Chapter 546: The Ideal Result
After discussing with the referee, Bruno turned to see Fellaini walking off the field, head down and back hunched, looking like a complete failure. The jeers from the stands showed he wouldn't be welcomed back anytime soon. The real question was whether he was also on Mourinho's blacklist now.
Fellaini's foul had infuriated the Shakhtar Donetsk players, who launched a series of aggressive attacks on United's goal. Assessing the situation, Bruno decided to adopt a counter-attacking strategy. He instructed his team to fall back and prepare to exploit any openings left by Shakhtar's offensive push.
His decision paid off. In the 27th minute, Bruno sent a long pass to McTominay. Although the pass was predictable and easy to defend, Shakhtar's central defender Rakitskyi misjudged the ball's force, failing to control it with his chest. The ball bounced off his chest, presenting McTominay with a golden opportunity. He pounced on the loose ball and fired it into the net.
Shakhtar's goalkeeper Pyatov, caught off guard by Rakitskyi's blunder, could only watch as the ball sailed past him. Manchester United, despite being a man down, took the lead 1-0!
The Donetsk fans' cheers quieted, while the Manchester United supporters erupted in celebration, temporarily outshouting the home crowd.
The score remained unchanged until halftime, despite Shakhtar intensifying their attacks. Bruno's precise long passes created several counter-attacking opportunities, which made Shakhtar more cautious.
In the locker room, the players saw a dejected Fellaini sitting alone, still reeling from his red card. Mourinho didn't hold back in his criticism. Despite United's lead, the game was far from over, and Fellaini's red card could still prove costly. If United lost because of it, no one would defend him.
After rebuking Fellaini, Mourinho adjusted the tactics for the second half, emphasizing the need to keep attacking since a one-goal lead wasn't secure. Bruno would play a key role in this strategy, pushing forward to maintain pressure on Shakhtar's defense. Meanwhile, Mahrez was instructed to fill in as a temporary holding midfielder when Bruno advanced.
Before heading back to the pitch, Bruno placed a reassuring hand on Fellaini's shoulder, saying nothing but understanding the frustration of being a sidelined talent.
In the second half, Shakhtar Donetsk, eager to secure a win at home, increased their attacking efforts. United didn't just sit back; they continued to exploit the spaces left by Shakhtar's advances.
In the 51st minute, Shakhtar equalized. A long pass from their defense saw Fred accelerating into United's half. Mahrez's failed clearance allowed Fred to outmaneuver Smalling and slot the ball into an empty net after Romero missed the interception.
But six minutes later, United capitalized on Shakhtar's eagerness to take the lead. A swift counter-attack saw Mahrez deliver a pass to an onside Bruno, who coolly finished to restore United's lead at 2-1.
The match then entered a phase of back-and-forth attacks for about twenty minutes, with both teams missing several chances. The score remained 2-1 in favor of United.
By the 75th minute, the score was still unchanged. Mourinho decided to shore up the defense by substituting Herrera for Mahrez, aiming to hold onto their slim lead.
Shakhtar continued their relentless attacks and eventually equalized again in the 85th minute. Fred struck a perfect free-kick that curled over the wall and into the top corner, leaving Romero no chance.
Despite Shakhtar's continued pressure, the match ended in a 2-2 draw. United had managed to secure a valuable away draw despite being a man down for most of the match.
Relieved, United now turned their focus to the upcoming EFL Cup final against Arsenal.
On February 25th, at 4:25 PM local time, the New Wembley Stadium roared as the teams took to the pitch for the EFL Cup final.
The commentators introduced the starting line-ups: Arsenal (5-3-2):
Goalkeeper: OspinaDefense: Bellerin, Chambers, Mustafi, Koscielny, MonrealMidfield: Özil, Xhaka, RamseyForwards: Aubameyang, Sanchez
Manchester United (4-4-2):
Goalkeeper: RomeroDefense: Cancelo, Maguire, Van Dijk, Ashley YoungMidfield: Bruno, Gundogan, Kante, RashfordForwards: Ibrahimovic, Harry Kane
Commentator Gary Lineker was surprised to see United lining up in a 4-4-2 formation, a departure from their usual 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. He noted that the 4-4-2 was a classic formation under Sir Alex Ferguson, known for its devastating wing play.
"Mourinho has surprised everyone with a two-striker formation, including Ibrahimovic," Lineker observed.
Another notable change was Ashley Young starting as right-back, with Luke Shaw on the bench, likely a tactical decision rather than an injury.
Arsenal's manager Arsène Wenger was puzzled by United's line-up, especially seeing Ibrahimovic start alongside Kane. He had prepared for the more familiar attacking trio of Kane, Rashford, and Mbappe. This unexpected change rendered some of Arsenal's tactical preparations obsolete.
The match had been underway for a while, and Mourinho's focus was on Alexis Sanchez. Arsenal's formation looked like a 5-3-2, but Sanchez's role was highly flexible. He moved across the front line and even dropped deep to connect midfield and attack, acting almost as a secondary playmaker alongside Özil.
Arsenal launched an attack with Sanchez on the wing. He attempted a breakthrough against Cancelo, who struggled to contain him. Gundogan's timely intervention brought Sanchez down, resulting in a free-kick for Arsenal.
Renowned referee Mike Dean was officiating the match. Despite mixed feelings from Arsenal fans about Dean's history with their team, he was recognized for his experience and fairness.
Despite the tension and fierce competition, the match promised to be a thrilling encounter between two of England's top clubs.
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