Gao Nuo threw his jersey over his back, stood in front of his locker, hands on his hips.
“Guys, I know no one wants to lose a game, and I know I shouldn’t say anything out of line.”
“But please look around you. We are warriors fighting together, we are comrades. We have faced everything together, and we fear no opponent.”
“I don’t know what went wrong between us. I thought we had time to deal with it, and I believed everything would get better.”
“But just now, we acted like helpless infants, waiting for our opponents to feed us. We were powerless in the face of adversity, only hoping for luck to fall upon us.”
“If anything I said was offensive, I apologize. I respect each and every one of you, and I believe in each and every one of you. Now, I will return to the field like a warrior, and I will reclaim my honor.”
“I hope you will fight alongside me!”
After Gao Nuo finished speaking, he walked towards the player tunnel, leaving behind the stunned crowd.
Bruno Fernandes was the first to stand up, throwing away a banana peel, and silently followed Gao Nuo.
“Damn it! Am I going to lose to a kid?”
Casemiro slammed the towel from his neck onto the ground with a heavy thud, and angrily followed the two.
“Damn it!”
“Hell yeah!”
“Let’s do this!”
“Go! Go! Go!”
Gao Nuo walked in front, not fast, and a smile appeared on his face as he heard the continuous shouts behind him, his fighting spirit growing stronger.
Manchester United returned to the field early, waiting for Real Madrid players to enter. Rashford walked up to Gao Nuo.
“Kid, even though I’m not happy with your attitude earlier, don’t worry, I’ll stand by your side!”
Gao Nuo lowered his head, listened to the whispered words, and smiled.
“Hehe, I’ll treat you to authentic Chinese food tomorrow.”
Rashford smiled and pushed Gao Nuo, “Are you trying to get rid of me with just one meal? At least three meals!”
Gao Nuo stretched his neck. Being tall had too many troubles. He held up one finger, “First, let’s win the Champions League. Then I’ll treat you for life!”
Bruno Fernandes looked at the two laughing and chatting in front of him, and couldn't help but feel emotional.
“This kid Gao Nuo is truly terrifying. At 21, he already has such leadership. His speech just now made my blood boil. It seems like the Manchester United locker room is about to change.”
Erik ten Hag also came out with Real Madrid.
The Manchester United coach finished his carefully prepared speech and, seeing the silent faces of his soldiers, couldn't help but give himself a thumbs up in his heart.
To avoid ruining the atmosphere he had painstakingly created, Erik ten Hag specifically ran to another room to plan the second half's tactics with the coaching staff.
After preparing, Erik ten Hag returned to the locker room and was immediately dumbfounded.
Why did these guys enter the field early?
With questions in mind, Erik ten Hag hurried through the player tunnel and arrived at the technical area by the field.
He happened to see Gao Nuo and Rashford chatting and laughing together. The unease on Erik ten Hag’s face instantly vanished, replaced by an uncontrollable look of satisfaction.
“Hahaha, it seems my speech worked. These guys must be full of fighting spirit now, right? Coupled with the tactics I've prepared, there’s still a chance in the second half!”
Erik ten Hag’s gaze uncontrollably turned towards the Champions League trophy, his eyes filled with longing.
“Hello, everyone. The second half of the Champions League Final is about to begin. Real Madrid leads Manchester United 2-0.”
“Ah, not much time left for Manchester United.”
“We see the Manchester United players returning to the field first. We don't know what happened at halftime, but the players seem to be in good spirits!”
“Ah, Erik ten Hag must have made some adjustments. I wonder what changes Real Madrid will make.”
Zhan Jun and Zhang began their commentary in a lively back-and-forth.
As the Real Madrid players entered the field, the second half of the match began.
The Manchester United players had no idea how complicated Erik ten Hag's inner thoughts were on the sidelines.
They only knew that after the consecutive speeches at halftime, every cell in their bodies was filled with energy, and any feeling of nervousness had long been forgotten.
In the 48th minute of the match, Real Madrid kicked off the second half. Manchester United immediately picked up the tempo, their pressing becoming resolute and fast.
This didn’t trouble Real Madrid. They passed the ball back and forth in midfield. After their bodies got excited, Tchouaméni received a back pass from Camavinga and began an attack from the center circle.
Tchouaméni caught them by surprise with a long pass directly to the right byline.
Rodrygo was positioned forward, running quickly towards the ball while secretly delighted in his heart.
“The boss’s tactics are just amazing. Getting to the byline so easily. Should I cut inside or cross? Never mind, I’ll see in a bit.”
After catching up to the ball, Rodrygo easily looked towards the center, searching for Harry Kane’s position.
“Watch out! Behind you!”
Harry Kane in the center shouted loudly at his teammate who was looking at him.
Rodrygo instinctively tried to stop the ball with his foot.
“I’ll take that!”
Luke Shaw sprinted 30 meters with his head down, already behind Rodrygo. Seeing his opponent’s unhurried movements, he shouted in his heart, extended his foot, hooked the ball out from between Rodrygo’s legs, and then turned and sprinted away.
Rodrygo felt someone push his backside, and his foot missed the ball. His body uncontrollably fell forward.
The Real Madrid midfield trio reacted quickly, immediately abandoning their forward press and retreating to defend.
Luke Shaw ran 20 meters with the ball and encountered Bellingham’s interception in the center circle.
“I’m not an idiot, why are you standing there waiting for me?”
Luke Shaw passed the ball to Bruno Fernandes in the middle, bypassed his opponent, and continued to push forward into the attacking third. His desire to attack was completely ignited.
Let alone the young Bellingham, even if Roy Keane stood in front of him, Luke Shaw would still charge forward and challenge him.
Tchouaméni could limit Bruno Fernandes's forward progression, but he couldn't limit his opponent's incisive passes.
With a first-time pass back, Manchester United had a 2-on-1 on the left flank. Mazraoui faced Luke Shaw and Rashford alone.
Mazraoui decisively rushed forward, wanting to delay Luke Shaw from receiving the ball.
The ball rolled quickly on the grass, then was kicked forward by a big foot.
Luke Shaw threaded a through ball behind Rashford.
After receiving the ball, Rashford cut inside, once again taking on Militão one-on-one.
He made continuous feints, but Militão remained unmoved, a scene very similar to the first half.
Rashford moved closer and closer to the penalty area, seemingly losing patience, and, just like in the first half, prepared to force his way through.
“Does this guy never learn? Again, he doesn’t even lift his head. This is as far as you go!”
Militão once again seized the opportunity, extending his foot to poke the ball in its direction of travel.