Bayern Munich had lost to Atlético Madrid twice during the group stage. Spanish media spun this fact as a massive psychological advantage for Madrid heading into the final. However, media bias is always dictated by geography. The German press completely flipped the narrative, claiming the two defeats were actually a profound advantage for Bayern Munich.
The authoritative German outlet Bild published a detailed breakdown defending this stance. Their first point argued that the previous losses guaranteed Bayern would not underestimate their opponent. On paper, Bayern possessed a slightly stronger overall squad. If the German giants treated the match with absolute caution and maximum intensity, Atlético's chances of pulling off another upset would diminish significantly.
Their second point was a matter of historical pride. A club with the pedigree of Bayern Munich almost never lost to the same opponent three times in a single season. The law of averages and the sheer winning mentality of the Bavarian titans made a third consecutive defeat highly improbable. They also noted Bayern's rich history of success in London, the host city for this year's final at Wembley Stadium.
In response, the Spanish press leaned heavily into the history between the two clubs. They specifically highlighted the only other time Atlético Madrid had reached the European Cup final. It happened decades ago during the 1973-1974 season. Back then, there were no penalty shootouts to decide a draw. If a match remained tied after extra time, a replay was scheduled for a later date.
That legendary final was a heartbreaking tragedy for Atlético Madrid. After a grueling deadlock, Atlético finally scored in the 114th minute of extra time. They were mere seconds away from lifting the most prestigious trophy in European football. But in the 120th minute, Bayern Munich scored a miraculous equalizer.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw, forcing a replay. In the subsequent rematch, a shattered Atlético squad was ruthlessly dismantled, losing 4-0 to Bayern. Going from the brink of European glory to a humiliating slaughter in the span of seven minutes had left a permanent scar on the club's history.
Now, in their second-ever Champions League final appearance, their opponent was once again Bayern Munich. The Spanish outlet Marca framed the narrative poetically. They declared it was destiny offering Atlético a long-awaited chance at redemption.
…
Both squads touched down in London on the exact same day. After arriving, the Bayern Munich team bus drove straight to Arsenal's London Colney training base. The two clubs had clashed so many times in European competitions that a mutual respect had formed between them. Arsenal graciously allowed the German champions to use their facilities to prepare for the final.
Atlético Madrid also needed a place to train. Fortunately, the Premier League season had just concluded, meaning most English clubs were already on vacation. Furthermore, London housed more top-tier football clubs than any other city in the world. With heavyweights like Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, West Ham, and Fulham calling the capital home, finding a world-class training pitch was incredibly easy.
Given their excellent working relationship, Atlético had coordinated with Chelsea well in advance. During their stay in London, the Spanish champions completely took over Chelsea's Cobham training ground. The Blues were incredibly generous, opening up their pitches, gyms, and cafeterias to Simeone's squad.
After all, Atlético's starting goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, was currently on loan from Chelsea. Moreover, the London club held a very deep, very expensive interest in a certain American midfielder currently wearing red and white.
Cobham's facilities were absolutely world-class. They were noticeably more luxurious than Atlético's own training base. It was a clear testament to the fact that Chelsea hadn't just spent the last decade buying expensive players. They had also invested hundreds of millions into elite infrastructure and youth academies.
While the Atlético players were settling in, two figures watched them from the only restricted area in the entire complex. Standing behind the massive floor-to-ceiling windows of the top-floor executive office were Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and his most trusted advisor, Marina Granovskaia. Their eyes were locked entirely on Shane Carter.
"It will be incredibly difficult," Marina noted quietly. "The competition to sign him is going to be fierce."
Abramovich nodded slowly. "I am more worried about whether his style will conflict with Jose Mourinho's tactics."
"I don't believe that will be an issue. He is the definition of a complete, versatile player," Marina replied confidently. "There are absolutely zero red flags regarding his sporting ability. The only question is whether we have enough pulling power to convince him to choose us over the others."
Abramovich smiled faintly. "Pulling power? When I first bought Chelsea, we had no history and no pulling power. Yet we still attracted the best players in the world. It is always just a matter of money."
The two executives continued to watch the training session below. The recently concluded season had been a disappointment for Abramovich. He was already planning to reunite with his old favorite, Jose Mourinho, bringing the Portuguese manager back from Real Madrid for a second stint at Stamford Bridge.
If he could secure Mourinho and simultaneously bring Shane Carter to London, it would be the ultimate gift to the Chelsea fans. It would also serve as the perfect welcoming present for his returning manager.
"Once this Champions League final is over, put all our resources into making this happen," Abramovich ordered. "I am incredibly eager to see that kid wearing Chelsea blue next season."
Marina nodded in agreement. The operation would be incredibly complex and expensive. But if there was one thing Chelsea was never short on, it was money.
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