Bonus is still 200 PS per chapter, but for this week, instead of just 1 bonus for every 200 PS, I'll be dropping 2 bonus chapters xD. We are currently at (83/200) now, so good luck!
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After taking a one-goal lead, the New Manchester United players were visibly excited in the dressing room at half-time.
As usual, a small box had been placed on each player's seat. Every box bore the player's name and contained a tablet. The players swallowed them with water before resting, while the club's masseurs entered to help them recover physically.
Senna had fought fiercely throughout the first half, covering the entire area in front of the back four almost single-handedly, which had placed him under considerable strain.
However, he had completed his task well and had not allowed Blackburn too many opportunities. Although he had made several mistakes, none had resulted in New Manchester United conceding.
Moreover, Senna had never previously proved himself in a top division. Considering the level of his performance against Blackburn, no one could have asked for more.
In fact, Mourinho had selected Senna precisely because he was concerned that the younger players might struggle mentally under the pressure of the occasion.
Otherwise, Essien would have been the more suitable choice in terms of his understanding with the back four. He was stronger, more athletic, and covered the width of the pitch more effectively.
However, Essien was not yet 20 years old, and Mourinho had been reluctant to start him in such an important match.
"I'm delighted that we can stand here in such high spirits. What we have achieved has not been easy."
Mourinho pointed towards his head.
"We are a League Two club, playing in the third tier. Compared with the Premier League, Blackburn are up here."
He then pointed towards his feet.
"And we are down here."
"For us to fight our way from here to here is a credit to the entire team. Every player has contributed, including those who were not selected for today's squad.
"We have never been a one-man team. We are a collective, and that is why we can sit here smiling, unlike the people in the dressing room next door.
"I imagine Mr Souness is suffering right now."
Mourinho's words made all the players laugh.
After taking the lead, everyone was in excellent spirits, especially when they remembered that they were ahead against Premier League side Blackburn.
This was different from leading Tottenham in the semi-final.
That had only been a semi-final.
This was the final.
If they won, they would lift a trophy recognised throughout England and qualify for the following season's UEFA Cup.
A club from the third tier of English football representing the country in the UEFA Cup might not have been unprecedented, but it was certainly rare.
"All right, relax, lads. We're ahead. Now I'll explain your jobs for the second half."
Mourinho walked over to the tactics board and quickly drew the team's formation.
"This is a final, and it will be decided within 90 minutes.
"Blackburn are behind, so they will fight. They have no reason not to, unless they do not want to win, and that is impossible."
"They will attack aggressively in the second half. When that happens, our defensive line must not retreat too deeply.
"Do you remember our match against Tottenham at White Hart Lane?"
"Yes!" the players replied.
"Good. We do the same thing here.
"Your first priority is to hold your positions. Use your running and communication to compress their space and take it away from them.
"Do not leave your zones. Do not make mistakes. Follow exactly what we worked on in training before the match. Understood?"
"Understood!" the players answered in unison.
New Manchester United had practised this defensive system frequently.
After facing several strong opponents in the League Cup that season, Mourinho had begun drilling the team extensively on different defensive strategies.
That work had resulted in the unusual defensive system they had demonstrated at White Hart Lane.
Attack and defence were like opposite ends of a seesaw.
New Manchester United's usual approach placed greater emphasis on balance because Mourinho knew the players had not yet fully mastered his tactical ideas.
He believed the club's future style should lean more towards attack, with roughly 40 per cent devoted to defence and 60 per cent to attacking play.
Of course, that did not mean dividing the players into defensive and attacking groups.
Whether the team had possession or not, all 11 players had to participate.
That was a basic requirement for any successful side.
"Juninho, your control of the tempo in the first half was excellent, particularly the signal you gave Palacio before that pass. I saw it. It was outstanding.
"You found the right balance between slowing the game down and increasing the tempo. Blackburn were forced to play entirely at our pace.
"I believe their players have already expended more energy than ours, so we must continue controlling the rhythm in the second half."
"Control the midfield and put pressure on Hughes. Do not allow him time on the ball.
"He is extremely experienced and knows how to play in difficult situations.
"We cannot give him too much freedom. Close him down and cut off his connection with the forwards."
Juninho listened carefully and nodded repeatedly.
He was playing as one of the two central midfielders in this match and understood his defensive responsibilities.
Although Mourinho had also asked him to control the tempo and organise the attack, those were the demands placed on the team's playmaker.
If he failed to fulfil them, Mourinho would not hesitate to replace him.
"Curtis!"
Mourinho walked towards the team's vice-captain.
Curtis looked slightly ashamed after making several mistakes in the first half.
"You're putting too much pressure on yourself, Curtis.
"You do not need to intercept every ball. If you do, Petr will have nothing left to do behind you.
"I'm worried that if this continues, he'll become so frustrated that he'll run up front and play as a striker."
Mourinho's joke caused another burst of laughter in the dressing room.
Čech laughed so hard that he could barely catch his breath.
"Positioning, Curtis."
Mourinho understood his players.
Some needed every instruction explained in detail.
Curtis only needed a reminder.
He was an extremely intelligent player and immediately understood what Mourinho meant.
"Everyone must remain aware of their positioning.
"Control your zones and do not allow your opponents to get past you easily.
"Then, in 45 minutes, we will stand on the podium and celebrate the first major domestic trophy in our club's history."
Mourinho did not need to say anything more.
That single sentence was enough to excite every player in the dressing room.
If they defeated Blackburn, it would be the first national trophy in the club's history, even if it was only the comparatively less prestigious League Cup.
...
After the match resumed, Blackburn did not immediately launch an all-out attack.
Instead, they continued to advance slowly and steadily towards New Manchester United's defensive lines, displaying considerable patience.
From the touchline, Mourinho repeatedly reminded his players not to become impatient.
They could afford to take their time.
Blackburn could not.
Blackburn altered their attacking approach and began searching for openings more frequently down the flanks.
However, Senna and Juninho covered a large area, while Malouda and Hleb repeatedly dropped back to help.
As a result, Blackburn were unable to create any meaningful openings from wide positions.
Duff occasionally found space, but Terry remained extremely composed in the centre and repeatedly dealt with the danger.
Without sufficient support through the middle, Blackburn's wing play produced plenty of movement but little genuine threat.
As the minutes passed, their players gradually began to show signs of impatience.
As Mourinho had said, New Manchester United could afford to remain calmer because they held a one-goal lead.
He instructed Juninho to control the tempo.
Whenever New Manchester United had possession, they mainly used sideways passes and short layoffs to shift Blackburn's shape and drain their energy.
Hughes was already 38 years old, while Andy Cole did not possess Drogba's relentless stamina.
Blackburn were also trailing, which inevitably made them anxious.
Slowing the game down and forcing them to chase possession was the ideal way to exhaust them.
But that was not Mourinho's only intention.
He knew a one-goal lead was never safe.
He disliked extra time because of the physical demands it placed on the players.
He also disliked penalty shoot-outs, which reduced everything to nerve and chance.
Mourinho preferred certainty.
He wanted the match settled within 90 minutes.
Blackburn remained calm and disciplined during the opening 20 minutes of the second half.
However, as time continued to pass, particularly after Souness made two substitutions without producing any improvement, their players began to lose patience.
The more impatient Blackburn became, the more slowly New Manchester United played.
They were deliberately reducing the tempo.
At that moment, the importance of controlling the rhythm of a match became completely clear.
Souness repeatedly gestured for his players to remain patient, but time continued to disappear.
His players could no longer afford to follow his instructions.
In the 76th minute, Curtis rose above Andy Cole and headed Blackburn's long pass towards Senna, who had dropped back to collect it.
Senna immediately passed to Palacio.
Palacio accelerated once again and charged into Blackburn's half.
Watching from the touchline, Mourinho considered Palacio's performance in the attacking midfield role and remembered Ethan's previous suggestion.
Of course, he did not know that Ethan's recommendation had been based on knowledge from his previous life.
Even so, Palacio had genuinely performed well as an attacking midfielder.
New Manchester United broke forward with exceptional speed.
Drogba, Malouda, and Hleb were all quick, and their forward runs spread Blackburn's defence, greatly reducing the pressure on Palacio.
After carrying the ball forward for several metres, Palacio passed towards Hleb on the wing before continuing his own run through the centre.
Hleb dribbled towards the edge of the penalty area and shaped cleverly as though he intended to cut inside.
However, Blackburn's full-back held his position well.
Unable to beat him, Hleb played the ball across the top of the penalty area.
Juninho arrived from deep and reached it ahead of Dunn.
He shielded the ball from Dunn's close marking, created enough space for himself, and unleashed a powerful shot.
The ball moved unpredictably through the air.
Friedel had been in excellent form and read its path correctly, but the shot carried vicious spin.
As he attempted to catch it, the ball slipped from his hands.
Friedel reacted quickly and tried to recover it, but someone else reacted even faster.
Palacio, his braided hair trailing behind him, swept in front of the goalkeeper like a gust of wind.
He poked the loose ball beyond Friedel and into the net.
2-0!
At that moment, the entire Millennium Stadium erupted.
With fewer than 15 minutes remaining, New Manchester United's 2-0 lead was enough to condemn Blackburn.
Considering how composed and disciplined the Red Rebels had been throughout the match, scoring twice in the remaining time appeared almost impossible.
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)