King of Adversity! Rainbow Flick Toys with Four Real Madrid Stars, He Becomes a God in the UEFA Champions League!

"Oh, you're looking at these again. You've been holding this book all the time whenever you have free time this month. I wonder if you're actually reading it, or if you're just thinking about the author?"

Gracie's voice carried a hint of coquettishness and jealousy, with a slight upward inflection at the end, making her sound like a slightly wary cat.

When she slammed the glass of orange juice onto the small wooden coffee table next to Tang Long, the glass clinked against the table, and the juice splashed out, spilling onto the lush green lawn.

Tang Long raised his head, his gaze meeting Gracie's resentful eyes. A gentle yet slightly helpless smile appeared on his lips.

He thought to himself, "So many years have passed, but her personality hasn't changed at all. She's still that girl who gets jealous easily and has a bit of a temper."

Tang Long turned his head slightly and quietly watched Gracie walk towards the living room with small, quick steps, her floral dress swaying in the afternoon breeze of Madrid.

Her hair swayed gently with her steps, and her slender waist was even more alluring in the breeze.

As he silently gazed at her retreating figure, Tang Long couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.

The wheels of time roll ever onward, taking many things away, yet leaving a deep imprint on our memories.

His thoughts drifted away, and in a daze, he seemed to return to the scene of their first meeting many years ago.

In 2015, Tang Long, newly arrived at Manchester City, stepped into the team's medical room with a mix of anticipation and trepidation for the future.

There, he met Gracie for the first time.

At that time, Gracie was full of youthful energy, and her eyes revealed the professionalism and seriousness of a medical graduate.

The slightly awkward first encounter, where Tang Long was made to kneel on a chair and bend over for an anal examination, became the memory of their first meeting.

Now, a full 10 years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Time leaves its mark on everyone, and Gracie is no exception.

The once vibrant and carefree girl is now over 30 and married.

However, the passage of time does not seem to have left many marks on her figure.

Her silhouette remained delicate and lovely, her figure graceful, as if time had been exceptionally kind to her.

Her silhouette was like a green banana leaf swaying in the wind, making Tang Long want to step forward and gently embrace her.

But Tang Long quickly suppressed his inner impulse.

His gaze returned to the book in his hands; he was more eager to continue reading than to leave Gracie on the bed.

Although he had read this passage more than 20 times in the past month, each reading still stirred his emotions, as if he had the ability to travel through time and return to that thrilling summer of the 2017 UEFA Champions League final.

"Tired, so tired..."

The Manchester City players seemed to have all their strength drained away, slumped onto the pitch.

Someone braced themselves with their hands on the ground, their body leaning slightly forward, their head hanging limply, sweat dripping from their forehead and cheeks like broken beads, onto the grass beneath their feet;

Some people lay directly on the ground, eyes closed, panting heavily, their chests heaving violently, as if each breath was exhausting all their strength.

The Manchester City team was filled with an atmosphere of fatigue and tension, and every face was etched with exhaustion and determination.

The first 15 minutes of extra time in the UEFA Champions League match have ended, with the score frozen at a breathtaking moment.

In the final minute of extra time, Real Madrid equalized thanks to Benzema's ghost-like run and precise shot, making it 3-3.

Although it's supposed to be halftime of overtime, according to the rules, neither team will leave the field; instead, they will rest briefly for two minutes.

These two minutes are both a physical respite and a mental adjustment period for the players.

Guardiola gestured animatedly, conveying tactical instructions to the players.

"Listen, listen, you must do this first, then this, not this, but that, absolutely not this or that..."

Exhausted, Tang Long's mind was in a tangled mess, leaving him somewhat dazed.

Guardiola's English, already non-standard and heavily influenced by a Spain Thereau, sounded like a jumble of incoherent words to Tang Long, a jumble of "this and that" syllables that he couldn't decipher no matter how hard he tried to concentrate.

At this point, Gracie was completely disregarding her personal image.

Knowing Tang Long's current physical condition, she quickly walked to Tang Long side and commanded firmly, "Lie down!" Then she straddled Tang Long and began to press on his buttocks, back, and thighs with her hands.

Her hands were strong and flexible as she tried to relieve Tang Long's muscle tension and fatigue through massage.

"How are you feeling? Are you feeling better? I think your thigh muscles are really tight, and your running posture looks like you're about to cramp up."

Gracie spoke softly to Tang Long in a voice that was both tense and concerned, her eyes filled with care and heartache.

Tang Long lay on the ground, silent.

He felt like his body was a machine about to run out of fuel, every bit of strength was precious, and saying even one more word seemed to accelerate the depletion of his energy.

In fact, even after Tang Long had played the entire 90-minute match, he still had some energy left in his body.

However, after Ranocchia was forced off the field due to physical exhaustion during extra time in the first half, Manchester City, playing with 10 men, found themselves in an extremely difficult situation.

They had to run more distances to compensate for the lack of manpower.

Tang Long, who replaced Ranocchia in the defensive midfield position, has shouldered a heavy responsibility!

He gave it his all, exerting every ounce of his strength, running tirelessly on the court.

His jersey was soaked with sweat, glistening under the stadium lights, and his neck was covered in salt crystals.

Although he was exhausted, he knew the importance of the defensive midfield position, which forced him to keep running.

What if you run out of energy?

With one less player to fight, I can't afford to think like that. I'll just hold on for as long as I can!

If the coverage area isn't improved, it's easy for a passing specialist like Kroos to seize the opportunity and break through the middle.

If the central defense falls apart, both Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo possess exceptional ability to take on defenders and face the goalkeeper one-on-one, which would be a huge disaster for Manchester City's defense.

"Give it your all! There are only 15 minutes left until the penalty shootout, lads! You've been fighting for almost a whole season, nearly a year! Can't you even make it through these 15 minutes? Absolutely not!"

Guardiola was shouting loudly from the sidelines, trying to motivate his players.

Penalty shootout?

Finally, Tang Long heard the word "penalty" clearly from Guardiola's mouth.

According to Guardiola, Manchester City, playing with 10 men, had no chance of breaking through Real Madrid's goal in attack.

Moreover, Real Madrid has brought on fresh talent Morata, giving Real Madrid a clear advantage in both numbers and physical condition.

For Manchester City, avoiding a goal at this point would be a blessing in disguise. If the game goes to penalties, although it is full of unpredictability, at least there is still a glimmer of hope, and the outcome is still uncertain.

Tang Long pondered to himself, and he also thought it was hard to say whether Guardiola's view was too conservative.

But given the current situation, this seems to be a more reasonable option.

After all, given Manchester City's current personnel and physical condition, it would be extremely difficult for them to defeat the powerful Real Madrid in regulation time.

Captain Kompany stood up, clapping his hands vigorously and encouraging everyone loudly. "We know how to defend against them, we've been defending them all game, we can definitely hold them off!"

Kompany's rough voice echoed in everyone's ears, making Tang Long's ears ring, but his thoughts remained immersed in fatigue and tension.

Just as Tang Long was about to close his eyes one last time, using these final 30 seconds to relax his body and mind, he accidentally opened his eyes while lying on the ground, and the scene before him stunned him—

Because his gaze was lowered so much, with his chin resting on the grass, what Tang Long saw from his perspective was no longer the familiar lawn, but a dense forest.

The grass at Cardiff Millennium Stadium was quite dark, and in Tang Long's eyes, the blades of grass seemed to have transformed into towering trees, standing tall and almost level with his eyebrows.

His view was blocked by these "trees," and he could only occasionally catch a glimpse of the cheering figures in the stands through the gaps. The noise of the crowd also became somewhat indistinct and distant.

At that moment, an inexplicable sense of exhilaration surged through Tang Long's entire body like a tidal wave!

His body began to tremble uncontrollably, a power bursting forth from the depths of his being, like a long-dormant volcano suddenly erupting.

Gracie, who was sitting on him, clearly felt the tremor. Before she could react, Tang Long's buttocks pushed her, causing her to roll to the side and fall to the ground with a loud "Ah!"

But Tang Long had no time to care whether Gracie was injured; he was completely absorbed in the magical scene he was witnessing while lying on the ground.

At that moment, Tang Long had a strange experience.

He suddenly realized that the field he had been running on as a professional player for the past three years had never been a flat grassy field, but a dense forest full of challenges and unknowns.

Here, thorns grow in abundance, each one like an obstacle, threatening to scratch his skin and hinder his progress.

This place is full of swamps and traps; every step is fraught with danger, and a moment's carelessness could lead to being trapped and unable to escape.

The uneven ground mirrored the various setbacks and difficulties he encountered in his football career, making his path forward exceptionally challenging.

These dense jungles, however, hindered the progress of every traveler, much like opponents on a sports field, trying every means to prevent them from achieving victory.

However, throughout his three-year professional career, he has taken one step at a time, tenaciously overcoming these thorns and jungles, and conquering numerous difficulties to reach where he is today, standing on the stage of the UEFA Champions League final.

In this forest, he fell countless times, each fall accompanied by pain and despair;

He had fallen and been injured; his scarred body was a testament to his hard work.

He was lost, unable to find his way in the darkness, unsure of where to go or what to do;

He also got lost, losing himself in complex environments.

But no matter how many hardships and obstacles he encountered, Tang Long always rose again and again with his indomitable will and love for football!

"Fuck him!"

A powerful and determined shout came from Tang Long's mouth.

He pushed off the ground with both hands, and like a spring that had been compressed to its limit and then suddenly released, he stood up straight in an instant!

This caused quite a commotion, startling the Manchester City players around them, who all cast surprised glances.

Guardiola was stunned. He stopped his speech and stared blankly at Tang Long. Just then, the referee signaled for all the players to come onto the field, the two sides switched sides, and the second half of the UEFA Champions League extra time match was about to begin.

Watching his players run onto the field exhausted, a distraught Guardiola continued to shout:

"Remember, hold the line! If we can drag this out to penalties, we'll definitely beat them!"

Manchester City kicked off the second half.

Tang Long stepped on the ball, slowly raised his head, and looked at the Real Madrid players opposite him: Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale, Morata, Kroos, Varane, Ramos, Carvajal, Navas...

These players are all superstars in the football world. They are tall, with confident and domineering eyes, and exude the unique aura of Galacticos that can destroy everything in its path.

However, in that instant, as Tang Long looked at them, he felt that they were like trees standing in front of him, and that this group of people formed a forest.

This scene was so similar to the "grass forest" I saw when I was lying on the ground during halftime of overtime.

So, for a moment, Tang Long suddenly felt relieved.

He realized that the Real Madrid players standing in front of him were not fundamentally different from the difficulties he had encountered in the previous three years of his professional career.

Whether it's a formidable opponent or a difficult match situation, they are merely challenges on his football journey.

Face them bravely, meet their challenges, and then defeat them. This is Tang Long's most fundamental football philosophy, and it has been the belief that has accompanied him throughout his three-year professional career.

This belief, like a blazing flame, burned ever brighter in his heart, giving him endless strength and courage.

Ju--

"The referee blows his whistle, and the second half of extra time in the 2016-2017 UEFA Champions League final officially begins!"

"I believe that the China fans who have stayed until this point are absolute football die-hards, and they are all eagerly anticipating what kind of results this goal-fest will bring."

"I'm sure there are countless eyes glued to the field in front of the TV and in the stands, and our hearts are racing as the game progresses!"

"Both sides have given us a superb UEFA Champions League final in just 105 minutes, with a total of 6 goals, which is very rare in a final."

"Of course, although the score is currently tied, Real Madrid has an unparalleled advantage."

"They have one more person, so it's 11 against 10."

"Moreover, Morata has only just come on as a substitute, so his energy is definitely plentiful. I believe he will be a strong point of attack for Real Madrid."

"On the other hand, Manchester City is at a disadvantage in terms of both physical condition and numbers. For them, dragging the game into a penalty shootout is probably the best possible outcome."

"The next 15 minutes are sure to be a tragic and brutal match. It all depends on whether Manchester City can withstand the Galacticos's avalanche of attacks!"

Real Madrid indeed launched wave after wave of fierce attacks on Manchester City.

They called themselves the Galacticos, and their offensive resembled an aircraft carrier standing on the shore, launching a fierce artillery barrage against the land.

Real Madrid's passing combinations were fluid and seamless, their attacking rhythm tight and sharp, repeatedly assaulting Manchester City's defense.

Manchester City, on the other hand, seemed to have been reduced to hiding in their bunkers, stubbornly resisting Real Madrid's attacks.

For them, being able to defend within 10 meters of the penalty area is already their limit.

As for the midfield, it was completely controlled by Real Madrid!

Although midfield ball-handling maestro Modric has been substituted, Kroos is equally impressive, and the newly substituted Morata is an all-around player. He is not only fast and tall, but also has abundant stamina and covers a wide area.

He didn't stick to the center forward position, but instead ran back and forth on both wings of the field, covering a distance that was equivalent to that of two Manchester City players.

This made Manchester City's defense more difficult, and the game became very passive for a time.

Guardiola, watching all this from the sidelines, was so anxious he kept scratching his head.

His brows were furrowed, and his eyes were filled with anxiety and helplessness.

To be honest, in this situation, there are no tactics left to speak of. The only thing Manchester City can rely on is the resilience of the Blue Moon defense led by Kompany. Hopefully, they can get through these tough 15 minutes.

Otherwise, if Real Madrid scores the winning goal, Manchester City will fall into an abyss of no return, and all their efforts will be in vain...

Bang!

Cristiano Ronaldo cut inside from the left and unleashed a powerful shot that struck the junction of the crossbar and post!

Thump!

Bale and Kroos exchanged a one-two, and Bale fired a low shot from a tight angle on the left, Bravo parried away!

Boom!

Marcelo crossed from the left, and Morata, unmarked at the far post, made a ghostly run into the box, but his powerful header went just wide of the goal!

Real Madrid bombarded Manchester City's penalty area, but they were always just a little short of scoring.

As Cristiano Ronaldo's close-range shot went wide, he shouted anxiously, "Ah, why!" and then jumped up and down in anger.

His Real Madrid teammates also sighed.

Sigh, we were so close!

Clearly, Cristiano Ronaldo was so eager to score that he overexerted himself, turning a simple push shot into a powerful slap with the instep.

Of course, there is another reason for Cristiano Ronaldo's dissatisfaction.

In this season's UEFA Champions League, he played every single match and scored 23 goals!

This is an unprecedented goal record!

Moreover, with a two-goal lead over Tang Long, Cristiano Ronaldo is brimming with confidence for the European Golden Shoe: "He has no chance whatsoever!"

But Cristiano Ronaldo still desperately wants to score!

"I want to score a hat-trick in the UEFA Champions League final! I want to score my 24th goal!"

The 32-year-old Portugal superstar still maintains excellent physical condition and is Zidane's first choice;

But even he himself knows that players over 30 change every year!

Will I be as strong next season as I am this season?

Even Cristiano Ronaldo himself wouldn't dare to guarantee it.

Therefore, he must score more goals and set more records in his limited career, leaving behind an insurmountable monument for future generations. For Cristiano Ronaldo, the most painful thing is when someone breaks the records he set. Lionel Messi is like that, and so is Tang Long.

So when Tang Long surpassed 17 UEFA Champions League goals this season—a record he set in the 2013-2014 season— Cristiano Ronaldo trembled, then unleashed another burst of energy, and the goals came pouring in!

At the start of the second half of extra time, Manchester City had 88% possession in the first 7 minutes, keeping the ball firmly under their control. Manchester City were relentlessly pressed and their passing lanes were blocked, resulting in turnovers.

Several times, center-back Kompany couldn't find anyone in his own half and had to hastily launch long balls into Real Madrid's half, then let out a long sigh of relief, thinking:

"That's fine, every minute counts!"

The football is round.

The balance of power often shifts in subtle ways.

Real Madrid's prolonged attack failed to break through, which in turn gave Manchester City an opportunity.

Just as Real Madrid slowed down their attack and wanted to catch their breath, Morata, who had just come on, made an unintentional mistake that shocked the entire stadium!

Perhaps seeing the Manchester City players were exhausted, Morata underestimated them; his back pass to Kroos was rather casual, with a very slow and leisurely pace.

In the blink of an eye, halfway through the ball's roll, a player in a light blue jersey suddenly appeared and intercepted the ball!

"Tang Long!"

"Tang Long has made a steal!"

"His prediction was incredibly accurate; he intercepted Morata's back pass!"

"Kroos stretched out his leg to intercept, Tang Long stepped on and deflected, haha, Marseille Turn, beautiful, he got past him!"

"Real Madrid players instantly surrounded Tang Long, what should he do?"

Looking at Tang Long, who was lost in the crowd.

Kompany, in the backfield, shouted anxiously, "Don't hold onto the ball! Clear it away with one kick!"

Midfielder Mkhitaryan prompted. "Draw a foul, shield the ball and draw a foul!"

Guardiola was shouting from the sidelines, but Tang Long, surrounded by the roar of 75,000 fans, couldn't hear his teammates' shouts, let alone those dozens of meters away.

Whoosh--

Tang Long made a decision that, many years later, would still amaze everyone who recalls that match.

This scene, in the star-studded history of football over the past century, can almost be called the most dazzling moment!

He was surrounded by four people rapidly closing in from all sides.

Tang Long sandwiched the ball between his feet, one in front of the other, and flicked it into the air with his heel. The ball flew in an arc, soaring high over the heads of Morata, Casemiro, Marcelo, and Bale!

Morata exclaimed, "Ah!"

Casemiro's eyes widened. "Uh!"

Marcelo spun around on the spot, looked up at the sky, and exclaimed, "Hey, where's the ball?"

Bale pointed at Tang Long: "Grab him, pull him down!!!"

While the four Real Madrid stars were being completely outmaneuvered, Tang Long had already taken advantage of their momentary lapse in concentration to break through the encirclement. His movements were as swift as a crane and as fast as the wind, and all four trees were destroyed in one fell swoop.

Bang bang bang--

Bang bang bang--

The road ahead is perfectly flat!

Tang Long dribbled the ball all the way, hurtling towards Real Madrid's penalty area.

His two center-backs in front of the goal are Ramos and Varane.

Just as Tang Long was pondering how to get past this person, a shout came from his right, "I'm here!"

It's Sane!

Sane sped along at high speed, charging towards them.

With his brothers coming to his aid, Tang Long was even less afraid of his opponents.

Taking advantage of Sane's diagonal run that took Varane away, Tang Long suddenly sprinted towards Ramos!

4 meters, 3 meters, 2 meters, 1 meter, half a meter!

"I won't kick, I won't kick! He's just trying to lure me into kicking, I absolutely cannot kick!"

The ball was almost touching Ramos's toes when the Spain center-back couldn't hold back any longer. He made a decisive tackle and cleared the ball.

He kicked!

Tang Long has been waiting for this kick!

With a barely audible thud, Tang Long lightly flicked the ball. Despite being further from Ramos and seemingly about to lose control due to a heavy touch, he managed to touch the ball 0.05 seconds before Ramos. With a simple and unpretentious move, he easily blew past the Spain national team's champion center-back!

"Pick the ball, and you'll get it!"

Before Tang Long could even shoot, Agüero, who had been substituted off the field, rushed to the sidelines and shouted – no, all the substitutes rushed to the sidelines, and even the spectators in the first few tiers of the stands at Cardiff Millennium Stadium crowded into the front row!

Whoosh--

Tang Long indeed lightly flicked the ball over Navas.

What's amazing is that this time, not only did the ball get past the goal, but the player did too!

Navas was like Tiger Descends the Mountain from the mountain, and Tang Long flew over his head along with the ball!

A dark cloud obscured Navas's view, and he felt as if he were shrouded in shadow. This sudden darkness, almost like being under the lamplight, became the most unforgettable pain of his career.

Bang!

Tang Long landed with an open goal in front of him and unleashed a powerful, explosive shot!

4 to 3!

Manchester City took the lead in the 115th minute!

The soccer ball slammed into the net, deforming it. In that instant, Tang Long felt that the soccer ball in front of him was an indomitable flamingo, breaking free of its cage. It would eventually break free of these constraints and win its own freedom.