The Red Devils' revival starts with retaining Mourinho

After returning to Greater Manchester from Southampton, Manchester United has been fully engaged in preparations for the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Dortmund.

Cody Gakpo, Romelu Lukaku, Edinson Cavani, Erling Haaland, Marcus Rashford and other forwards are conducting high-intensity sprint training under the leadership of assistant coach Ruud van Nistelrooy. Like cheetahs, they burst out their speed again and again on the track, and every step seems to be whistling with the wind. Sweat rolled down their foreheads and soaked their training suits, but their pace did not slacken at all.

Midfielders such as Dani Olmo, Marco Verratti, Rodrigo Hernandez, Bruno Fernandez, Aurelian Tsoumeni, Nico Williams and others are in the tactical rehearsal area, working closely with the coaching staff. They simulate various scenarios in the game, from simple short passes to complex zone attacks. In the process of passing, receiving and transferring, they constantly polished their tacit understanding with each other. They used their keen insight to find loopholes in the opponent's defense and tried to play those deadly offensive cooperation in the game. Controlling the ball, getting rid of it, and dividing the side, every action was precise and efficient, just like carving a work of art.

And the players on the back line, such as Theo Fernandez, Raphael Varane, Ruben Dias, Ashraf Hakimi, Kepler Laveran Lima Ferreira (Pepe), Diogo Dalot, and Joshko Gwadiol, were conducting one-on-one and two-on-two defensive confrontation training under the command of the defensive coach. They used their bodies to block the impact of the offensive players and used their tenacious will to interfere with the opponent's shooting. Every slide and every blockage they made was to build a solid wall for the team's victory. In training, they kept communicating and reminding each other of the timing of standing and assisting defense to ensure that they could form an airtight whole in the game.

The team's goalkeepers David De Gea and Christian Romero were also not idle. Under the guidance of professional goalkeeper coaches, they conducted various difficult save training. From close-range powerful volleys to long-range lobs, he used his quick reaction and excellent positional sense to keep the ball out of the door again and again. He knew that he was the team's last line of defense, and any mistake could lead to the team's loss of goals.

In addition to training, the team's medical team also pays attention to the physical condition of the players. They conduct detailed physical examinations for the players and provide scientific rehabilitation and nutritional advice. The players also cooperate with the work of the medical team very much. They know that only by maintaining a good physical condition can they play their best in fierce competitions.

The team's coaching staff is even busier. They are observing the training performance of each player and recording various data. Then, based on these data, they constantly adjust the training plan and game tactics. They will gather the players together and analyze the problems in the previous game and the details that need to be paid attention to in the next game by playing videos. During the tactical explanation, the players listened attentively and put forward their own ideas and suggestions from time to time. This kind of interaction and communication makes the team's tactical system more perfect and makes the players full of confidence in the game.

In addition to regular training, the team also arranged special psychological counseling courses. In this stressful Champions League, the psychological quality of the players is also crucial. Psychological counselors help players relieve stress and maintain a good mentality in various ways. They let the players learn how to control their emotions in the game and how to stay calm in adversity. This kind of psychological training allows players to deal with difficulties and challenges more calmly.

In the process of preparation, the team's logistics support team also played an important role. They ensured the cleanliness and safety of the training ground and provided a comfortable rest environment for the players. From the preparation of training equipment to the dietary arrangements of the players, every link was done meticulously. They know that only by letting the players have no worries in life can they devote themselves to training and competition.

As the date of the game approaches, the team's preparation atmosphere is becoming more and more tense. However, in this tense atmosphere, Manchester United still maintained a united and relaxed mentality. The players encouraged and helped each other on the training ground. They knew that they were not fighting alone. This power of unity gave them courage and confidence in the face of any difficulties.

On the last day before the match, the team enteredThey had a relaxed adaptive training. They laughed and talked on the training ground, enjoying the happiness brought by football. This relaxed atmosphere allowed them to relax well after the intense preparation.

At the pre-match press conference, the team's head coach Mourinho confidently faced the questions of many reporters. He introduced the team's preparations in detail and expressed his trust in the players and his confidence in the game. He said: "We Manchester United are a united team. We have put a lot of effort in the preparation process. We are facing this challenge with a very relaxed mentality. We believe that we can play a wonderful performance in the game."

On March 28, the UEFA Champions League match day arrived as scheduled. In the stands of Old Trafford, the Red Devils fans were dressed in red jerseys, like a boiling red sea. They waved their flags and shouted throughout the stadium. The second round of the Champions League quarter-finals was ignited here. Manchester United played against Dortmund at home. The outcome of this game will largely determine who can continue to move towards the Champions League trophy.

When the opening whistle sounded, Manchester United launched a fierce siege on Dortmund's defense like a group of hungry cheetahs. David De Gea stood in front of the goal with sharp eyes, like a lion guarding his territory, but at this moment he was more of a calm bystander, watching his teammates' impact in the frontcourt. He frowned slightly, his eyes closely followed the movement of the ball, and his hands adjusted his gloves from time to time, as if preparing for a possible save.

The Manchester United fans in the stands also stood up at this time, their eyes were fixed on the court, their hands were clenched, and their faces were full of tension and expectation. When Theo Fernandez rushed to the frontcourt from the left, the cheers of the fans were like waves, one wave higher than the other. "Go, Theo!" Some fans shouted at the top of their voices, and the sound seemed to break through the clouds.

Theo Fernandez faced Dortmund defender Marius Wolf, and with a clever change of direction, he instantly opened up the angle, and then kicked a low pass into the penalty area. Romelu Lukaku was like a heavy tank, rudely pushing away Julian Weigl who was defending him, and then he kicked the ball. At this moment, the fans' hearts were in their throats, they opened their mouths wide, and leaned forward, as if this would help Romelu Lukaku score the goal. Roman Birki reacted quickly and flew to save the ball from the bottom line, and Manchester United won the first corner kick after the opening. The fans first sighed, and then burst into enthusiastic cheers, and the shouts of "Manchester United, come on!" echoed in the stadium.

Bruno Fernandez stood at the corner kick point, he took a deep breath, and his eyes scanned his teammates in the penalty area. He pursed his lips slightly, his expression serious and focused. When the referee blew the whistle, he ran up and kicked, and the ball drew a beautiful arc in the air. Ruben Dias leaped high like an eagle. The fans in the stands also stood on tiptoe, some of them held their heads with their hands, staring at the trajectory of the ball nervously. Unfortunately, his header slightly missed the goal post, and Manchester United fans sighed, some stamped their feet in frustration, and some kept shaking their heads.

Dortmund's players were not disrupted by Manchester United's opening attack. Under the leadership of Manuel Akanji and Julian Weigl, they stubbornly built a line of defense. Axel Witsel was like a solid gate, intercepting Manchester United's attack in the midfield.

But Manchester United's offensive wave did not retreat. Marco Verratti showed his exquisite ball control skills in the midfield. He kept penetrating through short passes and tried to tear open Dortmund's defense. Seeing Marco Verratti's wonderful performance, the fans applauded and cheered, "Beautiful, Verratti!" The voices came one after another. In one attack, he made a beautiful one-two with Rodrigo Hernandez, and then made a straight pass to find Marcus Rashford who was running forward at high speed. Marcus Rashford used his lightning speed to get rid of Abdou Diallo's defense and headed straight for the penalty area. Marcus Rashford's face was filled with excitement, and his eyes were shining, as if he saw the dawn of a goal. However, Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Birki once again demonstrated his excellent goal-line skills, and attacked in time to block Marcus Rashford's shooting angle. Marcus Rashford's shot was blocked out of the penalty area by Birki. The fans in the stands made a sound of regret, and some fans folded their hands and looked at the court helplessly.

Raphael Varane is like a steady and stable defensive line.At the peak, he kept directing his teammates to take defensive positions. His expression was calm and composed, and he gestured with his hands from time to time to indicate the position of the opposing players to his teammates. Ashraf Hakimi frequently inserted assists on the right, and the cooperation between him and Bruno Fernandes became more and more tacit. In an attack, Bruno Fernandes sent a fine diagonal pass in the middle, and Ashraf Hakimi inserted it like an arrow from a string. With an excited expression on his face, he kept shouting in his mouth, asking his teammates to open up space for him. Facing Dortmund's defensive players, he directly chose to cross from the bottom. Edinson Cavani jumped high in the penalty area and launched a fierce aerial confrontation with Manuel Akanji. Edinson Cavani's eyes were fixed on the ball, his mouth was closed, and the muscles on his face were tense. Unfortunately, Edinson Cavani's header was slightly higher than the crossbar.

The fans sighed again, and their expressions changed from expectation to disappointment.