Chapter 680: The End or the Beginning?
The director made an amusing decision to cut the camera to the stands, where David Beckham was seated. In Manchester United's storied history, Beckham's famous "bending free-kicks" were once the stuff of legend.
Beckham stood up and clapped with a smile on his face. His wife, Victoria, wearing oversized sunglasses that covered half her face, also joined in the applause.
"Well done, David. Now wave and give them a thumbs-up," Victoria whispered into his ear.
Following her suggestion, Beckham waved and gave a thumbs-up to the crowd.
Beckham genuinely celebrated the goal, but Victoria's motivations were different—she was more focused on the camera's attention. Beckham, ever the savvy celebrity, understood this dynamic.
Their relationship, though layered with celebrity and control, was one of mutual respect. Beckham knew Victoria enjoyed these moments of influence, and he was okay with it.
This was the quintessential celebrity couple.
Fastest Century in Premier League History
On television, Andy Gray's voice filled the airwaves.
"This is Bruno Fernandes' 100th Premier League goal since joining Manchester United. He has now become the fastest player in Premier League history to reach this milestone, doing so in just 93 matches!"
"Before Bruno, the record was held by Alan Shearer, the legendary striker for Blackburn and Newcastle, who needed 123 games to score 100 Premier League goals. Harry Kane, Manchester United's current forward, achieved the feat in 141 games."
"However, Bruno isn't the fastest to score 100 goals in the history of Europe's top five leagues. That honor belongs to his national team captain and former United player, Cristiano Ronaldo. After joining Real Madrid in the summer of 2009, Ronaldo reached 100 La Liga goals on March 24, 2012, in a 5-1 victory over Real Sociedad. It took him only 92 games to achieve this milestone."
Once again, the director switched the camera to the stands, where Cristiano Ronaldo was seated.
The Serie A season had just entered its two-week winter break, allowing Ronaldo, the newly crowned global football king, to attend this historic match at Old Trafford.
The stands were packed with Manchester United legends: Steve Bruce, Mark Hughes, Eric Cantona, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Roy Keane, the Neville brothers, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidić, Wayne Rooney, and many more.
A Special Dedication
On the pitch, Bruno Fernandes didn't run toward the corner flag to celebrate his milestone goal. Instead, he sprinted toward the substitutes' bench. Victor Lindelöf was already prepared, tossing a rolled-up banner to Bruno.
Bruno picked it up and shouted to his teammates, "Guys, come on! Let's lift it together!"
Together, the players unfurled the banner. In bold Chinese characters, it read: "祝弗格森爵士长命百岁" (Wishing Sir Alex Ferguson a long and healthy life). Below the Chinese text was an English translation in smaller letters.
The players then turned toward a specific spot in the stands, singing "Happy Birthday to You."
December 31, 2018, marked Sir Alex Ferguson's 77th birthday. This was the players' special way of honoring the legendary manager.
Commentator Martin Tyler remarked, "Bruno has dedicated his 100th Premier League goal to Sir Alex Ferguson, wishing the legendary Manchester United manager a very happy birthday."
The broadcast immediately cut to the VIP box, where the iconic figure of Sir Alex Ferguson appeared on screen, tears welling in his eyes as he applauded the players.
Inside Old Trafford, the crowd of 70,000 fans rose to their feet, showering Ferguson with applause and birthday wishes.
The Inevitable Flourish
With spirits lifted and momentum on their side, Manchester United pushed forward relentlessly. A 2-1 scoreline was not enough to satisfy them on such a historic night.
In the 72nd minute, academy graduate Marcus Rashford, recently subbed on, dazzled the English crowd with his speed and agility. He raced past Rico on the flank, abruptly changed direction, and cut into the middle. Evading a challenge from Nathan Aké, Rashford slipped into the penalty area's right side and delivered a precise chipped pass.
Harry Kane was there to meet it, sliding in to score.
"3-1!"
This time, even Mourinho couldn't contain himself. He raised his fists and cheered on the sideline.
But United weren't done yet.
In the 82nd minute, Bruno Fernandes sent a surgical through ball to Harry Kane, who volleyed it home from close range. With two goals to his name, Kane sealed the match at 4-1.
A Historic Night
Ten minutes later, the referee's final whistle blew.
Manchester United had won their last match of 2018 and the final game at Old Trafford before its reconstruction, capping it off with a dominant 4-1 victory over Bournemouth.
The storied stadium, with its 108-year legacy, would undergo a transformation and emerge anew in two years.
As the substitutes, coaching staff, and players flooded the pitch, the atmosphere was euphoric.
In the stands, the 70,000-strong crowd erupted into celebration—cheering, singing, and embracing each other in pure joy.
Manchester United had done it. They surpassed AC Milan's record, setting a new benchmark for unbeaten runs in Europe's top five leagues with 59 matches.
"This is a match that will be remembered in football history!"
"Congratulations to Manchester United, José Mourinho, Bruno Fernandes, and the entire team. A new record has been set, and the most formidable invincible team in football history has been born: Manchester United with 59 unbeaten matches!"
The Captain's Lead
Bruno Fernandes gathered his teammates, including the substitutes, forming a unified line. Together, they ran toward the stands, sliding on their knees in celebration.
The deafening cheers of the crowd seemed to tear through the night sky.
Photographers and cameramen captured the moment, their hands trembling with excitement. They knew they were documenting a scene that would become timeless—a piece of football history.
Mourinho's Triumph
José Mourinho loosened his tie, overwhelmed by the weight of the achievement.
"Fifty-nine matches unbeaten," he thought. "We did it."
From injuries to fixture congestion, from tough opponents to internal challenges, the team had faced it all.
But they had persevered.
Walking across the pitch, Mourinho embraced and congratulated each player. Finally, he turned toward the stands, raising his thumb to the roaring fans.
"Glory belongs to us," he seemed to say. "But even more, it belongs to you."
The gesture sent Old Trafford into a frenzy once again.
A Night to Remember
As Manchester United's bus left the stadium, fans lined the streets, cheering and honking their car horns in celebration.
The streets of Manchester came alive with impromptu parades.
That night, the city didn't sleep.
Manchester United had made history.
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