GOAT: All Football Talents Are Mine

AC Milan manager Leonardo Araujo had come a long way.

From a scout who discovered players like Kaka, Thiago Silva, and Pato, he had steadily risen to become the technical director and now the successor to Carlo Ancelotti. His ascent within the club was a story of dedication and success.

However, Leonardo faced significant challenges.

The plan to sell Kaka to Real Madrid to rebuild the squad had fallen through. With the club running a yearly deficit of 100 billion won, the transfer budget for the next season was capped at a mere 80 billion won. Rising player salaries further tightened the financial constraints.

Last year's sale of Gourcuff to Real Madrid offered a little breathing room. This allowed them to extend David Beckham's loan and bring back Andriy Shevchenko as a free transfer.

Paolo Maldini postponed his retirement to give the team another year of his leadership, even though this decision raised the squad's average age.

Yet, keeping Kaka proved to be a blessing.

Kaka was the second-highest scorer in Serie A with 17 goals, only behind Di Natale, and had been instrumental in AC Milan's strong second-place position in the league.

But there was a glaring issue: Kaka and Ronaldinho did not get along.

Their lack of synergy was an ongoing headache for Leonardo, especially with the Champions League quarter-finals looming. And to make matters worse, their opponent was none other than Real Madrid.

But a silver lining emerged.

[Woo Ho-young confirmed to have injured right ankle... Will miss Champions League quarterfinals 1st leg.]

For Leonardo, this was destiny smiling down.

Although Woo was expected to return for the second leg, his absence in the first game gave AC Milan an edge. Despite the formidable presence of Ronaldo, Real Madrid had grown younger and less experienced. Coupled with Milan's unbeaten home record this season, the odds seemed favorable.

"If we win big in the first game and stay cautious in the second, we can secure a semifinal spot," Leonardo thought.

With this in mind, he meticulously planned his strategy.

---

The first leg kicked off at San Siro Stadium.

As expected, Woo Ho-young was absent.

Encouraged, AC Milan dominated possession and set the tone early on.

[AC Milan are forming a suffocating formation while exchanging sharp passes.]

[Real Madrid is struggling. Guti, standing in for Woo Ho-young, is completely neutralized by Ambrosini and Flamini.]

Guti, unable to find his rhythm, left Real Madrid lacking creativity.

Leonardo's plan bore fruit. A brilliant long-range strike from Seedorf, coupled with Kaka's incisive play, put AC Milan ahead. Real Madrid scrambled to adapt, substituting the sluggish Mertesacker for Raul Albiol.

Watching from the bench, Woo Ho-young grew concerned.

---

The mood on Madrid's bench remained oddly calm.

"There's plenty of time," one player remarked.

"Our stamina will give us an edge," another chimed in.

"Besides, Ronaldo will pull something out of the bag."

Gonzalo Higuain leaned over to Woo. "Hey, Woo, keep an eye on that monster over there."

He gestured toward Gennaro Gattuso, AC Milan's enforcer and a midfield titan.

"Watch out, man. He'll crush your bones if you're not careful."

Gattuso's ferocious reputation preceded him. Even in his twilight years, his presence on the pitch was intimidating.

"Doesn't he remind you of a gladiator?" Higuain quipped.

Woo silently observed, noting Gattuso's unyielding energy and physicality.

---

In the second half, Higuain and Raul Gonzalez combined to equalize, but AC Milan quickly regained control. Ronaldinho's introduction disrupted Madrid's defensive setup. Exploiting Albiol's weakness in directional changes, Ronaldinho carved through the defense, enabling Inzaghi to score.

Leonardo then switched to a 4-4-2 formation, bringing in Beckham and Pato. Fierce crosses and relentless attacks overwhelmed Real Madrid. Despite Casillas's heroic saves, the match ended in a 4-1 victory for AC Milan.

---

Post-match, the AC Milan players celebrated like gladiators returning triumphant from battle.

Gattuso, in his usual fiery demeanor, grabbed a reporter's microphone.

"We did very well," he declared. "Every Milan player outclassed Madrid today. And next time, we'll do even better at the Santiago Bernabeu."

Turning to the camera, he added, "Hey, Woo. Next time, you."

It was a clear declaration of war.

---

As articles flooded in from the press, the tension at Real Madrid's training ground in Valdebebas reached a boiling point.

Coach Scolari made a dramatic announcement: "I will give everything in the second leg. If we don't advance, I will resign at the end of the season."

The stakes couldn't be higher.

With El Clásico scheduled three days after the second leg, Scolari made the bold decision to deprioritize the league match. The Champions League was their only focus now.

Woo Ho-young trained relentlessly. Facing Gattuso was a daunting challenge, but he welcomed it.

"If I have the strength, I won't be pushed around."

Armed with talents ranging from Adriano's physical prowess to El Niño's line-breaking, Woo prepared to unleash everything in the second leg.

It was his chance to prove himself against the indomitable Gattuso.