Chapter 381: The Most Hated Man
"Rashford scores! Assisted by Bruno! Let's watch the replay... A beautiful through ball. Liverpool's defenders tried to play offside, but Bruno managed to pass just before they could execute it. Rashford made a perfect run, received the ball, and was onside! Look closely, definitely not offside!"
The television was showing the scene from just before the goal, with Bruno making a precise through ball from the center circle. The footage was frozen, rewound, and replayed from different angles to show viewers whether Rashford was offside.
Liverpool players raised their hands, signaling offside when Rashford received the ball. It did appear that Rashford might have been offside at first glance. However, the slow-motion replay clearly showed that at the moment Bruno made the pass, Rashford was level with Liverpool's right-back Clyne. As the ball rolled forward, Rashford took off, and Clyne also stepped forward. This created the illusion that Rashford was two meters offside, but he wasn't.
The sideline referee didn't make a mistake, which was impressive. However, the real praise went to Bruno. He anticipated Liverpool's attempt to play offside and noticed Clyne's momentary lapse, creating an opportunity. His quick decision to pass and the accuracy of the over-twenty-meter ball to Rashford were remarkable, all thanks to his relentless passing practice since his youth days at Boavista.
This fourth goal was the final straw for Liverpool fans.
For Liverpool players, defeat was something they had experienced often in recent seasons. Except for the 2013-2014 title challenge, they had lost ten games a season or more. Even during their title challenge in 2013-2014, Liverpool lost six games. Losing four goals was not new either, as they had been thrashed 6-1 by Stoke City in the final round of the 2014-2015 season.
Liverpool, known for its passionate play, often saw high-scoring games. When in form, they could demolish opponents, but they were also susceptible to heavy defeats when out of form. However, losing to arch-rivals Manchester United was a bitter pill to swallow.
For Liverpool fans at Anfield, this was equally unbearable. Their team had been beaten twice a season by Manchester United for the past two seasons. A home defeat meant another probable loss at Old Trafford later. Being hammered 4-0 at home was a harsh reality.
These were not casual fans; they understood football deeply and knew this was no fluke. From the start, Liverpool was outplayed, and the 4-0 scoreline was inevitable.
The reality left fans deeply disappointed: Why was Liverpool so weak? Why were they powerless against Manchester United? This would mark their fifth consecutive league defeat to United in recent seasons.
Unable to find fault in themselves, and unwilling to admit their shortcomings, they blamed others. It was easier to say "it's someone else's fault" than to admit their own mistakes. Naturally, Manchester United was the target.
If Manchester United's owner weren't so wealthy, recruiting players with over 300 million euros, the team would still be a mid-tier club in the Premier League, not dominating Liverpool at Anfield. Without Bruno, United couldn't have dominated so clearly.
With a scapegoat found, the fans could vent their frustration. As fans, they couldn't jump onto the pitch to help their team win, but they could take verbal shots at the opposition.
Their chants turned more menacing: "Portuguese kid, we know where you live!" This wasn't an ordinary chant; it carried a threatening tone. Knowing where someone lives implies potential harm.
"Portuguese kid, your end is near!" "I guarantee you won't see tomorrow's sun!"
The aggressive fans sang threatening chants. Manchester United's owner, Jassim, heard part of it from the stands. Initially, he was in high spirits, but his face turned grim upon hearing the chants. Liverpool's owner, John Henry, quickly apologized to Jassim and left the stand. It was clear Henry's departure wasn't due to Liverpool's poor performance but the embarrassing behavior of some fans.
Bruno heard the chants too. His expression changed briefly but quickly returned to normal as he continued orchestrating attacks and intercepting Liverpool's plays. He seemed unfazed, but coach Mourinho wasn't as composed. Concerned about the impact on Bruno and unwilling to let his player endure such abuse, he decided to substitute Bruno.
Fifteen minutes before the end, Bruno, the hero of the match, was substituted amidst cheers from Manchester United fans and threats from Liverpool's aggressive fans. As he left the field, he raised his fist towards the Liverpool fans in defiance. His gesture meant: "Fear me. The louder you jeer, the more frightened you are."
Facing such fear from opponents' fans was an honor, not something to avoid. Bruno wasn't an average player. He thrived on their hatred.
After Bruno left, the game continued. Liverpool tried to launch attacks, not hoping for a comeback but to salvage some pride. Coutinho, previously stifled by Bruno, became more active. Henderson and Emre Can could also focus more on their plays rather than marking one player. Although Juan Mata, who replaced Bruno, was talented, he didn't command the same attention from three Liverpool midfielders.
Despite regaining some control, Liverpool couldn't break down Manchester United's well-drilled defense. After nearly three months of playing together, United's defense had developed good chemistry. Breaking them down in a short time was challenging. Mourinho, seeing his team on the back foot, replaced veteran Ashley Young with defensive midfielder Michael Carrick, switching to a three-defensive-midfield setup to counter Liverpool's attacks.
As the match neared injury time, Mourinho brought on left-back Luke Shaw for Rashford, switching to a 5-3-2 formation and parking the famous "Mourinho bus." With three defensive midfielders and five defenders, United built a solid wall in front of their goal. Liverpool couldn't break through, and the match ended 4-0.
This was United's biggest win of the season, not just in score but because it was against their biggest rivals, Liverpool. Liverpool fans, except for a few still chanting threats against Bruno, left Anfield silently, heads down, hoping to forget the night's events.
Bruno, the architect of this victory, became the most hated man among Liverpool fans.
(End of Chapter)
Friends, if you want to read chapters in advance, subscribe to my patreon.