Chapter 814 – Poor Form
After returning from Hungary to the United Kingdom, Manchester United faced Brighton twice away from home within three days.
Brighton is a seaside city in southern England, famed for the Royal Pavilion and its pebble-strewn beaches.
United weren't there for the views.
Having shockingly lost to Crystal Palace in the second league match, United's situation was far from ideal. Although they had won both midweek matches — progressing to the League Cup fourth round and lifting a fifth UEFA Super Cup — the priority remained a Premier League win.
However, at the Amex Stadium, the match proved a serious grind.
A lack of proper rest before the season and a congested schedule after the restart left the players visibly fatigued.
In the first half, United were plainly off the pace, with Brighton the better side, dominating across the pitch.
In the 39th minute, Brighton's Tariq Lamptey drove into the box, had slight contact with Bruno Fernandes, and went down; referee Chris Kavanagh immediately awarded a penalty.
Bruno protested that he hadn't fouled, calling it normal contact, but Kavanagh stood by the decision. Neal Maupay converted with a Panenka. Brighton 1–0 United.
Truthfully, United were fortunate only to fall behind then. Leandro Trossard and Adam Webster had already struck the woodwork three times — in the 9th, 20th, and 29th minutes.
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United equalized just three minutes later. In the 42nd, they won a free kick on the left edge of the box. Bruno took it himself, bending a perfect arc into Brighton's net. Brighton 1–1 Manchester United.
In the first half, Brighton were decisively superior: 7 shots, 3 on target, and 3 off the woodwork, while United mustered only 3 attempts.
Crucially, United lost almost every 50–50 in the opening period. Mourinho was furious — at halftime, he tore into everyone in the dressing room, Bruno included.
Bruno's own first half wasn't great either. Yes, he scored a superb free kick and the initial penalty decision looked dubious, but overall United's midfield, led by him, failed to control the game.
Bruno was frustrated too.
Brighton were ferocious at home — every duel felt like a battle, bodies flying all over the pitch.
After prolonged heavy contests, United's front three shied from contact, losing almost every 50–50 ball and even conceding favorable positions to Brighton's more aggressive challengers.
By official stats, Bruno completed only 26 of 44 passes in the first half — a meager 59% success rate.
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Bruno knew his passing wasn't the issue — eight years of relentless drilling had made it razor-sharp.
But the forwards' poor form, errant runs, and reluctance to engage meant many of his passes were picked off. His completion rate cratered to an unbelievable level.
Since joining United, he had never dipped below 90% in a half.
Today, it fell off a cliff.
Mourinho was livid. Even knowing it wasn't entirely Bruno's fault, as captain Bruno still bore responsibility for the lackluster first half.
Marcus Rashford drew the harshest criticism. The academy star had a disastrous half — timid in duels, sluggish in movement, even careless.
Before the second half began, Mourinho replaced Rashford with Mason Greenwood.
Managers rarely change at halftime unless for injury — or when someone's first half is that poor.
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United, stung by Mourinho's scolding, looked to start the half strong — but within moments, another penalty was awarded against them.
In the 46th minute, İlkay Gündoğan tangled with Aaron Connolly in the box; Kavanagh pointed to the spot but rescinded the decision after a VAR check.
The scare jolted United awake, and their performance normalized.
In the 54th minute, Gündoğan split the lines from deep; Bruno surged into the area, dribbled through, and finished — United in front.
In the 60th minute, Brighton hit the inside of the post again — their fourth time off the frame.
In the 77th, another Brighton one-on-one also struck the post. Their luck was remarkably poor.
Just as United fans worldwide believed their team would scrape three points, the 5th minute of stoppage time saw Brighton swing to the far post, where Solly March finally converted with a header.
In truth, March could have scored four — he had already been gifted three prime chances against João Cancelo, all squandered.
If Rashford had been United's worst in the first half, Cancelo took that mantle in the second. United's right flank became Brighton's freeway. Were it not for Brighton's wastefulness, United would have been routed.
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Conceding in the 95th minute left almost no time, crushing United fans who saw a second squandered win in three rounds.
In the critical moment, captain Bruno stepped up.
From the kickoff, United surged forward. Harry Kane's shot deflected behind for a corner.
Bruno's delivery found Harry Maguire; his header struck Maupay's hand, and the referee awarded a penalty.
By then it was the 97th minute — beyond the allotted six minutes — prompting protests from the hosts. But added time is discretionary; referees can reasonably extend it given stoppages.
As United's designated taker, Bruno didn't hesitate. He buried it — a last-gasp winner at Brighton.
With the hard-fought win, United rose to eighth in the table.
Elsewhere, a shocker: Pep Guardiola's Manchester City lost 2–5 at home to Leicester City — jaw-dropping.
With a game in hand and only three points, City sat 15th, flirting with the relegation zone.
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Three days later, on October 1, United returned to the Amex Stadium to face Brighton again — this time in the League Cup fourth round.
Pre-match, Mourinho said, "We're in a congested period across competitions. We'll rotate accordingly. We have distinct league and cup squads, so expect adjustments, similar to the Luton match."
The match unfolded just so — United cruised to a comfortable away win.
In the first half, Juan Mata assisted Scott McTominay for a headed opener. In the second, Jude Bellingham backheeled for Mata to double the lead, and later curled in a lovely direct free kick himself.
Full time: Brighton 0–3 Manchester United, through to the League Cup quarterfinals.
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With October underway, the pandemic-delayed summer transfer window neared its close.
The day after United's quarterfinal qualification — Friday afternoon, local time — Chelsea announced the signing of England goalkeeper Dean Henderson from Manchester United.
Though neither club disclosed the fee, reporters widely reported a £60,000,000 transfer.
The deal reportedly included a buy-back clause.
A buy-back clause differs from a right of first refusal; it doesn't require the current club's consent. Once pre-agreed conditions are met — a specified fee within one, two, or more years; certain triggers; windows when buy-back is allowed or prohibited — it activates automatically.
Compared to loans, this offers benefits: the receiving club owns the player, invests more earnestly in development, and profits if the original club buys him back — a model increasingly used. Notable successes include Real Madrid's sign–sell–buy-back paths with Casemiro and Dani Carvajal.
(END CHAPTER)
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