On June 5, at three o'clock in the afternoon, Real Madrid's players landed in the Portuguese city of Porto.
After leaving the airport, the squad headed to a rented training ground for a light session.
Spain was not far from Portugal, and geographically, the two countries were neighbors, so the flight had not taken much out of Madrid's players.
After arriving at the training ground and working for more than two hours, Zidane brought Theodore Bjorn with him to attend the pre-match press conference.
Inside the Champions League press conference hall, the scene was packed.
The moment Zidane and Theodore sat down, camera flashes began going off wildly below the stage.
Many reporters had already raised their hands, eager to ask questions before the final battle of the season.
After the host introduced the people attending the press conference, the Q&A session officially began.
A reporter from England received the first chance to ask a question.
"Mr. Zidane, last season, Real Madrid were knocked out of the Champions League by Manchester City. Now, the two teams are meeting again in the final. Do you think Madrid can take revenge on City?"
Zidane responded calmly, his expression unchanged.
"Manchester City are very strong," he said. "This season, they won the Premier League title, and they are one of the best clubs in Europe. But Madrid's performances this season have also been outstanding. We won thirty-eight straight league matches and claimed La Liga with a perfect record."
Then Zidane turned his head and exchanged a smile with Theodore beside him.
"The Real Madrid of today is no longer the Real Madrid of last season. We have Theodore."
The reporters below the stage immediately became more excited.
Zidane continued, "Personally, I am full of confidence in tomorrow's Champions League final. We will do everything to beat Manchester City."
After that, many more reporters asked Zidane questions, but the content was mostly similar. Zidane could only repeat his answer in different ways, emphasizing City's strength while also making it clear that Madrid had absolute belief in themselves.
Then it was Theodore's turn.
"Theodore, last season, you led Aston Villa to the Premier League title, and you also faced Manchester City several times in the league, performing brilliantly each time. Do you think Real Madrid can beat Manchester City?"
The reporter who asked the question came from the Birmingham Sports Gazette.
His name was Charlie. Last season, he had been Aston Villa's club correspondent, so he could be considered someone Theodore knew.
"Mm…" Theodore thought for a moment before answering. "Just as our coach said earlier, Manchester City are a strong team, and Guardiola is a tactical master. Tomorrow night's match will definitely be difficult, but I'm very confident about it."
Charlie continued asking, "After the Champions League final ends, the European Championship will begin. Norway have been drawn into Group F, where Germany, France, and Portugal are also waiting. Do you think Norway can successfully qualify from the group?"
Originally, Theodore did not want to answer questions unrelated to the Champions League.
But because he had a good relationship with this reporter, Theodore still said a few more words.
"I have never been a pessimist," Theodore replied. "I believe Norway will qualify from the group. That's all."
Theodore did not expand further.
Tomorrow night was the Champions League final, and he did not want the topic to drift too far away from Real Madrid.
Afterward, Manchester City head coach Guardiola also accepted questions from reporters.
As a coach with extremely high emotional intelligence, Guardiola spent most of the interview praising Real Madrid.
"Madrid have had an unbelievable season," Guardiola said. "Winning every league match is something very special. Zidane has built a team with balance, experience, and quality. And of course, Theodore is a player who can decide any match."
When asked whether City feared Theodore, Guardiola smiled and replied, "If you are a coach and you say you are not concerned about Theodore, then you are lying. But football is not played by one player alone. We must defend as a team, attack as a team, and stay brave."
That was not exactly what the reporters wanted to hear.
Compared with a polite exchange between the two managers, the media would have preferred a war of words.
More conflict meant more headlines, more clicks, and more discussion.
Of course, even if the two managers did not clash directly, the media still found ways to stir up public opinion.
📰 AS: Champions League Final Countdown! Real Madrid Seek Revenge Against Manchester City in Porto!
📰 MARCA: Theodore Bjorn vs Kevin De Bruyne — Who Is the Best Midfielder in the World Right Now?
📰 Daily Mail: Theodore Returns to Face English Opposition! Can Manchester City Stop the Former Aston Villa Miracle Worker?
📰 The Guardian: Real Madrid and Manchester City Prepare for a Clash Between Europe's Two Strongest Teams!
📰 Sky Sports: Guardiola Praises Madrid Before the Final, but City Believe They Can Break Real Madrid's Perfect Season!
📰 Madrid Sports: Zidane's Message Is Clear: This Madrid Is Different Because Theodore Bjorn Has Arrived!
The famous English sports media outlet Sky Sports even opened a special column and invited several pundits to predict both teams' performances in the final.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher was the first to give his opinion.
"As everyone knows, Real Madrid haven't lost a single match this season. That is unbelievable, but when a team becomes the overwhelming favorite, pressure can build in a different way. When everyone believes Real Madrid will win, that may be exactly when they struggle."
Carragher then talked about City's advantage.
"Last season, Manchester City beat Real Madrid in both legs. Guardiola understands this team, and he also understands Theodore from their Premier League meetings last season. I believe Manchester City can become the new Champions League winners."
Thierry Henry held a different opinion.
"Real Madrid are the kings of the Champions League," Henry said. "They have won this trophy more times than any other club in Europe, and they also have the newly crowned Ballon d'Or winner in their squad."
Then he specifically mentioned Theodore.
"Last season, Theodore led newly promoted Aston Villa to the Premier League title, and that alone is enough to show how frightening this player is. Trust me, in tomorrow night's match, this young Norwegian star will cause huge problems for Guardiola's team."
After the special column aired, it immediately caused a huge uproar online.
Real Madrid and Manchester City fans quickly joined the argument.
📱 @MadridistaHQ ✔
Tomorrow night, Madrid complete the revenge. City beat us last season, but this Madrid is a completely different team.
| ↳ 📱 @BlancoPulse
| Reply: We have Theodore now. That changes everything.
📱 @CityzensLive ✔
Madrid fans are acting like they've already won. Did everyone forget City beat them twice last season?
| ↳ 📱 @ManchesterBlueTalk
| Reply: As long as Pep doesn't overthink it, City can absolutely win this final.
📱 @UCLMadridista ✔
Liverpool, Dortmund, Bayern, Barça, and Atlético all tried to limit Theodore. Every single one failed. City are next.
| ↳ 📱 @FootballThreads
| Reply: The question is whether Guardiola can build a plan that lasts ninety minutes against him.
📱 @PremierLeagueWatch ✔
Real Madrid rely heavily on Theodore, while Manchester City rely on collective structure. This final is going to be fascinating tactically.
| ↳ 📱 @NeutralUCLFan
| Reply: Theodore against City's midfield press might decide everything.
📱 @RedDevilCorner ✔
As a Manchester United fan, I am fully supporting Real Madrid tomorrow. Please do the job, Theodore.
| ↳ 📱 @CityzensLive
| Reply: United fans supporting Madrid is the least surprising thing ever.
📱 @BarcaUniversal ✔
For one night only, Barcelona fans are with Manchester City. Please stop Madrid.
| ↳ 📱 @MadridModeOn
| Reply: Barça fans watched Madrid beat them four times and now they're begging Pep for help. Painful.
Aside from fans of the two teams actually playing in the Champions League final, supporters of other clubs also began choosing sides.
Barcelona fans supported Manchester City, hoping Guardiola could stop Real Madrid from completing a historic season.
Manchester United fans supported Real Madrid, naturally unwilling to see their city rivals lift the Champions League trophy.
Liverpool fans were divided
Some wanted City to lose because of the Premier League rivalry, while others wanted Madrid beaten because Theodore had destroyed Liverpool earlier in the tournament.
Aston Villa fans, however, mostly supported Theodore.
After all, last season, Theodore had brought Aston Villa a miracle Premier League title.
Even though he had left for Madrid, many Villa supporters still regarded him as one of the greatest players in their club's modern history.
📱 @VillaParkFaithful ✔
I know Theodore plays for Madrid now, but I can't root against him. He gave Villa the greatest season of our lives.
| ↳ 📱 @ClaretBlueArmy
| Reply: Same. I want City to lose, and I want Theodore to win another Champions League-level night.
📱 @KopEndVoice ✔
I don't want City winning the Champions League, but I'm also tired of watching Theodore destroy everyone. This final is pain either way.
| ↳ 📱 @NeutralUCLFan
| Reply: Welcome to the Theodore era. Everyone suffers eventually!
As public opinion continued to heat up, both teams completed their final preparations in Porto.
Manchester City's training session focused heavily on possession, pressing triggers, and how to surround Theodore when Madrid won the ball.
Guardiola repeatedly reminded his midfielders that Theodore could not be allowed to turn freely, especially in the central areas.
Real Madrid's training was more direct.
Zidane continued drilling defensive shape, compact midfield spacing, and quick counterattacks after winning possession.
His plan was clear.
Against Manchester City, Madrid could not fight them for possession without purpose.
They had to defend patiently, break City's rhythm, and use Theodore's speed, passing, and long-range shooting to punish every mistake.
That night, inside the Real Madrid team hotel, the atmosphere was quiet.
The players did not joke too much.
Everyone understood what tomorrow meant.
The Spanish Super Cup had already been won.
La Liga had already been won with thirty-eight straight victories.
The Copa del Rey had already been taken from Barcelona.
Only the Champions League remained.
For Manchester City, this was a chance to win the most important trophy in club football and prove that Guardiola's project had finally reached its peak in Europe.
For Real Madrid, this was the final step toward a perfect season.
And for Theodore Bjorn, this was another stage where he could write his name into football history.