Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: The Real and the Fake - 2
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"Let's do this, Ricardo."
"Yeah, Ricardo."
Two Richardos shake hands as they prepare for the match.
Florence's attackers, Ricardo Saponara and Ricardo Sottil.
"Hooo-"
Both of them have tense faces, but Saponara, in particular, is shaking his legs noticeably.
It's because it's been a while since he's started a match.
He had been stepping onto the ground occasionally as a substitute, but it had been a long time since he was in the starting lineup.
He had been pushed away from the starting lineup due to tactical issues or his personal form, but thanks to the A-match schedule, he had抓住ed a precious opportunity.
"I really have to play well today."
Saponara said, tying his cleats as if sighing.
Looking back, he was already thirty.
Well, thirty isn't that old, but... Saponara was feeling a deeper sense of anxiety with each passing year.
It was because his position within the team was narrowing.
Truthfully, Saponara was a player who had blossomed into his prime at a very young age.
He immediately established himself as the core of Empoli FC upon his professional debut and received attention, and he was even called the future of the Azzurri squad as he played as the ace for Italy's age-group national teams.
However, with various problems piling up, Saponara's growth was cut short early on.
The fatal cause was that he spent two years at AC Milan after joining with high expectations, but he couldn't get many games.
After experiencing such a failure, his confidence took a huge hit. Perhaps that's why. Even after his time at Milan ended and he returned to Empoli, he couldn't bring out his old form.
Because of this, Saponara had to be called a failed prospect.
He chose a loan to Florence to overcome that slump.
He approached it with the mindset of letting everything go and starting over from scratch. Fortunately, the team gave him a lot of help and consideration, and his old skills began to slowly reappear.
He thought his second prime was coming.
However, a prodigy named Dušan Vlahović appeared.
Vlahović quickly became the team's core, and everything began to revolve around Vlahović.
Naturally, Saponara, with his strong attacking tendencies, was pushed out of the starting lineup.
Because of this, it was a time of great worry.
Since Florence was the team that helped him overcome difficult times, Saponara wanted to dedicate himself more to the team, but... he couldn't see a clear path.
He was in a position where he had to be satisfied with just being able to step on the ground occasionally as a substitute.
In that situation, the opportunity he抓住ed was today. It was a fortunate opportunity that had come his way, and it might be his last.
That's why Saponara was desperate today.
Because of that, the playful attitude he usually had was gone today.
"Hooo..."
Luckily, his condition during training was good.
Most of all, the feeling of chemistry with Lee Ji-an was fantastic.
He had to play a supporting role, which was a bit different from his original style, but it didn't matter at all.
He even wanted to do it.
Looking at the kid, he felt like he was reminded of the old days.
"Let's go, let's go!"
"It's a tournament! If we lose, it's over, so let's get our heads straight and go!"
Saponara made the sign of the cross with his trembling hand and then headed for the ground.
*
Standing in the center of the center circle, I look at the opponent's half. All the players in yellow uniforms are looking at me.
I've never thought about it before, but I realize that kicking off is quite a burdensome task.
"Let's go, let's go!"
"Forza-!"
It felt as if I had become the representative of my team, so instead of avoiding their gaze, I puffed out my chest.
I wouldn't normally, but I couldn't show weakness in front of a particular opponent while wearing a purple uniform.
Today's opponent, Hellas Verona, was a team currently ranked 14th in the league.
Also, I had faced them in the league before I moved up to the first team, and we had won 3-0 back then.
With Vlahović scoring a hat-trick.
To be honest, I feel a burden.
Even if my role is different, the position I'm taking today is Vlahović's position, the center forward.
It means I have to be responsible for the team's goals, just like him.
Even I think it's a bit funny.
Replacing Vlahović, the most watched attacker in Europe.
It's just for today, only one match, but the burden is immense.
That's why I'm trying not to think about those things. In that sense, I'm actually glad my role today is quite complicated.
It's so busy just thinking about what I have to do.
"Peeeeep-!"
The whistle blows, and the game starts with my awkward kick-off.
Today's formation is 4-3-3.
Saponara is on my left, and Sottil is on my right, forming the front line with me.
This is the first time we've played as this combination, but our chemistry in training wasn't bad.
Especially, Saponara took care of me a lot.
Saponara, with his great work rate and physique, took care of my share of defensive duties, and in attack, he ran an extra step to create space for me.
He said that since he's not a starter anyway, his stamina is what's left, and he's just running as much as he's desperate... but...
It seemed like he was being considerate since I was standing in this position for the first time.
For a senior like him, I want to do my part.
Paaaang-
Paaaang-
As our team slowly circulated the ball, I positioned myself between the opponent's defensive lines to start the game.
And I ran slowly, observing the defense's movements.
Or, I was trying to.
Tuk-!
A light impact from behind broke my concentration. I glanced back and saw a burly defender backing away.
The ball wasn't even coming to me at that moment.
Are they trying to intimidate me beforehand?
If that's the case, I could say it's a pretty good idea.
Because I'm actually starting to get a little scared.
Suddenly, I felt respect for my senior, Vlahović.
How does the senior fight against such defenders every match and play?
I can't do that, so for now, I should move away from this spot.
Tatatat-!
I move out of the defensive line and drop down into a lower area.
And I watch for the defense's reaction.
There are two possible reactions.
They either follow me up or stay in their position.
Which one will it be?
"..."
The opponent shows no reaction.
They chose to hold their ground.
In that case, there's no need to hesitate, so I raise my hand and ask for the ball.
Paaaang-!
The pass immediately flows to me.
I glance over and see the opponent's defensive midfielder pressing me instead of the defender.
But it's not threatening.
Because we have more numbers in midfield.
Paaaang-!
I pass the ball with one touch and move.
Since I, the attacker, have dropped into midfield according to the formation, we must have at least one more player in midfield.
Ultimately, one player becomes free, so it's not difficult to possess the ball.
Paaaang-!
The defender who was pressing me gets pulled along by the ball, and the pass comes back to me.
I hold onto that pass and turn forward this time.
The space in front of me is quite wide.
The space between midfield and defense.
I leisurely dribble the ball toward that space.
I deliberately take my time.
To make the opponent feel like they want to take the ball away.
Tatatat-!
Hmm. I didn't expect it to work this quickly.
Did I look that annoying?
A defender finally breaks from his position and rushes out.
Wow. That's scary.
It's scary, but... it's okay.
Because I won't be the one dealing with him anyway.
Tatatat-!
As one defender leaves his spot, the wingers on both sides immediately make diagonal runs into the center, as if they were waiting for it.
It's a movement to exploit the central area where only one defender is left.
Of course, the opponent's fullbacks follow them in, but that level is easily avoidable with my pass.
For now... the left side is better.
Paaaaaaang-!
I fix my ankle and forcefully poke the ball inside.
It's a through pass aimed at Saponara's running path as he cuts in from the left to the center.
I set the direction to go between the fullback chasing him from behind and the one central defender.
Chwaaaaaah-
Luckily, the pass went exactly where I intended.
Now I just hope Saponara finishes it...
Tuk-
Booooom-!
Unfortunately, his shot went over the goal.
It felt like he put too much power into it. The shot rose and went over the goal post.
But the process was good.
Everyone moved well, and we successfully invaded the dangerous area relatively easily, and we even finished the attack with a shot.
So, I was about to give Saponara a thumbs up.
Jjaaraaak-!
The sound of a slap on bare skin echoed.
Because of that, I was a bit dumbfounded.
"Sorry, sorry!"
Saponara was apologizing while hitting his own head with his palm.
"..."
I'm quite flustered.
It doesn't seem like something to be that self-critical about.
Especially since Saponara, with his usual cheeky personality, is acting this way, it's even more flustering.
...Does that mean he's that desperate?
Somehow, I feel like I understand his feelings.
Just a short while ago, I too did everything I could just to get a single game appearance.
"..."
Looking at Saponara's head, where the handprint was reddening, I suddenly thought that I really wanted to score a goal together with him today.
*
The opponent was very cautious.
It was as if their goal was to only secure a draw for the 90 minutes, as they only focused on setting up a thick defensive line.
I think it's probably because today's match is a tournament game.
Since it's a tournament, there's a way to advance even with a draw.
Anyway, because of that, we had possession of the ball for most of the time, but we couldn't easily challenge the goal.
I checked the scoreboard a moment ago, and it's already past the 20th minute of the first half.
It's time to start scoring...
Tuk-
I hold the ball and look at the front.
Perhaps because of what happened earlier, the opponent no longer rushes at me even when I have the ball.
They just stand in their positions, frustratingly.
Because of that, I can't see any space to easily pass the ball.
It means the opponent has caught on. That I'm a fake attacker.
In that case... I think it's time to move like a real attacker.
I have to get in. Like a real attacker.
The thought of squeezing through those narrow gaps makes me feel breathless, but it's better than being exposed as a fake.
I have to look like the real thing.
...In many ways.
Tatatat-!
I dribble the ball forward.
At the same time, my gaze is constantly scanning left and right.
With my gaze, our team's attackers move, and the opponent's defenders move.
But the central defender remains in his spot.
In that case, what I need right now is a movement that makes them into redundant resources.
Tatatat-!
As I reach the space between midfield and the last line of defense, Saponara on the left cuts inside toward the center.
I pass the ball to him.
Paaaang-!
And I run to the left.
As Saponara came inside, the opponent's fullback was pulled along with him, and because of that, space opened up on the left.
But it will be difficult for the opponent's central defender to come and get me.
Not only is Saponara, who received my pass, in the center, but Sottil on the right is also penetrating into the box.
In that situation, it's not easy to leave the center empty and block me.
Tatatat-!
I turn to the left and enter the box.
While doing so, I prepare to receive a pass.
Truthfully, if the defender is attached to me, it's fine even if the pass doesn't come to me. That means the center will be open.
But if the pass comes, I'm ready.
For this moment, I have to believe that I'm a real attacker too.
Paaaang-!
I see the ball slip through the gap in the defense.
Saponara poked the pass to the left.
Tatat-!
But I get caught by a slight feint.
I was penetrating forward, but the pass was going slightly backward.
I quickly stop with my left foot and stretch my right leg back.
And,
Sweeeep-!
I scrape the ball and bring it to my body.
At the same time, I check the goalkeeper's position with my eyes.
He's hugging the near post, so the far post is open.
Like all goal chances, but since this is a pass from my senior Saponara, I want to score it even more.
Because of that, I'm even more cautious.
Tuk-
I slightly push the ball to make it easier to hit with my right foot,
Paaaaaaang-!
Not with power, but with precision.
I curl it toward the far post.
Shwooooooong-
For a moment, as I see the ball heading outside the goal, I think I aimed too wide...
Shwoooong-
Soon, the ball curves and its trajectory changes.
Thwack-!
The curving ball hits the side netting and shakes the goal.
Waaaaaaaah-!
At the same time, a huge roar erupts.
And...
"Uraaaaaah!"
I see Saponara running towards me, swinging his arms wildly.
So I ran away toward the corner flag first.
It felt like the fear I felt with the captain in the Inter match was being reproduced.
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