Chapter 889: The Seven-Trophy Season
Manchester United's attack seemed to have stalled. Mateo Kovačić had finally managed to slow Bruno Fernandes down, halting another counterattack.
But just as everyone thought United's momentum was broken, Bruno planted his right foot on the ball, suddenly flicked it outward, and burst forward—slipping temporarily free of Kovačić's marking.
Kovačić assumed Bruno was preparing to sprint away and lunged to slide-tackle him.
Instead, Bruno pivoted sharply, chasing the ball before turning and swinging his left leg with the momentum of the twist, sending a precision pass forward.
The ball arced just over Chelsea's defensive line, landing perfectly into open space down the flank.
It was powerful, quick, and low—barely rising above head height. The minimal arc left Chelsea's backline no time to reset before Luke Shaw arrived at full pace.
Seeing Shaw catch the ball behind the line, Thiago Silva immediately raised his arm, demanding an offside call.
By sight alone, it looked obvious—Shaw was a full stride behind Chelsea's defense when he met the pass. But the referee remained silent, and the assistant's flag stayed down.
...
What Silva hadn't seen was the timing. When Bruno struck the ball, Shaw was still level with the last defender. His perfectly timed run broke through immediately after the pass.
By the time the ball landed, Shaw and the ball met in perfect unison.
Without slowing or readjusting, Shaw whipped in a first-time cross.
Caught off guard, Chelsea's defense scattered.
Silva kept his hand raised, shouting futilely for offside.
César Azpilicueta slid in desperately to block.
Ben Chilwell froze, unsure what to do.
Antonio Rüdiger grabbed desperately at Harry Kane's shirt.
Goalkeeper Dean Henderson dove low, attempting to cut out the driven cross.
The ball curled around Azpilicueta's stretch, spun across the turf in a wicked arc, brushed Henderson's glove—then reached Harry Kane.
Falling under Rüdiger's tackle, Kane got the slightest touch, flicking it into the net just before losing his balance completely.
...
"GOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLLLLLL!!! 2–0!"
The stadium erupted.
Kovačić turned to stare at the ball rolling inside Chelsea's net, then back at Bruno—who was still sitting on the grass after executing that breathtaking 180-degree turn and pass.
Kovačić dropped to his knees beside him, fists clenched around a handful of turf.
"F**k!" The word slipped from his lips. He'd failed to stop the pass—and United had punished them mercilessly.
It was a devastating moment. No one on Chelsea expected United to conjure a goal out of that chaos, least of all one born from Bruno Fernandes' impossible spin-and-pass.
He had seen everything a second before anyone else. Kovačić could only replay the mistake in his mind—and remember how confidently he'd promised Jorginho he could handle Bruno. Now? He just hoped his teammates wouldn't laugh at him later.
United's supporters roared with joy, their cheers shaking the stands. Chelsea fans, on the other hand, were struck silent.
"Manchester United truly are Chelsea's nemesis! Look at their composure—their patterns of play make Chelsea so uncomfortable!"
"Another masterclass from Bruno Fernandes! His vision is unreal, and the entire team syncs perfectly with his ideas."
"In world football right now, he has no rival! Bruno Fernandes is simply the best."
...
Such praise from commentators had become routine. Virtually every United goal, directly or indirectly, came from Bruno's mind or his feet.
As Kane celebrated, he first sought out Luke Shaw to embrace him, then the two ran toward Bruno. Both of them knew this goal wouldn't have existed without their captain.
...
After the restart, Mourinho began making substitutions, confident with the two-goal cushion. Mason Greenwood replaced Kylian Mbappé, followed shortly by Jude Bellingham coming on for İlkay Gündoğan.
Both youngsters were Mourinho's prized protégés, key figures in United's future. Giving them minutes on this grand stage was both reward and preparation.
With fresh legs came brief disorganization, giving Chelsea a sliver of hope.
In the 78th minute, Jorginho threaded a precise pass, allowing Kai Havertz to slot one back for Chelsea.
The goal reignited Tuchel's hopes. With around fifteen minutes left including stoppage time, there was still time for a comeback.
Chelsea shuffled again—veteran Olivier Giroud replaced Timo Werner, and Hakim Ziyech came on for the scorer Havertz, adding more attacking firepower.
Mourinho countered by bringing on Riyad Mahrez for Marcus Rashford, keeping the pressure on Chelsea's defense.
In the final ten minutes, both sides had chances—but neither could find another goal.
...
When the referee's final whistle blew, Manchester United triumphed 2–1, defeating Chelsea in the Champions League final for the second time in history.
"Congratulations, Manchester United! They have captured their seventh Champions League trophy, tying AC Milan for second-most all time—trailing only Real Madrid's twelve!"
"Their second victory over Chelsea in a Champions League final—the first being in the 2008 Moscow rain. Thirteen years later, another Portuguese hero delivers glory—but this time, it's not Cristiano Ronaldo, it's Bruno Fernandes."
"With this victory, United claim four consecutive European crowns—reaching the highest summit in the club's century-long history!"
"What a match! Bruno Fernandes once again shone brilliantly, leading United to triumph over their old rivals. It's safe to say—the nickname 'Chelsea's Bane' still fits perfectly!"
...
The United players erupted in celebration.
Not only had the club achieved football's most prestigious honor, but this final also marked a symbolic return—the first major tournament played in front of fans since the pandemic disrupted world football nearly two seasons earlier.
A victory like this, crowned with Europe's biggest trophy, was the perfect celebration for the sport's rebirth.
...
"This is Bruno Fernandes' 30th trophy since joining Manchester United. Across his career, he now holds 41 club titles and four international trophies, plus two youth-level championships with Portugal—47 in total! At just 26, Bruno surpasses Dani Alves as the most decorated player in football history."
"And for Manchester United, this is their 93rd major trophy—surpassing Real Madrid's 91 to become the most successful club among Europe's top leagues!"
"But most remarkable of all, this UEFA Champions League trophy marks United's seventh championship of the 2020–2021 season! They are once again—after 2018—the only club in history to win seven major titles in a single campaign!"
"The 2020–2021 season belongs to Manchester United. And looking ahead, 2021–2022 promises even more! I don't say this just because of their trophies—anyone watching them tonight can feel it: this is a team bursting with energy, pace, and power. Their football captivates hearts. I love this United side—I love their game!"
...
Commentators around the world echoed their admiration.
...
As United basked in global celebration, Chelsea were once again left in the shadows.
For a club of their stature, such humiliation cut deep.
Tuchel stood on the sideline, face grim. Losing the Champions League was pain enough—but being outclassed so thoroughly by United crushed him.
Mourinho approached, offering his hand. Tuchel forced a handshake before walking off quietly, while Mourinho raised his arms, joining his players in jubilation.
Moments later, the award ceremony began. Chelsea received their silver medals first, followed by the champions.
When Bruno, wearing the captain's armband, lifted the trophy from the UEFA president's hands, red-and-gold confetti showered down from the rafters of the Estádio do Dragão.
Manchester United—the seven-trophy kings—had conquered Europe once again.
(END CHAPTER)
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