Chapter 791: The Fifth Victory
The second half began with Chelsea leveraging their advantage in possession to pressure Manchester United continuously, holding the upper hand on the pitch.
Mourinho glanced sideways, smirking. It seemed Lampard wasn't content with a mere 1-0 lead; the apprentice wanted to score more goals. Mourinho thought, Does he think that little of his master?
Despite being reduced to ten men, Mourinho remained confident in his team. A numerically disadvantaged Manchester United was not an opponent Chelsea could afford to underestimate.
Chelsea's attacking strategy was simple: frequent crosses from the flanks, targeting Olivier Giroud in the center. The French striker, standing at 1.93 meters, was one of the best headers in the modern game. Even at 33 years old, Giroud's prowess as an aerial threat was unmatched.
However, Mourinho wasn't worried about aerial challenges. United's center-backs, Virgil van Dijk and Harry Maguire, were tall and strong, both excelling in aerial duels. Additionally, Luke Shaw, the Dutch defender on the left, was also adept in the air.
Thus, while Chelsea's crosses created a flurry of activity, they didn't pose any real threat to United's goal.
Mourinho's Insight
"If it were me, I'd focus on exploiting the middle," Mourinho commented to his assistant, Rui Faria. "We only have Kanté there—an obvious weak spot."
Faria nodded thoughtfully. "Why doesn't Frank try that approach?"
As Mourinho's longtime assistant, Faria was familiar with Lampard's tactical tendencies. His curiosity was genuine.
"That's the difference between a regular coach and a genius coach," Mourinho replied smugly. "Most coaches stick to pre-planned strategies, unable to adapt and seize better opportunities in the moment."
Ignoring Mourinho's self-aggrandizement, Faria posed another question. "But what if Chelsea does adjust and targets the center?"
"Relax. We have Kanté," Mourinho said confidently.
United's Counterattack
Jorginho attempted a through ball to Willian, but Kanté anticipated the pass perfectly, intercepting it. United seized the opportunity to counterattack.
Kanté quickly passed the ball to Bruno Fernandes, who opted for a direct long pass forward.
Up front, Harry Kane held off César Azpilicueta, leaping high to head the ball into the path of Marcus Rashford, who was sprinting at full speed.
Chelsea had pushed up aggressively, leaving only Kurt Zouma and Antonio Rüdiger in their defensive half.
Realizing the precarious situation, Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero shouted frantically for reinforcements. The wide gaps in Chelsea's defensive line left them vulnerable.
Rashford's Solo Effort
Zouma rushed forward to challenge Rashford, signaling Rüdiger to stay back as the last line of defense. Zouma made the tactical decision to commit a foul, aiming to stop Rashford before he could reach the box.
However, Rashford's agility and technique outmatched Zouma's calculations. Before the sliding tackle could make contact, Rashford deftly poked the ball forward and leaped over the challenge, avoiding the foul entirely.
"Beautiful play!"
"Rashford breaks free!"
With the ball at his feet and Harry Kane positioned inside the box, Rashford surged into Chelsea's penalty area. Kane raised his arm, signaling for a pass.
Rashford glanced across the box and delivered a low, precise cross.
Equalizing the Score
"Manchester United's counterattack… Rashford is lightning fast! Beautiful—he beats Zouma! Rashford crosses to Kane! Shot! It's saved… but the rebound!!" Andy Gray's rapid commentary matched the heart-pounding action on the field.
Kane had shrugged off Rüdiger and attempted a close-range shot, only for Caballero to block it with a reflex save.
Before Chelsea could clear the ball, Kylian Mbappé sprinted forward, sliding in to poke the rebound into the net.
"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!"
The United bench erupted in celebration, and Mourinho clapped vigorously, a clear validation of his tactical adjustments.
On the other hand, Lampard's expression darkened. His dreams of extending Chelsea's lead were now dashed, with United leveling the score.
Rethinking the Game
The sheer efficiency of United's counterattack left Lampard in a bind. Despite their numerical disadvantage, Mourinho's side had demonstrated their lethal ability to exploit any defensive gaps.
Lampard realized that pushing too hard for a victory was risky. A 1-1 draw would force the game into extra time—and potentially penalties—where Chelsea's chances might improve, given United's ongoing battle for the league title.
As Lampard reevaluated his strategy, Mourinho made a subtle adjustment, urging his players to stay sharp and look for opportunities to capitalize on Chelsea's defensive vulnerabilities.
Even with ten men, Mourinho thought, United can dominate.
With Lampard's orders, Chelsea retreated to defend their narrow lead.
However, Manchester United grew bolder as the game progressed, launching relentless attacks on Chelsea's goal. Mourinho, seeing an opportunity, decided to take a gamble. He substituted João Cancelo for Juan Mata, switching to a daring 3-3-3 formation to increase the pressure.
This bold change paid off. In the 86th minute, United earned a free kick near the penalty area. Bruno Fernandes delivered a well-placed cross into the box. Harry Kane leaped to contest the ball, which deflected off his back. Chelsea defender Azpilicueta attempted to clear but failed, and Mata seized the chance, smashing the ball into the net past the goalkeeper's left hand.
"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!"
"2-1! 2-1! Juan Mata! Juan Mata! The former Chelsea man delivers a decisive blow to his old club, securing a comeback victory for Manchester United!"
"How poetic! It was Mourinho who sold Mata to United during his tenure at Chelsea. Now, Mourinho leads Mata to potentially complete a five-time defeat of Chelsea in a single season!"
"Mourinho's tactical changes worked brilliantly. Mata's goal has turned the game around! Despite playing nearly 80 minutes with a man down, Manchester United now leads Chelsea!"
On the sideline, Mourinho raised both fists to the sky in triumph. Behind him, the United bench erupted with joy, players and staff rushing out to celebrate.
Media Praise for United
The next day, The Guardian featured a photo of Mourinho's triumphant fist-pump celebration, with United players running past him in jubilation. The headline read: "Nothing Can Stop Them!"
The article lauded United's tenacity, emphasizing how they managed to overturn a one-goal deficit despite being down to ten men for over 80 minutes. With goals from Kylian Mbappé and Juan Mata, United secured a 2-1 victory, advancing to the FA Cup final for the fifth consecutive year.
This victory also marked Manchester United's fifth triumph over Chelsea in the same season, having defeated them in the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, and UEFA Super Cup.
The article proudly declared, "Even in the face of adversity, Manchester United stands unstoppable!"
However, reality soon humbled the media's lofty claims. In their Premier League Round 37 match, United failed to secure a victory at home against West Ham United.
A Slip at Home
On July 22, the Premier League's 37th round featured a key clash at the Millennium Stadium.
With less than 70 hours since their grueling FA Cup semi-final, and given the packed schedule since the league's resumption, Mourinho made several changes to United's starting lineup. Yet, Bruno Fernandes retained his spot.
United started aggressively. Although a victory wouldn't mathematically secure the league title, three points would almost guarantee the championship. This would ease pressure in their final game at King Power Stadium, where only an extraordinary loss by a double-digit margin could dethrone them.
Moreover, with West Ham United battling relegation, few believed they could derail United's title chase.
In the 3rd minute, Bruno Fernandes set up Riyad Mahrez, whose shot from the right was parried by Fabiański. Mason Greenwood's follow-up was also saved.
United's dominance continued, with chances coming thick and fast. However, despite Bruno orchestrating play and creating opportunities, United couldn't find the breakthrough.
In first-half stoppage time, a moment of misfortune struck. Mark Noble's free-kick found Declan Rice, whose thunderous shot struck McTominay's outstretched arm. The referee awarded a penalty, which Antonio converted, giving West Ham a 1-0 lead.
Six minutes into the second half, Greenwood equalized with a composed finish. Yet, despite relentless attacks and Bruno's creative efforts, West Ham's resolute defense held firm.
The match ended 1-1, with West Ham securing the point they needed to ensure survival, while United's hopes of extending their lead at the top were dashed.
Liverpool Roars Back
United's slip gave Liverpool renewed hope. Just hours later, at Anfield, the Reds thrashed Chelsea 5-3 in a thrilling encounter, narrowing the gap at the top to just one point.
With one game left, the Premier League title race was set for a dramatic finale.
The Final Day
In the season's last round, both United and Liverpool would face challenging away fixtures. United traveled to King Power Stadium to face Leicester City, who were vying for a Champions League spot, while Liverpool visited St. James' Park to face mid-table Newcastle United.
The title's fate would be decided in four days. Would United hold their nerve, or would Liverpool snatch glory at the death?
(To be continued...)
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