Chapter 423: A Setback
While Manchester United celebrated their League Cup victory, the 26th round of Premier League matches proceeded as usual. Except for United and Southampton, who played in the League Cup final, and their respective opponents, the other eight matches were completed.
The most anticipated match was Chelsea vs. Swansea at Stamford Bridge. If Chelsea won, they would temporarily narrow the gap with Manchester United to seven points, having played one more game.
United's scheduled opponent for this round was their city rivals, Manchester City. However, this match was postponed due to the League Cup final. Given City's strength, it wouldn't be easy for United to secure a victory away from home.
Ultimately, Chelsea had no trouble defeating Swansea 3-1 at home, reducing the gap to seven points with one more game played.
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Still riding high from their League Cup triumph, United faced Bournemouth on March 4th in their 27th Premier League match. They were held to a 1-1 draw.
Playing at home, United set up an aggressive stance from the start, while Bournemouth opted for a solid defensive strategy and counter-attacks. This scenario is something United would encounter frequently in future matches. With their potent attack, teams would wisely avoid direct confrontation and rely on counter-attacks as an effective strategy.
To become champions, United needed to master breaking through defensive counter-attacks. Otherwise, they would remain merely competent disruptors without achieving championship status.
Before this match, United's Rooney, Rashford, and Luke Shaw were selected for the new England national team squad, with Shaw returning after a year. After breaking his leg in 2015 against Udinese and multiple subsequent injuries, Shaw finally rejoined the national team under Gareth Southgate.
Southgate attended the match to assess the form of his national team players. Eager to impress, Shaw was highly active in attack but neglected his defensive duties, creating vulnerabilities in United's defense.
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Despite United's relentless attacks in the first half, Bournemouth's Polish goalkeeper Boruc was in outstanding form, making numerous critical saves. The commentators hailed him as the best player of the first half.
Inevitably, prolonged pressure on the attack left defensive gaps. In the 44th minute, Bournemouth capitalized on a counter-attack, exploiting Shaw's side. Surman's through ball found Pugh, who beat the offside trap and entered the box. Phil Jones's desperate tackle brought down Pugh, and the referee awarded a penalty without hesitation.
Former United player Joshua King took the penalty, aiming for the top left corner. Despite De Gea guessing correctly, King's well-placed shot found the net.
Joshua King joined United's youth academy at sixteen but never secured a spot in the first team. He moved to Blackburn Rovers in the 2013 winter transfer window, eventually settling at Bournemouth in 2015, where he thrived. Scoring against his former club was a bittersweet moment for King.
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Bournemouth's third shot on target yielded a goal, despite enduring United's dominance throughout the first half.
"Manchester United is in big trouble!" the commentator exclaimed. "As the league leaders, they risk losing their first home game this season at Old Trafford!"
United players appeared dejected as they walked off at halftime, in stark contrast to Bournemouth's energized squad.
During the break, Mourinho harshly criticized Shaw's poor performance: "Forget about the national team, Luke! If you play poorly here, Southgate won't give you a single minute!"
In the second half, although Shaw was more cautious, the team's performance didn't improve, while Bournemouth grew more confident.
Bruno, frequently surrounded by two to three defenders, had to release the ball quickly, leading to more errors. Bournemouth's persistent fouling disrupted Bruno's rhythm, culminating in a free-kick after a series of rough challenges. Bruno's subsequent free-kick sailed over the crossbar.
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Mourinho substituted Rooney with Rashford, aiming to inject fresh energy into the attack. Rooney's form had declined, resulting in fewer appearances under Mourinho. Rashford, recently recovered from a thigh injury, had played briefly in the League Cup final but was not started in this match to avoid risking further injury.
Rashford's introduction improved United's attacking coherence, leading to better offensive opportunities. In the 67th minute, Bruno's through ball to Rashford saw the latter fouled in the box, but the referee controversially booked Rashford for diving, provoking loud boos from the Old Trafford crowd.
Sensing United's mounting pressure, Bournemouth's manager substituted goalscorer King with defender Cargill, clearly signaling a defensive stance.
For Bournemouth, a 1-0 win at Old Trafford was a monumental victory. Whether the score was 1-0 or 10-0 didn't matter—both secured three crucial points for their survival campaign.
In response, Mourinho brought on Lingard for Shaw, shifting to a 3-3-4 formation, throwing everything at Bournemouth's defense.
In the 89th minute, United's perseverance paid off. Mata's free-kick found Bruno, whose header struck the post and rebounded to Rojo, who headed it into the net.
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"Goal! Goal! United have equalized! They've made it 1-1 in the 89th minute, avoiding defeat!"
"Look at their jubilant celebrations; this draw wasn't easy to come by!"
"This is Rojo's first goal in 54 Premier League appearances for Manchester United!"
Indeed, it was hard-earned. Bournemouth, ranked 14th, managing to challenge league leaders United so fiercely, was an achievement in itself. Ultimately, their failure to secure victory was just down to a bit of bad luck.
People tend to sympathize with the underdog. Earlier in the season, United was often seen as the underdog against top teams. Now, they were the formidable force, garnering more support for their opponents.
Thanks to Rojo's goal, United avoided their second league defeat this season and maintained their 25-match unbeaten streak at home, though their consecutive home wins ended at 24. Including the previous season, this streak began with a 3-1 victory over Bournemouth.
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Bournemouth's draw with United was a notable upset, prompting media speculation about potential cracks in United's form.
"They've been figured out," speculated some outlets. "If a team like Bournemouth can withstand United's pressure for 89 minutes, what about stronger teams like Chelsea, City, or Tottenham?"
Such narratives are common, assuming a poor performance against weaker teams suggests inevitable struggles against stronger opponents.
This ignores players' mental states and team morale. Underestimating weaker teams can lead to complacency and struggles, while serious preparation against stronger teams results in better performance.
Thus, struggling against Bournemouth doesn't necessarily mean United will fare worse against Chelsea, City, Arsenal, or Tottenham.
Conversely, performing well in one match doesn't guarantee success in the next, regardless of the opponent's strength.
(End of Chapter)
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