Chapter 691: Who Is the True Winner?
The stands erupted with thunderous applause as Harry Kane's goal gave Manchester United the lead. The cheers in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium didn't die down until the final whistle.
Trailing 1–2 and reduced to ten men, Southampton's coach Ralph Hasenhüttl was unwilling to concede defeat. He urged his team to attack, but United firmly controlled the game, turning the latter stages into a siege on Southampton's goal.
In the 89th minute, N'Golo Kanté delivered a through ball that was deflected, slowing its pace. Harry Kane collected it at the edge of the box, turned, and fired a low shot into the bottom right corner of the net. 3–1!
When the referee blew the final whistle, the scoreline remained unchanged. United had secured a hard-fought victory over Southampton, earning another three points.
This marked United's 25th win of the Premier League season, pushing their total to 79 points—10 points ahead of second-placed Manchester City. Liverpool, with a game in hand, trailed United by 12 points.
As Hasenhüttl descended from the away dugout, he shook hands with Mourinho, saying, "I still don't believe that was a penalty."
"In my view, it was a clear penalty," Mourinho replied with equal seriousness.
The two coaches locked eyes briefly before breaking into laughter. They understood each other's perspectives, even if their convictions clashed.
...
At the post-match press conference, Mourinho took the initiative to apologize to Hasenhüttl for their earlier sideline argument, attributing his behavior to the heat of the moment.
"As managers, we're all passionate about winning. Tensions can run high," Mourinho explained. "But that passion reflects our respect for the game and our teams' efforts. In that regard, I admire Mr. Hasenhüttl and wish him the best."
Hasenhüttl's opinion of Mourinho improved significantly after hearing this. He responded graciously:
"It was a fantastic match. Mr. Mourinho is an incredible coach. Unfortunately, we were on the losing side, but I'm proud of my players' efforts."
However, Hasenhüttl couldn't resist questioning the penalty decision:
"From my vantage point, it wasn't a penalty. Lingard's fall looked exaggerated."
Mourinho, who had been calm and respectful moments earlier, immediately fired back:
"To me, it was a penalty. Lingard is a tough player—he doesn't dive. He hasn't before, he doesn't now, and he won't in the future. If anything, he'd rather put every ball in the back of the net!"
Mourinho's protective stance toward his players left a strong impression on the gathered journalists. His unwavering support for his team earned him admiration, even if his temperament could be fiery.
Beyond the result, most attention centered on Bruno Fernandes' injury. Mourinho confirmed to reporters that the extent of the injury was still unclear and that they were awaiting the hospital's diagnosis.
...
The following day, United's medical team provided an update on Bruno's condition: it was less serious than initially feared. There was no fracture, and he would need about a week of rest.
With no midweek fixtures, Bruno might not miss any matches. However, the medical team recommended sitting out the upcoming weekend clash against Arsenal as a precaution. As for the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 against Roma, his participation would depend on his recovery.
Mourinho agreed with the medical advice. While the Arsenal match was significant, United's comfortable lead in the league standings meant they could afford a loss or two.
Furthermore, United's unbeaten streak had now reached 69 games. Maintaining it was no longer a priority for Mourinho or the team. In fact, Mourinho believed a loss at this point might alleviate the psychological burden of remaining unbeaten, allowing the players to focus on the matches ahead.
...
The media, however, hyped the upcoming clash against Arsenal as a headline-grabbing showdown.
One angle of the narrative was the potential impact of Bruno's absence on United. Another was the deep-seated rivalry between the two clubs.
After all, Arsenal's famous 49-match unbeaten run had been ended by Manchester United. If Arsenal could now end United's 69-match streak, it would be a poetic reversal of fortunes.
Back in December, Arsenal had an opportunity to end United's 55-game unbeaten streak. However, they had squandered it spectacularly, suffering a humiliating 1–7 defeat at Old Trafford—a loss that added insult to injury for the Gunners.
Now, Arsenal had another golden chance for revenge. The question was whether they could seize it.
While the media hyped the so-called "revenge match," Mourinho remained calm.
His composure wasn't born from overconfidence. On the contrary, Mourinho knew that without Bruno, defeating Arsenal would be exceedingly difficult. Even securing a draw at the Emirates would be a tough ask.
...
As the final whistle blew, commentators worldwide expressed sympathy for Manchester United.
"Clearly, United's luck was dreadful, facing Arsenal just as Bruno got injured," Andy Gray remarked. "Without Bruno, United looked like a lost battleship, adrift and directionless in attack at the Emirates Stadium."
In the East, commentator He Wei's voice resonated with fans:
"United showed resilience and determination at the Emirates, but unfortunately, in the 29th round of the league, they suffered their first loss of the season! Their record-breaking 69-game unbeaten streak across Europe's top leagues has come to an end.
"History comes full circle. Fourteen years ago, Rooney's goal helped United defeat Arsenal 2–0, ending the Gunners' 49-game unbeaten streak. Now, 14 years later, Aubameyang's penalty ensures Arsenal beats United 2–0 at home, putting an end to United's 69-game unbeaten run!"
Yes, United had lost. Without their talismanic captain Bruno Fernandes, the Red Devils fell to a full-strength Arsenal side playing on home turf. The final scoreline read 0–2.
In the 12th minute, Lacazette's pass found Xhaka, who unleashed a powerful left-footed shot from 25 meters out, driving the ball into the bottom left corner. 1–0 for Arsenal.
United came close to equalizing in the 19th minute, but Fred's precise shot from outside the box rattled the post instead of finding the net.
In the 69th minute, Fred committed a foul on Lacazette in the penalty area. Aubameyang stepped up and coolly converted the penalty, making it 2–0.
Arsenal's victory not only avenged their 14-year-old defeat but also ended United's historic unbeaten run at 69 games.
...
At the post-match press conference, Mourinho appeared composed. When asked if he was angry about the loss, he spread his hands and replied, "Why would I be angry? I'm proud of my players' performance and effort."
A journalist from The Echo wasn't convinced. "Are you pretending not to care? Surely you must be upset—it's your first league loss this season, and it ended your unbeaten streak!"
Mourinho shook his head and responded, "No team can win forever, and every record has its day. We've gone 69 games unbeaten, and I'm very satisfied with that. It's a fantastic achievement."
"Across three seasons, we've played 69 league matches before losing," he continued after a pause. "Do you know how nervous I was during that time? I couldn't sleep at night, thinking, 'How is this possible? We haven't lost yet? Am I dreaming?'"
Mourinho shrugged and added, "Well, now we've lost, and I'm relieved. The dream is over. So, let's not dwell on the unbeaten streak anymore."
The journalists listened to Mourinho's candid remarks, wanting to argue but unsure where to begin.
...
As flashes from cameras captured Mourinho's every move, the questions kept coming his way.
Meanwhile, Arsenal's manager, Unai Emery, sat awkwardly to the side. His team had defeated United, ending their unbeaten streak, and yet he was being overshadowed by the man whose team had just lost.
Wasn't he the victorious coach? Shouldn't he be the star of the press conference, receiving the accolades and praise? Instead, the media focused solely on Mourinho, leaving Emery sidelined and frustrated.
Despite his irritation, Emery had no choice but to sit there, silently enduring the reporters' adoration of Mourinho. He watched, feeling aggrieved, as some journalists even clapped for Mourinho, showing their admiration for the Portuguese manager's candor.
Unable to bear the situation any longer, Emery fumed internally. His team had won, but he felt no joy. Instead of basking in the glory, he was forced to watch the defeated Mourinho steal the spotlight.
Noticing Emery's visible discomfort, Mourinho turned to the journalists and said, "Gentlemen, Mr. Emery is the true star today. Why are you all focused on me?"
Emery was momentarily taken aback. His opinion of Mourinho improved slightly, thinking, This guy isn't so bad after all. At least he's being considerate.
But the relief was short-lived. After perfunctorily asking Emery a couple of questions, the reporters quickly turned their attention back to Mourinho.
Emery, left mid-sentence, suddenly felt even more humiliated than before.
(END CHAPTER)
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