Chapter 787: Grealish
July 9, 2020, 8:10 PM
Villa Park Stadium, Birmingham, England
The final match of the Premier League's 34th round was about to kick off. Just a day earlier, Liverpool secured a 3–1 away victory against Brighton, reclaiming their place at the top of the table.
Commentators detailed the starting lineups for both teams:
Aston Villa:
Goalkeeper: ReinaDefenders: Konsa, Hause, Mings, Neil TaylorMidfielders: Hourihane, Nakamba, Douglas LuizForwards: Trezeguet, Keinan Davis, Grealish
Manchester United:
Goalkeeper: De GeaDefenders: Cancelo, Maguire, Van Dijk, Luke ShawMidfielders: Kanté, Gündoğan, Bruno FernandesForwards: Mbappé, Harry Kane, Rashford
Though not one of the Premier League's traditional "Big Six," Aston Villa is a historic club. Once holding a record of 24 consecutive seasons in the Premier League without relegation, the team had returned to the top flight last season through the Championship playoffs.
However, their current position was precarious. 18th on the table, Villa faced the real possibility of relegation unless they could climb out of the drop zone in the final five matches.
Villa's starting lineup suggested a clear game plan: an all-out attacking approach under manager Dean Smith.
In the pre-match coin toss, Bruno Fernandes won the toss against Villa captain Jack Grealish, allowing Manchester United to choose their side.
José Mourinho, however, suspected this outcome played into Dean Smith's hands. By giving Villa the opening kickoff, Smith could attempt to capitalize on the first possession and strike early.
Early Onslaught
As Mourinho anticipated, Aston Villa opened the game with an aggressive offensive push, utilizing their kickoff to launch a barrage of attacks on United's goal.
But Mourinho had prepared for this. Rather than meeting Villa's intensity head-on, United strategically fell back, weathering the initial storm.
This only emboldened Villa.
Dean Smith, seated on the touchline, nervously observed the game, occasionally exchanging words with his assistants. While his demeanor remained composed, the pressure he felt inside was immense.
For the first ten minutes, Villa dominated. They relentlessly pressured United's defense, pinning them back and making it difficult for the visitors to even cross the halfway line. Were it not for De Gea's stellar goalkeeping, United might have already conceded.
Jack Grealish, Villa's 24-year-old captain and playmaker, was at the center of everything. In scintillating form, he orchestrated Villa's attacks and constantly probed United's defensive structure.
United's backline, despite being among the best in the Premier League with only 26 goals conceded in 33 matches, found themselves under significant strain.
From the first ten minutes alone, it was hard to believe the team being dominated was Manchester United, the reigning Premier League powerhouse.
Dean Smith, seeing his team pin down United, allowed himself a smile.
Coincidentally, Mourinho turned to catch this moment.
"What's so funny?" Mourinho murmured, clearly unimpressed.
Despite Villa's relentless pressure, Mourinho remained calm. His confidence stemmed from the solid defensive structure United had demonstrated throughout the season. Villa might have dominated possession and created opportunities, but they lacked genuine scoring chances.
Shifting Momentum
"Time to turn the tables," Mourinho thought as he glanced at his watch.
Sustained attacking intensity like Villa's was unsustainable. If their efforts failed to produce a goal, the momentum would inevitably shift. The strain on their players' energy and morale would begin to show.
By the 15th minute, as Mourinho predicted, Villa's high-octane pressing began to wane. With no goals to show for their efforts, the players' energy levels dropped, and their attacks lost sharpness.
Sensing this, Mourinho signaled to his players to advance.
The momentum shifted. United seized control of possession and started dictating the game's pace.
Mourinho returned to the dugout, but his restless nature soon saw him pacing back to the technical area. With one hand thoughtfully stroking his chin, he scrutinized the field.
"This is it," he muttered. "Time to see if they've internalized everything we practiced."
Mourinho's gaze fixed on Gündoğan.
In this match, Gündoğan was tasked with orchestrating United's play. It was his responsibility to decide when to attack, when to slow the tempo, and from which area of the pitch to launch offensives.
Gündoğan received the ball in his own half, with Egyptian winger Trezeguet charging forward, attempting to seize an opportunity to intercept and launch a counterattack.
But Gündoğan seemed prepared for this. Calmly controlling the ball with his right foot, he subtly maneuvered his body to let the ball glide past, sidestepping Trezeguet's challenge.
This movement wasn't flashy, but it was efficient. Gündoğan effortlessly evaded Trezeguet and began carrying the ball forward.
By the time Trezeguet realized what had happened and tried to recover, it was already too late. Understanding his role as a forward, Trezeguet refrained from chasing too far back.
Gündoğan's composure and skill impressed Mourinho, who nodded approvingly on the sidelines. For a deep-lying playmaker, the ability to retain possession under pressure is crucial. Gündoğan's combination of physicality and technical ability made him an excellent fit for the role.
A Halfhearted Chase
While Trezeguet gave up the chase, the energized Keinan Davis came charging in from the side.
The 22-year-old Davis, a product of Stevenage's youth academy, had joined Aston Villa in 2016 but struggled to secure a regular starting role.
As Davis pressed aggressively from the side, Gündoğan didn't linger on the ball. Instead, he decisively passed it away to avoid unnecessary risks.
Having failed to intercept, Davis slowed his run, making it clear his defensive effort was more symbolic than functional—an effort to impress manager Dean Smith on the sidelines.
Smith acknowledged Davis' intent with a slight nod. Even if the defensive impact was minimal, the forward's retreat signaled a collective commitment to defense, setting an example for teammates.
Establishing Control
Gündoğan's pass found Kanté, who, in turn, quickly sent the ball back to Gündoğan without hesitation.
This seamless exchange between the two midfielders caught Mourinho's eye. The chemistry between Gündoğan and Kanté had noticeably improved, a development Mourinho was pleased to see.
With Kanté shielding him, Gündoğan had the freedom to operate dynamically across the pitch. The German midfielder threaded a diagonal pass, aiming to connect with Bruno Fernandes on the right flank.
The pass was nearly perfect, slicing through Aston Villa's defensive structure. However, Nakamba managed a crucial sliding interception, knocking the ball out for a throw-in just before it reached Bruno.
Bruno raised a thumbs-up toward Gündoğan, acknowledging the vision and precision of the attempt.
A Dynamic Force
As the match progressed, Gündoğan became increasingly influential.
He seemed omnipresent in midfield—receiving, passing, and creating opportunities for his teammates. His flexibility allowed him to drop deep alongside the center-backs or push high into the attacking third to deliver the final ball.
Dean Smith, observing from the sideline, was visibly taken aback.
Smith had anticipated United's usual reliance on the wings to exploit the speed of Rashford and Mbappé, but Mourinho's strategy in this match was different.
Instead of focusing on wing play, United frequently channeled their attacks through the center, utilizing Gündoğan and Bruno Fernandes as the primary facilitators.
This shift in strategy rendered Smith's pre-match preparations ineffective. Despite knowing Gündoğan's pivotal role, Villa's defenders struggled to contain him due to his unpredictability and mobility.
"How do you guard against a playmaker who's everywhere?"
United Takes Control
Under Gündoğan's relentless direction, United gradually seized control of the match.
The Aston Villa fans were left bewildered.
Just moments ago, their team seemed firmly in control, pinning United in their half. Now, the tide had turned.
United didn't rely on overwhelming pressure or relentless attacks. Instead, their approach was methodical, gradually dictating the tempo and drawing Villa into a web they couldn't escape.
While Villa still had space to maneuver, United's dominance over the rhythm of the game left their opponents increasingly uncomfortable.
It wasn't all-out suffocation, but it was a steady tightening of control—a subtle yet effective form of dominance.
(To be continued)
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