Became The Premier League’S Youngest Manager [EN]: Chapter 42

42. Why is Rose Derby here?

Was it the manager or another veteran?

In any case, the Manchester United players, looking as though they had received some fierce encouragement or a stern scolding during halftime, lined up in their own half with determined expressions, awaiting the referee’s whistle.

Scott McTominay, the defensive midfielder who had conceded dangerous opportunities several times under Burnley’s intense pressure throughout the first half, was replaced altogether.

His place was taken by Brazilian midfielder Fred.

Watching the changed lineup of the opposing team, Hyungmin, standing in the away team’s technical area, frowned.

“Hmm… this might not be good.”

“What?” Arthur, who was standing next to him watching the game, asked, and Hyungmin tilted his head.

“They replaced McTominay. I don’t like the feeling.”

“Is there a big difference between Fred and him? Either way, it’s the role of a defensive midfielder. Fred has good energy, but he’s not exactly a great passer.”

“That’s true, but… I’m uneasy about singling out McTominay for replacement like that. Our tactic today is to disrupt Manchester United’s attack from the start, but I feel like they’ve seen through it.”

“Could it be that McTominay was just underperforming in the first half? And they put Fred in his place because there’s no other alternative? There’s no other player who can play as a defensive midfielder for Manchester United right now. Nemanja Matić is injured.”

Hyungmin shrugged at his head coach, who was trying to be positive, and looked at the adjacent technical area.

“I hope that’s the case…”

Ralph Rangnick, the manager of the home team, who was giving final instructions to the players lined up on the field from the home team’s technical area, seemed to notice his gaze, turned his head, smiled, and waved at Hyungmin.

Hyungmin, who had greeted the senior manager a few times during his Red Bull days, nodded slightly and turned his gaze back to the field.

“I have to hope it’s just my worry.”

And the whistle for the second half blew.

Manchester United, who had conceded the lead to the away team in the first half, made a tactical change in the second half.

The tactic that Ralph Rangnick brought out in the second half was, in a way, so simple it was almost pathetic, and in another way, so ingenious it was terrifying.

They neatly divided the team, with five players, including the defense and Fred, focusing on defense, while the remaining five players began to unlock the attack through individual skill.

If a typical team divides offense and defense in this way, there is a high possibility that both the attack and defense will fail due to a lack of harmony.

No, it’s not just a high possibility; usually, the gap between the attack and defense is exploited by the opposing team. In modern soccer, which is accustomed to all-out defense and all-out attack, it’s almost certain to get hammered.

But the problem is that the individual skills of almost all Manchester United players are far superior to those of the opposing Burnley players.

Antony Elanga, who started, is a promising player and is highly anticipated as a masterpiece from the Manchester United youth academy, following in the footsteps of Marcus Rashford.

The remaining starting players are almost all starters in their respective national teams and have the skills to play as starters in any Premier League club.

In particular, when Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes, who lead the attack of the French and Portuguese national teams, respectively, with their outstanding creativity, completely ignored defense and began to run wild, Burnley’s defense began to collapse in an instant.

Moreover, Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcus Rashford are superior to any of Burnley’s defenders in terms of speed, stamina, and technique.

Originally, the defenders are at a disadvantage in terms of options, but when they had to face attackers who were far superior to them in 1-on-1 situations, Burnley’s defenders began to be overwhelmed by Manchester United’s attackers.

Eventually, Burnley’s midfielders dropped back to support the numerical disadvantage faced by the defenders who couldn’t handle the 1-on-1 situations.

Then, Burnley’s attackers, who were too far apart from the remaining players, also dropped back.

In the end, Burnley was forced into a situation where most of their players were trapped in their own half and had to defend against a relentless offensive, as intended by Manchester United’s manager, Ralph Rangnick.

While barely enduring the fierce offensive with dedicated defense at the start of the second half.

Finally, in the 54th minute of the second half, the first crack occurred for Burnley.

“Bruno!”

Raphael Varane, Manchester United’s central defender, who lightly intercepted Burnley’s counterattack, which had been rare, skipped the entire build-up process and shouted the name of the team’s attacking midfielder while sending a long pass.

Bruno Fernandes received the pass right in front of Burnley’s penalty box.

The midfielder, who is famous (or infamous) for creating both opportunities and turnovers with similar frequency, started dribbling.

First, he lightly brushed past Burnley’s left defender, Charlie Taylor, who was approaching him, with his brilliant footwork.

He then dribbled past Burnley’s defensive midfielder, Nicolas Seiwald, and central defender, Nathan Collins, who had rushed in to support Charlie Taylor.

Finally, the Portuguese midfielder, who had successfully dribbled into the penalty box, sent a quick, low pass to Manchester United’s central striker, who was positioned in the penalty box, looking for an opportunity.

And the legend of Manchester United and Real Madrid, who holds all kinds of scoring records, did not miss the opportunity and lightly shot the ball under the body of Burnley’s goalkeeper, Nick Pope, who dove to block.

The combination of individual skills that made all the Burnley players gathered in the penalty box look helpless, and the one-shot-one-kill finish.

The expressions of the Portuguese duo, hugging each other and cheering, showed no concern about being caught offside.

“Goal! Another goal~! It’s Manchester United’s number 7! The great name is~!”

“Cristiano Ronaldo~!!!”

Amidst the announcer’s shouts and the home fans’ cheers.

In the 58th minute of the second half, Manchester United scored the equalizer and warmed up to take the lead.

Finally, in the 60th minute of the second half.

Hyungmin replaced Burnley’s left and right wingers, Dwight McNeil and Karim Adeyemi, with Max Cornet and Johann Berg Gudmundsson, respectively, but Burnley was still unable to cross even the halfway line due to the Manchester United players who had seized the momentum.

Fred and Manchester United’s four defenders lingered and patrolled near the halfway line to crack down on Burnley’s counterattacks.

Manchester United’s attack, which was far more skilled at passing and moving in tight spaces than Burnley’s players, freely entered and exited Burnley’s penalty box and attempted attacks.

As Manchester United’s players relentlessly shot at Burnley, who were trapped in their own half, in an attempt to win the home game, the dedication of Burnley’s defenders and goalkeeper Nick Pope’s fantastic saves finally reached their limit.

In the 76th minute of the second half.

The number of shots in the second half had already tilted mercilessly towards Manchester United at 11 to 1, and Manchester United’s left defender, Luke Shaw, received a goal kick that Burnley’s goalkeeper, Nick Pope, had kicked up long.

As Burnley’s attack and midfielders, who had habitually tried to move forward, flinched and hurriedly returned.

Luke Shaw connected the pass to Manchester United’s central midfielder, Paul Pogba, who was occupying the left side of the space between the halfway line and Burnley’s penalty box.

While Burnley’s right winger, Johann Berg Gudmundsson, hurriedly returned, and right defender, Matt Lowton, guarded in front.

The midfielder, who France is proud of, connected the ball to Manchester United’s midfielder, Fred, who flicked it up from behind with an elegant backheel, regardless of the opposing players surrounding him.

“Bruno!”

Fred, who had already spotted his teammate coming down before receiving the pass, sent a one-touch pass without stopping the ball.

The ball that Fred sent connected with Bruno Fernandes, who was cleverly penetrating the space between Burnley’s right defender, Matt Lowton, who was checking Paul Pogba, and central defender, James Tarkowski, who was now jumping out of the penalty box.

“Paul!”

Bruno Fernandes, who received the ball, passed the ball again towards Paul Pogba, who was quickly penetrating deep into the right side of Burnley’s defense, while Burnley’s players’ attention was briefly taken away by the ball.

Most of Burnley’s players were still returning to the defense after being caught in the counterattack while trying to go on the offensive.

Therefore, Manchester United had a numerical advantage with 3 midfielders against 2 Burnley defenders.

As the space right next to Burnley’s penalty box was completely penetrated by Manchester United’s triangular passing play, Burnley’s remaining defenders and the returning Burnley midfielders all rushed to that space on the right.

“Marcus!”

And Paul Pogba, Manchester United’s midfielder, who succeeded in perfectly playing the role of bait, sent a low and fast cross that was laid at the feet of Manchester United’s right attacker, Marcus Rashford, who was rushing towards the front of the penalty box.

The young attacker of British nationality perfectly timed his run and broke through the offside trap.

He neatly bypassed Burnley’s left defender, Charlie Taylor, who was desperately chasing him from behind, and the central defender duo, Nathan Collins and James Tarkowski, who were now turning their bodies towards him.

The outcome will be decided before they arrive anyway.

The attacker from Manchester United’s youth academy, which Manchester United is so proud of, focused all his attention and looked only at goalkeeper Nick Pope, who was guarding Burnley’s goal.

In reality, it wouldn’t even be a second, but the two people are locked in an intense eye contact in a fleeting moment.

Burnley’s goalkeeper, Nick Pope, flinched at Marcus Rashford’s slightly lowered left shoulder and slightly shifted his center of gravity to the right.

It only takes a moment to move the center of gravity back to the center, but Marcus Rashford of Manchester United, who earned that fleeting moment with just a small movement, gently pushed the ball to the left of Nick Pope, who was caught leaning the wrong way.

Both hands are already raised towards the sky for the goal celebration, towards the fans who are jumping up and shouting.

“Uwaaa!!!”

The home fans cheered and rejoiced as the young attacker ran towards them and pounded the team’s emblem on his chest with his fist.

It was the moment when Manchester United, who had been frustrated by Burnley, who were considered to be several levels below them in this home game, finally solidified their victory.