Relying too heavily on a siar pyer is never a sustairategy.

  In Ferguson's eyes, he had s about building his tactical system around Ronaldo, but he was also well aware of its fws.

  Looking back, the Scottish manager believed that Maer United's best overall performan ret years came during the 2006-07 season.

  At that time, Ronaldo had only just beeablished as the focal point of the attack. The team's tactical coordination remained fluid, and the pyers plemented each other well. That season, United scored 83 league goals, the sed-highest tally for the club in the new tury.

  The only season with a higher total was 2001-02, when United had scored 87 goals. That was the peak era of the Css of '92, with Giggs, Scholes, Beckham, and Keane in midfield, and Ruud van Nistelrooy, who had just arrived from PSV leading the attack.

  More importantly, in 2006-07, United only ceded 27 goals in the league, a massive improvement over the 44 goals ceded in 2001-02. This was a clear indication of the team's dominan the Premier League.

  That season, Ronaldistered 17 goals and 16 assists, while Rooney tributed 14 goals and 12 assists.

  Additionally, key pyers like Saha, Solskj?r, Scholes, and Giggs all performed exceptionally well. United were in their prime, excelling at both ends of the pitch.

  However, their Champions League journey ended in disappoi, as they were eliminated in the semifinals.

  The following season, subtle ges began to emerge.

  Ronaldo exploded with a career-best goal tally, sg 31 league goals and providing 7 assists. Rooney added 12 goals and 13 assists, while Tevez tributed 14 goals and 6 assists.

  United's front three were individually brilliant.

  Yet, the team's overall goal tally dropped to 80, noticeably lower than the previous season.

  And this season, the dee was even steeper.

  With 34 league games pyed, United had managed only 63 goals even fewer than Liverpool, a team not traditionally known for its attag firepower.

  Ferguson knew something was wrong.

  Among the various data points analyzed by Fernando Lucas, one particur statistic stood out.

  In many games over the past two seasons, Ronaldo alone had taken as many shots as the entire opposing team. In some matches, his attempts ated for over half of United's total shots.

  This was an uhy dynamic.

  It often took Ronaldo ten or more shots to score a goal, which led to him earning the niame "Le Ronaldo."

  Another revealing statistic:

  Berbatov, one of Ferguson's most highly-rated ter forwards, struggled to ect with Ronaldo.

  So far, the Bulgarian had provided 16 through balls that put Ronaldo in one-ouations.

  How many had Ronaldo verted into goals?

  Zero.

  It was this imbahat led Ferguson to make the pivotal decision to try to sign Benzema and sell Ronaldo. He knew United's current system couldn't tinue as it was.

  But football is uable. No matter how much a manager pns, the game has a way of making its own decisions.

  As the mattered the 77th minute, Maer United unched a rapid terattack.

  Carrick collected the ball and quickly pyed it out to Evra on the left fnk.

  The French full-back surged forward, pushing into Napoli's half. As he approached the halfway line, he gnced up and spotted Rooney making a run. Without hesitation, Evra delivered a diagonal pass toward him.

  But Lichtsteiner challenged Rooney in the air and won the header.

  Unfortunately, the Swiss right-back failed to clear it properly.

  The ball dropped awkwardly nding right at the edge of the penalty area.

  Berbatov was the first to react, intercepting the loose ball.

  With a smooth touch, he dribbled past Thiago Motta, using his body to shield the ball from Bonucci. As David Luiz rushed in to challehe Bulgarian forward skillfully slid the ball between Napoli's two ter-backs, threading it into the penalty area.

  Holding his position with his back to goal, Berbatov delicately flicked the ball into space.

  Cristiano Ronaldo arrived first, sprinting past Vargas to meet the pass. In one fluid motion, he guided the ball past Handanovi? and into the Napoli .

  For a brief moment, San Paolo Stadium fell silent.

  Then came the uproar.

  Napoli fans stood in stunned disbelief.

  After seventy-seven minutes of deadlock, the breakthrough had finally e.

  Ooue, Gao Shen's heart ched the moment the ball hit the . Instinctively, he csped his hands over his head, then turned away in frustration, heading back toward the bench.

  "Damn it! He actually scored this time!" he muttered, his voice tinged with exasperation.

  Sevetempts. Seventeen!

  And only now does he decide to put one away?

  What were you doing for the first sixteen, Ronaldo?

  At this moment, Gao Shen truly felt like he was managing a game of Football Manager. He had seen this sario before, where a pyer finally opens their at for the season at the most inopportune moment.

  Cristiano Ronaldo's goal felt exactly like that.

  "I guess he missed sixteen times just to make sure the seveh went in," Zidane said wryly, shaking his head with a bitter smile.

  There was nothing Napoli could have done about it. The goal came from an unfortunate series of events rather than a defensive pse.

  Lichtsteiner's clearance was rushed due to Rooney's pressure.

  Berbatov, renowned for his exquisite ball trol, mao hold possessioe being double-teamed.

  And once Ronaldo got up to full speed, no one was stopping him.

  Napoli had done an excellent job taining United all night.

  But football only needs one moment.

  And this time, Uook it.

  "What now?" Zidane asked, a sense ency creeping into his voice.

  Only twelve minutes remained.

  Gao Shen didn't hesitate.

  Substitutions.

  Hamsik repces Thiago Motta.

  Pellè repces i.

  Napoli shifted from 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1.

  A full offensive press.

  Because at this point, there was no other choice.

  Before the match, Ferguson had been puzzled.

  Why had Gao Shen not attacked in the opening stages of either half?

  It didn't match the aggressive style Napoli had dispyed in previous matches.

  At one point, Ferguson even suspected that Gao Shen was deliberately holding something back.

  But the moment Napoli threw everything forward, Ferguson knew.

  This was what he had been waiting for.

  His tension eased.

  So, without hesitation, he made a ter-move.

  Substitution: Anderson off, Giggs on.

  Ferguson was looking to hit ba the ter.

  Napoli had pyed with a 4-2-3-1 setup for three seasons. Every pyer was familiar with their roles.

  As soon as the ge was made, the iy skyrocketed.

  High pressing. Relentless pressure.

  Maer United's midfield, already struggling, was now pletely overwhelmed.

  Ferguson didn't make another substitution. Instead, he reahe midfield and had Rooney drop deeper to help out.

  "This kid is fearless," Ferguson chuckled.

  He never expected Ronaldo to score from a Berbatov assist.

  The two rarely bined foals.

  Sixteen failed shots.

  And now, in a Champions League semifinal, Ronaldo suddenly delivers a decisive moment.

  Now that United had a priceless away goal, Ferguson's immediate priority reserving the lead and possibly extending it if the opportunity arose.

  But when Napoli goes all-out, they aren't easy to tain.

  Especially on the wings.

  With Pellè now leading the line, Napoli's tactical adjustments became clear.

  Di María and Sánchez were pletely unleashed.

  Unfortunately for Uheir ter-backs were already fatigued from dealing with i.

  The Uruguayan forward had run them ragged all match, stantly pressing, battling for duels, and disrupting their defensive line.

  Of the two ter-backs, Ferdinand was struggling the most.

  Pgued by injuries all season. first a groin strain, then back issues. Ferdinand had already missed a signifit number of games.

  And now, after abs relentless pressure from i, his energy reserves were running low.

  By the 83rd minute, Fergusoated, then made the decision.

  Substitution: Ferdinand off, Evans on.

  Three mier, Napoli seized their moment.

  United lost possession in midfield.

  Biglia intercepted the ball and immediately pyed it forward to Di María, who had dropped back to receive.

  Ronaldo didn't track him.

  Di María surged forward along the left fnk, dribbling with i.

  Just past midfield, before Fletcher could close in, he squared a pass to Hamsik in the empty space behind him.

  Then, without breaking stride, Di María pointed forward, signaling for the return ball.

  Hamsik, reading the move perfectly, delivered a first-time pass behind O'Shea.

  Di María accelerated, sprinting onto it.

  Just like that, O'Shea was bypassed.

  Two passes.

  One breakthrough.

  As Di María took his stride, he spotted Vidic charging forward to challenge him.

  Without hesitation, he poked the ball past him, then used his pace to burst around the outside.

  Owo. Past Vidic.

  "Brilliant py! Napoli's terattack is on!"

  The San Paolo crowd erupted.

  Di María caught up to the ball, now ihe left edge of the penalty area.

  Napoli's optioaking shape.

  Pellè was still slightly behind the py.

  Sánchez, however, had made a sprint from the right and was arriving in the box.

  Only Evans stood in front of Di María.

  Further back, Carrick was trailing, trying to recover, while O'Shea and Fletcher were chasing.

  But they were too far behind.

  Di María hesitated for only a fra of a sed before making his choice.

  He would take on Evans one-on-one.