Chapter 583: Bruno, Say a Few Words!
On May 26, Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, fully embraced the Champions League final mode.
The Manchester United players were gathered in the hotel lobby, some chatting, some listening to music with headphones, and others sitting quietly with serious expressions.
Among the squad, only Bruno, Kanté, Cancelo, Maguire, and Mata had experience playing in a Champions League final, each having done so only once. However, this still set them apart from their less experienced teammates.
Young players like Rashford and Mbappé huddled around Bruno, listening intently to his advice and experiences.
"Don't be nervous; treat it like any other final," Bruno said seriously. "Nervousness will affect your performance. And most importantly, don't panic if we fall behind, and don't get complacent if we take the lead."
The young players nodded earnestly.
At that moment, Mourinho and his coaching staff exited the elevator. Mourinho glanced around, then raised his hand with authority and shouted, "Let's go!"
The team followed Mourinho out of the hotel, greeted by a barrage of camera flashes.
Escorted by Kyiv's mounted police, the Manchester United bus arrived at the Kyiv Olympic Stadium. The area outside the stadium was packed with fans.
Manchester United's arrival was met with a wave of cheers and applause from their supporters.
Bruno glanced out the window, then turned his attention back to the bus. He noticed the excitement in the eyes of all his teammates, including veterans like Kanté and Mata, who had been in this position before. He looked particularly at Ibrahimović, whose eyes were fixed intently outside.
Upon reaching the designated parking area, none of the Manchester United players spoke to the media. Mourinho took on that responsibility alone, allowing his players to quickly head to the locker room.
After a brief rest, both teams' players were sent out for warm-ups.
Mourinho watched his players closely. Despite their attempts to appear unfazed, he could see the underlying tension. After all, many of them were experiencing their first Champions League final.
Although they had won domestic league titles and the Europa League, the Champions League was a different beast.
Mourinho decided that it was better for them to warm up and burn off some of their nervous energy than to sit and let the tension build.
As he watched his players leave the locker room, he sighed in relief. He was just as nervous as they were, if not more.
Despite all his preparations—watching countless hours of footage, analyzing opponents, and devising multiple strategies—confidence was elusive.
No one reaches the final just to be a runner-up. Everyone craves the ultimate victory and the glory of standing atop the podium.
The myriad scenarios he had considered—early goals, trailing, leading, stalemates, extra time, penalties—swirled in his mind. He shook his head, trying to clear it.
Both teams warmed up for thirty minutes. Real Madrid, having started earlier, was the first to return to the locker room, followed shortly by Manchester United.
As the commotion of the warm-ups died down, the Kyiv Olympic Stadium grew quieter. Fans took the opportunity to rest their voices and attend to other needs, anticipating the upcoming excitement.
Everyone returned to the locker room. Mourinho was the last to enter, with his assistant coach Faria closing the door behind him.
The players, dressed and ready, looked expectantly at Mourinho, knowing he had something to say.
Mourinho took a deep breath and began, "The past two years have felt like a dream. We've won two Premier League titles, swept all the domestic cups in England, and now we're in the Champions League final. Outsiders might say we got lucky, but we know how much effort we've put in to get here."
He paused, looking at his players, seeing the determination and confidence in their eyes.
"Every single one of you, whether a starter or a substitute, has played a crucial role. We are a team, and we wouldn't be here without each one of you. It has been an honor to work with you."
Ibrahimović shouted, "It's an honor to play under you, José!"
Mourinho smiled and nodded at Ibrahimović, then continued, "Real Madrid is a formidable opponent. They've won the Champions League for the past two years and have been in the final four times in the last five years. No team on this planet has more experience in Champions League finals. Beating them will be a huge challenge."
"But no one comes to the final to be a runner-up. Even if our opponent is mighty Real Madrid, we have no reason to give up."
"And they are just eleven players. We have twelve," he said, pointing at Bruno.
The room erupted in laughter. They had heard this joke many times, but today it felt particularly effective. Mourinho often said that with Bruno on the field, it was like having an extra player.
Thinking of Bruno, the team felt a sense of calm. With him, anything seemed possible. Who else but Bruno had led them to the final?
Most Manchester United players believed that Bruno's arrival had significantly boosted the team's spirit and mentality. He instilled a "champion's heart" in the fallen giants, teaching them never to surrender to any foe.
In his first Premier League season, when others were content with a mid-season lead, Bruno declared they would win the title. Now, in their first Champions League campaign under his leadership, he set his sights on the final.
As everyone looked at Bruno, Mourinho said, "Bruno, say a few words."
Bruno stood up and spoke confidently, "We all know what this match means. If we win, we become champions of Europe. If we lose, it proves we are no match for Real Madrid and deserve the world's scorn. The thought of losing and being ridiculed makes me angry!"
He clenched his fist.
"When I was a fan, if my team won, I'd eagerly seek out all the news reports to savor the victory. But if they lost, I'd avoid the news for days, knowing the media would praise the winners and trample the losers."
"I can accept failure, but not failure that leads to ridicule. The world expects Real Madrid to win, debating only by how many goals. If we lose, can you imagine what they'll say about us? I don't even want to think about it!"
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