Chapter 448: Mourinho's Choice
When the match reached the 70th minute, Manchester United, patiently waiting, finally got the opportunity they wanted.
As Vigo Celta's players pressed forward, United, under Bruno's direction, passed the ball around, drawing Celta's players further and further up the field. Then the ball came to Bruno.
This time, instead of passing it back or sideways, Bruno suddenly sent a long forward pass!
This pass accurately found Lingard, who controlled the ball and sent it to the middle. Rooney should have received it in the center, but he suddenly spread his legs and let the ball pass through, completely surprising Celta's defenders.
The ball rolled to Rashford, who took it into the box and, without waiting for Mallo to close in, took a shot!
"Rashford!!" Gary Lineker shouted excitedly.
As he shouted, the ball rolled past Mallo's feet and Celta's goalkeeper Sergio Alvarez's fingertips, then into the net!
"Goal!!! Manchester United scored! They lead 1-0 away at Vigo Celta and have a precious away goal!"
"This is a valuable goal! Scoring in the 70th minute not only gives them an away goal but also a strong chance to win this match!"
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United players ran to Rashford to celebrate the goal. Bruno, halfway there, was embraced by Kante, and they ran together to Rashford.
Although Bruno didn't directly assist, he initiated the play. The series of passes in the back, keeping the ball away from Celta's pressing, was all orchestrated by Bruno. This goal was largely due to his efforts.
While most fans focused on Rashford, United players and coaches knew that Bruno was the team's core and most indispensable player.
As United's players and staff celebrated, Celta's players stood stunned. They had attacked for so long without scoring, yet United scored on a counterattack. It seemed unfair.
When the match resumed, Celta launched a fierce attack on United's goal, hoping to equalize. However, their attack lacked coherence—some players wanted to cross from the wings, while others aimed to attack through the center. Without an organizer, they could only rely on Aspas's individual skills to score, but he was ineffective this match.
Facing United's defense, led by Kante and Maguire, Aspas had little room to maneuver, making it hard to perform well.
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Playing at home, Celta needed someone to step up and equalize, or even secure a win. All eyes were on Aspas, but he disappointed his supporters.
Aspas couldn't break through United's defense until the match ended, leaving the score at 1-0 in favor of Manchester United.
"Match over! 1-0! United won! They got an away goal and a victory! It's perfect!" Gary Lineker was thrilled.
He wasn't a United supporter, but he supported all English teams in European competitions, hoping for good results. Success in Europe would help the Premier League surpass La Liga as the top league.
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United's players were equally excited. This victory was historically significant, bringing back happy memories for many longtime fans. For years, La Liga teams dominated European competitions, often at the expense of English and German teams. Bayern Munich, for example, was eliminated by La Liga teams four consecutive years in the Champions League.
United had also suffered, with a 1-draw, 5-loss record against La Liga teams in European knockout stages before this match. Their last victory against a Spanish team in Europe was a 1-0 win over Valencia in the 2010 Champions League group stage. In knockout stages, their last win was in the 2007-2008 Champions League semi-finals, eliminating Barcelona and winning the championship.
This victory against Celta broke that embarrassing record and brought hope.
Some might argue it's just the Europa League, not the Champions League, and Celta, not Barcelona. True, today's United isn't the same as nine years ago. But the key is the trajectory of the team's development. Nine years ago, United was at its peak. The following years were a painful rebuilding period, declining in Europe and domestically, struggling even to qualify for the Champions League.
But now, United showed signs of emerging from their slump, starting an upward trend. This symbolic victory after nine years was a hopeful signal. Mourinho had said, "We need to re-establish United's reputation in Europe and the world."
This reputation requires continuous victories and trophies, from the Community Shield to the League Cup. Even if it's just the Europa League and Celta, consistent wins will bring United closer to their rightful status.
With this away win, United only need a draw at home to reach the Europa League final. Halfway there, they must remain cautious and focused.
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Mourinho was composed in his post-match interview, stating that a one-goal lead wasn't secure. He emphasized that Celta was a tough opponent, and United must remain vigilant in the second leg at home.
Celta's coach Berizzo also declared that a one-goal deficit wouldn't deter them. They would give their all in the second leg, even if it was away.
A one-goal lead is precarious, keeping both teams on edge and ensuring suspense for the next match, much to the delight of broadcasters.
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After returning from Spain with a victory and an away goal, United soon faced Arsenal in the Premier League.
The Europa League semi-final first leg was on May 4th, and the league match against Arsenal was on May 7th, less than 72 hours apart. With travel back from Spain and then to London, rest was minimal. Mourinho rotated the squad heavily, even leaving Bruno in Manchester, effectively conceding the match strategically.
Fielding nearly a full reserve team, United unsurprisingly lost 0-2 to Arsenal, who needed the points for Champions League qualification.
While the top three league positions were almost set for United, Chelsea, and Tottenham, the fourth spot was contested by Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal. Arsenal, with a game in hand, now had a chance after the unexpected win over United.
However, United wasn't too concerned about this loss. They had strategically given up the match, expecting this result. Moreover, with four league games remaining, they only needed 3 or even 2 points to secure the title.
Their focus was on the next opponent, Celta. Despite the away win, United still had work to do to secure their place in the Europa League final, requiring a strong performance at home.
(End of Chapter)
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