Chapter 30: Do you know your mission?
Sebastian, a product of the Eintracht Frankfurt youth academy, became a regular starter in the Bundesliga at the age of 20, known for his potent attack and fragile defense.
Facing the rushing Leverkusen goalkeeper, Leno, he coolly opted for a chip shot. The ball soared gracefully, and before the pained eyes of the Leverkusen fans... it dropped into the net.
3:3!!!
The Wolfsburg fans roared with hysterical excitement.
"A goal-scoring feast!"
"He scored again!"
"The experienced Sebastian has helped Wolfsburg level the score."
"A brilliant assist from De Bruyne."
"The impact Li Luo has had since coming on is immediate."
"Turning the tide."
"You could say he has changed the very temperament of this team."
...
In the live broadcast room:
- [This is what the Bundesliga is all about! Keep scoring, don't stop!]
- [I'm rich, brothers!]
- [Is Leno about to be blown out again?]
- [Li Luo simplifies the complex; he's neutralized the Werkself's tactics and made Wolfsburg flow much smoother.]
- [So cool!]
- [Is Manchester United watching this? Do you know what kind of lineup you need for next season? You need to start buying players when the winter window opens.]
...
Wolfsburg teammates rushed to the bench to celebrate.
Hecking said: "The opposition is going to make adjustments. What? You say we need to find a way to cut off their connection between the wings and the middle? Yes, exactly! Did everyone hear that? Li thinks the same way I do. That's how we'll play from here on out."
No one had any objections.
Down by two goals.
Two consecutive goals to tie.
The team's confidence had fully returned.
On the other side, Dino looked conflicted: "Boss, our next attacking moves should develop from the flanks. Hakan Calhanoglu is being heavily targeted."
The coaching staff was overwhelmed. Schmidt paced the technical area, accidentally crushing a plastic water bottle: "The game is playing out beyond our expectations..."
...
In the VIP box, the Bayer Group executives watched with envious eyes.
"Volkswagen's strategic vision is truly sharp."
"I wonder what heavy price they had to pay to loan Li Luo from Manchester United to Wolfsburg."
"Extraordinary commercial value."
...
The fourth official stood outside the center circle and raised the LED substitution board.
"Wolfsburg makes their second substitution."
"Malanda replaces the youth product, Arnold."
"Hecking isn't just considering the young player's stamina and rest."
"Heh heh, the strategic significance behind such substitutions from a top manager is hard to guess. Who knows, Wolfsburg might really have a chance to take the lead."
...
Before stepping onto the pitch, the assistant coach gave him a crash course, laying out a series of tactical details and positional rotation requirements. Malanda looked blank; he couldn't remember all that in such a short time.
"Stay calm!"
Hecking stepped forward, put his arm around Malanda's shoulder, and asked in a low voice: "Do you know your mission?"
The 19-year-old kid had a firm look in his eyes: "Whoever messes with Li, I mess with them. Pass the ball to Li!"
Hecking gave a thumbs up: "You kid, you're a genius!"
...
The match resumed from the center circle. Leverkusen's morale wasn't significantly dampened. The fighting spirit of their star players continued to soar.
"The wing."
"Donati."
"Dribbling across the center circle."
"No good opportunities here, pass it to Lars Bender..."
"The famous twin brothers of German football—the elder brother plays for Leverkusen, the younger for Dortmund."
Hakan Calhanoglu kept raising his hand, asking for the ball. He didn't believe he was any worse than Li Luo.
'My midfield battle with Li Luo has only just begun.'
...
Lars Bender passed the ball to Bellarabi.
"The creator of the fastest goal record in Bundesliga history!"
"Last month, in the first round of the Bundesliga, the Werkself challenged the Yellow Wall away. After the whistle blew, Leverkusen needed only three passes to get the ball to Bellarabi's feet to score against Dortmund, breaking the record."
"From kickoff to Bellarabi taking the shot, it took 8 seconds."
The commentator explained patiently. Zhang added a few words, noting: "This kid on the wing has a major flaw—he likes to waste his shooting opportunities. He leads the top five leagues in long-range attempts, but his accuracy is extremely low."
...
The roar of the BayArena came to an abrupt halt.
Bellarabi, 40 meters from the goal, swung his leg.
*Bang.*
The ball smashed into Malanda's backside and bounced onto the grass. The players from both sides reacted instantly. Son Heung-min, who had rotated into the middle, was full of energy and launched a frantic counter-press.
"He won it back."
"Leverkusen's secondary attack."
Son Heung-min grabbed the ball. He dribbled past the youngster. Just as he prepared to take a step to accelerate... in a flash of lightning, a figure darted in front of him.
The ball was lost.
The young Korean's pupils shrank: In a normal contest, there was no way he would be dispossessed so easily. But he was caught right at the moment he bypassed the defender and prepared for his next move!
...
Li Luo successfully made the tackle. He climbed to his feet, his dark hair and white jersey covered in grass clippings. He didn't hesitate, quickly passing the ball out.
"Beautiful!"
"A clean and decisive tackle."
"The timing of the slide was perfect."
"Top-tier spatial awareness—it manifests its magical power on both ends of the pitch."
The whole stadium gasped. The Wolfsburg midfield maestro, Li Luo—is his defensive value also this high?
...
[De Rossi "Precision Interception" module.]
[How can an excellent midfielder not know how to defend?]
[The Roma vice-captain who averaged 2.8 tackles per game last season.]
No golden phantom emerged. Li Luo knew his current interception ability was suited for "covering" and "applying pressure," not for "one-on-one duels." The De Rossi module improved his contribution during the defensive phase, helping ease the pressure on his defensive teammates.
...
On the sidelines, the assistant coach had a sudden realization: "Li seems to have known in advance that Son Heung-min would rotate from the wing to the middle."
Hecking nodded: "Yes, yes, cutting off the connection between the wings and the center. I didn't expect their two wingers to... one keep wasting shots, and one run into the middle himself."
On the other side, Dino was dancing around the technical area, looking anxious:
"Increase the running!"
"Don't stop!"
"Don't let Wolfsburg get the ball out easily!"
...
Time ticked away, second by second. Li Luo controlled the rhythm for Wolfsburg. One-touch passes. Receiving the ball and turning in one motion. A light touch. His teammates didn't dare to be careless, coordinating with precision.
Under the Werkself's frantic pressing, the Chinese teenager's ability to orchestrate the midfield was displayed to the fullest. Occasionally, he would be chopped down; occasionally, Malanda would chop down the opposition. The stamina of both teams was constantly being depleted.
...
In the 82nd minute of the match, Li Luo finally returned to his position: the very front of Wolfsburg's formation.
"Beautiful!"
"Leverkusen's pressing failed, and this time they chose to fall back and defend."
"Wolfsburg presses forward."
"Positional attack."
"De Bruyne's wide-range distribution."
The ball drew a long arc, flying from the left side of the Werkself's penalty area to the right. Then, it was knocked into the 'Zone 14'. Li Luo, with his back to the goal, was being desperately shoved by a Leverkusen giant.
One-touch pass. *Snap.* The ball rolling into Zone 14 changed its path.
"A beautiful lay-off."
"Malanda is charging in—is he going to try a long shot?"
He didn't. Malanda adjusted slightly and instinctively passed the ball back to Li Luo. Li Luo happened to turn and drill into the penalty area. There was no angle for a shot.
One-touch pass again. *Snap.* This time, he passed it to De Bruyne, who was cutting in from the other side.
The Werkself's defense reacted quickly, their forces rapidly converging toward that side; the goalkeeper, Leno, was adjusting his own positioning while directing his teammates.
De Bruyne didn't choose to shoot himself. He didn't even adjust. With the outside of his foot, he flicked the ball. The ball floated lightly toward Li Luo.
Continuous passing inside the penalty area...
...
The Werkself's penalty area was in chaos, packed with people.
"Why didn't De Bruyne shoot?"
"Wow! What telepathic coordination."
"The passing lane was pinpoint."
"Li Luo."
"Facing an open goal."
De Bruyne's pass was perfect. Li Luo's positioning was perfect. Even with Calhanoglu pulling his arm and Bellarabi pressing on his chest, nothing could stop his lethal blow.
He raised his foot. A simple poke.
'Even Zlatan's grandmother could put this ball in.'
The ball rolled into the net.
3:4!!!