Chapter 432: A Tough Test
"Glory Glory Man United! Glory Glory Man United! Glory Glory Man United!"
The stands at Old Trafford erupted with huge cheers.
While Manchester United hadn't won the championship yet, this match laid a solid foundation for their eventual triumph.
Given the current situation, Chelsea's theoretical maximum points this season is 93, which means they must win all six of their remaining matches. Considering Chelsea's strength and their opponents, this is highly likely.
This means that with United already having 82 points, they need just 12 more points from their remaining seven matches to secure the title.
Securing 12 points from seven matches, even with tough opponents like Tottenham, Arsenal, and Manchester City, shouldn't be too difficult for a team performing as well as United this season.
Bruno hugged each of his teammates, and then they all ran to the stands, waving their arms and cheering towards the sea of red.
"League champions!" The fans waved their red United scarves at their heroes, loudly chanting their season's ultimate goal.
At the season's start, not even the most die-hard United fans believed their team would eventually win the league title. Even when United won eight consecutive matches at the beginning of the season, leading to media speculation about their resurgence, fans thought it was just a joke, an over-the-top compliment.
But now, the reality was before them. The shiny silver trophy was within reach, and they could almost see the patterns on the plate.
At this moment, they didn't think, "This must be a dream," or "This is a joke," or "This is too unreal." They were simply cheering for the team, for the victory, for the championship.
If the title was meant to be theirs, they would gladly accept it!
The league round ended, but there were still many stories to be told.
...
The post-match period was a carnival for the media, with plenty to dig into and report.
For instance, Chelsea's reaction to losing, United's feelings after laying the groundwork for the title, and more.
"Losing to Manchester United is a tragedy! Especially losing 0:3! Who would have thought of such a score before the match? But it happened. Were Anderlecht fooled by United's recent slump?"
"I think Conte would have preferred losing to United earlier in the season rather than facing this defeat with six matches left. This loss puts them seven points behind United with six games to go. Can they make up the difference? It seems highly unlikely..."
"Reportedly, Conte was furious with his players' performance post-match, giving them a severe scolding in the locker room. He realizes the gravity of the situation. With six games left, the fate out of their hands must be tough to bear, right, Mr. Conte?"
"United's title foundation has delighted their owner, Mr. Jassim, who reportedly promised a very high bonus for winning the league. Looks like he's ready to spend a lot, but it's the kind of spending that Mr. Jassim will gladly do... However, while Jassim is happy, Mr. Abramovich's mood is likely not so great..."
"Bruno said in a post-match interview that they would work hard to win the league and dedicate the title to Mata. Everyone knows he and Mata are good friends... Now that Bruno is proclaiming the title, no one finds it surprising..."
"Rashford, who scored the opening goal, also stated that they would strive for victory regardless of their opponents in the final matches. After the first match against Chelsea, we said the second encounter might decide the league title. It seems that prediction came true. But United's remaining seven matches won't be easy..."
...
United's upcoming matches were indeed challenging. For them, the greater test was the extremely dense schedule.
This season's Premier League ends on May 21, just 35 days after the match against Chelsea. This means United must play a league match every five days on average.
Moreover, United also has Europa League and FA Cup matches to play. Even if they are eliminated in the Europa League quarterfinals and lose in the FA Cup semifinals, they still have nine matches to play in the next 31 days.
If United reaches the finals in both the Europa League and FA Cup, they will play 13 matches in just 34 days!
This means playing a match every three days on average, and all of them are crucial games!
Whether it's nine matches in 31 days or 13 matches in 34 days, it's a grueling schedule for any team, especially at the end of the season when players' physical conditions are already at a low point.
...
Four days after defeating Chelsea, United faced an important match: the second leg of the Europa League quarterfinals at home against Anderlecht.
After drawing 1-1 away in the first leg, United needed to win at home or draw 0-0 to advance directly.
A 1-1 draw would mean extra time, which is the last thing United wants right now.
Even though the Europa League title doesn't carry much weight for a top club like United, they had no reason to give up on it with the trophy in sight.
In Mourinho's plan, a 0-0 draw was the ideal result.
Mourinho's desire to draw wasn't due to a lack of ambition but rather the harsh reality.
In the first leg against Anderlecht, Kante received his third yellow card in the Europa League, resulting in a one-match suspension.
Kante's suspension was a big blow. As a key midfielder, his solid defense and tenacious spirit relieved Bruno of some burden.
Now, with Kante suspended again in the Europa League after his league suspension, United's defense faced a significant challenge against Anderlecht.
Ander Herrera, who usually replaced Kante, was also ruled out with a calf muscle injury. Center-back Maguire was out with the flu and didn't even participate in training.
...
Additionally, Ibrahimovic felt muscle soreness during pre-match training. To be cautious, Mourinho pulled him from training for massage therapy.
Ibrahimovic, the team's main striker and key attacking force, was crucial for United's offense. Losing him would be a major problem for United.
Currently, United could not afford to lose two players: midfield maestro Bruno, who controlled the game's rhythm, and striker Ibrahimovic, who was key to scoring and winning.
Ibrahimovic had been relatively injury-free this season, despite being 35. He had only missed two matches due to injury.
With Rooney sidelined with an ankle injury, if Ibrahimovic also got injured, Rashford would be the only available striker.
So Ibrahimovic had to play against Anderlecht. Mourinho took all precautions to ensure Ibrahimovic was fit and ready.
...
After two days of rest, Ibrahimovic appeared in the match against Anderlecht.
Media reports about his muscle soreness during training and potential absence from the Anderlecht match had given Anderlecht's Swiss coach René Weiler false hope.
Seeing Ibrahimovic standing in the center circle, Weiler realized it might have been a bluff by United.
But his thoughts quickly changed as Ibrahimovic indeed got injured!
In the 37th minute, the score was still 0-0, with both teams playing cautiously.
Mourinho's ideal outcome was a 0-0 draw, advancing on away goals.
Weiler, wary of United's attacking prowess, especially Bruno's playmaking ability, opted for a cautious defensive strategy.
As a result, the first half was uneventful, with both teams focusing on disrupting each other's play rather than creating their own.
United players, used to attacking from the start, struggled to adapt but followed their coach's instructions.
(End of Chapter)
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