Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Manchester United New vs Old (3)
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Rodrygo had given up a perfect chance to create an even more perfect one.
Of course, racking up assists was important too, but Rodrygo needed goals.
It wasn't like he was doing this because he absolutely couldn't record an assist himself.
"Nice one, Rod! How about finishing it yourself next time?"
"!...Thanks."
He looked a bit surprised at my words, then muttered his thanks as he jogged back beyond the center line.
Of course, wingers came in all styles—not every one of them had to score directly.
There were wingers like Salah or Son Heung-min who finished a high percentage themselves, while others focused on dribbling into space for that final pass or cross to set up the central striker.
But in the end, wingers were attackers too.
Attackers proved themselves with goals, and their existence was validated by goals.
For Rodrygo to validate his own existence, he needed consistent goals.
And when that happened...
Maybe he could escape the sacrifice disguised as dedication.
The match resumed with Al Nassr's kickoff.
The score was 2:0, but with only about half the first half gone, the outcome was still anyone's guess.
On the flip side, if you focused on how they'd conceded two goals in just 25 minutes, you could say the game was already decided.
In the end, accepting that reality and playing out the remaining 65 minutes came down to the team's quality.
And Al Nassr's players...
Their physical limits were clear, but in terms of mentality?
These veterans had far more experience with defeat—and turning those losing games around.
Al Nassr's veterans, whose engines had aged and thus took longer to warm up...
They were finally starting to show their true skill.
"Block it!!!"
Real Madrid wasn't perfect in every position either.
And among them, the position that demanded the most all-around perfection...
On Real Madrid's left flank, Trent Alexander-Arnold's space had turned into Al Nassr's old-timers' playground.
Thwack-
Dani Olmo, who'd switched with Kingsley Coman to claim some breathing room on the left, eyed a teammate's head in the box.
Aim higher than that.
He lofted a cross so high it felt almost criminal.
Paang!!—
Mamardashvili the keeper stretched his hand skyward, but it sailed out of reach.
The ball looked set to fly past the box into the opposite sideline space.
Paang!!
But a player who leaped explosively into the air hammered it straight into the net.
IIIYAAAAAAA!!!—
The moment he scored, Ronaldo truly looked like he was flying.
A play no one could replicate even in their wildest dreams.
You didn't have to be born with that vertical to become the world's best, but it was only natural to feel awe at such overwhelming physical prowess.
And after that monster goal, Ronaldo immediately grabbed the ball from the net and hustled back to the center circle.
I was born too late to see peak Menaldo.
But in that instant, I totally got how billions of Ronaldo bros existed worldwide.
The game restarted at 2:1 after Ronaldo's goal.
The remaining 10 minutes of the first half passed without any highlights.
Al Nassr regretted failing to build on Ronaldo's momentum.
Real Madrid lamented not turning their 2:0 dominance into 3:0 or 4:0, aside from that one goal conceded.
Both teams headed to the locker rooms with regrets, sharpening their blades for the second half.
Xavi Alonso the manager was extremely pragmatic—and cold.
"If we can't pull away by the 75th minute, we'll make substitutions."
"Yeager, join the switching play in central and left areas to give us more options."
As expected.
Instructions to double down on left-flank attacks that could awaken both Vinicius and Kylian Mbappé.
Not a bad strategy to maximize their star weapons.
But wasn't it a problem if the opponents knew it inside out and prepared for it from the start?
"Hoo..."
Of course, I came to Real Madrid not for tactical debates, so I just listened to Xavi Alonso's orders.
Whether I'd execute them on the pitch was my call, though.
"Let's make one happen in the second half."
"...Sounds good."
Rodrygo, who'd been looking stiff, smiled a beat late in response.
...
Thud-
I stuck out my fist, and he belatedly bumped his against it.
'For Rod!!!'
I shouted my personal vow inwardly.
"Yeager, you're a great teammate."
'Did he hear that?'
The second half kicked off with Kylian Mbappé's kickoff.
For us—or rather, for Rodrygo—a 75-minute deadline had appeared.
If we couldn't extend the lead over Al Nassr by then, someone would be subbed.
This was single-elimination, so no relaxing at a one-goal lead, and planning real counters was smart.
But if that someone was Rodrygo, it'd be a personal problem for me.
Shwirrr-
I glanced back slightly, then let Mbappé's kickoff pass roll between my legs.
Valverde took it and immediately dribbled sideline-ward, probing the opponents.
I followed to the right flank, opening passing lanes.
A natural triangle formed: Rodrygo, me, Valverde.
Paang—
Valverde stabbed a pass toward Rodrygo.
The moment I pushed up for the return...
"Do it solo!"
Not Rodrygo—it was Lucas Hernández lunging too far to intercept his pass.
Anticipating passes was key, but he'd missed the bigger picture.
Allowing a direct breakthrough.
He wasn't reacting to my call.
If he was deciding after hearing it, it'd be way too late.
Thwoong!—
Rodrygo had read Hernández's defending style from the start and planned the breakout himself.
Waaaaaaah!!!—
In a flash, Rodrygo claimed vast right-flank space.
Hernández wasn't the only one caught; Al Nassr's backline panicked, forming an unsteady line.
Paang!!—
Rodrygo didn't waste time—he whipped the ball in.
Shwirrrrr-
A ground cross slicing beautifully across the turf.
It flew past Iñigo Martínez, Ali Rajami, central striker Kylian Mbappé...
And even keeper Yann Sommer.
Straight to Vinícius Júnior's feet charging from the opposite side.
Rodrygo had created another perfect chance, leaving just an empty net.
This time, Vinícius buried it cleanly.
IIIYAAAAAAA!!!—
Real Madrid struck just as the second half began.
This goal was Rodrygo's show, really.
...
"Yeager! Thanks to you, breaking through was easy!"
As we jogged back, Rodrygo met me at midfield and expressed his gratitude.
Referring to how Hernández overcommitted to intercepting a pass to me.
It was a decoy play on my part, sure—but deciding to break through there was pure Rodrygo skill.
'I was too arrogant.'
Lucas Cruijff and Rodrygo were clearly different players, different levels.
Cruijff was still a prospect needing guidance to build confidence, but Rodrygo?
He was already world-class.
That's why Manchester United needed him.
I wasn't syncing with Rodrygo for his sake.
"Rod!!!"
Paang!—
He was an attacker who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Vinícius and Mbappé, even in unfamiliar kit.
Playing with him was pure fun and efficiency.
Score: 3:1
No more fixating on Rodrygo needing a goal—just ditch the anxiety about subbing out.