Clive Tyldesley: "Manchester United's opening tactics hadn't quite taken effect yet, but Ling has already showcased his formidable individual prowess."
Ally McCoist: "Facing the pursuit and interception of three players, he scored in an unbelievable manner! If I hadn't witnessed this with my own eyes, Clive, I would never have believed anyone could pull it off."
Clive Tyldesley: "With this goal from Manchester United, it means Atlético Madrid must score at least two more tonight to overturn the aggregate score and advance on away goals. But the question is, can their severely depleted squad manage it?"
On the green pitch, Ling was surrounded by his jubilant teammates, his ears ringing with their shouts.
"Ling, that was awesome!"
"I want to learn that move too, skip!"
"Haha, look at the Atlético players' expressions—they look like they've swallowed a hundred flies!"
Hearing the Manchester United players' overt and covert mockery, the Atlético players instantly felt deeply humiliated, with some unable to resist firing back verbally with curses.
This was Atlético's biggest flaw—recklessness fueled by emotion!
It stemmed directly from the style Diego Simeone had instilled in the team.
As a player, he himself was flamboyant and aggressive, willing to do whatever it took for victory, including crossing the line.
This style was quite popular a few years ago, hailed romantically by some fans as the "Iron Will."
But nowadays, few neutral fans buy into that anymore.
Antoine Griezmann, seeing his teammates' dejected, angry expressions, couldn't help but entertain thoughts of leaving Madrid.
Not long ago, Barcelona's higher-ups had contacted his agent, willing to pay his €120 million release clause.
To be honest, never getting to touch the Champions League trophy is the greatest regret in the career of any ambitious player.
With that in mind, Griezmann glanced at Ling.
'This kid was just lucky, winning a major European double in his debut season,' Griezmann thought bitterly.
Griezmann received the ball and stood inside the center circle.
After the referee's whistle, he passed it back to Rodri.
Despite conceding the early goal, Atlético didn't lose their desire to attack as one might have expected.
After all, having weathered so many storms over the years and reaching the Champions League final twice in three seasons, how could they surrender over such a minor setback?
That would seriously underestimate the weight of the term "professional footballer."
Moreover, while Simeone's tactics might not be clean, no one in the football world questions his managerial ability—not even Mourinho.
And Simeone's character ensured that, in a life-or-death situation, he could take unprecedented steps. Courage was never something the Argentine lacked.
Atlético stopped worrying about the referee's early leniency warning and played at Old Trafford as if it were their home ground.
Even if we ultimately can't advance, you won't have an easy victory—that was their mindset, ready to go down fighting together.
21st minute.
Pogba, carrying the ball forward in midfield, was aggressively sandwiched by Koke and Rodri and sent tumbling, ball and all.
"Play on! No foul!" The referee crossed his arms, signaling for the game to continue.
But the Atlético players were already in motion—as long as they didn't hear the whistle, they would never stop pressing.
However, Manchester United's response was equally sharp and brutal.
Ashley Young slid in low and hard on Thomas Lemar, sending the young Frenchman flying several meters before crashing into the advertising boards by the sideline with a heavy thud.
Clutching his shin, Lemar wailed in agony.
The Manchester United fans in the stands only added fuel to the fire, repeatedly flashing international gestures of "friendship" at the grounded winger.
"Kid, can you handle the Premier League or not!?"
"If you want to cry, do it back in Madrid—no one here will pity you!"
"Is this the level of a 70 million euro player?"
No need to ask, the two teams immediately erupted into a fierce, shoving conflict on the touchline.
Rodri, who was closest, rushed over, grabbed Ashley Young by the collar and roared in his face.
The "Four Dark Kings" of United were not to be trifled with.
Ashley Young shoved Rodri away with a swift, violent motion.
Before the two could come to blows, other players quickly arrived on the scene. Some acted as peacemakers, while others continued to stir the pot, like Angel Correa.
Although his name means "angel," his cynical playing style perfectly matched Atlético Madrid's ethos.
However, before Correa could find an opportunity to act tough, he was forcefully shoved aside by the tall, imposing figure of Jeremy Ling.
"If you want to fight, we'll fight. If you want to play football, we'll play. But we'll beat you at both!" Ling snarled at the Argentine.
This was the famous mantra Manchester United players often repeated during the club's early days, which later became a proud tradition of the Red Devils under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Ling felt it was the perfect time to use it.
Correa instantly recalled what had happened to Filipe Luís in the Super Cup—his nose broken with no recourse, becoming a laughingstock in European football.
He knew Ling probably wouldn't dare to actually fight and get sent off in a Champions League knockout tie.
'But what if this seemingly mild-mannered kid was actually a madman at heart?' Correa thought.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have beaten Filipe so brutally.
Correa decided not to test the theory and backed away.
The referee's control of the situation was decent.
He gave Ashley Young a yellow card for the initial tackle and called Diego Godín and Ling over for a stern verbal warning to control their respective squads.
But just as one conflict subsided on the pitch, another erupted off it.
Simeone roared at the fourth official, "Manchester United's number 7 deliberately shoved my player in the chest! Why wasn't he given a yellow card for aggression?!"
Mourinho, fluent in eight languages including Spanish, couldn't help but sneer upon hearing Simeone's hypocritical complaint.
He walked over to Simeone's technical area with his hands casually in his pockets and said.
"If that's the case, Diego, all your players should be sent off for existing!!!"
"What gives you the right to say that?" Simeone retorted, glaring sideways at the Portuguese manager.
"Since I started coaching Benfica in 2000, I've won 29 major trophies!" Mourinho glared coldly back at him, raising his chin.
"And you?"
Simeone was caught off guard.
"Even including your playing career, Diego, do you have half as many trophies as me?" Mourinho mocked.
Simeone was left speechless and actually took a moment to mentally calculate it.
Seven trophies as a player, seven as a coach—only 14 in total.
Indeed less than half of Mourinho's tally.
If Manchester United hadn't snatched the UEFA Super Cup from them earlier this season...
"What's the point of comparing history? Does having more trophies mean you're more qualified to speak to the referee?" Simeone tossed out the bitter remark and returned to his dugout.
Mourinho shrugged and smirked at the camera, as if to say, Is that all you've got?
The fiery clash between the two managers was broadcast live, thrilling fans online who found it even more exciting than the match itself!
...
By now, the match had reached the 34th minute.
Atlético Madrid, missing three key players, struggled significantly to implement their usual game plan.
Their high press lacked coordination and physical intensity, forcing them to retreat and defend densely in a low block in their own half.
Manchester United, comfortably in the lead on aggregate, remained calm, patiently passing the ball around the periphery and waiting.
Atlético would inevitably grow impatient and make the first move out of frustration.
Adjusting accordingly would yield twice the result with half the effort for United.
Soon, Thomas Lemar's aggressive, undisciplined press exposed space on the right flank.
Rashford passed the ball back to his midfield before turning and making a darting forward run.
"Marcus!" Ander Herrera delivered a crisp pass along the touchline.
Rashford let the ball roll in front of him before charging toward Juanfran with the ball at his feet.
Juanfran, another 33-year-old veteran, had already confirmed he would leave the club at the end of the season and his legs were heavy.
Rashford's sudden explosive burst, disregarding all tactical convention, forced his way past the Spaniard before delivering a somewhat mediocre, floating cross from the left side of the penalty area with his left foot.
'What did this kid eat growing up? He's as strong as an ox!' Jose Gimenez thought.
He had intended to easily push Ling out of the box, but instead found himself being physically forced back step by step by the striker.
As the ball continued to drop, Gimenez gritted his teeth and pushed with all his might, but Ling suddenly withdrew his strength, taking a deceptive half-step back to adjust his stance and leave Gimenez stumbling.
Diego Godín reacted quickly, immediately positioning himself at Ling's side to challenge him!
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