Chapter 584: The Madman!
Bruno had become adept at delivering rousing speeches in the locker room. His teammates were successfully fired up by his words.
The players were acutely aware of the media's disparaging coverage. The disdainful looks from journalists at the airport had deeply hurt them.
Any initial despair at facing Real Madrid had long dissipated. Now, they couldn't wait for the match to start. They wanted to show the world that Real Madrid wasn't invincible and that Manchester United wasn't just there to make up the numbers.
"But we will not lose!" Bruno's voice rose. "This season, we haven't lost a single match! We've beaten Liverpool, thrashed Chelsea, demolished Arsenal, and crushed Manchester City... As we overcome each obstacle and march from victory to victory, we can proudly declare—"
Bruno looked at his teammates, raised his arm, and shouted, "Who's next?"
Everyone, even seasoned veterans like Ibrahimović, was deeply moved. Young players like Rashford and Mbappé were especially fired up. Mourinho himself felt goosebumps.
As a renowned "Madman" in the football world, Mourinho was famous for his motivational speeches, which spurred players on and tapped into their energy and drive. This was key to his success at Inter Milan, where he had forged players like Sneijder, Eto'o, Milito, Zanetti, and Maicon into a formidable force.
But now, listening to Bruno, Mourinho felt like a minor compared to a master. This was the true "Madman!"
No one outside the Manchester United coaching staff and players knew what transpired in the locker room. After Bruno's stirring speech, Mourinho made some final tactical requests before sending Bruno and the players out.
As they waited to take the field, the Manchester United players were mostly silent, while the Real Madrid players chatted casually. An observer might conclude that Real Madrid was relaxed while Manchester United was paralyzed by nerves.
Though Real Madrid might indeed have been more relaxed, the idea that Manchester United was overly nervous was false.
Some Real Madrid players discussed their opponents, with most of their attention on Bruno. As United's captain and midfield maestro, Bruno was a well-known name.
Casemiro, who had been assigned to mark Bruno, stared at him the most. Real Madrid's 4-3-3 formation meant Casemiro was responsible for shadowing Bruno, as his fellow midfielders Modric and Kroos were more attack-minded.
Zidane had impressed upon Casemiro that his duel with Bruno could decide the match. Casemiro thought his coach was overly cautious. He believed Real Madrid's victory was assured, and that marking Bruno would only affect the scoreline, not the result. He acknowledged Bruno's talent but felt that isolating him from his teammates would neutralize his threat.
Bruno did not look at the Real Madrid players. He stared ahead, waiting for the referee's signal to take the field. He could hear the roaring noise outside, a mix of indistinct sounds and faint singing from the fans. The hardcore supporters were already clashing before the match had even begun.
The referee's voice broke Bruno's thoughts, "It's time to go, gentlemen!"
Bruno snapped back to reality, turned to his teammates, and shouted, "Let's go, boys!"
As the teams stepped onto the pitch, the crowd erupted in cheers. Fans had been waiting for this moment.
The stadium announcer introduced the starting eleven for both teams, starting with Real Madrid, who were considered the home side, followed by Manchester United. Each player's name, along with their photo and details, appeared on the big screens, heightening the excitement.
Under the deafening cheers and the Champions League anthem, Bruno led his team onto the pitch. Both teams lined up alongside the referee for the traditional pre-match ceremony.
After the ceremony, as the "away" captain, Bruno led his teammates to shake hands with the referees and opponents. He didn't linger or exchange pleasantries, not even with his Portugal teammate Cristiano Ronaldo. From the moment they stood in the tunnel, Real Madrid was the enemy.
After the handshake, the captains gathered around the referee for the coin toss. Bruno deliberately lost the toss, gaining the kickoff.
Against a team of Real Madrid's caliber, the start of the match was crucial. Controlling the ball at kickoff could reduce pressure on their defense and potentially lead to an early goal.
"Good morning, viewers! I don't know how many of you have stayed up all night or just woken up, but I know many of you are eagerly awaiting this match. The game is about to begin, so let's introduce the starting lineups for both teams."
"First, Real Madrid's lineup: they're in a 4-3-3 formation. The goalkeeper is Navas, with Ramos and Varane as center-backs, Marcelo at left-back, and Carvajal at right-back. The midfield trio consists of Casemiro, Modric, and Kroos, with Benzema, Isco, and Ronaldo up front."
"Manchester United is also in a 4-3-3 formation. De Gea is in goal, with Van Dijk and Maguire as center-backs, Cancelo at left-back, and Valencia at right-back. The midfield three are Bruno, Kanté, and Gündoğan, and the front three are Mbappé, Rashford, and Harry Kane. Veteran Ibrahimović starts on the bench."
"Both teams have fielded their strongest possible lineups. They clearly value this match highly..."
The pre-match formalities concluded, and the players took their positions. The referee, standing outside the center circle, checked his watch. The enormous Kyiv Olympic Stadium fell silent in anticipation.
The referee put the whistle to his lips, looked around to ensure everyone was ready, and blew the whistle to start the match!
"Good morning, viewers! Welcome to the 2017-2018 UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Manchester United. These two teams are among the world's elite, with Real Madrid reaching their third consecutive final and Manchester United unbeaten this season. Fans are in for a treat. The match has begun, with Manchester United kicking off..."
Harry Kane passed the ball to Bruno, prompting cheers from the United fans.
"Bruno has the ball!" the commentator exclaimed excitedly.
United fans at home grew tense, worried about the pressure affecting Bruno's performance, despite his reputation for excelling in big games.
On the screen, Bruno calmly controlled the ball. His smooth, relaxed movements reassured the fans.
Bruno dribbled horizontally, not rushing to pass. Real Madrid players closed in.
"Benzema is clearly targeting Bruno!" the commentator shouted. "They want to intercept and counterattack! Bruno will face a tough challenge in this match... He got past him! Excellent! Beautiful play!"
The commentator's analysis turned into an excited cheer, naturally because of Bruno's impressive move.
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