Chapter 116: There's No Shortcut to This Championship—Only Unity, Only Sacrifice
Duan Xuan's closing line was destined to become a classic quote among Real Madrid fans.
Years from now, Madridistas across China would still revisit the highlights of this match on the eve of major clashes.
They'd see Cristiano Ronaldo hammering home the nail at the Bernabéu, a demon king reborn amid roaring crowds.
They'd see Mourinho calmly reading the game and leading Madrid with crushing dominance.
They'd see Pepe and Ramos, steeled after conceding, locking down the box like twin towers.
And they'd see Leon, smiling up at the night sky over the Bernabéu, sacrificing his own stats without a second thought.
Bayern had paid dearly to reach this point.
After falling short in the 2010 final, they stood once more on the cusp of Europe's biggest stage.
But unfortunately, they ran into a Real Madrid squad that was no longer weighed down by fixture congestion—one that had suffered more, sacrificed more, and fought harder to arrive at this very moment.
Whether in spirit or in raw strength, Madrid had outclassed Bayern.
And when Lady Luck remained neutral, not favoring either side, Bayern's supporters could only sigh helplessly.
The aggregate score now stood at 5–2.
To force extra time, Bayern would need to score three goals—while also preventing Madrid from scoring again.
With Müller completely nullified by Leon and Madrid still hungry for counters, that scenario bordered on impossible.
So impossible, in fact, that it made you feel hopeless.
But Heynckes' Bayern was different today.
Perhaps his players had prepared themselves for this mentally.
Just as Heynckes had said in the pre-match press conference:
"Bayern will cast aside mental baggage and return to the essence of football. We'll fight for honor and pride."
And that comforted every Bayern fan.
No matter how bleak it looked, their players did not panic.
They encouraged each other. Stayed alert.
Their heads were held high, their hearts unshaken.
On the sideline, Mourinho didn't say much.
He respected this version of Bayern—deeply.
And it was because of that respect that he refused to offer them even the slightest chance at a comeback.
His players felt the same.
The stronger Bayern's resolve, the more determined Madrid became to bury them completely.
In the 36th minute of the first half, Madrid struck again—via a counter, of course.
This time, Ronaldo acted as a decoy, sprinting forward without ever receiving the ball.
His run pulled defenders away, opening a lane for Essien to find Benzema, who passed to Di María.
Wide open inside the box, the Angel of Madrid made no mistake.
A simple touch to shift the ball, then a curling left-footed shot to the top left corner.
Neuer guessed correctly.
But it didn't matter.
The ball was perfectly struck into the absolute top corner.
Madrid extended their lead to 2–1, making the aggregate score 6–2.
This is the cost of pressing Madrid too high.
And yet—what choice did Bayern have?
They knew it was a trap, but they had no other way forward.
Once again, Mourinho's tactical clarity was praised by commentators worldwide.
"I'll give you the illusion of control. I'll even let you score. But you'll never stop my counterattack. Even if I score fewer goals than you today—I still win the war."
"Mourinho's tactics are as vicious and precise as ever. Heynckes has no answers!"
"One half left. Hold the line, Madrid—and punch your ticket to the final!"
Even Movistar's Spanish broadcast had dropped all pretense of neutrality.
Barcelona had been upset by Chelsea the night before.
The anticipated all-Spanish Champions League final? Gone.
Madrid was Spain's last hope.
Even the anti-Madrid press couldn't help but wave the white flag and join the cheers.
And by halftime, with Madrid leading 2–1, those same media outlets were already celebrating Madrid's advancement.
If Mourinho had seen those headlines, he'd have stormed into the newsroom himself.
Because he knew—as the Chinese say—"the hottest flames die the fastest."
Public hype was dangerous.
Sure, he could ignore it. His staff could ignore it.
But could every player in that locker room?
Some players were disciplined.
Others… not so much.
Inflated egos. Pressure. One misstep, and it could all fall apart.
Luckily, for now, his team was still focused.
As the second half began, Bayern tried to strike early.
But Madrid's back line held firm.
Bayern's blitz turned into a grinding midfield battle.
Madrid welcomed that.
Time was on their side.
Every minute that passed only tilted the game further in their favor.
In the 67th minute, Robben finally broke through, cutting inside for a shot.
Casillas saved it, but Schweinsteiger pounced on the rebound and scored.
2–2.
It gave Bayern hope—but it wouldn't last.
For the next 15 minutes, they didn't manage a single shot on target.
As the match neared its final ten minutes, Mourinho made his move.
Double substitution.
Di María and Benzema off.
Higuaín and Granero on.
Formation shift: 4-4-2.
Granero dropped deep into holding midfield.
Leon remained glued to Müller.
Essien dropped back.
Four defensive midfielders.
Mourinho wasn't hiding his intent. He was going to lock it down.
Heynckes went for one last roll of the dice—Kroos off, Olic on.
But it wasn't enough.
No more goals. No miracle.
2–2 at the Bernabéu.
If this had been the first leg, Bayern fans would've been thrilled.
But now?
It was meaningless.
The final whistle blew.
Real Madrid had done it.
Not just made the final—they had conquered their demons.
And the rest of Europe could only watch in awe.
Duan Xuan's closing line was destined to become a quote remembered fondly by Real Madrid fans for years to come.
Someday in the future, loyal Madridistas across China would rewatch the highlights of this match on the eve of another epic battle. They'd see:
Cristiano Ronaldo hammering home the decisive goal at the Bernabéu as the crowd roared in worship.
Mourinho calmly navigating the shifting tides of the game, leading Madrid with imperial dominance.
Pepe and Ramos, rallying after conceding, locking down the box as an unbreakable wall.
And Leon—sacrificing his own stats, yet smiling up at the starry sky of the Bernabéu with quiet contentment.
Bayern had fought hard to get here.
Since their painful loss in the 2010 Champions League final, they'd clawed their way back to the precipice.
But fate had matched them against a Real Madrid team that had suffered longer, worked harder, and sacrificed more.
This Madrid wasn't distracted by domestic races. They were laser-focused.
In spirit and in strength, Madrid was ahead.
And when Lady Luck didn't pick sides, all Bayern's fans could do was exhale with resignation.
The aggregate score stood at 5–2.
If Bayern wanted extra time, they had to score three unanswered goals—and stop Madrid from scoring again.
With Müller neutralized by Leon and Madrid still aggressively pressing for counterattacks, it was a nearly impossible mission.
Impossible enough to feel hopeless.
Yet Heynckes' Bayern still showed something special.
Maybe they'd mentally prepared for this.
As the manager had said before the match:
"Bayern will shed the weight of expectation. We will fight for the honor and dignity of our club."
It was a statement that brought pride to every Bayern fan.
Even as the odds worsened, the players didn't panic.
They encouraged one another, stayed alert, and fought on with admirable resolve.
Mourinho stood on the touchline, saying nothing.
He respected this Bayern deeply—and that's exactly why he would not give them even a sliver of hope.
His players understood too.
The more defiant Bayern became, the more determined Madrid were to finish the job.
In the 36th minute, Madrid's counterattack struck again.
Ronaldo acted as bait—constantly pressing forward without ever getting the ball.
His run pulled defenders, creating space for Essien to play a pass to Benzema, who flicked it into Di María's path.
The Angel of Madrid found himself completely unmarked in the box.
With his first touch, he cut inward. With his second, he curled a perfect left-footed shot into the top corner.
Neuer guessed correctly.
It didn't matter.
2–1. Another Madrid goal. Another dagger in Bayern's heart.
They knew Madrid's counters were deadly.
They stepped into the trap anyway.
Mourinho's clarity of thought was once again praised by broadcasters across Europe.
"I'll give you space, give you shots—even a goal. But I'll never let you stop my counters. Even if I score one less than you, I'll still win."
"Mourinho's tactics are ruthless and brilliant. Heynckes is out of answers!"
"Just hold on for 45 more minutes, and Madrid are going to the Champions League final!"
Even Movistar's Spanish commentary dropped all pretense of neutrality.
After Barça's shocking loss to Chelsea the night before, Madrid were Spain's last hope.
Every media outlet in Spain—even those usually critical of Real Madrid—began cheering them on.
By halftime, with Madrid leading 2–1, newspapers were already preparing celebratory headlines.
Mourinho, thankfully, didn't see them.
If he had, he'd probably have gone on a rampage.
Because overhype kills.
That saying wasn't just a Chinese superstition—Europeans knew it too.
Mourinho could control himself and his staff.
But could he control the mindset of every single player?
Some players were mature, able to tune out the noise.
Others weren't.
Get too full of themselves, and they'd crash hard—dragging the team down with them.
Fortunately, for now, the squad remained locked in.
The second half began.
Bayern tried to storm Madrid's half early—but Madrid held strong, denying them entry into the box.
The match turned into a tug-of-war.
Bayern were forced to slow down and reorganize.
This was perfect for Madrid.
The clock was their ally now.
The longer the game dragged on, the more likely they were to reach the final.
In the 67th minute, Robben fired from distance.
Casillas parried it—only for Schweinsteiger to rush in and bury the rebound.
2–2.
Bayern had hope again.
But that hope fizzled quickly.
The next fifteen minutes?
Zero shots on target.
As the match entered its final stretch, Mourinho made his final moves.
Double substitution.
Di María and Benzema off.
Higuaín and Granero on.
Formation shift: 4-4-2.
Granero dropped into midfield.
Leon stayed glued to Müller.
Essien dropped deeper.
On paper, it looked like Mourinho had just fielded four defensive midfielders.
He was locking it down.
Heynckes went for his final throw—Kroos off, Olic on.
It didn't matter.
No more goals.
The final score: 2–2.
If this had been the first leg, Bayern would've been thrilled.
But it wasn't.
This was the second leg.
And for Bayern, it was already too late.
Cristiano Ronaldo completed a hat trick, pushing his La Liga goal tally for the season to an astonishing 50 goals.
Meanwhile, in the simultaneously played Catalan derby, Messi also bagged a hat trick, bringing his own tally to 49 goals.
Both of La Liga's supreme attackers were closing out the season in terrifying form.
Sure, some might argue the goals were meaningless now—but that didn't change the fact that they were scoring at will.
Fans from other leagues could whine and scoff, saying they were just stat-padding against weak La Liga sides.
But Messi and Ronaldo fans clapped back—posting their goal counts against top six opponents this season and shutting down the haters instantly.
UEFA loved every second of it.
Not only did it give them more buzz, but they capitalized on it, encouraging fans to take sides and predict who would win the European Golden Shoe.
The attention was overwhelming.
With La Liga and UEFA both hyping it relentlessly, the May 13 season finale between Real Madrid and Mallorca, and Barcelona vs. Real Betis, became one of the most-watched football events in the world.
On paper, Barcelona had the easier matchup—Betis were 12th, Mallorca 7th.
But let's be honest—at this point in the season, both Madrid and Barça could smack any team below sixth without breaking a sweat.
Maybe not double digits, but 3–0 or 4–0?
Totally routine.
And from kickoff, both matches delivered.
Within the first ten minutes, Ronaldo and Messi had each scored.
Messi broke the 50-goal barrier.
Ronaldo bumped it to 51.
The numbers were ludicrous.
But then… both players slowed down.
Why?
Because their opponents knew exactly what was at stake.
The Golden Boot race was a global headline.
And no self-respecting professional wants to become the doormat for someone else's record.
They couldn't stop Madrid or Barça from winning.
But they sure as hell were going to stop their star players from feasting.
One goal? Fine.
Two? Maybe.
But after that? Expect fouls.
Mallorca and Betis drew their lines in the sand—no more freebies.
From that point on, Messi and Ronaldo were swarmed, boxed out, and fouled at every opportunity.
As a result, the rest of the squad enjoyed much more freedom.
Higuaín bagged a first-half brace.
Iniesta and Pedro scored for Barça.
But Messi and Ronaldo?
No more goals.
Final scores:
Madrid 4–1 MallorcaBarça 4–2 Betis
Their teams won, but the two stars were caged.
When the final whistle blew, Ronaldo jogged toward the bench.
But before he got there, Mourinho opened his arms wide, smiling.
Karanka and the whole bench erupted in applause.
Ronaldo stopped in his tracks.
And suddenly, he understood.
He spun around, laughing, then sprinted back to the pitch.
Leon and Kaká were already there, leaping on him in celebration.
This wasn't just a personal milestone.
It was a collective honor.
Real Madrid had vowed to eclipse Barcelona in every sense this season.
Not just in trophies—but in individual brilliance.
Ronaldo had edged Messi by a single goal in the Golden Boot race.
Yes, Messi had more assists (50 goals and 19 assists vs. 51 goals and 14 assists), so some argued he had the better season overall.
But the Golden Boot and European Golden Shoe were awarded solely on goals.
And now, Ronaldo was the undisputed top scorer in Spain and Europe.
And he wasn't done.
With the Champions League final ahead, he still had a chance to become top scorer in Europe's biggest competition.
One more goal, and he would set a new record for most goals in a single Champions League campaign.
Another bullet point for the Ballon d'Or.
Just like in previous years with Messi—the better Barça did, the more his stats were boosted, and vice versa.
UEFA loved it. The fans loved it.
But Leon, watching it all unfold, couldn't help but think:
"In 2010 and 2013, Ballon d'Or should've gone to someone else. Not Messi. Not Cristiano."
He didn't deny their greatness.
But he understood how heavily image, media narrative, and club platform influenced personal awards.
That was just how the system worked.
Why did so many stars dream of joining Real Madrid or Barcelona?
Why did so few want to leave, even when benched?
The answer was simple:
Fame. Money. Recognition.
The Ballon d'Or was still far from Leon's reach.
So far, he didn't even dare to dream of it.
But having seen it all up close, he'd learned some hard truths.
If one day he stood on that stage—he'd know exactly how to play the game.
After the season-ending win over Mallorca, the trophy ceremony kicked off under fireworks and roaring fans.
Leon and his teammates lifted the La Liga trophy in front of a euphoric Bernabéu crowd.
2011–2012 La Liga had come to a spectacular end.
President Florentino Pérez personally congratulated each player.
When he reached Leon, he grinned and exclaimed:
"Our little lion!"
Then came a warm hug.
He didn't talk business.
But his unusually soft demeanor made Leon feel… oddly uncomfortable.
He couldn't quite relax.
Because deep down, he knew:
Something big was coming.
Anyone who thought that the kind-looking old man before them was truly so friendly and warm… either lacked experience or had something wrong with their head.
Leon wasn't Nacho or Carvajal. He wouldn't get fooled by the president's surface-level affection and think he was truly the favored one.
There had to be a deeper meaning behind it.
Because all the other Real Madrid players were watching this scene.
Florentino Pérez had only exchanged a routine hug and two polite phrases with Casillas—so why did he spend an extra full minute chatting intimately with Leon?
It wasn't normal.
Even if the president had no ulterior motives, Leon wouldn't naively show gratitude or admiration in front of everyone.
So Leon simply maintained a respectful, modest demeanor. He neither leaned in nor acted overly humble.
Seeing Leon's measured behavior, Florentino didn't push further. He patted him on the shoulder with a neutral expression and waved him off to rejoin his teammates.
That brief moment, despite the festive surroundings, drew some attention.
Most fans chalked it up to affection—"the president likes Leon"—and moved on.
But a few journalists were more curious.
Still, once they realized one of the parties involved was Florentino Pérez, the more seasoned reporters instantly dropped their pens and backed away from the gossip.
Mourinho and Jorge Mendes, however, exchanged a glance—both registering the moment.
Casillas didn't think too much of it, but Ramos and Arbeloa?
They kept darting looks at Leon.
Still, once Leon rejoined his teammates with the usual bright grin, whatever subtle tension had lingered in the air dispersed.
Everything seemed normal again.
Madrid's players returned to laughing and celebrating, joy shining on their faces.
Later that night, the ceremony ended.
By the next afternoon, Valdebebas was alive and buzzing with activity.
The team was beginning their final push of preparation for the Champions League final.
The club had even brought in a professional film crew to document the lead-up to the final—coaches, players, everything.
Naturally, not all of the footage would be broadcast.
Some of it would be edited, cut, or saved for private archives.
The name of the documentary?
Florentino himself had already decided:
"The Heart of La Décima."
Meanwhile, in London, Chelsea's "golden oldies" were also making their final preparations.
The British press was working overtime, building up the narrative of Chelsea's long, hard road to the final.
When it came to crafting underdog stories, no one could touch the English media.
And it worked.
Within days, Chelsea had become the emotionally compelling "people's team."
A squad of aging legends who had fought tooth and nail to reach the final.
Compared to Madrid's Galácticos?
Their tale had more "heart."
When the media war began, Spanish outlets didn't stand a chance.
The UK had a global edge in football propaganda.
The Sun led the charge, as usual—claiming Essien had found a "new bedmate" in Spain, and that Ronaldo had been cheating on Irina again.
Baseless gossip, yes.
But when The Sun talked, the world listened.
Some players felt the sting.
Not Leon. Not Alonso. Not Kaká. Not Callejón.
Those guys were untouchable.
Mourinho didn't even need to give a harsh speech this time.
Instead, at Leon and Ramos' urging, Casillas personally convened a team meeting.
And it made a difference.
Players who had been targeted in the press felt the support of their teammates.
The team stood united.
They stayed locked in.
Mourinho was pleased—not just with the quality of training in the final days, but with the squad's mental state.
Experience?
Madrid had plenty.
Mourinho had already coached in two Champions League finals—and won both.
Karanka, as a player, had lifted three European Cups in five seasons.
Casillas had two Champions League titles before he even turned 25.
Alonso had played in two finals with Liverpool, winning once.
Essien had been to a final and lost.
Kaká had been to two—one win, one loss.
Ronaldo? Same.
With that foundation, even the younger players didn't panic.
They followed the tone set by the veterans.
Physically, tactically, mentally—Madrid were ready.
On May 18, the team flew to Munich once again.
At the now-familiar Allianz Arena, the squad took a set of confidence-filled pitch-side photos.
The club posted them on social media.
They went viral immediately.
Leon, who hadn't said anything on social media in weeks, finally made a post—asking Chinese fans to support Madrid in the final.
With over ten million followers, his post exploded.
Comments poured in. Reposts climbed into the millions.
Soon, both "Leon" and "Real Madrid" were trending across the entire Chinese platform.
By noon local time, a new hashtag took over the trending board:
#CheerForLeon
It wasn't just football fans anymore.
The entire nation was watching.
And in doing so, they stunned even the biggest corporations.
Leon had single-handedly mobilized an entire country—something not seen since Yao Ming or the great Liu Xiang.
If Madrid won the Champions League?
Leon's fame would shatter the glass ceiling of Chinese sports stardom.
Even Mendes was stunned when his team presented him the data.
And the hype only grew as kickoff approached.
By 1:00 a.m. local time, casual fans started logging off.
But the ones who stayed?
The ones watching live?
They broke every prediction.
In Munich, Leon jogged onto the pitch for warm-ups, surrounded by his teammates.
When he saw Drogba and Terry across the field, he smiled.
It was an honor to face the players he admired.
But that was it.
There would be time for greetings later.
Right now, they were enemies—battling for a single, shining trophy.
And there would be no mercy.
No empathy.
Not until one side was crowned.
May 19th, 8:40 p.m. local time in Germany.
With their final pre-match huddles done, the players from both teams walked out onto the lush grass of the Allianz Arena in Munich.
Holding the hand of a matchday mascot, Leon felt a surge of emotion rise from deep within.
Even though his face remained calm, his heart was racing, and something inside him kept repeating:
"This is the Champions League final. What I do tonight might shape the moods of millions of Madrid fans for the entire summer."
And more importantly—it would shape his own.
He had imagined all the possible outcomes—victory, defeat, glory, heartbreak.
But now, as he took a deep breath, he chose to empty his mind.
He followed Alonso onto the pitch with steady, unwavering steps.
The iconic Champions League anthem began to echo through the stadium.
From the sharply divided white and blue stands, Leon could spot a sea of vivid red—Chelsea's faithful.
He couldn't help but smile.
From the broadcast booth, Chinese commentator He Wei caught that exact moment on camera.
But before he could speak, Coach Zhang chimed in first:
"Leon looks incredibly composed. Among all the players from both sides, he might be the only one smiling so naturally. That level of calm in a final—it's remarkable."
He Wei nodded in agreement.
As the players lined up to shake hands, he quickly shifted into match intro mode:
"Real Madrid is lining up tonight in their tried-and-tested 4-3-3, which has brought them tremendous success in the second half of the season.
In goal: No. 1 Casillas.
Defense: No. 12 Marcelo, No. 4 Ramos, No. 3 Pepe, and No. 17 Arbeloa.
Midfield: No. 14 Xabi Alonso playing deep, with No. 10 Leon and No. 23 Essien on either side.
Up front: No. 7 Cristiano Ronaldo on the left, No. 22 Di María on the right, and No. 9 Benzema as the striker."
"Chelsea, under Di Matteo, are sticking with the 4-2-3-1 that got them past Barcelona.
Goalkeeper: No. 1 Petr Čech.
Defense: No. 3 Ashley Cole, No. 26 John Terry, No. 24 Gary Cahill, and No. 2 Ivanović.
Midfield: No. 12 Mikel and No. 7 Ramires as the double pivot. No. 21 Kalou and No. 10 Juan Mata on the wings. No. 8 Frank Lampard central.
Up top: No. 11 Didier Drogba."
As He Wei spoke, the lineup graphics and player info rolled out on screen.
Coach Zhang specifically mentioned Meireles, who had been dropped after a poor performance in the semifinal, and speculated that Di Matteo would once again play it safe—holding his tactical cards for the second half.
"Torres, Malouda, Bosingwa—if they come on late, they might just swing the match. But that's assuming Madrid gives Chelsea the chance to take this all the way."
Just as he finished, the referee's whistle blew, and the players sprang into motion.
He Wei's trademark opener followed immediately:
"Zhuangdiantai, zhuangdiantai! Dear viewers, welcome to the 2011–2012 UEFA Champions League final—"
With the formalities complete, both commentators shifted into tactical analysis.
From the first few touches, Chelsea's intentions were clear: fortify midfield, press early.
Madrid, by contrast, showed patience.
They didn't launch long balls or test the waters.
They held possession, inching their formation forward with care and precision.
Madrid wanted to press high and attack.
And not passively either—they were proactive, aggressive.
For Chelsea fans, this wasn't bad news.
After all, it was Barcelona's relentless high line that allowed Chelsea to snatch counters in the semifinal.
But as the minutes ticked by, that optimism began to fade.
Because Madrid's high press was disciplined.
Measured.
They were like a seasoned army taking ground methodically.
Every inch gained was held. Every Chelsea player was suppressed before Madrid advanced further.
Leon and Essien's short passing? Sharp.
Alonso organizing from behind? Flawless.
Di María, Benzema, Ronaldo dropping in? Always available.
Madrid had no fear of Chelsea's early press.
With their calculated control, they began establishing a Marcelo–Cristiano axis down the left wing.
Ramos and Leon anchored that flank defensively, providing cover for Marcelo and Ronaldo to attack with confidence.
From a matchup perspective, Ronaldo and Marcelo against Mata, Ramires, and Ivanović?
Advantage: Madrid.
Build-up after build-up, Madrid threatened.
Ten minutes in, and Chelsea's shape was already compressing.
From the stands, Chelsea fans looked nervously toward the Madrid bench.
There he stood—José Mourinho.
The man who once gave Chelsea their first taste of glory.
The man who laid the foundation for their modern identity.
The man many still missed.
And now, he was orchestrating their potential demise.
Truthfully, Mourinho was just as conflicted.
Like Essien on the pitch, he'd never imagined facing Chelsea in a match like this.
And yet here he was—forced to go to war with the very team he helped build.
But sentiment had no place here.
Madrid's attacks were working better than even he had anticipated.
This team had faced Barcelona, Bayern, defensive walls, relentless counters.
They were built for this.
Ronaldo and Marcelo?
Unstoppable.
Mata's work rate was commendable, but he couldn't defend.
Ramires and an aging Ivanović? No match.
Slowly, Chelsea found themselves back in the same dilemma they faced against Barça:
Their individual defenders couldn't stop one-on-ones.
If they couldn't stop the left wing…
There was only one option left.
Park the bus.
Di Matteo saw it too.
His original plan had been to absorb pressure in midfield and tire out Madrid's midfield engine.
But now?
That idea was dead.
Madrid were marching forward—and they weren't slowing down.
What Di Matteo didn't expect was that from the very beginning, Mourinho had no intention of playing a midfield possession battle.
Instead, he went all-in on the left flank—Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo, hammering Chelsea's right side relentlessly.
So relentlessly, in fact, that Ramires and Ivanović were constantly calling for help.
Faced with such pressure, Di Matteo had no choice but to adjust his tactics.
He pulled his midfield deeper, effectively parking a low block.
Sure, it killed Chelsea's counterattack potential, but Di Matteo knew that against Real Madrid, the worst thing would be to concede early.
Even Drogba didn't complain—he tracked all the way back into his own third.
And when Ronaldo saw Chelsea stacking numbers on him, he stopped insisting on going it alone.
Instead, he began switching play, drawing defenders out of position and freeing up his teammates.
Benzema's versatility shone brightly here.
His movement and link-up play in the middle distracted multiple defenders.
And that opened up the lanes for Leon and Essien, whose quick short passes stitched Madrid's attacks from wing to wing.
This was the kind of defensive crisis Chelsea never had to face against Barcelona.
In both legs against Barça, they'd dealt with Fàbregas and Alexis as the "false nines"—neither of whom had the physical presence to hold up play against Terry or Cahill.
But Benzema did.
He wasn't dominant in pure duels, but his ability to hold position and serve as a pivot was outstanding.
Camping around the top of Chelsea's box, Benzema kept Terry too occupied to offer cover elsewhere.
Because if you left Benzema to duel one-on-one with Cahill?
He might just turn and finish.
So Terry had to stay.
And that left Chelsea's full-backs and midfielders to face the relentless assault of Ronaldo and Di María on their own.
Three lines had to hold—midfield, defense, and keeper.
But you can only stretch so far.
Against Barcelona, you could load the middle and dare them to shoot from distance.
But against Madrid?
Leave the wings open, and you're dead.
Madrid's crosses started flying in—Ronaldo, Leon, Benzema all capable of winning headers.
Terry and Cahill were strong, yes. But they weren't quick.
Madrid had numbers and volume.
If one attack failed, two more followed.
All Mourinho needed was one clean opportunity.
Then, it would be Čech vs. the world.
Mourinho had Chelsea's structure completely mapped out.
Force them to park the bus, then siege the walls slowly, patiently.
Others feared the bus.
Madrid and Bayern?
They welcomed it.
Leon remembered how Bayern had battered Chelsea in another timeline—outplayed them, broke them down—but just couldn't finish.
Čech had been godlike, but if Bayern's finishers had been better, that final would've been theirs.
But Real Madrid?
No such problem.
Ronaldo was arguably the most lethal finisher in Europe.
As long as they created chances, Ronaldo could break Chelsea open.
And yet… tonight, Ronaldo wasn't forcing it.
He was unselfish—even more than anyone expected.
This made things easier for Benzema and Di María.
Because every time Ronaldo touched the ball, Chelsea's defense collapsed on him.
And when he passed?
The others had space.
In the 17th minute, Ronaldo received a pass from Leon on the left.
One-on-one with Ivanović near the byline.
Ivanović knew better than to foul this close to the box, so he backed off.
But this time, Ronaldo didn't pass.
He went solo—stepovers, body feints, and then a blazing outside burst past Ivanović!
Cahill rushed in.
He couldn't let Ronaldo cut inside.
But just then, Ronaldo heel-flicked the ball back to Marcelo in support.
Marcelo, seeing Leon wide open near the corner of the box, played it square.
Leon took a touch and calmly slid it across to the right edge of the arc.
And there—Di María was already charging in.
Leon had set the stage.
Di María took his shot in full stride—a perfect left-footed curler toward the top left corner.
It was a strike born of teamwork.
Ronaldo drew defenders, Benzema and Essien cleared space, Leon made the pass, and Di María pulled the trigger.
The ball arced beautifully, spinning toward goal.
Čech, vision blocked, jumped instinctively—
But the ball was too precise. Too clean.
He got nothing.
The net rippled.
The Chelsea defense—practiced, drilled, rehearsed—had fallen before the 20-minute mark.
On the bench, Mourinho smiled—deeply satisfied.
He'd had a private conversation with Ronaldo a week before the match.
"We need this title, Cristiano.
Not just for us. For Real Madrid.
Chelsea will analyze your every move. I need your sacrifice. I need you to draw fire. Let them focus on you, and we will break them down from the shadows."
Ronaldo didn't respond.
He stood quietly, then left.
For the next week, Mourinho wasn't sure he'd gotten through.
Even an hour before kickoff, he still had doubts.
But now, with Ronaldo playing the ultimate team role, he had his answer.
Leon raced over to hug Ronaldo.
"They'll all remember this, Cris. We're going to win this—together!"
"Yeah," Ronaldo grinned. "Together."
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