The Champions League final in Kyiv was still in full swing. In Leeds, England, at the world-renowned Amazon Stadium, 67,000 fans sat in the stands, roaring themselves hoarse for the distant final.
The Champions League final was Leeds United's best European performance in history.
As early as last season, when the team reached the semi-finals of the Champions League and tied the club's best European record, countless fans went wild. But no one expected that after selling five core players in one summer, Leeds United would perform even better, not only winning the Premier League and FA Cup, but also reaching the Champions League final.
All of Yorkshire was singing for Leeds United.
At that moment, the stadium's unique circular giant screen, hanging in the middle, was broadcasting the Kyiv final. The booming sound system carried the commentators' voices to every corner of the ground and into the ears of everyone in attendance.
The cheers of 67,000 Leeds United fans blended with the noise from the live broadcast.
Watching the Leeds players launch waves of attacks and threaten Real Madrid's goal again and again, Courtois kept saving Leeds' shots, preserving Real Madrid's clean sheet.
The Belgian international, who once played for Leeds United, drew sighs again and again from the home fans.
The cameras also cut to the touchline from time to time, focusing on the head coaches of the two teams.
Especially Real Madrid's head coach, Gao Shen.
There had been rumors that Gao Shen would leave Real Madrid after this season, but he had declined approaches from many top clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, Chelsea, Juventus, and Bayern.
According to Leeds United executives, Gao Shen planned to take a break for a while and live in Cheshire during that time.
In addition to being Real Madrid's head coach, he was also the owner of Leeds United.
Leeds United fans were long accustomed to his dual identity. Even tonight, they would not speak ill of Gao Shen, because they knew that everything Leeds United had now was thanks to him.
The powerful Leeds United squad that made Europe drool, the ultra-luxurious stadium envied by fans around the world, and the second-phase construction in full swing outside.
All of this came from Gao Shen.
Leeds United fans knew this well.
They would cheer for Mané, for Harry Kane, for Mbappé. They would boo and even curse Real Madrid players, but never Gao Shen.
Even so, there was a lingering fear in their hearts.
Because Gao Shen was that incredible.
From the league to the Champions League, people had lost count of how many miraculous comebacks Real Madrid had pulled off this season and how many unbelievable in-game adjustments Gao Shen had made.
Not long ago, Real Madrid's mouthpiece AS claimed that without Gao Shen, Real Madrid would have been eliminated in the Champions League group stage, let alone finished in the top four of La Liga.
Aging, injuries, declining form. Under many influences, this season's Real Madrid had long lost the aura of the invincible European overlord they once were.
By contrast, Leeds United emerged from the group of death in the Champions League group stage and advanced round by round, eliminating Juventus, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid in succession, finally reaching the final.
Leeds United's young guard was the most eye-catching team in this season's Champions League.
But Real Madrid's most threatening weapon was not their players on the pitch, it was Gao Shen on the touchline.
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Therefore, his every move drew the live cameras.
Every time, Leeds United fans grew tense and anxious.
When the camera returned to Gao Shen on the touchline again, everyone was surprised to see that he was not standing there alone. A Real Madrid player was beside him, ready to come on.
Di Maria.
"We can see Real Madrid are preparing a substitution."
"Di Maria is ready to come on."
"It is already the 80th minute. Real Madrid clearly want to gamble in the final ten."
"I wonder if Gao Shen can produce another comeback like before."
"You know, in this season's Champions League knockouts, Gao Shen has orchestrated three straight comebacks."
"If Real Madrid beat Leeds United tonight, this will be a legendary season, as classic as Manchester United's 1998-99 Treble."
"And Gao Shen would also lead Real Madrid to an unprecedented sixth consecutive Champions League title."
The whole Amazon Stadium erupted in boos from Leeds United fans, who obviously did not want to see this.
They booed Real Madrid head coach Gao Shen's substitution.
It filled them with fear.
…
While Leeds United fans were booing at the Amazon Stadium, more than 80,000 Real Madrid fans packed the Bernabéu in Madrid, watching the final on a giant screen specially installed in the stadium.
When they saw Gao Shen sending on Di Maria, they all cheered.
They had been waiting a long time for Gao Shen's change.
Di Maria was on, and Real Madrid's classic trident was back together.
"Long live Gao Shen! Long live Real Madrid!"
"Come on, Real Madrid, we are going to make history!"
"Gao Shen! Gao Shen! Gao Shen!"
Countless Real Madrid fans shouted at the top of their lungs, and on the broadcast, Gao Shen replaced Isco with Di Maria.
"This is somewhat unexpected, yet understandable. We will see what tactics Real Madrid adopt with Di Maria on."
"Isco has been outstanding this season. Along with youngster Marcos Asensio and youth product Marcos Llorente, he is considered one of Real Madrid's best substitutes this year."
"We can see Real Madrid are making a third change. Pogba is coming on for Modric."
"Gao Shen must have considered that Modric's stamina is already spent."
"Real Madrid's players have run themselves into the ground tonight."
"Pogba has been Real Madrid's best player in La Liga this season and the core of the team."
"There is another midfielder, Verratti. Real Madrid have rotated four midfielders in all competitions this season, but Verratti was injured in the previous game and is now in the stands."
"Let's see if Real Madrid improve after Pogba comes on."
"Somewhat surprisingly, Real Madrid have not changed their system, remaining with a back five. Toni Kroos sits in the middle of the midfield three, Pogba on the left, and Di Maria on the right."
"Benzema and Ronaldo remain up front."
"Ronaldo's performance today has been underwhelming, but we must acknowledge he is still the most threatening player on the pitch. After all, he is already 33."
When the Real Madrid fans at the Bernabéu saw this, they burst into deafening cheers again.
Countless supporters shouted and cheered for the team far away in Kyiv.
Their voices soared as if they could be heard in Ukraine.
…
Inside the Olympic Stadium in Kyiv.
Pochettino also sensed the potential danger after Gao Shen's substitutions and signaled his team to intensify their front-line pressing and, ideally, to strike first to cement their advantage.
Leeds United followed the instructions and immediately launched an even more ferocious assault on Real Madrid.
First, Mané received a pass from Dele Alli at the top of the box, shook off Pogba, and drilled a powerful low left-footed shot. Skidding across the turf, the ball flew at great speed toward goal.
Courtois sprang and got a fingertip to it. The ball struck the post and bounced out, leading to a scramble that nearly breached Real Madrid's net.
After that, Mbappé broke quickly on the left of the final third. After receiving the ball, he beat Nacho, cut into the box, slipped past Pepe, and shot with his right, but Courtois saved it onto the crossbar.
The ensuing corner also threatened Real Madrid's goal, but was blocked by center-back Pepe.
Leeds United's barrage made Real Madrid's goal look extremely shaky, and the danger was constant.
It would not have been surprising if Real Madrid had conceded.
But the Real Madrid players showed great resilience.
Gao Shen kept urging his players on from the sideline, and he repeatedly turned and waved to the Real Madrid fans in the stands, asking them to shout louder and give the players more support and encouragement.
"The more critical the moment, the more the team needs support from the fans."
"Gao Shen is calling on Real Madrid fans to give more."
"We have to say, Gao Shen's coaching this season is breathtaking. It might be the most remarkable season of his career."
"Who could have imagined Real Madrid would play with such grit and tenacity?"
"In recent years, Real Madrid have been invincible, whether in La Liga or the Champions League."
"Today, this team worn down by time is still stubbornly defending its bottom line. They are still working to prove they are the best team in world football."
"Even if they are no longer as formidable as before."
"Gao Shen keeps rallying the fans and encouraging the players. He has not given up and still believes in a chance."
"This is Gao Shen."
"And his persistence and resolve have deeply inspired the Real Madrid players on the pitch."
"All of them are still holding on."
"Though under Leeds United's pressure for 90 minutes, they have not abandoned hope."
"This is not just the players' toughness. More importantly, it comes from their trust in the head coach on the touchline."
"As veteran Modric said after the grueling match against Manchester City, as long as head coach Gao Shen is there, Real Madrid will never fall."
"This is Real Madrid."
"This is Gao Shen."
"He is the soul of Real Madrid."
"Now, let us see whether Gao Shen and his Real Madrid can bring us another miracle tonight."
(To be continued.)