Did Cao Baming know martial arts? The truth is, no one cared that much. The team had already secured a two-goal lead. If they could maintain the same momentum in the second half as in the first, and score another two, wouldn't that mean ending the match with a 4-0 victory?
A 4-0 defeat of Chelsea; all the players in the locker room had experienced such a scenario, but their experiences had all been in dreams.
This was reality now. To achieve such a feat, wouldn't they have to celebrate properly? This was a monumental occasion!
The club's higher-ups were also very excited. They were extremely satisfied with the players' performance in the first half, especially Cao Baming's.
Even the coaching staff couldn't find anything that needed optimizing or improving. There was so much to discuss, but they were reluctant to disrupt the current situation. They feared that even a slight adjustment might trigger a chain reaction that would directly alter the second half's dynamic from the first.
As long as they could maintain this state and didn't need to improve anything further, there would be no problem whatsoever!
The halftime break ended quickly, and both teams returned to the field for the second half.
As everyone had anticipated, the Nottingham Forest club's coach had not opted for any substitutions. They hadn't made a single change, and their three available substitution slots remained unused from the start of the match.
In contrast, Chelsea had immediately brought on two players, hoping to inject some difference into the second half and at least find a way to disrupt the opponent's rhythm.
They had already realized that their team was completely on the back foot. The consequences of continuing this way would be unimaginable. If they lost this match, the very first game of the new Premier League season, and to a team like Nottingham Forest, it would be unbearable for everyone.
It wasn't just the club's management; the players would also find it difficult to accept. They couldn't reconcile themselves to it. Such a collapse in confidence would inevitably affect the rest of the season. If they couldn't achieve a resounding, high-scoring victory in one game, it would be hard to turn things around.
There had been numerous examples of this in the past. Many teams started with a single unfavorable match and continued to struggle until the end of the season, or even into the next, falling into a deep slump, a chasm from which they couldn't escape.
Seeing such significant lineup changes, the fans held some hope for Chelsea's performance in the second half.
Chelsea had always left an impression that could be described by the word "tenacity." They were so tenacious. Forget a 2-0 deficit; they had successfully come back from 3-0 or even 4-0 down. What kind of storms hadn't they weathered? This was a veteran powerhouse team; they wouldn't be easily defeated!
All the Chelsea fans in the stadium had a spark in their eyes. As soon as the game kicked off, they loudly cheered for their team, hoping to restore the players' confidence and give the opponents a good thrashing.
However, three minutes into the game, Gibbs-White of Nottingham Forest made his presence felt.
Although he didn't score, the message was clear: Nottingham Forest was no longer playing a defensive counter-attack in the second half; they were going on the offensive!
Wouldn't it be even more enjoyable to force the opponent into a defensive shell, like a turtle hiding in its shell?
Facing such a strategy was undoubtedly uncomfortable for all players. However, being able to force a stronger team than themselves into such a formation was a very interesting prospect, at least in terms of morale, it was a complete annihilation.
At this moment, the Chelsea players had not lost all their confidence. In the midfield huddle, after a passionate and rousing speech from their teammates and coach, they began to regain some of their belief.
The game was back and forth. This initial period of the second half was no longer like the end of the first half.
In the 52nd minute, Chelsea was presented with an excellent opportunity. This chance arose from a simple mistake in Nottingham Forest's own half.
A misplaced pass directly handed possession to the opposition, specifically to their forward line.
Felix and Enzo Fernandez, after a quick one-two on the left flank, were involved. Enzo's pass set up Felix, who curved a shot towards goal.
The shot was aimed directly at the far corner of the net. Navas seemed helpless, but unfortunately, the ball went slightly wide in the end.
"What a shame! This was probably Chelsea's best chance of the match so far, but they couldn't capitalize on it!"
"They played very well. Felix's shot had excellent quality, and Enzo Fernandez's pass was also exquisite!"
It was evident that the Chelsea players still possessed that tenacious spirit and had no intention of surrendering.
Subsequently, both teams intensified their attacks. On one hand, Nottingham Forest's team chose to attack proactively, which in turn created more opportunities for Chelsea to counter.
Both sides were comfortable, but everyone gradually overlooked a ticking time bomb on the field: Cao Baming had been almost invisible for the past five minutes, having barely touched the ball.
Cao Baming's invisibility was different from that of other players. Cao Baming's invisibility was terrifying because it invariably led to terrifying results.
Five minutes passed. Just as everyone was beginning to let their guard down regarding Cao Baming, suddenly, a swift horse erupted from the flank.
Before people could even realize who it was, assuming it was a fullback making a run, they discovered it was Cao Baming!
When did he get to the wing? The Chelsea players were bewildered, but there was no time to ponder any other questions; they had to defend quickly!
Otherwise, they were well aware of Cao Baming's capabilities. If he managed to find an opening and get within forty meters of the goal, the consequences would be predictable.
"Go! Stop Cao Baming!"
"Don't let him get past! Left flank, left flank! Hurry up and provide cover!!"
At this moment, Lampard on the sidelines was going mad, shouting loudly, his eyes seemingly burning with fire.
The three midfielders tasked with marking Cao Baming in this match dispatched two players towards Cao Baming's direction of travel, attempting to intercept him before he reached his destination!
Whether they succeeded or not, they had to give it their all! They had to try, right?