I years, across Asia, particurly i Asia, there had been growing tensions in football rivalries.

  From once fearing South Korea, to ter being wary of Japan, the ese national team had seen its gap with its neighbors widen och. The team was slipping into a third-tier position in Asian football, capable only of defeating weaker nations they had historically dominated.

  Meanwhile, Japan and South Korea tio develop their football industries and thrive.

  One of the biggest symbols of this success ark Ji-sung, the pride of South Korean football.

  After making a name for himself at PSV Eindhoven, Park's move to Maer United had elevated his career to new heights, establishing him as Asia's top footballer pying abroad.

  But in 2006, when a young ese coaamed Gao Shen suddenly burst onto the se, miraculously leading Real Madrid to a historic La Liga and Champions League double—the dynamic shifted.

  Winning both the Champions League and La Liga in the same season was araordinary feat.

  With that achievement, Gao Shen became the first Asian football figure in history to win the Champions League at the highest level.

  Although he wasn't a pyer, everyone uood that being a successful manager was even harder than being a pyer.

  Because of this, Gao Shen's success with Real Madrid sent shockwaves through Asian football, even the Asian Football federation took pride in his aplishment.

  Years ter, Park Ji-sung would win the Champions League with Maer United in 2008, making him the sed Asian in history to do so.

  At best, Park could cim to be the first Asiao win the Champions League but the title of "first Asian to win the Champions League" beloo Gao Shen.

  But Gao Shen wasn't just riding on past achievements, he roving his ability again and again.

  After leaving Real Madrid, he defied expectations by leading a newly promoted Napoli to secutive league titles, creating a legendary story in Italian football.

  This season, Napoli had emerged from the Group of Death featuring Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, a, before eliminating Arsenal and Chelsea in the knockout rounds. Their journey had won the admiration of the football world.

  Now, in the Champions League semifinals, Gao Shen's Napoli faced Park Ji-sung's Maer United.

  It felt as if the intetle in Europe was being mirrored across Asia.

  The match shattered viewership records across the ti.

  And in the final fifteen minutes, everything was on the line.

  Both teams had scored, but Maer United had the slight edge due to the away goals rule.

  For Park Ji-sung's fans, this was a moment of pure excitement.

  Even though Park Ji-sung wasn't involved in the goal—it was scored by Cristiano Ronaldo, assisted by Berbatov, who had e on as Park's substitute—none of that mattered.

  What mattered was that Maer United had the advantage.

  Besides, if people wao give Park Ji-sung credit, they would always find a way.

  Korean media argued that Maer United's breakthrough wouldn't have happened without Park's tributions earlier ich.

  Their reasoning?

  Park's relentless running and pressing had exhausted Napoli's left-back, Vargas, preventing the Peruvian defender from trag Ronaldo's decisive run, leading to the goal.

  "Otherwise, how do you expin why Ronaldo failed in his previous 16 one-on-one ces this season, but mao score this time?"

  "This is why Park Ji-sung is so important!"

  "He is Ferguson's trusted warrior in big matches and crucial moments!"

  The South Korean media took it even further, portraying Park Ji-sung as not just a national hero, but a symbol for all of Asia.

  "Among four billion Asians, he is the only one who will reach the Champions League final for the sed time!"

  ---

  Gao Shen's fans and media strongly disagreed.

  Firstly, they argued that Park Ji-sung was not as crucial as the South Korean media cimed.

  In their view, the real architect behind Napoli was Gao Shen, not a single pyer, but the mastermind leading the eeam.

  After all, both Guardio and Zidane had once served as his assistants. That alone spoke volumes about his influen European football.

  And as for who would actually reach the Champions League final the tie wasn't over yet.

  "Gao Shen said after the game that he has maintained a perfect record in away games against Premier League clubs. He's fident he turn things around at Old Trafford!"

  In other words, Ferguson and Maer United hadn't even decred victory yet, but South Korean media already had.

  Finally, Gao Shen's fans and media rejected the idea that Park Ji-sung represented all of Asian football.

  "You don't get to decide that. Let's see what the rest of the world thinks."

  "Not long ago, Emirates Airlines signed Gao Shen as their global ambassador. The sponsorship fee wasn't disclosed, but reports say it exceeds €5 million per year, after tax. No footballer in the world has a deal like that."

  "If the Emirates deal isn't ving enough, take a look at Forbes' ret rankings of the most iial figures in Asian sports. Gao Shen topped the list by a ndslide, reized as the most iial figure in Asian football."

  To Gao Shen's fans, the evidence was clear, Gao Shen was the face of Asian football in Europe.

  And as for Park Ji-sung?

  He simply didn't have the same weight.

  The debate between both sides was being more intense, with each firmly believing they were in the right.

  When Su Qing brought up the issue during a phone call, Gao Shen was genuinely surprised.

  He hadn't expected that a match pyed in Europe would spark su earthquake across East Asia.

  Sensing the pressure in his voice, Su Qing joked, "Just think of me as a sounding board. If you're feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, or stressed, just vent it all to me."

  Iy, Gao Shen wasn't frustrated or bitter, what he felt most ressure.

  A squad of twenty to thirty pyers, along with dozens of coag staff and club employees, had all worked tirelessly for aire season, pushing forward carefully, step by step, to reach this point.

  Now, all their hopes rested on him.

  This wasn't just pressure, it was an overwhelmi.

  He sighed into the phohis is the biggest gamble of my life."

  And he wasn't wrong.

  This och was worth over €10 million, more than ￥100 million in verted currency.

  Especially after the first leg.

  Looking back, Gao Shehat his lineup had been too cautious, aook full responsibility for the result.

  The pressure of fag Ferguson had been immense.

  But after that first leg and after speaking with Ferguson in persoarted to see the legendary manager in a different light.

  His idol had bee human.

  Ferguson was, at the end of the day, just an old man.

  His tactics, squad ma, and in-game adjustments during the first leg weren't as overwhelming or mystical as Gao Shen had once imagined.

  As Carlo Ai had said, even the greatest managers lose.

  Ferguson was no exception.

  Now, the real pressure was on the sed leg.

  Napoli had ceded an away goal in the first match, meaning they had no choice but to score at Old Trafford.

  But sg wasn't enough, they also had to prevent Maer United from hitting them on the terattack, particurly through Cristiano Ronaldo and Rooney.

  It was a high-stakes tactical challenge, ohat would test the eeam.

  ---

  Su Qing wasly an expert in football, but she listened patiently. And after hearing Gao Shen's s, she decided to share something from a versation she had overheard not long ago.

  A senior official, a well-known national figure who frequently appeared in the news had once said something that stuck with her.

  "Mrets in life stem from the word 'if'."

  "If I had studied harder… If I had chosen a different uy… If I had picked another major… If I had taken a different job… If I hadn't broken up with that person…"

  "People always bme their currebacks on the choices they made in the past. They vihemselves that if they had chosen differently, their lives would have beeer."

  "But the truth is, the other path wouldn't necessarily have been easier hter. In fact, it might have been even harder, filled with greater failures."

  "The cruel reality of life is that we think we have the ability to choose between right and wrong. But in most cases, we don't."

  "We're simply choosiween one fwed path and another, possibly even worse one."

  "The real tragedy? We often make the right choice, but vince ourselves that we made the wrong one."

  This speech had inally been about major national policies and societal ges, but Su Qi it carried profound wisdom for life itself.

  After hearing this, Gao Shen was deeply moved.

  Just the day before, he had spoken at length with Ferguson and some of the things the legendary coach had said echoed this very se.

  At that moment, Gao Shen made up his mind.

  ---

  "By the way, have you applied for your visa yet?" Gao Shen suddenly asked.

  Su Qiated. "Not yet."

  "Then make sure to do it as soon as possible. Time is tight." He urged.

  "And tell my parents, my uncle, and my aunt as well. Get their visas sorted too. You should all e over, take a few days to enjoy Europe, and then e watch the Champions League final!"

  Su Qing smiled oher end of the phohat was his way of showing fidence.

  Iy, she wasn't sure she could take time off work, her department was incredibly busy.

  But she knew how much this meant to him.

  Watg him coa a Champions League final had always been something he wanted her and his family to experience.

  So no matter what, she wouldn't ruin his mood, she'd agree first and find a way to make it happen ter.

  "Wheime es, I have a gift for you," Gao Shen added mysteriously.

  This was something he had been preparing for half a year.

  ---

  The 1-1 draw in the first leg had backed Gao Shen into a er.

  But now, there was n back.

  He had to win at Old Trafford.