Chapter 534: Unstoppable
Guardiola looked grim as he signaled his assistant to hang up the tactical board and then began to speak.
"I know many of you are unhappy with the referee's decisions in the first half," Guardiola said. "I'm not happy either, but let me be clear, the referee's officiating is not the reason we are trailing 2-0 at halftime!"
"Our opponent is Manchester United, one of the greatest teams on this planet. You might not like hearing this, but it's the reality. If we want to defeat them, to replace them as the greatest team in the Premier League and even the world, we have a lot to do. Unfair refereeing? That's nothing! If you are men, fight back in the second half. Show the world that City's rise is unstoppable, even by the referees!"
Guardiola's impassioned speech, which he had rehearsed in his mind, even moved himself.
He glanced at the players, and the effect was decent. At least, City's striker Aguero looked inspired.
Despite their strained relationship, Guardiola had to admit that Aguero was a symbol of City. No matter how much Guardiola disliked him, Aguero consistently demanded excellence from himself and was willing to fight for City.
"The coach is right," Aguero stood up, urging his teammates. "Forget the first half's surprises. In the second half, we reclaim our victory!"
...
The atmosphere in the visitor's locker room at Old Trafford returned to normal.
Despite their differences, Guardiola and Aguero reached a subtle consensus and balance at critical moments.
Guardiola began giving instructions and adjustments for the second half.
"Our wings were completely shut down in the first half! United's wing attacks are threatening. The only way to counter their wing attacks is by activating our own."
"Oleksandr, you were too pinned back in the first half. Our left side was paralyzed."
Zinchenko could only nod, despite struggling against Mbappe. "Coach, I understand. I'll perform better in the second half."
Seeing Zinchenko clench his fists, Guardiola nodded.
"David Silva," Guardiola continued, "you need to speed up!"
...
Meanwhile, the mood in United's locker room was great.
After discussing the first half with the players, Mourinho began outlining the second half's key points.
"Kylian, how did it feel going up against Zinchenko in the first half?" Mourinho asked Mbappe.
"He seemed nervous and inexperienced," Mbappe replied.
"Good, continue to target him in the second half," Mourinho said. "Make him fear you when you have the ball."
"No problem," Mbappe responded confidently.
Mourinho circled two names on the tactical board and then drew a line between them. "David Silva and Fernandinho—target the area between them. Focus your attacks here!"
Pausing for emphasis, Mourinho added, "Even if City scores first in the second half, don't panic. Stick to our plan. We're up 2-0, plus the 2-2 draw in the first leg. We're in a great position."
...
"SHIT!"
Mourinho cursed, realizing he had jinxed it.
"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLL!!!!!" The commentator for City roared as Aguero celebrated with De Bruyne, who had assisted him.
As Old Trafford fell silent, the few City fans in the stands cheered and jumped in joy.
Less than three minutes into the second half, City had scored. David Silva dribbled through the middle, sent a diagonal pass that broke United's defense and found De Bruyne behind Luke Shaw. De Bruyne cut inside, feigned a shot, then passed to Aguero, who held off Maguire and scored with a half-turn shot.
1-2!
Aguero's goal brought City back into the game.
While boos filled Old Trafford, the journalists in the media box applauded. For the neutral press, a one-sided match was boring. With City pulling a goal back, the game became interesting again.
...
As City players celebrated, United captain Bruno gathered his teammates.
"Don't panic! We're still leading by one goal. We did great leading City 2-0 in the first half."
Bruno's words aimed to steady the team. Conceding so early to a strong City team could easily unsettle United.
His words resonated with the players. Faces showed less anxiety and more determination, with some even looking ready to fight back fiercely.
Mbappe, new to the team this summer, noticed the shift in his teammates' attitudes and expressions. He was impressed by Bruno's influence. The young captain's presence injected energy and confidence into the team.
At that moment, the players also heard their coach shouting, "What are you doing? Why the panic? It's just one goal, 2-1."
Mourinho rushed to the sidelines, trying to get close to the players, jumping and yelling, "Did you really think you could keep a clean sheet against City? Stop being so arrogant!"
Then, everyone dispersed, ready to continue.
...
After Aguero's goal, Guardiola made a substitution, bringing on Armenian star Mkhitaryan for Ukrainian defender Zinchenko, shifting to a 3-4-3 formation.
Clearly, the goal gave Guardiola hope for a comeback at Old Trafford, prompting him to take a bold gamble.
Mourinho watched City's changes seriously, understanding Guardiola's intent.
City's formation now had an asymmetrical attacking midfield, with David Silva positioned more like a left winger, overlapping with Bernardo Silva. They aimed to overload Valencia's defensive area on United's right.
This increased the pressure on United's right side, forcing Mourinho to decide whether to bolster defense or counterattack on that flank.
At that moment, the game changed.
David Silva tried to combine with Fernandinho, but Gundogan's sudden press intercepted the ball. The German immediately sent a diagonal pass to the right.
With Zinchenko off, that area was now a vacuum.
Seeing United targeting City's former left-back position, Fernandinho rushed to cover.
...
Mbappe received the ball and sprinted forward. His run drew Fernandinho, then he suddenly stopped, feigned a horizontal move, and passed the ball forward along the sideline.
The weakness of City's three-center-back system showed!
United's right-back Valencia sprinted up, receiving Mbappe's pass in acres of space.
Harry Kane, running through the middle, signaled for the ball.
Valencia glanced at Kane and raised his right foot.
Stones, noticing the threat, moved up, not to intercept but to play Kane offside.
As Stones stepped up, Kane was caught offside.
At that moment, Valencia crossed a diagonal ball.
"Offside!" Stones shouted.
But the referee's whistle remained silent. He and the linesman continued running.
"Not offside! Otamendi played him on!" Andy Gray stood up, shouting excitedly, "Bruno!"
On the left, United's captain Bruno Fernandes appeared, sprinting past the slow-reacting Otamendi to reach the ball.
Old Trafford erupted in cheers.
Amid the deafening roar, Bruno, now one-on-one with Bravo, shot low. The ball zipped past Bravo's left foot into the net.
"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLLL!!!!"
More than 70,000 United fans at Old Trafford, and countless fans worldwide watching in bars, homes, and public screens, leaped up in celebration.
"3-1! 3-1! We've extended the lead again! Manchester United, we are 3-1 up against City!" The stadium announcer shouted excitedly, "Great United! Great captain! Great Bruno! He has scored a hat-trick!"
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