When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 261 Military Review in Ten Thousand Cities, Europa Sacrifice

On the evening of May 22, 2005, the Chelsea team's private plane landed at Istanbul Atatürk Airport.

Mourinho was the last to step off the gangway, and he stood on the runway taking a deep breath of the slightly salty sea breeze.

At that moment, all the pressure suddenly felt incredibly real.

Last year in Germany, it was Roy who led Monaco to eliminate his Porto, shattering his dream of winning the Champions League.

Now, with less than a few days left until the final against AC Milan, he has returned to this highest stage with a brand new team.

Roy noticed that Mourinho was lagging behind the group, so he turned around and walked back.

The madman stood at the edge of the airport runway, his black shirt billowing slightly in the wind, his gaze fixed on the backs of the Chelsea players ahead.

"Boss, what are you thinking about?" Roy asked.

Mourinho paused for a few seconds: "I still can't let go of the fact that we lost to you last year."

"To be honest, it would be a lie to say I'm not afraid of history repeating itself. If we lose again this time, people will say that Jose is a loser who is always just one step away from victory."

He turned to Roy: "But I know you don't think that way. With you on the team, we should have more confidence."

"But then I realized that defeat could never be rewritten. Strangely enough, I always felt that fate should have been on our side—Porto, Deco, and me, we were so close to the trophy. But in the end we lost, and that's just reality. Sometimes when I think back on it, that experience feels like a dream, a dream where we raised the trophy high, and cheers echoed through the stadium. But a dream is just a dream. What's even more ironic is that you weren't even in that dream."

He turned to look at the plane on the tarmac: "But now you're standing here, wearing a Chelsea jersey. Fate can be so unpredictable sometimes."

After listening to Mourinho's words, Roy smiled slightly: "That championship itself wasn't anything special. You only felt it was significant because you lost. Believe me, when you win another championship, that obsession will fade a lot. When we win our third and fourth championships, we'll see."

"A championship is just a championship; it doesn't change anything. The excitement of lifting the trophy will evaporate in a few months, just like the champagne in the locker room. What really matters is the next game, the next goal."

Mourinho couldn't help but laugh when Roy bluntly called himself a "loser".

Roy continued, “I admire your Portuguese poet Pessoa. He wrote a line: ‘Any sunset is just a sunset; you don’t have to go to Constantinople to see the sunset.’”

Roy used this line of poetry to imply that whether it's the Champions League final or any other match, it's essentially just a football game and doesn't need to be given too much special meaning.

Just like the sunset, it doesn't matter where you watch it; what matters is not the location, but the state of mind with which you appreciate it.

Mourinho responded with a smile: "But this is indeed Constantinople and I am José."

He always believed in his own specialness, just as he believed in Roy's.

Failure will not break him; he will continue to prove his worth through action.

The Champions League final on May 25, 2005, made Istanbul the center of the football world.

The city's streets and alleys were crowded with people from all over the world.

Reporters carrying cameras and microphones waited outside the hotel, fans wearing various jerseys sang in the streets, vendors selling souvenirs weaved through the crowd, and even some people with special identities were looking for business opportunities.

AC Milan chose Fenerbahce's training ground, while Chelsea opted for Besiktas' training center.

Every move of the two teams became the focus of global media attention: which positions Ancelotti adjusted in training, and Shevchenko's expression when he took a shot.

Which assistant coach did Mourinho speak with privately? What extra exercises did Roy add after training? Every detail was magnified and analyzed to an extreme degree.

The television station broadcast the two teams' historical records 24 hours a day, and experts analyzed various possible tactical arrangements.

In the bar, AC Milan fans talked about their dreams of winning their seventh Champions League trophy.

Chelsea supporters are looking forward to making new club history.

From luxury hotel suites to street-side barbecue stalls, everyone is waiting for the game to begin in different ways.

Half of the football legends gathered in Istanbul.

The Dutch trio of Rijkaard, Van Basten, and Gullit gave an interview to Dutch media.

As AC Milan legends, current Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard and Dutch national team coach Marco van Basten naturally support their former clubs.

When Gullit tried to clarify Milan's position, he was interrupted by the two men, half-jokingly: "Don't forget you were already expelled from the Milan legends list by us!"

In the end, the former Chelsea player could only smile helplessly and change his tune to support the Blues.

Just two days before the Champions League final, an interview caused a huge uproar.

A reporter asked Maradona, who was watching the game, "Is Roy of this Chelsea team at the same level as you were when you were young?"

The football legend, cigar in hand, laughed loudly: "Not even close! That kid can't even catch my shadow."

When the reporter relayed Maradona's comments to Roy and asked for his response, Roy simply said, "It's the Champions League final."

When pressed for an explanation, Roy calmly replied, "The literal meaning."

On May 25, 2005, outside the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, a CCTV5 reporter conducted a pre-match live broadcast amidst a bustling crowd:
"This is a report from a CCTV5 reporter outside the Atatürk Stadium in Istanbul. It is currently 6 PM local time on May 25th, just over two hours before the Champions League final between AC Milan and Chelsea kicks off. A large number of fans have already gathered outside the stadium, their red and black AC Milan jerseys contrasting sharply with the dark blue Chelsea jerseys."

"At 15 p.m., both teams had completed their pre-match training sessions. The entire AC Milan team arrived at the stadium an hour early, with head coach Ancelotti leading the players in warm-up on the left side of the field. Chelsea, led by Mourinho, arrived a little later, and the two teams maintained a certain distance during training."

"The legendary Maradona unexpectedly appeared at the scene. He was dressed casually and watched the game from the sidelines. He had a brief conversation with both Kaká and Seedorf from Milan."

"Milan boasts a massive fan base in China, making it arguably the most followed European club among Chinese fans. It's certain that the majority of supporters for Milan in this Champions League final will be Chinese fans. On the other hand, Roy's outstanding performances over the past two years, coupled with his unique Sino-French heritage, have garnered him significant attention in China. This final can be considered a clash of titans between two top teams, full of intrigue and captivating performances, making it a highly anticipated and exciting contest."

"This is destined to be a historic clash. Milan represents the oldest and most prestigious clubs in European football, fighting for their seventh Champions League trophy. Chelsea, on the other hand, embodies the rising power of a new era, eager to write a new legend in Istanbul. Regardless of the final outcome, tonight's match will perfectly showcase the charm of football – a blend of tradition, breakthroughs, tactical maneuvering, and heroic moments. Let us look forward to this football extravaganza and witness the birth of a great history."

At 8 p.m., the Istanbul Atatürk Olympic Stadium was packed to capacity.

The world's football eyes are focused on this stadium, and the television broadcast signal is being simultaneously transmitted to the screens of hundreds of millions of households around the world.

Pre-match footage captured Didier Deschamps in the stands, the coach who had just led Juventus to the Serie A title, sitting next to his player Giuly.

The camera seems to have a special meaning at this moment: Last season, Deschamps and Roy and Giuly, this mentor-student duo, fought side by side in Monaco. Together they defeated Porto in the Champions League final to win the title and helped the team achieve the great feat of winning the Ligue 1 treble.

This season, after Roy joined Chelsea, he led the team to win the Premier League treble.

If Chelsea win tonight, Roy will become the first player in football history to achieve the treble in two consecutive seasons.

This final was not only a contest between Milan and Chelsea, but also a continuation of Roy's legendary career.

When the camera captured Cheryl, she was sitting with several female celebrity friends.

When her image appeared on the big screen, the girls around her immediately surrounded her excitedly, while the Chelsea fans around her began chanting her name, and cheers rose and fell.

At this moment, she seemed to have become the "princess" of Stamford Bridge, becoming another focus in the hearts of Chelsea fans.

The girls would playfully shove Cheryl, saying, "Look at the camera! All of Europe is watching you!"

A close friend might mimic a fan's shout: "Chelsea's princess is here!"

Another person might deliberately egg him on: "If Roy scores, are you going to jump down and hug him?"

Cheryl blushed and slapped her friends' hands, but still waved gracefully at the camera.

"Stop fooling around, today's main character is on the field."

But as the cheers from the fans grew louder, she couldn't help but smile and wave her blue and white scarf above her head.

The scarf with the Chelsea crest on it instantly sparked an even louder roar from the stands.

In the players' tunnel, Dida walked up to Roy and solemnly extended his hand: "Thank you for that text message during the 'Fireworks Derby'. Although I didn't know there would be such great danger at the time, your reminder may have saved me."

He was referring to the time during the game when Roy used Bible verses to warn him to be careful.

At that moment, Kaka, who was making the sign of the cross on his chest, also came over.

The devout Brazilian midfielder murmured in a gentle voice, "Peace be with this land."

After reciting the verses from the Book of Kings, he looked sincerely at his opponent.

"I hope tonight's competition will be exciting and intense, but that everyone can finish safely."

After listening to their words, Roy smiled faintly: "Bless victory itself, whoever possesses it."

The players then greeted each other, and Cafu and Maicon chatted for a while. Both are Brazilian, and Cafu is Maicon's senior in the same position, making Maicon somewhat nervous.

The stadium erupted in cheers as the players from both teams walked out of the tunnel side by side.

Chelsea's deep blue and AC Milan's red and black flags surged violently in the stands, and the shouts crashed down like a tsunami.

The moment Roy stepped onto the grass, he suddenly looked up, the light illuminating his sharply defined profile.

Unlike other players who squinted or dodged, he opened his eyes wide to the blinding light, letting the roar of tens of thousands of people pound on his face.

This head-tilting motion lasted only two seconds, but when he looked straight ahead again, the noise in the entire stadium suddenly seemed to have a clear direction.

The chants of all the Chelsea fans suddenly rose an octave.

James stared at Roy, who was surrounded by cheers from the crowd, his brow furrowed slightly.

He had experienced this kind of thunderous roar in Cleveland before, but this time he felt something was off.

The "emperor" aura that he had painstakingly cultivated seemed so natural on Roy.

That innate leadership quality is something he can never imitate.

Scarlett Johansson wore a baseball cap, with a few strands of blonde hair hanging down from the brim.

She sat among a group of Hollywood celebrities, but her eyes remained fixed on Roy on the stage.

His casual remark about "Goddess of Luck" before the game still echoed in her ears. Now, watching tens of thousands of people cheering wildly for him, she finally understood what true superstar influence meant.

That commanding aura was more exhilarating than any movie premiere.

She suddenly realized clearly that what she wanted was not just to get to know this man, but to completely conquer him.

Maldini and Roy stood on either side of the referee, their eyes briefly meeting.

The Milan legend remained calm and composed, while the Chelsea leader had a smile in his eyes.

As the coin bounced and its silvery light fell, Maldini accurately guessed heads and chose to kick off without hesitation. Roy then pointed towards the stands where Chelsea fans were gathered.

This seemingly random choice of sides sparked cheers from the Chelsea stands, who knew their team would launch an attack backed by the roar of their die-hard fans.

At 8:25 p.m., referee Mejuto González blew the opening whistle.

Shevchenko gently passed the ball to Crespo, and the match officially began.

AC Milan's midfield began to move fluidly.

Pirlo controlled the tempo, Seedorf and Gattuso supported the attack on the flanks, and Kaká roamed the attacking third looking for openings.

Chelsea quickly set up their defense, with Makelele anchoring the front line, Lampard and Thiago Mendes constantly pressing and intercepting, and Roy, Drogba and Robben ready to counter-attack at any moment.

The television commentator's voice suddenly rose: "This is the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul! The 2005 UEFA Champions League final, AC Milan vs. Chelsea, is officially underway!"

"Shevchenko gently pushes the ball to Crespo, and Pirlo drops back to receive it between the defensive lines! Milan's 4-3-1-2 formation is activated! Gattuso and Seedorf form a triangle in midfield, while Kaká, as the attacking midfielder, roams between Chelsea's defensive midfielder and center-back. Ancelotti's team didn't opt ​​for a Christmas tree formation, but instead used a more incisive two-striker setup to directly confront the Blues' defense!"

After the match began, AC Milan controlled the tempo through quick passing in midfield.

Pirlo received the ball in midfield, observed for a moment, and then suddenly delivered a precise long pass, the ball flying towards the edge of Chelsea's penalty area.

Crespo and Thiago Mendes jumped simultaneously to contest the header, which was headed back to midfield and landed right at Kaká's feet.

Kaka immediately started his run after receiving the ball, advancing at high speed down the right flank.

As captain, Roy immediately retreated to defend, keenly watching Gattuso's forward run while directing his teammates to cover.

Abidal quickly moved forward to block Kaká, but the Brazilian suddenly accelerated after a change of pace, easily getting past the French full-back.

He tried desperately to catch up, but he was already half a body length behind.

Kaka dribbled the ball forward and decisively unleashed a low shot from the right side of the penalty area, heading straight for the far corner.

The ball was fast and at a tricky angle, and it looked like it was about to go into the net, but at the crucial moment, Cech made a diving save to the side and blocked the ball out of bounds with one hand.

The entire stadium erupted in gasps of surprise, followed by applause from Chelsea fans who had narrowly escaped disaster.

Milan fans on the sidelines collectively held their heads and sighed, while Berlusconi in the VIP box frowned and shook his head.

Barbara, standing next to him, clapped excitedly: "It looks like we really have a chance to win!"

Meanwhile, the passionate voice of the Italian television commentator echoed across the Italian peninsula: "Kaka! What a pity! Cech made a brilliant save! Milan was just a hair's breadth away!"

At this moment, countless Rossoneri fans around the world jumped up from their sofas, then sat back down with regret, and immediately shouted "Forza Milan!" to cheer for the team.

Chelsea players high-fived each other in encouragement and quickly organized their defense to prepare for the upcoming corner kick.

Roy ran over and patted Cech on the back, then loudly instructed his teammates on their marking positions.

Pirlo stood at the corner flag, took a deep breath, and then crossed the ball.

Chelsea's penalty area was thrown into chaos. Maldini, Stam, and Crespo exchanged quick glances among themselves, clearly indicating a pre-planned tactic.

The Blues defense was on high alert, with Terry marking Shevchenko closely and Carvalho keeping a close eye on Crespo.

This is the most threatening team they have faced this season; perhaps only Arsenal's attack can rival it.

The ball arced towards the penalty area, and Maldini suddenly burst out from the crowd, overpowering the defenders and leaping high into the air.

His header slammed into the near post with a loud thud that made the hearts of all the fans in the stadium skip a beat.

The rebounding ball landed right at Shevchenko's feet, and the Ukrainian skillfully turned to get past Terry before unleashing a left-footed shot.

Cech had already made a diving save, but the ball bounced back the moment it was shot.

It turned out that Terry, who had been beaten, had desperately slid in and blocked the ball with his thigh.

The ball deflected off Shevchenko's ankle and rolled across the grass toward the right side of the penalty area.

"Danger!"

The British commentator's voice suddenly rose, "Chelsea's goal is under siege! Milan had two excellent chances in a row, but Cech's brilliant save and Terry's blocking shot saved the Blues!"

Maicon and Seedorf immediately rushed toward the rolling ball.

The Brazilian defender quickly blocked the Dutch midfielder's position, using his back to firmly hold him off.

Maldini was coming to support from the flank, and Maicon felt Seedorf pushing hard from behind. He tensed his muscles and shielded the ball out of bounds just before losing his balance.

Milan players immediately raised their hands to indicate the ball was out of bounds, and the referee pointed without hesitation in the direction of Milan's attack.

But the linesman then signaled, raising his flag to indicate that Shevchenko was the one who last touched the ball.

After a brief exchange with the linesman, the referee decisively changed his decision.

Chelsea's throw-in!
"The correct ruling!"

The commentator breathed a sigh of relief, "The ball did indeed hit Shevchenko's ankle. Chelsea escaped a close call, but Milan's attacking threat is now undeniable!"

On the sidelines, Mourinho was loudly directing the players' positioning, while Ancelotti stood with his hands in his pockets, his face full of regret.

In the stands, the cheers of the Rossoneri fans came to an abrupt halt, replaced by sighs.

Maicon stood outside the sideline with the ball in both hands, quickly scanning the front of the field.

Robben ran along the sideline to receive the pass, and Seedorf immediately marked him closely, using his body to block the Dutchman's turning route.

Meanwhile, Thiago Mendes tried to drop back to receive the pass, but was firmly marked by the experienced Maldini.

Milan's captain positioned himself extremely cleverly, slightly turning his body and constantly switching his gaze between Drogba and Thiago, using body language to signal to his teammates that he could defend against two opponents at once.

He would sometimes step forward two steps, and sometimes step back to adjust, always maintaining the best defensive support position.

On the far end, Roy roams in front of the center-back line.

Cafu stayed close to the Chelsea captain, always keeping an arm's length distance, his eyes so focused he barely dared to blink.

Gattuso kept an eye on the mid-lane while frequently turning back to check Roy's position, his signature fierce face filled with vigilance.

Stam and Nesta also kept a close watch on Roy.

The two center-backs kept their eyes glued to him, their bodies ready to turn towards the Chelsea captain at any moment.

Milan's entire defense seemed to be pulled by an invisible thread, and at the other end of that thread was that figure in flowing blue.

After receiving the ball, Robben pretended to pass it back to Maicon, and Crespo immediately rushed to the wing to cover.

As Seedorf rushed forward to block, the Dutch winger suddenly flicked the ball in the opposite direction with the outside of his left foot, followed by a slight push with the inside of his right foot to change direction, instantly completing his inside cut!
Drogba dropped back to draw Maldini away, and Robben seized the opportunity to pass the ball to the Ivorian for a one-two pass.

Pirlo was completely outmaneuvered during the defensive transition, and the Italian commentator's voice cracked: "Danger! The middle is wide open!!"

Gattuso roared as he moved laterally to cover Robben, but then braked sharply and chased back after hearing his teammate's exclamation.

But it was too late.

Robben delivered a low, diagonal pass with the outside of his left foot, and the ball precisely passed through Gattuso's desperately outstretched toes.

At that moment, Roy cut in from the left flank like lightning. Although Cafu grabbed his jersey, he was knocked half a step back by Roy's fierce explosive power.

In the formation where the red and black defensive lines were retreating en masse, that blue figure was tearing open a fatal gap!

Roy made two quick feints on the left flank, then suddenly leaned to the right, using his right arm to break free from Cafu's entanglement.

The Chelsea fans on the sidelines erupted in cheers, and the rest of the Blues players quickly moved in to support them.

Mourinho stood in the technical area, waving his hands to direct the defensive line to push forward.

Roy held the ball firmly to his side, and Stam immediately moved forward to cover, attempting to double-team Cafu.

Just as the two were about to close in, Roy suddenly stepped on the ball with his right foot and swept it across the middle with his left!

The ball pierced precisely through the gap in the defense, and Lampard received it from behind!
Roy seized the opportunity to break free from Cafu and dashed forward like an arrow. Cafu tried his best to catch up, but was still half a step behind.

Nesta sensed the danger and immediately leaned to the right side of the penalty area to cover.

Dida lowered his center of gravity inside the penalty area, ready for action.

Without hesitation, Lampard deftly flicked the ball with his toe, sending it arcing through the air towards the gap between Nesta and Roy!

The Italian commentator's voice was almost hoarse: "Defend against him! Nesta covers! Cafu is still chasing!"

In a flash, Roy suddenly pushed off the ground and accelerated, raising his right leg high just as Nesta was about to intercept the ball, gently deflecting the falling ball with the instep!
Nesta instinctively stopped his momentum.

If he collides with Roy, he could very likely be penalized with a penalty kick.

In that instant of hesitation, Roy controlled the ball, bypassed Nesta, and surged into the left side of the penalty area!
The angle was extremely narrow, and Dida almost completely blocked the shooting space.

Without hesitation, Roy leaned his body towards the baseline, straightened his right leg as he fell, and unleashed a powerful volley!

The ball hurtled down towards the goal from a height of one meter like a cannonball!

Dida stretched out his leg to block, but the ball precisely slipped into the gap of only twenty centimeters between his foot and the goalpost, slamming heavily into the net!

“GOOOOOOOAL!!!!!”

"Goal!!! Roy!!! Fourth minute! Chelsea 1-0 AC Milan!!!"

"The young Chelsea captain has scored a goal that could change history in the Champions League final! The Atatürk Stadium was completely engulfed by the roar of the Chelsea fans!"

"From Lampard's exquisite lob pass to Roy's skillful control of the ball to get past Nesta, Dida was completely powerless against that incredible diving shot at the end!"

"This is Roy's 17th Champions League goal of the season, continuing to lead the scoring charts! He has equaled his own record for most goals in a single Champions League season, set last season! More importantly, this goal gives Chelsea a crucial advantage in the final!"

"Mourinho was excitedly pumping his fist in celebration on the sidelines! This is one of the most important moments of his Chelsea managerial career!"

"AC Milan players seemed somewhat bewildered; their defense appeared so fragile against Roy! Stam, Nesta, Cafu—these world-class defenders were all outmaneuvered by this 20-year-old!"

"The game has only just begun, but Chelsea have already dealt a blow to the Rossoneri! Will this goal change the course of the entire match? Let's keep watching!"

The Atatürk Stadium erupted in cheers, with Chelsea fans jumping wildly and AC Milan fans standing frozen in shock.

Nesta knelt down and slammed his fist into the turf, while Cafu, panting heavily, looked towards the net.

Dida maintained his diving position, his eyes fixed on the ball inside the goal line.

Baresi stared intently at the pitch and said to Arrigo Sacchi, Milan's legendary coach beside him, in a deep voice: "Nesta's defensive judgment was terrible! Facing a penetrator like Roy, he actually hesitated on the edge of the penalty area. Look at this goal we conceded, Roy had time to adjust after controlling the ball in the air! He could have blocked the ball earlier, but he retreated because he was afraid of committing a foul, giving the opponent space to turn around."

Sacchi was invited by Florentino Pérez to the Bernabéu as technical director last December.

He frowned and continued, "Stam's covering was also completely inadequate. He clearly saw Lampard's run, but he was still drawn out of his defensive position. A true top center-back should anticipate passing routes, not be led by the nose by the opponent! Look at the whole process of that goal conceded; there was at least a 15-meter vacuum between our three lines, which was unimaginable in our time!"

Sacchi nodded silently, and Baresi added, "What's most intolerable is the lack of communication in the defense. When Maldini was defending against two opponents on the left wing, no one covered his position. After Cafu was beaten, the entire right flank was as wide open as a morning street! How did we do it before? Costacurta would always cover for his teammates the moment they were out of position!"

"This goal exposed all our defensive problems: hesitation, lack of understanding, and poor positioning! Making such a mistake in the Champions League final is an insult to the Milan jersey!"

Just as Baresi was furious at his son's lack of competitiveness, Shevchenko took a deep breath and restarted the game. Milan fans on the sidelines raised various banners and flags high, like an army surging under flags with different patterns.

In the stands, the Rossoneri's die-hard fans began to organize a unified cheer.

The team captain, leading the fans, clapped his hands vigorously and shouted, "FORZA MILAN!"

Thousands of fans behind him immediately responded: "SEMPRE CON TE!" (Forever with you!)

The leader shouted again: "FORZA MILAN!"

The fans chanted in unison, "FINO ALLA FINE!" (until the very end).
Whenever the cheering subsided, sporadic shouts of "Kaka!" and "Shevchenko!" could be heard, as fans conveyed their never-give-up spirit to the players on the field in the simplest way.

In the 5th minute, after Milan kicked off, Pirlo immediately made a long pass to the left wing. Seedorf and Maldini played a one-two, and the Dutchman made a low cross to Shevchenko, but Terry got there half a step ahead and slid the ball out of bounds.

During the corner kick, Stam outjumped Carvalho to head the ball towards goal, but Cech tipped it over the crossbar with one hand.

In the 7th minute, Chelsea cleared a corner and launched a quick counter-attack. Robben dribbled past Maldini on the right wing, creating space before crossing the ball, and Drogba volleyed it from 12 yards out.

"Nesta blocked what seemed like a sure goal! Lampard followed up with a shot!! Gattuso made a diving block! This is a textbook example of Italy's ironclad defense!"

In the 12th minute, Kaká broke through Makelele and Thiago in the middle of the field, and was brought down by Carvalho's sliding tackle at the edge of the penalty area.

Pirlo's free kick went around the wall, and Cech made a diving save, his fingertips hitting the post.

"Now it's Chelsea's turn to counter-attack! Look at this combination play on the right flank."

In the 15th minute, Maicon delivered a 45-degree cross from the right wing. Roy chested the ball down, dribbled past Gattuso, and unleashed a powerful shot from a tight angle, which Dida punched away with both hands.

"Maicon's precise diagonal pass! Roy! A genius control and turn! He dribbles past Gattuso!! A powerful shot from a tight angle! Dida punches it away! Drogba's follow-up shot...misses by a hair's breadth!"

The Italian commentator had to admit: "Roy's performance was amazing; he completely controlled the rhythm of the attack on the left flank."

Milan then executed a brilliant team move, with Cafu overlapping on the right and passing across to Kaká, who then cleverly backheeled the ball to Shevchenko, who broke into the penalty area and fired a shot towards the far corner, but the ball grazed the post and went wide.

"Chelsea's tactical corner kick! Robben and Lampard combine, suddenly cut inside and unleash a powerful shot! Dida catches it securely! Quick throw-in launches a counter-attack, Crespo lobs from the halfway line!! Just over!"

After Chelsea opened the scoring in the 4th minute through Roy, the game immediately became intense.

The two teams were like two trains speeding forward, battling it out on the green pitch of the Atatürk Stadium.

The ball was almost constantly in motion, moving from the Milan penalty area to the Chelsea penalty area, with the transitions between attack and defense happening so fast it was breathtaking.

Roy repeatedly attacked and dodged on the left flank, and the passing and running combination between Kaká and Seedorf made it difficult for Maicon and Makelele to keep up.

The fans on the sidelines couldn't sit still any longer.

AC Milan fans gripped their scarves tightly and leaned forward collectively whenever Milan attacked.

Chelsea fans, meanwhile, were biting their nails, their eyes glued to the game.

On the coaching bench, Mourinho and Ancelotti stood almost the entire time on the sidelines, constantly shouting instructions to the field.

Petr Cech, the goalkeeper at Stamford Bridge, and Dida, the Milan goalkeeper, became the busiest people.

One player made a diving save to deny Pirlo's free kick, while the other immediately punched Roy away with both fists.

Gattuso and Makelele engaged in a fierce battle in midfield, each interception accompanied by deafening shouts.

The pace of the game was so fast that even the commentators could barely keep up.

Shevchenko's shot just grazed the post, while Roy had already dribbled into Milan's penalty area.

The cheers from the stands rose and fell like waves on a stormy sea, sometimes sighing at a brilliant save, sometimes exclaiming at a shot that missed by a hair's breadth.

In those 20 minutes, the two sides had a total of 9 shots, 5 of which forced the goalkeeper to make a save.

The players' jerseys were already soaked with sweat, but the fighting spirit in their eyes burned even brighter.

In the 24th minute, Seedorf received the ball on the left side of midfield, observed the situation, and then passed it across to Kaká. The Brazilian received the ball with his back to goal, and Makelele immediately marked him closely.

Kaka pretended to pass the ball back to Pirlo, but actually turned halfway and flicked it with the outside of his foot to Seedorf, who was making a run into the halfway line.

The moment the Dutchman received the ball, Chelsea's defense quickly retreated.

Terry closely marked Crespo, while Carvalho blocked Shevchenko's running path.

Seedorf didn't rush to break through, but instead passed the ball back to Kaká and then suddenly surged forward, drawing Thiago away.

Kaka received the ball, faked a shot, and then passed it to Crespo.

The Argentine center forward, with his back to Carvalho, flicked the ball with his right foot, attempting to pass it to Shevchenko, who was making a diagonal run!
Terry reacted extremely quickly, making a flying sliding tackle, and just as Shevchenko was about to have a half-breakaway opportunity, he flicked the ball away with his toe!
Carvalho seized the opportunity to clear the ball with a long kick, but Shevchenko couldn't stop in time and crashed heavily into the Portuguese center-back.

"Milan's golden opportunity! Carvalho's clearance wasn't far enough. Drogba and Nesta both jumped to contest the header! Drogba outjumped Nesta to head the ball back into midfield! Roy controlled the second ball! Chelsea's counter-attack is on again!"

Drogba headed the ball back from near the center circle, Roy chested it down, and Gattuso immediately pounced on it!
Chelsea's number 10 remained calm, flicking the ball with his right foot to turn and dribble past the Italian defender before taking a long stride forward!

Milan's defense retreated rapidly, with Stam fighting and retreating, while Nesta blocked Roy's cutting inside.

Roy dribbled the ball to the edge of the penalty area, then suddenly flicked it with the outside of his right foot, passing it to Robben who was making a run down the right wing!
The Dutch winger received the ball and attempted a strong run past Maldini, but the Milan captain retreated while fighting, and then precisely poked the ball out of bounds.

Maicon quickly took the throw-in, Robben passed it back, and the Brazilian full-back, facing Seedorf's pressure, calmly made a cross to the flank.

Roy gets the ball again, Stam moves forward to block him, while Nesta keeps a close eye on Drogba.

The Blues' key player feigned a cut inside, then suddenly used his right foot to deftly flick the ball outwards, passing it to the onrushing Maicon!
Maicon suddenly started his run on the edge of the penalty area, and Roy's pass was perfectly timed.

The Brazilian swung his right foot and unleashed a powerful shot, sending the ball flying like a cannonball into the top left corner of the goal.

Dida stretched out his body to make the save, but the ball was too fast and accurately nestled between the crossbar and the post.

Absolutely blind spot.

The Milan fans in the stands fell silent instantly, many slumped in their seats, heads in their hands, staring blankly at the ball in the goal.

The Milan fan section was deathly silent, except for the Chelsea fans who were celebrating wildly.

"2-0! Chelsea score again! Maicon's powerful shot from outside the box finds the top corner! Roy's goal and assist once again dominate the game! Chelsea completely control the tempo! Italian giants AC Milan appear to be teetering on the brink under the pressure from the London team! The Champions League trophy is beckoning to Stamford Bridge!"

Ancelotti stood on the sidelines, shouting instructions loudly, his face flushed as he addressed the field.

Maldini ran quickly towards the goal, patted Dida's cheek hard, and shouted a few words to the goalkeeper.

He then turned and called Stam and Nesta to his side. The three exchanged a few words for about ten seconds, with Maldini pointing towards the front of the field as he spoke.

After giving their instructions, the three immediately dispersed and returned to their respective defensive positions.

Inzaghi wiped his face with a towel, then turned to the bench and whispered, "The rest of Chelsea aren't much better than our Serie A opponents. Lampard is hardly on par with Nedved, and Drogba isn't even as good as Adriano."

He tugged at his socks in frustration.

"But that damn Roy... we have to have three men marking him! Stam's been walking around like a log. What's worse is that every time we double-team him, Robben and Lampard are left unattended! What the hell is Carlo's defensive setup?"

Upon hearing this, substitute goalkeeper Abbiati sighed and patted him on the back.

In the 31st minute, Kaká dribbled down the right flank and suddenly changed direction in an attempt to get past Abidal. The French full-back was a little slow in his interception and tripped Kaká.

The referee blew his whistle and showed Abidal a yellow card, awarding Milan a free kick near the right edge of the penalty area.

Pirlo stood in front of the ball, observing the penalty area, while Chelsea's defense was on high alert.

Terry and Carvalho marked Crespo and Stam, while Makelele closely marked Shevchenko at the far post.

However, Pirlo did not choose to cross, but instead suddenly unleashed a low shot!

The ball quickly passed through the gap in the wall and headed straight for the edge of the penalty area!

Maldini, lurking on the perimeter, made a sharp forward run and met the ball near the penalty spot with a right-footed half-volley!

The ball bounced off the ground, and although Cech quickly dived to make the save, the angle of the bounce was too tricky, and the ball just barely slipped under his arm and into the net!

1-2, AC Milan pull one back!
"GOALLLLL!!! AC Milan pull one back! Maldini! The veteran captain stepped up!! Pirlo's low, quick free-kick was incredibly cunning! Chelsea's wall was all focused on defending against high balls, no one expected the Italian to choose a low shot!"

"Look at this attack again! Maldini's positioning was too clever! He was originally positioned at the very end of the defensive line, but he suddenly started running as Pirlo took his run-up! Lampard had no time to react!" "A volley! A bounce! Cech was completely fooled! The ball wasn't fast, but the trajectory after the bounce was too tricky! At the crucial moment of the Champions League final, the Milan captain used a textbook half-volley to keep the Rossoneri alive!"

"Listen to the roar of the stadium! AC Milan's die-hard fans have gone completely wild! Maldini didn't celebrate! He just picked up the ball and ran back to the center circle! That's a leader! The never-give-up gene will always flow in AC Milan's blood!"

As the Milan players excitedly surrounded Maldini in celebration, Roy quickly walked over to Lampard and Terry, and said in a low, urgent voice, "Don't panic, keep attacking their left flank. Cafu can't stop Maldini from cutting inside to cover, and Robben's side will be wide open."

After saying that, he politely applauded Maldini's goal, then turned to face the Chelsea fans' stand.

The cheers from the Chelsea fans were somewhat hesitant. Roy raised his arms and waved his palms upwards, signaling them to cheer him on.

The response from the stands was somewhat hesitant.

The singing was intermittent, far less unified and loud than the cheers of the Milan fans.

Several young fans wearing brand-new Chelsea jerseys opened their mouths but couldn't utter a sound, while a middle-aged man wearing an old-fashioned scarf kept rubbing his hands together.

Chelsea's stands have historically lacked the atmosphere of a Champions League match.

Even though the team was in the lead, many fans were still nervously biting their nails, and some even dared not look directly at the field.

When the chants of the Milan fans came over, some Chelsea supporters unconsciously shrank back.

This subtle stage fright is precisely the psychological shadow left by years of not being able to win top honors.

At this moment, the score of 1-2 is flashing on the electronic scoreboard, but another invisible score is even more breathtaking: 6 Champions League trophies to 0.

This is the cruelest form of hereditary succession on the football field, much like the rise and fall of the world witnessed by the walls of Istanbul over a thousand years.

A newly emerging empire can become rich overnight, but the purple robes of Byzantium require time to weave.

Roy stood in the center circle, his sharp gaze sweeping across the Chelsea fans' stands.

He slowly raised his right arm, clenching his fist.

The flags brought from Stamford Bridge were fluttering before him, and he now wanted them to wave them even more vigorously.

His gaze passed over the trembling scarves and the brand-new jerseys, piercing straight into the hearts of every Chelsea fan: Listen, I know you're afraid.

I know that your grandparents' memories of the stands never included the glitter of the Champions League trophy.

But today, everything will change.

If you have never had a dynasty, then let the dynasty begin now.

We came here with our army.

In the 37th minute of the match, Roy broke into the penalty area and passed the ball to Lampard.

Nesta closely marked Drogba on the edge of the penalty area, using his physical advantage to push the Ivorian outwards and completely cut off Lampard's possible passing lanes.

Forced to comply, Lampard had no choice but to pass the ball to Robben on the right wing.

Robben received the ball near the sideline, and Maldini immediately moved to block him.

The Dutchman tried to feint with his left foot and cut inside, but the Milan captain maintained a half-step distance.

Just as Robben hesitated whether to force a cross to Roy who had made a run into the penalty area, Seedorf, who had moved back to the right-back position, suddenly burst out from the side and made a precise sliding tackle to steal the ball.

Seedorf was immediately pressed by Thiago after getting up.

He first pulled the ball back with the sole of his right foot, then turned 180 degrees using his left foot as a pivot. This smooth and fluid movement caused Thiago, who was making an overly aggressive save, to miss completely.

After shaking off his defender, Seedorf looked up and delivered a precise diagonal long pass of over 30 meters with his left foot. The ball sailed over the heads of three Chelsea players and found Gattuso in the open space on the right wing.

Gattuso chested the ball down and made a long stride forward, decisively passing it through before Makelele could block him.

Shevchenko cleverly cut in from the junction between Carvalho and Abidal, perfectly controlling the ball while running.

The Ukrainian dribbled forward more than ten meters, and in the instant that Terry was covering, he gently pushed the ball with the outside of his right foot to Kaká, who was following up in the middle.

Kaka feigned a long-range shot from the top of the arc, a convincing feint that forced Terry to dive and block it.

In fact, the Brazilian used the instep of his foot to push out a low diagonal pass, the ball slipped past Terry's legs as he fell to intercept, and found Shevchenko, who had once again beaten the offside trap.

At this moment, Shevchenko had already broken into the right side of the penalty area, and Cech decisively rushed out of his goal.

Facing the onrushing goalkeeper, Shevchenko raised his right foot as if to fire a shot into the near corner, a move that caused Cech to shift his weight to the left.

But the moment they touched the ball, the Ukrainians suddenly switched to a powerful low cross.

The ball swept across the penalty area at high speed, and Abidal, who was chasing back desperately, slid in and barely managed to touch the ball with his toe, but failed to change its trajectory.

At the far post, Crespo shook off Carvalho's marking and easily slotted the ball into the empty net from 5 meters out.

From intercepting the ball in their own half to finally scoring, Milan executed a textbook fast counter-attack with 11 consecutive passes.

"GOOOOAL! AC Milan has equalized! 2-2!"

The British commentator, barely suppressing his frustration, exclaimed, "Only 37 minutes into the game, and we've already had 4 goals! This is absolutely one of the craziest first halves in the history of the Champions League final!"

His voice was noticeably lower than when Chelsea scored the first two goals: "Crespo's shot at the far post was too easy. Chelsea's defense was completely torn apart. Look at this attack, Seedorf's tackle, Shevchenko's run, Kaká's pass. Milan punished the Blues in the most Italian way."

“I must admit it.”

He sighed, "This goal was perfect from the counter-attack to the final pass. Maldini's goal gave Milan confidence, and now they have completely regained their form."

In the background noise, the deafening chants of AC Milan fans completely drowned out the Chelsea supporters' section.

"Chelsea fans suddenly fell silent; they started to worry. After all, AC Milan is one of the strongest teams in Champions League history."

The commentator interjected, "To be honest, I've never seen such an open and expansive first half in a Champions League final. Chelsea need to stabilize immediately. Mourinho needs to do something, and Roy needs to do something, even though he's already done enough."

Berlusconi sat in his VIP box, his hands casually resting on the armrests. As Crespo pushed the ball into the empty net, the Italian prime minister softly called out to the field: "Forza Milan!"

His voice wasn't loud, but everyone around him could hear the air of complete control he exuded, just like when he was in politics and business.

Mourinho was furiously waving his arms on the sidelines.

A flicker of unease suddenly crossed his eyes, the shadow of losing the Champions League final a year ago quietly resurfacing.

Watching the Milan players celebrate wildly on the field, his roar began to be mixed with anxiety.

At that moment, he clearly realized that Chelsea could also be defeated, and the championship might slip through his fingers.

Leonardo DiCaprio, a Milan fan, took a sip of champagne and said in a script-like tone, "Milan's momentum has completely picked up. Look at the situation on the field, Roy is indeed very strong, but football is ultimately a team sport. Several Chelsea players are already looking at each other differently. Especially that right-back, he's always a step behind Maldini when he makes a forward run."

He took another sip of his drink and continued, "The most crucial moments now are the last few minutes of the first half. If we can score another one, we can go into the locker room with the lead. No matter how good Mourinho's in-game adjustments are, it's hard to turn the tide against an opponent of this caliber. Roy isn't a machine; he can't solve problems with his individual ability forever."

George Clooney, standing next to him, echoed:

"That's right. Robben has the technique, but he's too young. Maldini has completely figured him out in big games. You're right, if the score is still tied in the second half, the Chelsea players who have never won the Champions League will be the first to collapse."

Al Pacino nodded slightly, his sharply defined profile appearing particularly striking under the stadium lights.

Monica Bellucci, the "ball star," sat elegantly to the side, her black dress highlighting her perfect curves.

She parted her red lips slightly and murmured softly, "Forza Milan."

Suddenly, she leaned forward and let out a soft gasp.

Her slender fingers covered her chest, a few strands of her long, black hair fell over her shoulders, and even her surprised expression carried an innate charm.

Lampard's pass found Roy perfectly, but in the blink of an eye, Gattuso, Pirlo, and Nesta had formed a triangular encirclement, and Cafu also came from the wing to help defend.

Roy lightly tapped the ball with his left foot, then suddenly pulled it back amidst four defenders, narrowly missing Gattuso's sliding tackle.

He smoothly flicked the ball sideways with the sole of his right foot, and as Pirlo stretched out his leg to intercept, Roy quickly flicked the ball back to his left foot with the inside of his foot.

Nesta seized the opportunity to press forward, and Roy immediately turned to shield the ball, using his back to withstand the Italian center-back's charge, while simultaneously stepping on the ball with his right foot and making a sharp turn.

Cafu's leg was already in front of him, but Roy suddenly used the inside of his left foot to deftly flick the ball through Cafu's legs.

Stumbling, Roy regained possession and stumbled down the right flank.

Just as he was about to lose his balance, he flicked a pass with the outside of his right foot, and the ball went over the head of the recovering Maldini.

Robben surged forward with lightning speed, received the ball, changed direction to shake off Maldini, and broke into the penalty area one-on-one.

"Robben! He's through on goal! He's shaken off Maldini's defense and dribbles straight into the penalty area! Dida rushes out of his goal! Robben fires a left-footed shot!"

Facing Dida's onrushing run, the Dutchman fired a left-footed shot into the far corner, but the Brazilian goalkeeper stretched out his right leg and blocked the ball with his toe.

Robben held his head in his hands; he absolutely deserved to score that goal!
The ball bounced off Dida's toes, arcing through the air and flying out of the penalty area.

Roy charged forward like a cheetah, his right leg fully extended, the instep and calf forming a sharp straight line.

He volleyed the ball while running.

"boom!"

With a muffled thud, the ball tore through the air like a cannonball.

The ball was so fast that Dida on the goal line only had time to turn his head before it slammed heavily against the underside of the crossbar, causing the entire goal to tremble.

The net was violently ripped up, and amidst the surging white waves, the ball finally slammed into the bottom net, still spinning and refusing to hit the ground.

"Roy!! A volley from outside the penalty area!!! GOOOOOOAL!!!"

The explosive sound triggered a roar that swept across half the stadium like a tidal wave. Chelsea fans erupted in the loudest cheers of the half.

"ROOOOOOOI!!!"

The roar, seemingly from nowhere, instantly swept across the entire arena.

The scarves waved by the people formed a giant blue wave, and the anxiety that had been suppressed for forty-five minutes burst forth in a frenzied cheer.

This powerful shot not only shattered the Milan goal, but also broke through the thin layer of doubt in the hearts of Chelsea fans.

At this moment, they finally believed that this team could truly make history.

"Listen to that explosive sound! The crossbar is trembling! The ball blasts into the net like a cannonball! What violent beauty! What a perfect finish! In the 44th minute! Chelsea are back in the lead, 3-2! This powerful shot shattered Milan's hopes! The Atatürk Stadium is shaking! This is Roy! This is the king of Chelsea! Look at the scoreboard! This team, which has never lifted the Champions League trophy, will etch their name into Champions League history today!!!"

Roy broke away from all his teammates and rushed straight towards the Chelsea fans' stand.

He abruptly stopped in his sprint, raising his arms high with his palms outstretched.

The next second, he suddenly bent his elbow and pulled back his fist, pressing down fiercely under the watchful eyes of everyone, as if he were putting an invisible crown on his head!

This celebration, which once silenced Real Madrid fans at the Bernabéu, now ignited a sea of ​​blue in Istanbul.

The roar of 30,000 Chelsea fans created a wave of sound that almost lifted the night sky.

Roy rushed to the sidelines, raised his right fist above his head, and shouted towards the Chelsea fans' stand:

"Champions! Chelsea!"

His voice was loud and powerful, but his expression was focused and restrained, more like a captain fulfilling his duty to inspire the team.

Chelsea fans immediately responded with a unified chant:

"Chelsea! Chelsea!"

This celebration gesture is confident but not arrogant.

After delivering his message, Roy quickly turned and ran back to the center circle, high-fiving his teammates along the way, his eyes always fixed on the scoreboard.

The score is still flashing 3-2, and the game is far from over.

The Milan players simply watched silently. Roy was first and foremost an extremely strong player, and his ability was beyond doubt.

He is exceptionally calm and collected when playing football, with a clear mind, but deep down he also has a wild side that occasionally shows.

This contradictory combination of calmness and madness, coupled with his innate desire to perform and his infectious charisma, makes him the focus of everyone's attention on the field.

When the halftime whistle blew, Ancelotti and Mourinho both breathed a sigh of relief, and the players from both Milan and Chelsea also breathed a sigh of relief.

The first half was so intense that everyone needs a breather.

The match was indeed exciting, with both sides switching between offense and defense extremely quickly.

On the sidelines, Maradona raised his eyebrows and whispered something to the person next to him in Spanish.

When a reporter asked him if Roy could be compared to him, he scoffed without hesitation, saying that Roy was far inferior.

Roy's response was even more direct: "This is the Champions League final," implying that Maradona had never even stood on that stage.

This kid's arrogance is no less than Old Ma's.

He didn't even take the football king seriously.

"Can we win?"

"What?" Maldini turned around.

Kaka wiped the sweat from his face with the back of his hand and turned to look at Maldini beside him.

His eyes held the unease typical of young people, and his voice was very low:
"Paul, can we really win?"

Maldini paused for a moment, then reached out and ruffled Kaka's hair vigorously, as if he were treating his own younger brother.

His answer was brief but firm:

"Of course we can. We just need to score one more goal and keep the pressure on. Chelsea have never experienced moments like this before, they'll panic. As long as we keep the score close, drag it into extra time, or even penalties, the victory will be ours."

He paused, then looked at the Chelsea players in the distance: "Look, they're already panting. We just need to outlast them by one minute."

Kaka nodded, the doubt in his eyes fading somewhat.

"listen!"

Roy stood in the center of the locker room, his voice deep and powerful, "Milan can't win! Absolutely can't win!"

"We were leading 2-0, then we were tied, and now we're leading 3-2 again. What does that mean? It means we're stronger than them!"

He looked each of his teammates in the eye: "Brothers, answer me now—"

Who will be the Champions League winner tonight?

There's only one correct answer: Chelsea!

Mourinho rolled up his sleeves, took a deep breath, and said:

"45 minutes. Just these last 45 minutes."

"Listen up, guys, this isn't the time to discuss tactics. We've practiced what's on the tactics board a thousand times. Now, let's talk about this!"

The Portuguese man pounded his chest: "Milan will pounce like a wounded beast, but we are the ones holding the knife. Remember: every goal they score is because of our mistakes. Every time they cheer, it's because we gave them hope."

“I want you to watch the ball like hungry wolves eyeing their prey, and guard the penalty area like you would your own goal. Terry, your defense must be an impenetrable wall. Lampard, you must win every second ball. Robben, make their defenders weak in the knees with every breakthrough. Maldini is a 37-year-old old man, what are you afraid of him for? He's a legend, and his 72-year-old father is sitting in the stands, even more legendary than him. Are you going to be afraid of him too?”

"No excuses, no reservations, no ifs or buts, because we have nothing. Losing this game today would make our other three championships meaningless. Forty-five minutes from now, I want to see you lying on the grass, not injured, but having given your all and fought to the last drop of sweat."

Now, tell me: Are you ready?

"Yes, Captain!"

Roy straightened his back and saluted by running two fingers across his brow.

A few scattered laughs suddenly broke out in the tense locker room.

Mourinho's lips twitched slightly, but the joke greatly eased the tense atmosphere in the locker room, so he nodded slightly: "Then let's set sail."

"Brothers, let's go and take back the championship trophy that belongs to us!"

The players filed out, their footsteps thundering across the field like war drums.

"Super Roy! Super Roy! He scores whenever he wants!"

"Super Roi! Super Roi! He's breaking your dreams!"

As the Milan players rushed out of the players' tunnel, they were met with the deafening chants of Chelsea fans.

Nesta's brow furrowed sharply, and Gattuso instinctively slowed his pace.

They are all too familiar with this atmosphere; last time at the Riazor Stadium, Deportivo fans used the same singing to push Milan to the brink.

The chorus of 30,000 people was like a wall of sound, abruptly halting the momentum of the Rossoneri.

Maldini slapped Kaká hard on the back: "Don't listen to these noises."

But the next second, some genius spontaneously adapted the song, and the Chelsea fans suddenly changed their tune, their singing becoming mocking and shrill:
"You think you're unbeatable?"

"You think you're so damn strong?"

But Deportivo wrecked your dream!
"And Roi lost eight to them all along!"
Maldini gritted his teeth after hearing the lyrics; it was purely to humiliate Milan.

The eight goals were scored by the entire Monaco team, not just by Roy alone.

Moreover, that Monaco team was just eliminated by Milan this year.

No one knows the origin of these impromptu lyrics.

Roy's sister, Romy, sat in the stands, smiling slyly.

During halftime, she gave a lyric to a Chelsea fan leader.

Minutes later, the lyrics spread like wildfire throughout the Chelsea fans' stand.

As soon as the second half started, Chelsea launched a massive attacking wave.

On the left wing, Roy was like a wild beast breaking free of its chains, and every touch of the ball made Cafu tense.

The Brazilian veteran was forced to foul him for the third time, receiving a yellow card shortly after the start of the game.

In the 53rd minute, Roy's curving through ball pierced Milan's defense, and Drogba's powerful shot struck the crossbar, making the goalpost vibrate.

Three minutes later, he used a step-over turn to fool Stam, forcing Nesta to cover and poke the ball out of bounds.

Chelsea's corner kick attack failed, and Milan immediately launched a counter-attack.

In the 57th minute, a fatal turning point arrived.

Kaka received the ball in the center circle, turned, and swiftly dribbled past Makelele who was pressing him.

As the Brazilian dribbled towards the penalty area, Abidal hastily made a sliding tackle.

The French left-back's studs scraped against Kaká's shin guard.

"No, no, no, no! Abidal! That tackle was too reckless! He clearly knew Kaká was accelerating. The referee pulled out a card. Oh my god! A second yellow card! A red card! Chelsea will be playing with one less player in the Champions League final!"

The referee's whistle blew sharply, and he showed Abidal a second yellow card without hesitation, followed by a glaring red card!

Chelsea players immediately surrounded the referee demanding an explanation.

Terry charged ahead, pointing at the grass and yelling, "That's not a foul at all!"

Lampard and Makelele also joined in the argument, while Drogba blocked the referee's path, using body language to protest that the ruling was too harsh.

Abidal stood there, eyes wide open, first spreading his hands in an innocent gesture, then suddenly becoming excited: "I touched the ball! I swear I tackled the ball first!"

His English was mixed with French, and his voice was filled with grievance and resentment.

The referee's face was stern, and his finger pointed firmly to the sidelines, showing no intention of changing his decision.

Chelsea fans in the stands erupted in deafening boos, while Milan fans seized the opportunity to jeer, their cheers and whistles mingling together.

This was a call that could have been made or not. The tackle was relatively clean overall. The ball was touched first, and then the momentum caused the supporting leg to flip over Kaka's lower leg, but Kaka fell badly.

Mourinho made a key substitution: Chelsea legend Marcel Desailly stood on the sidelines ready to come on, replacing right-back Maicon.

This adjustment immediately caused a sensation throughout the stadium, as both Milan and Chelsea fans knew the significance of this veteran.

Desailly's career has a fascinating connection with AC Milan: in 1993 he won the title with Marseille, defeating Milan.

He then joined AC Milan and won the Champions League trophy.

If he helps Chelsea win, he will become a rare player in football history to have won the Champions League with three different clubs, and each time it was directly related to AC Milan.

It's either about defeating Milan, representing Milan, or now it's about stopping Milan.

As 36-year-old Desailly trotted onto the field, he patted Abidal on the back, a simple gesture that seemed to say, "Leave the rest to me."

Chelsea then adjusted their formation to a three-man defense, with Terry in the center and Carvalho and Desailly on the flanks, forming a newly built steel wall.

From the 58th to the 79th minute, the stadium completely transformed into a training ground for attack and defense.

Milan's attacks came wave after wave.

Pirlo's precise long passes consistently found Cafu and Maldini on the wings, who took turns lobbing the ball into the penalty area.

Kaká and Shevchenko frequently made runs in front of the penalty area, trying to break through Chelsea's defense.

Gattuso and Seedorf took long-range shots from outside the box, the ball flying just wide of the crossbar several times.

But Chelsea's defense displayed an iron will.

Desailly and Terry dominated almost all the high balls, while Carvalho tightly marked Crespo, preventing him from getting the ball comfortably.

Makelele was like a moving barrier, always standing between Pirlo and Kaká.

Roy and Robben also dropped back to the sides of the penalty area to help defend, and Drogba even returned to his own penalty area several times to contest for headers.

The most thrilling moment came in the 72nd minute when Kaká broke through and played a through ball to Shevchenko, whose shot from a tight angle was brilliantly saved by Cech. The ball rebounded to Crespo's feet, but his follow-up shot was blocked out of bounds by Terry's body.

The Chelsea players' jerseys were already soaked with sweat, but their eyes remained fierce.

After each clearance, Desailly would shout encouragement to his teammates, while Mourinho stood on the sidelines in the technical area, arms crossed, watching everything on the field with a blank expression.

Milan's attack was fluid and unstoppable.

In the 79th minute, Pirlo made a diagonal pass from midfield to Seedorf, who gently pushed the ball forward. Kaká suddenly surged forward, received the ball, and smoothly dribbled past Makelele before sending a through ball into the penalty area!

Shevchenko made a ghostly run forward, just about to shoot.
Roy tracked back! He sprinted all the way, lurking at the edge of the penalty area, and with a precise sliding tackle, he managed to steal the ball from Shevchenko's feet!
Terry immediately cleared the ball with a long kick, sending it flying to the left flank of the attacking third.

Robben starts!

He darted out like a bullet, intercepted the ball first, and facing Maldini's defense, made a sudden stop and change of direction, then suddenly passed it across the middle!
Lampard receives the ball!
Chelsea's midfielder looked up to observe, and a delicate lobbed pass bypassed the Milan defense. Drogba, on the edge of the penalty area, held off Nesta, firmly protecting possession. Just as Stam was about to press forward...

Drogba flicked the ball with his heel! It rolled strangely to the left side of the penalty area, and there...
Roy has arrived! He's like a blue lightning bolt, sprinting from the backfield all the way into Milan's penalty area!

Stam, Cafu, and Gattuso instantly surrounded Roy, but in the narrow space, Roy dodged Stam's tackle with his right foot and then squeezed through the gap between Cafu and Gattuso with his left foot!
Dida rushed out to block, Roy gently flicked the ball with his right foot to create space, and calmly pushed it in with his left foot.

The ball went in!!!
The ball rolled under Dida's arm and into the net, and Roy lost his balance and fell into the goal!

"GOOOOOOAL!!! Roy! Roy! Unbelievable Roy!!!"

The commentator's voice was completely hoarse.

"From his own penalty area to the opponent's goal! This man just saved his team with a flying tackle, and then he turned around and tore apart the entire Milan defense! Look at his running route: when he's tracking back, he's a defender; when he's counter-attacking, he transforms into a deadly blade; and finally, he performs a ballet on the edge of a knife in the penalty area!"

"Chelsea, playing with ten men, delivered such an epic individual performance through Roy! Legendary defenders Stam and Cafu were treated like wooden stakes, and even Dida was forced to his knees by his dribbling! This goal has etched both 'tenacity' and 'talent' into the history of Champions League finals!"

"Friends, you are witnessing a miracle! The Istanbul night sky belongs to blue, to this man who has returned from hell. The first star of London has risen in the east. It was once as dim as a firefly, but now, even the sun is about to burst forth from the mouth of the Thames!"

"When Roy dribbled past his opponent, did you see the fear in Stam's eyes? That giant who once single-handedly defended Ronaldo was now like a dam being breached by a flood. That's devastation! That's the Chelsea storm!"

Ancelotti stood on the sidelines, his suit already soaked with sweat. The usually refined and calm man showed signs of fatigue at this moment.

Milan's attack was undeniably fierce.

Shevchenko's shot hit the crossbar, Kaká's breakthrough caused chaos, and Crespo's close call almost resulted in a goal. Each of these moments gave Chelsea fans a scare.

However, no one expected that, despite being outnumbered, Roy would fight his way out.

He first dropped back to make a fierce tackle, and then made a long run to score, completing a hat-trick and creating four goals on his own.

This was his crowning achievement on the most important stage, a performance he had never had in his career.

Under the Istanbul night sky, this ancient city known as the "City of a Thousand Cities" witnessed the birth of the "King of Kings" tonight.

In the 84th minute, Terry made a fierce tackle near the center circle, dispossessing Kaká and quickly passing the ball to Desailly.

Without hesitation, the French veteran looked up to observe the situation and delivered a precise long pass to the right flank.

Robben has started!
He was like a bolt of lightning, getting to the ball before Maldini could react.

Facing pressure from his compatriot Stam, the young Dutchman, without letting the ball bounce, attempted to volley it into the center of the penalty area.

Stam leaped up and cleared the ball out of the penalty area with a fierce header.

But the danger is not over yet!
Makelele is at the top of the arc!
The French defensive midfielder calmly controlled the ball, glanced up at the penalty area, and then delivered a delicate lob pass, sending the ball back to the edge of the six-yard box!
Lampard burst through! He squeezed through the gap between Nesta and Cafu, and at the moment goalkeeper Dida rushed out, he launched a diving header.

The ball went in!!!
The ball bounced off the turf and into the net, giving Chelsea a 5-2 lead!

Lampard scrambled to his feet and sprinted toward the corner flag.
Ancelotti's vision suddenly blurred briefly.

Apart from Chelsea's forced substitution, Milan has not made any personnel changes for this match, and Serginho is warming up on the sidelines.

Ancelotti briefly lost his hearing, then regained consciousness and turned to walk back to the coaching bench.

The outcome of the match was effectively over.

Abramovich suddenly jumped up from his VIP seat, leaning half his body over the railing to look down at the field.

Half silent, half bustling; half city ablaze with fireworks, half city ablaze with ashes.

“My God! This is the night of our dreams! Look at these players, they are warriors born for the big stage! I told you long ago that Roy would make history! And Lampard, Terry, they are the true soul of the Blues! Contact the club immediately, I want to give the whole team extra bonuses, tonight's victory must be remembered forever! Tell Mourinho that this trophy is just the beginning, I want to engrave Chelsea's name on every stadium in Europe!”

As the match entered its final stages, Chelsea led Milan 5-2.

Although the final whistle has not yet sounded, the score gap is already difficult to reverse.

Chelsea fans in the stands began to celebrate, while Milan fans fell silent.

The players mechanically completed the final few minutes of the game on the field, time ticking away, the outcome already decided.

What about London?
The city of London is suppressing its emotions, waiting for the final whistle to break them.

As the referee blew the final whistle at 10:08 p.m., the night sky over Stamford Bridge erupted in chaos.

The score was 5-2.

Chelsea, playing with ten men, crushed AC Milan with a devastating attack.

Roy's incredible performance, contributing to four goals, Lampard's diving header, and the team's tenacious defense made this night one of the most glorious moments in Chelsea's history.

As the final whistle blew, Chelsea's substitutes surged onto the pitch like a tidal wave, embracing, roaring, and kneeling to cover their faces.
The Milan players stood silently, Nesta wiped his eyes, and Shevchenko looked at the scoreboard with an almost blank expression.

On the sidelines, Mourinho, unusually, did not celebrate wildly. He simply took a deep breath, turned and walked towards Ancelotti, and the two shook hands firmly.

At this moment, victory or defeat is irrelevant; there is only respect for football.

Inside the VIP box, Abramovich burst into laughter.

We have made history!

He shouted to the person next to him.

The London night sky was illuminated by blue light, and Chelsea's name was finally etched onto the Champions League trophy.

"Final whistle blows! Match over! Chelsea – 2004-2005 UEFA Champions League winners! A thrilling 5-2 victory! With their iron will, overwhelming attack, and unyielding fighting spirit, they created history for the Blues under the Istanbul night sky!"

"Roy! Drogba! Lampard! Terry! Makelele! Cech! Tonight, you are the kings of Europe! From the group stage to the final, 12 grueling matches, this Chelsea team has etched their names forever into the hall of fame of the Champions League with an unparalleled performance!"

"Roy has scored 19 goals in the Champions League this season, officially breaking his own record of 17 goals set last season! In this final, he scored three goals and provided one assist, an unparalleled performance! He has also become the first player in history to win the treble in two consecutive seasons! Even more unbelievable is that he is only 20 years old! This is absolutely an unprecedented feat in world football! Tonight, he announced to the world in the most dazzling way: the king of a new era has arrived!"

"This is Chelsea's night! This is the glory of the Premier League! This is a celebration for all Blues fans!"

"From this night forward, Chelsea are officially crowned Kings of Europe! The Champions League trophy will forever bear the inscription: CHELSEA FOOTBALL CLUB 2004-2005!"

"Ladies and gentlemen! Let us welcome the 2004-2005 UEFA Champions League champions, Chelsea, with the warmest applause, the wildest cheers, and the proudest shouts!!!"

(End of this chapter)