Chapter 395: A New Record
Manchester United players were constantly moving. Even the tall forward Ibrahimović was actively moving to the wings and dropping back to create opportunities for Bruno.
The Swedish striker had been performing well this season, largely because Bruno had provided him with many assists.
Bruno was well-liked in the team, and this camaraderie meant that his teammates were eager to help him out when it mattered most.
When the entire Manchester United team was working together to create chances for Bruno, when over seventy thousand fans in the stadium were cheering for him, and when fans around the world were watching on TV, the moment everyone was waiting for finally arrived.
Tottenham made a mistake in midfield, losing possession before crossing the halfway line.
Carrick quickly passed the ball forward to Ibrahimović, who used his body to shield the ball and then passed it to the left, where Gündoğan was positioned.
At this moment, Bruno, who had switched to the left wing, was ready to pounce like a cheetah.
"Manchester United intercepts the ball and counterattacks, Ibrahimović passes to Gündoğan."
"Gündoğan sends a through ball behind the defense, Bruno is sprinting forward!"
"Tottenham's center-back is rushing back, blocking Bruno's path."
...
Bruno faced off against Tottenham's center-back Alderweireld near the left corner of the penalty area, one-on-one.
As soon as they made contact, Bruno feigned a move to the byline as if to cross, but instead, he suddenly cut inside.
Having successfully tricked Alderweireld, Bruno instinctively swung his right foot. The ball, with a fierce spin, drew a beautiful arc, brushing past the fingertips of the diving Lloris and landing in the top right corner of the goal.
It was an absolute stunner, hitting the very top corner.
After scoring, Bruno rushed off the field, heading straight for the TV camera, pounding his chest in celebration.
His teammates quickly surrounded him, everyone hugging him tightly.
Each player was shouting in his ear, congratulating him on his goal and on breaking a legendary record.
But Bruno couldn't make out who was saying what. He was in a daze, his mind completely blank.
"It was an absolute stunner, hitting the very top corner! A brilliant goal that left Tottenham's goalkeeper Lloris with no chance."
"This is Bruno's 19th Premier League goal of the season! Scoring 19 goals in 15 Premier League matches is an incredible feat!"
"This is also Bruno's 114th goal involvement of 2016! Congratulations to Bruno on breaking Messi's legendary record set four years ago!"
"114 goal involvements in a single calendar year is simply unbelievable!"
"Four years ago, when Messi set the record with 113 goal involvements in a year, many thought it was the limit for humans, a record that would stand for a long time. But who would have thought that just four years later, Bruno would break it!"
"And even more incredibly, 2016 isn't over yet. According to the schedule, Manchester United has four more games in 2016. Who knows how high Bruno will push this record!"
"Everyone at Old Trafford, and all the fans watching on TV, let's give Bruno a standing ovation and the loudest cheers for breaking Messi's legendary record!"
"After tonight, no one will doubt Bruno's talent and potential anymore. No one will question that he belongs among the superstars like Messi and Ronaldo!"
After his celebration, Bruno calmed down and got back into the game.
Despite scoring two goals, Manchester United didn't let up. Bruno wasn't satisfied with just a two-goal lead, knowing it wasn't secure, so he kept looking for more opportunities.
Finally, in the 77th minute, Manchester United created another brilliant chance.
Carrick's precise through ball sliced through Tottenham's defense like a scalpel, landing perfectly in the right side of the penalty area.
Bruno, having broken free from his marker as soon as Carrick made the pass, sprinted into the box and coolly slotted the ball into the net once again.
Mike Dean, often criticized as a Tottenham fan, emphatically signaled the goal. There was nothing to dispute about this one.
In fact, Dean's refereeing tonight had been controversial.
In the 21st minute, Rashford was brought down in the box by Kyle Walker, a clear foul that Dean, despite being close by, didn't call, drawing loud boos from Old Trafford.
Again, shortly after Bruno's second goal, another penalty appeal was ignored when Herrera was brought down by Vertonghen in the box.
In most matches, these would have been clear penalties, but Dean overlooked them both.
However, Dean could find no fault with Bruno's three goals.
"Hat-trick! This is Bruno's second Premier League hat-trick of the season!"
"This brings Bruno to 20 Premier League goals this season! This is unbelievable!"
"In many seasons, the Premier League Golden Boot winner has fewer than 20 goals!"
"In the 24-year history of the Premier League, 20 goals would have won the Golden Boot in the 1997-1998, 1998-1999, and 2008-2009 seasons!"
"I can't find the words to describe Bruno's performance tonight. It's simply magical and perfect!"
"Years from now, we'll still be talking about this match. We'll proudly tell everyone we witnessed the birth of Bruno's new legendary record!"
"But what's unbelievable is that despite his outstanding performance, Bruno isn't this year's Ballon d'Or winner!"
"I'm not saying Ronaldo isn't great. He had a fantastic 2016 as Portugal's captain, but in my opinion, Bruno's performance has been even better."
Gary Lineker, known for praising Messi, seemed to be becoming a fan of Bruno.
After his third goal, Bruno didn't lose his composure. Despite his body being overtaken by joy, he remained calm and kept smiling.
When Mourinho substituted him for Fellaini in the 86th minute, the entire Old Trafford crowd stood and applauded, chanting Bruno's name.
Bruno walked off slowly, shaking hands and hugging players from both teams, thanking everyone.
Even the Tottenham players, who had tried so hard to stop him, received his gratitude.
After encouraging Fellaini to do his best, Bruno stood on the sideline, bowing to the fans in all four stands, thanking them for their support.
This brought even louder applause and cheers.
"Your performance tonight was amazing. We are all so proud of you!" Mourinho said, hugging Bruno tightly.
"Thank you, boss," Bruno replied, full of gratitude.
Some say Mourinho struggles with big stars due to his complex personality, marked by ambition and deep-seated insecurities.
In Real Madrid, he clashed with Casillas, turning the amiable goalkeeper into a dominant figure.
In Manchester United, Rooney, the captain and spiritual leader, had been sidelined by Mourinho.
But Bruno felt Mourinho had unified the team and strengthened Manchester United's fighting spirit, especially in defense.
After hugging Mourinho, Bruno hugged assistant coach Faria. In his months at Manchester United, this long-time Mourinho assistant had given Bruno a lot of help.
Bruno then shook hands and hugged the rest of the coaching staff before heading to the bench.
Rooney and Mata welcomed Bruno like a hero returning from battle.
Despite losing his starting spot to Bruno, Rooney held no grudges.
He knew Manchester United was improving under Bruno's leadership.
Not just Rooney, everyone at Manchester United admired Bruno's achievements this season.
It wasn't just his skills on the pitch; Bruno's friendly attitude and hardworking nature endeared him to everyone.
Such a player would be welcomed in any team.
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