In 2011, AC Milan was an absolute powerhouse!
Under the leadership of Massimiliano Allegri,
the Rossoneri had clinched the Serie A title last season.
The squad was full of stars.
Although they had parted ways with "Little Pharaoh" in the winter transfer window,
they still relied on midfield maestro Andrea Pirlo and a brilliant team performance
to overcome all the fierce competition in Serie A…
… and lifted the 18th league title in club history!
And just last month,
they had beaten their arch-rivals Inter Milan at the Bird's Nest Stadium in China,
winning the Italian Super Cup.
This season, AC Milan was the undisputed king of Serie A.
Fans in China immediately launched heated discussions online:
"I watched the Super Cup at the Bird's Nest last month too. Zlatan Ibrahimović is a beast! Easily a top-class European striker — headers, volleys, you name it!"
"Pirlo is the soul of this Milan team. A true midfield maestro. His long passes are absolutely mesmerizing!"
"Arsenal doesn't stand a chance in this match! English teams always struggle against Italian defenses. That chain defense from Serie A is impossible to break through!"
"Kai is strong, sure, but compared to Pirlo, the gap in experience is way too big."
"This match will decide who the real midfield master is! But if you ask me, Pirlo is going to give Kai a masterclass."
Chinese fans were not optimistic about Arsenal.
In their eyes,
this young Arsenal squad had indeed unleashed a fierce youth storm in the Premier League this season…
…but now that they were stepping onto the more elite stage of the Champions League,
and facing reigning champions from other top leagues —
Arsenal still lacked the experience that Milan possessed in abundance.
This Milan team was full of veterans with rich European experience!
At the same time,
Italian media were stirring the pot even before kickoff:
"Up against a true midfield maestro, Arsenal's so-called prodigy is about to pay his tuition fee with a loss!"
"The only reason Kai remains undefeated since his debut is because he hasn't set foot outside England yet!"
"Once he goes toe-to-toe with a Serie A team, the young midfielder will learn just how cruel the real world is!"
The Tuttosport newspaper published multiple articles,
deliberately fanning the flames of pre-match tension.
Although the match was being held in Milan, not Turin —
half a year ago, Tuttosport had spent months hyping up Mario Balotelli…
…only for the Golden Boy Award to be snatched away by a 16-year-old Championship kid.
And since Tuttosport was the organizer of the Golden Boy Award,
they held quite a grudge against Kai.
If it weren't for maintaining credibility in the eyes of fans,
they absolutely wouldn't have wanted to hand that prestigious award
to a sudden, out-of-nowhere Asian upstart.
Milan. San Siro Stadium.
After a commanding 2–0 home win over Napoli,
AC Milan held a press conference in the San Siro media room.
Head coach Allegri stood in front of the press and confidently declared:
"We were Serie A double champions last season!
How many years has it been since Arsenal won anything?"
"In the first round of the Champions League group stage,
my team will hand this so-called 'Young Guard' their first defeat of the season!"
The Italian journalists were ecstatic.
They couldn't wait to ask the hot question:
"What do you think about the much-anticipated duel between Kai and Pirlo?"
Allegri waved it off, unimpressed:
"In European competition, experience is always the most important factor!
If we're talking talent — isn't our Pirlo a past European Footballer of the Year finalist?
He's on a completely different level than Kai!"
The Italian media exploded with excitement!
Pirlo —
not only Milan's pride, but also a national treasure of Italian football.
A San Siro legend!
The Italian press firmly believed that
on the Champions League stage,
Pirlo would use his ability to teach this so-called Arsenal prodigy…
…what it really means to be a midfield maestro —
and how to control a match.
But Arsenal fans weren't having it. They clapped back online:
"Allegri says there's only one midfield master? Rubbish! There's only one 100-million-euro man!"
"This is Kai's era now!"
"Just wait — Italian fans will be crying after this one!"
September 5th, 2011!
Champions League matchday had arrived!
The entire European football world was in an uproar.
This year's UEFA Champions League had every fan on edge —
and none more so than those watching the Group of Death, where Arsenal found themselves.
Surrounded by three reigning champions from different leagues,
everyone was wondering:
How would Arsenal perform under siege?
And with Kai's first appearance in the Champions League,
after his record-breaking 100-million-euro transfer —
what kind of performance would he deliver?
Tonight!
The Gunners were set to face the defending champions of Serie A—AC Milan—in their opening group match!
"Kai vs. Pirlo — A Clash of Geniuses! Prodigy Meets Maestro in a Midfield Duel!"
"Milan, Double Champions of Italy, on Fire! Can Arsenal End Their 8-Year Trophy Drought?"
"Kai Has Only Faced English Clubs — Can the Transfer Window's Most Expensive Player Adapt to Europe?"
"Tuttosport Director: Against Italy's Elite Defenders, Arsenal's Attacks Will Crumble!"
The entire European football scene erupted in heated debate!
Arsenal fans were waiting with bated breath.
This was the club's first European match of the season…
…and across the field stood Zlatan Ibrahimović —
a striker who, interestingly, had some history with Arsenal.
Years ago,
a 17-year-old Ibrahimović had been invited by Arsène Wenger for a trial at Arsenal.
But Ibra famously replied,
"Zlatan Ibrahimović doesn't do trials!"
— and rejected the club.
That moment had become a classic bit of football lore —
often brought up in conversations among fans of all teams.
"Zlatan might not do trials, but tonight, he's about to face a painful defeat! That's the price of turning down Arsenal back then!"
"He calls himself a god? Our Gunner King is about to show this loudmouth who the real god of football is!"
The Arsenal faithful were fired up!
That afternoon,
the Arsenal squad boarded their flight —
heading toward the Apennine Peninsula.
This was Arsenal's first European match of the season,
and for Kai, it marked his first time leaving England since arriving nearly a year ago.
As the plane landed at Milan Airport,
the humid air filled their lungs.
Kai stepped off the aircraft,
taking in the sights of Milan for the first time.
He took a deep breath.
The Champions League group stage was about to begin.
Tonight, would be the debut of his Champions League career!
The opponent was strong — no doubt about it.
But even now, Kai remained true to who he had always been.
The stronger the opponent,
the more excited he felt inside!
Dusk fell. Night approached.
The team boarded a bus, heading toward the stadium.
All along the way…
Huge crowds flooded the streets and alleyways of Milan.
Everywhere, people wore red and black shirts.
Many waved flags bearing the crest of Milan.
These were the loyal supporters of AC Milan.
A red-and-black tidal wave threatened to swallow the path to the stadium.
Under the night sky of Milan…
San Siro Stadium stood tall!
Its 80,000 seats were completely packed.
A thunderous roar swept across the stands!
Boom!
Milan fans set off crimson flares in the upper tiers.
Amid the sea of red and black…
Scarlet smoke billowed into the sky above San Siro,
turning the stadium into a foggy fortress of fear.
As the chants and cheers grew deafening,
the entire San Siro trembled with explosive energy!
Nearby, Italian journalists could hardly contain their excitement.
This was San Siro!
A historic colosseum shared by Milan's two legendary clubs.
The sacred temple of Milanese football!
~~----------------------
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