Same Circumstances, Different Outcomes

As the second half began, the atmosphere at Old Trafford grew even stranger.

Manchester United's undisputed first-choice player, Stiller, was actually sitting on the bench.

Substituted at halftime!

Why?

Manchester United fans couldn't understand it.

Even if he had clashed with his teammates, there had been nothing wrong with Stiller's performance in the first half. Without him drawing defenders away, Aveiro might not have been able to wreak havoc down the flank.

If anyone was to be taken off, shouldn't it have been McLaughlin?

Sir Alex sat in his seat.

This was the thinking of the upper management.

They had created opportunities for Stiller earlier partly because Real Madrid traditionally had weak aerial defense.

The other reason was to help Stiller perform better, so they could sell him for a higher price when the time came.

But now that news of Stiller's departure had been leaked and had seriously damaged team harmony, he was no longer worth much.

There was no need to pad his stats anymore.

On the contrary, although McLaughlin appeared to have the bigger emotional problems, in Sir Alex's plans, he was an indispensable cornerstone of the early new Manchester United.

He was the veteran who would lead the team.

So it was important to soothe McLaughlin's emotions.

That was the adult world.

Sometimes losing meant winning, while winning meant losing.

The situation was constantly changing.

In the sixty-seventh minute, Zizo carried the ball past his man and easily broke through Manchester United's midfield.

Although the Premier League was physically intense, for a player like Zizo, this kind of rough defending actually gave him more room to operate.

Besides, Zizo was actually quite strong in physical duels, far from the frail stereotype people had of midfield maestros.

Lu Yang made a run forward and called for the