Chapter 688: Forward, Manchester United!
On the afternoon of February 24, the first domestic trophy of the season—the English League Cup—was contested between Manchester City and Chelsea.
For both teams, this was their first chance to win silverware in three years, as Manchester United had swept all domestic competitions over the previous two seasons, leaving City and Chelsea trophyless for consecutive years.
As a result, both teams took this traditionally less-valued competition very seriously.
The match, held at the new Wembley Stadium, ended in a 0–0 stalemate after 120 minutes, forcing a penalty shootout.
In the end, Manchester City prevailed, winning 4–3 on penalties. This marked Guardiola's first trophy with the club, ending City's three-year trophy drought. Meanwhile, Chelsea continued their struggle, still unable to secure a major title in the post-Mourinho era.
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Late February: Premier League Matchday 28
On February 27, Manchester United faced Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in an evening kickoff.
The other "Big 6" teams also played their matches around the same time.
In the 15th minute, United produced a brilliant team move.
Kante and Gundogan combined to dispossess a Palace player, with Gundogan quickly passing the ball to Bruno Fernandes.
Bruno's vision shone through as he delivered a diagonal pass that sliced through Crystal Palace's defense.
United's counterattack was swift and sharp, completely catching Palace off guard.
Rashford and Luke Shaw exchanged passes as they cut into the penalty area. Palace's defense crumbled under the pressure.
With the defense in disarray, Shaw delivered a low cross into the box. Harry Kane, with his back to goal, shielded the ball from Martin Kelly before nudging it into Mbappé's path. The French forward was left unmarked, and he calmly slotted the ball into the open net.
1–0!
"Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant goal! Manchester United leads 1–0. What a fantastic move—fast, precise, and devastating!" exclaimed the commentator.
Martin Tyler added, "The Palace players look utterly stunned, as if they've been hit on the head with a stick. They didn't know how to defend against that attack and could only chase shadows before conceding."
On the sidelines, Mourinho clapped his hands, visibly pleased. Scoring so early gave him confidence. If United could capitalize with another goal, it would severely weaken Palace's resolve.
...
Even with his confidence in his team, Mourinho didn't expect the second goal to come so quickly.
Just ten minutes later, Rashford earned a free kick near the penalty area after being fouled during a forward run.
Bruno delivered a pinpoint free kick into the box. Harry Kane's header forced a save from Palace goalkeeper Guaita, but the rebound caused chaos in the box. Defender Tomkins' attempted clearance fell to Gundogan outside the box, whose volley deflected off a defender.
Before anyone could react, Harry Kane poked the loose ball into the net.
2–0!
"2–0! Harry Kane scores his 17th league goal of the season!" shouted Martin Tyler. "Manchester United strikes again! Crystal Palace seems helpless against them."
With a two-goal lead, United didn't hold back. Instead, they unleashed a relentless attacking wave.
In the 39th minute, Rashford provided an assist for Bruno Fernandes, who scored to make it 3–0.
Just before halftime, Mbappé cut inside from the right wing and curled a shot into the far corner, completing his brace and extending United's lead to 4–0.
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By halftime, United held a commanding 4–0 lead, leaving commentators Andy Gray and Martin Tyler convinced that the match's outcome was already decided.
"United's ferocious onslaught has completely destroyed Crystal Palace," said Gray.
Chinese commentator He Wei echoed this sentiment: "Mourinho has built an incredibly strong team. These young players are so talented and hold immense potential for greatness."
Returning to the dressing room, Mourinho was visibly delighted with both the scoreline and the team's performance.
"Keep playing like this in the second half," Mourinho instructed. "Don't think 4–0 is enough. Remember, goal difference matters."
In a long league campaign, every point and every goal is crucial. Goal difference could ultimately determine whether a team ends up in paradise or despair.
"After the second half starts, keep the pressure on," Mourinho said. "Break Crystal Palace's will completely."
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Mourinho initially worried that Palace might regain their fighting spirit after halftime adjustments. While this wouldn't change the result, it could make the game more difficult.
However, his concerns were unfounded. The 0–4 halftime deficit had shattered Palace's morale.
In the 66th minute, Bruno's long-range shot created chaos in Palace's box. Amid the confusion, Harry Kane shielded the ball from Van Aanholt and turned to fire a half-volley.
Although Guaita managed to get a hand to the ball, it still found the back of the net.
5–0!
Harry Kane's second goal of the night increased United's lead to five.
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With a comfortable lead, Mourinho began making substitutions.
McTominay replaced Kane, Mata came on for Bruno, and Fred substituted Kante.
With the Champions League knockout stage looming, Mourinho prioritized giving his key players rest whenever possible.
Although the substitutions slowed United's attack slightly, they didn't stop scoring.
In stoppage time, Rashford sent a lofted pass over the defense. McTominay broke through, controlled the ball, and finished with a clean strike to seal the score at 6–0.
United secured yet another emphatic victory, continuing their dominant form.
(END CHAPTER)
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