The roar of the crowd was a constant hum, and one name, Cao Baiming's, had been a persistent echo.
The stadium pulsed with this sound, and though it seemed slightly diminished compared to the initial moments of the second half, it was still unmistakably clear.
Cao Baiming sat on the sidelines, basking in the fans' adoration. It was a truly enjoyable sensation, for their voices conveyed a palpable desire for him to play, as if he were their savior.
It was, of course, a wonderful feeling.
The game had reached the fifth minute of the second half, precisely the sixtieth minute mark. It was then that Cao Baiming heard a voice calling his name from nearby.
The voice was clear and loud, emanating from close proximity, not from the distant crowd. Even amidst the din, it was easy to distinguish.
Cao Baiming's eyes flickered, and he turned to face the direction of the sound. Head coach Arteta was looking at him with an eager gaze, flanked by two assistant coaches, both of whom were responsible for the team's offense.
"Go warm up. Get ready to go on," the coach instructed.
Upon hearing the command, Cao Baiming rose swiftly. Sitting on the sidelines for so long had been a real challenge; his backside was practically itching.
Watching others play, clearly seeing their weaknesses, yet being unable to step onto the pitch, was agony. But now, that torment was finally over.
Cao Baiming jogged towards a nearby track, beginning his final stretches before entering the game.
At this moment, the entire stadium erupted!
The fans' cheers became a seismic, tidal wave of sound, far surpassing the excitement of the two goals in the first half. The moment the fans noticed Cao Baiming moving from the substitute bench to the warm-up area, their excitement became uncontrollable.
Finally! We've finally waited for you!
Cao Baiming's name once again thundered through the stadium, this time even louder than at the start of the match. Soon, the fans found a rhythm, chanting in unison!
At this very moment, Sane, who had just completed a crucial high-pressure tackle on the pitch, looked utterly bewildered. He quickly realized the cheers were not for him.
His rapid sprint, having already bypassed two defenders and heading towards the penalty box, slowed instinctively. A torrent of expletives raged in his mind.
"Damn it! My beautiful tackle and dribble went unnoticed, but he gets this kind of reaction just warming up!?"
Meanwhile, the Bayern Munich coaching staff huddled together, conferring urgently.
They were somewhat relieved that they had anticipated Cao Baiming's eventual appearance, the timing simply being slightly off. No major issue!
As for Cao Baiming's teammates, the Arsenal players on the field felt a surge of confidence seeing his figure on the sideline.
Simultaneously, the Bayern defenders' foreheads beaded with more sweat.
While going through the motions of his familiar, tedious warm-up routine, Cao Baiming constantly observed the game, his mind working relentlessly.
The ball was now back with an Arsenal player. Following Sane's turnover, White secured possession and immediately transferred it to midfield.
Players were battling for the ball on the wing, with Davies, Saka, and Gabriel entangled. Ultimately, the ball went out of bounds.
Bayern regained possession, but their throw-in had no immediate receiver. Most of the team seemed still disoriented, the echoes of Cao Baiming's name resonating through the stadium, causing immense discomfort to the entire Bayern Munich squad.
Possession changed hands again, back and forth. Cao Baiming noticed Messi's run; he was actively moving to offer support.
Soon, Messi received the ball. Instantly, three Bayern players abandoned their positions and charged towards Messi, no longer concerned with the consequences.
Cao Baiming observed this scene, a slight smile playing on his lips. He was naturally delighted, for it meant his plan had come to full fruition.
His opponents were behaving like dogs he himself had trained, reacting precisely as anticipated at every step. And now, they were marching towards the precipice, completely unaware of their impending doom.
Messi was no longer as free as he was at the start of the match, indicating that the opposing team had only just begun to adapt to their tactical system by the fifty-second minute. His introduction now would undoubtedly deliver a decisive blow.
Forcing them to readjust their newly adopted system immediately was the advantage of being the tactical aggressor.
Witnessing this, the entire Arsenal hierarchy was filled with admiration. They had nothing but praise for Cao Baiming's brilliance.
Following this pass, Arsenal launched a traditional attack, culminating in a shot by Saka. Henry, who was supposed to follow up, couldn't keep pace in time, and the ball narrowly missed entering the goal.
However, the referee's whistle soon blew; it was offside.
Seizing this opportunity, Cao Baiming prepared to enter the game.
The fans once again erupted in cheers, their gaze shifting from the pitch to the substitution area, fixed on Cao Baiming's retreating back.
Soon, Cao Baiming took a deep breath and walked onto the field, replacing Gabriel.
The Bayern Munich players maintained a facade of confidence, but their trembling hearts were transparent to Cao Baiming's discerning eye. They were already terrified.
The time was just past fifty-three minutes, almost exactly as predicted. And within Cao Baiming's mind, a wealth of crucial memories remained.
The critical moments and vital opportunities he had meticulously studied and memorized in his time-bubble, every decision he had regretted, now had a chance for redemption.
On the sidelines, the Bayern Munich head coach continued to shout instructions to his players, urging them on, utterly unaware of what they were about to face.
The game was about to transition from its current calm state to an unbelievable extreme, a madness that no one could truly comprehend.
Back on the field, the referee awarded possession to Bayern Munich, and the match resumed!