Chapter 554: Crushing Roma
For Manchester United to set a record of remaining unbeaten in all competitions this season, they faced many challenges, with the first opponent being Roma.
On April 4, 2018, at 7:45 PM GMT, the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals took place at Old Trafford, with Manchester United hosting Roma, a team they had faced in the group stage.
Because United's schedule had them playing the first leg at home and the second leg away, this home match was crucial. The team needed to secure a solid win to ease the pressure for the away match.
With this in mind, Mourinho made significant changes to the starting lineup for United's weekend match against Swansea. Even Bruno, who started that match, played for only about an hour, partly because the game was already won, and partly to conserve energy for the clash with Roma.
Bruno understood his task clearly. His primary goal was to maintain his form and help the team progress as far as possible in both the Champions League and the league. The only difference was that the league, due to their points lead, was less urgent than the Champions League. If forced to choose, he would prioritize the Champions League, as it had been three years since he last won it, and ten years since United last claimed the title.
This season, United gave him the most confidence, and he didn't want to miss out.
In contrast, Roma was in a more difficult situation, sitting third in Serie A and trailing league leaders Juventus by 18 points. With only eight rounds left, their chances of winning the league were mostly theoretical. They were also knocked out of the Coppa Italia in the round of 16, and their remaining hope for a trophy lay in the Champions League, though facing United in the quarter-finals made this a daunting task.
With United facing three games in six days, including the highly anticipated Manchester Derby over the weekend, Mourinho adjusted the starting lineup.
De Gea started in goal, with Ashley Young, Lindelof, Smalling, and Cancelo in defense. The midfield trio consisted of Bruno, Herrera, and Mata, while Mahrez, Ibrahimovic, and Lingard formed the attacking trident. Players like Harry Kane, who played the previous weekend, were on the bench.
Roma's starting lineup was a 4-5-1 formation with Becker in goal, and a backline of Perez, Fazio, Kolarov, and Manolas. The midfield included Perotti, Strootman, De Rossi, Pellegrini, and Florenzi, with Dzeko as the lone striker.
Both teams were familiar with each other, having no secrets to hide. Roma kicked off, but United immediately pressed high up the pitch.
Herrera was particularly active, intercepting a pass early on and finding Bruno, who unleashed a powerful shot from thirty meters out, though it missed the target.
Despite the initial shot not being on target, United's aggressive pressing paid off. Just four minutes in, Cancelo surged forward and combined well with Mahrez on the right, before delivering a cross into the box. Ibrahimovic used his body to shield the ball from Manolas and slotted it home from close range.
1-0!
The goal seemed almost too easy, but Ibrahimovic was thrilled, running to the sidelines to celebrate.
After taking the lead, United continued to pile pressure on Roma, but the Italian side also posed a threat, though they couldn't break through United's midfield dominance.
In the 35th minute, Ashley Young surged forward, and Lingard made a quick inside run, drawing Strootman away. Young passed the ball back down the line, executing a perfect one-two. Bruno then made a decisive forward run and crossed from the left side of the box. Ibrahimovic met the cross with a powerful header, scoring again.
2-0!
Ibrahimovic, who had now scored a brace, ran to the sidelines, visibly ecstatic.
As a superstar in world football, Ibrahimovic had scored countless goals and won numerous titles. However, he had always been haunted by his lack of a Champions League title. Since representing Ajax in the 2002-2003 season, this was his 15th season in the competition, with over 120 appearances and more than 50 goals, yet he had never won the trophy.
He had never even reached the semi-finals, with his teams usually exiting early in the knockout stages.
This lack of success was also reflected in his personal scoring record in the knockout stages, with only 10 goals in 14 seasons before this year. Despite ranking in the top 20 for all-time Champions League knockout stage goals, this was still disappointing given his frequent appearances in the competition.
It wasn't until the 2009-2010 season that Ibrahimovic scored his first knockout stage goal against Stuttgart. His standout knockout performances came in the 2015-2016 season, even though he scored 10 goals in the 2013-2014 season, only 2 were in the knockouts against Bayer Leverkusen. In the 2015-2016 season, he scored 2 goals and provided 1 assist in the round of 16 against Chelsea, helping Paris Saint-Germain advance, and added another goal against Manchester City in the quarter-finals.
After a severe injury last season, Ibrahimovic's return was uncertain. After months of recovery, he found it challenging to secure playing time against Kane and McTominay. Yet, despite these obstacles, he managed to score in the second leg of the round of 16 and now had a brace in this match, bringing his tally to three goals in the knockout stages this season alone. No wonder he was ecstatic.
Like Ibrahimovic, Bruno was also enjoying the game, playing relaxed and in control, as United dominated from the start and quickly secured a lead. This allowed him to conserve energy and manage his fitness, a crucial skill for professional players.
During halftime, Mourinho praised the team's performance and urged them to continue their efforts, aiming to secure a decisive victory at home to crush Roma's morale.
In the second half, United's performance remained strong. Just before Bruno was substituted in the 60th minute, he assisted Lindelof with a set-piece goal.
Roma managed to score from a corner in the 73rd minute, but United quickly responded in the 81st minute when substitute Gundogan assisted Ibrahimovic for his hat-trick.
The match ended 4-1 in favor of United, a dominant victory over Roma.
After the match, United's performance was widely praised by the media.
The Times noted that United hadn't exerted their full strength, with key players like Harry Kane, Mbappe, Rashford, and Kante not starting, and even Bruno being subbed off early in the second half. This was clearly on Mourinho's orders, as the team was preparing for the Manchester Derby.
The man of the match was Ibrahimovic, who scored his first hat-trick in the Champions League, receiving widespread acclaim.
However, what surprised the media most were United's substitute players. Ashley Young, who assisted Ibrahimovic, was solid in defense and impressive in attack, earning unanimous praise. Cancelo's performance on the right was equally commendable, especially his assist for Ibrahimovic's first goal, showcasing excellent teamwork with Mahrez.
The standout, however, was Spanish midfielder Herrera. The Times wrote, "Herrera was like a sharp-eyed hound in midfield, anticipating every move by De Rossi and the rest of the Roma midfield. He was everywhere, tirelessly chasing the ball."
The Guardian also praised Herrera, highlighting his excellent ball control, tackling, and passing. "He actively moved to support his teammates, finding better passing options."
The Manchester Evening News described Herrera as an invaluable midfield asset. "His combination with Bruno and Mata showcased top-tier European midfield quality. After tonight's performance, Mourinho might face a happy dilemma: choosing between Kante and Herrera."
Though Bruno didn't stand out in the 4-1 victory, the media refrained from criticizing him. Instead, outlets like The Times, The Guardian, and The Manchester Evening News defended him. The Times remarked, "Bruno was clearly focused on assisting his teammates rather than scoring himself." The Guardian playfully suggested, "Apparently, Bruno and Ibrahimovic are close friends, and Bruno must enjoy seeing Ibrahimovic score!"
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Cortez10