Those eyes never misjudged a person, and they rarely did.
Was Mike truly inferior to Mendes? The facts were now clear, a definitive negative.
Mike was truly exceptional!
Part of the reason was naturally linked to his current actions. Mendes was merely considering Cristiano Ronaldo's personal interests, seeking victory in the struggle with Max. Mike, however, was different; he viewed the situation from a higher vantage point, orchestrating everything for his own benefit.
When the snipe and the clam fight, it's the fisherman who profits. This adage perfectly described the situation. Mike was clearly playing the role of the fisherman, and he was cast in this role by Cao Baming.
In the blink of an eye, Arsenal was facing their next crucial showdown, a Premier League match against Manchester City!
The external attention on this game was immense. Most of the fans outside were Arsenal supporters. Their primary focus wasn't on the match result, and the reason they weren't concerned about the outcome was that Arsenal had already secured the Premier League title prior to this game.
No matter how this match played out, Arsenal lifting the Premier League trophy was a one hundred percent certainty, something that had already happened and could not be influenced by any factor.
Manchester City, among Arsenal's many rivals, garnered the most attention and was the most significant opponent naturally due to their formidable strength.
As second in the Premier League standings and the reigning champions from the previous season, they had maintained excellent league performance despite a dip in form since their significant defeat in the Champions League.
This was akin to saying, "I can toy with you effortlessly even with just one hand."
Manchester City could easily defeat most teams in the Premier League without even needing to play at full strength. That was their caliber.
However, when facing Arsenal, things became vastly different.
Yes, this was not a contest between a strong and a weak team, but a clash between two powerhouses, precisely the scenario all fans relished.
What could be more exciting than a match between the teams ranked first and second in the league standings? Although it seemed Arsenal and Manchester City were still a tier apart, given the current circumstances, there was no other choice; this was the optimal matchup.
They wanted to see how Manchester City, who had always believed themselves to be strong, would reveal their true colors when pitted against Arsenal.
Their players were undoubtedly preparing with utmost seriousness, but so too were the players and coaching staff of the team they supported, Arsenal. With less than forty hours remaining until match day, both sides' players and coaching teams were undoubtedly in tense preparation.
For the players, this match was a contest of on-field skills, but for the coaching teams of both sides, it was a tactical battle, much like playing a game of chess. Tactics were incredibly important for the game. Sometimes, the outcome of a match didn't depend on the players' performance but on the strategies devised by the coaching staff.
Sometimes, tactics could directly decide the winner of a match, which was a matter of public interest. After all, an enjoyable game hinged on intense tactical engagement between both sides.
On the final day of training, Cao Baming arrived at the training ground on time to participate in the session with everyone.
However, at this moment, Cao Baming's concern extended beyond just this single match, as Manchester United had a game scheduled for the day after.
Manchester United would face Liverpool, the team that had swapped positions with them in the league. Manchester United had slipped to eighth place in the league standings, while Liverpool, after a string of recent victories, had successfully climbed back to fourth place, the position previously held by Manchester United.
There was likely an unspoken animosity between them, but how capable was Manchester United at this moment to contend with a team like Liverpool? Liverpool was a traditional powerhouse, their strength evident in all aspects, not just offense but also defense.
Cao Baming's attention to Max was clearly something others didn't grasp. They couldn't understand why Cao Baming was so focused on that individual.
Although Max's recent exploits had been highly publicized, and since his debut and impressive performances on the field, he had become a widely discussed figure among fans, even the chatter among others in the club often revolved around his name.
However, none of them paid Max the same level of attention as Cao Baming, and they had no idea that this was precisely the current reality.
Max already had his own plans in motion, and his plan was now in its implementation phase, already running. It was just that others, including Cao Baming, were completely unaware.
Fans eagerly anticipated Cao Baming and Max clashing on the field, but this was unlikely to happen anytime soon.
They had indeed met on the field before, but for the fans, and indeed for everyone, the time that had passed seemed remarkably short.
Human perception of time was truly fascinating. Sometimes, when time was brief, it felt incredibly long, with even five minutes seeming like an eternity. Yet, at other times, when a considerable amount of time had passed, it felt surprisingly short.
When anticipation reached its peak, the actual passage of time was likely completely disregarded.
While both teams made their final preparations, fans engaged in discussions on forums, initiating a final round of debates where they defended the teams they supported.
This might be the last time Manchester City fans could confidently engage in online battles with Arsenal fans.