Chapter 696: The Master of the Pitch
Mourinho could clearly see Bruno's desire to score, but he couldn't understand why Bruno was so fixated on it.
Five assists in a single match were already enough to earn him universal acclaim. Even the most critical fans or media pundits would have no grounds to nitpick his performance. Wasn't that satisfying enough?
Bruno had achieved a near-perfect game with five assists—why obsess over a single goal? Was it really necessary?
Carrick, standing nearby, interjected, "I get it. In your perspective, it seems unnecessary. Instead of exhausting himself chasing a trivial goal, he should conserve his energy for the next match."
Mourinho and Faria both nodded in agreement. That was precisely how they saw it.
Carrick smiled and shook his head. "But you need to understand and respect that this is his personality. Sometimes, certain things just can't be measured rationally. We may not grasp Bruno's relentless drive or his high standards, but we have to acknowledge that it's this very personality that brought him to where he is today and helped him achieve what he has."
Mourinho fell silent. He still found it hard to wrap his head around.
...
"I think you should consider respecting the player's choice," Carrick suggested.
Mourinho frowned, contemplating the idea, but eventually, Carrick's words swayed him.
Although Mourinho wouldn't admit it outright, he knew deep down that Carrick was far better than him at dealing with players, especially elite ones.
During Mourinho's nearly three years at United, many potential conflicts with players had been quietly resolved by Carrick. Despite not fully understanding Bruno's mindset, Mourinho decided to take Carrick's advice.
Mourinho's two assistant coaches played complementary roles. Faria, who had been by his side for 17 years, understood Mourinho's thought process intimately and often offered critical suggestions. However, like Mourinho, Faria struggled with player relationships—a factor that likely explained why they rarely stayed at one club for long.
Carrick, on the other hand, filled this gap. With his excellent interpersonal skills, he understood players' perspectives, especially those of top-tier talents. Carrick's ability likely stemmed from his own experience as a world-class player during his career.
"Looks like Harry Kane will have to take one for the team," Mourinho remarked casually.
...
In the 70th minute, Mourinho subbed Scott McTominay in for Harry Kane.
The England captain, satisfied with his goal and solid performance, left the pitch with a smile.
Bruno quickly understood the coaching staff's intentions, and his heart warmed at the gesture.
To be honest, Bruno knew his desire to score was a bit selfish, even egotistical. But he really, really wanted that goal.
This stemmed from his awareness of the extraordinary performances his two main rivals had delivered on the same Champions League matchday.
In Italy, Juventus had lost 0–2 to Atletico Madrid in the first leg. Many had written them off, but back in Turin, Cristiano Ronaldo's hat-trick completed an incredible comeback, reminding the world: "I'm still CR7."
Meanwhile, in Spain, Barcelona had drawn 0–0 in their first-leg match against Lyon. Back at Camp Nou, Messi erupted with two goals and two assists, single-handedly dismantling Lyon in a 5–1 rout.
While Bruno's five assists were undeniably impressive, they paled in comparison to Ronaldo's hat-trick heroics and Messi's double-brace.
Having recently won the Laureus World Sports Award for Best Male Athlete—beating competitors like Ronaldo and Djokovic—Bruno had become the first male footballer to claim the honor. Many declared him the undisputed best player in the world.
Although Bruno didn't publicly comment on this, he cared deeply.
He didn't want the media to claim after this Champions League round that he wasn't living up to the title of "best in the world" and was outshone by the other two.
...
With McTominay on the pitch, Mourinho adjusted United's tactics slightly.
Bruno was given greater freedom to roam the final third, moving as he pleased to find scoring opportunities.
Luke Shaw, too, was granted more license to push forward. Known for his exceptional free kicks and crosses, Shaw contributed significantly to United's attack. Despite frequent injury setbacks, a revamped fitness program under the club's Qatari owners was helping him stay fit.
With McTominay providing support and Shaw pressing forward, Bruno began carefully hunting for his moment to score.
Finally, in the 76th minute, the opportunity arrived.
From the right, Cancelo sent in a cross. Rashford and Sane both lunged for the ball at the near post, but their collision left them sprawled on the ground as the ball floated toward the far post.
Unmarked, Bruno calmly stepped up and tapped the ball into the net.
Simple. Direct. Efficient.
But Bruno was ecstatic nonetheless!
...
Not only was Bruno ecstatic, but the entire Manchester United team celebrated his goal with him, and the entire stadium erupted in cheers for him.
Bruno dashed out of the pitch, cheering excitedly as he celebrated his goal before kneeling down in front of the stands.
Behind him, Manchester United players swarmed him, forming a jubilant huddle. Meanwhile, the fans in the stands chanted Bruno's name in unison.
Five assists and one goal—absolute perfection!
"This scene reminds me of a moment from a movie," Mourinho suddenly remarked.
Carrick looked at him, surprised. You watch movies? Isn't your world just football? Are you sure it's a movie and not a football match you're referencing?
He dared not voice these thoughts aloud, knowing Mourinho's sharp tongue would overwhelm him. So, he asked cautiously, "Which movie?"
"The Shawshank Redemption." Mourinho replied. "The part where the protagonist crawls out of prison—he looks just like this. The only thing missing now is the rain."
From his tone, Mourinho seemed almost regretful that it wasn't raining.
Carrick wasn't sure how to respond. He had seen the movie too but couldn't quite see the resemblance. Was it the posture?
But why would Mourinho, out of the blue, reference a movie? This was a man who rarely mentioned anything outside of football.
...
Suddenly, Carrick understood Mourinho's point.
Transformation. Rebirth.
Just as the protagonist in The Shawshank Redemption crawled out of the prison to embrace freedom, Bruno's long-awaited goal signified a transformation. From this moment on, both would undergo a profound rebirth.
It was reminiscent of Cristiano Ronaldo's breakthrough in the 2006–2007 season, where he scored back-to-back braces during the grueling Christmas schedule. People began to recognize his newfound strength. Similarly, after this match, Bruno would undoubtedly emerge even stronger and more confident.
He would start to realize his potential to dominate football matches completely.
After Bruno's goal, Manchester United led 7–0.
At that point, Mourinho made his second substitution, bringing on Juan Mata to replace Bruno.
As Bruno walked off the pitch, all 70,000 fans in the stadium rose to their feet, applauding and cheering for him. Everyone chanted his name.
Without a doubt, he was the master of tonight's game and the undisputed hero of Manchester United's victory.
This evening, in this stadium, this city, and even across the globe, countless fans were celebrating Bruno's brilliance.
One goal and five assists—such a perfect performance left no room for criticism and demanded everyone's admiration.
...
After hugging Mata and encouraging his teammates, Bruno walked off the pitch. He embraced Mourinho, Faria, and Carrick in turn, thanking the coaching staff for their trust and support.
Mourinho, as usual, remained stoic, keeping his emotions hidden. Meanwhile, Faria and Carrick couldn't stop grinning as they congratulated Bruno. Carrick even admitted that after tonight, he had become one of Bruno's biggest fans.
Even after Bruno left the pitch, Manchester United's relentless attack showed no signs of waning. Whether it was the substitutes or the players who started the game, everyone played with unwavering determination.
Schalke 04, on the other hand, gradually crumbled under the weight of Manchester United's unrelenting offense and constant goals.
In the final ten minutes, Schalke had abandoned all thoughts of counterattacking, focusing solely on defense. Their fighting spirit, so evident at the start, was completely broken.
The once-spirited "Miners" were utterly dismantled by Manchester United in this match.
Watching from the sidelines, Bruno couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for his opponents.
In truth, Schalke 04 hadn't performed poorly. However, a few mistakes in the first half allowed Manchester United to capitalize, leading to a cascade of opportunities and goals that broke Schalke's resolve.
If Schalke had shifted to a defensive strategy after conceding the first or even the second goal, the outcome might have been entirely different.
In football, as in life, one decision can lead to paradise—or plunge you into hell.
(END CHAPTER)
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