Chapter 647: The Dragon Slayer
A day after Bruno and Manchester United returned triumphantly from London, where Bruno was crowned FIFA Men's Player of the Year, the team faced their next challenge. This time, they hosted Derby County, led by Chelsea legend Frank Lampard, in the third round of the EFL Cup.
With Derby County being a Championship side and United facing a packed fixture schedule, José Mourinho opted for a fully rotated starting lineup, giving his main players a much-needed rest.
Despite the changes, United still had a significant edge in terms of quality and, playing at Old Trafford, quickly gained control of the match.
Third minute: Riyad Mahrez made a breakthrough down the left flank and delivered a low cross. Scott McTominay cleverly let the ball run, Jesse Lingard poked it forward, and Juan Mata struck from 15 yards, finding the bottom-left corner.
Fifty-ninth minute: Derby County equalized when Ashley Young fouled David Nugent. From 30 yards out, Harry Wilson unleashed a stunning free kick, sending the ball curling into the top-left corner.
Eighty-fifth minute: Mason Mount's fierce shot was only parried by Lee Grant, allowing Jack Marriott to nod in the rebound, giving Derby a 2-1 lead.
Ninety-fifth minute: In the dying moments of injury time, Diogo Dalot delivered a perfect cross, and McTominay's close-range header forced the ball past Scott Carson, leveling the score at 2-2.
With no extra time in the EFL Cup, the game went straight to a penalty shootout. After seven flawless rounds from both sides, Phil Jones missed United's eighth attempt. Derby converted theirs, claiming a dramatic 8-7 victory and eliminating United from the competition.
A Record Broken
United's defeat meant their streak of domestic dominance came to an end. For two consecutive seasons, they had won every domestic competition in England. This time, they fell short of achieving a third.
More significantly, the loss marked the end of two incredible streaks:
United's 78-match unbeaten run across all competitions was snapped.Their 65-match unbeaten home record, stretching back to Mourinho's appointment, was also broken.
For the first time, Old Trafford witnessed a Mourinho-led United defeat.
Most crucially, Derby County's triumph shattered the myth of United's invincibility, proving to the world that even the Red Devils could be beaten.
On to the Next Battle
United had no time to dwell on their EFL Cup exit, as their next challenge loomed large. On September 29, they traveled to London's Olympic Stadium to face West Ham United in the seventh round of the Premier League.
Three days earlier, Derby County's heroics had inspired teams across England. Now, the Hammers, buoyed by their passionate home crowd, sought to end another United streak: their 46-match unbeaten run in the Premier League.
The Hammering Begins
From the opening whistle, West Ham, backed by their fans, launched a relentless assault on United's defense.
Their star summer signing, former Lazio midfielder Felipe Anderson, was especially lively. Frequently demanding the ball, Anderson looked to use his explosive pace and skill to breach United's backline.
Early in the game, Anderson received the ball on the left flank. Feigning a move to the byline, he cut inside and unleashed a thunderous strike from outside the box. David de Gea leaped into action, pushing the ball to safety.
The stadium erupted in applause, boosting Anderson's confidence further.
Bruno, familiar with Anderson from their Serie A days, recognized the danger. He knew Anderson thrived on confidence and was hard to stop once in form.
Rather than focus solely on nullifying Anderson, Bruno aimed to strike first and relieve the pressure on United.
Bruno vs. West Ham
As the reigning FIFA Men's Player of the Year, Bruno commanded the full attention of West Ham's midfield. Under manager Manuel Pellegrini's instructions, the Hammers' midfield trio of Mark Noble, Declan Rice, and Pedro Obiang were tasked with marking Bruno tightly.
Every time Bruno received the ball, West Ham's captain Noble was on him, attempting to smother his creativity. If Bruno managed to evade him, Rice or Obiang would quickly step in.
A Midfield Duel
The match quickly turned into a tactical battle in midfield.
When Bruno received the ball, Noble pressed aggressively, while Bruno shielded the ball expertly, waiting for an opening. But as Rice approached for a two-man trap, Bruno opted for a horizontal pass to Harry Kane.
However, Anderson anticipated the move and intercepted the pass, leaving Kane stunned. Bruno immediately shifted gears, racing back to recover the ball.
Anderson, aware of Bruno's intent, wasted no time showboating. Before Bruno could close him down, he passed the ball forward, initiating a West Ham attack. The move ended with Marko Arnautović testing de Gea, who safely gathered the shot.
The clash between United and West Ham was far from over. As both teams battled fiercely, it became clear that United's unbeaten Premier League record was under serious threat.
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