Chapter 586: The Captain
At this moment, Bruno was like a giant magnet, attracting Isco and Benzema towards him. Isco was nearly glued to him, thinking he had the ball when suddenly Bruno sprinted forward. But the ball was no longer at his feet.
Before making his move, Bruno had subtly nudged the ball to Valencia, who was positioned just out of Isco's line of sight. Isco hesitated momentarily when he realized Bruno didn't have the ball and then charged towards Valencia.
Valencia, experienced as he was, didn't wait to get entangled with Isco and immediately passed the ball forward to Bruno. Bruno charged into the midfield, where Kroos and Casemiro closed in on him.
This time, instead of passing back when pressured by the two midfielders, Bruno used the outside of his right foot to flick the ball to Mbappe on the wing and continued running forward, signaling Mbappe to pass it back.
A classic one-two!
The intention behind this play was clear to everyone, including Casemiro, who immediately followed Bruno. Kroos, also momentarily deceived, didn't move to defend Mbappe at first.
Mbappe saw Bruno's raised hand with two fingers extended, indicating it was a feint. Bruno's obvious gesture was meant to draw the defenders' attention, giving Mbappe a chance to break through. So Mbappe pushed the ball forward and dashed.
With space around him, Mbappe pushed forward. His task was simple: advance as far as possible, forcing the opposition to retreat. If he couldn't break through, he was to pass the ball without hesitation.
Mourinho had repeatedly reminded his players not to act recklessly. Losing possession could put their defense in jeopardy and allow Real Madrid to regain control.
This match was going to be exhausting for Bruno and his teammates. To prevent Real Madrid from dictating the game, they had to maintain a high tempo and intensity throughout, which was extremely tiring.
Many teams could suppress elite clubs with aggressive pressing early on but would often collapse in the second half due to exhaustion.
To prepare, Manchester United focused heavily on fitness. Mourinho's training regimes were notorious for their intensity, and maintaining such high standards over two years meant the team was physically robust. However, the intensity of this match would far surpass that of a regular Premier League game, demanding even greater stamina.
Mbappe's progress was halted by Marcelo. Rather than attempting a risky dribble, he passed the ball back to Bruno.
Bruno was now free of Casemiro, who was distracted by the earlier one-two feint. Bruno swiftly turned and delivered a diagonal long pass.
The ball soared over everyone's heads, landing on Manchester United's left flank, Real Madrid's right. The focus of the attack had shifted so swiftly that Carvajal, who was playing more like a center-back, left the wing exposed.
If Bruno had hesitated, Real Madrid's defense would have adjusted. But his immediate long pass caught them off guard.
Cancelo received the ball with no defender nearby.
As Bruno's pass sailed through, Manchester United's players shifted their attack, pressuring Real Madrid's defense.
Cancelo carried the ball inside, and as Carvajal approached, he passed it to Rashford and continued his run.
In pre-match meetings, United players were reminded that individually, they might not match Real Madrid's stars. But collectively, they could overpower them. This mindset made executing their strategy much simpler.
Rashford didn't pass to the cutting Cancelo, as Real Madrid anticipated that. Instead, he passed it horizontally to Bruno.
Bruno was closely monitored by Casemiro. Allowing Bruno to operate freely within 30 yards of the goal was dangerous, as he could either shoot or set up a teammate.
But Bruno didn't intend to hold onto the ball. He let it run past him and continued his run into the box.
Kanté, arriving from behind, picked up the pass.
"Kanté!"
Casemiro, momentarily distracted by Bruno's feint, failed to react in time as Bruno slipped past him.
Kanté, barely stopping, immediately sent a through ball into the box.
Bruno, cutting in diagonally, found space and received the pass.
Another one-two!
Bruno half-turned to shoot as Real Madrid's captain Ramos closed in aggressively.
Without giving Ramos a chance, Bruno struck the ball swiftly.
Navas, diving desperately, missed it as the ball zipped past.
"Bruno shoots!!!"
The Kyiv Olympic Stadium gasped.
The ball narrowly missed the far post.
"So close! Oh, what a pity!" commentator He Wei lamented, mirroring the reactions of Manchester United fans worldwide.
Despite not scoring, United's attack demonstrated they could threaten Real Madrid's defense.
Fans and players alike drew hope from the near miss, confident they could challenge Real Madrid.
Bruno didn't dwell on the miss. He gave a thumbs-up to Kanté, showing his appreciation for the pass.
His calmness and confidence reassured his teammates.
Being a captain isn't just about personal performance; it's about leading and inspiring the team.
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