Veltins-Arena's North Stand!
Ann Carr sat among a group of home fans wearing a white shirt.
The gentleman's white attire stood in stark contrast to the sea of blue surrounding him.
Noticing the strange looks from nearby fans, Ann Carr discreetly moved her briefcase with the Manchester United logo behind her back.
"Haha, I came straight from work and didn't have time to change jerseys!"
Damn those unreliable scalpers! They sold me a ticket in the North Stand. Don't they know this section is full of Gelsenkirchen fanatics?
With that thought, Ann Carr cautiously took his seat.
...........
Live from the pre-match press conference:
Pep Guardiola and Felix Magath sat side by side on the podium.
Reporters frantically clicked their camera shutters.
Barcelona versus Schalke 04!
No one could have predicted these two clubs would meet in the Champions League semifinal second leg. Even more shocking - Schalke 04 held the advantage!
"Mr. Guardiola, has Barcelona devised any strategy to counter Schalke 04's libero tactic?"
Marca's reporters always asked the most professional questions.
While others focused on whether Messi would score a hat-trick, Marca went straight to the point.
The libero tactic had sparked global debate since Magath mentioned it a week ago.
This strategy was pioneered by football legend Franz Beckenbauer.
Though many praised Magath, he also faced considerable criticism.
Most notably from Beckenbauer himself:
"The libero no longer exists in modern football. While Su is excellent, his defensive weaknesses are apparent. A true libero must anchor the backline, not just contribute offensively - that's the position's core value."
When even the tactic's creator dismissed it, Magath's "libero" became a laughingstock.
The Marca reporter's question drew snickers throughout the room.
Magath burned with anger.
But since the question wasn't directed at him, he had to restrain himself.
Marca, was it?
Magath wasn't known for his forgiving nature!
"Barcelona operates as a unit. We don't change our style based on opponents."
Guardiola's response electrified the press corps.
It had begun!
The traditional pre-match verbal sparring - football's oldest conference tradition.
And at this moment...
Distant Madrid.
Ferguson and his assistant coach brought the entire Manchester United squad to watch the Champions League semifinal at their hotel.
Their own match would be tomorrow.
It was Ferguson's long-standing tradition to scout opponents in advance.
As for whether they could defeat Real Madrid, Sir Alex wasn't particularly concerned.
With a two-goal advantage, Real Madrid wouldn't find it easy to overturn the deficit in this match.
7:30 PM.
The second leg of the Champions League semifinals officially began.
Following the familiar pre-match procedures, players from both teams walked onto the pitch holding hands with their ball boys.
"Raul isn't in the starting lineup!" Rooney remarked after seeing the teams emerge on television.
"Wayne, do you think Schalke 04 can actually topple Barcelona?" Berbatov asked from his seat beside Rooney.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
"I doubt it. Schalke's squad isn't particularly strong - just Raul and that decent Chinese player Su. Huntelaar can't shake off Alves, and that other Chinese player on the right is just average Bundesliga level!"
"Exactly! Even an old defender like Abidal would struggle against a winger who can break through like me!"
At this point, Valencia snapped his head up in agreement.
"Enough! You lads should have no problem getting past him, then causing havoc in the corner against those tall defenders!"
Sir Alex smiled contentedly, pleased to see his players so relaxed.
Barcelona!
The current Barcelona was so formidable that Ferguson had been racking his brains for tactics to counter their passing game.
But such tactics placed extreme demands on midfielders.
Chinese Su!
Regardless, he must secure his transfer to Manchester United this summer.
Recently, Sir Alex had been feeling his body age rapidly.
But at the very least...
Before retirement...
He would lead the Red Devils to world dominance for the third time!
He would retire with the greatest managerial record in history!
..............
"CCTV!
CCTV!
You're watching the 2010-2011 UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg between Schalke 04 and Barcelona!
I'm your old friend Duan!
And I'm Wang!
Both teams have taken their positions on the pitch!"
"First, let's look at the starting lineups for both sides!"
"Wearing their traditional blue jerseys and attacking from left to right is the home team Schalke 04!"
"Starting goalkeeper: Neuer."
"Left-back: Smits!"
"Center-backs: Metzelder and H?wedes pairing up!"
"Right-back: Nicolas Plestan!"
"Central midfield: Peer Kluge, Su, and Boujellab!"
"Left midfielder: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, right midfielder: Hao."
"Leading the attack is Vardy!"
"On Barcelona's side..."
"Due to Schalke's star defensive midfielder Baumann suffering a thigh muscle strain and first-choice full-back Uchida Atsuto suspended after receiving a red card last game, manager Magath has started the team's backup full-back!"
"Nicolas Plestan, born in France in 1981, can play both center-back and full-back positions!"
"In this match he'll be facing Barcelona's speedster Pedro!"
"On paper..."
"Schalke 04 appears vulnerable across all positions!"
"Beep!"
"With the referee's whistle..."
"The match begins!"
"Schalke 04 fans can show their support by texting A to..."
"Wow!"
"Beautiful!!!"
"Su!!!"
"Oh my God!"
"So fast!"
"Su charges forward with the ball!!!"
"Barcelona's entire team hasn't even reacted yet!!!"
"Busquets gets beaten!!!"
At Veltins-Arena right now!
A scene is unfolding that's making all the home fans' blood boil!
Just seconds after the referee's whistle!
Su, receiving a pass back from Vardy, didn't make his usual sideways pass!
Facing Villa's challenge, Su flicked the ball to the right.
Then pushed the ball forward with his left foot.
Like lightning, he sprinted toward Barcelona's defensive line!
That incredible speed!
Left everyone's mouths hanging open in shock!
Xavi and Iniesta are still standing frozen - they never expected Su to make such a mad dash right from kickoff, and at that impossible speed!
Like... like peak Kaká, or Ronaldo in his prime, or even that Parisian Mbappé?
Hmm? Who's Mbappé?
In just the blink of an eye,
Su took the ball in stride and burst through Barcelona's midfield defense.
Busquets rushed sharply toward Su,
but Su didn't give him any chance at all. With the speed boost from his Wind-treading Combat Boots, he was already the fastest man in all of football.
With just a quick pivot and change of direction,
Su left Busquets stumbling behind him.
Now only Puyol and Piqué stood between Su and the goal!
Facing this double-team,
Su slammed the ball straight down the middle with his right foot!
Then stomped the turf to accelerate again!
That's all it took!
Su spectacularly split the two defenders!
Piqué and Puyol could only stare as Su rushed past them like the wind!
"Beautiful!!!"
"One-on-one with the keeper!!!"
"Su!!!!"
"Valdés comes out!!!"
"Su shoots with his right foot!!!"
"Through the legs!!!"
"Su's shot slips right between Valdés' legs!!!"
"It's in!!!"
"GOAL!!!!"
"Oh my God!!!"
"Unbelievable!!!"
"An absolutely unexpected script!!!"
"An epic goal!"
"Su opened the game single-handedly, using his uncanny speed to catch Barcelona completely off guard!"
"No one imagined Su could be this fast!"
"No one expected Su to come charging straight through with the ball from the opening whistle!"
"9.46 seconds!!!"
"A new record!"
"Oh my god!!!"
"Champions League fastest goal record!!!"
"On 7 March 2007, Bayern Munich hosted Real Madrid in the Champions League Round of 16 second leg. From the kickoff, the ball was played back to Roberto Carlos, who miscontrolled it allowing Salihamid?i? to intercept. He played it low to the center where Roy Makaay fired a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner."
"That record of 10.02 seconds has stood unbroken, a time remarkably close to the world 100-meter record that many believed would never be surpassed or even approached!"
"But today!"
"Su!"
"Su has shown the world with this insane goal!"
"This is Veltins-Arena!"
"It doesn't matter if you're Barcelona or Real Madrid here!"
"It doesn't matter if you're Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo here!"
"There is only one king here!"
"This is Su's pitch!!!"
...................
(This goal references Pato's September 2011 strike!)
AC Milan opened their Champions League group stage campaign away to Barcelona, and just 24 seconds into the match, Pato scored after dribbling past Busquets and beating Valdés with a 'tap-in'.
