Before Zinedine Zidane rose to prominence, it was Massimiliano Allegri who was often teased for being a coach blessed with extraordinary luck. During his time at AC Milan, his teams developed a habit of scoring in the dying moments, salvaging points even after conceding late goals. But once he moved to Juventus, Allegri proved that his success was not just good fortune. With league titles and consistent Champions League runs, he showed he had real tactical quality. Much like how resilience pays off in sports such as Live Cricket BPL, Allegri’s record highlighted that persistence often combines with fortune to create lasting triumphs.
Another Italian, Antonio Conte, has been driving Chelsea forward with remarkable momentum this season. Under his leadership, Chelsea became the side that collected the most points from losing positions, with memorable late winners against West Ham and Watford. Such comebacks require ability and fighting spirit, but luck often favors those who never give up. After Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with West Ham, Jesse Lingard, whose goal was ruled out for offside, admitted, “Luck is not on our side.” Ander Herrera echoed the frustration, claiming United deserved at least eight more points based on performances. Fans who follow both football and Live Cricket BPL understand this sentiment well—sometimes you can dominate play but still find yourself short on results when fortune deserts you.
Paul Pogba went further, suggesting the team might even be cursed. He argued that United dominated nearly every match but somehow saw results slip away. Only Juan Mata, often overlooked by Mourinho, struck a more pragmatic tone: “We cannot complain, we cannot only blame luck.” The players felt they had done enough against West Ham to win, yet in truth there were moments when fortune smiled on them. Marcos Rojo appeared to handle the ball in the box, a decision that could easily have gone against United. In the subsequent clash with Everton, Ibrahimović’s awkward lob still found the net, and Rojo escaped a red card for a two-footed challenge. Those incidents suggest United’s luck was not entirely against them.
The truth is that success always requires a degree of luck, but lasting achievements are built on consistency and strength. One or two unlucky results can be excused, but after a dozen league games without real progress, blaming bad luck no longer convinces. Statistics reveal United have dropped more points in the final ten minutes than any other team this season. Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, the famous late winners once synonymous with the Red Devils have disappeared.
In stark contrast stands Zidane’s Real Madrid. Supporters jokingly call him the “master of fortune,” noting how his substitutions or last-gasp goals often change games. This season alone, Real Madrid rescued five league points and six Champions League points through goals scored in the dying minutes. But is Zidane simply lucky? The evidence suggests otherwise. Real Madrid have gone 33 matches unbeaten across competitions, with a 16-game winning streak and a Champions League crown. Zidane’s win rate of 75 percent far exceeds that of his predecessor Rafael Benítez. While critics note that Zidane has yet to stamp a distinct tactical identity on the team, such records cannot be explained by fortune alone.
Ultimately, even the best luck runs dry without the foundation of talent, preparation, and mentality. Just as in Live Cricket BPL, where last-ball thrillers are as much about nerve and skill as chance, Zidane’s Real Madrid thrive because of their quality. Mourinho, by contrast, cannot rely on luck alone; his United must rediscover identity, strategy, and the fighting spirit that once made them kings of late drama.