Chapter 598: The Times Have Changed!
"The ball is in! Goal!!!" He Wei shouted, extending his voice. "Manchester United leads Real Madrid 2-1!! Brave Manchester United!! How many people predicted this before the match? But it's a fact! They are leading for the second time!"
The Kyiv Olympic Stadium felt like a volcanic eruption, with cheers, songs, boos, applause, and curses all merging into an indistinguishable cacophony.
Harry Kane, who scored the goal, was hugging Cancelo, who provided the assist, while Manchester United's substitutes were yelling and rushing out of their seats in excitement.
"Unbelievable! Unbelievable! Unbelievable!!" English commentator Andy Gray repeated, emphasizing not just the brilliance of the goal but also the astonishing fact that Manchester United, in a Champions League final, was leading Real Madrid twice, making the mighty Real Madrid play catch-up.
"What a brilliant attack! Who says only Real Madrid and Barcelona can play this kind of football? Manchester United can too!" Andy Gray felt nothing but sheer delight.
Before the match, everyone believed Real Madrid's victory was a foregone conclusion, with the only question being the margin of their win. Yet now, Real Madrid had never even led in the game.
"Wow, wow, wow! Beautiful! Hooray Manchester United!! Well done!!"
Manchester United fans were the most ecstatic, celebrating wildly in the stands, even losing coherence in their excitement.
Far away in the East, commentator He Wei's voice, transmitted through TV signals, reached fans watching at home.
"No matter the final outcome, Mourinho's Manchester United has earned the world's respect through their actions."
"Real Madrid is a world-class club with the support of the entire Real Madrid and Spain. Many people forget that Manchester United is also a world-class club!"
"Although Manchester United fell into silence after Ferguson's retirement, they quickly revived under Mourinho. Last season, they became the first team in history to win the Premier League, FA Cup, and League Cup treble, and they also won the Europa League, becoming the first English team to win six trophies in one season."
"This season, Manchester United's performance has been even better. They defended all three domestic titles and smoothly advanced to the Champions League final, remaining unbeaten throughout the season, setting a record of 64 matches unbeaten in all competitions in a single season and 68 matches unbeaten across seasons. This is something even the super clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich have not achieved!"
"The world remembers AC Milan's 58-match unbeaten run in Serie A and Arsenal's 49-match unbeaten run in the Premier League, but both were only unbeaten in the league. Manchester United's unbeaten run spans all competitions, which is undoubtedly much more difficult!"
"However, Manchester United's achievements have not been fairly recognized. The internet is full of voices belittling them, claiming Mourinho's team is conservative and anti-football, ignoring the fact that Manchester United has scored 121 goals in 38 Premier League matches this season, tying the record for most goals in a single season across the top five leagues. In the Champions League, they have scored 37 goals in 12 matches, the only team in the Champions League to score over 30 goals; they also scored 15 goals in the FA Cup, 18 in the League Cup, 2 in the Community Shield, 4 in the UEFA Super Cup, and 2 today, bringing their total to 199 goals for the 2017-2018 season, just one short of 200 goals!"
"Because Manchester United did not face top-tier teams on their way to the Champions League final, with the strongest opponent being Manchester City, who have never proven themselves in the Champions League, people believe their advancement is due to sheer luck. In contrast, Real Madrid emerged from the group of death, defeating top teams like Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, and Bayern Munich, showcasing their immense strength."
"In recent years, English clubs have underperformed in Europe. Since Chelsea's Champions League win in the 2011-2012 season, no team has reached the final in five years, and only Chelsea and Manchester City have reached the semifinals, each only once. The once-leading Premier League has not only been surpassed by La Liga but also momentarily by the Bundesliga and Serie A."
"Because of this, many on the internet and in the media claim that Manchester United's unbeaten Premier League win is not due to their strength but rather the weakness of other Premier League teams; their entry into the Champions League final is also seen as a result of luck rather than skill!"
"People forget that in football, luck is part of the strength!"
"As seen in today's match, Manchester United has led Real Madrid twice in the final. Is there luck involved? Sure, but anyone who has watched the game can see Manchester United's strength. Can anyone confidently say that Barcelona or Bayern Munich could lead Real Madrid twice in a match?"
"And why is luck always on Manchester United's side? As the saying goes, fortune favors the prepared. If Manchester United were truly weak, they wouldn't be able to seize opportunities when they arise!"
He Wei's emotional commentary was well-received, stirring the hearts of listeners.
Yes, Real Madrid's journey to the final, beating teams like PSG, Juventus, and Bayern Munich, made them seem invincible, poised to establish a new dynasty. But the resilient Manchester United had shattered those expectations.
Manchester United's second lead surprised many, especially those who were certain of Real Madrid's victory.
They didn't underestimate Manchester United, but compared to Real Madrid, United's strength seemed lacking.
With such immense power, Real Madrid should have dominated, leaving Manchester United no chance. Yet, United was never suppressed from the start; it was Real Madrid who needed to catch up.
Zidane stood on the sidelines, visibly frustrated by the goal. From the moment Manchester United started the attack, Real Madrid had fallen into their rhythm, unable to touch the ball during the entire sequence of passes.
Usually, it was Real Madrid's stars who toyed with opponents, not the other way around.
"This is truly wonderful teamwork..."
The replay showed the goal sequence in fast-forward, allowing viewers to see the entire build-up quickly.
In the rapid sequence, Manchester United's players passed the ball seamlessly while Real Madrid's players chased it fruitlessly, manipulated by United's passing.
After several quick passes, Bruno found a gap and delivered a perfect through ball, allowing Cancelo to assist Harry Kane's goal.
"Such delightful football is often seen with Real Madrid or Barcelona, rarely with their opponents. This brave Manchester United has completely overturned our perceptions. They truly deserve to be in the Champions League final, challenging the mighty Real Madrid!"
"This is impossible! How can Real Madrid be trailing twice?!" Real Madrid fans couldn't believe their eyes, holding their heads in agony in the stands.
Even some Real Madrid players couldn't believe it. They expected Manchester United to cause some trouble but believed they would still score. They never imagined trailing twice.
As Manchester United players celebrated their second goal, Ramos gathered Real Madrid players for a self-reflection: "Guys, admit it, this opponent is strong!"
No one spoke. These superstars, who won two Champions League titles in the past two years and reached four finals in five years, bowed their heads.
"We can't beat them with half effort," Ramos continued. "We must approach them with the same attitude as against Barcelona and Bayern Munich. They... might even be stronger. Their strength rivals, if not exceeds ours!"
"I know it's hard to accept, but we must face this reality!"
"Look at their goal. If I were a fan, I'd applaud it. It was beautiful!"
"But this is our style! Show our football, guys!"
"Don't let the world laugh at us! Everyone still thinks we are stronger and should win. If we don't... imagine what the world will say."
Ramos clenched his fist, shouting, "Attack! Attack with our best!"
(End of the chapter)
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