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WTR-LABKaka Reborn, Starting in IstanbulCh. 65 / 11855.1%WebWeb+AI#65Chapter 65 The Southern King Attacks!!Chapter 65: The Southern King Strikes!!After finishing the match against Roma, the opponents for the remaining matches in January were all lower-tier League teams, and Carlo Ancelotti finally relented and put Kaka on the rotation list.On January 18th, in the 20th round of the League, Kaka sat securely on the bench, and Milan narrowly defeated Ascoli 1:0 at home relying on Andriy Shevchenko's header.Then for the 21st round away against Siena, Carlo Ancelotti left Kaka at the Milan training ground and took a semi-starting lineup to crush Siena 3:0, with Sheva, Alberto Gilardino, and Clarence Seedorf each scoring a goal.On the 23rd, the Italian football world's annual "Serie A Oscars" awards ceremony arrived, and Carlo Ancelotti attended with Kaka, Alberto Gilardino, and Dida.This award was hosted by the Italian Footballers' Association and voted on by all Serie A players to recognize the players' outstanding performances in the 04-05 season.Ultimately, the Best Player went to Kaka, the Best Italian Player was given to Alberto Gilardino, the Best Foreign Player went to Ibrahimović, Fabio Cannavaro won Best Defender, the Best Goalkeeper award was claimed by Dida, and the Best Coach was naturally Carlo Ancelotti, who led the team to the summit of Europe.In addition, Best Newcomer was given to Fiorentina youngster Pazzini, and Best Referee went to Collina.The Best Player didn't even come with any points. Kaka listlessly collected a rather mediocre award, and after returning from Roma, he immediately plunged into the next match!!The Serie A Professional League probably arranged the matches with their brains turned off; such a dense schedule was simply treating the players like beasts of burden!On January 26th, in the first leg of the Coppa Italia quarter-finals, AC Milan welcomed Palermo's challenge at home. To prevent the team from overturning in front of home fans, Carlo Ancelotti put Kaka on the substitute list.But Kaka did not get any playing time. The rhythm of the entire match was completely controlled by Milan, and Palermo's possession rate and shot count were pathetically low. However, Milan dominated possession without scoring, finally relying on Sheva's 87th-minute breakaway to clinch a dramatic victory over Palermo!In the few matches Kaka missed, Andriy Shevchenko performed exceptionally well, becoming the absolute hero in keeping the team's winning streak alive.After the first leg of the Coppa Italia quarter-finals, Sheva's agent stated during an interview program that Kaka's existence squeezed Andriy Shevchenko's development space and robbed Sheva of his opportunities, and now without Kaka, Andriy Shevchenko would still lead the team to victory!Milan fans naturally ruthlessly slammed this brainless remark, and Andriy Shevchenko also called Kaka that night to apologize, stating that he was unaware of his agent's words and actions.Kaka chose to forgive him, and the two chatted on the phone for quite a while. But after hanging up, Kaka looked at the Milan night sky outside the window, suddenly feeling a bit melancholy.Andriy Shevchenko was his good friend; the two had been close since Kaka came to AC Milan. Sheva was a chatterbox, while Kaka was a man of few words when he first arrived, and Sheva provided a lot of help for Kaka to quickly integrate into the team.But two tigers cannot share one mountain... The ball possession, authority, and even media exposure in a team are limited. His own outbreak meant that Sheva's opportunities were squeezed out, which was an inevitable matter.If he remembered correctly, Sheva would accept his Slavic fellow countryman's invitation to transfer from Milan to Chelsea at the end of this season. Sheva transferring was fine, but Kaka did not want two great friends to eventually part ways due to disputes over ball possession."It seems that in the subsequent matches, I need to give Sheva a few more assists. Although this kid didn't say it out of his mouth, he definitely has some opinions about me in his heart..."That kind of rhetoric claiming an agent's actions had nothing to do with the star himself was simply a carbon copy of "interns cannot represent the corporate image"? Who on earth would believe Sheva knew nothing about it.On January 29th, in the 22nd round of the League, Carlo Ancelotti substituted Kaka in at the 80th minute of the match to let him find his form. Finally, relying on Kaka's long-range shot in the 85th minute, the team defeated the visiting Sampdoria 2:1.Just two days later, on January 31st, in the second leg of the Coppa Italia quarter-finals, AC Milan traveled away to play Palermo once again.After half a month, Kaka returned to the starting lineup and took the field.In the 14th minute of the match, Kaka broke through from the left wing, cut inside the penalty area, and was brought down by a sliding tackle from behind by a Palermo defender. AC Milan won a penalty kick, and Sheva stepped up to convert it effortlessly.In the 25th minute of the match, Kaka received a lay-off from Serginho on the edge of the penalty area and fired a powerful shot straight through the goal, giving the team a 2:0 lead.Then in the 34th minute, it was again Kaka breaking through on the left flank, with Clarence Seedorf making a parallel forward run. The two executed a classic one-two passing combination, ending with Clarence Seedorf scoring another goal with a long-range shot, making it 3:0.In the final stage of the first half, Kaka received a long pass from Andrea Pirlo at the top of the arc, flicked it over the defending player with his heel, and then chipped a pass into the penalty area. Sheva met the ball and struck it fiercely, 4:0!Just at the start of the second half, Kaka, attempting to keep up the attack, was viciously tackled from behind and knocked over by a Palermo defensive midfielder right in the midfield position. The referee showed a red card to send the offender off. Although Kaka was fine, a panicked Carlo Ancelotti hurriedly substituted him off with Rui Costa.Neither team managed to score again in the remaining time, and the score finally settled at 4:0. Kaka contributed a goal and an assist while winning a penalty, Sheva scored a brace, and Clarence Seedorf added a goal with a long-range shot.AC Milan completed a 5:0 aggregate victory over Palermo, advancing to the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia.As time entered February, although Paolo Maldini's injury condition had improved, he had only resumed training with the team, and the team doctor did not allow him to participate in intense matches.Cafu had handled his family affairs and rushed back to the club from Brazil, and the team's defensive pressure finally lessened a bit.On February 5th, in the 23rd round of the League, AC Milan traveled away to challenge Lazio, and Cafu replaced Jaap Stam in the second half. The two teams performed evenly in this match; Kaka, Sheva, and Alberto Gilardino were all in very poor form. In the end, relying on substitute Filippo Inzaghi to score the team's only goal in the 77th minute, AC Milan narrowly escaped from Lazio unscathed.As the winning streak continued and Juventus relentlessly pursued, the team's fatigue rapidly accumulated at a speed visible to the naked eye. Although Carlo Ancelotti was trying hard to adjust and give players rotation and rest, the team's stunning performances across three fronts gave fans and the club's management illusions.The slogan of the treble was no longer just spread within Milan's small circle, but had become the ultimate goal of the entire Rossoneri. Whenever the team won another match, whether at home or away, the attending fans would excitedly display banners reading "Treble", as if the team had already secured these three trophies in their pockets!On February 8th, in the 24th round of the League, Kaka, Sheva, and Alberto Gilardino, who had been silent for a match, erupted completely in this game. Treviso, having come from afar, was simply extremely unlucky, getting ruthlessly pumped with five goals by the three furious attackers, and ultimately returning home in dejected defeat.Kaka had 2 goals and 1 assist, Andriy Shevchenko scored a brace, and Alberto Gilardino scored with a header!Three days later, in the 25th round of the League, the Milan Trio once again won 4:1 away against Reggina. In this match, Paolo Maldini returned from injury, Kaka achieved an assist hat-trick, and both Sheva and Alberto Gilardino scored braces.AC Milan sang all the way forward in the League, but Juventus, who had always been biting closely, was held to draws by Chievo and Parma respectively, instantly widening the points gap between the two teams to 6 points!It was just a bit of misfortune amidst joy that Andriy Shevchenko sprained his left ankle in the latter half of the match and had to withdraw injured, with his specific return time pending further examination.Five days later, in the 26th round of the League, because the match was followed by the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 against Bayern Munich, Carlo Ancelotti implemented a massive rotation to conserve energy and deal with Bayern. Except for Cafu and Maldini starting to find their form, all other starting players were rested. AC Milan welcomed Cagliari's challenge with a substitute lineup.Both teams played vigorously throughout the match, attacking and defending in a very lively manner. In the end, however, Filippo Inzaghi scored the only goal of the match, helping the team narrowly defeat Cagliari 1:0.Two days later, Milan's squad arrived in Germany by plane, where they would challenge the Bundesliga overlords — Bayern Munich!Problematic ad?Report it hereYou can disable popup ads by becoming a contributor. Become a contributorCh. 65 / 11855.1%Ch. 65 / 11855.1%ReadDisplaySettingsMoreWTR-LAB

v1.13.10

WTR-LABKaka Reborn, Starting in IstanbulCh. 66 / 11855.9%WebWeb+AI#66Chapter 66 Clumsy...Chapter 66: Clumsy...At this time, Bayern had not yet reached their peak level. Although they were still invincible in the League and were the undisputed overlord of the Bundesliga, on the European stage, Bayern Munich could no longer be considered a strong team.Bayern's resurgence might have to wait five or six years for that treble-winning Bayern team. With Robben and Ribéry flying on both flanks, Neuer guarding the goal, and Lahm orchestrating the defense, that Bayern team practically swept across Europe.Only now, Robben was still acting as a winger for Chelsea, and his strength was just at the level of a qualified starting rotation player.Ribéry played for Marseille in Ligue 1. At 22 years old, he could still be considered a youngster, and this season was also when the Frenchman began to make a name for himself.Neuer was the third-choice goalkeeper at Schalke 04, and was still far from his later strength. Although team captain Lahm was already in Bayern's squad at this time and was gradually securing his position as a starting defender, he was not yet the captain at this point.When they gathered at the Allianz Arena a few years later, that would be the time of Bayern's rise, or perhaps with Emperor Kaka suppressing them, Bayern's rise might have to wait several epochs!And the Bayern Munich that Kaka and the others had to face now was still the domestic-version Southern Star led by Ballack as the midfield core, alongside players like Kahn, Roy Makaay, Zé Roberto, and Sagnol.Although youngsters like Bastian Schweinsteiger were also in the matchday squad, it was difficult for them to get real playing opportunities in such Champions League matches.February 21st, Allianz Arena!The two teams lined up and entered the pitch. The exaggerated home advantage of the Southern Star was fully reflected the moment Milan's players walked onto the field.The deafening cheers and jeers almost drowned them out. Even the battle-hardened Kaka had his expression tightened under such an exaggerated wave of sound bombardment.The coin toss ended, the players of both teams retreated to their respective halves, and the match was on the verge of breaking out!Carlo Ancelotti still deployed a 4-3-1-2 formation for this match.Goalkeeper: DidaDefenders: Cafu, Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini, SerginhoMidfielders: Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Clarence SeedorfAttacking Midfielder: KakaForwards: Andriy Shevchenko and Alberto Gilardino...On the other side, Bayern Munich followed suit and also used a 4-3-1-2 formation.Goalkeeper: RensingDefenders: Sagnol, Lúcio, Valérien Ismaël, LahmMidfielders: Salihamidžić, Martín Demichelis, Zé RobertoAttacking Midfielder: Michael BallackForwards: Roy Makaay, Claudio PizarroMichael Ballack was undoubtedly the sole core of this Bayern, but neither his midfield teammates nor the forwards could clearly match Michael Ballack's attacking intensity.Martín Demichelis was essentially a defensive midfielder converted from a center-back. He had surplus defensive ability, but his ball distribution and escape abilities were worrisome. Aside from exerting effort on the defensive end, he could basically provide little support to Michael Ballack on the offensive end.Another midfield partner, Zé Roberto, was getting older, and both his competitive form and physical stamina inevitably declined. Although Sebastian Deisler on the bench was talented and received much attention from German football, he was long plagued by psychological and injury issues.As a result, Bayern's midfield with Michael Ballack acting as the attacking midfielder felt somewhat top-heavy.Meanwhile, although Roy Makaay and Claudio Pizarro scored goals like hemp in the League, once they reached the higher-intensity Champions League stage, their shortcomings of insufficient creativity would be infinitely magnified.Roy Makaay was a top-tier poacher, with extremely strong positioning and finishing abilities. Solely discussing his finishing standard at the final moment, he was even above Alberto Gilardino. However, his offense was extremely dependent on midfield support, and scoring goals required a large amount of service to sustain, mainly driven by "quantitative change leading to qualitative change."As for the other forward Claudio Pizarro, he was actually better at playing a supporting role to create chances for his front-court partner. Such a Bayern Munich with obvious weaknesses might be able to sing all the way in the Bundesliga by relying on Michael Ballack's star-power individual solutions, but arriving at the Champions League stage and encountering old hands with extremely high tactical literacy like AC Milan, it truly was like a crab meeting an experienced driver—a natural nemesis!As soon as the match started, AC Milan resolutely executed the head coach's strategy. Kaka retreated to actively participate in the midfield strangulation, using high-intensity pressing and interference to freeze Michael Ballack, Bayern's engine.Facing the gang-tackling of Kaka, Clarence Seedorf, Gennaro Gattuso, and Andrea Pirlo, Michael Ballack had no choice but to pass the ball back to organize.In the 7th minute of the match, Valérien Ismaël made a long pass from the backfield trying to find Michael Ballack. Kaka and Clarence Seedorf joined forces to intercept the ball. At this time, Kaka's position was in his own half. After receiving the ball, he quickly raised his head to look at the frontcourt, dribbling the ball and sprinting towards Bayern's left flank.Zé Roberto was growing old, a ready-made target and loophole; Kaka had no reason to let him go!"Clarence Seedorf's tough header competed for the ball, and the football was controlled by Kaka. Kaka advanced with the ball, choosing to challenge Bayern's left defensive line. Zé Roberto did not close in at the first moment, and Kaka accelerated!"With Kaka's speed ramped up, even a prime Zé Roberto would only be left eating his dust in front of him, let alone his current elderly limbs.Kaka flicked the ball past Roberto like a gust of wind, flashing past him. Zé Roberto, attempting a tactical foul, was dragged down to the ground. Kaka was merely pulled off balance, but the next moment his speed picked up again, fiercely rushing towards the frontcourt."A brilliant nutmeg, and the aging Zé Roberto was completely no match for Kaka. Lahm was retreating to maintain his defensive position while trying to use his body to block Kaka's cutting-inside angle!"Lahm at this period did not have the trustworthy defensive ability he had later—of course... even at his peak, he might not necessarily stop a charging Kaka!Kaka practically ground down Lahm step by step as Lahm retreated. Lúcio on the flank urgently followed the two, forming a double-zipper defense with Lahm, attempting to force Kaka towards the baseline.Kaka sprinted all the way, suddenly decelerating as he stepped into the penalty area, forcefully knocking the football with the heel of his right foot, darting past Lahm from behind like an agile snake before Lahm had time to brake.This was the signature stunt of the future Golden Ronaldo!The exaggerated stop-and-start rate shook Lahm's center of gravity to the ground, but Kaka's move was actually not very proficient. The force of his right foot was slightly too large, and the football was knocked to a position about two meters behind Valérien Ismaël. Ismaël only needed to turn around and fall to the ground to clear the ball away.Kaka thought the ball was going to be lost, and his foot speed subconsciously slowed down for a split second. Who would have thought that Valérien Ismaël would bring a future internet meme onto the pitch right in front of him."Aircraft carrier turning around!"Clumsy Valérien Ismaël!!Kaka actually poked the football a step ahead of Valérien Ismaël. The panicked Bayern center-back slid in to tackle while falling, but only managed to tackle Kaka's left heel.Kaka's body staggered forward. The referee's whistle was already in his mouth; as long as Kaka fell, this ball would undoubtedly be a penalty kick.But Kaka forcefully pushed off the turf with both hands, abruptly supporting his falling body into a semi-reclined position. Following the inertia of the fall, his left foot fiercely struck the football."Kaka, Kaka cuts inside! Amazing physical talent and center-of-gravity control ability. Lahm, who had a lower center of gravity, was completely crushed by Kaka in terms of adjustment speed! The ball was pushed a bit too far, Valérien Ismaël!! Turning—turning is too slow!!!!""Kaka was tackled, he didn't fall!!!""Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh!!!!!!""Kaka, Kaka! What goal! What goal!!!""Kaka's sweeping shot while losing his balance, substitute goalkeeper Rensing had no reaction at all! Kahn paid the price for his wild pre-match warm-up; if he hadn't been injured during the warm-up, perhaps he could still have blocked Kaka's tricky goal!!"Problematic ad?Report it hereYou can disable popup ads by becoming a contributor. Become a contributorCh. 66 / 11855.9%Ch. 66 / 11855.9%ReadDisplaySettingsMoreWTR-LAB

v1.13.10Kaka Reborn, Starting in Istanbul Chapter 66 - WTR-LAB

WTR-LABKaka Reborn, Starting in IstanbulCh. 67 / 11856.8%WebWeb+AI#67Chapter 67: A Fierce Kick to the Crippled Man's Lame Leg!!!Chapter 67: Kick the cripple's lame leg hard!!!Conceding a goal just seven minutes into the match, and a star-studded goal that dealt such a heavy blow to their morale—especially since Valérien Ismaël had picked up a yellow card for a tackle from behind—the faces of the Bayern players darkened instantly.Kaka rushed to the corner flag with a loud laugh, spreading his arms toward the excited AC Milan fans. Gennaro Gattuso and Sheva rushed over from behind together to tackle him to the ground, followed by the men's boring pile-up.The AC Milan fans traveling with the team in the stands had already gotten used to this kind of scene this season; they followed Kaka on away trips, watching Kaka take the pitch to the opposing home fans' jeers filling the sky, and then Kaka scoring, Kaka celebrating, Kaka piling on top of men...Ninety minutes later, it was yet another unpretentious victory!AC Milan fans' appetites had been spoiled by Kaka by now; goals like the one just now couldn't even make them cheer wildly, only reaching the point where they could clap and shout a couple of times.AC Milan fans humbly bragged: Sometimes Kaka being too strong is also a kind of trouble; we always have to keep shouting during every match, and by the time we finish watching the game and get home, our throats are so hoarse they're inflamed!Hahaha!...Kaka crawled out of the pile of people and walked toward the midfield with his arm around Gennaro Gattuso's shoulders, while Pirlo smiled and followed beside them while brushing back his long hair.Passing by a disgruntled Valérien Ismaël, Kaka couldn't help taking a couple of extra glances at him, causing Valérien Ismaël to snap back to his senses and glare fiercely at him.Kaka smiled mischievously and reached out to tug on Pirlo's jersey."Hey, Andrea, do you see that guy? The one who tackled me and got booked?"Pirlo turned back to glance at Valérien Ismaël, who was glaring viciously at them, and nodded."Saw him. The kid doesn't look convinced.""Hahaha, he'll be convinced in a bit. If Magath doesn't sub him off in the second half, I'll treat everyone to physical therapy when we get back.""It's a deal!"Pirlo patted Kaka's outstretched palm with interest, and Gennaro Gattuso also leaned over with great interest."So how are we going to beat him down? Give him another yellow card?"Kaka nodded thoughtfully."Makes sense. When I broke through just now, I found his turning speed appallingly slow. I suspect that during the time it takes him to turn around, I could fly back to AC Milan to take a nap and fly back again.""So...""Attack behind him!!! × 3"...The match resumed, and Bayern successfully organized a highly threatening attack. Michael Ballack was still locking horns in the center. In the semifinals of the Confederations Cup in June, Kaka had personally eliminated the Germany National Football Team led by Michael Ballack, making Michael Ballack cherish this opportunity for revenge all the more.Claudio Pizarro passed the ball to Martín Demichelis. Taking advantage of Kaka's inattention, Michael Ballack covertly gave him an elbow before quickly pulling away from Kaka.Martín Demichelis hurriedly passed the ball over. Instead of carrying it himself, Michael Ballack directly hit a long pass forward into the frontcourt with one kick.Valérien Ismaël surged forward along the left flank, received the ball transitioned by Claudio Pizarro, and crossed it into the box. Roy Makaay and Captain Maldini jumped up to contest the header.Captain Maldini got to the ball first with a header, but the clearance distance wasn't far, and the ball dropped near the penalty spot. Veteran Zé Roberto rushed over quickly and skied the shot ridiculously.Dida, lying flat on the goal line, let out a long sigh of relief. The very second Zé Roberto lifted his foot, he felt a chill down his crotch.Dida climbed up with lingering fear and reached out to touch his butt—It turned out to be sweat...From the AC Milan goal kick, Kaka directly abandoned his attacking midfielder position, instead standing almost on the same line as Sheva and Alberto Gilardino. Alberto Gilardino was on the left, Sheva in the center, and Kaka on the right. Not far ahead of Kaka was Valérien Ismaël, who had just sprinted back after pushing up to deliver a threatening assist.Dida threw the ball to Cafu. After passing the ball to Pirlo, Cafu quickly surged forward, successfully drawing Zé Roberto's attention. Pirlo advanced with the ball, glancing at Cafu's position from time to time.At the same time, Kaka kept moving. The moment Cafu's advancing position bypassed him and briefly drew Philipp Lahm's attention, he completely ignored Zé Roberto who had run up to his side, slammed his right foot into the ground, and dashed behind Valérien Ismaël.Simultaneously, Pirlo's long pass had already taken flight a step ahead, landing directly behind Valérien Ismaël.The same plot, the same movement, except this time the falling Valérien Ismaël didn't touch Kaka. Kaka extended his right foot to control the ball.Pirlo's long pass landed exceptionally comfortably. The football was touched by his right foot and obediently rolled toward the goal. Kaka suddenly took a step forward with his left foot, heavily planting it beside the football, and swung his right leg around like a long whip, fiercely striking the ball."Bayern Munich's attack didn't work out. Michael Ballack was surrounded and suppressed by AC Milan's midfield, unable to provide enough ammunition to the frontcourt players. For Bayern to rely on the full-backs pushing up to pierce through AC Milan's defensive line is extraordinarily difficult...""Dida kicks it out, Cafu surges forward. Oh? Kaka's strange positional choice—he's actually standing directly in the right winger position. Isn't this a bit too far forward?""A sudden burst! Pirlo!!!!! An accurate long pass. Valérien Ismaël—his turning flaw is simply too huge! Kaka shoots inside the penalty area!!!!""GOAL!!!!!!!!!"A fluid attack like pouring mercury: Cafu's simple forward run pulled Lahm away, Zé Roberto's speed simply couldn't keep up with Kaka's explosion, and then Pirlo's long pass hit behind Valérien Ismaël, ruthlessly exploiting the loophole of his slow turnaround!Kick the cripple's lame leg hard!!!In the 16th minute of the match, AC Milan 2: 0 Bayern Munich!Returning to the half again, with Kaka setting an example twice in a row, Sheva and Alberto Gilardino's gazes toward Valérien Ismaël also began to look a bit strange.If we had known this guy was slow to turn, couldn't we have attacked him too?As center-forwards, the explosive power of the two of them wasn't much weaker than Kaka's. With Pirlo's precise long passes, attacking Valérien Ismaël, who turned like an aircraft carrier, shouldn't be a problem, right?But obviously, with Kaka on the pitch, it wasn't their turn yet to reap the benefits!In the 32nd minute of the match, taking advantage of his teammate's cooperation, Michael Ballack finally got a long-range shot opportunity at the edge of the penalty area. Unfortunately, his long-range shot was easily collected by a highly concentrated Dida, followed by this match's classic routine—Cafu surges forward, Kaka sprints, Pirlo passes long!Only this time Lahm wised up; he didn't mark Cafu going down the flank, but instead closely followed Kaka who was cutting inside.Unfortunately, Pirlo's long pass wasn't looking for Kaka directly, but instead found Cafu on the baseline!After receiving the ball, Cafu sprinted wildly along the baseline. Lahm hesitated for a split second, gritted his teeth, and rushed over to block, and then...Cafu passed the ball back to Kaka's feet. Kaka executed consecutive left-right-left feints and flashed past Valérien Ismaël with a burst of acceleration.When AC Milan attacked Valérien Ismaël's slow turn, it didn't just mean his turn was slow when guarding against long passes behind him; facing Kaka's head-on powerful breakthrough, that turning speed couldn't get fast either!Now inside the penalty area, Kaka rushed past Valérien Ismaël. Lúcio blocked the shooting and passing angles head-on, and Michael Ballack lunged over from behind him. Kaka didn't choose to force a shot, but instead nudged the ball aside and quickly dribbled horizontally.Then he saw Lúcio sliding in fiercely ahead, and also heard Sheva's terrified scream from his side, and then...A sharp pain came from his shin guards, and Kaka flew into the air!Problematic ad?Report it hereYou can disable popup ads by becoming a contributor. Become a contributorCh. 67 / 11856.8%Ch. 67 / 11856.8%ReadDisplaySettingsMoreWTR-LAB

v1.13.10Kaka Reborn, Starting in Istanbul Chapter 66 - WTR-LAB

WTR-LABKaka Reborn, Starting in IstanbulCh. 68 / 11857.6%WebWeb+AI#68Chapter 68 Injured and DepartedChapter 68: Injured and Forced OffLúcio, sliding in from the front, didn't touch Kaka because Kaka flew past him lying sideways.However, on the pitch, apart from Kaka's screams, Lúcio's own screams were actually even louder.Infuriated by embarrassment, Valérien Ismaël lost his head the moment Kaka brushed past him. Due to the delays caused by Michael Ballack and Lúcio, he chased after Kaka just before the latter could take a shot, followed by a vicious sliding tackle from behind.The unreserved studs landed heavily on Kaka's calf, and the enormous kinetic energy directly sent Kaka flying into the air. Then, Valérien Ismaël's right foot, unable to pull back in time, kicked heavily into Lúcio's stomach."Beep! Beep beep beep beep!!!!!"Kaka was viciously brought down, and the AC Milan players instantly flew into a rage. Cafu and Sheva, who had witnessed the whole thing firsthand, rushed furiously toward Valérien Ismaël, who was just getting back up. The referee blew his whistle frantically while grabbing the rushing Andriy Shevchenko, and then Cafu, whom no one stopped, grabbed Valérien Ismaël by the neck.Meanwhile, Gennaro Gattuso, Alessandro Nesta, and Paolo Maldini arrived at the scene one after another. If Bayern's players hadn't arrived in time, Valérien Ismaël would have been torn apart alive by this group right on the spot!Kaka had never felt such intense pain before. He was completely sure and certain that something was wrong with his left ankle—at the very least, it was a fracture—because he didn't even dare to make the slightest movement now, and the excruciating pain caused cold sweat to stream down his forehead.AC Milan's team doctors rushed up in a panic, but the moment they removed Kaka's hands, unbuttoned his football socks, and saw Kaka's ankle, they couldn't help but gasp in unison.In just this short moment, Kaka's ankle had already swollen up, and the spot directly tackled by Valérien Ismaël was bruised and purple. The team doctor immediately used a freezing spray for a simple treatment and then frantically signaled for the stretcher to come onto the pitch.Carlo Ancelotti, watching the whole process from the sidelines, saw the team doctor's gesture and couldn't help feeling a blackness before his eyes, followed by monstrous fury.Kaka was carried off the pitch on a stretcher, and AC Milan fans in the stands rioted. Countless pieces of trash were hurled toward the Bayern Munich fans' gathering area and the substitutes' bench, and some fans even got into physical altercations with the German fans.Valérien Ismaël on the pitch was finally rescued by his teammates and the referee from the hands of several fierce AC Milan tough guys. There were several clear finger marks on his neck; in order to avenge his little brother, Cafu hadn't held back at all this time.The Bayern players and AC Milan players were at daggers drawn. The referee had to pull out cards repeatedly to prevent this Champions League knockout match from turning into a boxing match.Valérien Ismaël's malicious foul earned him a straight red card and expulsion from the pitch. Two Bayern staff members guarded this guy tightly to prevent him from being smashed to death by beer cans thrown by the fans.Cafu also received a red card for standing up for Kaka. Gennaro Gattuso used fierce language against the referee and happily picked up a yellow card. Alessandro Nesta participated in the conflict and escalated the situation, also receiving a yellow card. Meanwhile, Sheva, who was the first to prepare for battle, was held back by the referee, but his violent struggle still earned him a yellow card.Paolo Maldini was slightly more rational and managed not to let the referee see when he made his move; otherwise, AC Milan's defense might have been completely wiped out in a single conflict.Bayern Munich didn't get off easy either. The injury-causing Valérien Ismaël was sent off, Lúcio—who was accidentally injured by his teammate—was carried off on a stretcher, and Michael Ballack and Lahm confronted the AC Milan players to protect their teammates. The referee distributed punishments equally, giving each of them a yellow card.Nursing his anger, Sheva blasted the penalty kick—earned at the cost of Kaka's severe injury—into the back of the net. Goalkeeper Michael Rensing only symbolically reached out a hand before giving up on the save.After the match restarted, none of the players on the pitch had any desire to play football anymore. On AC Milan's side, everyone was worried about Kaka's injury and had no heart left for the pitch; on Bayern's side, the players didn't want their careers ended by the furious Milanese because of Valérien Ismaël's mistake.Didn't you see that even Clarence Seedorf, who usually had a good temper, viciously tackled Michael Ballack right after kickoff? Even though he was shown a yellow card by the referee, his gaze toward the Bayern players was still filled with hostility.That was blatant revenge!Consequently, neither side had any desire to play football anymore. Just five minutes into the second half, Gennaro Gattuso brought down the advancing Michael Ballack from behind, earning his second yellow card and turning it into a red to gloriously graduate from the pitch.Then, under Michael Ballack's organization, Bayern Munich scored a goal through Roy Makaay in the 71st minute. The 3:1 scoreline was maintained until the end, and AC Milan left Bayern Munich with a huge advantage of 3 away goals and a two-goal lead.However, neither the players nor the fans could feel happy at all in their hearts.As soon as the match ended, the maliciously injuring Valérien Ismaël faced severe condemnation from major media outlets.The Italian media called him a butcher and a murderer, and some extremist fans even called him a Nazi, issuing death threats to Valérien Ismaël and his family.The German media and media from other countries also overwhelmingly criticized Valérien Ismaël's barbaric actions. For a time, this French center-back faced universal condemnation.Under heavy pressure, the Frenchman finally cracked and issued a public apology on social media, but the fans didn't buy it at all. There were even AC Milan fans in Germany who were arrested by the police for dumping feces at his doorstep.In response, the Munich police also appealed to fans to remain calm and not bring grievances from the pitch off it, and then the Munich police station was also splashed with feces that very night.On the other side, Kaka was rushed to the Affiliated Hospital of the University of Munich at the first possible moment. In the ambulance heading to the hospital, Kaka endured the pain and opened the system."System, check personal panel!"[Received!][Player: Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite (Kaka)]Nationality: BrazilAge: 24 (1982)Preferred Foot: Right footSpeed: 94 (Locked)Shooting: 91 (Locked)Passing: 91 (Locked)Dribbling: 95 (Locked)Defense: 75 (Locked)Physical: 80 (-10) (Locked)Football IQ: 93Status: Moderate injury! (Fatigued, mild wear and tear on the left knee meniscus, Grade II sprain of the left ankle, partial ligament tear, estimated recovery time — 2 weeks!)Available Points: 78]"Hoo..."Kaka let out a long breath.Fortunately, it wasn't a major injury that required using physical therapy. It seemed that wearing thickened shin guards before every match was definitely the right choice.Judging by the severe pain coming from his calf area when he was injured just now, Kaka had reason to suspect that if he had used the thin shin guards he used to habitually wear for this match, Valérien Ismaël's blow might well have snapped his left leg!Now, the greatest misfortune among misfortunes was that it was only a Grade II sprain and a minor ligament tear, and he could recover after resting for about two weeks.Of course, it would also work if Kaka used physical therapy to directly purify the injury. However, doing so would create a problem: on the one hand, there was no way to explain it to his teammates—was he supposed to tell them he had a natural constitution and healed quickly after getting hurt?On the other hand, once he spent those 50 points right now, if another injury occurred in the upcoming schedule, that would be a huge disaster.Problematic ad?Report it hereYou can disable popup ads by becoming a contributor. Become a contributorCh. 68 / 11857.6%Ch. 68 / 11857.6%ReadDisplaySettingsMoreWTR-LAB

v1.13.10Kaka Reborn, Starting in Istanbul Chapter 66 - WTR-LAB

WTR-LABKaka Reborn, Starting in IstanbulCh. 69 / 11858.5%WebWeb+AI#69Chapter 69 The System Causes TroubleChapter 69: The System is Stirring Up TroubleAt the University Hospital of Munich, Kaka had just stepped out of the examination room, and Cafu and Gennaro Gattuso, who had left the pitch first, rushed over shortly after.The moment he saw the two of them by his hospital bed, Kaka darkened his face and said, "Rino, Rafael Márquez, don't tell me both of you got sent off..."Hearing this, Gennaro Gattuso and Cafu both waved their hands dismissively."These are just minor matters; it's a pity we couldn't avenge you. Let's not talk about that for now, how is your injury? Are the test results out?"The anxious expressions of the two warmed Kaka's heart, and he puckered his lips to signal the team staff member who had been following him all along.The next moment, the medical report appeared in Gennaro Gattuso's hands."Grade II sprain of the left ankle, partial ligament tear... Whew... Thank goodness, you brat screamed so miserably, I thought your leg was broken! How long did the doctor say it would take to recover?"Kaka rolled his eyes speechlessly."Rino, trust me, with that kind of pain just now, you'd scream too if you took that hit. It will recover in about two weeks, and I should be able to make it in time for the second leg against Bayern.""Hey, forget about the match, just focus on healing well. The team currently holds a two-goal lead and three away goals, so advancing to the next round won't be difficult.""Then I'll take your word for it."The three of them chatted and laughed for a while, and then the entire AC Milan team arrived at the hospital led by Carlo Ancelotti.Ancelotti's usually calm face was filled with worry, and his first reaction upon rushing into the ward was to look at the expressions of the three. Seeing that they were all smiling, he finally breathed a slight sigh of relief."Kaka, how is your injury?"Gennaro Gattuso handed the report to Carlo Ancelotti, who read it word for word before passing it on to Sheva and the others."Thank goodness, Kaka, the injury is not very serious and won't affect your career."Ancelotti pursed his lips with lingering fear."I will contact the boss and have him arrange a private jet to pick us back up. Once we return, just focus on your recovery and leave the team's results to us. As for Valérien Ismaël, I will report him to UEFA and make sure that butcher pays the price!""Alright!"Kaka nodded in agreement. The original Kaka was religious, talking about God and redemption, but the current Kaka didn't buy into that nonsense; he wasn't magnanimous enough to easily forgive someone who intentionally injured others.He was one hundred percent sure that Valérien Ismaël was aiming to ruin him; otherwise, even with a tackle from behind, it wouldn't have been directed straight at the calf.Someone had to deal with such a villain, otherwise goodness knows how many more people would get hurt.Silvio Berlusconi acted very quickly, and the private jet he dispatched soon brought the team back to Milan. When they arrived at the airport, Milan fans who had heard the news surrounded the airport completely.Carlo Ancelotti had no choice but to temporarily communicate with the airport authorities and hold a brief press conference on the spot.Upon learning that Kaka's injury wasn't serious and that he would recover in about two weeks, the fans' initial worries eased slightly.After arriving in Milan, Kaka was directly sent to a rehabilitation facility partnered with AC Milan for recuperation. Bosco and Simone rushed to Milan by noon the next day, and only felt relieved when they saw that their son was truly fine.Over the next two days, Kaka successively dismissed friends and opponents who came to visit him. Even Monica, who had only collaborated with him once, made a trip amidst her busy schedule, staying for only twenty minutes before hurrying off to her commercial pursuits.Having sent away everyone who came to visit, Kaka finally calmed down and decided to claim the rewards for this period first. The last settlement was after round 17 of the League against Livorno, and the next match was round 18 of the League against Parma!"System, settle the match against Parma."[The host scored 1 goal in this match, points + 1][The host provided 2 assists in this match, points + 2][Current point balance: 80]"Settle the rewards for the match against Brescia."[The host scored 2 goals in this match, points + 2][The host provided 2 assists in this match, points + 2][Current point balance: 84]"Settle the rewards for the match against Roma."[The host scored 1 goal in this match, points + 1][The host provided 2 assists in this match, points + 2][Current point balance: 87]"Settle the rewards for the match against Sampdoria."[The host scored 1 goal in this match, points + 1][Current point balance: 88]"Settle the rewards for the match against Palermo."[The host scored 1 goal in this match, points + 1][The host provided 1 assist in this match, points + 1][Current point balance: 90]"Settle the rewards for the match against Treviso."[The host scored 2 goals in this match, points + 2][The host provided 1 assist in this match, points + 1][Current point balance: 93]"Settle the rewards for the match against Reggina."[The host provided 3 assists in this match, points + 3][The host completed an assist hat-trick, points + 1][Current point balance: 97]"Settle the rewards for the match against Bayern Munich."[The host scored 2 goals in this match, points + 4][Current point balance: 101]"That's not right!"Kaka's originally calm expression suddenly changed as he stared in surprise at the settlement interface for the match against Bayern. Two goals gave four points? That's too many!"The points for goals and assists in the Champions League knockout stage have increased, becoming two points rewarded for a single goal!"When he first got the system during the Miracle of Istanbul, he scored a goal himself and the system rewarded him with 2 points, but this season's Champions League group stage goals and assists were both worth 1 point.Kaka had thought that only the Champions League final would award 2 points per goal. Now it seemed that as long as it entered the Champions League knockout stage, it would become 2 points per goal.Blissful!Just as Kaka was feeling pleased with himself, the system's prompt tone began to ring again.[Unsettled rewards detected for the host. Settle immediately?]"There are still rewards? Settle them!"Kaka thought about it and couldn't remember which match he had missed, but since the system said so, he might as well settle it.[The host won the 2005 Ballon d'Or, points + 50][The host won the 2005 FIFA World Player of the Year, points + 20][Current available points for the host: 171]...[Detected that the host's points have broken one hundred for the first time, the newcomer support plan has officially ended...][...][Mall prices have returned to normal...]"Hey! Wait a minute, what newcomer support plan? What do you mean by mall prices returning to normal?"An ominous premonition welled up in his heart. Kaka gave a start all over and quickly shouted in his mind."System, I want one comprehensive body therapy, one exclusive reinforcement for penalty box shots, and one exclusive reinforcement for curling passes, hurry up!!!!!!"But the system remained completely unmoved. A moment later, the sickening system notification tone arrived.[Mall price adjustment completed, please go and check, host!]Kaka muttered Wuliang Tianzun under his breath, tremblingly opened the system mall, and then couldn't help cursing out loud."Damn it! You scoundrel merchant!"Problematic ad?Report it hereYou can disable popup ads by becoming a contributor. Become a contributorCh. 69 / 11858.5%Ch. 69 / 11858.5%ReadDisplaySettingsMoreWTR-LAB

v1.13.10Kaka Reborn, Starting in Istanbul Chapter 66 - WTR-LAB

WTR-LABKaka Reborn, Starting in IstanbulCh. 70 / 11859.3%WebWeb+AI#70Chapter 70 The Shady Merchant!Chapter 70: Profiteer!Kaka looked at the drastically changed prices in the system mall and felt like crying without tears. Had he known that this damned system would pull some newbie support plan, he wouldn't have been so stingy about saving his points.How great it would have been if he had used all of them early on to purchase specialized enhancements. Instead... compared to how a single previous purchase could enhance an entire system's ability, the current specialized enhancements were simply trash!The price of a full-body comprehensive physical therapy session skyrocketed from 50 points to 99 points. This wasn't even what pained Kaka the most; although 99 points was a lot, given his points acquisition rate this season, it actually didn't put him under much pressure.But compared to the price change of physical therapy, the changes in the specialized enhancement aspect were the most ruthless.The previous modules that only distinguished between broad categories like shooting, dribbling, free kicks, and passing had disappeared, replaced by two completely new modules.Skill Module and Hardware Module.The price for purchasing the Skill Module once remained the same as before, still 50 points per purchase, but the types of subordinate commodities were strictly refined. They were all signature skills of world-famous football stars or some very practical football techniques.Kaka scrolled through the list with a bitter face, as one resounding skill after another presented itself before him.Beckham's crescent moon curved blade, Zidane's volley from the heavens, Gabriel Batistuta's super heavy artillery, Klinsmann's aerial bombardment, Juninho's falling leaf ball. Aside from these stars' signature skills, there were also outside-of-the-foot shots, scalpel-like through balls, rolling curved passes, low-altitude rockets (ground-skimming shots), and various other shooting and passing skills.Of course these skills were extremely tempting, and each of them was an ability football players dreamed of. But compared to the situation before, where enhancing a single shooting attribute allowed him to master the outside-of-the-foot shot, heavy artillery, and curving ball all at once, Kaka felt so wronged that he wanted to cry.But the Skill Module was already considered decent; at least it hadn't gone up in price. Meanwhile, the price of the other Hardware Module, which was split from the previous exclusive enhancement section, had surged to 99 points per purchase, matching physical therapy.But he had to admit... the subordinate enhancements of the Hardware Module... were truly enticing...Golden Left Foot!Ambidextrous!King of Cardiopulmonary!Human Tank!Born Leader!Just hearing the names of these physical enhancements made them sound insanely strong, especially Kaka's favorites, Ambidextrous and King of Cardiopulmonary!This was a solid enhancement at the level of physical talent. Although Kaka was not a purely two-footed player, compared to his mastery of shooting and passing with his right foot, his left foot's ability was still quite a bit worse.Previously, after Carlo Ancelotti gave him the tactical role of a frontcourt free agent, it was precisely because of his lacking left-foot ability that Kaka had to primarily rely on the right flank for his breakthroughs on the wings.Because in terms of breakthroughs on the left flank, whether he wanted to cut inside to shoot or cross from the baseline, he needed one extra adjustment step at the final moment to shift the ball to a position suited for his right foot.And in battles against top-tier formidable teams, this final adjustment step easily gave defensive players an opportunity to disrupt him.Once he solved the problem of his relatively deficient left-foot ability, Kaka would truly become a frontcourt free agent in the real sense. Because at that time, he wouldn't have any so-called frontcourt sweet spots; he would be able to pose an effective threat to the opponent's goal from almost every position near the penalty area.Speaking of King of Cardiopulmonary! Without a doubt, it was a divine skill for sprinting and protracted battles!!Although Kaka's current playing style no longer purely relied on long-distance breakthroughs, his demand for instant physical explosive power far exceeded that of the original Kaka. Moreover, such frequent sudden stops and starts inevitably brought a heavy load to his legs themselves as well as consuming his stamina.If he had the King of Cardiopulmonary enhancement, Kaka would possess the ability to attack uninterrupted throughout the entire match.A Beckham with Kaka's current offensive ability and no weaker foot... that mental image was simply too beautiful to imagine.The rest of the physical enhancements were also insanely tempting!Human Tank: Kaka's breakthrough ability in the frontcourt would receive unprecedented enhancement, but it could basically be estimated that if he chose this enhancement, Kaka might have to transition from an elegant playing style to a brutal one. The Prince of Milan turning into the Butcher of Milan was somewhat unappealing...Regarding this choice that affected his good looks, Kaka decided to wait and see for a bit longer before making a decision.After all, goals were goals, but being handsome was a lifelong matter that allowed for no carelessness.Of course Kaka also wanted Born Leader, but deep down he wasn't very used to being a leader. Compared to a team captain who had to personally handle everything, Kaka felt that it was fine for him to just be a retired emperor.Lying on the hospital bed, he took a deep breath, and the depressed mood in Kaka's heart slowly dissipated. Although the system had suddenly turned into a profiteer, to be honest, it was still quite generous in terms of point rewards. Even though the prices were expensive now, he actually wasn't unable to afford them."Damn!"Kaka could only comfort himself this way; he couldn't just one-click uninstall the great system. Although his current strength was already enough to dominate the football world, with his style of playing that ruthlessly worked his body to the bone, without the system's full-body therapy, he was afraid that within two or three seasons he would repeat the tragic fate of the original timeline's Kaka.His current point balance was 171 points. The rewards for the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year were indeed generous. It's just that compared to the Ballon d'Or, the FIFA World Player of the Year, which contained favor-based and popularity-based votes, was slightly weaker in gold content, but it was undoubtedly still a top-tier individual honor in the football world.It was a pity that the system was unwilling to treat them equally, and Kaka himself had no other way.Since he had 171 points, Kaka flipped through the system mall in his mind, wondering if he should buy something first to secure it and provide a safety net, lest the system raise prices again by the end of the season.But after careful consideration, Kaka ultimately did not make a direct purchase.Physical therapy wasn't urgent; his current injury could heal in two weeks, and his previously refurbished body had a pretty fast recovery speed. He would wait until all matches this season were over and they entered the offseason before using physical therapy, to prevent premature refurbishment and instances of getting injured right upon taking the field.As for skills... the team's overall strength was currently decent, and his own abilities were completely sufficient. Kaka was still planning to wait until the offseason to make corresponding supplements based on the team's roster changes.It was foreseeable that once Sheva joined Chelsea at the end of this season, the team's frontcourt firepower would definitely drop by a notch. Coupled with the group of old timers in the backline aging another year, and the impact of the Calciopoli scandal on the team... next season's challenges for Kaka would not be small."Good steel should be used on the blade's edge!"Having made his decision, Kaka honestly stayed in Milan to recuperate in peace for the next two weeks, at most taking time out to handle his commercial invitations and investment affairs, living an exceptionally comfortable overall life.This could also be considered a simple rest period during a long season.And during the days when he was recovering from his injury, AC Milan's battles continued unceasingly.Problematic ad?Report it hereYou can disable popup ads by becoming a contributor. Become a contributorCh. 70 / 11859.3%Ch. 70 / 11859.3%ReadDisplaySettingsMoreWTR-LAB

v1.13.10Kaka Reborn, Starting in Istanbul Chapter 66 - WTR-LAB

WTR-LABKaka Reborn, Starting in IstanbulCh. 71 / 11860.2%WebWeb+AI#71Chapter 71 A Camp Full of Wounded SoldiersChapter 71: Plagued by InjuriesFirst, on February 26th, in the 27th round of the League, the team defeated Palermo 2–0 away from home, securing their 26th victory of the League season, with Andriy Shevchenko and Pirlo each scoring a goal for the team.Then, on March 5th, hosting the visiting Empoli, the team defeated their opponents 3–0 thanks to Clarence Seedorf's brace and Alberto Gilardino's header.In the two matches without Kaka, AC Milan achieved clean and decisive victories, which relieved the fans who had been worried that Kaka's absence would cause the team's record to collapse.However, as the season entered its latter half, the problem of AC Milan's aging defense began to be fully exposed, and the shadow of injuries once again loomed over AC Milan.In the match against Palermo, Cafu felt soreness in his knee just as the second half began. After Ancelotti substituted him off, the Brazilian was sent straight to the hospital. Following a detailed examination, it was confirmed to be a recurrence of his knee injury. Counting this match, Cafu had only played three games since his comeback before being sidelined by injury once again.This knee injury was exceptionally serious, reaching the point where surgery was unavoidable. The next day, Cafu flew back to Brazil for the operation, taking the opportunity to also resolve his long-standing issues with nasal obstruction and chronic tonsillitis. With three surgeries combined, his earliest possible return date would be in early April.That was not all. During the pre-match training against Empoli, AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini once again felt discomfort in his Achilles tendon. Achilles issues had plagued him for several seasons, causing him to play intermittently over the past two years. Even though he was the defensive pillar of the team, the team could not possibly let him play through injury.In addition, Dida had also sprained his ankle in the match against Palermo and sat on the bench against Empoli, and it was uncertain whether he could return for the next match.Massimo Ambrosini had not yet recovered from a muscle strain, Jaap Stam was out long-term with ankle and calf injuries, Andriy Shevchenko suffered from Achilles pain and barely managed to persevere through matches while his form was inevitably affected, Serginho was gritting it out despite injuries, and Clarence Seedorf had pulled his thigh...Looking at the team's long injury list, Ancelotti felt his heart sink by half.Because next up was the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 against Bayern Munich, and the team's defense was almost completely wiped out. Clarence Seedorf was out injured, while Gennaro Gattuso and Cafu were suspended due to red cards. Although Cafu wouldn't have been able to play even without the suspension, it was indeed a bit exaggerated that almost none of the team's starting mid-to-backfield players were left.Only Pirlo was still barely holding strong, but relying solely on him left Ancelotti with zero confidence for the second leg a few days later.Although the team's mainstay Kaka was recovering well, whether he could actually play against Bayern Munich still required a detailed pre-match evaluation to confirm. Coupled with Sheva up front playing through injury, and Alberto Gilardino who wasn't very healthy either...AC Milan entering March was simply a massive infirmary.The Italian and German media also began to talk down AC Milan one after another. Even before the second leg on March 8th, when the official AC Milan website announced that Kaka had entered the team's matchday squad and would appear in the second half, the media still didn't quite believe that Milan could get the better of Bayern by relying solely on Kaka, who had just recovered from injury, and a bunch of wounded soldiers.Although because Milan held a two-goal lead and three away goals advantage, the possibility of them being overturned and eliminated by Bayern Munich was still very small, there was no lack of people talking down this injury-plagued Milan.After all, it wasn't like AC Milan had never experienced being staged a comeback against when holding a massive advantage. In the Champions League quarter-finals two seasons ago, after winning the first leg 4–1 against Deportivo, they suffered a 0–4 away defeat in the second leg, making a complete and utter mess of things for everyone to see.Had it not been for Kaka's arrival reversing Liverpool, another such humiliating comeback defeat would have been added to AC Milan's record books.That's the downside of having many veterans in the team squad: in the early-to-mid season, they could rely on the old guys' experience to leave the rest in the dust, but once the injury wave struck in the latter half of the season, it became extremely easy for the team to collapse at critical moments, especially since the latter half of the season was packed with important matches.AC Milan was like this, and Arsenal later on was too, though Arsenal's situation was caused by their owner being too stingy and their bench squad being too rubbish....On March 8th, at San Siro Stadium in Milan, for the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16, AC Milan welcomed the challenge of Bayern Munich at home.Kaka was re-evaluated before the match, and Milan Lab confirmed that Kaka's injury had completely recovered. The host's status in the system also showed that aside from normal physical wear and tear, Kaka was not injured. Ancelotti felt as though he had grasped a lifesaver and quickly placed Kaka on the substitute list.Because of the team lineup announced by Milan before the match, the Bayern players, whose hearts had previously sunk by half, rekindled their hope. The travelling fans of the Southern Star in the North Stand were aggressive and imposing, even shouting slogans of overturning the deficit to advance.A distressed Ancelotti still deployed a 4-4-2 formation. The starting Rui Costa and the substitute Kaka both returned to midfield positions. The team no longer set up a single attacking midfielder for this match, because Ancelotti was deathly afraid that a midfield without Gennaro Gattuso and Clarence Seedorf would be completely penetrated by Bayern; Costa and Kaka had to provide defensive support for the team.Goalkeeper: Željko KalacDefenders: Šimić, Nesta, Kakha Kaladze, SerginhoMidfielders: Rui Costa, Pirlo, Johann Vogel, JankulovskiForwards: Andriy Shevchenko, Alberto GilardinoOn Bayern's side, due to Valérien Ismaël's red card suspension, Bixente Lizarazu replaced him in the starting lineup, youngster Bastian Schweinsteiger replaced Hasan Salihamidžić to start, Sebastian Deisler also started, and Zé Roberto dropped back to play as left-back.Goalkeeper: Oliver KahnDefenders: Willy Sagnol, Lúcio, Bixente Lizarazu, Zé RobertoMidfielders: Bastian Schweinsteiger, Martín Demichelis, Michael Ballack, Sebastian DeislerForwards: Claudio Pizarro, Roy Makaay.As soon as the match started, the battle between the two teams entered a white-hot stage. Because of the grievances from the first leg, the players on the field didn't hold back with their challenges. Within just five minutes, Nesta had already received a yellow card, and Bayern's Lúcio was also yellow-carded by the referee.Ancelotti stood on the touchline with a frown, waving repeatedly to signal Nesta to control his emotions. Right now, Nesta was the most reliable defensive pillar on the pitch; if he were to be sent off too early, this match would become even harder to play.In the 22nd minute, lacking the midfield lockdown of Kaka, Clarence Seedorf, and Gennaro Gattuso, Michael Ballack successfully broke through the pressing of the aging Rui Costa, rapidly advancing into the attacking third. Facing Kakha Kaladze, he shimmied to clear a shooting angle before decisively unleashing a long-range shot. Željko Kalac went down to make the save but unfortunately spilled the ball, and Bixente Lizarazu leaned against Nesta—who didn't dare to exert full force—to poke home the rebound.Bayern 1–0 AC Milan, aggregate score 2–3.The Bayern players, having scored a goal, seemed pumped full of adrenaline, playing with even greater initiative and intensity afterwards. Youngster Bastian Schweinsteiger took what he wanted on the left wing against Rui Costa, successfully breaking through to the baseline several times in a row. Milan's goal looked precarious as they barely managed to maintain the 1–0 scoreline until halftime. Right at the start of the second half, Sheva collapsed to the ground in pain during a breakthrough, and Ancelotti on the sidelines could no longer sit still.Substitutions!In the 56th minute, Kaka substituted for Rui Costa, Massimo Ambrosini substituted for the injured Andriy Shevchenko, and Filippo Inzaghi substituted for the out-of-form Alberto Gilardino.Problematic ad?Report it hereYou can disable popup ads by becoming a contributor. Become a contributorCh. 71 / 11860.2%Ch. 71 / 11860.2%ReadDisplaySettingsMoreWTR-LAB

v1.13.10Kaka Reborn, Starting in Istanbul Chapter 66 - WTR-LAB

Chapter 1829 - gg