From the man behind the football king to the football king.

Manchester United won the eighth League Cup in team history, tying Liverpool and becoming the team with the most League Cup titles in history. However, due to the epidemic, Manchester United did not hold a large-scale celebration after the award ceremony.

Of course, this also has a lot to do with the fact that Manchester United will soon face another key battle. After all, just three days after the game, Manchester United will challenge Manchester City in the Champions League semi-final at the Etihad Stadium. This is the real key game. In comparison, the League Cup is a bit light.

What Manchester United needs to do now is to seize every opportunity to rest and accumulate physical strength and energy for the increasingly intensive schedule to come.

………………

On the evening of April 4, the first match of the Champions League semi-final was played. Chelsea played away at the Bernabeu Stadium and tied with the powerful Real Madrid 27:1.

Such a score is undoubtedly an extremely bad result for Real Madrid. Chelsea has already grasped the advantage of advancing to the final through the away game.

A day later, at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester United challenged Manchester City, and the Manchester derby was staged for the second time in the Champions League semi-finals.

"What do you think of this game?" Mourinho asked.

"We are very familiar with Manchester City," said Manchester United assistant coach Carrick. "There are no secrets between the two sides."

This is what makes this match so interesting. Generally speaking, knockout matches are mostly encounter battles.

In a battle of encounters, besides the strength comparison between the two sides, it also depends on the on-the-spot state and the luck factor, which is why there are often upsets in the knockout rounds.

For example, Manchester United and Manchester City are in the same league and meet at least twice every season. You know my strengths and weaknesses, and I know yours, and both sides are very satisfied.

Now it has been arranged again in the Champions League knockout stage, and the officials have assigned them to play together.

"So, what exactly do you want to say?"

"We can beat them in the league and in the knockout rounds as well," Carrick said.

"Don't be proud. The knockout stage has its own characteristics. The two-round knockout stage is actually a sudden death system. Be careful." Mourinho said cautiously.

………………

Just at this time.

"De Bruyne--!!!" The commentator on the scene suddenly cheered wildly and almost hysterically.

Mourinho looked up and saw Manchester City midfielder De Bruyne running excitedly to celebrate, and behind him were the equally excited Manchester City players.

In Manchester United's penalty area, Manchester United goalkeeper De Gea was taking his temper out of the net and kicking the football out as a vent.

Mourinho glanced at the scoreboard again: 15 minutes, Manchester City scored.

Is this backward?!

I was just pretending to be humble just now, and now you give me one?

"GOOOOOOOOOALLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!"

"De Bruyne! He scored for Manchester City and the Blue Moon Army got off to a dream start."

"Beautiful counterattack and attack! Beautiful goal! An incredible lob from midfield!"

"Bruno was intercepted by Rodri in the frontcourt, Bernardo Silva made a long pass behind the defense line, De Gea rushed out of the penalty area and headed the ball in front of Foden, De Bruyne didn't wait for the ball to land, he volleyed with his right foot near the center circle, passed De Gea and went into the net." Lineker was also amazed at this goal.

"De Bruyne was really bold and daring in his decision to shoot the ball from the center circle. He is very skilled and daring. However, Manchester United goalkeeper De Gea should bear some responsibility for this goal."

"De Gea's attack was a bit rash. We can see that when he attacked, he directly knocked away his own defender Van Dijk and then kicked the ball out. In fact, Van Dijk had already jumped and it was possible that he could head the ball before Foden. De Gea did not trust his teammates enough this time and attacked rashly." Zhang Lu said.

………………

De Bruyne and his teammates were celebrating the goal, while Mourinho stood on the sidelines with a blank expression.

This goal was a very unexpected one. Who the hell could have thought that the opponent would directly lob the ball into the goal from the center circle? De Bruyne is good at long shots, so he really dared to think and do it.

Of course, as the commentator said, the goalkeeper should bear some responsibility for the loss.

Mourinho did not get angry, nor did he rush to the sidelines to scold his goalkeeper De Gea.

The game had only started for fifteen minutes and there was still plenty of time, so he was not panicking.

Not only Mourinho was not panicking, but Manchester United's players were not too panicking either. What kind of big scenes have they not seen over the years?

Manchester United players remained calm.

After De Bruyne's goal helped Manchester City take the lead, Manchester City's morale was boosted and they seemed to see hope of defeating Manchester United.

The commentator was still talking about and praising De Bruyne's goal, praising Manchester City's good state and mental outlook today, and the hope of revenge. At this moment, Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw and Van Dijk teamed up to double-team Foden.

Faced with a double team, Foden chose to pass the ball back to Rodri.

This was a pass that should have been safe, but something unexpected happened. Rodri did not run forward to receive the ball, and the Manchester City midfielder stood there waiting for the ball.

How could Kante miss such an opportunity? He rushed up diagonally and completed a steal.

………………

Without letting the ball stay at his feet, Kante quickly passed the ball to Gundogan.

Gundogan passed the ball to the side, and after Mbappe received the ball, he immediately accelerated and passed De Bruyne with a change in speed.

Zinchenko came up to intercept.

Mbappe did not slow down. He pushed the ball to the right, twisted his waist, went to the other side, then caught up with the ball and started running with the ball.

Zinchenko turned around to chase, but he was already one body length behind, and then was falling further and further behind.

Mbappe dribbled the ball to the edge of the penalty area and pretended to cut inside, tricking Ruben Dias out. He immediately passed the ball to Harry Kane.

Harry Kane volleyed from half-turn.

He chose to shoot in the upper corner, but Ederson was unable to touch the ball, which hit the bottom of the crossbar and still flew firmly into the net.

"GOOOOOOOOOALLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!"

"1:1, Manchester United equalized the score very quickly."

"Harry Kane's goal, his fifth in the Champions League this season!"

Mourinho shook his fist vigorously on the sidelines, and then was surrounded by assistants to congratulate and praise him. The effect of his adjustment was immediate. De Bruyne was easily broken through, Ruben Dias's inexperience was exposed and he was easily deceived by Mbappe. Before other Manchester City players had time to make up for the position, Harry Kane scored a goal.

"We can clearly see that after Mourinho made the magical adjustment just now, Manchester United's attack became more targeted and the goals came quickly."