Chapter 690: A Game of Twists
Mourinho walked to the sideline, loudly calling out to defensive midfielder Kante. When the Frenchman looked his way, Mourinho made a downward pressing motion: Defend!
After equalizing, Southampton's morale soared. They dominated the closing minutes of the first half, but Mourinho's quick adjustments and instructions to pull the team back defensively helped Manchester United weather the storm.
When the first half ended, the score remained 1–1.
Southampton's coach, Ralph Hasenhüttl, was visibly frustrated. His team had the momentum, and he felt that with just a bit more time, they could have broken through United's defense again. The halftime whistle came at the worst possible time for them.
On the other hand, Mourinho was relieved. His team had been under pressure in the final moments, and the halftime break gave them a much-needed reprieve.
In the dressing room, Mourinho chose not to berate his players. Instead, he praised their performance, even though they had conceded an equalizer.
"Well done. Keep playing like this in the second half!" he encouraged.
Overall, United had executed Mourinho's tactical plan well in the first half. One mistake didn't overshadow their strong performance. The team needed encouragement and confidence, and Mourinho believed that they wouldn't let him down in the second half.
...
As the second half began, Manchester United seized the initiative, buoyed by the cheers of nearly 70,000 fans at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. Their relentless attacks on Southampton's penalty area sent a clear message: they were playing to win.
The relocation from Old Trafford to Cardiff had reduced attendance slightly, but with United's stellar form, the stadium still saw around 95% capacity.
Southampton, too, weren't content with a draw. Hasenhüttl responded with a bold approach, refusing to retreat into a defensive shell. His team continued to push forward, aiming for a decisive goal.
This suited Southampton's strengths. Despite sitting 16th in the table with a record of 6 wins, 8 draws, and 14 losses, their attack had netted 30 goals—ranking 14th among Premier League teams. Their glaring weakness was their defense, having conceded 47 goals.
Hasenhüttl knew his team's strengths and weaknesses well. If their defense couldn't hold, their best chance was to outscore their opponents.
...
In the 71st minute, Mourinho replaced Mbappé, who was starting to tire, with Lingard to maintain attacking momentum.
The crowd erupted into applause, recognizing Mbappé's first-half goal and overall contribution.
"Well done!" Mourinho said, clapping hands with Mbappé as he came off.
Southampton's Hasenhüttl quickly responded by substituting the underperforming Austin with Armstrong, a pacey winger who added more attacking flair.
Three minutes later, Mourinho made another change, bringing on Mahrez for Gundogan to further bolster the attack.
Not to be outdone, Hasenhüttl replaced center-back Yoshida with towering striker Sam Gallagher, signaling an intention to exploit aerial threats.
Both managers continued to tweak their lineups, injecting fresh attacking players into the fray. The match turned into an all-out offensive battle, much to the delight of the fans, who were on the edge of their seats.
Mourinho and Hasenhüttl stood at the sidelines, intently observing the chaotic game, searching for vulnerabilities to exploit.
But as the game devolved into a fast-paced and error-prone contest, Mourinho frowned.
"I hate this kind of chaos," he muttered to his assistant, Faria. Mourinho thrived on tactical precision, and the disarray on the pitch frustrated him.
...
Then came an unexpected twist.
Bruno Fernandes went down after a clash with an opponent, clutching his leg in pain. The United captain gestured for a substitution.
"F**K!" Mourinho cursed. Losing Bruno, the team's star player and creative heartbeat, was his worst nightmare.
He immediately sent Mata to warm up while anxiously monitoring Bruno's condition.
With the help of the medical staff, Bruno limped off the pitch, greeted by applause from the fans as a show of support and encouragement.
"What's the situation?" Mourinho asked the team doctor.
"We're not sure of the extent yet, but he definitely won't play the next match."
"F**K!" Mourinho cursed again, his frustration palpable. He quickly comforted the dejected Bruno and gave Mata instructions before sending him onto the pitch.
As Mata replaced Bruno, the commentators took note of Mourinho's bold approach.
"Mourinho is showing his attacking intent," Martin Tyler said. "This is a gamble—either United scores, or they risk being caught out by Southampton's counterattacks."
"Neither side seems willing to settle for a draw," Andy Gray added. "In such situations, it's often one moment of fortune or misfortune that decides the game."
...
Gray's words proved prophetic just minutes later.
Southampton's defender attempted a back pass under pressure from Mata. Harry Kane immediately rushed toward Bednarek, who panicked and made a weak return pass to his goalkeeper.
Lingard pounced like a predator, reaching the ball just ahead of the goalkeeper. As he prepared to shoot, Gunn slid in desperately, bringing Lingard down.
"Penalty!" Mourinho leapt from his seat, shouting in triumph.
"Dive!" yelled Hasenhüttl from the opposite sideline.
Enraged, Mourinho turned to Hasenhüttl. "Are you blind?"
Hasenhüttl, known for his fiery personality, snapped back, "Your player dived! Trash!"
The two managers exchanged heated words on the sideline as the referee intervened.
On the pitch, the referee had made his decision. Gunn was shown a red card, leaving Southampton with ten men, and a penalty was awarded to United.
"Southampton's goalkeeper Gunn has been sent off, and Manchester United have a golden opportunity to retake the lead," Martin Tyler exclaimed.
Despite being a man down, Hasenhüttl refused to concede defeat. He substituted left-back Bertrand for backup goalkeeper McCarthy.
McCarthy, formerly Southampton's first-choice keeper, was eager to prove himself after losing his starting spot to Gunn.
...
With Bruno off the pitch, there was no designated penalty taker. Lingard, who had earned the penalty, immediately claimed the ball, determined to take the shot.
McCarthy, towering at 193 cm, made an imposing figure in goal, flailing his arms dramatically to unnerve Lingard.
The referee blew the whistle, and Lingard stepped up. He aimed for the bottom left corner, but McCarthy guessed correctly, diving sharply to parry the shot.
"McCarthy saves it!" shouted Gray.
However, the ball rebounded, and Harry Kane was the quickest to react, slotting the ball into the net on the follow-up.
2–1!
"GOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!" Tyler bellowed. "McCarthy's heroic save wasn't enough. Kane capitalizes on the rebound, and Manchester United takes the lead again!"
(END CHAPTER)
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