Chapter 377: Klopp and Mourinho
Another reason why Liverpool fans harbor so much anger towards Bruno and Manchester United is a statement made by Jassim before the season began. When discussing the €200 million transfer, Jassim mentioned a former player who had set a record transfer fee in English football, saying, "He could become the next Graeme Souness."
To fans of other clubs, this might seem like a routine comparison. However, for Liverpool supporters, this was unacceptable. Souness transferred to Liverpool in 1978 for a then-record fee between English clubs and immediately became the team's midfield core, helping them win the European Cup in his first season. Over seven seasons with Liverpool, Souness helped the club win three European Cups, five league titles, and seven domestic cups, becoming one of the most revered midfielders in Liverpool's history. Known as a hard man with delicate ball control, he earned the nickname "The Beast Who Can Play the Violin."
Souness is a legendary figure in Liverpool's history, an eternal hero in the hearts of their fans. How could a nouveau riche club like Manchester United and a Portuguese player be compared to Souness? Such a comparison was seen as an insult to Souness!
Even though Souness, now a pundit for Sky Sports, did not comment on the matter, Liverpool fans were undeterred. They felt they had the right to express their anger and insult whoever they wanted. Thus, Bruno became one of the most disliked figures among Liverpool supporters.
Amid the boos and jeers from Liverpool fans, Manchester United players finished their goal celebration. After scoring, Ibrahimovic made a "shush" gesture towards the Liverpool fans, which only intensified the boos and insults.
While Ibrahimovic taunted the Liverpool supporters, Bruno quietly spoke to Kante: "See, scoring doesn't stop them from booing."
"Then let's win this match and win it big!" Kante replied defiantly.
"Of course we're going to win," Bruno smiled. "But even if we beat Liverpool 10-0, they'll still boo us next time we play. They might even boo louder because of the heavy defeat. So don't worry about their booing or think about how to shut them up. If they hate us, they'll always find a reason to do so. Just consider their boos and jeers as compliments!"
"Psychological effect?" Kante asked, puzzled.
"No, not a psychological effect. It's actual praise. When you hear the opponent insult you, you should smile, not get angry. It means they're scared because they know you can easily beat them," Bruno patted Kante on the back and ran to his position.
Kante watched Bruno's back, then looked at the Liverpool fans furiously waving their middle fingers. He pondered Bruno's words. Ibrahimovic had said similar things before, and today's events reinforced Kante's understanding of this concept.
Manchester United's early lead within three minutes of the match caused significant discomfort for Liverpool's coach, Jurgen Klopp.
Before the match, Klopp had anticipated that United's unstable defense would falter under Liverpool's relentless pressure. He believed that if Liverpool kept attacking, they would be the first to score. Once in the lead, the match would play out in Liverpool's favor, forcing United to play on their terms. However, it was United who scored first, and so quickly and unexpectedly.
Klopp found himself unprepared for United's swift and effective performance. This wasn't due to a lack of coaching prowess. Klopp had a track record of success. He had rescued Mainz from near relegation, leading them to promotion to the Bundesliga. At Borussia Dortmund, he ended Bayern Munich's dominance, winning two Bundesliga titles and leading Dortmund to a Champions League final. Klopp, like Mourinho, had never played top-tier football. Mourinho had a nomadic career across various clubs, gaining extensive experience, while Klopp dedicated his entire playing career to Mainz.
Klopp, at 49, and Mourinho, at 53, were among the elite managers in world football. In this clash of titans, Mourinho currently held the upper hand.
So, what should Klopp do now that Liverpool was trailing?
Klopp decided not to change his tactics. His strategy of attacking United aligned with their current predicament. To equalize, Liverpool needed to continue their offensive play. Thus, Klopp remained seated, refraining from gestures or instructions. With only three minutes gone, he wasn't in a hurry to make adjustments.
Liverpool attempted to organize a counter-attack, but Bruno intercepted. Bruno was versatile, pushing forward to deliver key passes in attack and dropping back to shield the defense. His stamina and speed allowed him to cover the necessary ground, and his aerial ability made him dominant in heading duels. Despite the typically tall stature of Premier League players, Bruno rarely lost aerial battles due to his physical prowess and precise judgment of the ball's trajectory.
Bruno's defensive awareness also made him highly effective in one-on-one situations, making it difficult for Liverpool to bypass him and threaten United's defense and goal.
With Liverpool struggling to attack, Bruno led United's offense without hesitation.
In the 17th minute, Valencia surged forward and crossed. Ashley Young's volley from close range was blocked by Liverpool's right-back Clyne. Young quickly followed up with a shot from a tight angle, but Karius caught it. Less than a minute later, Bruno's long pass found Rashford, who controlled the ball with his chest and shot low from the edge of the box, only for Karius to save it.
After sustained pressure from United, Liverpool finally managed a relatively successful attack. Henderson's long pass saw United's offside trap fail. Sturridge broke free, entering the right side of the box and attempted a lob from 11 meters out, but the ball sailed over the bar.
Klopp, who had been getting restless with United's relentless assault, felt a brief respite with Sturridge's attempt. He knew United's defenders often played the offside trap, a double-edged sword. Even if Liverpool were caught offside 19 times, one successful break could be lethal. He believed it was only a matter of time before they breached United's defense.
However, Klopp would later regret not making adjustments sooner.
In the 22nd minute, Bruno combined with Ashley Young in a one-two before charging forward. This time, Henderson didn't give Bruno a chance to feint, directly fouling him to the ground. The referee blew the whistle, and Liverpool fans cheered for Henderson's challenge. Bruno was perhaps their most hated United player due to the comparison with their legendary hero, Souness.
Seeing Bruno on the ground, Liverpool fans cheered for Henderson and mocked Bruno with insults.
"Go home, Portuguese kid!"
"This isn't your place, idiot!"
"A Souness who only lies on the ground? Our Souness was a tough guy!"
"Don't insult our idol. You're not worthy of being compared to Souness!"
Bruno ignored the hostile crowd as he got back on his feet. Referee Atkinson issued a verbal warning to Henderson without booking him, awarding United a free-kick 23 meters from goal, slightly to the right. With Rooney not on the pitch, the responsibility fell to United's star player, Bruno.
Despite Ibrahimovic's prowess in free-kicks, he didn't contest Bruno for the set-piece. In fact, Mourinho had already designated Bruno as the primary free-kick taker for this match.
(End of Chapter)
Friends, if you want to read chapters in advance, subscribe to my patreon.