The players from both teams headed to the tunnel with vastly different emotions.
"You only won the league by fluke. Don't get any ideas about competing with us, or you'll be heartbroken when this is over," Ramos taunted as Ling passed by.
He added with a smirk, "Though I must say, I'm looking forward to seeing you cry."
Ling's steps faltered momentarily before he continued walking.
He had no interest in trading words with Ramos.
His mind was already analyzing the first half, where he'd noticed Real Madrid subtly shifting their defensive coverage after Ramos picked up a knock.
Could this be exploited in the second half?
...
Man United Locker Room.
All Manchester United players turned their eyes toward Mourinho.
Whenever they found themselves helpless, Mourinho would become their lighthouse, steadfastly pointing the way forward for United.
But what about Mourinho himself?
The charismatic, intimidating, and passionate manager was instead looking toward a particular corner of the dressing room.
Because even he had no perfect solution—the gulf in overall quality was too vast to bridge through motivation alone.
But now, he felt compelled to take a gamble.
Ling gathered his thoughts and addressed the team first.
"We were trapped in our own half throughout the first half. Our occasional counterattacks lacked penetration, which allowed Real Madrid to press forward without fear."
"We need a moment to demonstrate our quality—to make Real Madrid respect our attacking threat."
"Sir Alex Ferguson once said something I'm sure you all remember. Decades from now, when we look back on this match, I hope we can say the same words."
Ling's expression turned fierce as he roared, word by word. "My greatest achievement was knocking those fucking Real Madrid off their perch!"
"We suffered so badly in the '99 Champions League final, yet we still pulled off a miracle in the end. What's this little setback worth?!"
De Gea slammed his gloves onto the bench with force.
Pogba snarled viciously, "We're the fucking Kings of the Comeback!"
Mourinho gazed at the Man United players, nodding imperceptibly.
He was thrilled to see the players reclaim that spirit.
Mourinho tapped the tactics board and concluded with a smile, "Perhaps you've all experienced painful failures in your lives, moments of fear, struggle, and relentless effort."
"This time, I have only one demand: hold your heads high, face the challenges bravely, and give everything you have to overcome them."
"No matter the outcome, I believe this experience will be one of the most beautiful times of your lives."
...
Real Madrid Locker Room.
"You all played very well in the first half, fulfilling most of the tactical requirements. In the second half, we'll focus mainly on defense."
Zidane clapped softly.
Then he looked into the eyes of each Real Madrid player, his gaze suddenly sharpening.
"Don't talk to me about attacking football, because this is what football is."
"No matter how beautiful or elegant your play is, it's worthless without a trophy. Some of you will leave next season, and I can tell you, I will leave too!"
"So let's use a third consecutive Champions League title as our farewell gift, to cap off this season in the most perfect way!"
"One last thing I'll leave you with: It's not the strong who win, but the winners who survive!!!"
Silence fell over the locker room.
Ronaldo lowered his gaze slightly to the Real Madrid crest on his chest.
He had spent the most beautiful years of his life here, and next season he would embark on a new journey.
So he wanted to leave a profound mark in Real Madrid's history.
Modrić calmly studied the tactics board. Having emerged from the merciless crucible of war, his heart had long been hardened like steel.
Ramos rubbed his swollen wrist.
He would do whatever it took to win.
It was this obsessive character that had earned him the Real Madrid captain's armband.
That damn kid had caused them a lot of trouble today.
But precisely because of that, he grew even more eager to see how desperate Ling would be when all hope faded away.
That scene would surely be a sight to behold.
...
The fifteen-minute break passed quickly.
The Kiev Olympic Stadium grew boisterous as players from both teams returned to the pitch.
With the referee's sharp whistle blast...
The second half officially commenced!
Man United began with patient buildup play in their own half, probing for weaknesses in Real Madrid's defensive structure while seeking opportunities for lethal long balls.
Yet in their organized defensive shape, Real Madrid left no gaps to exploit, their bronze-wall-like defense appearing impenetrable and daunting!
As the match clock ticked toward the 57th minute, Man United began pushing forward.
Waiting passively wasn't the Red Devils' style—they'd rather die standing than surrender!
From a bird's eye view, Man United compressed all three lines forward, disregarding the space behind them, relying on numerical superiority to dominate midfield.
"Compared to his attacking prowess, his defensive capabilities are indeed lacking!" Jim Beglin noted as Antonio Valencia struggled.
During Real Madrid's defensive reorganization, Paul Pogba delivered a crisp diagonal long ball, precisely targeting the right channel.
In a flash, he arrived at the right side of the penalty area.
"Second ball! Smalling!"
Chris Smalling won the header, knocking it down.
"But I believe Man United won't surrender—let's see this opportunity!"
Ander Herrera quickly whipped the ball toward the near post.
Ling leveraged his height advantage to outjump Toni Kroos, flicking the header backward.
Man United's number 14, Jesse Lingard, suddenly materialized.
"Beautiful! Following up with a lightning-quick stabbed shot!"
But Keylor Navas produced a world-class one-handed save!
The ball roared like an artillery shell before millions worldwide, crashing against the right post and finally bouncing out of play.
Thump!
Two successive dull impacts echoed as the ball deflected off Ramos' boot, caroming toward the far post.
Man United players clutched their heads in collective frustration, their anguish palpable across the stadium.
"Man United's excellent scoring opportunity, just a little bit more and they could have equalized!" Beglin sighed.
"Repeated efforts, diminishing returns! This situation is enough to drive one to despair!"
How could they equalize if they couldn't convert such chances?
Zinedine Zidane followed up with adjustments from the bench.
Gareth Bale replaced Isco, Nacho Fernandez replaced Dani Carvajal, and the overall formation shifted to 4-3-3, adopting the familiar defensive counterattack.
"Exactly! This is the valuable legacy Mourinho once left for Real Madrid," Peter Drury noted. "He probably never expected to one day become its victim."
Bale's impact after coming on was immediate.
Even in his career's twilight at Madrid, his explosive acceleration remained formidable.
His formidable speed perfectly executed the defensive counterattack, making Man United's defenders hesitant to press too high.
75th minute of the match.
Mateo Kovacic, a former Real Madrid player now on for United, excelled at driving forward from deep.
But the problem was he now had to split his focus on defense, preventing Toni Kroos's forward runs and Ronaldo's attacks.
Man United's midfield and defense seem to have stagnated, with every player restricted and unable to deliver the ball to the forwards.
The camera suddenly cut to Zidane on the sidelines.
The Real Madrid legend stood confidently with his arms crossed, a hint of a confident smile playing on his lips.
The mirrored 4-3-3 formation tactically neutralized Man United, preventing them from unleashing their full offensive power—a tactical masterclass.
It's fair to say Real Madrid already has one hand on the Champions League trophy.
On the other side, Mourinho remained in the technical area, making no further adjustments, his eyes fixed intently on the right side of the pitch.
Because he had placed all his bets on that young man!
...
84th minute of the match.
Kovacic's forward drive is intercepted by Toni Kroos, who immediately switches the play to the right side of the pitch.
Luka Modrić completes a tight-space evasion.
Leaning his body slightly, he flicks the ball sharply with the outside of his foot.
Smack!
The ball curves in an exaggerated, beautiful arc, landing precisely at Ronaldo's feet.
A simple double step-over.
Ronaldo suddenly burst with speed, gaining less than a body length advantage!
"Left-footed cross to the center!"
"Benzema pushes it to the right! Eric Bailly's timely interception is crucial, blocking the first shot!"
"The attack isn't over yet!"
Gareth Bale charged in from the flank, and Smalling, with his back turned, was powerless to stop him.
He did something no one expected.
Dropping to both knees, he stretched out his head!
"Crucial defensive interception!!" Beglin shouted. "He was protecting Man United in the most dramatic way possible!"
The ball's trajectory shifted slightly, causing Bale to misadjust his shooting steps and sending the ball straight out of bounds.
"Danger not cleared yet!"
The Red Devils' morale visibly plummeted, exhaustion etched on every player's face, as if accepting the inevitable conclusion.
Man United fans in the stands seemed adrift in an endless ocean, their hopeful light dimming into helpless confusion.
"Perhaps even heaven favors Real Madrid's victory, wanting this fairy tale to have a perfect ending!" Drury mused.
In the tense back-and-forth, time slipped away like flowing sand.
Suddenly, the fourth official walked to the sideline
Spectators thought it was another substitution, but it was actually injury time.
Four minutes left!
Tick, tick, tick!
It was as if everyone could hear the second hand ticking in their minds, urgency flooding their thoughts.
During the dead ball, Ling gasped for breath.
Perhaps in the next moment, the referee would blow the whistle, and he would witness Real Madrid writing their legend firsthand, with himself as the pitiful and tragic backdrop.
Most Man United fans had already left early, unwilling to watch Real Madrid's glory, as it would only deepen their disappointment.
Even players on both sides seemed to slack off.
For the Man United players, perhaps... Breaking Juventus' 45-match unbeaten home record, winning the Premier League title after five years, and reaching the Champions League final were already remarkable achievements.
This season should come to a close; they would reclaim what they lost next season!
For the Real Madrid players... They were already envisioning the celebrations ahead, lifting the Big Ears Cup once more.
Amid the chaotic noise, Ling felt as if someone was whispering in his ear.
The world was saying, "You can't win!"
Everyone was saying, "It's time to give up!"
You must learn to bow your head and accept life's cruelest truths.
But as the match resumed, he simply ran tirelessly, silently telling himself: If you don't want to submit to fate's arrangement, you must not abandon hope until the very last moment.
Because once you choose to give up, the game ends prematurely.
He didn't stop.
He chose to defy fate!
He didn't want to be the object of fans' songs filled with regret, nor did he like miracles that fell just short.
He was going to overturn this universally favored Galaxy Battleship!!!
...
On the left flank now.
Luke Shaw dribbled forward, gazing at Real Madrid's dense defensive formation, feeling an overwhelming sense of despair.
How to break through?
He racked his brains but couldn't find an answer, forced to attempt a cross in hopes of creating an opportunity.
But suddenly he heard a familiar voice.
It was the teammate he trusted unconditionally, the junior who had once performed miracles!
Without hesitation, Luke Shaw passed the ball toward that direction, even though six defenders stood between that person and the goal!
This moment was both instantaneous and eternal!!!
In the commentary box, Peter Drury instinctively rose to his feet, words pouring out like a sermon.
"Matic intercepts in the backfield... Shaw on the left flank! He looks up... He plays it centrally to Ling! Ling drives forward toward the abyss!"
"Real Madrid players closing in like wolves!"
"No! A fake shot! He sends Ramos out! He cuts back! He's fooled the entire Bernabeu backline in Kiev!"
"Only one man remains in front of him! Shoulder drop and change of direction, he's past Varane!"
"ONE-ON-ONE!!!"
"PENDULUM FEINT! NAVAS IS BEATEN! HE ROLLS IT INTO THE EMPTY NET!"
"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! UNBELIEVABLE! UNTHINKABLE! IMPOSSIBLE!"
"Goal! Equalizer! The Theatre of Dreams has relocated to Ukraine!"
"JEREMY LING HAS BROUGHT THE DEAD BACK TO LIFE!"
"What is heroism? It is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it! It is charging forward when the road is rough! It is staring into the abyss and refusing to blink!"
"The man who scored two goals for Man United today, his name is Ling!"
"The man who remained unyielding in adversity tonight, his name is Ling!"
"Young, talented, speedy, skilled... these labels cannot fully define him!"
"If we must use words to describe him..."
"Clad in the red battle armor, he has restarted this magnificent match! He is the hero of the Red Devils!"
"Standing on the Kiev Olympic pitch, he pressed the button to reverse destiny!"
"He marches bravely toward sorrow and despair! And he turns it into glory!"
"He shines as brilliantly as the sun!!!"
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What do you think of a football fic where mc is not a transmigrator, doesnt have any cheat or a system and he'll play for bournemouth and then chelsea later ?