Rise of a Football God

"GOALLLLL…!!!" Wembley Stadium erupted.

"My GOD! What a goal!" The commentator raved.

"What a solo goal!"

"What a solo run!"

"Jamal MUSIALLLLAAAA!"

"The boy is insane, come on, what a run, what a moment!"

"And just like that, the direction of this game has been overturned, Bayern Munich are now leading in Wembley Stadium!"

Even as Wembley Stadium erupted, having clattered into Alisson Becker after scoring past him, Jamal Musiala ignored his pain, jumping to his feet as he charged towards the corner flag in celebration.

As soon as he arrived at the corner flag, he spread his arms, embracing the energy of the ecstatic Bayern Munich fans as he did his friend's celebration.

He did the Jude Bellingham celebration.

"Musiala!" "Musiala!" "Musiala!"

The Bayern Munich fans roared his name at the top of their lungs.

…

At a certain apartment in England, a certain Nigerian could not help eating his popcorns faster as he watched Jamal Musiala celebrate on the TV.

Sam felt his heart racing as he watched the German youngster celebrate.

"What?" His girlfriend turned to look at him, having noticed his sudden change in mood though she knew it was related to the ongoing game.

Hearing that question, Sam grinned, turning to look at his girlfriend. "Have I told you that the first game I ever watched was a UEFA champions league final game?"

Kayla ate her popcorns. "No".

Sam chuckled. "My dad took me to a viewing center to watch the game. Then, I was very small, I think 6 or 7".

"On that night, I watched my club, FC Barcelona take on Manchester United in the UEFA champions league final and win, creating a memory that I don't think I can ever forget".

He smiled. "The UEFA champions league means more to me than other football tournaments. You see, it has a special place in my heart".

Kayla ate another round of popcorns, nodding. "Ok?"

"You won't understand". Sam chuckled as he paid attention to the TV again. "I can't wait to lace my boots in the UEFA champions league!" He clenched his fist even as his heart kept racing.

…

FWEEE!

The referee's whistle sounded again for the game to continue.

Jamal Musiala's goal turned this game on its head, making Liverpool who was still relatively calm for most of this game suddenly feel tense.

Urgency soon found its way into Liverpool's offensive play.

Afterall, this tournament already traumatized Liverpool in certain ways, mostly the UEFA champions league final itself.

In the past few years, apart from their iconic 2019 UEFA champions league win under their iconic coach, Jurgen Klopp over Tottenham, Liverpool has made the champions league final 2 more times under the same coach but both times, the outcome ended in a heartbreak for the Merseysiders.

Though both defeats came against the same club, the inevitable Real Madrid, it still left a trauma in them already.

This was why in this final, when Liverpool started trailing behind their rivals in this final, wounds that were created from old traumas became opened.

Fear of losing again struck.

For the rest of this half, urgency was visibly detected in Liverpool's play as they pressed Bayern Munich but the German giants remained defensively disciplined, cleverly shutting off any threatening Liverpool attack.

In the end, the first half ended 0-1 with Bayern Munich leading.

During half-time in the Liverpool dressing room, the atmosphere was tense and silent as Arne Slot approached the situation cleverly.

Instead of trying to make his players more hot-blooded, pushing them to the edge with motivational quotes, he instead tried to calm their nerves.

Like a psychologist, he entered his players' heads, reminding them about the importance of today's game while not putting more pressure on them.

His strategy worked.

When the time for half-time finally ended, as the Liverpool players came back to the pitch, it was clear that they were calmer.

Thar urgency and desperation in the final minutes of the first half were nowhere to be found, having disappeared already.

FWEEEE!

When the referee's whistle sounded, it was like the game was starting all over again as calmly, both teams approached the game with a conservative approach.

Trying not to make any mistake, they gave themselves time to adapt to the game again and once they did, they finally raised the intensity.

BOOM!

This time, the intensity was even higher than that of the first half.

And it was not just Liverpool either, Bayern Munich also wanted to score a 2nd goal to secure the game, making both teams resume their attacking play.

Liverpool kept on trying but nothing happened still, they were being frustrated by Bayern Munich's stalwart defense.

50 minutes, no goal…

60 minutes, no goal…

70 minutes, no goal…

No longer able to keep his cool, Arne Slot finally decided to ditch his composure, making changes as he finally made changes, the most glaring one being the fact that he introduced Darwin Nunez to take his striker spot in the team. Experience new stories with My Virtual Library Empire

He removed Cody Gakpo, moving Luis Diaz back to his left winger spot and that change was the game-changer.

Liverpool's attack changed immediately.

It no longer felt like Arne Slot football at all, rather, it felt like Jurgen Klopp football again as Liverpool embraced their old ways of gen-gen pressing.

The Liverpool players ran all over the pitch like a swarm of ants that knew no retreat, only knowing to fulfill the order of their Queen even if fulfilling it meant death. They played like rabid beasts ravaging all over the pitch.

Liverpool embraced chaos again.

And in the chaos, while Bayern Munich cowered, they thrived.

4 minutes after this change, Liverpool finally got a tangible result and it came from the substitute in Darwin Nunez.

Having became an agent of chaos already, the Uruguayan striker became the catalyst, creating the moment that led to Liverpool's goal in this game.

And the one who scored it?

It was a familiar name.

After being frustrated for most of this game, Liverpool's Egyptian King finally made himself known, striking when Liverpool needed it the most.

Salah struck!