Although there were no external calls for his dismissal, as the current head coach of the team, he was acutely aware that the excellent results were not primarily due to his contributions but entirely propped up by the players' individual abilities.
At the very least, he had to admit that if Cao Baming hadn't arrived in time, he might not be in this position anymore.
The higher-ups seemed to see this as well...
While he wasn't certain, he couldn't help but think in that direction.
Worries and anxieties followed.
Countless people now wanted to come and coach Arsenal.
Comparatively, Arsenal, with its equally star-studded lineup, completely outshone PSG. One team couldn't attract players, while the other had people clamoring to join.
If possible, Guardiola would likely be the first to sign up.
As for other candidates, the club was certainly not lacking. Coaches like Klopp and Conte would come if they were merely asked.
After a morning of meetings, a direction gradually became clear.
The focus going forward would be on the Champions League, while the World Cup would require some flexibility in terms of timing.
Some players might wish to return to their national teams early for training, and this was not an intolerable matter.
Cao Baming also spent a considerable amount during his break. The one million points were not used to exchange for top-tier talent skill cards but were saved.
Although the intention was to unlock a higher-level card, the more important reason was that he didn't need them for the time being.
In the past few days, Cao Baming had mastered many new skills using his points, astonishing those around him.
He paid no mind to the subsequent league matches.
The opponents faced in consecutive matches were all teams at the bottom of the league standings; even playing casually would result in a win.
Messi returned to the field, personally orchestrating the midfield, leading to two consecutive large-margin victories.
The scores were 5-0 and 6-1. The only regret was that against Leeds United, the opponent managed to score a late goal, preventing a clean sheet.
Within two weeks, Cao Baming, with a hat-trick and a brace, coupled with the emotional value absorbed on the field from overwhelming opponents, was nearing his second million points.
For him, the biggest advantage of playing against weak teams was that they could be used to farm points!
With points, he could become stronger to face stronger opponents.
Meanwhile, the club began to feel the pressure, as starting next week, they would typically have at least two matches per week.
The first round of the Champions League group stage would see Arsenal host PSG.
This match was the most anticipated in the group by fans!
There were at least two storylines for this game. First, both teams were the absolute leaders in the Premier League and Ligue 1 respectively, currently sitting at the top of their league tables – a direct clash of absolute powerhouses.
But the even bigger storyline, naturally, was Messi!
Mbappé absolutely could not tolerate Messi's defection. He had already vented his anger through league goals, scoring hat-tricks in three consecutive matches and scoring in six consecutive games!
His momentum was even on par with Cao Baming's!
Mbappé was truly furious this time. He wanted to personally take down Messi and show the world who the true king of football was.
It was precisely because of such drama that fans were so excited!
The more dramatic it was, the more the audience loved to watch it!
However, while the fans were happy, it presented a challenge for Arsenal, as their league opponent this week was also not to be trifled with.
Currently, Arsenal topped the league table with seven wins out of seven, followed by Tottenham and Manchester City, who each had one draw and one loss. Next was a dark horse of the season, Newcastle United.
That was their opponent in the next match!
Newcastle had won five out of seven matches, with one draw and one loss.
Their only defeat came in a way no one expected, losing to a Manchester United team at the bottom of the standings.
Due to a conflict, one player was sent off in the first half of that match, resulting in a 0-1 loss!
More importantly, their single draw was against Tottenham, a long-standing powerhouse in the Premier League and currently ranked second in the league standings!
That's right, Tottenham's only draw was against them!
The score of that match was 3-3, a game that any coach would meticulously study.
Cao Baming had only added a fraction of his points to his physical attributes, and his progress during regular training had been significant. Most importantly, he could feel a qualitative leap in the team's synergy recently!
Messi's form was becoming increasingly fiery, having completely overcome his initial struggles upon joining the team, which was crucial.
Before the match, everyone had trained diligently for several consecutive days.
To secure his position, Arteta had also put in a great deal of effort, specifically developing a systematic tactical approach.
This tactic was also something the players had been focusing on in training recently. Simply put, it was a free-flowing, organization-based play centered around Cao Baming.
In fact, it was less of a tactic and more of a "Cao Baming Usage Template."
In this setup, Messi's role was merely to connect plays and thread passes, while Henry acted as the finisher up front, occasionally executing brilliant interplay.
The greatest feature of this tactic was its sheer entertainment value!
But its practicality was by no means lacking!
The first match of the week was against Newcastle United on Monday, and the squad list had been finalized.
The team's three biggest stars were all present, but there were some absences in midfield and defense. However, these substitutions were not expected to cause significant issues for the match.
In the blink of an eye, the match arrived.
For this away game, the players had arrived at the vicinity of the away stadium early.
After recent training and preparation, everyone had found the confidence to face the challenge, a confidence that was not unfounded but had solid reasons behind it.
Before the match, they had gained a relatively in-depth and detailed understanding of the opponent's current form and playing style.
Despite playing away, they were not intimidated.
Tottenham Hotspur's record looked quite impressive, with six wins and one draw in seven games! They were in hot form!
Yet, despite all that, they were still ranked second? Let's see who was first. Oh, it was me!
Seven wins out of seven, with a goal difference five goals greater than theirs!
Was there any reason to be intimidated?
The answer was absolutely none.
Cao Baming's eyes glinted as he followed the team, walking at the back. He listened to the system's voice as he walked.
Not long ago, he had finally remembered to check his current attributes to get a better understanding of himself.
However, he had never expected to have so many attributes exceeding one hundred now!