Chapter 725: The Overlord
Cardiff City, Millennium Stadium
José Mourinho's expression was grim as he turned toward the bench, preparing for substitutions.
Just two minutes earlier, Manchester United's defense had been breached again. Murphy delivered a cross from the right to the far post, where Ralls slid in to slot the ball into an empty net, completing his brace and tying the game at 2–2.
With United now held to a draw, the Premier League's live standings showed them slipping to third place.
Liverpool had moved to the top with 97 points. Manchester City, level with United on 96 points, took second due to superior goal difference.
The Millennium Stadium fell into a tense silence, with nervous fans anxiously watching.
Mourinho, equally tense, prepared for a crucial tactical adjustment.
At that moment, Bruno Fernandes unleashed a long-range shot that forced the Cardiff goalkeeper to parry it out for a corner.
United opted for a short corner routine.
Rashford passed the ball to Bruno, who lofted it into the box. Cardiff defender Pelétyé cleared it with a header, only for Kante to nod it down to Luke Shaw.
Shaw lofted a ball toward İlkay Gündoğan, who swiftly delivered a low, hard pass into the penalty area.
Chaos erupted in the box as players from both teams scrambled for the ball—United seeking a shot on goal, Cardiff desperate for a clearance.
Suddenly, a red blur darted through the fray. Bruno Fernandes reached the ball first, flicking it past Cardiff goalkeeper Etheridge, nutmegging him before the ball trickled over the line.
"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!"
The Millennium Stadium erupted as 70,000 United fans celebrated wildly.
"United are back in the lead! A resilient Manchester United! And it's Bruno Fernandes again with a golden goal!"
"3–2! United retake the lead at the Millennium Stadium!"
Mourinho jumped up and grabbed assistant coach Rui Faria in a bear hug, squeezing him tightly.
"Let go! Let go!" Faria gasped.
Mourinho finally released his assistant, laughing nervously. Just minutes earlier, when Cardiff had equalized, Mourinho thought his heart might give out under the pressure.
Anfield Stadium
Jürgen Klopp's celebratory smile froze as his assistant leaned in to whisper, "United scored again. Bruno Fernandes."
The German manager sat motionless, his grin replaced with a stony expression.
Millennium Stadium
Despite regaining the lead, Mourinho wasn't content. A one-goal advantage felt precarious. He prepared substitutions to inject fresh energy into the attack.
Harry Kane made way for Mason Greenwood, while veteran Ashley Young replaced Luke Shaw. Rashford moved into the center-forward role alongside Greenwood and Mbappé, forming a three-pronged attack.
Just three minutes later, United earned another corner.
Ashley Young delivered a perfectly-placed ball into the box.
Cardiff defenders focused their efforts on marking towering threats like Harry Maguire and Virgil van Dijk, neglecting the most dangerous player on the pitch.
Bruno, completely unmarked, leaped high and powerfully met the ball with his head, directing it into the net.
"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!"
"United extend their lead! Bruno Fernandes with a brilliant header! Maguire's presence created the perfect decoy!"
"4–2! Bruno's hat trick! In the team's most desperate moment, Bruno rises again to deliver, scoring twice to give United breathing room!"
"That's Bruno Fernandes' 38th league goal of the season, extending his lead in the European Golden Shoe race by four goals!"
Mourinho sprinted out of the technical area, punching the air in jubilation. With a two-goal lead, he was confident the title was United's.
Cardiff manager Neil Warnock was less than thrilled, muttering a frustrated curse under his breath.
Warnock made bold substitutions, pushing central defender Sean Morrison—an imposing 194 cm tall—into a striker's role. Morrison's aerial ability had been key in Cardiff's promotion the previous season, where he netted seven goals in the Championship.
Mourinho countered with substitutions of his own, bringing on Riyad Mahrez for the fatigued Mbappé.
Three minutes later, Greenwood made a surging run down the left flank, deftly dribbling past multiple defenders. Rashford's off-the-ball movement pulled Cardiff's defensive line out of shape, exposing gaps.
Spotting an opportunity, Greenwood prepared to cross but noticed Bruno sprinting toward the box from outside.
Bruno launched himself into the air, leaping higher than anyone else...
The ball went in!
"Bruno! It's a goal! The United captain has scored his fourth goal of the match!"
"5-2! Manchester United have sealed the victory!"
"What a stunning performance! This attack showed United's deliberate passing and movement to perfection, completely dismantling Cardiff City's defense."
"Rashford's off-the-ball movement and Bruno's intelligent run were key to the goal, but the individual brilliance of young Greenwood deserves special praise as well."
Anfield Stadium
Jürgen Klopp received the news that United had gone 5–2 up. He glanced at the scoreboard, sighed, and leaned back.
Liverpool were still leading Wolves 2–0, with their opponents showing little resistance. The Reds' victory had been comfortable and unchallenged.
But at this point, a win wasn't enough for Liverpool to clinch the title.
Millennium Stadium
The scoreboard still read 5–2 in United's favor as the clock hit the 86th minute.
The entire stadium was a cauldron of excitement. Not a single fan remained seated.
Everyone knew that with a three-goal deficit, Cardiff City had no hope of a comeback. No team could overturn such a margin, not in this stadium, not in this moment.
The Premier League title was Manchester United's.
By the sidelines, United's substitutes stood arm-in-arm, singing the club anthem at the top of their lungs.
In the stands, countless fans rose, lifting their scarves high and singing in unison, creating a thunderous chorus.
"Although the match isn't over yet, the Millennium Stadium has become a sea of celebration," said the commentator.
"Indeed, the championship belongs to Manchester United now. Nobody can take it away!"
"What a spectacular scene!" said commentator He Wei. "This is United's 16th Premier League title and their 23rd English top-flight championship overall!"
"It's also their third consecutive Premier League title—an English football three-peat for the third time in their history!"
"Since the old First Division was rebranded as the Premier League in 1992, United have claimed 16 titles in 27 years—undisputed kings of the Premier League!"
The 90 minutes of regulation time flew by, and the fourth official raised the board to indicate three minutes of added time.
Mourinho stood on the sidelines, watching the ecstatic crowd, the substitutes poised to rush onto the field, and the deafening singing of the fans.
With his salt-and-pepper hair slightly disheveled, the Special One adjusted his suit and straightened his tie, which had been loosened during the tense moments.
Standing there with a faint smile, he waited.
Three minutes later, referee Anthony Taylor blew the final whistle.
The stadium erupted instantly, a volcanic roar shaking the entire venue.
"Congratulations to Manchester United! Congratulations to Mourinho, Bruno, Harry Kane, Rashford, Mbappé, Kanté, Gündoğan, Maguire, Van Dijk... Congratulations to every United player! They are the 2018-2019 Premier League champions!" shouted He Wei.
The camera captured jubilant players sprinting across the pitch, shouting, celebrating—some kneeling in joy, others raising their hands to the sky, and even a few overcome with tears.
On the sidelines, Mourinho lifted both arms high, as if embracing the trophy itself. His players raced past him to flood the field in celebration.
The entire stadium and the city of Cardiff plunged into wild celebration.
With Manchester United crowned champions, the Premier League season concluded with the following standings:
1st: Manchester United - 98 points (31W, 5D, 2L, 107 GF, 38 GA, +69 GD)2nd: Liverpool - 97 points (30W, 7D, 1L, 91 GF, 24 GA, +67 GD)3rd: Manchester City - 96 points (31W, 3D, 4L, 94 GF, 25 GA, +69 GD)4th: Tottenham Hotspur - 71 points (23W, 2D, 13L)5th: Chelsea - 71 points (21W, 8D, 9L)6th: Arsenal - 69 points (21W, 6D, 11L)7th: Wolves - 53 points (15W, 8D, 15L)
Manchester United's triumph marked their 16th Premier League title and third consecutive championship, solidifying their dominance.
Liverpool were runners-up, while Manchester City claimed third place. Tottenham secured fourth, ensuring Champions League qualification for all four teams.
Chelsea, Arsenal, and Wolves claimed Europa League spots, with Wolves cementing their status as the season's standout underdogs.
Premier League 2018-2019: The Age of United's Supremacy.
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