Chapter 392: The Champions League Knockout Stage Belongs to the Brave

After clinching the Premier League title early, Chelsea celebrated directly at Stamford Bridge with an unofficial victory party.

Their battle with Manchester City over the league this season had been grueling.

Midway through the season, they had trailed City multiple times.

Fortunately, Mourinho’s bold decision to reduce the burden on the squad allowed Chelsea to regain momentum and seize control of the title race.

It also helped that City had been too greedy this season, chasing trophies on four fronts and ultimately collapsing from fatigue.

Otherwise, Chelsea might not have secured the title so early.

Looking back, surviving the most intense part of the schedule through squad rotation without giving City a chance to overtake them was a brave, risky move — but it paid off.

Now, with the title secured, no matter what the outside world said — whether they called Chelsea lucky or claimed City would have won had they focused on a single competition — the fact was that Chelsea were this season’s Premier League champions!

Li Ang celebrated wildly at Stamford Bridge,

even riding on Maguire’s shoulders, shirtless, singing and shouting with his teammates.

Even though he had already won league titles in three of Europe’s four major leagues,

this was his first ever three-peat —

no wonder he was so ecstatic.

Still, the coaching staff eventually calmed the jubilant squad down.

Winning the title was a massive achievement, but their season wasn’t over yet.

Three days later, they would face Atlético Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League semifinals.

With limited time to rest and prepare,

they couldn’t afford to waste energy celebrating now.

Li Ang, cooling his head, canceled plans for a crazy night out.

Instead, after reporting to Mourinho,

he treated his teammates to a grand victory dinner at one of the best French restaurants in London.

Meanwhile, the English media shifted into their usual “narrative-crafting” mode.

But this time, instead of showering Chelsea with mindless praise,

they stirred up debates by comparing Chelsea to another massive name —

Manchester United.

Not the current United, of course —

but the once-invincible Sir Alex Ferguson-era Manchester United.

Since 2000, United had lifted the Premier League trophy eight times, dominating both England and Europe.

Under Ferguson, United — aside from occasional dips — had been the standard of excellence.

Now, after winning their third straight title,

Chelsea had six Premier League titles in the 21st century.

In terms of sheer numbers, Chelsea still trailed United.

But in terms of achievement heights —

especially Chelsea’s historic “seven-trophy season” last year —

the Blues had arguably surpassed United.

Back then, fans compared Mourinho’s first Chelsea team to Ferguson’s United

because Chelsea seemed the only team close to United’s level.

Now, after everything Chelsea had achieved in the new century,

fans genuinely believed Chelsea could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with United.

Both had Champions League glory.

Both had established domestic dynasties.

Moreover, Chelsea had achieved an unprecedented seven-trophy haul in a single year —

a feat United never managed.

And with United currently crumbling under chaotic management and disastrous on-pitch performances,

the contrast was stark.

One club was declining rapidly, clinging to past glories.

The other was vibrant, growing stronger, aiming for a second consecutive Champions League title.

Faced with this reality, fans knew who they preferred.

Thus, in a Sky Sports fan poll launched the day after Chelsea’s title win,

Chelsea crushed the competition when asked who was the greatest Premier League team of the new century.

Chelsea had conquered not only the pitch —

but the entire English football narrative.

United fans were furious.

For most of the Premier League’s history,

United had been the undisputed kings.

No one even came close.

But now, Chelsea’s three-peat had changed the conversation —

they were being directly compared to United as equals.

For United supporters, it was intolerable.

Their glorious past seemed distant.

Meanwhile, their club today was stuck in mediocrity.

Online, United fans fought back fiercely —

but they couldn’t overcome the growing tide of mockery from rival fanbases.

Li Ang, ever the internet surfer during downtime,

watched the debates with amusement.

Honestly, he felt that Chelsea still lagged far behind United in terms of global commercial power.

You didn’t close that gap just by winning trophies for a few seasons.

It took decades of brand-building and smart management.

Chelsea needed time — and smarter commercial strategies — to truly catch up.

As someone who had experienced Real Madrid’s global reach firsthand,

Li Ang was acutely aware of how much work remained.

Still, as Chelsea’s captain, his job was simple:

Keep winning.

Lead the team to back-to-back Champions League glory.

On May 2nd,

Chelsea flew to Madrid.

After completing a routine evening session at the Calderón Stadium,

they headed straight back to the hotel to rest.

The next morning,

Chelsea’s players traveled by bus to the Valdebebas training base —

Real Madrid’s fabled headquarters — for their final practice.

The fact that Chelsea could use Real Madrid’s facilities again was no accident.

Mourinho, as always, had leveraged his old connections.

Returning to Valdebebas felt like coming home for Li Ang.

At the gates, in the corridors, among the staff —

he knew almost everyone.

After finishing the morning training session, Li Ang led the team straight to the cafeteria,

where Chelsea’s players happened to run into Real Madrid’s squad who had just completed their own training.

A round of handshakes and greetings was inevitable,

and Li Ang shared hugs and laughter with his former teammates.

That night, Chelsea would face Atlético Madrid at the Calderón in the second leg of the Champions League semifinals.

Real Madrid would play their second leg against Juventus the following evening.

The players from both teams wished each other luck,

bantering with “See you in the final” kind of blessings.

Li Ang, thinking carefully, pulled Modrić and Casemiro aside.

“You guys have to lock down Pogba tomorrow night,” he said seriously.

“Vidal’s condition is inconsistent. If you apply enough physical pressure, Pogba usually struggles to perform at his best. Marchisio is out injured, right? If you limit Pogba, Juventus will lack creativity in attack…”

Modrić and Casemiro exchanged glances, then nodded.

Li Ang didn’t expect his advice to be officially adopted,

but if it helped Real Madrid even a little, it was worth it.

As for Real Madrid’s ultimate tactical choices — that wasn’t his concern anymore.

After lunch at Real Madrid’s training base,

Chelsea’s team returned to their hotel for a rest.

By evening, Chelsea appeared on time at the roaring Calderón Stadium.

The 54,000-capacity arena was packed to the brim.

When Chelsea’s players emerged for their warmup,

a deafening chorus of boos erupted.

Thousands of traveling Chelsea fans tried to cheer,

but their voices were drowned out by Atlético’s intimidating roar.

However, Chelsea’s players were unfazed.

After finishing warm-ups, they jogged back into the tunnel for final preparations.

Broadcasts around the world had already gone live,

and the cameras quickly captured a tense-looking Simeone.

For Atlético, this was not a friendly scenario.

They had lost the first leg 0-1 at Stamford Bridge.

Now they needed not only to equalize but also to prevent Chelsea from scoring.

If Chelsea scored, Atlético would need three goals to advance.

The difficulty was immense,

and even Simeone couldn’t hide his nerves.

In contrast, Mourinho sat relaxed on the bench, smiling faintly.

As kickoff approached, the referee signaled both teams to enter the pitch.

Chelsea, having rotated heavily in the league,

fielded a fully rested first XI in a 4-2-3-1 formation:

Oblak in goal,

center-backs Thiago Silva and Maguire,

Azpilicueta at left-back, Trippier at right-back.

Kroos and Matić anchored midfield,

Li Ang played as the attacking midfielder, flanked by Hazard and De Bruyne.

Suárez led the line as center forward.

Atlético, desperately needing goals, fielded an aggressive 4-3-3:

Carrasco, Diego Costa, and Griezmann up front.

Koke and Saúl orchestrated midfield, with Gabi holding deeper.

Savic, just back from injury, partnered Godín at center-back.

Filipe Luís and Juanfran operated as fullbacks,

with Courtois in goal.

Both teams had thrown everything on the table.

Compared to the fully rested Chelsea,

Atlético, still locked in a La Liga title race with Barcelona, looked slightly more fatigued.

Yet they remained fiercely determined.

Even if they had to crawl on hands and knees,

they would fight their way to the final.

The first leg failure had ignited a burning fire in Atlético’s players.

They yearned to redeem themselves in front of their home fans —

and craved to defeat mighty Chelsea and overturn the tie.

Thus, when the referee blew the kickoff whistle,

Atlético immediately surged forward aggressively.

But very quickly,

they were stunned:

Chelsea — who logically should have focused on defending —

instead fought back tooth and nail!

Gabi’s long pass from midfield was immediately headed back by the proactive Maguire.

Li Ang, firmly shielding the ball against Koke,

laid it wide for the overlapping Trippier.

In his first Champions League semifinal appearance,

Trippier showed no fear,

cutting inside to avoid Filipe Luís before calmly passing to De Bruyne.

The Belgian didn’t hesitate —

from an unconventional crossing position, he whipped the ball into Atlético’s box.

The ball curved sharply inwards,

targeting Suárez charging at the back post.

But with Savic glued to him,

Suárez opted not to shoot but to flick a header back across goal.

The ball dropped into the center of the box —

and there was Li Ang, charging in!

Just like his first-leg screamer,

Li Ang unleashed a thunderous volley!

The ball howled toward goal like a cannonball!

But this time, Courtois — laser-focused on Li Ang —

made a desperate full-stretch dive,

and somehow punched the ball clear!

The ball fell in front of Atlético’s box,

where Godín booted it away.

Atlético’s defenders were left rattled.

Li Ang, clenching his fists, roared encouragement at his teammates:

“Keep pressing them!”

This wasn’t the time to bunker down!

Today’s Chelsea were going to fight head-on!

The Champions League knockout stage belongs to the brave.

Atlético’s resurgence was natural.

But true bravery was daring to attack under pressure — in your opponent’s fortress!