Chapter 318: I've been watching you
After scoring, Dong Fangzhuo ran along the sidelines, fists clenched, shouting out to release the pressure in his heart. He finally scored again! But this time was different from before. There was no feeling of forced shooting, only immense satisfaction.
So, playing football could be this simple! It didn't necessarily involve facing layers of defense or feeling panicked. All you needed to do was pass the ball to where it needed to go, run to where you needed to be, and everything would fall into place.
Watching Dong Fangzhuo celebrate on the sidelines, Avilaze couldn't believe it for a moment. Was this still the clumsy Chinese youngster?
But he quickly dismissed the thought. He and Dong Fangzhuo weren't in competition, and he didn't harbor much resentment towards him. If Dong Fangzhuo could become stronger, it would only benefit the team.
So the Georgian caught up with Dong Fangzhuo and embraced him, congratulating him on scoring again. Dong Fangzhuo, in turn, expressed his gratitude to Avilaze, thanking him for his trust. Without that pass, the cooperation wouldn't have been possible.
The boos from the stands diminished significantly, and Van Gaal's eyes lit up. He saw clearly that Dong Fangzhuo had planned and executed that goal.
This was the feeling he wanted! The Chinese youngster's ability and attitude were not in question, but he had always struggled to integrate into the team's tactical system. However, Van Gaal now saw a glimmer of hope. Had Dong Fangzhuo truly improved or was it just a fluke? The Dutchman decided to give him some more time.
In the following match, the Chinese youngster continued his magical performance, repeatedly delivering thoughtful passes and making unpredictable runs, threatening the Ajax goal frequently. For a period, Alkmaar even dominated the field.
At halftime, despite trailing 1-2, the home team's morale remained high, largely thanks to Dong Fangzhuo's contributions!
In the locker room, many players who previously held no grudge against Dong Fangzhuo greeted him. Team captain Maldia came to sit beside him, saying, "Dong, your performance was really impressive just now. It felt completely different from usual."
He patted Dong Fangzhuo on the shoulder. "Keep it up!"
Dong Fangzhuo smiled. Sometimes, within the club, as long as you showed enough strength, you would earn the respect of your teammates.
Next, head coach Van Gaal began to lay out the second-half tactics. When it was Dong Fangzhuo's turn, he paused and said, "Dong, continue playing at the same pace as in the first half, with more involvement in the attacking organization."
Dong Fangzhuo was overjoyed to hear this. He hadn't been benched, and he still had a chance to perform in the second half!
Meanwhile, not far away, Van Se gritted his teeth. He was so close to displacing that damn Chinese guy and securing a starting position. Why did Dong Fangzhuo suddenly burst out like this? "It must have been a fluke. His true colors will show soon enough!"
As the game resumed, Dong Fangzhuo continued to be active in the attack. His mindset was completely open, and his clever ball control and runs made it difficult for the Ajax defense to cope.
In the 54th minute, Alkmaar once again found an opportunity in the opponent's half. Midfielder Soxes passed the ball to Dong Fangzhuo, who ran towards the penalty area, shielding Ajax defender Emmanuelson with his body.
His physicality had been honed through daily training and continuous matches. Although he was bumped by the Dutchman, he still protected the ball.
Instead of holding onto the ball, Dong Fangzhuo stopped it with his left foot and perfectly set it up for Avilaze a few meters away. He then continued his forward run, and Avilaze, understanding the situation, immediately flicked the ball into the penalty area, over the Ajax defense.
The Chinese youngster surpassed both Stam and Vermaelen, arriving at the edge of the small penalty area. With the ball dropping in front of him, he lifted his knee slightly and controlled it perfectly.
Facing the goalkeeper ahead, Dong Fangzhuo chose to pass across the middle. With the goalkeeper blocking the front, he passed to Maldia who was unmarked in the center, easily scoring into the empty net. 2-2! Alkmaar leveled the score!
"Beautiful! Another attacking play by Dong Fangzhuo! His assist has turned the tide for the team!"
"His timing for passing was perfect, and his control inside the penalty area was impeccable."
"80% of the credit for this goal belongs to Dong Fangzhuo's runs and ball control!"
On the sidelines, Van Gaal waved his arms excitedly. This smooth passing and control were exactly what he wanted for the attack. He began to consider seriously nurturing Dong Fangzhuo. If he could maintain this level of performance, he could become the team's attacking core in the future.
After this goal, Dong Fangzhuo and Avilaze formed another partnership in the 63rd minute. The Chinese youngster, facing the goal from a tight angle in the penalty area, shot, hitting the inside of the post and into the net!
A brace! Dong Fangzhuo scored his first brace since joining the Eredivisie!
In previous matches, he wouldn't have dared to attempt such a difficult shot. But today, he was in high spirits, full of confidence!
Ultimately, with Dong Fangzhuo's two goals and one assist, Alkmaar won 3-2 at home against Ajax. He was rightfully awarded the title of the best player of the match.
As the game ended, still in an excited state, Dong Fangzhuo received a call from Wang Feng. "Well done. If you can maintain this level of performance, you will definitely establish yourself in the Eredivisie!"
Dong Fangzhuo hadn't expected Wang Feng to know about the situation here so quickly. "I've been watching you," Wang Feng said. He had long been aware of his compatriot's current predicament and had instructed Balmond to fully support Dong Fangzhuo.
To Wang Feng, Dong Fangzhuo's outstanding performance in this match was entirely due to his previous accumulation. If he hadn't gained experience and understanding of the correct way to play football from previous league matches, he might have only contributed a few brilliant moments and then quickly faded away.
But now it was different. Continuously gaining experience from matches while understanding the right way to play, Wang Feng believed that Dong Fangzhuo's growth would accelerate in the future.
Dong Fangzhuo was moved. He hadn't expected Wang Feng to care so much about him. The two then discussed the process of the game, and Wang Feng helped him analyze the on-field situation and ball-handling methods, offering improvement suggestions.
Previously somewhat confused, Dong Fangzhuo now felt incredibly clear. He realized that there were other ways to play football, not just relying on physicality but also using his brain!
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺