Chapter 263: Hey Kuan, Bro, The Boss Here's Generous—High Salary, Come Quick!
Ever since transferring to Chelsea, this was the first time Li Ang had felt so completely and utterly exhausted—both physically and mentally—after a match.
A 1–2 loss in the first leg wasn't the worst result. At least they still had a chance in the return leg.
But looking at the game itself, if you're being honest, even Chelsea fans wouldn't be placing too much hope on a comeback.
The performance had been passive. And Li Ang? Visibly spent.
If no one could ease his defensive burden in midfield, then forget about "unleashing" Chelsea's attacking firepower.
Maybe Mourinho could roll the dice in the second leg—take a risk defensively and let Li Ang and the attackers go all out?
It was a viable strategy, but then you remembered Bayern's terrifying wing play, and… yeah.
Suddenly, Chelsea fans were a lot less enthusiastic about taking that risk.
As for Li Ang and Matić, no complaints there. They were an elite midfield duo—whether in a double pivot or one ahead, one behind.
And for Lampard and Ramires, who'd already given everything, the fans felt only regret.
Real Chelsea supporters would never turn on them.
They just lamented that Li Ang and Matić hadn't played alongside Lampard and Ramires at their respective peaks.
It was the kind of reflection that carried a deep emotional weight, tinged with nostalgia and the relentless march of time.
But Li Ang couldn't afford to wallow like the fans.
The day after the match, while most of Chelsea's starters were still processing the loss and doing recovery work,
Li Ang was already driving into Cobham at 8:00 a.m. for medical checks and personal training.
He couldn't magically elevate his teammates before the second leg.
But he could make sure his own state was razor-sharp.
And he wasn't alone.
The entire coaching staff was also already at the training base the next morning.
Li Ang was grinding on the pitch, and Mourinho and his team were combing over footage, trying to crack Bayern's system.
In the end, Mourinho and Li Ang arrived at the same conclusion:
If they wanted to go through, they had to risk everything.
On April 27, in Matchday 36 of the Premier League, Mourinho sent a full rotation squad to Anfield to face Liverpool.
The result was expected: a clean 0–2 loss.
With just five days between the two Champions League legs, there was no point wasting energy on the league.
On April 28, Chelsea's main squad flew to Munich a day early.
And on the evening of April 29, they arrived at the Allianz Arena, ready for one final battle.
They were fighting for a ticket to the Champions League Final.
Having conceded two away goals in the first leg, Chelsea had no choice but to attack.
Even if most fans thought going toe-to-toe with Bayern at their own home was suicide.
Mourinho, surprisingly, ordered an aggressive approach.
Li Ang, who had dropped deep in the first leg to cover defensively, was now instructed by the coaching staff to go full attack.
It wasn't about "relieving" him—it was simply a conscious choice to sacrifice the back line in order to let Li Ang bombard Bayern's defense.
It was thrilling football. And under Mourinho? A first for Li Ang.
Since they couldn't win the midfield battle, the only option was to go all-in up front.
Li Ang could feel the staff's determination—and the rest of the squad followed suit.
From the first whistle, he drove the ball straight down the throat of Bayern's mighty midfield.
Bayern's respect for him was evident. Their double-marking was intense and suffocating.
But that only gave his teammates more room to operate.
Unlike in the first leg, where he lacked support, now even Matić and Lampard were surging forward.
Both fullbacks joined in as well.
Chelsea might not have been able to outrun Bayern—but they could still press high and stretch both flanks.
Bayern's legendary "Robbery" duo (Robben + Ribéry) was fearsome, but under Chelsea's all-out wide pressure, even they had to pull back.
Finally, Chelsea seized the initiative.
And on Bayern's home turf, they were the ones dictating the pace.
But a gamble is a gamble.
You reap the rewards of full-scale attacking—but you also accept the cost: gaps at the back.
In the 18th minute, Ibrahimović latched onto a sweeping low cross from De Bruyne and slotted it past Neuer!
Dante was overwhelmed.
Boateng had been drawn toward Li Ang and couldn't recover.
Stamford Bridge erupted.
Chelsea's energy spiked.
But as they continued to pour forward, Bayern's lethal counterattack struck back.
In the 23rd and 31st minutes, Bayern scored twice from lightning-quick wing play.
Thomas Müller was central to both goals.
One was a header at the back post, off a Robben cross, masked by Mandzukic's dummy run.
The second? A classic Müller move—dribbling into the final third, dragging both Matić and David Luiz, then sliding a through ball to Ribéry, who calmly finished.
Matić began to panic.
Müller's awkward movement, his deceptive pace, his constant ghosting… it was a nightmare to track.
Li Ang did his best to calm him during halftime.
"You want to stop Müller? Stick to him for 90 minutes. All the way.
Otherwise? He'll vanish for 70 minutes and score on you in the 71st."
But Li Ang couldn't drop back now—not in this setup.
When the second half began, Chelsea were still charging forward like maniacs.
And for neutral fans? It was a feast.
That furious tempo from the first half carried into the second. Neither side relented.
Eventually, Chelsea got their second goal.
They erased Bayern's away goal advantage.
But not before Bayern scored their third.
Mandzukic finally opened his account—with a jaw-dropping scissor kick volley!
A goal for the highlight reels.
The Croatian tank had proven why Heynckes trusted him over Gomez.
The idea of him being a "working-class striker" had just been shattered.
With the scoreline at 3–2, Bayern pulled back.
They tightened their lines and went into "protect the lead" mode.
With a two-goal advantage on aggregate, they played calm, calculated football.
And Chelsea's usual methods of breaking low blocks?
Ineffective against this Bayern.
Their midfield? Solid.
Their center-backs? Aerial monsters.
As the referee blew the final whistle, Li Ang had just launched one last long-range strike.
But it was too late.
Neuer parried Li Ang's long-range strike with both hands.
As the referee blew the final whistle, the German keeper rolled off the grass, threw his head back, and let out a triumphant roar.
Bayern's substitutes stormed onto the field in celebration.
Li Ang pressed his lips together, hands on knees, breathing deeply.
Then he straightened, turned, and slowly walked toward his teammates.
Chelsea's Premier League campaign wasn't over yet, but with the title already secured, their season effectively ended with this Champions League elimination.
Li Ang had expected to feel devastated after losing to Bayern.
But instead, a strange calm filled his chest.
He was even composed enough to console his teammates.
Across the field, Bayern's players celebrated another trip to the Champions League final.
Li Ang stared blankly for a moment.
Last season, and the one before that—it had been him and his teammates at Real Madrid, cheering with arms raised, dreaming of lifting the trophy.
Now Chelsea had become what Bayern and Dortmund once were.
There is always a winner, and always a loser.
No club, no player, can win forever.
Li Ang had always felt fortunate.
At the very start of his professional journey, he rose to glory with Madrid.
He had already won trophies that many professionals would never touch in a lifetime.
He'd tasted victory. He knew the flavor of glory.
Now, facing failure on the European stage, he found he could face it with dignity.
This wasn't resignation.
Nor was it contentment.
It was conviction—confidence in his own ability and belief in this Chelsea team's future.
"This was a lesson for us in the Champions League," he said softly. "We fell, so we can rise stronger. Next season, we go again. And you, Eden... You'd better come back stronger."
He gave the teary-eyed Hazard a firm hug.
Mourinho stepped onto the pitch.
Chelsea's season had ended—not with a trophy in Europe, but with a manager proud of his team's fight.
For Chelsea's veterans, reality was setting in: after this season, many would give way to younger legs.
But the team's rising stars would benefit. They'd grow.
And this new Chelsea? They had more to give.
Mourinho wasn't planning a major squad overhaul.
Aside from veterans who wanted to leave or didn't fit his plans, those who stayed would be offered new contracts.
Building a strong team meant more than just raw talent or elite form.
Mourinho needed experienced veterans and willing role players to support his stars.
It was a balanced, reasonable strategy.
Chelsea's 2013–14 season had ended—but Mourinho was already planning for the next.
After gathering at midfield to thank the traveling fans, the players returned to the dressing room.
Munich would not be a restful place for them tonight.
They showered, packed up, and flew back to London that same night.
The remaining two Premier League matches meant little to the veterans.
Suárez had already scored 30 league goals this season.
Ibrahimović had 22—catching up in two matches was impossible.
So, like Lampard, Ibra also began his holiday early.
Li Ang, though, had one more milestone in sight.
He'd already hit 30 goals and 28 assists across all competitions.
He was just two assists away from completing a 30+30 season.
So, in Matchday 37 on May 4th, Li Ang started once again, leading Chelsea against bottom-of-the-table Norwich.
The match itself lacked intensity.
Norwich had already been mathematically relegated.
With nothing to fight for, their players showed little resistance.
Li Ang didn't chase stats.
He wasn't the type to farm numbers against disinterested opponents.
But by halftime, he'd already assisted Oscar and De Bruyne for two goals.
After that, he gestured to Mourinho to sub him off.
His season stats locked in at 30 goals and 30 assists.
He'd fallen just short of a 20+20 Premier League campaign, missing a single league goal.
But he didn't care.
Achieving a 30+30 season? That was more than enough.
And he was exhausted.
Fighting for one more goal in a meaningless match, especially if it meant taking minutes from the academy boys? That wasn't his style.
After the match—a dull home closer against Norwich—Chelsea lifted the 2013–14 Premier League trophy.
The fans roared as the team stood on the podium, celebrating their triumph.
On May 11th, after the final round of the league, Chelsea paraded through London with the trophy.
Vacation time had arrived.
But Li Ang wasn't done just yet.
At Mourinho's request, he took on one final, special off-season assignment.
On May 24th, having finished his initial summer training block, Li Ang boarded a flight to Lisbon.
At Estádio da Luz, dressed in casual clothes and wearing a low-profile disguise, he quietly took his seat in the stands.
He watched as Bayern defeated Atlético 3–1, claiming the Champions League title.
Yes—after knocking Chelsea out, Bayern finished the job.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, had failed to score in their second leg against Atlético.
Eliminated with a 0–0 draw.
Li Ang's dream of reuniting with his old Madrid teammates in the final had ended.
And Bayern, too, never got the final showdown they'd craved with Madrid.
Atlético were once again the tragic heroes—watching helplessly as Bayern climbed to the top of Europe.
But Li Ang hadn't come to Lisbon just to watch.
After the match, he quietly left the stadium and checked into a nearby hotel.
Then he sent a message—to an old friend who had come on as a late substitute: Toni Kroos.
Kroos, caught up in the locker room celebration, was momentarily distracted by his phone buzzing.
He smiled at the congratulatory text.
But then his smile faded.
Back in Munich, during Bayern's title party, Kroos couldn't quite enjoy himself fully.
Back home, instead of calling his agent, he sat in silence.
Because in his head, he couldn't stop replaying the words Li Ang had sent:
"TK, my brother—the boss here is generous, the salary's solid. More importantly, you've got a world-class manager and me here.
I know you're not after money. You want respect.
And we've got both.
You've already delivered Bayern the Champions League. Your job here is done.
A man's gotta have pride—and I believe your talent will shine wherever you go.
Sooner or later, Bayern's top brass will regret how they treated you.
A new path awaits you in London. We're building for a treble next season.
Mou's missing you. And me? I can't wait to play alongside you again.
Come on, brother. Come quick…"
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