From the man behind the football king to the football king.

Chapter 918 Benitez
At 10:2 noon on October 12nd, at the new Old Trafford Stadium, in the 7th round of the Premier League, Manchester United faced Everton.

Although this game was only three days after the Champions League match in the middle of the week, due to the international match day after the game, Mourinho did not make large-scale rotations in this game. He only replaced Gundogan with Bellingham, and Lindelof also replaced the injured Maguire.

The game has been going on for nearly half an hour, and Manchester United has not had a single chance to shoot so far.

Everton has performed very well this season, with a record of 6 wins, 4 draw and 1 loss in the first 1 league games, ranking fifth in the standings.

Although Everton was short of players in this game, with main players Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison, Gomez and Coleman all absent due to injuries, they had the physical advantage of not having any game tasks in the middle of the week and were very proactive in the game.

Bruno kept running in the frontcourt, looking for opportunities. He even retreated to the backcourt several times to receive the ball, but soon he returned to the frontcourt.

In the tactical positioning of head coach Mourinho, Bruno is the most threatening player of the team and he should be in the frontcourt.

Everton started too strongly. Benítez arranged a 4-4-2 formation, but in fact it was a bit like a 4-5-1. Rondon was alone in the front, Gray was behind him and on the two wings, responsible for connecting the front and midfield, Gordon and Townsend were responsible for passing the ball on the two wings and pressing in the front.

Almost from the beginning, Everton completely disrupted Manchester United's rhythm.

………………

Just two minutes into the game, French midfielder Doucoure almost scored against Manchester United with a very stunning long shot. De Gea lost the ball but caught it in time before Rondon.

To put it bluntly, Manchester United escaped death.

Although Benítez's team does not have many star players, it has a strong overall team spirit, a balanced offense and defense, and a strong pressure in the midfield. Although there are only two defensive midfielders, Alan and Doucoure, they have a clear division of labor and cooperation, organizing Everton's entire midfield in an orderly manner and controlling the rhythm just right.

From the beginning, the pace was fast.

In the tenth minute, Doucoure made a long pass to the left side of the penalty area. When Gray raised his foot to stop the ball, he failed to handle it well and De Gea rushed out to hug the ball.

But just three minutes later, Gordon made a diagonal pass from the left, and Gray stopped the ball and shot with his left foot, which was slightly higher than the crossbar.

After Gray showed good form, Rondon soon showed his threat.

The Venezuelan striker, who once scored three goals in two games against Inter Milan in the Europa League, received a long pass from Brazilian midfielder Alan Max in the 16th minute, took the ball with his back, turned around and shot directly.

This shot was very threatening and it just brushed the left post and went out of the bottom line.

Lindelof was blocked by Rondon and failed to block the ball in time.

………………

Just four minutes later, there was another pass from the double defensive midfielder. After stopping the ball, Rondon passed it to Gray with his heel. The latter made a direct low shot, which was slightly off target again.

Four minutes later, Everton created another chance. Doucoure passed the ball to the front of the penalty area. After Gray stopped the ball, Rondon made a low shot from outside the penalty area, but the angle was too straight and was caught by goalkeeper De Gea.

In the first 25 minutes, Everton played at a very fast pace and fired eight shots. Although Everton's shots failed to break Manchester United's goal for various reasons, it was extremely rare for Manchester United to be so embarrassed by the opponent.

Bruno almost couldn't get the ball in the frontcourt, and only saw Everton pressing Manchester United in the half.

He even suspected that if Everton's offensive scoring ability was stronger, Manchester United would have been disarmed in the first half hour and there would be no need to play the game.

What surprised Bruno the most was the double defensive midfielder Doucoure and Allan. Almost all of Everton's attacks came from their organization and planning, and their ability to intercept and steal in the midfield made it difficult for Manchester United to counterattack.

Everton's attack was not sharp enough. Gray looked fierce and had good footwork, but he was actually inefficient. Rondon needed support from his teammates, but he was obviously not used to Everton's style of play.

But Bruno is sure that if they continue like this, Manchester United will probably lose to Everton.

Benítez is really capable of leading this team to fifth place in the Premier League!

………………

Mourinho is also very troubled at the moment. It is really difficult for Manchester United to deal with the workaholic Everton.

He stretched out his hand and pinched his brows hard, trying hard to calm himself down.

Everton's performance at the start was really good. This is a team with outstanding overall quality. Individually, the players may not be stars in their positions, but when combined together, they are strong enough to compete with any top team in the Premier League.

Especially their midfield.

"This is still without main players like Lewin and Richarlison. If they can play, how strong will Everton be?" Faria was also full of amazement.

This is not to boost others' morale or destroy one's own prestige, but an admiration from the heart.

The fact that Benítez was able to transform Everton into the iron army it is today in just three months is definitely a reflection of his coaching ability.

"He was sure that our physical fitness was relatively poor, so he relied on his physical advantage to take the initiative." Mourinho shook his head. This was a clear strategy, and the tone was set by Doucoure's long-range shot.

Manchester United's rhythm was completely disrupted.

"There is no need to worry too much. Their offense is still inefficient and lacks a stable scorer. Godfrey on the back line is also a hidden danger. Digne's state does not seem to be excited enough."

What Carrick said was all the information Manchester United had before the game, and it was also confirmed during the game.

"As long as we have the chance to counterattack, we will have chances, especially Bruno."

Bruno's most talked-about quality is his stability. As long as he is given a chance, he can usually seize it. "But the problem now is that we can't get the ball out from the back court," Mourinho said with a deep frown.

Turning his head, he looked at the coaching bench opposite, where Benítez, dressed in a suit and tie, looked calm and confident, as if he had a sure win. This made Mourinho very dissatisfied, but helpless.

As the head coach, he can only hope that the players on the field will perform well.

Especially Bruno.

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"Twenty-five minutes have passed and Manchester United still hasn't created a chance to shoot. This is very surprising."

"Everton took control of the game at Old Trafford after the opening, playing at a fast tempo and Manchester United were a bit confused."

"Especially the ball from the midfield and backcourt, which was never passed to the frontcourt. Even Bruno's retreat was of no avail."

"We saw Bruno starting to get back and ask for the ball again."

……

Bruno finally couldn't help it.

When he saw Dalot get the ball in the backcourt, move to the right side, and be pressed by Gordon but unable to pass the ball, he quickly ran back and raised his hand to ask for the ball.

Dalot passed the ball to Bruno.

As soon as the ball stopped, Doucoure came up to him.

But at this time, Kante also ran over from the side, Bruno quickly passed the ball back to Kante, turned around and rushed forward.

Kante understood what he meant and passed the ball directly to Bruno without stopping, asking him to chase it.

"Nice one-two!"

"After Bruno retreated, Manchester United had an extra point of contact in the midfield and began to plan an attack."

"Gordon quickly chased back on the left, but Bruno was also very fast with the ball and came directly to the front of Everton's penalty area."

"Face Alan, one on one."

……

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Bruno first slowed down, then after getting close to Alan, he suddenly accelerated and pretended to cut into the middle. After deceiving Alan, he suddenly chose to go to the bottom and rushed into the penalty area with the ball.

Harry Kane in the middle also quickly followed, ready to step forward and head the ball at any time.

But just as Bruno shook off Alan, the Brazilian midfielder blocked him with his hand, slowing down his starting speed slightly.

It was because of this slowness that Gordon rushed out from the side like a gust of wind, squeezed himself in between Bruno and the ball, and held Bruno with his body.

The 20-year-old Everton youth player has excellent physical fitness. Bruno was directly blocked by him and the ball was also intercepted by him. But Gordon and Alan almost collided with each other, and the ball was between them.

Bruno refused to give up and rushed towards the ball after an abrupt stop.

As soon as Alan steadied himself, he turned around and kicked the ball away without thinking twice.

But at this time Bruno rushed over, and the ball hit Bruno's chest and bounced into the small penalty area.

Everton goalkeeper Pickford was shocked.

Everyone thought that the ball was a sure win, Gordon rushed back to defend, forced his way into the penalty area to steal the ball, although the risk was not small, but he handled it beautifully and the ball was intercepted. Alan didn't even need to clear the ball at this time, he could even pass it back to the goalkeeper.

But who could have thought that he would kick Bruno in the chest?
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Pickford reacted very quickly and rushed out of the goal immediately, but Bruno was obviously one step faster than him and chased after the ball.

"Everton made a fatal mistake in defense. Alan's clearance hit Bruno and bounced back into the penalty area."

"Bruno chased after him..."

"Pickford strikes..."

"The ball went in!!!"

"GOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLLL!!!!!!!!"

"In the 27th minute, Manchester United took the lead in breaking Everton's goal!"

"This was Manchester United's first shot of the game, and I didn't expect it to result in a goal."

(End of this chapter)