Chapter 652: Chelsea's Dilemma
After leading Manchester United to three consecutive comeback victories, Bruno left the club temporarily to fulfill his national duty for Portugal during the second international break of the season.
This break posed a unique challenge for Portugal as they faced their fixtures without Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese forward had officially requested to skip national team duties for October and November, marking the end of his 2018 appearances for Portugal. His decision was influenced by several factors:
Having led Portugal to World Cup victory and cemented his legacy as one of football's all-time greats, Ronaldo felt his international career was complete. At 33, taking a break from less critical matches allowed him to manage his fitness and extend his playing career.Ronaldo wanted to focus on adapting to his new club, Juventus, after his summer move from Real Madrid, and avoid the fatigue of traveling for international matches.As a father of four, Ronaldo sought to spend more time with his family while also giving opportunities to Portugal's younger generation of players.
In Ronaldo's absence, Bruno continued captaining Portugal in the UEFA Nations League.
Portugal vs. Poland
Portugal's opponent during this international break was Poland, led by Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski. This match was particularly significant as it marked Lewandowski's 100th international cap and Bruno's 48th for Portugal.
In the all-time international scoring charts, Bruno held a slight edge over Lewandowski, with 56 goals compared to the Polish striker's 55. This match was also crucial for the group standings, as Poland had drawn their opener against Italy, while Portugal had narrowly defeated the Azzurri.
Poland's attack was bolstered by the in-form Krzysztof Piątek, who had scored nine goals in his first seven Serie A matches. Meanwhile, André Silva, filling in for Ronaldo, had also found his scoring touch at Sevilla, with seven goals to his name.
A Thrilling Encounter
The match began with Portugal dominating possession and creating multiple chances. However, it was Poland who struck first.
18th minute: Kurzawa delivered a corner from the right, and Piątek outjumped Cancelo to head the ball into the net. Poland led 1–0.
Portugal responded quickly:
31st minute: Bruno split Poland's defense with a brilliant pass to Cancelo, whose cross found Pizzi in the box. Pizzi's low pass across the face of goal was met by André Silva, who slotted it home to level the score at 1–1.
41st minute: From deep in midfield, Rúben Neves delivered a pinpoint long ball to Bruno, who deftly controlled it, rounded the goalkeeper, and tapped it into the empty net. Bruno's 57th international goal put Portugal ahead 2–1.
In the second half, Portugal continued their offensive momentum:
51st minute: Bruno unlocked Poland's defense with another incisive pass. Bernardo Silva received the ball on the right flank, cut inside to the edge of the box, and unleashed a curling left-footed strike into the net. Portugal extended their lead to 3–1.
Poland fought back:
76th minute: Kuba connected with a loose ball outside the box, unleashing a thunderous volley into the top corner. Poland reduced the deficit to 3–2, reigniting hopes of a comeback.
Despite Poland's late pressure, Portugal held firm and sealed the win in injury time:
91st minute: Renato Sanches threaded a pass into the box to André Silva, who shielded the ball before turning and crossing to an unmarked Bruno. The captain calmly converted into the empty net, making it 4–2.
With two consecutive victories, Portugal took control of their Nations League group.
Next Stop: Scotland
Three days later, Portugal faced Scotland in a friendly. Bruno was rested, but the team maintained their momentum, securing a 3–1 victory.
Return to Manchester
After Portugal's Nations League triumph over Poland, Bruno returned to Manchester rather than traveling with the national team to Edinburgh. Upon his return, the focus immediately shifted to Manchester United's upcoming Premier League clash against Chelsea.
This high-stakes match at Stamford Bridge was pivotal for multiple reasons:
Rivalry: The game pitted two Premier League giants against each other.Mourinho's return: It marked another reunion between Mourinho and his former club.Unbeaten streak: The match was a critical step in United's pursuit of Arsenal's record 49-game unbeaten streak in the league.
Chelsea, aware of the significance of the occasion, were determined to thwart United's historic run. Memories of their own 40-game unbeaten streak, ended by Manchester United 13 years ago, fueled their motivation to return the favor.
A Global Spectacle
Manchester United's confidence was sky-high after three consecutive comeback wins before the international break. Even Bruno found time for a laugh when his fiancée, Liu Yimei, shared a video with him. It featured an unaired segment from a Chinese football program, World Football, which included the following bold statement:
"To claim the throne, United must first slay the Blues, then topple the Toffees, conquer the Gunners, and vanquish the Rossoneri to dominate the world."
The reference was clear:
Chelsea (Blues) and Everton (Toffees) were United's next two Premier League opponents. Victories against these teams would break Arsenal's 49-game unbeaten record.Beating Arsenal (Gunners) and potentially AC Milan (Rossoneri) would pave the way to new heights in Europe.
Bruno couldn't help but laugh at the comparison to martial arts fiction, where the phrase originally described a protagonist conquering rival clans to become the supreme leader.
But for Manchester United, the mission was clear: keep winning and make history.
The English media was abuzz with discussions about Manchester United's 48-game unbeaten streak, with pundits speculating how much longer it could continue and whether United could break further records.
"United's next two Premier League matches are against Chelsea and Everton, two traditional powerhouses. Chelsea, in particular, is a team that has historically fared well against United in the Premier League era, often considered their bogey team.
"Especially at Stamford Bridge, United's record over their last ten league visits has been dismal: 2 wins, 3 draws, and 5 losses.
"On paper, equaling Arsenal's 49-game unbeaten record won't come easy. Matchday 9 at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea is shaping up to be United's toughest test.
"However, since Bruno and Mourinho joined United, their record against Chelsea has improved significantly. This suggests that United have a fair chance of securing a result away from home, which would see them tie Arsenal's historic streak from 14 years ago.
"If United manage to overcome Chelsea, their unbeaten run will likely continue, as their next opponents are Everton and Bournemouth, both of whom are unlikely to pose a serious threat to the Red Devils."
October 20: Stamford Bridge Showdown
On Saturday, October 20, at 12:30 PM local time, the much-anticipated Premier League Matchday 9 clash between Chelsea and Manchester United kicked off at Stamford Bridge.
For United, avoiding defeat would mean equaling Arsenal's record of 49 consecutive unbeaten Premier League games.
Though Chelsea and Arsenal aren't bitter rivals, their competition during the Premier League era has been intense, and the relationship between the clubs has often been far from cordial.
One of the most memorable stories in English football history is the fierce rivalry between Arsène Wenger and José Mourinho. The two managers clashed frequently on and off the pitch, with verbal exchanges and even physical altercations making headlines for over a decade.
Their feud began in 2004 and peaked in October 2014 when Wenger and Mourinho had a heated sideline confrontation during an Arsenal vs. Chelsea match, resulting in a shove that was widely covered in the media.
While Wenger's retirement and Mourinho's move to United seemed to mark the end of their storied rivalry, the narrative was reignited as Mourinho's United now aimed to surpass Arsenal's 49-game unbeaten run. And Chelsea—Mourinho's former club—found themselves in the ironic position of being the gatekeepers of Arsenal's record.
Chelsea's Stakes
Chelsea had little choice but to aim for victory against United.
On one hand, the Blues had endured back-to-back trophyless seasons, which was unacceptable for owner Roman Abramovich, who had invested heavily in the transfer market. During the summer, Chelsea sacked Antonio Conte and appointed Maurizio Sarri following his success at Napoli.
Abramovich further opened his wallet, bringing in Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and Napoli midfield maestro Jorginho for a combined €123 million. The club's ambition was clear: end their title drought and reclaim the Premier League crown after four years.
Chelsea had started the season strongly, earning 6 wins and 2 draws in their first 8 matches to sit third in the league table.
Victory over United wouldn't just end their opponent's unbeaten streak but would also elevate Chelsea above United in the standings, potentially to the summit of the league table. A loss, however, would widen the gap between the two clubs and risk Chelsea being forever associated with helping United achieve their record.
The Times put it bluntly: "This game is a must-win for Chelsea. It's not just a match; it's a battle for pride and respect."
Tense Atmosphere at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge was packed to capacity, with Chelsea fans displaying a mix of emotions. Many felt conflicted, even resentful, as their team found itself forced to fight for the preservation of Arsenal's record—a rival club.
"The Chelsea fans are in full voice today. From the opening whistle, they've been singing, filling the stadium with their passion," the commentator remarked.
Chelsea's strategy was simple: strike early to gain control of the game and dictate the tempo. But things didn't go as planned.
Early Shock
Within two minutes, United stunned the home crowd. Marcus Rashford unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box, forcing Kepa into a save. However, the rebound landed perfectly for Harry Kane, who slid in ahead of Antonio Rüdiger to bury the ball into the net.
The Stamford Bridge faithful fell silent, their voices drowned by disbelief. Chelsea fans, midway through singing their anthem, suddenly found themselves staring at the scoreboard:
Chelsea 0–1 Manchester United.
For some supporters, this early setback dredged up painful memories of last season. Chelsea had faced United four times during the 2017–18 campaign, losing all four encounters—twice in the league, once in the FA Cup final, and once in the Community Shield.
No team except Manchester City, who lost five times to United that season, suffered more at the hands of Mourinho's men. At least City managed one draw against United; Chelsea couldn't even manage that.
And those defeats cost Chelsea dearly, denying them two trophies in the process.
(Chapter End)
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