Chapter 543: The Streak Ends
As the final whistle blew, Bruno collapsed to his knees on the turf of New Wembley Stadium. He wiped the sweat from his face with his hands, closed his eyes, and absorbed the roar of the crowd. Although the cheers weren't for him, he still reveled in the atmosphere.
Manchester United's 24-game winning streak at the start of the season, extending to 25 games across seasons, was ended tonight by Tottenham Hotspur. The final score was 2-2, with Tottenham's 88th-minute counterattack breaking De Gea's defense.
When Bruno's sliding tackle failed to stop Alli, he knew Tottenham's attack would succeed. Indeed, despite Valencia's efforts to cover, he couldn't prevent Alli's pass. Before Valencia could challenge him again, Alli made a sweeping cross to the unmarked left side. The advancing Trippier controlled the ball ahead of Luke Shaw and delivered a high-quality cross, which Morata converted, beating United's defense.
In the remaining minutes, United couldn't regain the lead, ending their winning streak. However, Bruno didn't feel regret, pain, or sorrow. Since winning the season opener, he knew the day would come when they wouldn't win, or might even lose. Achieving 24 consecutive wins in the new season had already far exceeded his expectations.
In such a near-crazed winning streak, United even outperformed a fantastically performing Manchester City, which gave Bruno a surreal feeling. As a time-traveler, Bruno knew how strong this season's Manchester City was, setting records and becoming the first Premier League team to score 100 points in a season. Despite City's stellar performance, Bruno's United led the standings, even holding a 10-point lead before this round.
He couldn't ask more from his team or his teammates. Everyone had given their best effort. In this match, all eleven players fought until the last moment, leaving Bruno with no regrets. Even the world's most critical fans shouldn't question him or United. Furthermore, even with the streak ending, they still held an 8-point lead in the standings. With only thirteen rounds remaining, retaining the championship was highly probable.
Bruno also thought about the quick counter by Tottenham. Had his sliding tackle succeeded, or if he had fouled Alli more aggressively, could United have continued their winning streak? He wasn't sure, but he knew that if Alli had chosen to go down or if he had fouled him harder, he would have received his first career red card.
Being sent off would have left United defending with ten men against Tottenham's final assault, which was uncertain. Plus, a direct red card would mean a three-match suspension, affecting upcoming matches against Huddersfield and Newcastle. Although both were newly promoted teams, they weren't easy opponents. Bruno didn't know if the team could win without him.
Bruno shook his head, dismissing these thoughts. Dwelling on what-ifs and already occurred events only brought unnecessary trouble.
As the team captain, Bruno got up and rallied his teammates. Both those on the field and on the bench gathered in front of the away fans' section, forming a line to thank their supporters. This was customary in away matches. Fans followed the team to away games, and it was only right for the players to show their gratitude after the match.
Even with the end of the winning streak, the United fans weren't disappointed. They clapped and cheered, showing their satisfaction. Despite Tottenham once being an easy opponent, they had quickly risen in recent seasons, making any team wary. United managing a draw in this match was no small feat.
The players applauded their fans, expressing thanks. Bruno stretched out his right hand forcefully, shouting, "Come on!" All the players formed a circle, hands overlapping. Bruno shouted, "Manchester United…" and the players responded in unison, "…Let's go!"
Seeing United's unity, even Tottenham fans and their manager Pochettino, along with his staff and players, were taken aback. "What a great player!" Pochettino sighed.
"What?" Jesús Pérez asked, puzzled by the seemingly out-of-context remark.
"We always thought United's success in the past two seasons was due to their strong squad and a bit of luck, especially this 25-game winning streak. But seeing this, it's clear such results were inevitable." Pochettino continued, adding, "I'm envious of Jose for coaching Bruno. He's not only a superstar on par with Ronaldo and Messi but also a leader with immense charisma destined for greatness."
Jesús Pérez pondered for a moment before nodding, "This season's Premier League title is likely United's again."
Pochettino shook his head, "Not just this season. For a long time, United might dominate the Premier League."
Pérez looked at Pochettino in surprise, unsure why he said that. Pochettino explained, "Look at the ages of United's players: Bruno is 23, Harry Kane is 24, Rashford is 20, Mbappé is 19, Gündoğan and Kanté are 27, Luke Shaw is 22, Van Dijk is 26, Maguire is 25, and De Gea is 27. Only Valencia is over 30, and his replacement Cancelo isn't even 24."
Pérez was silent, realizing that most of United's squad was just entering their prime. If they kept this core together, United could indeed dominate the Premier League for a long time. As a top club, United wasn't likely to break apart unless internal conflicts arose, which seemed improbable.
"This was a game of two halves," Pochettino summarized in the post-match press conference. "We played exceptionally well in the first half, controlling the game entirely, but we were tense and passive in the second half. We tried to control the ball but failed."
The Tottenham manager emphasized that maintaining high standards throughout the game should be ingrained in their soul, not just dependent on the scoreboard. He felt the team's mentality and stability needed improvement and was puzzled by their poor second-half performance. "We had enough advantages—tempo, determination, control, attack—we were better than our opponents, but we couldn't secure the win at home. This needs reflection and alertness."
Mourinho noted that Pochettino mentioned many factors but not fitness, probably aware of his team's real issue but unwilling to admit it publicly. Pochettino praised Bruno for his high level of play, which influenced the game's outcome, stating that even without scoring, Bruno led United in another way.
Mourinho agreed, saying, "He's a player any coach would want, always putting the team's interests first. He's the most professional player I've seen, and I'm proud to coach him." Regarding the game, Mourinho felt Tottenham played at a high level, making United struggle in the first half. Yet, United showed courage and determination, with the 2-2 score reflecting the game's dynamics.
Mourinho acknowledged his team's defensive issues and inconsistency, but he reminded everyone of the young average age of his starting lineup—only 24 years. Many of his key players were still considered newcomers in other top leagues. He called for patience and protection for the players, encouraging their efforts rather than criticizing their mistakes. "I'm proud of my players' performance today," Mourinho stated, receiving applause from the media. "I believe in the upcoming games, my players will show even better performances to prove themselves," he concluded, earning more applause.
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