Become A Football Legend Chapter 404: Post-Match

Peter Drury let the pictures breathe before speaking again. "This is what great teams do. They do not merely win together; they recognize when one of their own has touched something rare. Today belongs to Lukas Brandt, yes, but look at the way Manchester City celebrate him. That is a dressing room that knows exactly what it has witnessed."

Gary Neville nodded. "And they needed this as a team. The last two league results created pressure. You could feel it before kickoff. But this performance, this scoreline, this reaction from the players and the supporters, it changes the mood completely."

The players moved toward another stand.

Then another.

They applauded every section of the Etihad, taking their time, letting the supporters have their moment. The Poznań returned in one corner, and this time a few of the City players briefly joined in, turning their backs and bouncing for a few seconds before laughing and turning around again. Cherki filmed part of it on his phone. Doku grabbed Haaland and tried to make him dance. Haaland refused at first, then gave in badly enough that Bernardo immediately pointed at him and shook his head.

In the family section, Joanna clapped until her palms stung, smiling so hard her cheeks hurt. Javi stood beside her, quiet but glowing with pride. Jane watched the celebrations with a softened expression, her eyes following Lukas as his teammates kept pushing him into the centre of everything. Lexi, still trapped between her United shirt and the reality of what she had just witnessed, could only shake her head and laugh.

Eventually, Lukas moved through the handshakes near the halfway line. A few United players offered brief nods, some more gracious than others. Bruno Fernandes shook his hand without much expression, then pulled him in close enough to mutter something that made Lukas nod respectfully. De Ligt patted the back of his head once before walking away. Dorgu barely looked up, but Lukas still offered his hand, and after a second, the United wing-back accepted it.

Then Anthony Taylor walked toward him with the match ball in his hands.

The referee smiled faintly as he offered it over.

"I think you’re the youngest player to ever get one of these in the Premier League. Congratulations. I hope you get many more."

Lukas took the ball carefully, almost reverently, and tucked it under his arm.

"Thank you."

For a moment, he simply stood there in the middle of the pitch, the match ball pressed against his side, the scoreboard glowing above him, the noise of the Etihad pouring down from every stand. Three goals. Two assists. A 6–0 Manchester derby victory.

Then Haaland called him over again, and Lukas finally broke into a smile, jogging back toward the rest of his teammates as they gathered for one final celebration in front of the home supporters. This time, when they pushed him forward, he did not resist. He lifted the ball again, bowed once more toward the Etihad, and the whole City squad applauded behind him.

It was no longer just his breakthrough.

It was Manchester City’s answer.

And it was one of the great derby demolitions.

After the celebrations on the pitch, Lukas and Haaland were guided toward a small broadcast booth positioned beside the tunnel. The booth had been prepared for a quick post-match interview, its glass walls separating them from the continuing roar of the Etihad. The player of the match award was waiting on a narrow table inside, a polished trophy beneath the bright studio lights.

The reporter greeted them with a smile as they stepped in.

"Lukas, congratulations. Three goals, two assists, a derby victory, and now the player of the match award. How does it feel?"

Lukas glanced down at the trophy as the reporter lifted it and handed it to him. He accepted it with both hands, still looking slightly overwhelmed by the attention.

"It feels amazing," he said. "But honestly, I think the most important thing is the team. We played a really complete game, and everyone helped us. I just had some good moments in front of goal."

The reporter turned the microphone toward him again.

"You have also become the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history, and the youngest player ever to score a hat-trick in the competition. What does that mean to you?"

Lukas blinked.

For the first time since entering the booth, he looked genuinely surprised.

"I am the youngest?"

The reporter nodded.

"Yes. You have broken both records today."

Lukas looked toward Haaland, who was standing beside him with his arms folded and a grin spreading across his face.

"Really?" Lukas asked.

Haaland laughed. "You did not know?"

"I knew about the hat-trick," Lukas said, still staring at the trophy. "I did not know about the youngest goalscorer record."

The reporter smiled. "You seem surprised."

"I am surprised," Lukas admitted. "I never came into the game thinking about records. I just wanted to help the team and enjoy the derby. It is a huge honor, but it is also a little strange to hear it said like that."

"And what do you think has allowed you to perform at this level despite still being so young?"

Lukas glanced through the glass toward the pitch, where City supporters were still singing.

"I am lucky," he said. "I am in a team with a manager who has placed confidence in me even though I am still young. Pep gives me responsibility, but the players also help me every day. When you have teammates like these, it becomes easier to play with confidence."

Haaland nodded beside him.

"He is being modest," the striker said. "He has the talent, but the confidence from the manager and the team is important. He listens, he works, and then he does things like today."

The reporter turned back to Lukas.

"Do you think these records could stand for a long time?"

Lukas gave a small, almost embarrassed laugh.

"I would not be surprised if someone breaks the youngest Premier League goalscorer record soon. There are a few players who are even younger than me in the Premier League, and they are very talented. Records are there to be broken. If someone does it, I will be happy for them."

The reporter looked impressed by the answer.

"That is a very mature response."

Lukas shrugged lightly.

"I think it is true. I am happy to have the record now, but I know football moves quickly. The important thing is to keep improving."

The reporter gestured toward the trophy in his hands.

"Then tonight, you will allow yourself to celebrate?"

Lukas finally smiled fully.

"Yes. Tonight, definitely."

Haaland leaned toward the microphone.

"And he is going to celebrate with us."

Lukas looked at him suspiciously.

"What does that mean?"

"It means you are not escaping the dressing room."

The reporter laughed as the noise outside rose again, the supporters beginning another chant with Lukas’ name woven into it. He lifted the player of the match award slightly, still seeming unable to believe that the afternoon had carried him this far.

Three goals. Two assists. A record-breaking hat-trick. A historic derby victory.

And now, a trophy in his hands while the Etihad sang for him through the glass.

Lukas looked once more toward the supporters, then down at the award.

This time, he did not try to hide his smile.