"Lisbon are champions!"
"One of the two strongest teams on the planet this year — Sporting CP U15!"
"Sporting CP U15 defeat Atlético Madrid to win the inaugural UEFA Youth League trophy!"
"Sporting haven't achieved a double in years — these boys made history!"
"Come together and SIUUU! Sporting deliver the celebration of the season!"
"Gabi criticized for losing control and costing Atlético their last chance at the Youth League!"
"Torres: The opponent was strong. We didn't perform well. The defeat hurts — but that's football."
"Kai wins Youth Champions League Best Player! In three years, he transformed from 'Football Caesar' into the Champions League MVP!"
"Kai and Cristiano Ronaldo swap roles — Kai wins the Golden Boot, Ronaldo becomes Assist King!"
"Portugal's strongest duo! Kai and Ronaldo sweep Best Forward and Best Midfielder honors in every competition they enter!"
"Twelve goals and six assists! Ten goals and seven assists! Kai and Ronaldo dominate the Youth League!"
"Next stop: the European U-17 Championship? Portuguese fans call on coach Rui Bento to include Kai and Cristiano Ronaldo in the 23-man squad!"
"Paul Scholes: We all like Kai!"
"Breaking news! Kai and Cristiano Ronaldo invited by Sir Alex Ferguson to attend the Champions League final and cheer for Manchester United!"
"Ferguson turns superstitious? Inviting Kai shows Manchester United lack confidence!"
The UEFA Youth League was already a major event.
Being scheduled alongside the Champions League final made it explode in popularity.
After finishing interviews with Sporting CP, reporters turned their attention to Manchester United for pre-match coverage.
Security around United's hotel was tight, but Sir Alex Ferguson was still surrounded when he stepped out for official duties.
He had no choice but to speak.
Reporter: "Sir Alex, are you confident ahead of the final against Bayern Munich? Did you invite Kai because you hope his prediction will come true?"
Ferguson took the microphone. A hint of helplessness crossed his face, but once he agreed to speak, he stood firm.
"Of course I'm confident. Bayern have been excellent this season. But Manchester United are better."
"As Kai said, there are two invincible teams in Europe this year. One is Sporting CP U15, led by him and Cristiano Ronaldo. The other is Manchester United, led by me."
The reporters were stunned.
Ferguson calmly walked away.
Within minutes, major outlets blasted the quote across headlines.
Manchester United's momentum surged.
One hundred thousand United supporters flooding Barcelona suddenly had the upper hand in arguments against Bayern fans.
Bayern's press officer fired back quickly:
"Yes, in our view, Manchester United and Sporting U15 are the same. Because we will treat Manchester United like Sporting U15 on the pitch."
Gunpowder.
Pure gunpowder.
But kickoff was too close for Manchester United to respond.
So Kai did.
Kai: "Since U15 was mentioned, I'll speak."
"Bayern's U15 level is honestly poor. You develop balanced players, but you eliminate flashes of genius."
"In the next match, you'll lose to a moment of inspiration."
That diss hit hard.
Bayern's coaching staff suddenly reconsidered.
A flash of genius…
Who was United's genius?
The answer was obvious.
David Beckham.
Twenty-four years old.
Not even at his peak yet.
After the World Cup criticism, Beckham had delivered a world-class season.
Bayern had respected him before.
Now they doubled the attention.
They assigned Jens Jeremies to track Beckham closely.
Of course, Ryan Giggs on the opposite flank remained a top-tier threat.
May 26.
Champions League Final.
Camp Nou.
92,000 seats available.
Manchester United and Bayern Munich received 30,000 each.
More than 160,000 fans flooded Barcelona anyway.
Scalpers thrived.
If not for UEFA regulations, Camp Nou would have sold another 15,000 tickets easily.
United's midfield was weakened by suspensions and injuries.
Ferguson made a bold call.
Jesper Blomqvist started on the left wing.
Ryan Giggs switched to the right.
Beckham moved centrally into midfield.
Beckham had played as a No. 6 in youth football. Ferguson believed it would stabilize possession.
Before kickoff, Spanish tenor José Carreras performed "Barcelona."
Six minutes later—
Disaster.
Manchester United conceded a dangerous free kick.
Mario Basler stepped up.
Goal.
1–0 Bayern.
Bayern fans erupted.
They chanted "Basler!"
Then, when cameras showed Bayern's VIP section—
They began shouting "Kaiser! Kaiser!"
Franz Beckenbauer — "Der Kaiser" — Bayern's chairman, watched from the stands.
The chant celebrated Bayern tradition.
But it also mocked Kai.
Because Kai had predicted Manchester United would win the Treble.
To Bayern fans, he was public enemy number one.
Some who once wanted Bayern to sign him now called him a traitor.
Kai rolled his eyes.
I never even said I wanted to join Bayern. How the hell did I become the villain?
The match intensified.
Shots off the post.
Crossbars rattled.
Fouls.
Endless tension.
In the 67th and 81st minutes, Ferguson replaced Blomqvist and Andy Cole with Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær.
The camera caught Ferguson glancing at Kai.
Earlier in the season, Kai had publicly praised Beckham, Sheringham, and Solskjær.
All three had delivered huge performances.
Sheringham and Solskjær had rescued United multiple times.
Was Ferguson being slightly superstitious?
Maybe.
He hoped Kai — the "prophet" of United's Treble — could bring luck once more.
But by the 89th minute—
Bayern still led.
Ottmar Hitzfeld had substituted Lothar Matthäus earlier after he was knocked down by Beckham and visibly fatigued.
Bayern fans were already celebrating.
The Manchester United section felt frozen.
Even Ferguson's eyes seemed distant.
He had prepared himself.
Perhaps this simply wasn't United's year.
In his mind, he drafted the post-match speech.
He would take responsibility.
Shield his players.
Admit failure.
Admit that maybe only one team in Europe was truly invincible this year—
Sporting CP U15.
Not Manchester United.
"Peter, get up! Peter, get up!"
The shout shattered his thoughts.
Last minute.
Manchester United corner kick.
Kai was on his feet in the stands, screaming.
His voice cut through the noise.
Ferguson looked up.
Peter Schmeichel stood near his own goal.
At this stage, guarding the net meant nothing.
He might as well go forward.
But what if Bayern countered and scored another?
Ferguson hesitated.
Too much to consider.
"Peter, get up!"
Kai kept yelling.
United fans caught on.
"Peter, come up!"
"Schmeichel, forward!"
Schmeichel saw the signal.
He sprinted into Bayern's penalty area.
Kai had helped both him and Ferguson make the decision.
Whatever happened next—
It would not be regret.
Thank you all for your subscriptions, tips, and monthly votes.
Your support is in my eyes and warm in my heart.
I won't give up.
Let's charge forward.
Duck with green onions.
Big victory ahead.
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