Chapter 768: Hope
As February 2020 began, the winter transfer window closed.
For Manchester United, it was another quiet transfer window. The club made no significant signings and saw the departure of two players.
The first departure was 34-year-old veteran Ashley Young, who had seen his playing time diminish significantly. Unwilling to sit on the bench, he submitted a transfer request. On January 18, Inter Milan announced Young's signing on a contract until June 30, 2020.
United also confirmed the transfer on their official website, bidding farewell to the loyal servant who had played 260 matches in over eight and a half years with the club.
Young's illustrious career at United includes 22 trophies, encompassing:
4 Premier League titles4 FA Cups2 League Cups2 UEFA Champions League titles1 UEFA Europa League title3 UEFA Super Cups2 FIFA Club World Cups6 Community Shields
To facilitate better terms for Young at Inter, United accepted a symbolic transfer fee of just €2 million.
Bruno Fernandes expressed regret over Young's departure and even attempted to persuade him to stay. While 34 is advanced for a footballer, Young's fitness and form remained impressive. Bruno recalled that even by the time he had "traveled back in time," Young was still active in the Premier League at age 38.
However, competition within United's squad was fierce. Despite being a versatile utility player who could cover almost any position on both flanks, Young was overshadowed by the likes of Luke Shaw, João Cancelo, Marcus Rashford, and Kylian Mbappé. Even younger talents like Riyad Mahrez, Mason Greenwood, and Jesse Lingard limited his opportunities.
Determined to leave, Young was unwavering, and Bruno could only wish him well.
...
The second departure was Argentine defender Marcos Rojo, who had spent the past two years primarily as a benchwarmer. With his 30th birthday approaching and no prospects at United, Rojo opted to return to his roots. He joined his boyhood club, Estudiantes de La Plata, on loan.
Compared to most clubs, United's mere two transactions made for a very quiet window.
Globally, the winter window saw nearly 48,000 transfers and a total spending of approximately €1.5 billion. However, marquee deals—transactions exceeding €10 million—were few and far between.
The most high-profile move was Erling Haaland, the Norwegian sensation, who transferred to Borussia Dortmund from Red Bull Salzburg for €20 million.
Haaland's potential had been evident since his time at Molde, where then-coach and United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjær recommended him to United. However, Haaland's father's history with the club, combined with United's already stellar forward lineup (Harry Kane, Mbappé, Rashford, and Greenwood), led the striker to decline United's offer.
Another notable move saw Christian Eriksen leave Tottenham for Inter Milan. Despite United's interest in the Danish midfielder, Eriksen chose not to join the already stacked midfield at Old Trafford, instead opting for a fresh start in Serie A.
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February 1: Wolves Challenge United
On the evening of February 1, Manchester United faced Wolves at home in Premier League Round 25.
Earlier in the day, Liverpool had cruised to a 4-0 home victory over Southampton, extending their lead over United to seven points (albeit with an extra game played).
This result placed immense pressure on United. The Red Devils had never trailed this far behind a rival in the past few seasons. With their title hopes hanging by a thread, the Wolves match became a must-win.
Wolves, since their promotion to the Premier League last season, had consistently performed well. They finished seventh last season and occupied the same position this year, making them a dangerous opponent.
Liverpool's media contingent showered Wolves with praise in the build-up, hailing their exceptional performances since promotion, their harmonious dressing room atmosphere, and their players' excellent form. At the same time, they repeatedly highlighted United's five consecutive victories over Wolves, setting up a narrative of potential revenge.
The intention was clear—Liverpool hoped Wolves could halt United's momentum, aiding the Reds in their quest for a historic first Premier League title.
British media and fans found this amusing. Everyone saw through Liverpool's thinly veiled attempts to drum up support for Wolves.
Can Wolves rise to the challenge, or will United withstand the pressure to stay in the title race?
This highlights that despite Liverpool's clear advantage at the top of the table, their confidence in securing the title is still somewhat shaky.
The reason lies in Manchester United's extraordinary strength and consistency over the past few seasons. Their dominance has been both intimidating and unnerving.
For Wolves, there are also compelling reasons to push for victory. Since their promotion to the Premier League last season, Wolves have performed exceptionally well overall but have struggled specifically against Manchester United.
Last season, Wolves were beaten 3-1 by United in both league fixtures and eliminated in the FA Cup quarterfinals with a 3-2 loss. This season, Wolves suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat at home to United in the second league round and were once again knocked out by United in the FA Cup third round.
If Wolves lose again, it will mark six consecutive defeats to Manchester United across two seasons—an embarrassing record for any team.
Additionally, Wolves still harbor a faint hope of contending for a Champions League spot, and their chances hinge on securing a win in this match.
In this round, Leicester City and Chelsea, ranked fourth and fifth respectively, played out a 2-2 draw at the King Power Stadium. Wolves could capitalize on this result to close the gap with Leicester to 12 points. With 13 rounds remaining, the possibility of overtaking them is slim but not impossible.
Their participation in this season's Europa League has already showcased the benefits of European competition. If Wolves could qualify for the higher-profile Champions League, the rewards would be even greater.
However, a loss in this match would dash those dreams. Wolves' sole realistic goal this season would then shift to competing with Chelsea, Tottenham, and Sheffield United for a Europa League qualification spot.
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The Match
At Old Trafford, Manchester United played a composed game. José Mourinho fielded a full-strength lineup but opted for a conservative strategy, prioritizing defense and counterattacks over relentless attacking.
As a seasoned coach, Mourinho understood that the more challenging the circumstances, the less room there is for risk-taking. Defensive counterattacks were the most reliable tactic to secure points.
By stoppage time, the score remained 0-0. Even the commentators had begun summarizing the match as a goalless draw when a decisive moment occurred.
Desperate to pull off an upset, Wolves committed players forward in search of a winner, only to be hit on the break by United.
Harry Kane, capitalizing on excellent positioning in the penalty area, seized a golden opportunity. After a one-two between Bruno Fernandes and Mbappé seemed to set up a pass to the flank, Bruno instead threaded the ball into the center.
Kane's perfectly timed run allowed him to strike before Wolves captain Conor Coady could intercept. His powerful shot soared past Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patrício's left hand and into the net.
"Harry Kane! Harry Kane!!" commentator Andy Gray exclaimed. "He's like an assassin—a true marksman—arriving at just the right moment in the most critical position to make the perfect move! This isn't a typical Harry Kane goal, but it's a clinical, decisive strike. 1-0! Manchester United takes the lead. This is the winner! This is the winner!!"
"1-0! United snatches victory from Wolves. With this win, United climbs to 68 points. Liverpool's match has already concluded, with them also winning. The gap remains at just four points. The title race is far from over!"
Kane sprinted toward Bruno, embracing the United captain, as teammates rushed to join the celebration.
"This is Kane's 19th league goal of the season and Bruno Fernandes' 13th assist. In the Premier League top scorer chart, Kane ranks second, trailing only Bruno's 29 goals. Behind them are Jamie Vardy with 17 and Sergio Agüero with 16 goals.
"In the assists leaderboard, Bruno's 13 assists place him second, just behind Kevin De Bruyne's 14."
...
Seconds later, the referee blew the final whistle. Manchester United defeated Wolves 1-0, completing a treble of victories over them this season and extending their streak to six consecutive wins against the formidable Wolves across two seasons.
Mourinho jubilantly stormed onto the pitch, fists pumping in celebration, followed by United's substitutes, coaching staff, and team personnel in similar elation.
This hard-fought win kept United's hopes for the Premier League title alive.
With 13 rounds remaining, United sits just four points behind Liverpool, leaving the door open for a potential comeback.
Had the gap widened to seven points, given Liverpool's remarkable consistency this season, United might have been forced to concede the title race prematurely.
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