"Stop passing backwards!"
"Still passing backwards?!!"
Suker shouted irritably at the front.
After the second half began, AC Milan's midfield started to pass backward frequently.
Sure, this could stretch Liverpool's lines, but at the same time, it put pressure on Milan's defense.
Suker wasn't underestimating Maldini's ability.
But old Maldini is getting old!Why keep risking him like this?
Come on!
Bring it on to me!
I'm young and in my prime!
Pass to me!
Suker wanted to shout, "Shoot at me already!"
However, Milan's performance in the second half was indeed off.
Maybe it was psychological, or maybe Liverpool's intense 'blood-boiling' pressing.
Anyway, Milan began passing backward again and switched to a compact defensive formation.
Kaká was about to retreat but was pulled back by Suker.
"Why retreat?" Suker snapped angrily.
Kaká pointed behind: "We can't move the ball forward! I want to help push up!"
Suker turned to look.
Liverpool's high pressing was fierce; Pirlo was tightly marked and found it difficult to pass forward.
Seedorf was working hard to keep control, but he alone faced huge pressure.
"Wait upfront!"
Suker waved his hand and turned back.
Kaká retreating was useless.
At this stage, Kaká's play was more of a rush-forward style, despite Suker's reminders to transition more to a passing role.
But Kaká hadn't listened.
Compared to Kaká, Suker's dropping back was more useful.
Suker dropped back into his own half.
At the flank where he positioned himself, Seedorf was being harassed by Gerrard and Pennant.
"Pass it here!"
Suker called out.
Seedorf looked at Suker; Pennant immediately sidestepped to block.
But Pennant's sidestep opened a passing channel forward.
Seedorf's eyes lit up and he immediately fed the ball forward to Kaká.
"Milan finally passed it out!" Aldo Cerrella shouted.
"Suker's drop back is key."
"Although he didn't get the ball, his movement created passing lanes and disrupted Liverpool's high pressing."
Kaká received the ball, ready to turn and attack — no! Kaká passed it back to Suker.
Suker ran along the sideline, received Kaká's pass, but didn't rush forward.
He waited a moment.
He waited for Seedorf to get into position.
Pennant and Mascherano closed in on Suker.
Suker controlled the ball, twisted his waist, and passed back to Pirlo.
At that moment, Pirlo was unmarked.
Pirlo's pressure disappeared.
He gave Suker a thumbs up to thank him for the support, then quickly passed the ball back to the flank.
Suker breathed out slightly.
Against such high pressing, what was needed was more forward passing options.
Whether Suker got the ball or not, as long as he occupied spaces, he disturbed the opponent's pressing setup.
Milan's players, sensitive to space, could make the best decisions accordingly.
"This guy's so annoying!"
Alonso watched Suker with frustration.
They were already down by three goals.
In the second half, they planned to press high and seize momentum quickly, trying to replicate the Istanbul night's rapid comeback.
But Suker's dropping back solved this problem.
Frankly, Milan's loss then was largely because Pirlo and Seedorf were marked out of the game.
Shevchenko was a pure striker, unable to do Suker's intricate work.
Now, Suker at center forward was a pure goal scorer,
Yet he could also do everything a number 10 playmaker could do.
Suker was a super 9.5 — a role between number 9 and 10.
On the sidelines, Ancelotti sighed slowly.
Seeing Milan struggling to move the ball forward made him anxious.
If the game continued like this, Liverpool might repeat history.
Even if Gerrard didn't stand out, others could.
But Milan had prepared well for revenge.
After Istanbul night, Ancelotti flew to Zagreb overnight to sign Suker for this very moment.
The seeds planted two years ago had been watered and nurtured, now finally bearing fruit.
Several passes later, Suker's dropping back broke Liverpool's high press, stabilizing Milan's midfield rhythm.
Suker turned his head, seeing Inzaghi looking at him.
Their eyes met; Suker nodded slightly.
Suker dropped back a few more steps.
Seedorf immediately passed the ball to Suker.
Suker controlled the ball, cutting forward toward the flank, Seedorf overlapping.
"Careful! He might pass wide!"
"Don't let him break through!"
Liverpool players were instantly on high alert.
But Suker didn't speed up, instead slightly slowed his pace.
Seeing this, Alonso hesitated, then his expression changed drastically.
"Careful!"
Before he finished, Suker curled the ball with his left foot.
Had Alonso forgotten Suker's specialty?
The ball hugged the ground, arcing gently over the center back Agger, landing in the middle.
"A rainbow pass!!!! —"
Aldo Cerrella exclaimed.
This season, they focused only on Suker's goals and dribbles,
Forgetting Suker, like Beckham, was a master of painting rainbows on the pitch.
Milan fans in the stands erupted instantly.
They jumped up, eyes shining with hope.
Among the excited crowd was a fair-skinned, short blond boy, wearing Milan's number 10 jersey, staring unblinkingly at the pitch, gazing at Suker's pass with admiration.
"Inzaghi's through! One-on-one!! —"
Inzaghi received Suker's pass, charging fiercely toward the box.
His eyes blazing.
He knew clearly: just one goal, just one goal would break the nightmare and anxiety.
So he must score this goal.
Forwards are selfish!
Any striker is selfish!
They won't give up the right to shoot.
Unless this goal was too important.
Bang!
When Carra reached Inzaghi, Inzaghi feinted a shot but instead passed sideways.
Inzaghi passed!
"Damn!"
Suker couldn't believe it.
You passed!
Not a pressured pass, but a willing one.
The ball arrived precisely at the far post.
Kaká rushed in facing an empty net and calmly slotted the ball.
Swish!
The crisp sound of the net being hit echoed.
At that moment, every Milan fan and player felt a mental lock, a nightmare inside them shattered instantly.
Two painful years!
The nightmare of those three goals!At this moment, completely broken.
64th minute, Milan scored their fourth goal!
Inzaghi assisted Kaká!
"Fourth goal!!!!!! —"
"Fourth goal!!!!!! —"
"Fourth goal!!!!!! —"
Crudeli trembled with excitement.
This damn fourth goal!
They had waited two full years for this.
Through endless pain, endless insults.
But at the moment this goal appeared, everything seemed to vanish like smoke!
This was not just about winning the championship,
But about revenge!
Even last season's title didn't excite them this much.
Suker excitedly waited to celebrate with Kaká.
Then, he saw the reckless young man charge into Liverpool's net, grab the ball, and rush toward midfield.
"Damn?"
Suker was stunned.
Kaká's meaning was clear:
"I haven't scored enough yet!"
But Kaká's decision infuriated Liverpool's players.
Already mentally shaken by Kaká, Finnan shoved Kaká angrily.
"You've had enough! You've scored enough goals!"
Finnan's face reddened with anger.
If they scored more, would they still have any shame?
Next second, Finnan was knocked to the ground by Suker's charge.
"You can't defend, that's your problem! Who cares if we keep scoring?"
Finnan was about to get up and spar,
But both teams' players rushed over.
Suker and Finnan continued their heated argument.
Suddenly Gerrard shouted at Suker:
"Enough, don't try to waste time!"
Suker paused.
He pointed at Gerrard and looked at Gattuso:
"Is he talking to me?"
Gattuso grinned.
He didn't believe Suker didn't understand such simple words — he was just pretending.