After Paris Saint-Germain was removed from the list, I led England to victory!

Time passed, and the calendar turned to June.

After more than three months of suspension, the competition has finally begun a slow and cautious reopening under strict prevention and control measures.

For the world of football, this means the return of matches, but everything is completely different from before.

UEFA and national football associations have jointly released a series of detailed, almost stringent, guidelines for resuming matches:

All matches must be played behind closed doors, with no fans allowed; players and staff must wear masks at all times except during matches and training; pre-match handshakes will be cancelled, replaced by nods; hugs and gatherings will be avoided when celebrating goals; substitutes on the bench must sit at intervals and wear masks…

football.

This sport, originally characterized by passion, competition, and collective revelry, will return to people's lives in an unprecedented, calm, and even slightly alienating way.

As Arsenal players received notices from the club to return to the Colney training ground in batches and at staggered times for medical examinations and recovery training,

Everyone's feelings are complex and hard to describe.

Nowadays,

A temporary testing point was set up at the entrance to the Kearney training ground, where staff in protective suits measured the temperature of each player and conducted rapid tests.

The familiar training ground was filled with an unfamiliar smell of disinfectant.

The team members recognized each other through their masks, their eyes revealing the joy of a long-awaited reunion, but also mixed with an indescribable sense of distance.

"Hey! Martin! Long time no see!" Yan Yuan waved and shouted to Erdgao from a distance.

His voice was exceptionally clear in the open space.

"Hey, Captain!" Odegaard strode over. The two didn't shake hands, but bumped fists instead, but the smile in their eyes couldn't be hidden even by their masks.

"Bukayo! Have you grown taller again?" Lacazette teased Saka with a laugh.

"Pierre! Your new hairstyle is so cool!" Cancelo laughed, pointing to a strand of red hair on Aubameyang's head.

The exchange of pleasantries continued, but everyone deliberately maintained a certain distance.

At this moment, everyone's eyes turned to the last figure to arrive—William Saliba.

Saliba has lost some weight.

His once sunny face now bore a hint of weariness and calmness, but his eyes seemed to hold a newfound determination.

He silently completed the test and walked towards the queue.

Yan Yuan was the first to go forward.

He didn't say much, nor did he ask any questions about his parents. He simply opened his arms and gave Saliba a tight hug that lasted for several seconds.

This hug speaks louder than a thousand words.

Immediately afterwards, Xhaka, Aubameyang, Martinez... his teammates came forward one by one, silently embracing him and patting him on the back.

There were no many words, only the warmth of body temperature and firm support were conveyed through the clothing.

Saliba's eyes were slightly red. He hugged each of his teammates tightly and whispered.

"Thank you... thank you everyone."

Nagelsmann stood not far away, watching this scene, and nodded with satisfaction.

He knew that his team members had built the strongest psychological defense line through their actions.

……

The days when we resumed joint training were also full of novelty.

On the training field, the coach's instructions, the players' shouts, and the sound of the ball hitting the ground became exceptionally clear and prominent in the absence of background noise.

"Maintain social distancing! Keep your distance!" Strength and conditioning coach Paul's voice echoed throughout the arena.

"Pass the ball faster! Saka, watch your positioning!" Nagelsmann shouted from the sidelines, his voice carrying even to the other end of the field.

As the team leader, Yan Yuan's commands were ever-present.

And it's clearer than before.

"Saliba, be careful!"

"Declan, get back on defense quickly!"

"Martin, catch the ball!"

This extremely "transparent" environment, on the contrary, forces the players to be more focused, and communication must be more concise and effective.

Every detail of the tactical drills was magnified, and any mistake was exposed.

The focus of preparations quickly shifted to the upcoming first official match, the English League Cup final, against Aston Villa.

This was supposed to be a decisive battle held amidst the roaring crowds at Wembley Stadium.

Because of the rule that the games will be played in empty stadiums, the event is destined to take place in complete silence.

The match day has arrived.

The bus drove into the Wembley Stadium area.

Normally, this place would already be packed with people, with red Arsenal jerseys and Aston Villa's burgundy jerseys creating a sea of ​​color.

But today, the streets are eerily empty.

There were only a few police officers and staff members present.

The enormous stadium, like a silent steel behemoth, stands quietly under the London sky.

The atmosphere in the locker room was somewhat heavy.

The players quietly changed their gear and made their final preparations.

Nagelsmann clapped his hands, gathering everyone together.

"Lads," his voice echoed in the silent locker room.

"I know it feels different today. The absence of fans' cheers might make you feel unfamiliar, even a little uncomfortable, but I want to tell you that this is precisely the time to test our professionalism and inner strength!"

His gaze swept over each team member.

"True strength does not rely on external noise to ignite itself."

The desire for victory should come from the depths of your hearts! Imagine this empty stadium as our most familiar training ground! Imagine your opponents as the imaginary enemies we must defeat every day! Imagine this trophy…

Nash pointed in the virtual direction and continued,

"Imagine it as a training goal we absolutely must achieve!"

"Remember, whether there are people in the stands or not, the grass beneath our feet is the same, the rules of the game are the same, and our desire for victory should be the same! Fight for yourselves, for your teammates, and for the honor of this club!"

"Brothers, Arsenal!" Yan Yuan was the first to extend his hand.

"Go for it!" All the team members put their hands together and roared, a roar that sounded particularly powerful in the empty locker room.

As the players' tunnel doors opened and the players from both teams stepped onto the field, an unprecedented sense of eeriness washed over them.

Wembley Stadium, which can normally hold 90,000 people, is now completely empty, with only rows of cold seats.

The deafening cheers, songs, and boos of the past have all disappeared, replaced by an almost vacuum-like silence.

The sound of cleats hitting the grass, the referee's whistle, the ball rolling, and even the players' heavy breathing and occasional shouts were all so clear they were heart-stopping.

"This feeling... is so strange..." Saka whispered to Odgo beside him, his voice carrying clearly in the silence.

"Yeah, it feels like a dream. I've never dreamt of a match this quiet..." Ødegaard replied, trying to adjust to the surreal atmosphere.

"To be honest, I used to get a lot of cheers when I played pickup football, so I'm not used to this today." Ashraf is also trying to adapt.

The match began in this peculiar silence.

Without the interference of fans, the coach's shouts from the sidelines became the most prominent sound.

"Push forward! All of you fucking push forward!" Aston Villa manager Dean Smith's shouts could be clearly heard.

"Maintain formation in the attacking third! Watch out for second balls!" Nagelsmann's instructions were precisely relayed to every player on the field.

Communication between players has become especially important and clear.

"Rodri, behind you!" Yan Yuan shouted after a defensive play.

"Mine!" Rodri responded, and continued to work with Rice.

In the 28th minute, Aston Villa made a mistake in passing the ball in their own half.

Yan Yuan made a quick interception, dribbled past a defender, and from about 25 yards out, before the opposing defender could block him, he unleashed a powerful right-footed shot!

The ball flew like a cannonball, straight into the top left corner of the goal!

1-0!

"Gooooooooo... Arsenal break the deadlock, Yan is back!" Commentator Martin Tyler habitually shouted the goal-scoring chant, but then realized that no fans were responding, so his voice stopped abruptly, sounding a little awkward. He joked about himself.

"Well, I have to admit, it does feel a bit strange. Without the background noise of the live fans, my cheers don't sound as exhilarating as they used to be. But I bet the Arsenal fans watching at home are jumping for joy."

On the field, Yan Yuan did not run around celebrating as usual after scoring a goal.

He simply ran to the vicinity of the center circle, waved his fist towards the empty stands, and then gave his teammates a brief high-five and shoulder bump as they ran over.

The celebration, conducted in silence, appears restrained yet efficient.

After switching sides, both sides gradually adapted to the silent environment, and the pace of the game quickened.

In the 55th minute, Arsenal extended their lead. Yan Yuan attracted the defense on the right wing and then passed the ball to Achraf, who made a run down the flank and crossed the ball!

The ball swept across the front of the goal, and center-back Upamecano charged into the penalty area like a heavy tank, overpowering the opposing defender.

A powerful header found the back of the net!

2-0!

This time, Upamecano excitedly ran to the corner flag and performed his signature sliding celebration. Although there was no response from the stands, his passion still infected his teammates on the field.

However, Aston Villa did not give up.

In the 70th minute, they pulled one back from a corner kick, with center forward Wesley heading in the ball!

2-1! The suspense of the match has been rekindled.

At crucial moments, Arsenal displayed the composure of champions.

In the 85th minute, Od delivered a brilliant through ball down the middle, and Saka successfully broke the offside trap, creating a one-on-one opportunity.

He calmly dribbled past the onrushing goalkeeper and slotted the ball into the empty net!

3-1! Victory secured!

When the final whistle blew, the final match, which was played in absolute silence, came to an end.

Instead of running and celebrating wildly, the Arsenal players hugged and high-fived each other, their faces beaming with relief and genuine joy.

They gathered in the center circle, forming a ring, and briefly applauded to celebrate this hard-won victory.

Today's awards ceremony was also simple.

There was no thunderous cheering, only sporadic applause from the award presenters and staff.

As captain, Yan Yuan accepted the League Cup trophy, symbolizing the first title of the season, from the guest.

Together with his teammates, he raised the trophy high above his head!

Although it wasn't witnessed by thousands of fans, this trophy, won during a special period and under special circumstances, carries an exceptionally heavy weight for this team.

It testifies to the team's resilience, discipline, and intrinsic motivation in the absence of external incentives.

For Saliba, who had just experienced a huge personal tragedy, this championship was a shot in the arm, allowing him to feel the power of the team and the comfort that football can bring.

The trophy was passed from teammates to teammate, and everyone's face was filled with pride.

With this silent victory, they declared to the world:

Arsenal are back!