into the stands, disappointing the Cardiff crowd, who collectively sighed in frustration at the missed chance.
"Bruno's series of dribbles and moves were dazzling," the commentator noted. "But it's a shame Kanté's finishing was so far off target. He had plenty of options—he could've passed it into the net or taken a touch—but he blasted it over instead."
Kanté held his head in his hands, clearly upset with himself.
...
United's pressure soon paid off.
Harry Kane won an aerial duel inside the box, claiming the first ball. Schalke's Serdar failed to outmuscle Rashford, who pounced on the loose ball and drove into the box before slotting it into the bottom corner.
5:0!
The entire Cardiff City Stadium erupted in celebration!
Even the most optimistic United fans wouldn't have predicted such a resounding response after their loss to Arsenal, which ended their 69-match unbeaten run.
United's performance tonight was exceptional. Every player excelled, but Bruno was the standout, contributing assists for all four first-half goals—a truly world-class display.
After the fifth goal, Mourinho made a substitution, bringing on Dalot for Cancelo.
The Portuguese right-back had played numerous matches this season and earned the title of United's defensive stalwart. Mourinho wanted him to rest now that the team had a comfortable lead.
For Dalot, it was a chance to gain valuable match experience.
Meanwhile, United's players patiently controlled possession, continuing to probe Schalke's defense without overcommitting.
...
Time ticked on.
With United firmly in control, their full-backs began venturing higher up the pitch.
Luke Shaw, in particular, became increasingly involved, linking up effectively with Bruno on the left wing.
As the game reached the 60th minute, United launched another attack down the left.
Harry Kane drifted wide to receive the ball but, finding no options, passed it back.
Bruno, running along the left, spotted Kanté making a forward run. Clearly, the Frenchman was eager to score.
Bruno abruptly stopped, feinting as if to cut inside.
Van Hohmaert and McKennie moved to close him down, attempting to trap him.
But just as their double-team was about to take shape, Bruno slipped the ball through their gap into the space behind McKennie.
Serdar, covering centrally, noticed Kanté's run and rushed to intercept the pass.
Although Kanté isn't particularly fast, Bruno's delivery was perfectly weighted. Kanté beat Serdar to the ball, flicked it forward, and broke free.
Stanbouli rushed to close him down, but before he could get close, Kanté unleashed a curling shot.
Fährmann, caught slightly out of position, leaped to save but could only watch as the ball sailed into the top-right corner.
...
"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!"
"Kanté scores the sixth goal of the match!"
"He's ecstatic, sprinting down the pitch, roaring at the fans to release his elation!"
"What a stunning goal! But credit must go to Bruno for the assist!"
"Yet another assist from Bruno! That's his fifth of the match—an unbelievable feat!"
"This marks the first time in Bruno's career that he's provided five assists in a single game. He's managed four assists twice before, once in the 2016-2017 season during a 6-0 win over West Ham, and again in 2017-2018 during an 8-1 thrashing of Newcastle."
"Five assists in one match—a testament to Bruno's incredible form tonight. Unfortunately, it seems scoring isn't in the cards for him, as Schalke goalkeeper Fährmann has made several crucial saves against him."
...
"Should we sub him off?" Mourinho asked, frowning.
Although he didn't specify who he was referring to, the answer was obvious.
Faria considered Bruno's visible determination and said, "It depends on what you want to prioritize."
"What do you mean?" Mourinho asked.
"From a managerial perspective, you'd absolutely sub him off now. With a six-goal lead, there's no need to risk him. At this point, it's about managing fitness and preparing for upcoming matches."
Mourinho often emphasized the importance of planning ahead, so by his own logic, this would be the right time to rest Bruno.
"But you seem to disagree," Mourinho noted, curious.
Faria grinned. "Can't you tell? He really wants a goal."
(END CHAPTER)
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