Chapter 60
"Atlético remains on the attack."
"A play down the left side, Evra moves up to support."
"He passes to Ribéry."
"A strong attempt at a breakthrough, heading toward the byline."
"Ribéry can't get past! Gary Neville has positioned himself perfectly this time."
"A backward pass to Evra."
"A cross to Iniesta."
"In the box now, Iniesta makes his move! There's a chance!"
"A shot on goal!"
"Atlético fires again from the left side of the box!"
"Iniesta's shot barely misses the bottom line."
"It was an excellent opportunity, but unfortunately, Iniesta's effort aimed for precision and missed the mark."
"He clearly wanted to slot it into the near post, but perhaps lacked confidence facing Van der Sar. He overcompensated by putting more power into the shot, which caused him to lose control of the angle. It ended up hitting the side netting."
"So close."
"From the beginning of the match, Atlético has been generating dangerous opportunities."
"No doubt about it—the Colchoneros' attack tonight is relentless. Manchester United is starting to struggle."
Ferguson stood on the sidelines, chewing gum as he silently watched the game.
He wasn't happy with how things were going.
In the opening ten minutes, Atlético was simply too aggressive.
United had initially attempted to match their intensity and go toe-to-toe in attack. Ferguson's hope was to pressure Atlético's suspect central defense and exploit their weaknesses.
But what happened?
At first, United managed to maintain a semblance of balance. However, as time passed, Atlético gradually seized control, asserting themselves on the pitch. Now they were outright suppressing United.
Between the 10th and 12th minutes, Atlético had already created two major threats in United's penalty area.
Ferguson shook his head on the sidelines.
"This won't work. If this continues, we won't even score on them—they'll break us first."
The Scottish manager returned to the bench and dropped into his seat, turning to Carlos Queiroz.
Queiroz, who had returned to United after a stint managing Real Madrid, was now Ferguson's trusted right-hand man again.
There was no denying Queiroz's tactical expertise, which made him invaluable to Ferguson.
"You can't retreat against a team like Atlético," Queiroz advised. "If you back off, they'll push even harder. That would only make things worse."
As a former La Liga coach, Queiroz had faced Atlético multiple times and understood their style.
Yang Hao's Atlético was becoming an increasingly terrifying offensive force.
In their weaker years, they relied on defensive counterattacks, sometimes resorting to ultra-cautious, unattractive football.
Now, with their newfound strength, their confidence matched their offensive capabilities. They attacked with a boldness that overwhelmed even the toughest opponents.
Tonight, they dared to press high at Old Trafford, taking the game directly to United.
That kind of bravery required not just raw talent but also supreme self-belief.
"That Marcos Senna—his defensive work is excellent. He's shutting down our midfield transitions while also helping Atlético build their play with great vision and mobility," Ferguson pointed out, gesturing to the Spanish international on the pitch.
Just moments earlier, Senna had executed a brilliant midfield interception, turning defense into a counterattack almost seamlessly.
The core of a team is its midfield. If the midfield falters, everything else does.
Once upon a time, Roy Keane alone could dominate United's midfield. Now, even with two players, they were barely managing.
Football had changed. Players had changed.
From a tactical perspective, Queiroz wasn't wrong. Against Atlético, retreating wasn't an option.
But Ferguson had to ask: if United didn't retreat, could they hold their ground?
Just then, Atlético launched a quick long ball from the back.
The pass found Drogba on the left side of the pitch.
Drogba headed it backward into Kaká's path. The Brazilian controlled the second ball and began his trademark surge forward.
As soon as Kaká started running with the ball, Old Trafford erupted with murmurs of anxiety.
By now, every football fan in the world knew that once Kaká picked up speed, stopping him was nearly impossible.
Roy Keane chased after him, trying to block his path.
But Kaká was too fast. Even while dribbling, he outran Keane, cutting in front of the veteran midfielder and forcing him off balance.
Ahead of Kaká, Drogba was making a run on the right, while Robben sprinted on the left.
Keane, recognizing the danger, knew he couldn't let Kaká settle and deliver a decisive pass.
Without hesitation, Keane fouled him from behind, giving Kaká a shove to break his momentum.
The foul wasn't malicious, but it was blatant. The referee, standing nearby, immediately whistled and pulled out a yellow card for Keane, awarding Atlético a free kick in a dangerous position.
From the dugout, Ferguson sighed and shook his head in frustration.
Keane's decision to foul was the right one, but the reality was undeniable: he couldn't keep up with Kaká anymore.
The harsh truth was hard to accept.
Atlético pressed on, this time attacking down the right flank.
Kaká passed the ball to Maicon, who overlapped with blistering pace. The Brazilian right-back controlled the ball, slipped past Heinze with a clever turn, and cut inside toward the penalty area.
Maicon's cross into the six-yard box was intercepted by Wes Brown, who cleared the danger.
At this point, the flow of the game was clear. It wasn't about whether United wanted to retreat—they had no choice but to fall back under the relentless pressure.
Seeing this, Ferguson got up from the bench and moved to the touchline.
He shouted instructions to his players, urging them to focus on shoring up their defense first.
On the opposite sideline, Yang Hao observed Ferguson's adjustments and smiled.
United had to pull back.
If they didn't, given the current trajectory, Atlético would likely score within the next 10 minutes.
Football often unfolded in predictable ways.
Once United shifted their focus to defense, the game's tempo stabilized. Atlético still controlled possession and created opportunities, but their shots rarely found the target.
Meanwhile, United struggled to pose a meaningful threat.
Yang Hao's pre-match strategy was working perfectly. He had deliberately praised Cristiano Ronaldo during the press conference, subtly downplaying Wayne Rooney.
The goal was clear: stoke tensions between United's two young stars.
Sure enough, Rooney was visibly impatient tonight.
Every time he received the ball, he tried to do too much, either taking on defenders recklessly or attempting speculative long-range shots.
Rooney's individual talent was undeniable, but his decision-making lacked maturity.
As a result, United's attacks broke down whenever the ball reached him.
Yang Hao couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. He was confident Ferguson was silently cursing Rooney's selfishness.
The rivalry between Rooney and Ronaldo was no secret.
Yang Hao's calculated comments had only poured fuel on the fire.
Could Ferguson prevent his two stars from competing for dominance?
Of course not.
Their egos were too big for that.
Meanwhile, Yang Hao had given his Atlético players clear instructions: dominate possession, stay patient, and wait for the right moments to strike.
He trusted his players to make it happen.
The pace of the match was electrifying.
Although Manchester United focused on defense and ceded the initiative, the tempo of the game remained incredibly fast. Ferguson had a clear plan in mind.
Atlético excelled at controlling possession; if the game slowed down, United would be at an even greater disadvantage.
The Colchoneros, however, stuck to their rhythm. If the counterattack wasn't immediately available, they would control the ball in the attacking third, reorganizing and building up their play.
Take the 31st minute as an example.
After winning the ball, Atlético immediately launched a quick counterattack down the left. Ribéry carried the ball forward, with Evra supporting from behind. The two worked seamlessly together.
United's defense, however, shifted over to block Atlético's left-sided attack. Ribéry played the ball back to Evra, who sent a horizontal pass to Iniesta.
This reset the play outside the 30-meter zone.
Iniesta received the ball, spun past Fortune, dribbled horizontally, and passed to Kaká.
When Iniesta moved forward, Kaká positioned himself slightly deeper, ensuring the midfield was covered while maintaining a clear view of the entire field.
This positioning reflects a key development in Kaká's style since joining Atlético, particularly this season.
By playing slightly deeper, Kaká's vision opened up. However, this approach required constant observation and a keen sense of timing to control the game.
The payoff? When an opportunity presented itself, his sudden forward surges became even more dangerous.
This was a stark departure from Kaká's earlier style, where he would immediately dribble at defenders upon receiving the ball.
Now, he played smarter, but no less lethal.
When he received the pass from Iniesta, Roy Keane was already closing in.
Kaká advanced toward Keane with purpose, seemingly intent on taking him on directly.
This forced the United captain into an uncomfortable position.
Meanwhile, Iniesta ran into space for support, and Drogba drifted to the left.
As Kaká neared Keane's zone, just when it seemed he might engage in a direct duel, he abruptly shifted. Using the outside of his right foot, he flicked the ball horizontally before accelerating sharply to his right.
Keane reacted quickly, moving to block him.
But Kaká's burst of speed gave him a crucial edge, leaving Keane trailing slightly.
Before Keane could recover, Kaká used the inside of his right foot to deliver a precise through ball, threading it into the penalty area, just to the right of the penalty spot.
Robben, who had been lurking on the right side of the box, suddenly burst forward, easily outpacing Heinze.
The Dutch winger latched onto Kaká's pass with perfect timing, using his left foot to push the ball past Wes Brown.
He caught up with the ball, sidestepped Ferdinand, and unleashed a powerful left-footed strike.
The sequence unfolded in the blink of an eye.
Before anyone could react, Robben's shot had zipped past Van der Sar, grazing the inside of the left post and slamming into the back of the net.
Van der Sar dove but was just a fraction too late.
It wasn't the Dutch goalkeeper's fault; Atlético's attack was simply too fast.
"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!"
"Robben!!!"
"In the 31st minute, Atlético breaks the deadlock with a goal from Arjen Robben!"
"1-0!"
"What a brilliantly executed attack by Atlético! Especially that pass from Kaká—it was sheer genius."
"And Robben's finish was clinical."
"He cut inside from the right, slicing through two United defenders like they weren't even there!"
"This performance from Robben is nothing short of sensational. Since switching to the right flank under Yang Hao, he's become increasingly dangerous."
"That left-footed cut inside has become his signature move!"
"But let's not forget his teammates."
"Look again at Kaká's through ball—an absolutely masterful pass that split United's defense wide open."
"From a tactical perspective, Robben's movement mirrored Kaká's vision perfectly."
"Or perhaps it's more accurate to say that Kaká's awareness of Robben's strength enabled such a decisive pass."
"This is what top-tier players bring to the table!"
"Atlético leads 1-0!"
Old Trafford erupted—but not in celebration.
United fans were furious, their frustrations boiling over as they watched the Atlético players celebrate.
To be dominated at home, and then to concede, was an unbearable humiliation.
The jeers rained down from the stands.
On the pitch, United's players immediately launched a counterattack.
But Yang Hao's pre-match psychological warfare soon paid dividends.
In the 34th minute, United countered down the right.
Rooney attempted to bulldoze past Pepe, dribbling into the right side of the penalty area. Instead of passing, he opted to shoot from a tight angle, despite the slim odds of success.
Predictably, the ball sailed high over the crossbar.
Just four minutes later, Ronaldo executed a dazzling run and delivered a perfect through ball to Rooney.
However, the English forward, facing Lucio, chose to take an early shot from about 20 meters out, resulting in an easy save for Čech.
Rooney was clearly rushing his plays.
Two minutes later, United broke forward again.
This time, Ronaldo found himself in a better position to shoot.
But Rooney refused to pass, once again going solo.
Unsurprisingly, he failed to create anything meaningful.
By the 41st minute, the roles reversed. Ronaldo, visibly frustrated, decided to stop passing altogether and tried to score himself.
Ferguson stood on the sidelines, seething.
"Bloody hell, Yang Hao!"
These two young stars had enormous potential. But thanks to Yang Hao's mind games, they were now undermining each other.
Ferguson clenched his fists in exasperation.
"I warned them—over and over—not to fall for it!"
"It's the oldest trick in the book! Who'd be dumb enough to fall for that?"
He gestured at the pitch, momentarily speechless.
His players had taken the bait, plain and simple.
As a master of psychological warfare himself, Ferguson couldn't help but feel like the predator who'd just been outwitted by his prey.
Sitting back on the bench, he rubbed his forehead in frustration.
He wished he could shout, "Boys, Yang Hao is a bad influence—don't learn from him!"
But would his players even listen?
United's counterattacks failed to produce real threats, while Atlético continued to probe and even earned two promising free kicks near the box.
Iniesta's clever dribbling drew a foul from Fortune, earning the United midfielder a yellow card.
Ferguson was on the verge of losing it.
It wasn't even halftime, and both of his defensive midfielders were already booked.
"How am I supposed to manage this match now?" he muttered, furious and helpless.
Yellow cards hovered like a curse over players' heads, especially for defensive players like Roy Keane, who were placed in a very passive position. Some challenges they might normally attempt were now off-limits for fear of receiving a second yellow card.
At halftime, Manchester United trailed 0-1.
Clap, clap, clap!
As soon as Yang Hao entered the visitors' locker room, he began clapping enthusiastically, offering praise to his players.
"Well done, everyone. You played a solid first half."
Yang Hao walked to the center of the room. All eyes turned toward the coach.
"Our primary objectives for the first half were achieved: we got a goal and managed to exhaust the opponent. Both tasks were completed excellently."
Atlético had achieved 61% possession in the first half, an impressive figure.
Unlike Barcelona in a previous era, which sought absolute dominance in possession, Yang Hao's philosophy focused on high-quality and efficient possession.
The principle was straightforward: once you gain possession, immediately look for ways to initiate an attack. Drive the ball into dangerous areas first, and if no clear threat is available, only then transition into organized possession.
"For the second half, there are two key points to focus on."
"First, both Fortune and Roy Keane are on yellow cards. We need to target them in our attacks because they're the weak links now, especially Keane."
Exploiting opponents wasn't just about draining their physical stamina or wearing down their mental focus—it was also about taking advantage of handicaps like yellow cards.
With both of Manchester United's holding midfielders under the constraint of a yellow card, it was as though two players had been shackled.
"We'll use this to our advantage."
"Second, our fullbacks need to be more aggressive and daring."
Yang Hao turned to Patrice Evra.
"Patrice, in the first half, you were a bit hesitant. Don't hold back because of Cristiano Ronaldo. Push forward with confidence. We've got Marcos, Pepe, and Lucio covering behind you."
Marcos Senna had been exceptional in the first half, shielding the backline and intercepting United's counterattacks.
Yang Hao still vividly remembered Senna's heroic displays in the 2008 European Championship, where he was a wall that shielded Spain during their relentless attacking style.
Now, Marcos Senna was showing glimpses of that same prowess.
"Okay, and as always, we'll stay on the offensive in the second half. Let's try to score as many away goals as possible tonight at Old Trafford. That will give us a huge advantage when we return home."
"One more thing—keep an eye on Van Nistelrooy."
"If United brings him on, we'll need to be extra cautious. Don't give him any room in the penalty area."
Lucio and Pepe nodded. They'd gone over scenarios involving Van Nistelrooy during pre-match preparations, and they knew exactly what to do.
Second half begins.
Manchester United launched the first wave of attacks.
Clearly, they had learned from their first-half experience and wanted to disrupt Atlético's rhythm early, hoping to seize back some control.
But United's fundamental issues remained.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney were not on the same page.
Standing on the sidelines, Yang Hao couldn't help but laugh inwardly.
The two players both had alpha personalities. Neither wanted to submit to the other.
Before, their rivalry simmered quietly. But after Yang Hao's pointed comments, the tension had boiled over into outright dysfunction.
Take the 49th minute, for example.
Ronaldo brought the ball into the right side of the penalty area. Faced with Pepe, he forced a shot instead of passing.
Moments later, Rooney launched a rushed long-range shot from outside the box.
Atlético capitalized on the disarray.
In the 52nd minute, Marcos Senna intercepted the ball from Paul Scholes in midfield and quickly pushed it forward to Kaká.
With his back to goal, Kaká received the ball as Keane pressed him. Scholes was rushing back to help.
Kaká calmly controlled the ball, turning toward the left, then swiftly pivoted and passed horizontally with his right foot.
Robben made a diagonal run into the right channel and picked up the pass.
However, instead of driving forward, Robben halted his advance. Heinze and Wes Brown were already closing in.
United's defense had fallen back into position.
In Atlético's squad, only three players would have dared to dribble into a congested area in that situation: Messi, Ribéry, and Iniesta.
Wait—three?
Math aside, Yang Hao's philosophy was clear: these three thrived in tight spaces and weren't afraid to take on defenders.
Most players would hesitate in such situations. Breaking through a packed defense required supreme confidence and skill.
Robben, however, knew his limitations. He opted for a safer approach, stopping and passing left to Iniesta.
Iniesta moved forward, with Fortune immediately stepping up to challenge.
If the moment had been frozen, it would show four Atlético players—Iniesta, Kaká, Robben, and Drogba—clustered near the penalty area's edge.
Other teams might have looked to combine passes in such situations, but Atlético's mantra under Yang Hao was to spread the defense.
Seeing Fortune closing in, Iniesta smoothly nudged the ball left with his foot, pivoted, and sidestepped toward the flank, effortlessly bypassing the challenge.
Fortune, constrained by his yellow card, dared not commit a risky foul.
Instead, he had to chase helplessly as Iniesta surged forward.
Ribéry moved into position near the top left edge of the penalty area, drawing Gary Neville deeper into the box.
United's entire left flank was now exposed.
Iniesta spotted the opening and sent a diagonal pass out wide to Evra.
Charging forward at full speed, Evra reached the ball just outside the penalty area, took a controlling touch, and sent a perfect cross into the box.
Drogba, positioned near the six-yard box, rose to meet the cross, overpowering Ferdinand in the air.
With a thunderous header, he directed the ball into the left side of United's net.
"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!"
"In the 56th minute, Drogba strikes again!!"
"2-0!!"
"Atlético have broken down Manchester United's defense once more!"
"Drogba!"
"The Ivorian striker delivers at a crucial moment with a thunderous header right in front of goal to extend Atlético's lead."
"Let's take another look at this goal. Ferdinand simply couldn't handle Drogba, who looked like a force of nature."
"And look at Atlético's buildup—an intricate sequence of passes around the edge of United's penalty area that left defenders dazzled."
"This is the hallmark of Atlético Madrid's current style."
"They've got a team packed with brilliant talents who consistently produce breathtaking football."
"2-0! And now, Manchester United are in serious trouble."
At this stage of the match, it was clear to everyone that Manchester United had to make adjustments—particularly between Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, whose chemistry was sorely lacking.
The disconnect between the two players was obvious.
In the 58th minute, Ferguson prepared a substitution, and by the 61st minute, Ruud van Nistelrooy was standing on the sidelines, ready to come on. He replaced Cristiano Ronaldo.
Yang Hao was surprised, especially when he saw Ronaldo's expression as he left the pitch—disappointed, with a touch of anger. He sighed internally.
After all, Rooney was English, a hometown hero, and Ferguson backing Rooney was an understandable decision. No matter how good Ronaldo was, he could hardly challenge Rooney's status within the team, particularly at this stage when their abilities were still neck and neck.
Both players were undeniably talented, but their personalities made it clear that one would eventually have to defer to the other.
In Yang Hao's past life, when Ronaldo began delivering even more astonishing performances, Rooney was forced to step back. Along with Carlos Tévez, they formed a legendary trio that helped Manchester United achieve greatness in 2008, including Ferguson's second Champions League trophy.
Once Van Nistelrooy entered the match, Atlético adjusted their defense by pushing their line higher.
Pepe focused on marking Rooney, while Atlético's midfielders tightened their grip on United's playmaking. As a result, Ferguson's team found it increasingly difficult to create any meaningful chances.
Atlético, on the other hand, dominated possession and kept probing for opportunities.
Maicon effectively neutralized Giggs, Marcos Senna shut down Scholes and the central areas, while Pepe kept Rooney under wraps. Without Ronaldo on the right flank, United's attacking threat was severely diminished.
Yang Hao couldn't help but think that when Ferguson reviewed the game later, he would deeply regret this substitution. Perhaps he was already regretting it now.
Looking over at the home team's dugout, Yang Hao saw Ferguson pacing and shouting instructions, visibly frustrated.
With Giggs having an off-night, taking Ronaldo off had effectively clipped United's wings.
Yang Hao decided to twist the knife.
In the 70th minute, he brought on Lionel Messi for Franck Ribéry.
With this substitution, Robben shifted to the left wing to target Gary Neville, while Messi took the right wing to go up against Heinze.
And now, the 64,000 Manchester United fans at Old Trafford got to witness the magic of the Argentine prodigy—a player hailed worldwide as a generational talent.
How did he play?
Any way he liked.
Messi seemed to roam freely, weaving through defenders almost recklessly.
But this reckless style had United players on edge. The home crowd let out gasps at every turn, fearing either a penalty in the box, a foul too close to goal, or another yellow card.
Heinze, already on a yellow, was particularly cautious.
When Ronaldo first arrived at United, he was known for his dribbling too, but Messi's style was entirely different.
The Argentine's movements were quicker, and he had a knack for threading his way through tight spaces, often drawing defenders to commit fouls. At times, it almost seemed like he was baiting challenges to win penalties.
And yet, there was no stopping him.
If Kaká, Ribéry, and Iniesta had already given United's defenders a headache, Messi's arrival was like unleashing a nightmare.
With three or four United players carrying yellow cards, the defenders became extremely hesitant, terrified of making any mistakes.
"This is what it means to be a genius," remarked Juanma Lillo, watching Messi in awe despite seeing him play every day.
Yang Hao nodded in agreement.
Messi's genius was different from that of players like Kaká, Cristiano Ronaldo, or Robben.
Those players were what Yang Hao called "cultivated geniuses."
This category also included the likes of Iniesta and Ribéry.
These players excelled by honing specific strengths and developing tailored styles of dribbling or attacking—essentially creating their own "templates" or "patterns" for playing.
For example, fans would often say, "Robben's right-wing cut-ins are unstoppable," or "Kaká's driving runs are unmatched," and the same went for Cristiano Ronaldo's diverse skill set.
Such players were numerous throughout football history.
Take Thierry Henry, for instance. His runs down the left flank were almost impossible to contain.
These players' brilliance lay in mastering moves that played to their strengths, and these moves would remain effective until age or injury took their toll.
This was also true for someone like Fernando Torres.
But Messi and Ronaldinho? They were a different breed.
They didn't just play football—they played with the ball.
For them, football wasn't about control; it was about creativity.
Their style wasn't constrained by templates or patterns. Instead, they thrived on spontaneity, often attempting moves others wouldn't dare to try.
This didn't always align with modern football's emphasis on efficiency, but for true geniuses, the impossible often became possible.
When Messi dribbled into a crowd of defenders, he wasn't just taking a gamble—he had the skill to come out the other side.
And if he succeeded, it left open spaces for his teammates, creating opportunities others couldn't envision.
Ronaldinho had the same gift.
Players like this didn't just follow football's rules—they rewrote them.
Watching Messi, Yang Hao couldn't help but think of another player: Isco.
In his previous life, Yang Hao had been a big fan of Isco.
Because Isco was one of the rare players at Real Madrid who dared to dribble, loved holding the ball, and truly enjoyed "playing" football. Watching him play, his flair and talent seemed to overflow effortlessly.
Even as a Real Madrid fan in his past life, Yang Hao often thought Isco would have been better suited to Barcelona rather than Madrid.
It felt like a wasted opportunity for him to join Real Madrid.
Madrid's style was never about "playing" football in that sense.
At the time, Real Madrid's tactical foundation revolved around Cristiano Ronaldo and a defensive counterattacking system.
There was no room for a player like Isco in that structure.
Even when Isco played, he didn't have teammates with similar playing styles to synchronize with.
Consequently, Isco was labeled as someone who held the ball too long, overcomplicated plays, and refused to adapt.
And that was the core issue.
People forget that even Luka Modrić struggled to fit in at Madrid during those years.
Yang Hao always believed that Modrić only truly flourished after Casemiro's arrival. Once freed from the heavy defensive responsibilities in midfield, Modrić could finally showcase his brilliance.
This gave rise to the "Magician Modrić" that football fans revered.
But Isco? Yang Hao felt that Real Madrid never truly tapped into his potential.
As for discussions about systems built around individual players or possession-heavy styles, Yang Hao dismissed such claims as nonsense.
When there's no one else capable of keeping up with a player's brilliance, naturally, you build around them, as Villarreal did with Riquelme.
Modrić at Tottenham or Isco at Málaga thrived in setups where everything revolved around them.
But when surrounded by players who could match their rhythm and style, why would you need to build a team solely around them?
Wouldn't it be better for everyone to play together, enjoying football at its purest?
A prime example of this was Barcelona's MSN trio—Messi, Suárez, and Neymar.
When the trio was formed, many doubted whether three superstars could coexist.
But they proved everyone wrong.
When three immensely talented players with unparalleled technical abilities came together, the result was an attacking synergy that far exceeded the sum of its parts.
And Real Madrid's BBC trio?
Let's not even compare. Sure, Madrid's BBC was formidable, but was Benzema ever truly at ease in that system?
Yang Hao wasn't trying to diminish Ronaldo's contributions or anyone else's. Ronaldo had earned his tactical privileges through his incredible performances.
But purely from a tactical perspective, it's clear that the BBC never achieved the same level of synergy as Barcelona's MSN.
Of course, this wasn't because Barcelona's management was particularly wise or visionary. It was mostly luck—snatching Neymar through sheer determination and then bringing in Suárez almost on a whim.
Yang Hao always felt that Barcelona's management was a liability for the club.
Oh, and speaking of Isco—he was now in Atlético's youth academy.
Spotted during youth tournaments with Málaga's academy teams, he caught the attention of Atlético's scouts and was brought into their ranks.
He was thriving in the academy, benefiting from Atlético's strong emphasis on technical development for young players.
Yang Hao was working on creating what he hoped would become the most formidable attacking lineup in football history.
The intense match at Old Trafford finally came to a close amidst Messi's dazzling dribbles and Yang Hao's wandering thoughts.
Atlético Madrid secured a 2-0 victory over Manchester United on the road.
Once Messi entered the game, United gradually lost their ability to resist.
Their backline was torn apart by Messi's relentless charges, and Ferguson could only watch helplessly.
This result wasn't surprising; after all, United had only managed to finish second in their Champions League group.
"You really are the most infuriating person I know!"
Those were Ferguson's opening words as he approached Yang Hao for the post-match handshake.
Yang Hao grinned and said nothing, refusing to argue with the legendary manager.
For him, winning was enough; the words didn't matter.
"Let me tell you something. That Messi kid only thrives in La Liga. If he came to the Premier League, he wouldn't last a day!"
Yang Hao couldn't help but chuckle. "That's such a baseless claim—it's pure prejudice."
"How is it prejudice?"
"Well, if that were true, then judging by how he shredded your defense tonight, Manchester United must not be a very good Premier League team either."
Ferguson fell silent, realizing the logic wasn't entirely wrong.
"Fine, but Messi isn't that great."
"Sure, sure. And Rooney's the best, right?"
"Rooney? What's that nickname you use? 'Little Fatty'? It's growing on me."
"By the way, are we having drinks later?"
"Ha! You already won the match and now you want to take my booze too?"
"Not at all. If we're skipping drinks, I'll head straight back—my girlfriend's waiting at the hotel."
"Fine, we're drinking. After the press conference, I'll pick you up. And tonight, you're not leaving until I've had my revenge!"
Atlético's 2-0 win at Old Trafford immediately became a hot topic in the football world.
The scoreline itself wasn't shocking—Manchester United were no longer the force they once were. What truly stood out was the way Atlético dominated from start to finish.
During his post-match press conference, Ferguson complained bitterly about the referee, claiming the officiating was too harsh on United.
Still, Ferguson wasn't short on confidence. He declared that United had created plenty of chances and vowed to overturn the result in Madrid.
In contrast, Yang Hao appeared much calmer, refraining from arguing with Ferguson. After all, the victory was already in hand.
The media's reaction overwhelmingly favored Atlético. Even some British outlets acknowledged that Atlético had displayed a higher level of tactical sophistication than United throughout the match.
One stat perfectly illustrated Atlético's dominance: 62% possession—a staggering figure.
That advantage translated into more shots and consistent pressure on United's defense.
United's problems were laid bare, especially in defense. Ferdinand's partner in the backline was a weak link, and the issues in defensive midfield were even more glaring.
The Times of London summed it up succinctly: Marcos Senna > Roy Keane + Fortune.
This harsh critique angered many United fans, but even they couldn't deny the painful truth.
The era of United's legendary "Class of '92" was truly over. From Beckham's departure to the current decline of players like Giggs, Keane, and Neville, it was clear that United needed a rebuild.
Up front, the tension between Ronaldo and Rooney was impossible to ignore.
Both players seemed determined to outshine the other, and Ronaldo's visible frustration when substituted hinted at deeper dissatisfaction.
"With this squad traveling to Madrid's Calderón Stadium, Manchester United's chances of survival look grim," wrote the Times.
After returning to Madrid from Manchester, Atlético faced Real Sociedad in the 25th round of La Liga.
Atlético secured a 1-0 victory at home, with the lone goal scored by Antonio López.
The youth academy product has mainly been a backup for Evra this season. Despite limited playing time, his performances have been solid.
This was the second time he scored a crucial goal, further proving the effectiveness of Yang Hao's rotation policy.
Relying on a single lineup throughout the season is unrealistic.
With Atlético playing 50-60 matches every season, using just a dozen players is impossible—even ironmen would break down.
Notably, Torres was fouled in the first half and had to be stretchered off for treatment. During halftime, he told the medical staff about pain in his ankle, leading Yang Hao to sub him out as a precaution.
At that point, the score was already 1-0.
This gave Messi the opportunity to play the entire second half. While he performed well, Real Sociedad's defensive wall proved too strong.
Messi's most significant contribution was drawing two yellow cards against their left-back, Brazilian Rosato, who was eventually sent off with a red card in the 87th minute.
Fortunately, tests later showed Torres's injury wasn't serious.
Elsewhere, Barcelona was held to a 1-1 draw by Numancia, and Real Madrid lost 2-0 away to Deportivo La Coruña.
After 25 rounds, Atlético led La Liga with 65 points, followed by Barcelona with 57 and Real Madrid with 47.
The top three positions seemed secure, with Atlético maintaining a commanding lead.
Three Days Later – Round 26
Barcelona was held to a goalless draw at home against Espanyol, with Mauricio Pochettino putting in a phenomenal defensive performance.
Despite Espanyol losing center-back Jarque to a red card in the 65th minute, Pochettino led his team to defend fiercely for over half an hour, keeping a clean sheet at Camp Nou.
Barcelona's coach, Rijkaard, rotated his lineup heavily due to their upcoming Champions League clash at Stamford Bridge. After a 2-2 draw at home against Chelsea, the team faced an uphill battle in the second leg.
The squad rotation backfired, with Barcelona's first-half performance being dreadful. Rijkaard made changes at halftime, subbing out Gerard and Maxi López, but it wasn't enough to secure a win.
Atlético, meanwhile, drew 1-1 away against Racing Santander, with Torres scoring the equalizer.
Real Madrid achieved a 3-1 home victory over Real Betis.
The Weekend – Round 27
Barcelona narrowly defeated Osasuna 1-0, thanks to a goal from Eto'o.
Real Madrid was held to a 1-1 draw by Valencia.
Atlético, playing at home, comfortably beat Sevilla 3-0 with goals from Torres, Villa, and Antonio López.
Despite these results, the top three positions remained unchanged, with Atlético holding onto their substantial lead.
Three days after the Sevilla match, Atlético hosted Manchester United in the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16.
Manchester United Starting XI:
Goalkeeper: Van der SarDefense: Heinze, Silvestre, Ferdinand, Wes BrownMidfield: Giggs, Roy Keane, Scholes, Cristiano RonaldoForwards: Van Nistelrooy, Rooney
Apart from Gary Neville's injury, which saw Wes Brown moved to right-back and Silvestre to center-back, the biggest change from the first leg was the inclusion of Van Nistelrooy in place of Fortune.
Keane and Scholes formed the double pivot in midfield.
This setup resembled a 4-4-2, but Rooney's versatility allowed him to drop back into the No. 10 role, shifting it into a 4-2-3-1 when needed.
Ferguson's intentions were clear: he wasn't going to play defensively.
After losing 2-0 at home in the first leg, the only way to advance was to attack aggressively from the start.
Atlético Madrid Starting XI:
Goalkeeper: ČechDefense: Evra, Pepe, Lucio, MaiconMidfield: Marcos Senna (DM), Iniesta, KakáForwards: Ribéry, Drogba, Robben
Yang Hao stuck with the same lineup that delivered a decisive victory at Old Trafford, a clear sign of trust in his players.
The match began with Atlético kicking off.
Drogba and Kaká exchanged quick passes before the ball was sent to the backline for a series of patient build-ups.
United's players pressed high, but Atlético remained calm, focusing on maintaining possession and controlling the tempo.
The strategic approach was simple: Atlético refused to play at Manchester United's preferred pace.
A fast-paced game would risk undermining the advantage Atlético had gained in the first leg.
The team's discipline frustrated United. Despite pushing forward, United couldn't break Atlético's rhythm, and both teams failed to register a shot in the opening five minutes.
Standing on the sidelines, Yang Hao smirked as he caught Ferguson's irritated glance from across the pitch.
Ferguson, visibly frustrated, turned and returned to the bench.
9th Minute – First Chance
Atlético launched a counterattack after Iniesta received the ball near the halfway line. He pushed forward quickly, supported by Ribéry, Drogba, and Robben, who lined up against United's defensive line.
Iniesta's diagonal pass found Ribéry on the left flank. The Frenchman cut inside, dribbling past Wes Brown before delivering a pinpoint through ball to Drogba.
The Ivorian striker controlled the ball at the edge of the box, turned, and unleashed a powerful shot, but Van der Sar made a comfortable save.
This was the first shot on target of the match by either team.
Just three minutes later, Marcos Senna intercepted a ball in midfield and quickly delivered a long diagonal pass to the right flank.
Robben surged down the right wing, cut inside after faking out Heinze, and struck with his left foot.
Once again, Van der Sar caught the shot.
In the 16th minute, Kaká, receiving the ball with his back to goal, controlled it, turned, and lofted a perfectly weighted pass into the space behind the defense. Drogba made a late run into the box and controlled it on his chest near the penalty spot.
But the assistant referee raised the flag—offside.
Atlético had missed a golden opportunity.
The most dangerous moment for Atlético in the opening stages came in the 23rd minute. Maicon sprinted down the right flank, passed the halfway line, and delivered a diagonal long pass to the edge of the penalty area.
Drogba made a strong run, using his strength to bulldoze Sylvestre aside. Heading the ball forward into the box, he created a one-on-one opportunity with Van der Sar.
At the crucial moment, Van der Sar courageously came off his line and collected the ball just before Drogba could reach it.
Luckily, Drogba slowed down in time; otherwise, Van der Sar might have been seriously hurt.
Don't believe it?
Just look at Sylvestre, who was sent flying by Drogba's charge.
"Drogba is simply too strong!"
"Here's the slow-motion replay. The Manchester United center-back couldn't handle it—he was physically outmatched and literally shoved aside."
"As Yang Hao said before, Drogba truly is a beast!"
The Atlético fans in the stadium roared their approval, giving Drogba a round of applause.
As Atlético began to dominate, the pressure on Manchester United's players increased significantly.
United had tried to press hard in the opening minutes to unsettle their opponents. Instead, they were struggling to regain possession, with Atlético stringing together dangerous counterattacks.
It was a bad sign for the visitors.
"Our midfield's ball retention is awful."
From the visitors' bench, Carlos Queiroz handed Ferguson a clipboard with some live match statistics.
Marcos Senna had already made four interceptions, while neither Roy Keane nor Paul Scholes had managed even one.
This highlighted not only Atlético's superior passing and control but also Manchester United's struggles in midfield.
Additionally, it underscored just how outstanding Senna was.
As for turnovers, both Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney had lost possession twice each.
The two young stars still hadn't completely buried their differences.
After the first leg, Ferguson had repeatedly spoken to both players, emphasizing the need for unity. While they had begun showing signs of cooperation, Yang Hao's pre-match comments rekindled the tension.
He repeated what he had said before the first leg: Cristiano Ronaldo was the greater threat.
As a result, Ronaldo had been ineffective for nearly 20 minutes, and Rooney was similarly quiet, not even attempting a shot.
"In the next two to three years, they'll need to work on not just their skills but also their temperaments," Ferguson lamented.
He admired Rooney's passion and aggression; players like him were like wild beasts on the pitch.
But the issue was that two alphas couldn't coexist peacefully. When two wild animals shared the same territory, one always had to dominate.
"Our midfield is in serious trouble," Queiroz reminded him.
Ferguson had already noticed.
They couldn't win the ball, couldn't hold the ball, and couldn't pass the ball effectively.
Almost half an hour into the match, Van Nistelrooy had barely touched the ball. United's midfield was completely suffocated by Atlético's press.
Though the match appeared evenly poised on the surface, in reality, it wasn't.
As Ferguson pondered his next move, a loud cheer erupted from the crowd.
He looked toward the pitch and saw Iniesta intercept the ball from Scholes before passing it to Kaká.
The Brazilian didn't even pause to adjust; he accelerated like a motorized machine, sprinting at full speed.
The entire Calderón roared to life.
For Atlético's fans, seeing Kaká in full stride almost guaranteed danger—and potentially, a goal.
"Kaká shrugs off Roy Keane!"
"He's accelerating, chasing down Iniesta's pass!"
"Carrying the ball forward. Manchester United's defense is retreating, but Kaká has entered the final third!"
"He's still going, the speed hasn't dropped!"
"Both center-backs are marking Drogba. Wes Brown leaves Ribéry to close down Kaká!"
"Kaká doesn't wait for Brown to reach him—what a beautiful through ball!"
"Drogba is onside!"
"Right foot to control, left foot to shoot!"
"GOAL!!!"
"Atlético! Atlético!"
"29th minute, and Atlético finally break Manchester United's defense!"
"Kaká's surgical through ball slices through United's backline!"
"Drogba's perfectly timed run kept him onside, and his finish was clinical!"
"Let's take another look at this pass."
"Absolutely brilliant—Wes Brown and Ferdinand weren't even in line, but Kaká threaded the ball perfectly through the narrow gap between them into the box."
"That's the hallmark of a world-class player!"
"You can see how precise Kaká's pass was—Drogba's run and finish were just as decisive, controlling with his right foot and finishing with his left in one fluid motion!"
"This is what Atlético's attack is all about!"
The Calderón erupted in celebration, with fans chanting the names of Kaká and Drogba.
On the sidelines, Yang Hao jumped in excitement, punching the air repeatedly.
United had not played defensively; their strategy was aggressive and assertive.
Yang Hao's plan had been to absorb their initial pressure, bide his time, and then strike.
He was prepared for a goalless first half.
What he hadn't anticipated was just how ineffective United's midfield would be.
After taking the lead, Atlético surged with confidence, while Manchester United appeared rattled.
Just three minutes later, Atlético launched another counterattack.
Ribéry, attacking down the left, was forced to backtrack and pass to Iniesta, who laid it off to Kaká.
The Brazilian drove forward, leaving Scholes in his wake. Racing down the left flank, Kaká slowed momentarily to face Ferdinand, faked a move inside, then suddenly veered outside with a burst of speed, creating enough space for a low cross toward the far post.
Surprisingly, neither Drogba nor Robben managed to connect, squandering a golden opportunity.
Manchester United responded with a counterattack of their own.
Scholes lofted a ball toward Van Nistelrooy near midfield. The Dutch striker controlled it but, instead of turning toward Ronaldo nearby, sent a diagonal pass across the pitch to the far side, seeking Giggs.
Giggs controlled the ball and drove into Atlético's penalty area, but his shot was blocked by a sliding tackle from the fast-retreating Maicon, sending it out for a corner.
Without Beckham, Manchester United's set pieces had lost much of their threat, especially corners.
Atlético quickly responded.
During a driving run forward, Iniesta spotted that Drogba was offside on the left side of the box, raising his hand to call for the ball. Instead, Iniesta delivered a diagonal pass toward the right, aiming for Robben.
This time, the Dutchman reacted quickly and surged forward, but his first touch was too heavy. By the time he chased it down, the shooting angle had narrowed considerably.
The resulting shot lacked any real threat.
As the match progressed, both teams began to play more openly, with the game teetering on the brink of chaos. Neither side seemed able to pull the tempo back under control.
However, the overall trend remained consistent with the first leg: Atlético held more possession, executed more efficient passing, and dominated midfield duels, creating better chances as a result.
In the 39th minute, Atlético struck again after winning the ball in midfield.
Kaká began driving forward but shifted his focus to the right flank instead of his usual preference for the left.
Roy Keane backpedaled quickly and managed to stick close to Kaká near the edge of the penalty area, forcing him to pass horizontally to Robben. Kaká continued his forward run, breaking into the right side of the penalty box.
Robben managed to shake off Heinze, cutting inside with the ball, creating a sliver of space. He slipped a precise low pass toward the byline.
The surging Kaká reached Robben's pass just in time, though Sylvestre was hot on his heels. Near the byline, Kaká abruptly stopped, shielding the ball with his back to Sylvestre, before passing it back toward the right flank.
Maicon was already in position, having joined the attack. He took Kaká's pass, carried the ball slightly backward, and laid it off to Robben, positioned near the right corner of the penalty area.
Robben's first touch immediately drew Keane and Sylvestre toward him, both wary of his trademark cut-inside move.
Unfazed, Robben passed the ball back into the right side of the box.
In the confined space of Manchester United's penalty area, the ball was passed around in a tight circle, eluding all attempts by United's defenders to intervene.
Eventually, it came to rest back in the penalty box, where Kaká had returned from an offside position. Seeing Robben's pass, he wasted no time, sprinting to meet the ball.
One touch with his left foot to control it; a clean, powerful strike with his right foot followed.
The angle wasn't ideal, but Kaká had just enough space to make it work. His right-footed shot, both perfectly timed and executed with precision, sailed high toward the top-right corner of the goal.
The ball traveled with blistering speed.
Van der Sar, reacting instantly, leaped with both arms stretched high, his posture resembling a volleyball player attempting a block.
Despite his effort, he felt the ball rip through the space between his hands. The speed of the shot was undeniable.
As this thought crossed Van der Sar's mind, the referee's whistle confirmed the goal.
"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!"
"It's Atlético again!"
"Kaká scores Atlético's second of the night!"
"2–0!"
"Oh my goodness! Atlético's intricate passing play on the left side of United's box has completely outclassed the defense!"
"Kaká's shooting angle was narrow, but the strike was pinpoint accurate."
"This is a clear demonstration of world-class talent."
"Wait, the broadcast is switching to the sidelines. What's going on?"
"It seems Manchester United's medical staff are rushing toward the visitors' dugout. Ferguson's hand appears to be injured."
"Let's check the replay."
In the replay, Ferguson is seen standing up from his seat, visibly furious as United's left side was toyed with by Atlético's passing. When Kaká's shot found the back of the net, Ferguson angrily swung his arm, inadvertently hitting the metal support pole of the dugout roof.
The pole, though rounded, still delivered a painful impact.
This led to the dramatic scene of United's medical staff rushing over.
Yang Hao, unaware of what had happened, walked over to check on Ferguson after speaking briefly with the fourth official.
The verdict? Ferguson's left hand had collided with the pole and would likely swell for a few days. For safety, the team medic applied some ointment and wrapped his hand in a bandage.
"Should we get it checked at the hospital?" Yang Hao asked with genuine concern.
"Of course, that's what you'd want!" Ferguson snapped back.
Though he knew Yang Hao's concern was sincere, the thought of leaving to get checked while Yang Hao gloated was unbearable.
Yang Hao shrugged, maintaining an innocent look. "No need to go if you don't want to. Does it even matter whether you're here or not?"
"We have subpar facilities. Be careful with your movements, and don't get too worked up. Take care of yourself; there's still the second half to play."
Ferguson's irritation flared at Yang Hao's tone, feeling as though he was being blamed.
"Don't forget, I'm only agitated because of your antics!"
"And those clowns on the pitch—what are they even doing? Four defenders getting toyed with by three attackers!"
"Alright, I'll leave now. If you need anything, just call me. Be careful not to hurt yourself again."
Yang Hao casually greeted the fourth official again before returning to his technical area.
He barely made it back before bursting out laughing.
Coaching to the point of injuring oneself? That's a new level of frustration.
After Ferguson's "injury," both teams toned down their aggression.
The first half ended 2–0 in Atlético's favor.
With an aggregate score of 4–0, Atlético had essentially secured their place in the next round.
As Yang Hao walked off the pitch at halftime, he caught sight of Ferguson's bandaged hand and couldn't suppress his laughter. Furious, Ferguson stormed off without a word.
The old man's temper was a little too short.
What's wrong with laughing?
This situation was entirely self-inflicted.
Why?
Because Manchester United's midfield was virtually non-existent.
Since Beckham's departure, the once-golden midfield had crumbled. Its structure disintegrated, leaving gaps in their playstyle. Compounding this, United had sold Verón, Butt, and Djemba-Djemba, key midfield players, without securing adequate replacements.
This was their core issue.
Ferguson had pinned his hopes on Brazilian midfielder Kleberson, but he struggled to adapt to the Premier League.
The result?
United's midfield was left with Keane, Fortune, Scholes, and Fletcher.
At 21, Fletcher was barely impactful in domestic matches, riding on United's overall strength. In the Champions League, he started one group-stage match—a 0–3 loss to Fenerbahçe, relegating United to second place in their group.
This is why Manchester United ended up facing Atlético immediately after the group stage.
During halftime, Ferguson made a substitution.
Fortune replaced Giggs, Rooney was shifted to the left wing, and Fortune dropped into a defensive midfield role alongside Keane, while Scholes continued as the attacking midfielder.
There wasn't much choice—Manchester United had to make do with the players they had.
However, Atlético showed no intention of letting Manchester United off the hook after the break. They continued to dominate possession and launch waves of attacks.
It didn't take long for United's defense to crumble again.
When Maicon intercepted Rooney's dribble, Atlético launched a swift counterattack.
Robben, under pressure from Heinze on the right wing, failed to break through and had to pass back to the advancing Maicon.
The Brazilian passed horizontally to Kaká.
Facing Fortune, Kaká controlled the ball with his right foot, feinted as if to go wide and link up with Maicon and Robben, but suddenly pulled the ball back with his right foot and shifted it to his left, creating a slight angle. Then, with his left foot, he delivered a diagonal pass to the penalty spot.
Drogba was positioned near Ferdinand, deliberately staying half a step behind him.
As Kaká beat Fortune, Drogba instantly accelerated. He knew that Kaká's pass was aimed at him.
Keane couldn't intercept the passing lane—Kaká had planned this sequence from the moment he received the ball.
Drogba sprinted toward the penalty spot, with Ferdinand also in pursuit.
As the ball approached, Drogba used his left shoulder to forcefully push Ferdinand aside. Near the penalty spot, he caught up with Kaká's pass, stopped the ball with his right foot, then braked sharply before chipping the ball with the same foot.
Van der Sar, who had rushed off his line to the edge of the six-yard box, realized the danger and tried to retreat.
But Drogba's chip soared over his head and into the back of the net.
"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!"
"3–0!"
"Oh my word! The second half is picking up right where the first half left off."
"Both teams have stuck to their first-half strategies—United leaning defensively while Atlético continues to press forward."
"Look at that pass from Kaká—absolutely sublime!"
"Kaká isn't just dazzling with his dribbles and runs; his passing and assists are becoming increasingly precise."
"An incredibly complete midfield maestro!"
The game had spiraled completely beyond Ferguson's expectations, especially after the second half began.
With Atlético scoring again, United completely lost control.
Frustrated, United's players began pushing forward in desperation. For them, this match was already lost. Rather than being pinned back, they decided to go all out and attack.
But United's offensive issues were glaringly obvious—their players weren't working together.
Whether it was Rooney on the left or Ronaldo on the right, whenever they had the ball, they tried to go solo.
In the 65th minute, Ronaldo attempted a long-range shot from 30 yards out. While it was decently struck, it veered wide and posed no real threat.
Van Nistelrooy and Rooney, who had sprinted forward expecting a pass, were visibly upset. Van Nistelrooy even shouted angrily at Ronaldo, who ignored him, shrugging and walking away.
Their discord was no secret—reports of altercations had surfaced before.
United's wing play was still dangerous at times, but when their attacks broke down, Atlético capitalized on the openings to counterattack.
Just three minutes after Ronaldo's speculative shot, Atlético intercepted the ball in their own half. Iniesta turned sharply to escape Fortune and delivered a diagonal pass toward Kaká in the right channel.
The Brazilian seemed like a machine set to full power, instantly accelerating past Keane to chase Iniesta's pass. At blistering speed, he drove the ball down the right wing and into United's penalty area.
As Sylvestre approached to defend near the edge of the box, Kaká slowed slightly, leaned toward Sylvestre, then suddenly shifted outward and accelerated again. Cutting inside the box, he created just enough space to deliver a low cross to the far post.
Drogba, racing forward with Ferdinand closely marking him, found himself unable to connect with Kaká's pass.
Frustrated, Drogba pushed himself even harder—this was his chance for a hat trick.
At the far post, he flung his entire body forward, sliding in to meet Kaká's cross.
The timing was perfect. The ball grazed Drogba's outstretched left foot, redirecting straight into the goal.
But Drogba's momentum carried him forward uncontrollably. After scoring, his left foot collided hard with the post.
The entire stadium erupted in gasps, torn between celebrating the goal and worrying about Drogba's condition.
"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!"
"Another incredible assist from Kaká, and Drogba finishes with a sliding shot!"
"HAT TRICK!"
"We can see Drogba lying on the ground near the post—this looks serious. The referee is signaling for the medical team to come on."
"From the replay, it's clear Drogba gave everything for this hat trick."
"A Champions League knockout-stage hat trick from the Ivorian striker, Didier Drogba!"
On the sidelines, Yang Hao sighed in exasperation.
They were already leading by a large margin—why push so hard?
Thankfully, the team doctor signaled from the field that Drogba was fine, which brought a sigh of relief.
"Get Leo ready to warm up," Yang Hao instructed Juanma Lillo.
Lillo hesitated for a moment but quickly understood.
"Here we go again," he muttered.
Yang Hao had developed a habit of subbing in Messi at every opportunity, giving the young Argentine as much game time as possible, regardless of the match or situation.
In the 70th minute, Drogba was substituted off for Messi to a standing ovation.
The home crowd erupted in applause, celebrating Drogba's heroic hat trick despite his reckless effort.
Messi's introduction raised eyebrows.
The young Argentine typically played on the right wing, occasionally on the left. But now, Yang Hao was deploying him in Drogba's central striker role—a position often congested with defenders.
Fans wondered: could the young left-footer really thrive in such a demanding role?
For now, the celebration was all about Drogba, who walked off the pitch as the man of the night.
Manchester United's two center-backs had no answers for him in the first half. But with Messi subbed on, how would Atlético adjust their tactics?
Yang Hao quickly gave clear instructions: play freely.
It didn't matter who pressed forward—Iniesta, Kaká, or Messi—any of them could take the lead or link up.
Interestingly, after several exchanges on the field, Kaká naturally moved into the center-forward position.
It likely had something to do with his build. At 1.86 meters tall, he genuinely looked the part of a striker.
All three players—Messi, Kaká, and Iniesta—had incredibly refined footwork. Their frequent indoor football matches at Atlético's training base had forged an unshakable chemistry.
But United's defense was packed. At times, four or even five players congested the central area.
In the 75th minute, Yang Hao made his second substitution. Mascherano replaced Marcos Senna.
As Senna left the field, he received a standing ovation from the entire stadium.
Over the two legs, Senna had demonstrated incredible consistency. In this match alone, he contributed an astonishing 14 interceptions in just 75 minutes.
Yang Hao substituted him not because of any issues, but to ensure the crowd could acknowledge his contribution. It was a well-deserved gesture.
By this point, the scoreline was 4–0 for the match, 6–0 on aggregate.
Yang Hao didn't believe for a second that United could mount a miraculous comeback. Not unless Atlético left their goal wide open for them.
The players were relaxed, visibly at ease. Whether it was Ribéry, Robben, or the trio in the middle, they occasionally tried flashy plays or long-range shots. Unfortunately, none found the net.
Then, in the 86th minute, as the match entered its final stages, Atlético struck again.
After intercepting the ball in midfield, Mascherano passed to Iniesta, who advanced with the ball before laying it off to Messi.
Messi faced two defenders—Scholes and Fortune. Yet, he fearlessly charged straight at them with the ball.
The two defenders closed in, one in front and one to his side, preparing to trap him.
But Messi's quick-footed shifts, pulling the ball left and right, coupled with his relentless feints, allowed him to slip through their sliding challenges and emerge on the other side.
The entire stadium erupted in awe at Messi's brilliance.
Breaking free, Messi surged toward the penalty area.
Kaká, initially positioned inside the box, scanned his surroundings and quickly dropped back to the edge of the penalty arc, just behind Sylvestre.
With Ferdinand behind him and Roy Keane dropping deeper into the box to act as an emergency defender, Messi approached the penalty arc. At the last moment, he passed the ball to Kaká.
Kaká received the ball with his back to goal. Messi's pass came to his right foot—his side closer to the left flank—making it difficult for Sylvestre to intervene.
The French defender, experienced as he was, immediately turned to block Kaká's next move. Ferdinand stepped in for additional support.
Kaká, meanwhile, received the ball and began to pivot.
Then, something extraordinary happened.
As Kaká spun halfway—facing the left touchline—the ball, now under his right foot, stayed close. With a delicate backheel, Kaká nudged the ball behind him while continuing his turn.
The entire maneuver unfolded in a split second.
Neither Sylvestre nor Ferdinand could predict such a move. By the time they reacted, the ball was already on its way.
Even Messi himself hadn't anticipated the brilliance of Kaká's backheel pass.
But the Argentine reacted instantly, driven by the muscle memory of countless training sessions and futsal games.
As the ball rolled toward him, Messi delicately flicked it with the tip of his left boot, angling it behind Ferdinand.
Messi shielded the ball from Keane's challenge with an outstretched arm, accelerated again, and darted past the defender.
His small stature, low center of gravity, and lightning-quick agility left Ferdinand trailing.
Messi reached the ball first and unleashed a left-footed toe-poke shot.
The strike zipped across the grass like a missile, drilling into the bottom-left corner of the net.
For a moment, the entire stadium was stunned.
Atlético's two players had toyed with five of Manchester United's defenders: Ferdinand, Sylvestre, Keane, Scholes, and Fortune—all renowned players.
When the referee blew the whistle to confirm the goal, the stadium erupted into chaos. Fans leapt from their seats, screaming and cheering uncontrollably.
On the pitch, Manchester United's players stood frozen, still trying to process what had just happened.
They couldn't believe how Kaká and Messi had carved through their defense so effortlessly.
It defied logic, like some kind of magic trick.
Messi, overwhelmed with emotion, let out a triumphant yell and bolted toward the sidelines.
Kaká, equally ecstatic after providing such a miraculous assist, sprinted to meet him.
As Messi approached, Kaká abruptly stopped, slapped his own back, and gestured for Messi to jump on.
Without hesitation, Messi leaped onto Kaká's back, shouting in delight as Kaká carried him toward the sidelines.
The rest of the Atlético squad rushed over to join the celebration.
Nobody could fully comprehend how this goal had been scored—not even Yang Hao.
It had all happened so quickly, too fast for anyone to fully grasp.
But that was precisely what made it so breathtaking and unforgettable.
This was a moment of pure genius, a display of unparalleled creativity and skill.
Watching Kaká carry Messi in celebration, Yang Hao couldn't help but burst into laughter.
First Drogba, now Kaká...
What a team.
Especially Messi. Perched on Kaká's back, fists raised high, basking in the roars of the crowd—he seemed so much more confident and vibrant compared to his earlier years.
This was the Messi cultivated by Atlético Madrid.
Perhaps he wasn't fully mature yet, or as dominant as he would someday be.
But he was already astonishingly brilliant.
And then there was Kaká.
At this moment, Yang Hao felt immense pride in the star he had nurtured.
Kaká wasn't just meeting expectations—he was surpassing them, evolving into something even greater than his counterpart from Yang Hao's previous life.
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