Dominating Football with Perfect Ball Control

Chapter 354: 354. Cristiano Ronaldo feels he’s getting old

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”Lance, what are you thinking?”

”I’m thinking, how are your passes so good? Teach me.”

”Lance, I can teach you, but we’re all brothers, don’t be crazy.”

”Remember what you said, we’ll do extra training together after tomorrow’s session.”

”No way!”

If Griezmann knew how to speak Sichuan dialect, he would definitely say: ”Magic cape.”

After scoring, he came over to celebrate with Lance, but who knew he’d get himself tangled up.

Lance’s abnormal hobby of training every day was like a top student who loved doing problems in school dragging you along to do problems with him!

Griezmann couldn’t help but shiver.

In reality, Lance was just covering up his momentary daze.

In the 42nd minute of the first half, Atlético Madrid launched a perfect attack from the left wing.

Lance, with a one-against-three effort, broke through Real Madrid’s world-class ”Ceremonial Midfield Trio” and combined with Griezmann and Torres to score a spectacular goal.

In reality, Lance’s first reaction was to ponder his ”muscle memory.”

This thing is something profound and mysterious, and its intensity cannot be measured by any means.

Its upper limit can only be tested through actual combat.

It’s like riding a bicycle; after learning it years ago, even if you haven’t ridden it for a long time, you can still get on and ride it again.

Lance, through the template abilities granted by the system, had been playing with high-intensity use of the templates for a long time.

Whether it was Nagi Seishiro’s ball control, Bachira Meguru’s dribbling, or Hyuga Kojiro’s shooting motion, these things had become instinctive, slowly integrating into his blood.

When the system was initially banned, Lance was still a bit unaccustomed, always feeling that his own abilities were insufficient to contend with strong opponents.

In the first leg against Real Madrid, Lance was mostly invisible.

Facing Modri?’s 1v1 defence, he still had the confidence to try to break through.

Facing 2v1 and 3v1 double-teams, Lance would always choose to pass with his back to the goal to be safe.

He did have muscle memory, but he usually only tried it when it was safe.

But today, facing the encirclement of the ”Ceremonial Midfield Trio,” Lance had to quickly carve out a path, otherwise, Modri?’s interception would lead to a counterattack, endangering Atlético Madrid’s defence.

At the crucial moment, Lance couldn’t care less, and in an extreme situation, he completed a 1v3 in an instant!

Everything was so smooth!

”So... these template abilities can eventually gradually integrate into oneself!”

Even if the actual effect is not as good as 100% of the template’s level, and certainly not the invincible state of the template’s full rage.

It’s already enough for high-level matches!

The ”Ceremonial Midfield Trio” were all played by me, what team in the world can stop me?

Furthermore, if the system successfully updates and can extract and unlock new S-rank templates!

Wouldn’t that mean different S-rank abilities would gradually merge with oneself!

Now, three templates are already enough to be called a monster, subtly rivalling Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Add to that other S-rank strengths... ”Call me the God of Football!”

Lance was immediately filled with pride!

Even Cristiano Ronaldo in his eyes was merely someone to be trifled with!

Cristiano Ronaldo not far away: Meow meow meow?

”Why is this guy staring at me? Just scored a goal, and he’s showing off? Damn it!”

Cristiano Ronaldo, in a fit of pique, lashed out.

After the kickoff, he dribbled the ball all the way to the edge of the penalty area, then blasted a shot that sent the ball into the stands.

”Alas...”

Zidane couldn’t help but slap his shiny bald forehead.

He originally thought Cristiano Ronaldo was invincible, but he didn’t expect someone to be even more formidable than him!

Whose subordinate is this?!

Where the hell did he come from?!

Zidane couldn’t understand how, in the thriving world of football, an Asian man had inexplicably appeared.

He rose to prominence at lightning speed within three years, growing from an unheralded youth academy reject to a world-class star.

He must be here to gank me, right?

He must have been sent by the true God Allah to torment me!

Is it because I don’t fast or practise regularly?

Zidane suddenly felt a little panicked, so much so that he began to consider whether to become a devout Muslim, or directly embrace his wife and children’s faith, wearing a cross around his neck... If all else failed, perhaps worship an Eastern god?

Otherwise, why was this Easterner so mysterious?

The first half drew to a hasty close amidst Zidane’s wild thoughts.

Real Madrid 0-1 Atlético Madrid

Atlético Madrid led 3-2 on aggregate!

...

”The intensity of the second half remains undiminished, with both sides still fiercely contesting the ball.”

”However, Real Madrid’s play has become much more cautious; they seem very wary of the threat from Lance’s side.”

”Even Benzema has tracked back to his own half, participating in the encirclement of Lance.”

”Four-man double-team... Lance!”

José ángel was both nervous and expectant.

Lance didn’t pass immediately, clearly very confident, even a little overconfident.

How could he guarantee that he could break out of a four-man encirclement?

Gareth Bale, Benzema, Modri?, Toni Kroos... the four had blocked all of Lance’s paths and forced him towards the sideline.

Behind them, Casemiro and Carvajal were providing support, a dual defensive presence, wary of Lance’s breakthrough.

Just as Lance seemed to be at a dead end, he actively dribbled the ball towards his own half, then suddenly stopped short, leaving Toni Kroos and Bale behind him, using their positions to block Benzema, then pulled the ball back 360 degrees, boldly using a left-footed ”elastico” on the edge of the sideline, hooking the ball back the moment it was completely out of bounds, nutmegging Modri? whilst simultaneously completing an overtake from outside the touchline!

He flexibly used Anthony’s ”Spinning Top King” 360-degree rotation on the spot to shake off three players, then immediately followed up with a highly difficult elastico to get past Modri?!

He broke through the encirclement right under the noses of four players!

”This man! He’s getting more and more confident!”

”I seem to see him shortly after his debut! Back then at Bayer Leverkusen, Lance was just as unrestrained! Fully displaying his talent!”

Lance during his time at Atlético Madrid was strong, but he mostly combined with teammates and scored goals through long-range shots or powerful shots inside the box.

Perhaps under Simeone’s tutelage, Lance focused more on overall discipline and tactics, reducing individual flashy dribbling.

But today!

Lance played with increasing confidence and daring, having a blast on the pitch!

It was as if he had rediscovered the joy of his early days at Bayer Leverkusen, using Bachira Meguru’s mentality, completely unleashing the monster within, and enjoying football!

With his newfound confidence, Lance even got carried away and started playing recklessly.

That last dribble wasn’t part of the plan.

By the time he reacted, he had already flashed behind the midfield defence! Dribbling towards the penalty area!

”3v3 in the attacking third!”

Griezmann, Torres, and Lance approached the penalty area, whilst Carvajal, Casemiro, and Ramos closed in to double-team.

On the other side, Varane, Marcelo, and others were desperately tracking back, especially Cristiano Ronaldo.

He realised that today seemed to be all about Lance’s performance, and he had nothing to do!

”Damn it! Damn it!”

Having his thunder stolen was even more unbearable than losing!

Cristiano Ronaldo gritted his teeth and chased back madly, hoping to get back into the box to participate in the defence.

The result... he watched helplessly as Lance played a short diagonal through ball behind him from just outside the box.

Griezmann received the ball inside the penalty area and calmly slotted a low, curving shot.

The ball hit the inside of the post and bounced into the net!

”Goooooooooal!”

”Two away goals!”

”Semi-final aggregate score, Atlético Madrid 4-2 Real Madrid!”

Seeing this result, Cristiano Ronaldo felt powerless to turn the tide.

The bewildered looks in his Real Madrid teammates’ eyes made Cristiano Ronaldo stop helplessly, breathing heavily as he watched Griezmann and Lance celebrate together.

Two young men, about to dominate the future of football.

Plus world-class rising stars like De Bruyne, Cristiano Ronaldo suddenly felt that he seemed to be getting old...