From Arsenal to the Ball God

Chapter 791: Chapter 7: Fancy Moves Officially Online! You Can Still Score Full Marks! Blow a Kiss to Celebrate! (2)

He was very familiar with it. In the subsequent Premier League, every team would make this choice when defending.

Even strong teams like Manchester City and Arsenal were the same, otherwise, they simply couldn’t hold it.

Chelsea, being a strong team at this time, could lower its stance to make such a choice, which was enough to prove Benitez had indeed something advanced in terms of tactics, willing to change in unconventional ways.

This indeed made him feel a bit troubled because everyone preferred to find a breakthrough space within a loose defense, playing a more spectacular quick solo run.

But the problem is not big!

After the European Cup, the only improvement he made was in fancy abilities, with dribbling from Level 3 to Level 4, and additional skills from Level 2 to Level 3.

Today, he was just right to test it on the Chelsea players, warming up for the new season!

“Deng deng deng!”

As Ma’el dribbled to the corner of the penalty area, Ribery had already caught up from behind, blocking his space to break inward.

He could only choose to continue towards the baseline, intentionally keeping the ball close to Ivanovic, attracting him to stretch a foot to intercept before changing direction.

But Ivanovic did not fall for it, showing strong composure, just lowering his center of gravity and standing firmly in place.

Benitez must have advised him, or he knew himself, that his reactions couldn’t be as fast as Ma’el’s, once he stretched his foot he’d definitely be passed.

Even if he poked the ball, it would be difficult to chase physically and control the ball.

“Swoosh!”

Ma’el suddenly pulled the ball back to his rear position, then back-heel nudged to the baseline, and as his opponent followed, he pulled the ball back with his left foot again, repeating the action.

Very simple ball pullback and nudge, but he did it extremely fast, leaving Ivanovic and Ribery dazzled, constantly exposed to the risk and pressure of being broken through.

Soon, Ivanovic’s mind was cluttered, and as reason and calmness hadn’t yet told him what exactly to do, he stepped forward closer to Ma’el.

Under high pressure, it’s indeed hard to stay passive; the feeling that the opponent might make a move at any moment while you can only wait is terrifying, making one uncontrollably want to make a change.

Moreover, having retreated to the baseline, he had no retreat route, certainly not moving sideways back to the box and letting Ma’el easily enter the danger area.

Ivanovic probably knew this was the best opportunity his previous composure had created for him, starting a two-on-one showdown with Ribery against Ma’el.

“Boom boom…!”

Ma’el no longer made ineffective ball pull motions, and he dribbled directly towards the approaching Ivanovic, the distance between them rapidly decreasing.

“Pop… pop!” His body’s center of gravity shifted to the right, the right foot also nudging the ball to the right, then within 0.5 seconds, changed direction knocking the ball to the left.

Cow Tail breakthrough!

Compared to the past, now his execution of this move was faster and more proficient, even able to do it amid the center of gravity shifting!

“Ohhhh…..!” Arsenal fans in the stands stood up in advance, a wave of cheers echoed within Wembley Stadium.

Watching the floating figure on the field, all Arsenal fans’ eyes were filled with respect and anticipation, hoping he could break into the box and rupture the opponent’s defense.

On the field, Ivanovic quickly changed direction to chase towards Ma’el’s nudge ball direction, he was certainly not cumbersome, for such a breakthrough move to get past him easily still had some difficulty.

“Pop…..!”

Ma’el once again knocked the ball with the right foot towards the court, trying to convey false body language to Ivanovic, that he’s going for the baseline, urging him to keep following and not slow down.

“Boom!”

Yet as the soccer reached his left instep, he instantly retracted the ball back, completing another change of direction.

Keep coming!

Keep changing!

At the same time, his left foot stepped firmly on the ground completing body reorientation, as if melding himself with the soccer, always staying within a very close range.

The speed of the whole process certainly didn’t exceed 0.5 seconds either, the person-ball combination got better and better, and the movements got swifter too, this was also the improvement brought to him by the fancy upgrade!

Ivanovic actually anticipated Ma’el might change direction again, and began lowering his center of gravity in advance, but when Ma’el really did change direction, he could only awkwardly stretch out a foot.

Too fast!

Really couldn’t keep up!

This hasty stretch naturally didn’t trouble Ma’el, on the contrary, it would delay him by about a second.

After shaking him off, Ma’el faced the returning Ribery, who was relatively easier to breakthrough compared to Ivanovic.

Not that he wasn’t a defensive player, mainly because of the previous shaking, Ribery had been eating it from behind… he should be able to adapt, keep step frequency and change direction.

“Pop…..!”

Ma’el nudged the ball into the box, dodging Ribery’s incoming foot, perfectly completing the one-on-two breakthrough.

“Aaahhh…..!” The on-site cheers became even stronger, nearly everyone stood up.

“Cover! Cover!”

Benitez on the sidelines was anxious, his face turning red as he shouted to David Luiz and Terry: “Defend the far post! He’s going for the dip!”

“Boom!”

His judgment was correct, upon entering the penalty area, Ma’el hadn’t planned to make more complicated breakthroughs, he sidestepped before wrapping the soccer with his right foot, making a Dipping Shot.

This point itself also showed he had research on Ma’el, now it depended on whether this microscopic study could successfully restrict them.