Soccer: I became Bruno Fernandes.

Chapter 248: Pursuing the Ballon d'Or

In the post-match press conference, Guidolin became the center of media attention.

"I am very pleased with our performance today because we played to our full potential." "We were trailing against a very strong team at one point, but we showed great character and resilience, which is a very positive factor that will benefit us throughout the season." "To be honest, conceding so early was disappointing because I wanted us to pressure the opponent from the start, but sometimes matches are unpredictable. Fortunately, after conceding early, the whole team responded brilliantly, allowing us to turn things around quickly."

Guidolin also praised Udinese's players, starting with left-back Cancelo. He acknowledged that although the Portuguese defender made some mistakes, his overall performance was excellent.

He also praised new signing Manuel Iturra, believing that the 31-year-old Chilean midfielder worked very hard and showed his abilities.

"Clearly, he's improving with each match, and I believe he will become increasingly important to the team."

...

Regarding other players, Guidolin's comments were brief, but when asked about Bruno, he couldn't stop talking.

Guidolin believed that Bruno's hat-trick was crucial for Udinese's victory over Manchester United.

"The fact is, Bruno never disappoints. He played exceptionally well, and I would say he was the best player on the pitch, especially with those first two goals, which were both beautiful and important."

Everyone knows that Guidolin is not one to hand out praise lightly, so his few minutes spent praising Bruno's performance highlights how much he valued this match and Bruno's contribution.

After winning this match, Udinese has their sights set on the Champions League knockout stage, but Guidolin thinks it won't be easy.

"I believe to advance to the knockout stage, we need to maintain our performance against top teams. We got three valuable points from Manchester United, but there are other teams to consider. We also need to ensure steady points from the other matches."

Although he admits it's challenging, Guidolin expresses his confidence in the team.

"I think we can achieve a satisfactory result at the end of the group stage."

...

In contrast to Guidolin, Van Gaal was furious during his post-match press conference.

"My view of the match is that Udinese played better than us, and by a considerable margin. Their aggressive tackling caused us problems and forced mistakes, and we did not handle it well, which is why we lost."

"Actually, we started well, securing an early lead, and I thought we could build on that and play better, but we were dealt a heavy blow."

"Yes, Luke Shaw's injury was a turning point, severely impacting our rhythm and morale. But the fact that such a serious foul wasn't even called as a foul shows the referee made a mistake."

"Bruno's individual performance changed the game. His first two goals were stunning, showcasing his top-tier skills. Honestly, if fans watch the replays, they might think Bruno was playing against an amateur team, not a top team aiming for the Premier League and Champions League titles."

"Besides the injured Luke Shaw, no one on our team played well. We were thoroughly beaten by Bruno!"

...

Van Gaal clearly intended to use this opportunity to praise Bruno and motivate his own players.

And his comments were accurate. Manchester United's entire midfield and attack were lackluster, including Depay, who had a brilliant start but then faded. The Dutch star, Van Gaal's favorite from the Brazil World Cup and last season's Eredivisie top scorer, was disappointing after his early flashes.

French forward Martial, who had shone in the previous match against Liverpool, was invisible in this game, not living up to his €50 million price tag.

Maguire and Danilo formed a solid defensive partnership, while Badu and Iturra's double pivot left Manchester United with few chances.

Such performances naturally frustrated Van Gaal, who aimed for a big season after taking over at Old Trafford. With substantial summer spending, including €50 million for Martial, €35 million for Depay, €34 million for Schneiderlin, €18 million for Darmian, and €15 million for Schweinsteiger, Manchester United's total expenditure exceeded €150 million, earning Van Gaal the nickname "Van Spender."

With such significant investment, Manchester United's goal was clearly to compete for the Premier League and Champions League titles.

However, the start of the season has been disappointing. Their league record of 3 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss is decent but leaves them 5 points behind league leaders Manchester City.

...

Sky Sports immediately released player ratings after the match, with Bruno receiving a near-perfect score of 9.5 and earning the Man of the Match award. He was also named the best player post-match.

Udinese players generally scored between 7 and 8, except for Di Natale and Heurtaux, who both received 6, having only played for less than ten minutes each. Despite his brief appearance, Di Natale's substitution significantly boosted team morale.

Although both are captains, Di Natale is the veteran leader of Udinese, symbolizing much more than Bruno can match. His legacy and spirit are irreplaceable.

Manchester United's worst performer was De Gea, who scored just 4. The goalkeeper, who was heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid in the summer, seemed out of form and made several mistakes.

Most other United players scored between 5 and 6.

In addition to the ratings, Sky Sports published a special report on Bruno, highlighting him as the standout player of the match. The report emphasized that Bruno carried Udinese on his shoulders during tough times and delivered under pressure.

"When Bruno is on the field, he's the most dangerous player every minute, always active, especially in the first half, where his dribbles left a lasting impression. His hat-trick not only led Udinese to victory over Manchester United but also laid a solid foundation for advancing to the Champions League knockout stage."

...

Gazzetta dello Sport used the headline "Complete Victory" to describe Udinese's performance. They listed key statistics, showing Udinese's 25 shots compared to Manchester United's 6, almost five times as many, which was embarrassing for Van Gaal's team.

"This shouldn't happen in a match between top teams," the paper commented.

"As Van Gaal said, it looked more like a Premier League team playing against amateurs."

Ball possession was relatively even at 54% to 46%, with a pass success rate of 79% to 70%. Combined with the shot statistics, it's clear that Manchester United struggled to break through Udinese's defense and create threatening chances.

"Other than committing more fouls, Manchester United was at a disadvantage in every other statistic."

"This was a comprehensive defeat, prompting Van Gaal to criticize his players for playing like amateurs in the post-match press conference."

...

Besides Sky Sports and Gazzetta dello Sport, other major British and Italian media outlets also focused heavily on this key clash. Even those usually critical of Udinese or Bruno, like Tuttosport, had to admit that Udinese and Bruno displayed dominance over Manchester United.

This wasn't just because Udinese was exceptionally strong, but also because Manchester United played poorly and was tactically suppressed, leaving Van Gaal helpless.

The combination of Schweinsteiger, Herrera, and Mata in midfield lacked defensive ability, making it hard for United to compete with Udinese in midfield.

Losing control of the midfield put Manchester United on the back foot throughout the match.

Bruno's performance garnered widespread acclaim, with many media outlets hailing him as the frontrunner for this year's FIFA Ballon d'Or.

Udinese-friendly media like Udinese Daily, Corriere della Sera, and La Repubblica published articles praising Bruno, arguing that he fully deserves the prestigious award based on his current form.

Bruno secured the Serie A and Champions League titles last season, claiming the Serie A Golden Boot and Assist King awards, with the Serie A MVP also likely his. In the Champions League, he matched Ronaldo's single-season record of 17 goals, winning the Golden Boot and Assist King.

In terms of both team and individual honors, Bruno has a stronger case than Ronaldo and Messi.

(End of Chapter)

Happy New Year friends, thank you for your support this year, I hope to continue counting on your support this new year.