Chapter 374: The Most Hated Team
On the evening of October 7, local time in Portugal, the European qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup saw Group B's second round, where Portugal hosted Andorra, the group's weakest team.
This match was one of the most lopsided in this World Cup, with Portugal ranked fourth in the world and Andorra ranked 203rd, nearly 200 places apart.
The match was a one-sided slaughter, with Portugal completely dominating Andorra. Bruno scored three goals and provided three assists, helping Portugal to a 9-0 victory. Cristiano Ronaldo scored four goals, and Cancelo and André Silva also added one each.
This match set a new record for the largest victory margin in Portugal's history.
Three days later, Portugal faced another weak team, playing away against the Faroe Islands. Bruno scored once and assisted twice, leading Portugal to a 6-0 victory.
These were Bruno's 12th matches for Portugal in 2016, in which he scored 18 goals and provided 8 assists. He became the top scorer and top assister in national team matches for 2016.
Following closely behind Bruno was Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored 11 goals in 12 matches for Portugal, setting a personal record for goals in a calendar year for the national team.
After two thrilling national team matches, Bruno returned to Manchester in high spirits to prepare for club matches.
Due to the international break, Manchester United faced a hectic schedule in October, playing five matches in 12 days from October 17 to the end of the month, including several high-profile clashes.
On the evening of October 17, fresh off national team duty, United's stars faced a heavyweight Premier League match, traveling to Anfield to challenge Liverpool in the season's first North West Derby.
Three days later, on October 20, United hosted Fenerbahçe at Old Trafford in the third round of the Europa League group stage.
Less than 72 hours later, on the afternoon of October 23, United played away against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
On October 26, United faced Manchester City in the fourth round of the EFL Cup at Old Trafford.
Finally, on October 29, United played newly promoted Burnley at Old Trafford in the Premier League's 10th round.
None of these five matches had more than a 72-hour gap between them!
In addition to the international break, United, as a top club, would certainly suffer from the FIFA virus. This was a truly grueling schedule.
The good news was that no United players returned injured from international duty, so the squad remained intact.
Liverpool had a strong start to the new season, with Klopp's team finding its stride after nearly a year under his leadership.
Liverpool faced strong opponents early in the season, beating Arsenal 4-3 at the Emirates in the first round, drawing 1-1 with Tottenham at White Hart Lane in the third round, and beating Chelsea 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in the fifth round. They also defeated Leicester City 4-1, Swansea 5-1, and Hull 2-1.
Their only loss was a shock defeat to Burnley in the second round.
After seven rounds, Liverpool had five wins, one draw, and one loss, with 16 points, ranking fifth in the standings, tied with Arsenal but behind on goal difference.
Against arch-rivals United, Liverpool hoped to continue their good form.
Liverpool's attacking prowess was fierce, scoring 18 goals in the first seven rounds, tied with Manchester City and second only to United's 21 goals.
Before the match against Liverpool, right after the international break, the importance of this game was palpable for United. The tension was in the air, unavoidable.
Liverpool fans publicly announced they would give United's new owner, Mr. Jassim, a memorable "welcome" at Anfield.
Mr. Jassim, in his early forties and from the Qatari royal family, was no stranger to the harsh realities of public sentiment. He didn't naively believe the fans would truly welcome him.
Support for Liverpool's fans' actions came from other parts of the UK, with many hardcore fans voicing their hope online that Liverpool would defeat United.
"Manchester United fans have forgotten their glory days and bowed to capital; this is a disgrace to great British football!"
"It's time to show that Middle Eastern team what British football is all about! Go Liverpool, crush them!"
"I'll be a Liverpool fan for the next round!"
"Go beat this fallen team dreaming of a revival! They're just a foreign mercenary squad! They don't belong in the best league in Britain!"
Why do so many hardcore fans hate Manchester United? There are several reasons.
First, United was once the dominant force in the Premier League. In the first 21 seasons of the Premier League, United won 13 league titles and never finished outside the top three. They were always strong contenders for the title. Mentioning United often brings back memories of their dominance and the fear they instilled across the league.
Second, this current United team is very wealthy, spending huge sums on foreign stars while the number of British players diminishes. Spending €200 million on a Portuguese player? Why? Even the best British players don't fetch such prices. They're not British, and they won't love the team!
Third, many fear that Jassim's massive investment in United might lead to their resurgence, dominating the Premier League once more. This could set a bad precedent for British football. Foreign investment hasn't significantly changed the landscape of British football. Whether it's Chelsea or Manchester City, they are seen as disruptors rather than established powers. The Premier League remains the Premier League, with even a Leicester City miracle last season. But United is different; they have a rich history.
Fourth, not everyone hates United because of their wealth or foreign players. Some simply have sour grapes. They criticize corruption not out of a sense of justice but because they can't be in those positions to benefit themselves. They are jealous and envious.
Of course, not all fans harbor such animosity towards the new Manchester United. Many are original United fans. As a historic giant that dominated the Premier League for over two decades, United has a vast fan base in the UK. With the hope of a revival, these fans naturally support their team.
In addition to die-hard United fans, some neutral fans also appreciate United. They might like United's playing style or believe that for the Premier League to surpass La Liga, more investment is needed to attract top players, thereby raising the league's overall level. However, whether this summer's record transfer, Bruno, is such a top player remains to be seen.
They also argue that criticizing United for their wealth is unfair. Teams like Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool also rely on financial backing from investors but aren't seen as threats to football.
Fan emotions also influence media perspectives. In many reports from professional sports media in the UK, United is portrayed pessimistically.
"I admit United's attack is formidable, but their defense is Championship level, maybe even amateur. As long as this awful defense remains, United can forget winning at Anfield."
"I've heard Mourinho is the world's best defensive coach, but it's ironic that against Manchester City, United won by attacking. Of course, this shows Mourinho's brilliance; he knows pure defense won't work against strong teams because his defense is so bad, so he plays to his strengths and uses attack as defense."
"Liverpool has maintained good form this season, beating Arsenal, Chelsea, and winning big against Leicester and Swansea. They did lose to Burnley, but United's flashy start will soon be exposed for the inconsistency of recent seasons. Just getting into the Europa League next season would be a victory for them."
Many pundits predict a big Liverpool win at Anfield, as if they can already see the spectacle. But the match is still five days away.
(End of Chapter)
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