The moment they walked out of the players' tunnel, the roar of the stadium crowd and the sounds of various celebration paraphernalia instantly multiplied several times. This was the atmosphere befitting a Champions League final!
The live commentators were already passionately introducing the two teams participating in the final.
"Soon, the two teams will meet on the pitch! Whether they are friends off the field or strangers who have never met, once they step onto this field, they become enemies!"
"Both teams are elite, top-tier clubs from the top five leagues. They possess absolute footballing technique and strength, and are absolutely deserving of a place in the Champions League final!"
"This match is definitely worth watching, and this night will ultimately be a sleepless one!!"
"One team is Arsenal, the reigning champions of the European Cup, who also appear seemingly unstoppable in the league. The other is AC Milan, a dark horse who has performed excellently in Serie A and fought their way through the Champions League. It has been a full ten years since they last won the European Champions Cup. Will they be able to fulfill their dream once again this time!"
The fans of both teams were currently seated in the stands around the pitch, supporting their beloved teams with all their might and expressing it through their actions.
No one held back, and there was no need for them to conceal anything. They directly shouted out the names of the teams they supported, as well as the names of the players they cheered for, their voices merging on the sidelines to form a beautiful and moving poem.
Unsurprisingly, Cao Baiming's fans formed an overwhelming majority in this match. If one didn't listen closely, they might not even hear the names of other players, because even though some people shouted and called out their names, they were drowned out by Cao Baiming's momentum and voice.
Regardless of whether the outcome of the match was certain or not, the fans were clearly looking forward to the process of the game. They hoped to witness the brilliant performances of the stars in this match, and to see the unconventional tactics employed by the core trio of Cao Baiming, Messi, and Henry. How would they fare against AC Milan's high-pressing tactics?
In fact, this was the first time that Cao Baiming, Henry, and Messi would face AC Milan head-on since they had all come together at Arsenal.
Although, based on paper strength and the depth of the squad, Arsenal appeared to have a slight advantage, and the fan support also indicated this, neither team had any prior head-to-head experience, so any judgment was merely hypothetical.
The rules of nature were that one thing conquers another, and things cyclically generate and overcome each other. Perhaps the reason Arsenal had performed so magnificently in the Premier League and appeared unstoppable was simply because the teams in the Premier League were not truly their match.
The deeper reasons behind this were something that no one could fully comprehend without careful consideration. Perhaps AC Milan was the kind of opponent they had been waiting for. While they might not have performed exceptionally against lesser opponents, they could potentially overturn this seemingly invincible Arsenal on the Champions League final stage.
Soon, the players took to the field. The main referee slowly approached them, standing between the captains of the two teams to conduct the final draw for the Champions League final.
As there was no home or away advantage in this match, the two teams needed to draw to determine who would kick off in the first half, which was a characteristic of the Champions League final.
Ultimately, thanks to Cao Baiming's good luck, Arsenal secured the first kick-off opportunity of the first half.
There was no need for excessive thought; if they could kick off earlier in the first half, perhaps the match could end sooner.
The end of a match was not solely determined by the standard 90 minutes of regular time. In fact, defeating the opponent early could also be considered an early conclusion to the game!
AC Milan did not seem disappointed by the draw and Cao Baiming's choice. In fact, they also did not wish to be the first to kick off in the first half.
With all preparations complete, the players from both sides began to walk towards the center circle to prepare for the kick-off.
"Stay focused!" Ibrahimović shouted as a final word, his teammates around him jolting.
BEEP! With the referee's whistle, the match officially began!!!
Cao Baiming's eyes flickered as he continuously directed his teammates on positioning.
Then, with Messi kicking off, the ball passed through Vieira and Ødegaard before reaching the backfield for a simple passing sequence. Cao Baiming positioned himself at the center of this play, acting as the organizer.
While directing his teammates' passes with one hand, he pointed to the direction of the field with the other. Cao Baiming's gaze constantly shifted, scanning the surroundings and observing the entire situation on the field. His teammates also moved according to his instructions.
Soon, Cao Baiming realized that something was amiss.
Although AC Milan was a team that emphasized high pressing, this was a bit too extreme. The entire team charged forward like hungry wolves. The match had barely started, less than a minute had passed, and they were already initiating high pressing and intense pressure!!!
Apart from Zlatan Ibrahimović, the other AC Milan players seemed to have gone mad. They chased the ball like lunatics, and even if they couldn't win it, they ran with all their might, as if their stamina was inexhaustible and they were not sparing any effort.
At this moment, Cao Baiming felt a sense of panic. This was just pressing, yet their press felt organized. They weren't pressing blindly; instead, it seemed like a tactic that the coach had trained them on beforehand.