"Three goals, and they think they can come back," Alonso said, shaking his head in disbelief.
The Spanish midfielder wiped sweat from his forehead as AEK's players rearranged themselves for another desperate assault. Their body language had transformed completely—backs straight, voices sharp, movements urgent, replacing the resignation that had lingered just minutes before.
Plašil jogged past, his breath coming in controlled bursts despite the intensity of the match. "They're playing like men possessed now," he observed in accented English, nodding toward the Greek players gesturing frantically at each other.
The tactical shift was immediate and striking. AEK abandoned its defensive structure entirely, pushing seven players into Monaco's half while leaving only three behind. It was a reckless gamble—the kind of strategy that could either spark a miraculous comeback or lead to an embarrassing rout.
