Chapter 265: Chapter 264 My Response Is For Those Who Support Me (Thanks to Bimengxinghen for the Generous Reward)
Estadio Alvalade.
Although the fans were listless, those who were supposed to come had all arrived.
After all, it was the team’s first game of the new season, and it was a home game.
Even if not to watch the game, they had to come even if it was just to curse at Trigella.
When the stadium announcer read out each player’s name as they entered, the fans were indifferent.
Mainly because they didn’t recognize them.
Didier Drogba, John Terry, Andrea Barzagli, Jose Fonte...
Jose Fonte: I’ve been playing for Sporting Lisbon since I was a kid, and you still don’t recognize me?
It wasn’t until Viana, Quaresma, and Schmeichel came out that the atmosphere in the stadium finally picked up.
Then came Deschamps, and the fans began to applaud continuously, just like they welcomed and greeted Schmeichel when he first joined last season.
With Matthaus’s arrival, the atmosphere at the venue reached its peak.
The crowd kept chanting Matthaus’s name; this is the eternal special treatment for the World Footballer and the Golden Ball winners.
After all, they were the strongest in the world in a certain year!
"Cristiano Ronaldo!"
The peak of cheering subsided as soon as Cristiano appeared.
For the first time in his home stadium, Cristiano did not win the fans’ favor.
Even today, many fans still believe that Cristiano and Jordanina’s breakup was the main reason for Jia De’er’s departure, and they took their anger out on Cristiano because of this.
"Deng Kai!"
The announcer read out another name.
This time, there were even boos from the surroundings.
Several players subconsciously looked towards Deng Kai at the end, worried about his state.
But Deng Kai raised his hands high, walking forward while rotating and looking around; he was greeting the fans who were cheering for him.
This directly led to even larger boos in the venue.
Because most of the fans booing Deng Kai were provoked by Deng Kai’s actions.
Though they knew that this had always been Deng Kai’s pre-game ritual at home.
"Why do you have to provoke them?" Matthaus asked as they stood on the grass for a team photo.
Deng Kai, standing on tiptoe and maintaining a smile, said, "I’m not provoking anyone; I’m greeting those who support me. They took time to come to the stadium to see my game, not to see me frowning at them."
"If I were influenced by those who curse at me and now made retaliatory actions or comments, it would be unfair to those who support me."
"I’m facing many, and I might think I’m only attacking those who curse at me. But the fans are one-on-one; they’ll feel that I’m inexplicably frowning at them, even though they have always been cheering for me."
"So my response has always been for those who support me!"
Matthaus was silent for a moment; few stars could achieve what Deng Kai did.
No, in the European football world, very few stars even think of this.
Matthaus: "But now, it seems that there are very few people supporting you, we can’t even hear their cheers... under this huge booing."
Deng Kai shrugged and walked to the center circle: "Even if only one person supports me, responding to him is still worth it, plus... I know there are definitely more than one person who supports me."
"I should have met you earlier, so my relationships with teammates, coaches, and fans wouldn’t have turned out like this," Matthaus remarked pensively.
"No, no, no, that has never been your problem," Deng Kai said, covering his mouth. "Your main issue is not being able to control your lower half."
Matthaus was taken aback.
What the fuck!
How does this kid know everything?
"But I suggest you not do anything bad at Sporting Lisbon." Deng Kai motioned for Matthaus to step back, "Maxa pays great attention to the moral character of the opposition when teaching tactics."
"He thinks highly of you and seems to be planning to teach you all he knows. Don’t let him down."
"After all, you probably want to coach the national team in the future, right? There’s nothing cooler than making those who are upset with you envious!"
Matthaus’s eyes lit up, and he had to admit that Deng Kai had hit the nail on the head.
He liked the feeling of others being annoyed by him, yet unable to do anything about it.
Tweet!
With a whistle, the match officially began.
Sporting Lisbon had indeed adopted the 3-2-2-3 formation, to the surprise of many commentators.
They had thought Maxa was deploying a feint, but as it turned out, a top tactical master like Maxa had no need to resort to deception.
Not nine shallow and one deep but rather, nine truths to one lie; feinting weakness when strong, and strength when weak... Such are the ways of war!
Today’s opponent of Sporting Lisbon was Belenenses, a team fighting to avoid relegation from the Primeira Liga.
In terms of player strength, even though Sporting Lisbon fielded many young faces, they were visibly superior.
After three minutes of probing, Sporting Lisbon kept the football at their feet.
But five minutes later, Belenenses, who had initially been pushed back near their penalty area, gradually came out of their shell, resulting in an even situation with Sporting Lisbon.
"Sporting Lisbon has made too many mistakes in the past period. Moreover, their attack relies mainly on Quaresma, but Belenenses have clearly done their homework on this future Figo!"
In both football and basketball, there have been many players who burst onto the scene in their first season only to fizzle out later.
The NBA refers to it as the ’rookie wall’.
It describes the situation where a performing young player is targeted by defenses, losing their threat and struggling to perform at a high level.
Quaresma had dominated the Primeira Liga for a season, and everyone was familiar with his traits.
The key problem was that Jia De’er had left, allowing Belenenses to target him without hesitation.
Quaresma’s ability to handle the ball under high-intensity pressure had actually improved.
But the problem was the new formation changed this season.
He could manage playing slowly, but when the pace quickened, his unfamiliarity with his teammates, the formation, running positions, and coordination led to frequent passing mistakes.
When the opposition intercepted his passes, they could immediately counterattack.
Fortunately, Deng Kai was on the same side, and along with Deschamps behind him, who had outstanding interception abilities, they resolved the majority of crises.
The most dangerous moment came when the football broke through Deschamps and was disrupted by Andrea Barzagli, just as a Belenenses forward was challenging him one-on-one.
The first thirty minutes saw ineffective attacks and defenses from both sides.
Belenenses’ problem was the lack of player capability.
Sporting Lisbon’s problem was team disarray.
But in the thirty-fifth minute, Deng Kai, having grasped the situation, made the first change.
He sent a long pass, breaking away from the team’s large-circle passing, and aimed directly for the vast space behind the opposition’s right-back on the left side.
Cristiano sped forward, battling with the opposition’s right-back, and got to the ball first before being encountered by the opposition.
Tweet!
The main referee awarded a set piece.
The position was not far from the corner flag area, making it a rather threatening set piece.
Deng Kai ran over, signaling for his teammates to come forward for the header.
