Chapter 382: The Impact of the Double Red Derby
As soon as the match ended, Bruno became the focus of the media. His performance in this match was nothing short of perfect. He epitomized what it means to be a "midfield core," "midfield hub," and "on-field commander."
"If anyone still doesn't know what a competent midfield core looks like, just watch Bruno's performance in this match!" said a commentator from the renowned British TV channel Sky Sports, deeply impressed by Bruno's display.
Before the season, this commentator, appearing as a guest in a league analysis show, was not optimistic about Manchester United's prospects. He believed that having a wealthy owner didn't necessarily guarantee success in football. After all, Chelsea's owner Roman Abramovich had spent a fortune in his early years but only brought two Premier League titles to the Blues, with no significant European success. Similarly, Manchester City's Sheikh Mansour and Paris Saint-Germain's Nasser Al-Khelaifi had invested heavily, but neither had secured a Champions League trophy.
Even though Manchester United was a traditional powerhouse, since Ferguson's retirement, the once-great club had been on a decline. To him, a team on such a downward trajectory couldn't just revive because it had an owner worth 80 billion euros.
At the time, he predicted that United's goal for the season should be to qualify for the Champions League. If they could secure a spot in the Champions League and win the Premier League within four to five seasons, that would be a success.
But the new season had barely started, and United's performances were already eye-catching.
Previously, their good results could be attributed to an easy schedule against weaker teams. But after defeating both Manchester City and Liverpool, achieving an eight-game winning streak, United's success could no longer be ignored.
First, they had a wealthy owner. Modern football is not what it was fifty years ago; money is indispensable. Every club dreams of having a wealthy owner willing to invest, and United now had one.
Money is the foundation of football. Even an ordinary football fan needs to buy a ball and shoes to play. For professional football, the need for investment is even greater. Wealthy clubs don't always succeed, but penniless clubs will certainly struggle to win championships. This is the reality of modern football.
Apart from having money, United's owner also planned to provide top-notch facilities for the club. The comprehensive renovation of the Carrington training base and the rebuilding of Old Trafford, with a total investment of 1.2 billion pounds, had already begun.
In early October, United announced the upgrade project for Carrington and the rebuilding of Old Trafford. The latter garnered the most attention.
Initially, Jassim's team had three plans: renovating Old Trafford, rebuilding it, or constructing an entirely new stadium. After much consideration, Jassim decided to rebuild a world-class stadium on the Old Trafford site. However, this plan differed from the ongoing reconstruction at White Hart Lane.
For the first two years of the reconstruction, United would not leave Old Trafford. All matches would continue there. Only in the third and final year of reconstruction would United play elsewhere. The main structure of the new stadium would be built quickly within a year, followed by interior work. The project would start in early 2017, with preparations taking two years. United would stop playing at Old Trafford in early 2019, with the new stadium ready by the start of the 2020-2021 season. The entire project was estimated to cost around 1.1 billion pounds.
Additionally, Jassim planned to invest 100 million pounds to upgrade Carrington, making it one of the most advanced training bases in the world.
Alongside excellent facilities, Jassim heavily invested in the team's "software"—the coaching staff. One of the world's best coaches, Mourinho, and his team were hired for a staggering annual salary of 15 million pounds.
With all these resources, Jassim gave Mourinho full autonomy in team management. While the new players brought in this summer were recommended by general manager Giaretta, the final decisions were all Mourinho's. Jassim's role was simply to sign the checks.
Therefore, the players suited the team well. Apart from Bruno, the newly crowned Ballon d'Or winner, the other signings were not big names but had undeniable strength. They proved their worth in the first eight league games.
Speaking of players, Bruno, who cost the club 200 million euros and set a new transfer record, deserved special mention. Initially, the media was baffled by United's hefty investment in Bruno, even harshly criticizing Jassim for reckless spending.
Bruno had led Udinese to the Serie A title, Europa League, and Champions League glory, ending Messi and Ronaldo's Ballon d'Or dominance, and shone in the Euros. Yet, at not even 22 years old, his future was still uncertain. Was he really worth 200 million euros? The previous transfer record, set by Bale three years ago at 100 million euros, had not been broken since. Bruno's transfer directly doubled that record, ushering football into the two-billion-euro era.
Some media speculated that Bruno's agent Mendes and Mourinho had private deals, suggesting that part of the 200 million euros was a kickback for them. Such scandals were not uncommon in European football, with some famous coaches exposed for collaborating with agents for kickbacks.
Criticism of Bruno's ability and value was rampant. High transfer fees could satisfy his vanity but also burden him with heavy pressure. If he couldn't match his price tag, criticism would overwhelm him. If, in the future, he struggled in lower leagues, people would recall his record transfer with mixed feelings.
Fortunately, this scenario hadn't occurred. Bruno's impressive start to the Premier League silenced many doubters. While some might still question his transfer fee, no one considered him a flop anymore.
United's big win over Liverpool left Bruno in high spirits. Despite the personal threats from some Liverpool fans, he remained unbothered.
Surrounded by reporters, Bruno answered questions cheerfully, attributing the victory to the team's efforts and giving more credit to Mourinho. His humility impressed the media.
Suddenly, a reporter asked, "Bruno, did you hear those chants from the stands?"
Other reporters looked uneasy, knowing well what Liverpool fans had done but preferring not to discuss it.
Instead of an angry response, Bruno laughed, "I think it's fine. It shows they fear me, and that means I'm performing well."
His answer relieved the reporters, whether it reflected his true thoughts or was a tactful response to avoid controversy. The matter was quickly settled.
Bruno received a perfect ten rating for the match and was rightfully named Man of the Match.
Bruno might have shrugged off the threats, but others didn't. After the match, Jassim condemned the behavior of the aggressive Liverpool fans in the media.
"They've crossed the line. They're calling for murder," he told The Guardian. "This isn't just childish pranks. We need decisive measures to stop this, or it will become the norm."
He didn't just criticize; he reported the threats to the police.
Several British media outlets covered the incident, and Bruno made headlines. He had the highest exposure of any player that weekend, having helped United thrash Liverpool 4-0, earning the round's best player title, and making the team of the week.
This was Bruno's sixth team of the week selection this season, leading all Premier League players. He had also been named Player of the Month for August and September and was a strong contender for October.
"But his outstanding on-field performance brought him trouble," reported British media. Bruno endured constant abuse and threats from Liverpool fans, escalating into racist and life-threatening remarks.
The media's critique of racism extended beyond football to society at large.
Liverpool's owner, John Henry, also condemned the fans' actions, saying they shamed the club and stained the crest. While clubs try to appease their supporters, they don't condone any behavior done under the guise of support.
Football hooligans, some of whom are die-hard fans, are generally not welcomed by any club. Doing hateful things under the pretense of love brings no honor but disgrace.
Liverpool, in particular, had suffered greatly from football hooliganism. The Heysel and Hillsborough disasters deeply scarred the club, significantly hindering its resurgence. Both tragedies had links, direct or indirect, to violent fans.
Even though the Hillsborough disaster was reclassified in 2012 as a result of police negligence and poor crowd management, it was hard to argue that aggressive fan behavior played no role.
Liverpool's chairman, Tom Werner, apologized for the fans' behavior, calling it "embarrassing, disgraceful, and unworthy," and pledged full support for the police investigation.
(End of Chapter)
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