Chapter 393: Signal
On the evening of December 8, local European time, the final round of the Europa League group stage kicked off. Manchester United traveled to Luhansk, Ukraine, to face the group's bottom team, Zorya Luhansk.
Because Zorya had already been eliminated after their 0-2 loss to Fenerbahçe in the fifth round, this match was just a formality for both teams. For Manchester United, the goal was to progress to the knockout stage with an undefeated record. For Zorya, they aimed for a home victory to avoid the embarrassment of not winning a single match in the group stage.
At this crucial moment in the competition for the Ballon d'Or between Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo, the final decision would be announced the following Monday by France Football. Despite this Europa League match being somewhat meaningless for Manchester United, Mourinho still brought Bruno to Ukraine and started him in the match.
Even though Mourinho had a good relationship with Ronaldo, when it came to choosing between Bruno, his current star player, and Ronaldo, his former disciple, he didn't hesitate to support Bruno, giving him ample opportunities to shine.
Bruno, aware that he was at a disadvantage in his competition with Ronaldo, did not disappoint Mourinho. In the 17th minute of the match, he scored a trademark long-range goal to give Manchester United the lead.
Ashley Young made a pass from near the right byline, Ibrahimović moved the ball across the middle, and Bruno stepped over it before firing a powerful shot that flew into Zorya's net.
This goal marked Bruno's 68th goal of 2016, far ahead of Ronaldo's 51 goals.
In the second half, in the 48th minute, Rojo intercepted the ball in midfield and passed to Bruno, who sprinted half the length of the field before calmly finishing into the far corner.
At 2-0, Manchester United had a comfortable lead, and Bruno had scored his 69th goal of the year.
Bruno's performance continued to impress. In the 88th minute, he made a no-look pass, setting up Ibrahimović for a simple finish.
The final score was 3-0, with Bruno providing his 43rd assist of 2016.
Bruno had directly contributed to 112 goals in 2016, just one short of Messi's record of 113 goals in a calendar year set in 2012.
Manchester United finished the group stage with a perfect six wins out of six, proudly advancing to the Europa League knockout stages.
Despite the resounding victory, Bruno was not happy on the flight back to England from Ukraine. He had not received any notification from France Football about winning the Ballon d'Or, making it clear that he had not won the award.
Although this outcome was expected, Bruno's mood remained heavy.
That weekend, major European leagues resumed play.
In Real Madrid's home game against Deportivo La Coruña, Ronaldo was not in the squad because he had already left for Paris to film promotional shots for the Ballon d'Or.
Manchester United's match against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford was scheduled for the afternoon of December 11. Bruno was included in the squad announced the day before.
Tottenham had an impressive record of seven wins, six draws, and one loss in their first 14 games. They were fifth in the Premier League, ahead of Manchester City on goal difference. Under Pochettino, Spurs were performing very well.
Tottenham's lineup was strong, featuring top striker Harry Kane, midfield stars Son Heung-min, Eriksen, and Wanyama, and one of the best defensive lines in the league with Kyle Walker, Danny Rose, Vertonghen, and Alderweireld. Their defense had only conceded 10 goals in 14 games, better than Chelsea's 13 goals and Manchester United's 14.
For Manchester United, this was set to be a tough battle.
With Ronaldo absent from Real Madrid's game, it was clear to the world who would win the 2016 Ballon d'Or. This situation drew worldwide attention, with everyone eager to see how Bruno would perform after missing out on the award.
Before the match, Tottenham manager Pochettino said his team would not hold back at Old Trafford. Despite being 12 points behind Manchester United, they would not give up.
"For the sake of professionalism and sportsmanship, we will give our best at Old Trafford, not only to respect the game but also to respect our fans and Bruno," said Pochettino.
Tottenham lined up in their usual 4-3-3 formation, their most common setup this season.
Mourinho did not underestimate the challenge. He acknowledged the pressure of playing three games in six days, traveling over 6,000 kilometers, but believed his team could overcome this pressure because everyone wanted to win.
Regarding Bruno, Mourinho said he did not need any consolation.
"I believe that losing the Ballon d'Or will not affect him. He is fully prepared!"
Manchester United also fielded a strong attacking lineup. De Gea was in goal, with Valencia, Maguire, Van Dijk, and Luke Shaw forming the defense. Kante was the holding midfielder, with Gündoğan and Carrick in the middle. Rashford played on the left, Ibrahimović was the central striker, and Bruno was again positioned on the right wing.
Old Trafford was packed. The fans were not just there for a win; they also wanted to show their support and encouragement for Bruno.
Despite Ronaldo likely winning the Ballon d'Or, Bruno, the darling of Old Trafford tasked with leading the team's resurgence, had the fans' unwavering support.
The media attention, fans' expectations, and the club's support all focused on Bruno. This was both a motivation and a pressure for him. He had no choice but to face it head-on.
The locker room was silent, with no one speaking. The players quietly prepared, occasionally glancing at Bruno.
Since returning to the locker room after the pre-match warm-up, Bruno had been ready. He sat leaning against his locker with his eyes closed, giving no hint of his current mindset.
Pressure was inevitable and immense. Professional football is a high-pressure environment, and playing in front of tens of thousands of fans requires immense mental strength. For star players like Bruno, every game is under the spotlight, with pressure being a constant companion. However, tonight's game was different; Bruno was the focal point.
Although they couldn't empathize entirely, the Manchester United players could imagine the weight of the pressure Bruno was under, likely tenfold or even a hundredfold compared to usual.
Could he handle it? That was a question only Bruno could answer on the pitch.
The referee's whistle for the players to enter the pitch broke the silence. This was the first whistle. The players quickly made their final checks and preparations. Bruno opened his eyes to see his teammates watching him.
"Hey," Bruno said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood. "Let's play as we always do. Don't worry about me. Winning is the priority."
Everyone nodded.
"I believe in you, mate. Do your best. You'll score for sure!"
"I'll support you all the way."
"Good luck! We all believe in you!"
"No worries, just go for it!"
The teammates' encouragement warmed Bruno's heart.
"Thank you," he said, extending his right hand.
Everyone placed their hands on top of Bruno's, then raised them together.
"Let's go!"
The referee's second whistle sounded, urging the players onto the pitch.
"Both teams are entering the field."
Amid the deafening roar of over 70,000 fans, the players, led by referee Mike Dean, stepped onto the pitch.
After introducing the referee, the commentator detailed the starting lineups, highlighting Manchester United's setup, with the camera lingering on Bruno.
"Many Manchester United fans have brought banners and signs supporting Bruno, clearly aware that he missed out on this year's Ballon d'Or," said BBC commentator Gary Lineker.
"Personally, I think this year's Ballon d'Or decision is controversial. Whether in individual performance or team achievements, Bruno matches, if not surpasses, Ronaldo."
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