If all of this was merely for an 8:2 score, and so much time and effort had been spent on simulations to achieve this point, then it was certainly not worth it.
Cao Baming's eyes flickered. The simulation had progressed for a considerable duration, but he knew in his heart that to reach the ultimate level, this was merely the beginning, and only the very beginning at that.
With the exhilarating joy of victory, the players walked off the pitch, their faces beaming with smiles. As they approached the sidelines, Cao Baming closed his eyes tightly. After a few seconds passed, he opened them again, and the scene on the field had transformed once more.
Everything vanished, replaced by an entirely new panorama. At this moment, the two teams on the pitch remained unchanged: Manchester City and Manchester United. They each wore their iconic jerseys, but this time their home and away statuses were reversed.
Now, the match was being played at Manchester City's home ground. Their players, adorned in sky-blue jerseys, shimmered with a sky-blue radiance beneath the vast expanse of the heavens.
Being at home, the players could see clusters of their fans from the pitch, looking towards the sidelines. Dressed in sky-blue attire, they resembled clusters of sky-blue flowers, painting the spectator stands along the sidelines in a brilliant azure hue.
Thus, this marked yet another new simulation. In this particular iteration, Cao Baming had subtly adjusted the lineup and system once again.
If he aimed for perfection, from this point onward, he could not afford to make too many drastic changes at once. It was about refinement, making minuscule modifications to better discern the differences.
This would allow him to more sharply pinpoint the true issues and more rapidly achieve the ideal state he envisioned.
The match quickly commenced, and Cao Baming's gaze shifted to the action on the field.
Dozens of such simulations had been conducted. With growing proficiency, each adjustment, even if the score didn't change drastically, had led to noticeable improvements on the field.
Cao Baming knew that the team was continuously approaching the ultimate level he desired.
Despite dozens of simulations, only a few minutes had passed in real time, a timeframe that was entirely acceptable. More importantly, watching these players passionately battle on the field, with every moment of the match filled with uncertainty, filled Cao Baming with a profound excitement that was almost overwhelming.
Why stop now? There was no reason to cease.
After simulating over a thousand scenarios, Cao Baming finally witnessed a match that could truly be described as ultimate.
To control variables in these simulations, the match content remained unchanged, as did the teams: it was still the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 between Manchester City and Manchester United, this red and blue clash.
The only alteration was the change in home and away status. To increase the difficulty, Manchester City was made to play at home. Players enjoying the cheers of the opposing team's fans on the sidelines would naturally perform less optimally than when their own fans were cheering them on.
Crucially, at this moment, this particular match finally brought Cao Baming genuine satisfaction. It was the first and only time out of thousands of simulations.
The match underway had reached the 49th minute. The first half had concluded, and the second half was in progress. 138 Reading Network
At this juncture, the score had become 8:0. While this score was not the best among all simulations, nor even ranked among the top, based on the players' performance on the field and the overall team dynamics, Cao Baming felt confident.
He had finally waited for this moment; his efforts had not been in vain!
The reason for his satisfaction was that the players' on-field performance had met his expectations. This tactical setup and each player's position were maximizing their value. Although the tactical approach was somewhat unconventional, the ultimate outcome was excellent.
The offensive performance had consistently been outstanding, and now, midfield control and defensive solidity at the back had also become more perfect than before.
The only caveat was that the team's current lineup could no longer be described as merely luxurious; it was now dazzling to the point of being blinding.
The most significant change in the forward line was the presence of the "alien" Ronaldo. His explosive power, speed, and strength perfectly complemented the team, serving as the most lethal weapon up front, an ideal fit.
Ronaldo was positioned as the central spearhead of the entire attacking line. As a striker, he was the team's top scorer in every match.
In addition, the left and right wingers were also top-tier stars: Messi, who had returned from his "exile," and one of the few players who remained with this Manchester United team at this time, Sancho.
None of them had a market value below 100 million euros, yet Cao Baming had not considered monetary figures at all when assembling the squad.
As for the midfield, the indispensable players were undoubtedly De Bruyne, Modrić, Kanté, Alphonso Davies, and Luís Figo.
Additionally, players like Verratti and Fabinho remained the best "glue" in the entire squad, capable of adapting to any tactical approach.
The defense featured not only Roberto Carlos, one of the best defenders of his time, but also the offensively adept Hakimi and the defensively sound Van Dijk.
The goalkeeping position was straightforward: De Gea, Manchester United's longest-serving representative, was chosen to guard the goal.
Although the team's previous performance had not been outstanding, De Gea's performances had consistently been stable.
Cao Baming had no intention of competing with established powerhouses for world-class goalkeepers like Donnarumma, Neuer, or Martínez.
For the current Manchester United team, De Gea was more than sufficient.
Because he believed the soul of this team needed to remain within its ranks.