The sight of him still positioned in midfield, a safe distance from the ball, offered AC Milan’s players a sliver of reassurance.
But in less than a second, their hearts seized up again as they spotted another figure lurking near the ball’s trajectory.
This individual might not be tall, his presence seemingly small, yet his footballing skill was undeniably exceptional among everyone on the pitch.
No one knew when Messi had stealthily positioned himself there. Even the defenders hadn't seen him, though they had been keeping him closely marked, never letting him out of their sight. Yet, in the blink of an eye, he had seized an opportunity.
Messi received Henry’s direct pass. While the connection between Henry and Messi couldn't be described as invincible, it was certainly close.
Messi controlled the ball with his thigh, then immediately brought it to the instep of his foot. Without any further settling or preparatory moves, he unleashed a volley, sending the ball towards the goal.
The entire action was fluid and seamless, so much so that it momentarily seemed like it might be offside, as he had already managed to shake off the nearby defenders by nearly a meter.
“Beautiful! Messi’s decision, he chose to use his weaker foot for this play, but the shot quality is extremely high!”
At that moment, the goalkeeper rushed out. Though he couldn’t save Cao Faming’s long-range shot from midfield, he proved his worth with this spectacular save. He had managed to deny Messi a shot from a position he was most adept at.
A flicker of regret crossed his face. Messi, much like a child, would exhibit such an expression whenever an opportunity slipped through his grasp.
Henry also approached. After delivering that pass, he had immediately come forward to provide support, as a forward, he couldn’t simply abandon the midfield.
He gently patted Messi’s shoulder. Their brief exchange of words was enough for them to understand each other.
Cao Baiming also felt a pang of regret that such a golden opportunity hadn't resulted in a goal. However, unlike them, he had anticipated this very scenario long ago.
It had to be said that this system’s time-perception function was sometimes helpful, and at other times, it proved to be a hindrance.
As the match time ticked away, with this shot missed, AC Milan became frenzied once more. They seemed to have been ignited, each player transforming into a berserk wolf, tearing and biting at everything. As soon as they saw a person and the ball in the same vicinity, they would rush forward with reckless abandon, their expressions and physical movements fierce as they pressed.
It felt as if they didn’t even care about winning the ball, only about the act of tackling.
This approach was indeed effective, especially at this moment when the opponent's enthusiasm seemed to have reignited, leading the match into its second climax.
Cao Baiming quietly observed his surroundings, his mind racing.
Ibrahimović began roaring in the front line. While he wasn’t actively pressing for the ball, as the sharpest spearhead, the ball still needed to be passed to him to score.
This time, Grealish broke through the center successfully, despite the efforts of Saka and Vieira to stop him.
At this point, Cao Baiming had already positioned himself next to the opponent’s core player, Leo.
Although the fans hadn't yet grasped this, Cao Baiming could clearly see that they were relying on the left flank as a point of attack to create scoring chances.
These frenzied tackles and the outward display might just be a facade, a way to conceal the sharp bayonets hidden beneath the surface.
Cao Baiming indeed waited in the center, his gaze constantly fixed on the left flank. As expected, the opponent employed this very strategy.
Cao Baiming pretended not to see Leo’s position and shifted his attention to the other side. Concurrently, Grealish, advancing with the ball, glanced towards the left. He knew the coach’s plan and had no other choice but to execute it.
The next moment, the ball sliced across half the pitch like a sharp knife, heading towards the left flank at a 45-degree angle.
This pass was also incredibly powerful, seemingly more like a missile than a pass. However, with his exceptional ball control, Leo managed to keep it at his feet. But when he looked up again, he was truly startled.
He recognized the person before him instantly. It was none other than the absolute monster on the field, the unusually formidable defender, Cao Baiming.
Upon seeing Cao Baiming’s imposing physique, he instantly lost his confidence. Even his dribbling slowed considerably, as if his feet were glued or had a massive magnet attached to the soles of his shoes.
Though not tall, his strength was undeniable, something any spectator of the match would have witnessed. Even without direct confrontation, they would understand the ferocity of Cao Baiming's defense; getting past him would at least require disabling one leg.
Ibrahimović was growing impatient in midfield, scanning his surroundings and constantly making decoy runs. Meanwhile, Theo Hernández, Grealish, and De Ketelaere had already approached the penalty area.
More and more attacking players were converging. With so many supporting players, even with a full defensive setup, the danger was immense. Cao Baiming had already moved to the left, leaving the center to his teammates.
He knew Arsenal’s weakness lay in their defense. These players, while perhaps not as reliable as the forwards, were overly dependent on him. If he were on the left, the center couldn't be adequately covered, and if the ball were passed into the middle, it would be very difficult for those scoring geniuses to be stopped.
But these worries were likely unnecessary, as Leo, before even successfully reaching the byline, was already impatient to cross. At this moment, he had lost all confidence in continuing to grapple with Cao Baiming. The crucial point was that Cao Baiming wasn't actively pressing, but merely standing his ground.
It was as if he were toying with him, and even seemed to be enjoying it!