The intense three-day training session had concluded in the blink of an eye, and the team was now faced with a crucial challenge in the next round of the Premier League.
The away match against Manchester United was anything but easy, as imagined.
If they managed to win this game, it would mean clinching the Premier League title for the season in advance, a feat of great significance for the entire team.
While this victory alone wouldn't secure the championship outright, the following match was against an opponent so weak that it was practically a foregone conclusion. Therefore, if they could conquer Manchester United, this formidable hurdle, the championship would essentially be locked in.
Facing such a situation, players and even the club's top brass were taking it with utmost seriousness, perhaps even exceeding normal levels. Under such pressure, whether they could perform at their usual standard remained an unknown.
Head coach Arteta had done everything in his power, meticulously re-examining Manchester United's new system.
Internal conflicts had been rumored incessantly, but on the other hand, their performance in the Premier League had repeatedly proven detractors wrong.
Despite widespread reports of internal discord, sluggish form, and even players not training diligently, leading to frequent calls for the coach's dismissal, the team had managed to go five games unbeaten and climbed from eleventh to fourth in the league standings.
This was proof enough. To underestimate them now would be a grave mistake.
Before the match, both sides announced their starting lineups.
What Arteta truly cared about was whether Cristiano Ronaldo would be in the starting eleven, as his presence significantly impacted Manchester United's tactical system. With Ronaldo on the field and without him were essentially two different teams.
While not necessarily a difference in overall strength, the approach to countering them would certainly be vastly different.
In fact, the entire Arsenal coaching staff preferred Ronaldo to be in the starting lineup. If that were the case, their playstyle would become more predictable and easier to target. With a defensive player like Cao Baming anchoring the backline, it would be nearly impossible for the aging Ronaldo to get a shooting opportunity without being offside.
Looking at the lineup displayed on the screen, a neatly arranged formation was depicted.
Upon closer inspection, Ronaldo was indeed present among the front three. He occupied the most advanced attacking position.
In recent matches, his performance had been decent, with his last three goals all being headers.
However, whether this was due to a resurgence in form or increased support from his teammates remained unclear. At least another crucial statistic was that in these recent games, Ronaldo had the highest number of offsides in the entire Premier League.
These three successful shots might have been the result of countless opportunities.
Upon seeing this, Arteta and his coaching staff breathed a sigh of relief. Their tactical training had been geared towards this specific lineup.
Continuing to look down, the predicted starting lineup was largely as they had anticipated, almost perfectly accurate.
If this were the case, they believed they would be able to firmly control the opponent's tactics on the field.
As he scrolled further down, Arteta's pupils contracted as if he had seen a ghost, his expression quickly turning to one of utter astonishment.
There was a name on the list that he had never seen in Manchester United's matchday squad before!
At that moment, Cao Baming, who was also viewing the list, noticed the same name.
Compared to the coaching staff, he was even more surprised, and by a significant margin. This was because the name belonged to Max, whom he had met just a few days prior.
Arteta's surprise stemmed solely from recognizing the name as that of the young man who had caused trouble on the field a few days ago.
Based on his knowledge, it had only been a few days since that person joined Manchester United and was officially announced.
To be included in the matchday squad so quickly, even if not in the starting lineup, was highly unusual.
After all, including such a player in the squad likely indicated some intention on the part of the coach; otherwise, they wouldn't have had such a sudden and astonishing idea, doing something so strange that shocked the world.
Arteta understood this situation, as it was similar to Cao Baming's situation when he first joined the club. For prudence's sake, he had included Cao Baming in the matchday squad, and the same applied during his early games after returning from the World Cup.
Could it be that the person named Max was truly as unbelievably strong as Cao Baming?
Regardless, at least he wasn't in the starting lineup, and even if Ten Hag were bold enough, he wouldn't dare let him play for more than thirty minutes. After all, no matter how capable he was, he hadn't properly integrated with the team's lineup and tactical system. It was highly likely that he wouldn't be able to make a difference alone.
If Cao Baming couldn't do it, how could he?
However, these were merely Arteta's thoughts. At that moment, he was unaware of one crucial fact: what had happened that night.
Cao Baming was certain that he had shown no mercy that night, even clearly hearing the sound of his tibia breaking.
He had sustained over ten injuries all over his body, any one of which would have been enough to sideline him for over a month. Moreover, that fracture might not heal for half a year.
Even with divine recovery abilities, it was impossible to recover so quickly. How could he be included in the matchday squad? What was Ten Hag thinking? Could Max be his biological son?
That was impossible! Absolutely impossible!
At this moment, Cao Baming's confusion and bewilderment had reached an extreme.
Perhaps this was all a smokescreen by Manchester United to deceive their opponents. They knew that the news of Max joining the team had garnered considerable attention, and they were seizing this opportunity to...