Robben pretended to be nonchalant, enduring the pain, walking proudly past Tang Long.
But as soon as he reached the corner of the players' tunnel at Allianz Arena, his true condition was revealed, reverting to his painful deanor. Leaning against the wall, he hobbled with difficulty into the locker room.
Sure enough, as soon as he sat down and took off his shoes and socks, he saw his toe was bruised, the black blood had already coagulated between his toes, and the entire nail was ruined.
Muller, Neuer, Vidal, and the others gathered around in surprise, asking him what happened.
Robben grimaced, "Tang is really ruthless. To those who know, it looks like I kicked his foot; to those who don't, they'd think I kicked a rock. His bones are really hard!"
Hearing this, Bayern's players were all worried.
They watched as the team doctor continuously applied pain relief to Robben, first gently applying an ice pack to try and reduce the swelling, followed by using a freezing spray, but none of them were sure about its effectiveness.
After all, throughout the first half, Robben was Bayern's most threatening attacking weapon on the flanks and the most dangerous scoring point on the front line.
If Robben is substituted due to injury, the second half will be hard to play.
Although they leveled the score, they are still one goal behind Manchester City on aggregate!
Vidal recalled that tackle from Tang Long that took out Robben and couldn't help but admire:
"Honestly, that tackle was spot on—fast, accurate, and ruthless. It was a very successful defense; seems like we underestimated him."
Vidal, who played for Juventus in Serie A, knew that in Italy, where defense is revered, every coach demands high defensive abilities from players, whether forwards or defenders, and the primary task is defense.
Vidal, possessing excellent defensive skills himself, naturally recognized the defensive prowess Tang Long showed in this match.
However, when faced with Ancelotti's inquiry, Robben was unusually determined, refusing to be substituted.
"What's a little injury like this? A minor wound won't take off the line! Though I'm hurting, I gave Tang a rough ti too, so it's even, one for one!"
The 15-minute halfti break passed in the blink of an eye.
Tang Long and Robben walked out of the player tunnel simultaneously, coincidentally eting face to face.
"Is your foot okay?" Robben asked with a slight smirk and a barely noticeable provocation.
He even jumped on the spot a few tis, stretching his limbs, trying to show Tang Long that he was still full of energy.
Tang Long understood Robben's intention, smiled slightly, and calmly replied, "I'm fine too, in great shape."
In fact, in the locker room, he also received ergency treatnt from the team doctor, easing the stabbing pain a bit.
"Alright, let's continue in the second half!" Robben gritted his teeth, turned first, and strode towards the pitch with an indomitable spirit.
Tang Long watched, his own blood boiling.
"Not bad, very tenacious; I love playing against an opponent like this."
...
The tension in the second half of the match beca increasingly intense.
Robben displayed a strong will; although all the hair on his head was gone, his desire for glory was as lush as an 18-year-old's hair.
He was almost toiling breathlessly, enduring the nail's severe pain, sprinting step by step on the field.
But to his distress, Tang Long and Robertson constantly kept an eye on him.
Especially Tang Long, even though Robben could use his experience and dribbling skills to break through Robertson, when he tried to cut inside and continue towards the middle, Tang Long stood like an insurmountable wall right before him.
Smack!
In the 53rd minute, as Robben forcefully cut inside, Tang Long got close, blocked his position, and gave a strong shoulder push, knocking Robben off his path.
Just three minutes later, Robben ca back again down the wing.
This ti, Tang Long's response was even more straightforward, getting ahead and directly clearing the ball with one kick.
The ball soared high and far, even flying out past Bayern's goal line.
Such an insultingly effective defensive tackle sent chills down Robben's spine.
He couldn't help but think if Tang had kicked his foot instead of the ball, the damage wouldn't just be this first-half toenail.
Robben looked at Tang Long's youthful face, filled with doubts and confusion.
"This move of mine—cutting inside—has been successful so many tis against various strong defenses over the years. So why do I keep stumbling upon him?"
Robben realized that Tang Long's defense, when he broke through, was completely different from those famous defenders he had faced before, like Ramos, Bonucci, Chiwo.
These players, when facing him, could anticipate that Robben was aiming to cut inside to shoot.
But the reason Robben was who he was was because his cut-ins and shots weren't just brute force.
Played back in 0.1x speed, you'd find Robben's cut-ins full of various feints and misleading gestures.
These moves might co from arm swings, changes in dribbling frequency, body-language misdirection, or even deceptive eye movents; anwhile, Bayern's players would also follow Robben's run to move forward.
Often, after cutting inside, Robben didn't always shoot; he would pass too!
Yet Tang Long didn't seem disturbed by Robben's deceptive techniques, always managing to place his foot and body in the spot Robben intended to go next.
On the sidelines, Chiwo watched all this unfold, his face filled with shock.
His thoughts involuntarily drifted back to the 2010 Champions League final, where, as the left-back, he was repeatedly toyed with by Robben.
(2010 Champions League final, Robben vs. Chiwo)
Motta's red card suspension forced Sane蒂 to play midfield earlier than planned, and Chiwo stepped up as the left-back under pressure.
In that ga, Robben was like a whirlwind, repeatedly whizzing past Chiwo, who was left floundering and embarrassed.
If it hadn't been for Inter's goalkeeper Cesar playing exceptionally, Bayern might have already achieved a resounding victory in that match.
When Tang Long once again brought down Robben with both the ball and body, Chiwo couldn't hold back any longer, applauding loudly in approval.
"Well done, Tang!"
When Tang Long again brought down Robben with both the ball and body, Chiwo couldn't contain his excitent any longer and shouted approval from the sidelines, applauding vigorously.
He looked at Robben and couldn't help but sigh, "Robben, oh Robben, ti spares no one. No matter how mighty you are, you can't help but struggle against the young Tang Long!"
However, this ti when Tang Long tackled Robben down with the ball, it was up for debate whether it was a foul or not, and the referee awarded Bayern a front-field free kick.
All players stood ready and prepared.
When open play can't unlock the ga, set-pieces often can break the deadlock.
"I'll take it!"
Robben, in anger, refused Douglas Costa's request to take the shot and sent the ball into the box himself.
The ball curved unpredictably through the air, just like Robben's shots—unfathomable.
"Hey!!!"
In the box, Kompany and Lewandowski jumped simultaneously to contest the ball.
Under mutual interference, neither managed to head it. Muller, like a savvy panther, pinpointed the drop and suddenly leapt for a dive header!
The ball went in!
It was too close, leaving Bravo with no ti to react.
"Muller!!"
Robben dashed forward, disregarding his toe pain, sprinted a hundred ters, jumped on Muller's back, and pounded his teammate's head, leaving Muller dazed.
Even though this was Muller's goal, the assist ca from Robben.
That assist allowed Robben to let out all the anger accumulated from facing Tang Long.
-[Muller, I knew Muller would step up!]
-[Muller always seems unassuming, but his goals are always crucial!]
-[He has excellent ga intelligence; he was already prepared to seize the spot as Lewandowski and Kompany contended for the ball!]
-[That was Muller's first shot of the ga, right?]
-[Mr. Big Ga, that's his prowess; no wonder he's been with Bayern for so many years]
-[I've always said, Bayern can miss anyone but not Muller. He is the soul of our team!]
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