"This Champions League final hasn't actually produced that many goals compared with some previous finals, but the game itself has been excellent to watch. And up to this point, we still don't know who's going to lift the trophy."
"That's what makes a final exciting. We need finals like this, where no one can predict what comes next."
"Leo Lin's equalizer is still being debated by fans everywhere. Personally, I don't think he committed a foul either. That was a goal."
Scholes said it at the risk of being swarmed by Bayern fans.
"Who doesn't know you've always liked Leo Lin, Scholes? Stop defending him!"
"It's fine. We'll win the title with more goals!"
Some Bayern fans had already put the first half behind them. All they cared about now was what new adjustments Kovač would make at halftime.
The Bayern dressing room was quiet, because Kovač was speaking softly with his coaches about Leo Lin's goal.
"Their real intention is still to attack Süle. Alaba is just the cover they use before going after Süle. We should have Alaba drop into the box as well."
"When Liverpool attack, we need at least three center backs in our penalty area!"
"But if Alaba really is their target, putting him inside the box will only give Lin more chances!"
There were different opinions within Bayern over who Leo Lin's true target was.
In the end, Kovač decided to have Alaba move into the box, while Xavi Martínez dropped all the way back.
"Süle has a yellow card now. We need to protect him in the second half."
"If Lin drives forward with the ball again, Alaba and Süle should switch positions. Don't let Leo Lin use Alaba as a decoy to get at Süle!"
"Let Alaba defend Lin. Neuer needs to be more careful when coming off his line too. Don't let Liverpool catch him with a lob!"
"In the first half, we showed that we're a team capable of beating Liverpool. In the second half, we keep attacking them, especially the space behind Joe Gomez and Robertson!"
This was Kovač's first Champions League final as a head coach, and he was doing well. At the very least, the Bayern players were willing to carry out his tactics.
But this was Klopp's third Champions League final, and Zubizarreta's first.
Zubizarreta did not look nervous at all. At least, he did not let any of the players sense it.
"Rodri, I'd love to praise you for how you played in the first half, but the truth is, you looked a little lost. That wasn't the real you."
"I rarely saw you receive the ball about ten meters outside our penalty area. In the league, that's clearly one of your strongest zones!"
"Be bolder. Ask Alisson for the ball. Take passes from the center backs, then move the ball on. That's all you need to do!"
"I can tell you this. With your ability, you could be doing far more than that."
"But right now, we only need you to do less than what you're capable of. If you can do that well, you'll become a champion, and you'll become the best defensive midfielder in world football!"
Leo Lin sat beside Rodri, and Zubizarreta walked away.
"Do you know why everyone's looking at you?"
"To be honest, plenty of players in our team didn't play well in the first half. It wasn't just you."
"But if you could see which player the fans are talking about in the live stream right now, it would definitely be you, because your market value has gone from just over twenty million euros back then to seventy million now!"
"Because you were named in the Premier League Team of the Season, and because in so many key matches before this, you completely owned the defensive midfielder role!"
"So people aren't talking about you because you played badly. They're talking about you because everyone believes you can play well!"
"Rodri, from the moment you first joined Liverpool, I've been telling you that you'll become the best defensive midfielder in the world!"
"Go prove it in the second half of the Champions League final!"
Rodri returned to the pitch for the second half with a different look in his eyes.
The final 45 minutes of the Champions League final began.
The 49th minute.
Lewandowski was once again looking to link up with James Rodríguez.
Just as Liverpool's back line was preparing to go long, Van Dijk spotted Rodri.
The short pass had just the right weight, allowing Rodri to receive it, quickly scan his teammates, then play it back to Alisson.
Rodri immediately moved away from James Rodríguez, brushed past Lewandowski, and dropped all the way back beside Alisson, asking for the ball again.
Alisson gently rolled it back to Rodri, and this time Rodri slipped the ball out to the left.
Liverpool's build-up from the back immediately became simpler, but safer.
After passing to Robertson, Rodri soon appeared in midfield again. He asked for the ball once more, received Robertson's pass, then played it to Henderson.
This time, Liverpool completely denied James Rodríguez any chance to receive the ball, while Lewandowski was kept under Van Dijk's tight watch.
Because of Rodri's passing, Van Dijk could focus fully on defending without having to worry about James Rodríguez.
As Leo Lin began pushing forward, he shouted toward Rodri.
"I knew you could do it!"
"Rodri, I knew it!"
Henderson sent the ball forward again, and this time Salah was the one who received it.
He was still in the striker position. Only now, Firmino was the one attacking Alaba, while Leo Lin continued charging toward Süle.
For some reason, even though Leo Lin did not even have the ball at his feet, the moment Süle saw him running in his direction, panic suddenly surged through him.
Salah first brought the ball under control, then rolled it around as if he were doing nothing at all. But on the third touch, he passed to Firmino.
Firmino shot immediately.
Neuer's save kept Bayern from falling behind.
Thiago's first touch hinted at an attacking chance that could put Bayern back in front.
As soon as Thiago got the ball, he had already seen James Rodríguez, and James Rodríguez had already seen Lewandowski. It was the same route Bayern had used to score in the first half.
Thiago turned at once and was just about to pass to James Rodríguez when Rodri stepped in with a sharp little hop and challenge, driving the ball straight off Thiago's leg.
Henderson won it back.
Bayern Munich might have been only two steps away from scoring.
But Rodri made those two steps feel as hard as two hundred.
The Liverpool fans finally began applauding Rodri.
Zubizarreta finally smiled because of Rodri.
"I wanted to say this in the first half, but I didn't, because I didn't know whether Rodri could become the player he was before."
"Now I can say it!"
"Bayern Munich played very well in the first half, but!"
"Once Rodri finds himself again in this final, the real Liverpool will appear!"
"Rodri's passing, Rodri's protection, and Rodri's interceptions will allow Liverpool to completely turn this match around!"
...
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