As dusk gradually settled, the training match neared its end. The outcome of the match was not important, nor was it unexpected. Cao Baming's team, as usual in every training match, easily crushed their opponents and emerged victorious.
During this match, the coaching staff observing from the sidelines might have realized something. They had been silently observing the game's progress, watching each player's style of play and the team's overall coordination, constantly contemplating the issues exposed.
In the process of such training matches, the most important thing is not the final result presented, but rather what everyone has learned from the game. Another crucial aspect is the problems the coaching team identifies during their observation and the potential directions for development.
At this moment, as the match concluded, everyone walked off the field with a sense of ease, smiles on their faces, regardless of whether they were on the winning or losing side.
They had already known the outcome. Even though the opposing team included players like Messi and Saka, they were ultimately unable to achieve a comeback.
After leaving the field, Cao Baming, like many others, immediately checked his phone to see the latest match situation. Reflecting on the time, the match should have been ending or already concluded.
Before he even reached the sidelines, Arteta was already looking at Cao Baming with a smile.
Beside him, several players also quickened their pace. Arteta, as the team's coach, saw through their intentions with his experienced eyes.
They had just finished an exhilarating football match and were at their most exhausted and weary. Yet, as they walked off the field, their steps became increasingly quick. This undoubtedly indicated anticipation for something. At this particular juncture, what else could they be looking forward to? Naturally, it was the match between Manchester City.
Following this match was a good thing, as it concerned the fate of the entire team.
"Be prepared for what might be different from what you expect!" Arteta said with a smile, but the smile on his face betrayed everything.
Cao Baming already knew that anything that could make Arteta so happy undoubtedly stemmed from the poor performance displayed by the two teams.
This was no longer a new development. If one were to guess which of the two teams would emerge victorious at this moment, it would naturally be AC Milan. After all, Arteta’s words suggested an outcome that might differ from expectations.
At this point, a few people had already formed guesses, but when they actually saw the match results, they couldn't suppress their astonished expressions.
Even Cao Baming was completely stunned.
The match result was AC Milan defeating Manchester City. Perhaps this result alone wasn't enough to surprise Cao Baming so much, but when he saw the final aggregate score… AC Milan not only won the match but achieved a resounding victory with a score of 4-0!
At this moment, Cao Baming recalled the scenes he had witnessed in the time bubble. In that simulation, Manchester City had trailed by two goals in the first half but managed to pull one back in the second.
In contrast, in this match, they only conceded one goal in the first half. From this temporary result, it seemed somewhat better than that simulation.
However, the final outcome was indeed a complete collapse.
Such a score made one wonder what could have happened. Was it a catastrophic event that occurred during this match?
As the team's coach, Arteta naturally couldn't pay too much attention to the live broadcast during the match. These details would be meticulously studied during the review, and there was no rush.
The way they watched the match was through live text updates, focusing on real-time goal data. No one knew exactly what had transpired, and Cao Baming was also very curious.
Upon closer inspection, he realized that Manchester City had held their ground until the 70th minute of the second half. Although no goals were scored during this period, they also didn't concede any more. A 1-0 scoreline had been maintained until the 70th minute, which was already quite remarkable.
Even though he had only experienced one simulation, it was evident that for Manchester City's players, especially in their current form, and particularly with De Bruyne in that state, to hold on until this point and maintain the score was a tremendous positive, almost unbelievable.
However, the reason might not have been Manchester City's brilliance, but rather AC Milan's inability to capitalize on opportunities during this period.
Regardless, it no longer mattered. Everything changed in the 71st minute of the match.
At the 71st minute mark, a world-shattering event occurred. As Cao Baming had predicted, this was indeed the event that caused the entire team to collapse.
A prominent red mark appeared, impossible to ignore. Dias received a red card at this precise moment. Looking further up, it was revealed that he had already received a yellow card in the 37th minute of the first half.
When two yellow cards are received in a match, they are cumulative. The second yellow card directly combines with the first, turning two yellow cards into one red card, and the player is subsequently sent off.
This is precisely what happened to Dias. Although the specific details of the incident are unknown, the red card was indeed issued.
Cao Baming recalled the referee's lenient disciplinary approach. Thinking carefully, his calls seemed not to be particularly strict, even rather lenient. To receive two yellow cards and consequently a red card under such officiating was no easy feat.
Dias, you truly are something!
In the 71st minute, Manchester City was left with only ten men. Already trailing, coupled with the team's overall poor form, the expulsion of a player was undoubtedly the final straw that broke the camel's back, causing a world-class team to completely crumble.