The final score of this match was 2:0, with Liverpool defeating AC Milan at home.

In the final moments, AC Milan defended desperately in their own penalty area, not giving Liverpool even the slightest chance. Every AC Milan player fought like a man possessed, blocking Liverpool's shots with the spirit of a soldier using his body to block a machine gun.

So Liverpool didn't score again.

Chen Hero's shot that hit the post also caused people to feel regret for a long time—if that goal had gone in, the next leg would have been completely without suspense. 3:0 and 2:0 are different. A 3:0 lead can completely kill many people's will to fight back, but at 2:0, everyone always feels like they can salvage something and maybe even reverse the situation.

So some Liverpool media outlets worriedly asked Chen Hero if he felt regret for missing the chance to kill the suspense at the end.

Chen Hero asked in surprise, "Regret? What regret? To me, 2:0 or 3:0 at home is the same. The result is that AC Milan will be eliminated, and we will enter the final."

A group of reporters looked at each other, thinking that Chen Hero was indeed domineering. But why didn't they doubt it when these words came from his mouth? If it were someone else, they might be laughed at...

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Earlier, it was said that after Chen Hero hit the post, all the AC Milan players desperately defended in the penalty area, fighting like men possessed, blocking Liverpool's shots with the spirit of soldiers using their bodies to block machine guns. In fact, this is not an accurate statement, because it wasn't "everyone." There was one person who didn't do this, and that was Zlatan Ibrahimović, who was very unhappy.

In a post-match interview, he directly criticized Allegri's tactical arrangements.

"Facts have proved that blindly defending is not a promising strategy. We defended for ninety minutes, giving up all offense. What did we get? 0:2, two goals conceded, which almost cost us the chance to advance to the final in the next leg!"

The reporters heard this and thought—here we go! He's attacking the coach? Zlatan Ibrahimović, that big mouth, really didn't disappoint! We were wondering if there would be any other explosive content after such a defeat...

Excited reporters immediately began to provoke him: "Are you saying that Allegri's tactics were wrong?"

Ibrahimović is not stupid. Of course, he wanted to use the media to express his dissatisfaction and put pressure on the club. But if he said too much and revealed too much, it would put the club in a very passive position. At that time, he might push the club to the opposite side of himself, which would be unnecessary.

So Ibrahimović cleverly stopped talking. He just smiled at the reporters twice: "Heh heh."

Then he turned and walked away.

Leaving a group of reporters to speculate wildly—it seems that something must have happened in the AC Milan locker room. Maybe there will be a good show to watch!

AC Milan's 2-0 loss away from home was certainly a bad thing. But for the media, who only care about sales and ratings, bad things can also turn into good things.

Isn't this a typical example?

At the post-match press conference, a reporter used Ibrahimović's words to sow discord. Allegri cleverly avoided it: "Is that so? I'm sorry, I didn't hear what he said. If he has any opinions, I think he will tell me face-to-face, rather than running to tell you reporters."

That's what he said, but in fact, he knew in his heart that that damn Swedish big mouth must have said something he shouldn't have to the reporters!

But he couldn't admit that his relationship with Ibrahimović was strained, because that would be admitting that he had lost control of the team, which would make him very passive later.

"Then do you think that being too conservative away from home was the key reason why the team lost this game?"

The reporters persisted relentlessly. If Ibrahimović's words didn't work, then they would just go straight to the point.

Allegri shook his head and said, "No, I don't think it's a tactical issue. The tactics were very correct. When facing a team like Liverpool that is good at scoring goals away from home, we can only choose to defend. The key to losing this game is that they have a Chen Hero. That's the key."

Chen Hero's fame was built through one game after another where he could still score goals even when facing a tight defense.

"Then, Mr. Allegri, do you think Milan still has a chance to turn the tables in the second leg?"

"Yes! I think there is still a chance!" Allegri gave the answer directly without even hesitating or thinking.

He wasn't putting on a show to boost the team's morale. He really seriously believed that the team still had hope.

This can be seen from the fact that he asked the team to defend desperately until the very end of the game, instead of throwing caution to the wind and going all out for an illusory away goal.

Losing 0:2 away from home was still not too bad of a result for him.

Back at home, as long as he handled it properly, there was still a chance to advance.

If the team conceded another goal, or even two goals, then it would be completely over, and he would really be unable to recover.

It was this 0:2 that gave him the confidence and courage to continue fighting.

However... Ibrahimović's unhappy face suddenly flashed in his mind, and it was really undisguised... He always felt that the second leg would not be easy. What he had to deal with was not only Liverpool and Chen Hero, but also probably Ibrahimović.

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The match against AC Milan at home has ended, and Liverpool has achieved a relatively ideal result, although they didn't win by three goals.

But it was enough to allow everyone to face the next game with a relaxed attitude.

At the same time, this victory also brought a turning point to the Premier League title race.

Previously, everyone thought that there would definitely be a fierce battle between Liverpool and AC Milan. If Liverpool couldn't defeat AC Milan at home, then the result of the game against Chelsea might be different from what everyone expected.

Who would have thought that Liverpool would still score two goals against a AC Milan team that was defending desperately at home? Their attacking ability was terrifying.

At the same time, the game against Chelsea on the weekend became a game that would determine the Premier League title this season.

If Liverpool can beat Chelsea at home, they will win the league title three rounds in advance and successfully defend their title.

And the 2:0 win against AC Milan in the first leg obviously laid the groundwork for Liverpool—now they can temporarily put the Champions League semi-final aside and focus all their energy on the league.

The media have already started preparing to sing praises for Liverpool's title defense.

"The bands, flowers, and cheering crowds are all ready!" This was the headline of the *Liverpool Echo*, and the article vividly described the Liverpool fans' desire for the team to defend their title.

"... Winning a league title once, others can say 'you were just lucky', but what if you defend the title? I'm afraid many people will have to shut up. Whether they like it or not, they must accept the fact—Liverpool is now the strongest team in English football!"

"I think Liverpool defending their title is already an inevitable trend... This game is at their home, when has this Liverpool team ever lost a game at home? It is very unrealistic for Chelsea to want to stop them..."

"In fact, Chelsea's performance this season has been very good. If it weren't for Liverpool, or if Liverpool didn't have Hero, Chelsea would be the league champion this season, but the problem is that this is just fantasy... If this game was played at Stamford Bridge, I might be slightly more optimistic about Chelsea..."

"Liverpool fans are already preparing to lay a huge banner celebrating Liverpool's title defense on the stands of Anfield Stadium... At that time, this will become a spectacle at Anfield Stadium!"

In the overwhelming voices favoring Liverpool, Chelsea's voice was very small, but also very tenacious.

"We are not invited guests at the celebration. We are uninvited guests who forcibly broke in. We will fight to the last moment, and even if Liverpool wins the league title this season, we don't want them to win it against us," said Chelsea's captain, goalkeeper Petr Čech.

Dick Advocaat also did not praise his proud disciple Chen Hero this time. He was still very clear that at this time, he was the coach of Chelsea, and the most important thing was to cheer up Chelsea, who were about to become sacrifices at Liverpool's title celebration, instead of speaking for the enemy and congratulating the enemy on their upcoming successful title defense...

"I think if Liverpool wants to win the league title, at the very least they have to leave something behind when they play against us. We will not let them get the title easily without paying any price," Advocaat said.

In this way, Chelsea came from London with murderous intent, determined to ruin Liverpool's celebration party.

So what was Liverpool's response?

"Thank you to Chelsea for their tenacity, because their tenacity will become the most dazzling diamond on our crown," Chen Hero's answer was still full of domineering, or rather "absolute domineering"... He had already arranged the aftermath for them.

Many people are used to Chen Hero's words and are not surprised.

No one else from Liverpool came out to speak. At this time, Chen Hero was still Liverpool's external mouthpiece, and he was faithfully fulfilling his duty as a meat shield.

Liverpool only needs one person's voice, and that is enough.

A war of words broke out, and the atmosphere of the game became heated. In addition, this was an important game related to whether Liverpool could win the league title three rounds in advance, so it was highly anticipated.

Television broadcasters specially arranged this game as the last game of the day, putting it in prime time in the evening, considering the ratings.

Just like the *Liverpool Echo* said, everything is ready, just waiting for the protagonist to take the stage.