Chapter 1 When the Entire San Siro Was Shouting 'Zlatan! Zlatan! Zlatan!' It Was Quite Spectacular

It was a great satisfaction for Ibrahimović's vanity—I have such popularity in my own territory!

However, he did not raise his arms to respond to the fans like Chen Hero.

This is quite normal. Most players will not respond to the fans' calls, except after they score a goal. Chen Hero is a monster, an exception. That is why the Liverpool fans were so excited when they saw Chen Hero raise his arms to respond to them.

Because it is rare, it is so precious.

Ibrahimović knew what the fans wanted him to do. Now Liverpool had finally pressed forward to attack, and inevitably there were many gaps behind them.

As long as he could find a gap, take the ball over, and then shoot and score, he could help the team revive their morale and spirit.

And attacking was what he was best at!

He looked forward to turning the tide and making the cheers at San Siro even louder. He was even more eager to see Chen Hero's expression at that time, with a look of disdain!

He wanted to attack!

He ran up.

He ran towards the gap he had spotted.

But soon, he realized something was wrong.

Because the ball simply couldn't reach his feet!

Liverpool's offensive was fierce, and AC Milan was suppressed!

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Ibrahimović glared anxiously at the front, but he did not fall back to meet his teammates. Because he was expecting his teammates to pass a direct through ball, right into the gap he had chosen, and then he would run over, receive the ball, and form a rather threatening one-on-one opportunity.

What an easy attack…

He was a little reluctant to give up such an easy and comfortable way to attack.

He hoped that even if there was only one chance, he would be able to seize it.

But Liverpool didn't give him a single chance.

Once Liverpool decided to attack, it was no longer the small-scale defensive counterattack it had been before.

In most games, Liverpool defends and counterattacks, so everyone's impression of them has solidified, to the point that many people have forgotten what Liverpool looks like when they go all out on the attack…

Now, AC Milan fans were fortunate enough to see Liverpool's full attacking posture, and twice—once away and once at home.

The offensive came wave after wave, one attack, two attacks, continuing with two attacks… Liverpool, through a clear four-line formation and powerful control, could completely bombard AC Milan's thirty-meter area.

Many AC Milan fans恍惚jian, thought they had returned to the stands at Anfield a week ago.

Wasn't AC Milan just like this in that game?

How could they be suppressed by Liverpool in the thirty-meter area and not even cross half-court?

At that time, this scene made them think it was a disgrace to AC Milan.

But now, they were all speechless.

This wasn't Allegri's conservative tactics anymore, this was an active attack. It was just that because their attack was not as good as others, they were pushed back…

Some AC Milan fans were silent, unable to cheer for such a scene.

Berlusconi in the stands was also silent.

He had previously suspected whether Allegri had modified the tactics, but he quickly realized that Allegri would not do that. He had been sitting on the bench throughout the game, not walking to the sidelines to direct the game, so naturally he could not ask the team to retreat and defend.

This was entirely a conditioned reflex made by the team when facing Liverpool's crazy attack.

In other words, both sides were attacking, but AC Milan was no match for Liverpool's offensive and was pushed back.

This is the gap…

He also thought of Allegri's words relayed by Galliani.

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Ibrahimović was very angry. The ball couldn't reach his feet. He kept waving to his teammates in the front, signaling them to attack, but few responded to him. They all shrank back to defend.

These damn cowards!

He cursed in his heart.

Just a few attacks, and they were scared shitless!

We only need to counterattack a few times, and we can push them back again!

Until the end of the first half, Ibrahimović did not get any decent attacking opportunities. Of course, because AC Milan shrank back quickly enough, Liverpool did not continue to score, although they actually had several chances to score, but their luck was not so good…

In short, the first half ended in a tense atmosphere.

Back in the locker room, Allegri didn't say a word. The tactics for this game were not set by him, and he didn't plan to say anything, lest people use it as an excuse later, saying that he had modified the tactical instructions midway and asked the whole team to shrink back and defend.

Ibrahimović didn't wait for Allegri to say anything, he took the lead to stand up. He had to be responsible for his idea, because it was his idea to let the team attack. Now that the team was in trouble, he certainly had to stand up and cheer for his idea, telling everyone that attacking was promising.

"There are also many gaps behind their defense! But we were pushed back by their offensive and couldn't take advantage of it! Actually, there's nothing to be afraid of in their offensive! They've been surrounding us for so long, but they still haven't scored, have they? In the second half, no matter how fierce their offensive is, we have to attack! When the game gets to this point, not attacking is a dead end, attacking still has hope! So we must get the ball into their hinterland! We have to let them know that we are not pushovers either! When they understand this, they will be afraid of our attack and start to retreat! Our defensive pressure will also be reduced! So, guys, we have to attack! Anyway, we've already lost three goals, do we have any hope if we just defend?"

Ibrahimović's last words touched many AC Milan players.

Yes, defending is a dead end. We are already three goals behind, so what's the point even if we don't lose a goal in the second half?

Let's start attacking, although the chances of failure are also high, at least there is a glimmer of hope.

Besides, even if we lose the game in the end, we can show that we have worked hard. It is not a disgraceful death, but a glorious death…

The players' emotions were re-mobilized.

Seeing those excited players, Allegri sneered repeatedly in his heart.

Of course, there is no need to defend now, because defending is a dead end. But can attacking be okay? If they don't lose a goal, there is still hope for attacking now. But now they are three goals behind, can you win by attacking?

The truth is now—defending is a dead end. Attacking is a second dead end.

Either way, it's death, because no matter what they do, it's too late now.

They missed the best opportunity.

They can only close their eyes and walk this dead end all the way to the end.

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In the Liverpool locker room, Martin O'Neill was also systematizing the impromptu ideas he had given the players in the first half, making their attacks more organized.

He completely understood that although he didn't know what was happening inside AC Milan, it was a fact that they were going crazy to attack Liverpool. Since it was a fact, why not take advantage of it?

He told the team how Liverpool would attack in the second half. For example, if AC Milan wanted to attack in the second half, they would seize the opportunity of their two full-backs pressing forward, attack behind them, pass long balls, and try to get through the midfield as quickly as possible.

Finally, he told his players that if AC Milan's offensive in the second half was even fiercer than in the first half, don't be afraid, because we can afford to lose goals, but they can't. So, don't worry about defense at all, just attack desperately.

"...As long as we score one more goal, a piece of their hearts will collapse. As we score more and more goals, they will find that even if they attack us, they have no chance of winning! By then, they will naturally collapse! We have to let them see the gap between Italian football and top European football!"

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In the second half, the two sides changed sides and fought again.

AC Milan changed the embarrassing situation of being pressed in the back half in the last stage of the first half and re-pressed to attack.

And they were very happy to find that Liverpool didn't care about defense at all!

Ibrahimović finally had the opportunity to take advantage of those gaps he had spotted long ago!

"Ibrahimović... he got the ball! In the penalty area... shot!! Ah, Reina! Reina made a wonderful save, he held the ball firmly! Maybe the shot was a little too straight..."

Although he didn't score, Ibrahimović was very happy in his heart, and he waved his fist.

As long as he continues to play like this, he will have many, many opportunities!

He firmly believed it.

Unfortunately, he will not have more opportunities...

AC Milan attacked desperately, and there were also gaps in the defense. Liverpool seized such gaps to counterattack.

They directly passed a long ball from the backcourt to Gareth Bale's feet.

Bale faced the AC Milan defender who came up to defend him and used his stunt—a powerful kick to send the ball ten meters away, then started to accelerate, relying on his speed to get rid of the defending player, catch up with the ball, and then cross!

Chen Hero jumped high in the air and headed for the goal!

Thiago Silva was firmly pressed under him and could not interfere with him.

"Hero—gooooooooooooooooooAL!!!"

The commentator's crazy shouts became AC Milan's death knell at this moment!

So simple, so easy, Liverpool scored two goals away from home and led AC Milan by a total score of 4:0!

With such a big score gap, AC Milan's general trend is gone.

Ibrahimović, who was still full of hope in the frontcourt, was stunned for a while after seeing this scene, and then he clenched his fists and cursed: "God damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Son of a bitch!"

Besides swear words, he didn't know how to vent his frustration and anger.

Why!

Why!

Why?!

Why can't I win against this damn son of a bitch Chen Hero!

Where is he better than me?!

Where am I inferior to him?!

Ibrahimović roared to the sky, but did not get any answers.