Dominating Football with Perfect Ball Control

Chapter 342: 342. Emery’s Panic

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So far, besides the initial Full Level Ball Control template of Nagi Seishiro that brought in the first pot of gold, Lance currently uses Bachira Meguru the most.

His dribbling breakthroughs, ball control, and support play are all very comprehensive.

Coupled with Hyuga Kojiro’s Tiger Shot, Lance is currently one of the strongest attackers in football, capable of creating threats from the left, centre, and right flanks.

He is comparable to Kaká and Cristiano Ronaldo, but with weakened off-ball movement and passing.

This has always been Lance’s style of play.

However, the recently concluded Copa del Rey quarter-finals gave Lance a new idea.

A false nine.

The ball is passed from the backfield to the first pivot upfront, who can then attack the goal and create scoring opportunities within the penalty area.

At the same time, he can drop back to receive the ball and assist teammates.

When Lance attracts all the attention, he can perfectly create opportunities for his teammates.

Athletic Bilbao has already proven this point.

He could even lead the substitute players to a dominant 3-0 away victory.

How much more so with the main players!

Griezmann, Torres, and Saúl are all excellent attackers for Atlético Madrid.

Previously, Lance’s number 10 role was essentially played as a traditional number 9, purely responsible for scoring goals.

Even when he dropped back to the attacking midfield or central midfield positions to participate in some offensive organisation or mutual support, the ball would always eventually find its way to Lance’s feet.

He had Simeone’s special privilege of ”unlimited firing rights.”

Over time, both Bayer Leverkusen and Atlético Madrid would gradually become reliant on Lance’s scoring ability.

However, his teammates’ own scoring abilities would also be correspondingly weakened.

This led to teammates instinctively choosing to pass to Lance even when there were open opportunities.

No wonder Mundo Deportivo secretly mocked Lance as a ”team tyrant” some time ago.

”After joining Atlético Madrid for the world’s highest transfer fee, Lance’s role is equivalent to Cristiano Ronaldo’s at Real Madrid. His ball possession is unquestionable, but the tactical roles of Griezmann and Torres are not as significant.”

”One is the main striker for the French national team, and the other is a former Atlético Madrid legend and world-class striker. Their individual shooting abilities are world-class, so why should they yield to an 18-year-old player?”

”It is likely that there is influence from Chinese capital behind the scenes, leading Lance to gradually become Atlético Madrid’s ’team tyrant’. Everyone says Cristiano Ronaldo is a team tyrant, but the author believes Lance is the hidden team tyrant...”

Articles like these from the Catalonia media, criticising Lance, Mundo Deportivo would publish at least one or two every week.

Both Lance himself and the vast majority of fans had long grown accustomed to it and never took it seriously.

As long as the atmosphere within the Atlético Madrid team remained unaffected, it was fine.

Everyone continued to pass to Lance as usual.

What the outside world said was not important.

However, Lance’s performance today, to some extent, gave Mundo Deportivo a boomerang effect.

Marca was the first to open fire after the match.

”Lance’s Assist Hat-trick, Atlético Madrid’s 3 Goals Secure Away Win, Halfway to Copa del Rey Semi-finals”

Subsequently, pro-Atlético Madrid media outlets followed suit with their coverage.

”Team Tyrant? Not at all! A Detailed Review of Atlético Madrid’s New Tactics: Lance’s Fit as a Number 10 is His Strongest Form”

”Able to Pass and Shoot, the Terrifying Lance is Still Evolving! 3 Assists Shine Throughout the Match”

”Facts Prove Lance is Not the Dictator as Rumoured! Griezmann Reveals Good Atmosphere Within Atlético Madrid Team”

On Twitter, Lance, as always, became a trending topic.

#LanceAssistHatTrick

”I knew it, Lance didn’t not want to pass, it was just tactical arrangement before.”

”Lance’s passes sometimes give me an intracranial orgasm! Who can predict his passing routes?”

”Either he doesn’t pass, or he passes a deadly one!”

”Especially the second goal, I was stunned!”

This match largely reversed the public’s impression of Lance.

Previously, he had been breaking scoring records in the league and Champions League, dominating the top scorer charts every year.

It was thought that Lance’s peak was here, but then you tell me he’s also a passing master?

I don’t know if Real Madrid and Barcelona are feeling the pressure, but Sevilla certainly is.

Three days later, before the 21st round of La Liga began, Sevilla manager Unai Emery smiled wryly at the press conference:

”Good news, Lance is not in the starting lineup today. Bad news, he’s in the squad, so he might play. We had made some tactical deployments against Lance before, and were fully prepared. But judging from his performance in the Copa del Rey two days ago, perhaps we weren’t very well prepared. We can only hope our players perform their best and try to secure one point away from home.”

Emery, who would later become Arsenal’s manager and was then leading Sevilla in their pursuit of a third consecutive Europa League title, actively showed weakness against Atlético Madrid.

Lance was like a nuclear weapon; whether he played or not, he was a huge threat.

Who knew Simeone was also showing weakness.

”I just heard the opposing manager speak, and I feel he exaggerated a bit. Our Atlético Madrid is not as invincible as they say. Currently, we are ranked 3rd in the league, needing to catch up to Real Madrid and Barcelona, whilst also needing to prevent falling behind.”

”Every match is like walking a tightrope, with lava on both sides. Moreover, the pressure of playing two matches a week is immense, and frequent midfield rotations severely test the team’s chemistry. Facing Sevilla’s challenge will be a tough battle; Sevilla is a very strong team.”

After the press conference, Emery and Simeone shook hands in front of the media, interacting amicably.

”You are very strong; we need to be more cautious at home.”

”Not at all, you are the truly strong team; we are the challengers.”

It seemed both sides respected each other, but the reporters present knew that both coaches were playing mind games, putting up smoke screens and feigning weakness.

Simeone and Emery, each with their own intentions, shook hands and left.

The two sides were about to engage in a life-and-death struggle.

Sevilla is currently ranked 5th in La Liga, having been defeated by Atlético Madrid once before.

Athletic Bilbao is ahead of them, whilst Celta Vigo, Málaga, and Real Sociedad are hot on their heels, with very close point differences.

If they lose, Sevilla’s Champions League aspirations would fail, and they would risk dropping into the Europa League zone.

Both sides had reasons not to lose!

...

”No big deal, right?”

”Probably, let’s wait and see.”

Sitting on the bench, the young Uruguayan centre-back Giménez, next to Lance, was very nervous.

Both of them played the full Copa del Rey match last time.

Today they were temporarily resting.

Lance had secretly drunk a Regular Red Bull, and his stamina was gradually recovering, ready to play at any time.

Giménez probably still needed to recover more.

Godín was also temporarily out with a minor ankle injury.

The current centre-back pairing was a rotational substitute, and it was uncertain if they could withstand Sevilla’s onslaught.

”Oh my god, that shot!”

Right at the start of the match, Sevilla bared its fangs and launched a surprise attack on Atlético Madrid.

Being able to win three consecutive Europa League titles proved Sevilla’s quality.

Midfield maestro Banega and forward spearhead Vitolo performed exceptionally, constantly creating threats for Atlético Madrid.

”Ouch!”

”Nooooo—”

”Jesus!”

Giménez was gasping in surprise next to him, making Lance start to feel nervous too.

”Brother, you’re too invested.”

”I’m kind of putting myself in their shoes,” Giménez said with an awkward laugh.

Lance still trusted his teammates.

With Griezmann and Torres upfront, if they couldn’t handle Sevilla, how could they be expected to handle Real Madrid and Barcelona?

Indeed, after the two sides were deadlocked for 40 minutes, Griezmann gradually showed his peak form.

On the left wing, he was unfazed by a 1v2 situation, changing rhythm to shake off opponents, and then suddenly cutting inside quickly.

He instantly drew three defenders, and his unexpected pass tore open a gap.

”Torres!”

”Goooooal!”

The former Golden Boy, Torres, still had it!

Lance also jumped up with the rest of the bench to cheer!

”Beautiful!”

”Fernando!”

Lance was genuinely happy to see his teammate score and a beautiful attack unfold.

If Griezmann and Torres could both perform at their peak, this season he wouldn’t be fighting alone.

He had strong teammates by his side!

The treble he regrettably missed at Bayer Leverkusen might actually be possible this year!