"What an opportunity! Substitute number twenty-four, Deng Kai, went unnoticed and appeared in the dangerous area just behind the midfield circle."
"The Black Panthers' right back, Carvalho Pereira, spotted him! He saw Deng Kai's movement!"
"A direct through ball! Pereira delivers a pass from the backfield, Deng Kai receives the ball, with plenty of space!"
"Deng Kai charges forward with the ball."
"Figo's center-back, Miguel Veloso, steps up to physically challenge Deng Kai, adding pressure. Deng Kai attempts to turn with the ball, but he fails to get past Veloso... Deng Kai goes down, the referee blows the whistle, awarding the Black Panthers a free kick in the attacking half!"
"Deng Kai performed well, but if only he were a bit faster."
"If Chris had been in that position, he would definitely have broken away on a one-on-one chance!"
The Black Panther players quickly gather, ready to capitalize on this attacking free kick.
It's an excellently placed free kick, and a rare offensive opportunity for the Black Panthers today.
But the Black Panthers' striker disappointing everyone with the set piece.
The football couldn't clear the wall, it was blocked.
Ronaldo was off to the races, getting to the ball first.
But as soon as he touched it forward, the ball was tackled away by a shorter figure.
To avoid a collision, Ronaldo hit the ground on his own, stretching out a hand indicating that the tackle was a foul.
However, the referee shook his head with a smile, indicating that he had a clear view.
It was a clean tackle.
Sharp and decisive.
Indeed, it was as if the player knew Ronaldo would continue to dribble rather than pass.
Ronaldo got up and looked towards the shadow.
Number twenty-four!
Deng Kai!
...
Up in the stands, the guests were sharing their opinions.
"That was an excellent prediction," Rui Costa said.
"Too risky, though. That kind of forward-like interception isn't suited for a midfielder. A midfielder should just reliably supply ammo to the forwards and not lose position," Jia De'er had a different view.
This comment made both Rui Costa and Guardiola's expressions turn sour.
No midfielder would appreciate this assessment.
This arrogant striker was negating the midfielders' creativity, treating them like mere sappers."
No wonder his stats are outstanding, but he hasn't been called up to the Brazilian national team yet.
After all, not only does Brazil boast a midfield maestro like Rivaldo with unmatched creativity, but every player on the team is technical and inventive.
Expect teammates to be sappers, to make boring runs and then cross to him?
In your dreams!
Jia De'er's style simply doesn't mesh with the Brazilian way of playing.
"To handle yourself that well against physically superior opponents is already commendable. Moreover..." Guardiola began, "what some see as a gamble, others might actually consider a certainty."
"I think I know who this kid is, a Portuguese player, of Chinese descent, with a name that includes Kai..."
"Football Caesar! The kid who turned down all club offers!" Rui Costa also recalled, and then turned to look towards the back row.
In the back row, Lisbon's assistant coach Trigella nodded proudly.
Caesar!
My man!
The next moment, the pitch erupted in noise, and the surroundings buzzed with commotion.
The stars quickly looked over, only to realize that play had been stopped.
Deng Kai was having an argument with his teammate Feng Te.
It turns out that after Deng Kai stripped the ball from Ronaldo in the attacking third, he drove into the flank.
He delayed by making two consecutive changes of direction, but none of his teammates had followed up.
So, when he was eventually surrounded by four opponents and lost possession, he let out a roar at his closest teammate, Jose Feng Te.
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"Why aren't you charging forward!"
"What on earth are you waiting for in the back?"
"They were completely disorganized just now, any run could have been an opportunity!"
"Didn't your coach ever teach you how to make a forward run to support?"
A four-hit combo!
The towering figure of Jose Fonte was silenced by Deng Kai's outburst.
It took him a good while to respond, "Well… I'm a center-back."
For a center-back to quickly fall back into a defensive position after an interrupted free-kick is indisputable.
Fonte's misfortune was that as he was running back, he happened to encounter Deng Kai intercepting Ronaldo.
He knew he should support Deng Kai, even make forward runs or drift wide to help Deng Kai alleviate defensive pressure.
But equally, his positional discipline demanded he should not rush forward.
The clash of two mindsets is a tough situation for immature players to handle.
This resulted in Fonte's hesitant display, unable to push forward or fall back.
"My coach did indeed teach me to make forward runs to support, but he also taught me about protective support," Fonte felt wronged.
Deng Kai was taken aback by this statement.
Damn it!
Why does this sound so familiar?
No wonder this Fonte looked so familiar.
Turns out he's a future Super League legend.
Although he only stayed in the Super League for a brief half year, he offered many sincere suggestions to the Super League before leaving.
In the game between the Chinese national team and Saudi Arabia during the final twelve matches, Dai Weijun created an opportunity with the ball, but Yu Dabao decided not to make a supporting run and just wandered around, eventually leading Dai Weijun into a pincer move and losing ball possession, squandering a valuable chance for an attack.
This scene sparked intense discussion after the match.
A certain football expert claimed it was protective support, a clever approach.
Fonte, then a Portugal national player, argued that Yu Dabao couldn't have done anything in that position; he should have charged forward, trying to find space between the two opposing center-backs, drawing away defenders.
"Remember, never trust this 'protective support' nonsense. Those who understand football would never use such a ludicrous term. We are down one to three right now; what ball is there to protect!" Deng Kai jumped up and patted Fonte on the shoulder. After the scolding, he went on to provide guidance, "I know why you wanted to fall back so quickly."
"You're worried about Chris, worried he'll continue his rampage, worried he'll keep tearing apart our defense!"
"I understand, but please, get your mindset right."
"Your opponent isn't just Chris; it's the other ten players, too."
"And you aren't alone; you have ten teammates!"
"Play this game well. Your youth team coach, the head coach of Lisbon, the club president, and so many stars and spectators are all watching us!"
Right in the heart!
Fonte's eyes turned red, and he nearly cried.
Not because of Deng Kai's rebuke, but because Deng Kai understood him.
He was truly afraid of Ronaldo!
Three years ago, he had been torn apart by Ronaldo.
Three years later, he still suffered the same fate.
Don't forget, he's almost two years older than Ronaldo.
With such performances, he worried that a professional football contract might not await him on the day he became an adult.
The six-foot-tall Fonte nodded earnestly in front of the four-foot-something Deng Kai, showing a receptiveness to learn.
This left his teammates, who were about to intervene in the conflict, utterly astonished.
Even the onlookers Eusebio and Figo were surprised.
"I thought they would come to blows," Figo said, "No, to be precise, I thought Deng Kai would end up crying because of Fonte. But unexpectedly, three years later, his leadership quality is still there, and even stronger."
Eusebio asked curiously, "You know him?"
Figo nodded, "He defeated Chris three years ago! Johann Cruyff liked him a lot, wanted to bring him to Barcelona along with me, but Barcelona didn't manage it, someone interfered..."
"The Football Caesar! Is it that kid who turned down all the big clubs?" Eusebio's eyes lit up, recognizing Deng Kai.
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