With the time difference, Manchester United didn't yet know their next opponent, but judging by Sir Alex Ferguson's expression, they were confident of winning this one!
"Two minutes left in stoppage time!" Park Ji-sung whispered to Claire as he passed by. Claire was exhausted, barely holding on, but he was determined to finish the match. He knew pushing himself like this could harm his lungs, but he felt he had no choice.
Claire's two assists had sent Old Trafford's atmosphere into overdrive. Meanwhile, Benzema had already been subbed off, and Lille's team morale was visibly low. If Claire had used his popularity to outshine the younger Benzema, it wasn't a big deal. Still, Claire couldn't shake his frustration.
For the sake of his future in football, his "bond" seemed to quietly approve of his restraint.
When the final whistle blew, United's players rushed onto the field, hoisting Claire—who was standing motionless by the goal—into the air. It was his first time lasting a full match, and he soaked in the electric atmosphere. Fans chanted players' names in waves, their cheers echoing through the stands.
Amid the celebration, Lucy Pinder left her broadcast booth, microphone and camera in hand, heading toward the area where both sets of fans were starting to leave. Claire, visibly drained, waved her off. Understandingly, Lucy turned to interview Rooney and others instead. Park Ji-sung, buzzing with excitement, lingered behind Rooney, looking ready to spill some gossip. A few United players, aware of the ambiguous rumors about Lucy and Claire, exchanged knowing winks but said nothing.
On the losing side, a few Lille players lingered near their bench, discussing something. "What happens on the pitch stays on the pitch. I'm not getting involved," said Lyon's captain, Casapa, as he left with their key player, Fred. Whether intentional or not, he took Lille's assistant coach with him, leaving only a handful of substitutes behind. The starters knew what to do—and what not to do.
Benzema, surrounded by a few Lille substitutes, showed a rare moment of loyalty. "I'll find an excuse to rough him up later. Just make sure I'm covered," he said.
Ben Arfa, a recent addition to the team, breathed a sigh of relief. As a new player with few scoring opportunities, getting into a scrap could easily get him traded. The others shared similar thoughts—not everyone had Benzema's natural talent.
Rooney's interview was short and polished, still carrying a hint of his star persona. But when it was Park Ji-sung's turn, he was far less reserved.
"There was some tension on the pitch, wasn't there?" Lucy asked.
"Ha, if someone insulted your childhood sweetheart in front of you, you wouldn't be happy either," Park replied. "But Claire kept his cool. Honestly, I think the only thing that could set him off now is a drink."
The cameraman, thrilled with the juicy exchange, didn't notice Claire and Ronaldo quietly slipping toward the players' tunnel.
"Wow, is Claire's alcohol tolerance that bad?" Lucy pressed.
Park's face lit up with a "you're really asking me that?" expression. Careful not to say too much on camera, he grinned. "Oh, yeah. One drink, and he's done. You could get him to do anything."
The surrounding United players hooted and jeered, and the cameraman panned to capture their reactions. But then, shouts erupted from the tunnel entrance. The cameraman instinctively swung his lens toward the commotion, where Ronaldo was being blocked by Lille's substitutes. Despite his efforts, Ronaldo couldn't break through.
Seeing the cameraman sprint toward the tunnel, Lucy, in her high heels, hurried after him. A few United players, familiar with the unwritten rules of the game, noticed Ronaldo's predicament and the gasps from the crowd. They didn't need to guess what was happening—they bolted toward the scene.
Lucy reached the stands near the encirclement, where the cameraman was already gleefully recording. In the middle of the crowd, Claire was gripping Benzema by the neck, landing punch after punch on his face. If not for the visible cuts on Claire's face, Lucy might've thought he had the upper hand.
Park and a few others dove into the fray with practiced ease. Ronaldo, eyeing the nearby crowd and reporters, stayed back. Park and the others shouted for Claire and Benzema to stop, but their hands were busy pinning Benzema's arms, giving Claire a chance to land a few more hits.
"Listen, you idiot! There are some people you can talk about, and some you don't even mention!" Claire yelled.
"You think you, a rookie, have the right to talk about Megan?" Benzema shot back. "Come back when you've scored more goals than me!"
Claire was entirely consumed by his "bond," each word punctuated by another swing at Benzema's face. But Claire wasn't unscathed—blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
"Reporters are here!" someone shouted.
"Everyone, back off!"
The players from both sides, well-versed in defusing such situations, quickly pulled their teammates toward their respective locker rooms. By the time the reporters arrived, the tunnel was nearly empty, save for two MUTV staff members. Even Lucy had vanished.
In the locker room, Claire sat lifelessly on a leather chair, his eyes vacant. He couldn't leave yet—not with so many people having witnessed the brawl. He needed the atmosphere to cool down. Ronaldo, standing nearby, looked puzzled. "Megan's already engaged. Was that really necessary?"
"It's not about necessity," Claire replied. "It's my obsession. If I can't follow through on it, I might as well never call myself a man."
Ronaldo shook his head helplessly and headed out of the locker room. As he reached the door, a swarm of reporters descended, all asking the same question: "Was Claire just fighting Benzema?"
Annoyed, Ronaldo tried to brush past, but their persistence got to him. He shouted, "If someone insulted your childhood sweetheart, would you just stand there and take it?"
Back in the locker room, Park, now alone with Claire, leaned in and whispered, "I know you're a man."
"Get lost!" Claire snapped.