Chapter 723: A Tale of Three Cities
May 12, 2019
The final day of the Premier League season saw all ten matches of Matchweek 38 kick off simultaneously at 3:00 PM London time.
By 1:00 PM, with two hours to go before kickoff, Manchester United fans had already started queuing outside Millennium Stadium, ready to cheer their team to victory.
The club's official website had urged fans to pack the stadium and support the team as they aimed to secure their third consecutive Premier League title, a feat not achieved in a decade. This would be Manchester United's 23rd English top-flight title and 16th Premier League trophy in club history.
The call to arms from United's website drew some criticism from the media, with outlets accusing the club of boasting unnecessarily. In reality, there was no need for such a call; tickets for the match had sold out weeks ago. Even the cheapest, obstructed-view seats had been resold for as much as £200, with demand still far outstripping supply.
According to The Guardian, if United secured the title, an estimated 500,000 fans from around the world would flood into Cardiff to celebrate.
The Power of a Football Dynasty
As the undisputed powerhouse of the Premier League era, Manchester United has not only the largest fanbase in English football but also one of the most significant global followings in the sport. Only Real Madrid and Barcelona come close to rivaling United's global reach.
United's appeal extends beyond the terraces and into Britain's upper class. Much of this is due to the club's storied history and the influence it has wielded across generations.
Founded in 1878 as a railway workers' team, United first captured national attention after the Munich Air Disaster in 1958, a tragedy that made headlines worldwide. Under Sir Matt Busby, the club rebuilt and won the European Cup in 1968, firmly establishing itself as a footballing powerhouse in Britain.
The Premier League era, however, cemented United's global dominance. Under Sir Alex Ferguson, the team won 13 league titles in 20 years, along with two Champions League trophies, expanding their influence to every corner of the world.
According to The Sun, the VIP boxes at Millennium Stadium for this match would be filled with celebrities and prominent figures, highlighting the club's enduring prestige.
Matchday Scenes
At 2:00 PM, an hour before kickoff, the Manchester United team bus arrived at Millennium Stadium, greeted by throngs of cheering fans. The roar from outside reverberated through the venue, adding to the electric atmosphere.
The stadium's big screens broadcast the team's arrival, prompting another wave of cheers as fans saw their heroes disembark.
First off the bus was captain Bruno Fernandes, followed by stars like David de Gea, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Kylian Mbappé, N'Golo Kanté, Harry Maguire, Virgil van Dijk, and Luke Shaw. Finally, Jose Mourinho and his coaching staff emerged, with Mourinho flashing a confident V-sign to the cameras, sending the crowd into frenzied applause.
Moments later, another vehicle arrived, this time escorted by police. It bore the emblem of the English Football Association, and from it emerged FA officials carrying a silver-gray travel case.
The case was wheeled into the stadium, where security personnel opened it in a secure room. Inside, they unveiled the Premier League trophy, which was then placed ceremoniously on a central table.
The sight of the trophy on the stadium's screens sent another deafening cheer through the stands.
The Calm Before the Storm
Despite not being a smoker, Mourinho retreated to the stadium restroom to smoke a cigarette and calm his nerves.
Since taking charge of United, Mourinho had led the club to numerous titles and accolades, solidifying his reputation as the world's premier manager. However, the immense pressure of leading such a global institution weighed heavily on him.
His now graying hair bore testament to the stress of the job.
Extinguishing his cigarette halfway through, Mourinho washed his face, wiped it with a towel, and returned to the dressing room.
Clapping his hands to gather the players' attention, he began:
"The media have been saying all week how critical this match is, how monumental this moment is. But I'll tell you this: they're not entirely right.""This isn't just a big game; this is OUR championship night. It's that simple!"
Raising his fist, Mourinho's words sparked cheers and applause from the players.
After his motivational speech, he left the dressing room to give the players time to prepare. Bruno Fernandes, ever the leader, took over, strategizing and rallying his teammates.
Kickoff
At exactly 3:00 PM GMT, under the thunderous roar of fans inside and outside Millennium Stadium, referee Anthony Taylor blew his whistle, signaling the start of the match.
The stage was set for one of the most dramatic finales in Premier League history.
"GOOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!"
Thunderous cheers erupted from the stands at Anfield.
In the 17th minute, Sadio Mané scored to give Liverpool a 1-0 lead over Wolves.
On the pitch, Liverpool players celebrated passionately, while 50,000 Liverpool fans roared with joy from the stands.
Jürgen Klopp remained seated in the dugout, turning to ask his staff, "What's the score at Manchester United's game?"
He didn't bother asking about Manchester City. Going into the final matchday, Liverpool held a one-point lead over City, ensuring that a win would keep them ahead regardless of City's result. Klopp's primary concern was Manchester United's match.
"Still 0-0," his assistant replied.
Klopp nodded but said nothing. It was only 17 minutes into the match—far too early to draw any conclusions.
Brighton's Amex Stadium
"Liverpool scored—Mané," Mikel Arteta informed Pep Guardiola.
Guardiola, his face impassive, nodded and asked, "What about Manchester United?"
"Still 0-0," Arteta replied.
Guardiola nodded again, remaining silent.
Of the three title contenders, Manchester City faced the most daunting path to the championship. Their hopes hinged on two crucial conditions:
Manchester United failing to win.Liverpool also failing to win.
Only if both conditions were met could City claim the title with a victory. It was an almost impossible scenario.
28th Minute: Manchester City Lead
At Brighton, Aymeric Laporte surged forward and passed to David Silva. Silva's clever backheel found Sergio Agüero, who broke through the defense and slotted the ball between goalkeeper Mat Ryan's legs into the net.
Guardiola rose from his seat, applauding.
"What's the score at Liverpool now?" he asked Arteta.
He already suspected the answer—Liverpool were still leading 1-0—but he hoped for a surprise, like Wolves equalizing.
"You asked when it was 1-0," Arteta said, blinking. "It's now 2-0. Mané scored again."
Guardiola: ...
While Liverpool leading 2-0 instead of 1-0 made little practical difference for City, Guardiola clung to hope that Wolves might make a comeback. After all, Wolves had proven capable of pulling off upsets throughout the season, drawing against City, Arsenal, and Chelsea while defeating Chelsea, Spurs, and Arsenal in other matches.
Even so, Guardiola's real worry was Manchester United. If United won, City's hopes would be dashed regardless of other results.
With Cardiff's limited capabilities, it was hard to expect much...
Anfield: 31st Minute
Anfield erupted once more.
Joel Matip intercepted the ball and sent it to Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose cross found Mané at the edge of the six-yard box. Mané headed it in to make it 2-0.
This was Mané's 22nd league goal of the season, tying him with Mohamed Salah for third in the Premier League Golden Boot race, behind Bruno Fernandes and Harry Kane.
Liverpool fans were ecstatic—not just because their team extended the lead, but because news from the Millennium Stadium indicated Manchester United and Cardiff were still tied at 0-0.
If United failed to win, Liverpool would clinch the title by two points.
Klopp was in high spirits.
"Still 0-0 at United's game, right?" he asked.
"Yes, 0-0," confirmed an assistant listening to the live commentary.
Suddenly, the assistant frowned. "There's been a goal—Manchester United scored."
Klopp: ...
Brighton: Simultaneously
Guardiola asked Arteta for the latest score at Manchester United.
Arteta replied, "It was 0-0 and looking good, but now it's 1-0."
Guardiola: ... (I have something to say, but I don't know if I should say it.)
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