Chapter 87
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 87
Chapter Title Spear vs. Shield
Todays starting lineup.
Chelsea
FW Baufftini
MF KozakSeretti
DeloaOrelena
DF JuninhoDe NunoWanderleyKekeCruz
GK Destanoglu
Newcastle
FW RedleyIlinyuYoon Taeyang
MF BoxallMenendezGomez
DF BandiaArnoldZenasSanchez
GK Ricella
Its the ultimate showdown between spear and shield. Were already looking forward to seeing which will prevail the Premier Leagues sharpest spear or its sturdiest shield this season.
No matter how you look at it, Chelseas defense is rocksolid
But seeing Yoon Taeyang score against Milan or Barca makes me think Chelsea will get shredded too.
I think the opposite. Chelseas defensive, sure, but their midfield has real attacking punch, so who knows? Newcastles backline looks shakier than expected
Fr, its pretty unstable
What worries me more is that Coach His got Taeyang all figured out. Hes the type who breaks down opponents specialties and weaknesses with stats and shuts them down.
They even brought in AI but its man vs. manwill that really work so easily?
Amid the crowds inside and outside the stadium watching todays match, the biggest buzz centered on Chelsea manager Hiss Jonathan, who claimed to have thoroughly analyzed Taeyang, pinpointed his weaknesses, and was confident they could shut him down.
At first, his statsdriven soccer had drawn plenty of scorn, but no one could dismiss it outright after seeing the results.
Even Arsenals Dylan Monroe, who was neckandneck with Taeyang in the golden boot race, and Man Uniteds Feliciano had been completely stifled by Chelseas statistical approach.
Man United had salvaged a draw thanks to some late referee calls and two quick goals, but Arsenal had been utterly helpless, handing Chelsea the game on a platter.
Hiss Jonathan figured Artelli was no different.
He had no doubts about beating a manager whod spent most of his career coaching youth teams with outdated, rigid soccer.
The only slight concern... is Yoon Taeyang.
Hiss watched as Taeyang sprang into motion with the whistle.
Hed reviewed Newcastles Champions League clash against Milan.
People called Alberto Gino a fantasista, but to him, the true fantasista was Yoon Taeyang.
He was a chameleon of a player.
Sometimes he played like untouchable Messi, even when you knew what was coming. Other times, hed charge like Il Fenomeno Ronaldo. And just when you least expected it, hed pull off Ronaldinhoesque magic.
But in the end, it was all one man Yoon Taeyang.
Taeyang had weaknesses, exploitable flaws.
Hed pored over Taeyangs games with his staff time and again, compiling a playbook they distributed to the players for memorization and drilled in endless practice.
Now they just had to execute in the match.
Hiss trusted his players.
Newcastle has the ball and is approaching cautiously.
Hard to push forward. Midfields guarded by four in double cover, fullbacks shifting from second to fourth line to outnumber and deny space.
Excluding the lone striker up top, its no exaggeration to say every Chelsea player is defending.
The secret to their minimal goals conceded lies in this ironclad defense.
No matter how Newcastle shuffled the ball, Chelsea showed no gaps.
But they had to attack.
Newcastles fullbacks pushed up aggressively.
At the center, Menendez drew Chelsea players in before passing to Yoon Taeyang.
His sharp pass sliced through the crowd, landing right at Taeyangs feet.
In that instant, Cruz blocked Taeyangs path.
Taeyang charged at Cruz with the ball.
Hiss crossed his arms, clenching a fist.
Yeswhen Taeyang gets the ball and someones in his way, he tries to beat them with high probability.
Just like now.
And at this distance...
Thats right.
Hed go for a Free Flap or La Croqueta.
Luring the opponent one way, then nutmegging through the legs.
Cruz leaned as planned, spreading his legs to invite the nutmeg.
The ball zipped between his thighs. Cruz spun with the motion, chasing it down.
He cleared it outside just ahead of Taeyang, whod bypassed the obstacle.
Huh.
The managers statsbased prediction had hit the mark.
Cruz prepped for the throwin, thinking that.
Sanchez grabbed the ball and threw it to Yoon Taeyang.
Cruz stuck right back on Taeyangs tail.
In these spots, Taeyang uses a Marseille Turn or flick.
This time, he took the ball and pivoted around Cruz as the axis.
As if anticipating it, Keke rushed in from Taeyangs blind spot with a perfect tackle.
The ball went out again.
Oh.
Taeyangs eyes widened in admiration.
Look at these guys.
They really studied me hard.
Every course I aim for, dribble skill, pattern, timingthey move like theyve got it all mapped out.
Id tried breaking through over and over, but they shut me down every time.
Ooh.
As I let out another gasp, Kekewhod cleared itsnorted.
Youre nothing special, his face said.
Fun.
It was fun.
Come to think of it, in my past life, Id been targeted by that manager too.
In the Champions League, hed marked me as the key player and weakness, shutting me down relentlessly.
Back then, I was patching a broken physique with passes and vision.
Full of flaws, in other words.
How easy must I have been to counter.
Id been powerless against Chelsea.
I remembered regretting how I wouldnt have crumbled if my body had been intact.
But this second life of mine was different.
If breakthroughs were tough, I could just unravel the game with passes.
I dropped a bit lower on the wing and started moving.
But they anticipated even that, cutting off forward passing lanes.
Waitlast season, Id come inside as a midfielder and wrecked Chelsea.
Had they started studying me then?
In the end, we went into the locker room at halftime, 00, without a single chance.
Taeyang, you good?
Artelli approached, asking if the stalemate worried him.
I shrugged.
Cant complain?
Not easy piercing Chelsea, huh?
Theyve studied me plenty.
I figured. Not just youthe whole teams been dissected. Stats are scary, eh?
Maybe? But the key is, they only blocked us with stats. They havent scored once.
Right you are. If stats soccer was perfect, wed be trailing by a few already. Stats arent everything.
Yeah.
Rightstats werent everything.
Id only shown a fraction of what I had.
Newcastle failed to break Chelsea once in the first half, while Chelsea completely neutralized them.
First time seeing Yoon Taeyang look this impotent. Are stats really that crucial in soccer?
If it stays like this, Hiss Jonathans philosophy might prove superior.
The second half kicked off.
Chelsea took the field brimming with confidence.
They believed their soccer was working, morale skyhigh.
They recalled the managers locker room words.
Well go on the attack properly now. Newcastles defensive line is weak. Their low goalsconceded rate comes from Sanchez and Menendezs quick support, not the centerbacks. Drag them up, isolate the centerbacks. Then... you know.
Hiss Jonathans words were gospel.
Chelsea maintained their defensive shell, waiting for the scenario he described.
Meanwhile, the leagues top spearNewcastlepushed up aggressively, probing for goal.
Determined to score somehow this half.
As always, Taeyang led the charge.
With the ball, he bulldozed forward.
Chelsea countered exactly as trained.
No space for Taeyang to build speed one close, one tight, always supporting.
Cruz smirked in front of him.
Youre figured out, punk.
Yeah?
Taeyang grinned back.
Then charged at Cruz with the ball.
Straight to the right, honest.
What?
Cruz baited like usual.
Come on, nutmeg through the legs! Go ahead!
Taeyangs smile deepened.
He dragged the ball smoothly, skirting Cruzs legs, and surged forward.
?!
Cruz panicked for a split secondbut it happens.
After getting stuffed repeatedly, he wouldnt keep forcing nutmegs.
Cruz adjusted and chased.
Then Taeyang stopped, changed direction. As Cruz halted, Taeyang switched again, accelerating.
No matter the predicted defending from stats, Taeyang evaded with light touches, never losing possession.
Another player closed to help.
Taeyang shielded between them.
He turned his back, protecting it.
They shoved hard, but he didnt budge.
Sidestepping to shake them, then whipping around.
Cruz and Keke startled.
The ball was gone?
Taeyang sliced between the stunned pair.
While Taeyang had turned his backblocking their viewhed passed. Menendez took it and chipped over their heads.
Block it!
Not predicted, but Wanderley was in Taeyangs path.
Taeyang received Menendezs pass backtoback, facing Wanderley.
What?
Eyes in the back of his head?
Why turn with the ball...
!!!
Suddenly, the ball rose from behind Taeyangs back.
A backheel lofted it over Wanderleys head.
Wanderley spun to chase.
Taeyang ran alongside, as if pursuing too.
Ilinyu!
Wanderley saw the ball drop at Ilinyus feet and pursued.
At least Keke was already alongside Ilinyu.
If Keke stalled, they could stop it.
Pass!!
What?!
Ilinyu, receiving it, had no thought of beating Keke or shooting.
He just nudged it sideways.
Ah!
Wanderley finally glanced over.
Taeyang!
Running level with him, Taeyang had claimed Ilinyus pass.
Sunny!!!!
As Wanderley gnashed his teeth and yelled, Taeyangs foot curled the ball toward goal.
It bent beautifully into the top corner.
Waaaaaaah!
The away fans erupted as Taeyang turned to Wanderley.
My names not Sunnyits Yoon Taeyang.
Goals meant nothing to him he just hated that girly nickname.