Rise of a Football God

(Premier league:)

(Matchday 1:)

(Manchester United – Fulham)

(Date: 16th August, 2024)

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(Ipswich Town – Liverpool)

(Date: 17th August, 2024)

…

(Arsenal – Wolves)

(Date: 17th August, 2024)

…

(Everton – Brighton)

(Date: 17th August, 2024)

…

(Newcastle – Southampton)

(Date: 17th August, 2024)

…

(Nottingham Forest – Bournemouth)

(Date: 17th August, 2024)

…

(West Ham – Aston Villa)

(Date: 17th August, 2024)

…

(Brentford – Crystal Palace)

(Date: 17th August, 2024)

…

(Chelsea – Manchester City) Your next chapter awaits on empire

(Date: 17th August, 2024)

…

(Leicester City – Tottenham)

(Date: 17th August, 2024)

There is just this excitement that comes with a new premier league season.

The emotions and expectations of all the fans of the different clubs, the rivalries, the banters, the passion, everything resumes anew.

Manchester United played the opening game against Fulham but all the attention was not just on them for matchday one.

There was a lot of excitement and anticipation around the games of other big English clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool, but the biggest excitement lingered on the heavyweight clash between Chelsea and Manchester City.

To the Fulham players though, none of that concerned them as they arrived in the iconic Old Trafford to play their first game of the season.

In the late 90s, early and late 2000s, going on a trip to Old Trafford was like a death sentence against their star-studded squads.

In recent years, this myth of Old Trafford already more or less died. Literally, the stadium was old and in need of repairs while in terms of football, recent Man United squads were not like those of old that induced fear in opponents.

Fulham went to Old Trafford without an ounce of fear.

Both teams started with their best lineup.

The home team started with Andre Onana in between the posts. Protecting him were the defensive quadrupole of Mazraoui, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, and Diogo Dalot.

Casemiro and the young Kobbie Mainoo partnered in midfield on top the defense, while ahead of them were Ahmad Diallo, Mason Mouth, Marcus Rashford, and Bruno Fernandes.

As for Fulham, Muniz led the attack.

Behind the striker were the trio of Samuel Moses, Emile Smith Rowe, and Adama Traore, the imposingly swift attacker.

Sam retained his spot in attacking midfield while Emile Smith Rowe started on the right, they were expected to play close to each other.

Behind them were Alex Iwobi and Lukic who started in defensive midfield, and the 4-man defense comprised Robinson, Bassey, Diop, and Tete. Of course, Bernd Leno started in between the posts.

The players made their way into the pitch to start the game.

The commentator started proceedings. "Last time out, Erik Ten Haag's team finished 8th in the table, their lowest placing since 1990".

"The Dutch defender, Mathias De Ligt hoping to make his debut as the evening progresses".

"…the players take the knee to reaffirm that racism or any other type of discrimination has no place in the premier league".

"…Under the Friday night lights in Old Trafford, the kickoff to the new premier league season, a new adventure…"

Hearing the voice of the commentator amid the noise made by the tens of thousands of fans in red, Sam felt his blood heating up.

His face flushed in excitement. 'I've missed this'. He thought.

He jumped, stretching his legs as he reacclimatized to the feeling, and then the referee's whistle finally sounded to kick off this game.

FWEEEE!

Manchester United started kickoff.

Having played a pretty disappointing campaign last time out under Erik Ten Haag compared to their lofty standards, the Manchester United fans were clearly expectant of a fight-back by their team this season.

Afterall, the fans in red were already clamoring on social media about their title-bidding credentials this season.

To back their talk with action, they had to start it this game.

From the very first minute of this game, Manchester United asserted their authority as they put Fulham on the backfoot. They dominated possession but just like late last season, Fulham didn't buckle under the pressure.

Obeying the tactical approach of their coach to a fault, the Fulham players were ok with letting Man United hog the possession as they played and defended like a team. Fulham's shape was extremely solid.

The midfield duo of Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo impressed as they won the battle in their side of the pitch, and even Sam seemed to be locked out for most of this game in the first half.

Sam kept on doing his thing though. He never got much time or space on the ball, so he simply abused his greatest aspect again, his stamina.

While Fulham struggled to settle into this game, Sam abused his stamina, completely locking out his side of the pitch with sheer work rate.

With time, his teammates used him as a point of reference as they settled into the game, improving their gameplay.

Manchester United was still the more dangerous side though.

The only blemish was their attack. For some reason, the 4-man Man United attack was failing to gel as they barely created any danger of note.

The game continued like this for most of the half. And when Old Trafford thought the first half was going to be like usual, ending in a drab draw, in the 45th plus 3 minutes, Old Trafford was silenced.

It came out of the blue.

After being locked out from most of this game by Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez's valiant display, when it seemed like he would disappear all game, Sam finally switched on the gear just once this first half, and that one time brought a tangible result with it.

After receiving a pass from Emile Smith Rowe from the right, Sam took one touch to control the ball, then another touch to nutmeg the onrushing Kobbie Mainoo and as Casemiro closed in, he poked a pass with the outside of his boot to Emile Smith Rowe who ran in tandem with him.

Bam! Bam!

One touch football, short swift one-two passes.

It didn't feel like football at all, rather as the ball moved, alternating between these 2 young midfielders, it felt like some exquisite ancient dance.

Immediately after passing to Smith Rowe, Sam ghosted into Casemiro's blind spot and just like he expected, the ball rolled back into his path.

Harry Maguire charged out to meet him and in one touch, he poked the ball back to Emile Smith Rowe who passed it back immediately in between the 2 Manchester United center backs.

Abusing his superior speed and agility to dash behind Maguire, Sam took one look at goal and then…

WHOP!

He hit the ball with such force with his right foot to the bottom left corner that Andre Onana was left sprawling helplessly.

It was a neat finish to an even neater team move.

"GOALLLL!" The commentator screamed.

"Can you believe it? Fulham scored first!"

"I bet you that few people saw this coming! It's the Nigerian Zidane again, Sam has done it again!"

"Such chemistry between him and Smith Rowe, it's almost like they've been playing together for years!"

"What a goal!"

"Old Trafford is silenced, how will Manchester United respond?"

The first half ended 0-1 in Fulham's favor.

The atmosphere in this iconic stadium became even more oppressive, the tension increasing by the second, turning as thick as a quagmire.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Could Fulham hold on to their lead?