Twitter was instantly ablaze with reactions.
@TacticalMaster: Roma's comeback against Barcelona already exhausted their luck. To stage another reversal against Man United at Old Trafford is far too difficult! Game over.
@BarcaFan: It feels like Barcelona have their own major issues. Seeing Roma get torn apart makes our loss feel even worse.
@RomaBelieve: I was ready to witness Roma's legendary Champions League triumph... but the dream is dying.
@OldSchoolFooty: Modern football systems are becoming increasingly complete. It's no longer the era when Porto could win the title. Mourinho knows how to kill these games.
@RedDevil: Even if you brought in Mourinho from back then, he wouldn't be able to create another miracle? Hah! He just did!
@LingStats: Ling has climbed further up the Champions League scoring charts, but unfortunately, he's still far from the Golden Boot award. I'll be satisfied if Ling can make it into the top three.
...
Back to the pitch.
Ling excitedly sprinted several meters before leaping onto Ibrahimović's broad back, throwing punches toward the stands.
Manchester United fans suddenly had tears in their eyes.
They recalled that invincible Red Devils team of old.
Somehow, those traditions had disappeared, and the Manchester United dressing room had become disorganized over the years.
Later they realized Manchester United was missing a certain force.
Eric Cantona was that force.
Roy Keane was.
Gary Neville was.
Ibrahimović was too.
But after Ibrahimović leaves?
Now their worries have vanished, because someone has shouldered that responsibility.
Camera flashes went wild along the sidelines, capturing this memorable scene of the passing of the torch.
Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young stood side by side near the halfway line.
"Are you leaving?"
"Of course not. At worst, I'll be a substitute at Manchester United. Maybe I can even pick up a few trophies. As for money, I've already earned enough."
"What about you?"
"Maybe when you retire, I'll still be playing as a starter for Manchester United!"
Valencia curled his lip, "Keep dreaming!"
While they were bantering, their eyes simultaneously fell on Ling, filled with anticipation.
...
A sense of helplessness welled up in the Roma players' hearts.
Their pre-match boasts were shattered by the goal, and their morale plummeted to rock bottom.
Fazio hammered the turf in frustration, regretting his reckless tackle.
Alisson gazed around Old Trafford, thinking he would visit again next season and definitely wouldn't concede then.
De Rossi finally understood Totti's difficulties as captain. In such a terrible situation, he didn't know what to say to comfort his teammates.
Mourinho watched the scene on the field and couldn't help but smile.
Once, when he was chatting with Ling, they had discussed the impact of discipline and confidence on players.
Ling's words had left a deep impression on him.
"Discipline is the medicine that fulfills talent. For every player with decent talent, if you don't want to be a shooting star across the sky, leaving endless regrets and unwillingness, you must take this medicine."
Now Michael Carrick was retiring, Ibrahimović was leaving.
With flashy celebrations and hairstyles currently trending at Manchester United, they needed self-disciplined, self-motivated role models to lead everyone in the right direction.
Perhaps Ling was the perfect choice.
On the opposite side, Di Francesco showed a bitter smile.
His coaching experience wasn't particularly rich, and facing such a situation, he felt somewhat powerless.
But he quickly forced away the negative emotions.
Roma reaching the Champions League semifinals had already exceeded everyone's expectations.
Every shot, every goal from now on would be a bonus.
He called De Rossi to the sidelines, "Don't play with the idea of equalizing. Let the players express themselves as much as possible."
Then he added with a smile, "After all, Old Trafford is called the Theater of Dreams."
...
Soon, the match resumed.
Perhaps Di Francesco's words had some effect, as the Roma players gradually found their rhythm in the game, no longer playing as timidly as before.
Their main attacking focus shifted to the right side.
Cengiz Ünder seemed stimulated, driving directly toward Matic with the ball, attempting to tear through Manchester United's defense with individual skill.
Several seconds later.
Ünder was forcefully knocked to the ground by the towering Serb.
Peep!
The referee decisively blew his whistle for a foul.
"Roma's attacking set piece, about 33 meters from goal, doesn't pose too much direct shooting threat!" Beglin analyzed.
"Nainggolan delivers a high cross into the box!"
"Dzeko wins the header! Unfortunately lacks accuracy, the ball sails over the crossbar!"
The match continues.
De Gea's goal kick finds David Luiz, who under Roma's pressing sends a long pass toward the center circle.
Jesse Lingard, caught between De Rossi and Strootman, fails to even touch the ball.
Strootman heads it to the right flank.
Before Ünder can control it, Matic physically pins him, causing a first-touch error.
Ashley Young seizes the opportunity to intercept and quickly switches play to the left.
Ling controls the ball and immediately feints, shifting his body weight to leave tracking defender Alessandro Florenzi stranded.
Followed by another piercing whistle.
"Both teams are defending resolutely on the flanks, immediately committing tactical fouls at any sign of being beaten," Drury noted.
"About 30 meters from goal again, will Ling take it? This would be his first attempt, but his curling shot technique is excellent, so his free-kick ability shouldn't be weak either."
With Man United holding a comfortable lead, Ling decides to shoot directly.
He slowly retreats several steps.
Run-up! Arm swing!
The ball rockets off with a dull thud, carving an exaggerated arc toward the top right corner. Unfortunately, overemphasis on placement costs him ball speed.
Alisson comfortably palms it over the byline.
Pogba pats Ling's shoulder with feigned maturity, "I learned free-kicks from Pirlo before, I'll teach you when we have time."
Ling responds with a smiling nod.
As play resumes, Roma continues their ferocious assaults while Man United compacts their formation in full defensive mode.
Soon the first half concludes.
...
The camera cuts to the VIP box where Sir Alex Ferguson wears a thick smile, hands resting steadily on his thighs.
Then it shifts to the commentary booth.
Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher are engaged in verbal sparring. "How about another bet? Whether Jeremy can score a brace?"
"No bet!" Carragher rejects without hesitation. "Can't afford another misstep."
Last time wearing the Man United jersey made him a laughingstock in English football, even suffering online abuse from Liverpool fans.
...
The fifteen-minute break passes quickly.
Roma substitutes the underperforming Ünder with Stephan El Shaarawy, hoping the latter can unlock defenses and connect their attacking plays.
But El Shaarawy is no longer the "Little Pharaoh" who carried AC Milan years ago.
Frequent injuries have diminished his abilities, leaving only the familiar mohawk hairstyle.
60th minute. Mourinho makes his changes too, bringing off Ibrahimović and Ling for Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera.
He wants to rest the duo, preserving energy for the next league match.
With two attackers off, Man United indeed loses initiative, allowing Roma to press forward recklessly.
But Rashford, restored to the left wing, looks completely in his element, nearly extending the lead through a rapid counterattack.
Meanwhile, Herrera and Fellaini's introduction bolsters defensive solidity and mobility, severely limiting El Shaarawy's influence.
Under the hopeful gaze of Roma fans, no miracle materializes.
Peep-peep-peep!
The referee's whistle signals full time.
Manchester United are going to the Final!
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