All discussion surrounding this Champions League final had escalated to an almost feverish level.
Across major social media platforms, fans from both sides were locked in fierce arguments and heated exchanges.
It wasn't just Real Madrid and Liverpool supporters. Fans of the Premier League and La Liga had also joined the fray.
There were even clashes between Cristiano Ronaldo's fans and Leo Lin's supporters. This match would influence the Ballon d'Or race, determine the so-called battle for the world's top league between La Liga and the Premier League, and decide whether Liverpool could complete a quadruple.
With so many factors in play, Klopp and Krawietz understood one thing clearly. This level of obsession would only place even greater psychological pressure on the players.
In the week leading up to June 1, Klopp and Krawietz led the team, along with the coaching staff, to the United Arab Emirates for a seven-day closed training camp.
New tactics were being prepared. Relying on their usual approach would not be enough to win the Champions League.
At the same time, Real Madrid also set off for France, beginning their own seven-day preparations.
The Champions League final would be held at the Stade de France, one of the world's most modern five-star stadiums, capable of holding up to 80,000 spectators.
Zidane closely monitored Leo Lin's performances every day, repeatedly studying Liverpool's match footage from the season. Together with his coaching team, they had reviewed every single one of Liverpool's Champions League matches at least ten times.
The analysis of Liverpool's "Mad Four" alone had already filled nearly 50 pages of A4 paper, and it still wasn't finished.
As for Leo Lin himself, Zidane personally wrote ten full pages of detailed analysis, designing an extremely precise tactical plan and defensive system specifically to contain him.
Klopp and Krawietz repeated the same message to the players every day.
"Stay off social media. Cut off all outside information. Don't pay attention to what people are saying about you. It won't help you at all."
"Remember, your only job is to stay calm, stay focused, learn the new tactics, and prepare for the final. That's it."
Both teams seemed to disappear completely from public view, fully immersed in intense, closed-door preparation.
Leo Lin pushed himself every single day, striving to bring his body to peak condition.
The referee had been confirmed as the young French official Turpin. Despite his age, he was highly experienced and widely regarded by fans as one of the best referees in the world today, on par with Marciniak.
He was known for keeping matches flowing smoothly, communicating well with players, and avoiding an overly authoritarian style.
UEFA had taken note of the massive hype surrounding the final and the possibility of record-breaking viewership.
As a result, they introduced a brand-new entrance ceremony. The two teams' buses would enter from opposite streets outside the Stade de France, driving slowly toward each other.
They would come to a stop face-to-face, and both teams would disembark and enter the stadium together, pushing the atmosphere to its absolute peak.
June 1st.
Stade de France.
Eighty thousand fans stood ready.
Singer Camila Cabello took the stage alongside violinists and cellists for the opening performance, as fireworks erupted across the stadium.
Live broadcast.
"I'm Derek Rae, and alongside me is Jon Champion. You're watching the opening ceremony of the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League Final!"
"This spectacle, with 80,000 people in attendance, would normally command concert ticket prices of over a thousand pounds. And yet here, it's just the warm-up before the final."
"That's the magic of the Champions League. Around the world, aside from the World Cup, no competition commands this level of attention."
"Neither team has submitted their starting lineup yet. This is a massive, decisive showdown."
"The buildup to this final has reached unprecedented levels, pushing global attention to an almost extreme point."
"And that's exactly why so many fans are looking forward to it."
"I don't know about you, but I didn't sleep at all last night. I just couldn't. My mind was racing."
"Just thinking about what might happen in this final makes it impossible not to imagine how it will end."
Every word from Derek Rae carried excitement. When he glanced at Jon Champion, the same anticipation was clear on his face.
"You're absolutely right. I can't wait either. Liverpool against Real Madrid. The Galácticos facing off against the Premier League's red force."
"Even before kickoff, based on season data and supercomputer projections, this final is expected to break the all-time Champions League viewership record due to the global media frenzy."
"The broadcast is expected to reach over 200 countries, with total global viewership likely surpassing the 2013 Bundesliga derby final and breaking the 400 million mark."
Inside the stadium, the fans barely paid attention to the performance. All eyes were on the upcoming final, while both teams continued to delay submitting their starting lineups.
It was now one hour before kickoff, the deadline for lineup submission.
"Clearly, both teams want to leave nothing to chance and are making final preparations, which is why the lineups haven't been submitted yet."
As soon as Derek Rae finished speaking, an assistant handed over the official documents.
Both teams had submitted their starting lineups.
As broadcasters began announcing the lineups, the two team buses arrived outside the Stade de France.
After a full week out of sight, both squads finally reappeared.
Fans from both sides crowded around the buses. Red and white smoke filled the air, swirling as the buses moved toward the stadium entrance.
As the buses came to a stop, the red and white smoke from both sides collided in the air.
The colors twisted together, surging and clashing.
The bus doors slowly opened.
Klopp and Zidane were the first to step down.
Under the swirling clouds of red and white smoke, countless hands were raised high, countless voices roared.
Fans on both sides erupted into deafening chants.
"Liverpool!!!"
"Liverpool!!!"
…
"Real Madrid!!!"
"Real Madrid!!!"
…
The grand spectacle of the 2017–2018 season.
The ultimate clash at the pinnacle of European football.
The Champions League Final was about to begin!