Chapter 485: A Gift for Myself
When the referee blew the whistle to signal the end of the first half, the scoreboard showed a score of 0-2. By international convention, the home team is listed first, and the away team second.
Shortly after the start, Bruno assisted Mata in scoring a goal, and Manchester United continued to fiercely attack Swansea. Despite the home crowd's support, Swansea put up a tenacious defense, limiting Manchester United's opportunities. It wasn't until the 37th minute that McTominay assisted Rashford to expand the lead to 2-0.
The young Scottish player, filling in as a temporary striker due to United's shortage of forwards, performed admirably, showing great potential and making fans forget that the team currently lacked a primary striker.
Bruno had a few chances in the first half, but they weren't very good, and he couldn't convert them into goals. As he walked off the field, he showed a helpless expression to Mata and others.
He had tried his best, but the goal still eluded him, which left him feeling somewhat resigned.
"Don't worry, take it slow, there's still the second half," Mata comforted Bruno.
"Yeah, sometimes the more anxious you are, the harder it is to score," Valencia added.
This was Bruno's first game as Manchester United's official captain, and his teammates wanted to help him score at least once so that he wouldn't have any regrets. However, Swansea's defense was extremely tight.
Bruno patted his teammates on the shoulders, shaking his head with a bitter smile as they walked off the field.
...
In the second half, Manchester United continued their aggressive attack on Swansea. Their high pressing strategy became increasingly effective.
Bruno kept running tirelessly, patiently waiting for his opportunity. It was tough for Swansea to completely contain him.
In the 58th minute, Valencia advanced the ball to the 30-meter area in front of Swansea's goal. Faced with tight defense from two Swansea players, the Ecuadorian right-back couldn't move forward.
Bruno quickly moved into an open space, signaling for the ball. Valencia passed it to him, and knowing there were no defenders nearby, Bruno controlled the ball, turned, and started a diagonal run into the box.
McTominay moved from the center of the penalty area to the right side, pulling a defender with him and creating space for Bruno. Despite Swansea's focus on Bruno, two defenders stayed in front of him at the edge of the box.
With defenders closing in from the front and back, Bruno passed the ball to the right side of the penalty area. McTominay received the ball and, seeing the defenders rushing towards him, shielded the ball and passed it back to the top of the box.
Bruno, now in an open position, controlled the ball and entered the penalty area. As Swansea's goalkeeper Fabianski charged out, Bruno calmly slotted the ball into the open net, making it 3-0!
"GOOOOOOOOOOOAL!!!"
"Bruno scores again! This is Manchester United's third goal of the game and Bruno's third league goal of the season!"
"In the 58th minute, Bruno and McTominay executed a brilliant combination in the attacking third, calmly finishing before Swansea's charging goalkeeper Fabianski!"
"We can clearly see that Bruno's form and overall strength are better than last season, which makes us even more excited about his potential."
"We have every reason to believe that Bruno will continue to surprise and amaze us."
...
Despite being three goals ahead, Manchester United did not ease up. Bruno remained diligent and hardworking on the field, feeling his form improving rapidly as the game progressed. He was eager to keep playing and scoring.
Just nine minutes after his last goal, Manchester United launched another attack. On the right, Valencia overlapped and received the ball from Rashford, who had switched to the right wing. Valencia delivered a high-quality cross into the box.
Fabianski punched the ball away but collided with McTominay in the process. The ball fell near the penalty spot, and Bruno, already in position, struck it with a stunning volley, sending it back into Swansea's net for a 4-0 lead!
"That's a fantastic strike! An absolutely stunning volley!"
"Bruno scores again! This young captain of Manchester United, who will turn 23 soon, has made a huge impact right from the start of the season!"
"Scoring two goals in each of the first two matches, Bruno is showing incredible form and proving his prowess, while Manchester United is playing an impressive attacking game."
...
Mourinho celebrated passionately on the sideline, clenching his fists.
Naturally cautious, Mourinho built his reputation on defensive football, which made him a world-class coach. But he knew that any tactic must evolve, and his previous strategies needed significant changes to progress further.
Recognizing this, he had finally decided to make substantial changes to his tactics. If the team's performance deteriorated, he would likely revert to his previous defensive strategies.
Fortunately, the first two matches of the season showed promising results. The team's attack was revitalized. Gundogan and Mata pushed forward, with Kante holding back, creating an aggressive and dominant midfield.
This midfield strength provided endless attacking opportunities, with McTominay as a tactical target and Rashford supporting, making Bruno flourish up front.
...
With a four-goal lead, Manchester United eased their attack.
Swansea, struggling to hold the line, aimed for a consolation goal to avoid a shutout, knowing a comeback was nearly impossible.
As soon as they began to push forward, Kante intercepted the ball, passing it to Mata. Mata quickly threaded a precise through ball between Swansea's left-back and center-back.
Bruno timed his run perfectly, beating the offside trap, and collected the ball before coolly slotting it past Fabianski into the net.
Bruno stumbled after the shot but quickly got up, arms raised in celebration.
"Hattrick! Hattrick!! My God, Bruno is on fire!!!"
"I can't believe my eyes; just two league games in, and Bruno has already scored five goals!"
"Bruno, about to turn 23, is astonishing everyone with his goal-scoring prowess. He's like a goal machine, calmly converting every chance he gets!"
"Ten years ago, a 23-year-old Portuguese player dominated the Premier League and Europe, leading Manchester United to the top. Now, another Portuguese player is creating a storm in the Premier League. We have every reason to believe that Bruno will be the top scorer in the Premier League and Europe this season, leading Manchester United to new heights!"
All the Manchester United players rushed to embrace Bruno.
Although it was only two games, they knew the team was playing more smoothly with both offense and defense improving. The tactical change was the right move, and Gundogan's strong performance was vital to Manchester United's success.
All these factors united the team around their new captain, Bruno, as they aimed for great achievements in the Champions League.
(End of Chapter)
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