A Chelsea in such a state wasn't just losing a match; they were utterly decimated, likely to carry that form throughout the entire season. Manchester United, however, had no intention of following Chelsea's path; no one wanted to be the next Chelsea.
At this moment, facing a three-goal deficit, someone needed to step up and ignite the team. A sudden, unexpected goal was the only way to lift the entire team's spirits once more; otherwise, the situation would only worsen. Even without a goal, a brilliant team play could achieve a certain effect, though it seemed incredibly difficult now, many times harder than usual.
Just then, Cao Baming noticed some movement on the sidelines. Finally, Max entered the warm-up area and began warming up with a couple of teammates, repeatedly jogging back and forth on the track. This was a situation they had anticipated. Whether it was true foresight or not, what was happening was real and undeniable. Max could be subbed in at any moment.
A minute later, after Saka carelessly lost the ball, Cao Baming immediately pressed to win it back and took a hurried long-range shot that went slightly wide. The referee awarded a goal kick. At that very moment, Ten Hag requested a substitution from the sidelines.
Two Manchester United players were already standing ready, one of them being Max, wearing the number twenty-one jersey. He was about to make his Premier League debut! The fans barely knew who he was; who was this newcomer? They were greatly displeased. With a three-goal deficit, they were using a Premier League match to blood a rookie? Was this madness? It wasn't madness; it was giving up!
Looking at this unfamiliar figure, this unknown face, a ripple went through the fans' hearts. As the match commentators, they naturally had a responsibility to briefly introduce this player.
"Max, only twenty-two years old, joined Manchester United less than two weeks ago. He hasn't played in a competitive match yet, and this will be his professional debut on the field!"
"To be favored by a club like Manchester United, one can imagine his talent is considerable. This is a starting point higher than most people's end goal."
"Let's look forward to his performance!"
The fans were speechless. At this moment, let alone looking forward to his performance, they just wished for time to pass quickly and hoped they wouldn't concede any more goals!
Cao Baming was closely watching the sidelines. The assistant referee was preparing the substitution board, and what he truly wanted to know was which position Max would be replacing. A few seconds later, the referee adjusted the board and then held it high! The first substitution was a like-for-like midfield replacement, and the second was Max coming on! The board showed a green twenty-one and a red seven! The red seven, wasn't that Cristiano Ronaldo? Max was going to replace Cristiano Ronaldo?!
Cao Baming chuckled softly. He really hadn't expected this. Ronaldo looked displeased. They were not even sixty minutes into the game, and he was being taken off? His mind was solely focused on scoring four goals to turn the game around. However, now, that opportunity was gone. Max came on and exchanged a few words with Ronaldo. One walked with his head held high, the other dejected.
The fans erupted completely. Replacing the superstar Ronaldo with someone whose name they hadn't even heard – were they serious? Whether it was the fans in the stadium or those watching on screen, they cried foul play, claiming the substitution was clearly handing an advantage to the opposition!
However, Cao Baming's senses sharpened. He knew this situation needed to be taken seriously because he knew absolutely nothing about this player. The other teammates were the same. After all, they had met Max before, during their encounter on the field before Cao Baming's birthday, which was enough to gauge his strength. If Messi hadn't intervened promptly, he might have humiliated every club player! He never expected to encounter him on a formal field just a few days later, and now as an opponent!
For a moment, they pondered how to respond. Henry, as captain, naturally worked to steady the team's morale. Arteta was still observing, as he too didn't know much about this player, not just because it was Max's first match for Manchester United, but because it was his first match in this world! Such a mysterious guy was undoubtedly Ten Hag's intended game-changer, as the old saying goes, the best way to break the status quo in a disadvantageous situation is to be unexpected and unpredictable!
Max stepped onto the field amidst the boos of the fans, but he paid no mind. He didn't care how others viewed him. Just like when Cao Baming first entered the field, he was facing a complete mess. No matter how skilled he was, he couldn't possibly score three goals; the outcome of this match was already set in stone. Not only did the Arsenal players think this, but everyone did, including everyone in the entire Manchester United squad.
A minute after Max came on, he received a pass from a teammate. The goalkeeper's long clearance went to Bruno Fernandes, who then found him. Unlike Ronaldo, he had retreated to receive the ball and intended to dribble through himself, but Arsenal's defense wouldn't give him such an easy opportunity. The two center-backs quickly closed in, completing a pincer move. Seeing this, Cao Baming began to drift over, ready to provide defensive cover.
As expected, those two weren't enough to contain Max. He suddenly accelerated, as if he had activated nitrous oxide, nearly overtaking them on the flank. The fans were stunned; this speed was possibly comparable to Mbappé's! At that moment, they saw that this newcomer seemed to possess some real talent. But after a moment of brilliance, in the very next second, Cao Baming tackled the ball away from his side, and the opportunity ended there.
"Awesome! Beautiful!"
The fans cheered, but it was unclear whether the cheers were for Cao Baming's brilliant tackle or for Max almost creating the best chance since the start of the second half.