This season, Manchester United has been unstoppable, especially during the latter half of the league.
They turned the tide and now sit at the top of the table, three points ahead of Chelsea.
Their lineup has also passed through its most difficult rebuilding phase, now exuding youthful energy and fierce combat strength.
You could already see it in their last Champions League match.
In the quarterfinals, United faced Roma.
They won the first leg 2–1 away, and then returned home to absolutely destroy Roma 7–1 at Old Trafford.
Cristiano Ronaldo bagged a hat trick.
Wayne Rooney scored a brace.
Modrić contributed four assists and even scored one himself.
Ryan Giggs also found the net.
United's attack was on fire.
At this point, United was looking truly terrifying, with Sir Alex Ferguson masterfully guiding tactics from the sidelines—there were no weak spots.
Meanwhile, AC Milan had also advanced by beating Bayern Munich in both legs, including an overwhelming 5–0 victory at the San Siro.
Their frontline duo Suker and Kaká were in terrifying form.In midfield, Pirlo, Gattuso, and Seedorf provided rock-solid stability.
And even though Maldini and his defenders were aging, their experience and defensive awareness kept them reliable.
This Manchester United vs. AC Milan clash was going to be a true battle of titans.
Both clubs—coaches, players, and fans—were filled with fighting spirit.
Both teams were in top form, and the result could go either way.
Usually, the media would lean one way or another with predictions.
But for this match? No one dared make a call.
Fans and pundits just wanted to sit back and enjoy the spectacle.
Up front: Ronaldo and Rooney vs. Suker and Kaká.
In midfield: A rising Modrić challenges the master, Pirlo.
In defense: Maldini and Nesta vs. Vidic and Ferdinand.
Both teams had elite lineups, making the outcome nearly impossible to predict.
The Champions League semifinal would begin on April 25, with Milan heading to Old Trafford for the first leg.
But before that, Milan still had league games to take care of.
Serie A Round 33: AC Milan vs. Cagliari.
In the previous two matches, Milan had won by small margins.
Suker scored once in those two games, bringing his season tally to 31 goals.
But Suker wasn't satisfied—he had his eyes on breaking Shevchenko's record for most goals in a single Serie A season.
So, in this match, he went all out.
Even though Cagliari parked the bus, Suker kept crashing against them.
At the 33rd minute, he squeezed in a goal with a quick toe-poke.
In the 67th minute of the second half, Suker dribbled laterally across the box and curled in another.
Two goals—bringing his season total to 33, tying Shevchenko's record.
But just as Suker was ready to go for the record-breaking goal, Ancelotti subbed him off.
"Just one more!" Suker grumbled as he came off the pitch.
One more, and he would've broken the record.
"Do you want to play in the Champions League or not?" Maldini pulled him down to the bench. "Sit."
They all knew how badly Suker wanted the record.
But next match? Manchester United.
There could be no risks.Who knows what a frustrated team like Cagliari might do?
Besides, there were five league games left—plenty of chances to score.
If needed, the whole team would help him get that goal.
Now, he needed to rest.
Suker sat on the bench, eyes on the pitch.
Even without him, Milan's players were doing well.
But his thoughts were already turning to the next game—
Manchester United.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Rooney, Modrić, Vidic, Giggs, Ferdinand—this version of United was stronger than ever.
Especially with Modrić becoming their midfield engine, launching attacks and feeding the front line.
"Not gonna be easy..." Suker muttered to himself.
Meanwhile, Modrić, watching Milan's game on TV, pursed his lips and furrowed his brows.
He knew this would be a huge test.
Just facing Suker alone was enough pressure.
Ferguson was confident that Vidic and Ferdinand could handle Suker and Kaká, and that United's ironclad style would contain Milan's offense.
But Modrić felt uneasy.
He believed someone needed to man-mark Suker specifically—zone defense wasn't enough.
Given Suker's current form, if he broke loose, no tactics would matter—he'd punch through regardless.
Modrić sighed."Not gonna be easy..."
The match ended.
Milan won again, keeping their form red-hot heading into the semifinal.
Suddenly—buzz buzz—Modrić's phone vibrated.
A message from Suker.
No need to guess—it was taunting.
It was short:
[F*ck you!]
Modrić grinned, replying:
[Wash your ass and wait for me!]
Buzz buzz—
[What are you doing to my ass? Disgusting. I despise you!]
Modrić smirked again:
[Scumbag!]
"Luka, what are you doing?"
His girlfriend's voice came from the living room.
Modrić reflexively called back:"We're just talking sh— I mean, Suker's talking sh*t again!"
"Can you help me for a sec?"
"Coming!"
He sent one final reply:
[Just wait and see!]
Then tossed the phone aside and got up.
Meanwhile, at Suker's villa—
He was lounging on the sofa, watching United's match on TV.
Kaká sat at the other end, watching intently.
Suker shut his phone and tossed it onto the coffee table.
"That injury news from United is fake," he said.
A few hours earlier, Ferguson had announced that Ferdinand was injured and might miss the match.
But Ancelotti was skeptical.
There was nothing wrong with Ferdinand in the last match.Now he's injured?Yeah, right.
Just a mind game.
And Modrić—he was getting too cocky.
Suker really wanted to teach him a lesson.
"Full-strength United will be tough to beat," Kaká remarked.
Suker replied, "They'll find us tough too. It'll come down to who takes their chances."
Kaká smiled, "Still, I think we'll win."
Suker looked surprised. "That confident?"
"I believe in you," Kaká said.
"Don't butter me up. No seafood rice this week. We'll talk after the season."
"But I have to go play World Cup qualifiers right after! Just one meal!" Kaká pleaded.
"Nope," Suker shook his head. "We need to keep the diet clean—no extra burden on the stomach."
Suker was in peak condition now.
He'd carried Milan all season, reaching the Champions League semifinals, putting in god-level performances, and scoring non-stop.
The media praised him relentlessly, and his coverage was glowing.
All of this helped build his case for the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year.
If Milan won the Champions League, Suker would likely take both awards—reaching the absolute summit of European football honors.
From the very beginning of his career, Suker had worked for this moment.
He couldn't fail now.
Beating Manchester United was a must.And after that, winning the final and defending Milan's Champions League title.
Then he'd have:
Serie A Golden Boot
Champions League Golden Boot
Champions League title
And possibly Serie A title too.
Considering his performances and Berlusconi's support, Suker was confident he'd win the big awards.
Fight.Fight with everything.
For the Ballon d'Or, for FIFA World Player, for the glory.
The opportunity was right in front of him—one step away.
And no one knew what would happen if he missed it.
Back then, Kaká beat United all by himself.
Now, even though United had Modrić and a stronger lineup...
Milan had Suker.
If Kaká alone couldn't do it, then add Suker into the mix—it had to be enough.
Kaká looked over and saw the savage light in Suker's eyes.
That was the gaze of a wolf locked onto its prey.