I AM the Football Star

Chapter 52: Chapter 22: The Championship Declaration (Part 2)

Catania still has a chance to compete for promotion spots, after all, one point can sometimes be easily overtaken.

In the top six of the Italian D League, with six games remaining, the maximum point difference is only six.

This means anything is possible.

There is always one unlucky team at the end of the season that can’t even play in the promotion playoffs.

Sotu gathered all the players after training and analyzed these things with everyone.

”Do you know what this point situation means?” Sotu asked everyone after speaking.

Most players shook their heads.

Rondo said, ”It means we need to work hard and not become the unfortunate 17% without a promotion chance!”

Sotu replied, ”Yes, but not completely right.”

Morici added, ”It means we still have a chance for direct promotion! We are only four points behind third place! And we play them next!”

Sotu laughed, ”Yes, but...”

Lu Yang said firmly, ”Championship!”

A very unfamiliar word.

From everyone’s reaction, Lu Yang could confirm that this team had no players who had ever tasted the glory of being champions.

Sotu’s voice suddenly amplified, ”Yes! Championship! Comrades, as a captain of the Serie A champion team, captain of the UEFA Champions League winning team, and captain of the World Cup champion team, I can tell you very responsibly...”

”We have the qualifications to fight for the championship!”

”Five points, that’s just two games!”

”Do you want to play the playoffs? Tell me, do you want to play those damned playoffs?”

”No!” The players gradually came to realize and gave Sotu quite enthusiastic responses.

”Don’t tell me nonsense like the second and third places also getting promotions, I came to the Italian D Division for only one goal, which is to lead you rookies who haven’t felt the taste of a championship to experience that taste!” Sotu roared, ”Believe me, if you have the fortune to enter more advanced competition, you will find...”

”In the highest level football competitions, there is only one winner!”

”Apart from the champion, everyone else is meaningless!”

”Now, tell me, what is our goal!”

Everyone on the field shouted with all their might, ”Championship!”

Everyone was exhilarated.

Championship!

They only want the championship!

To hell with being fifth on the standings!

To hell with being the weakest in the top five!

This is all an illusion created by Sotu.

His ambition is great.

He has the champion gene and rich experience in competing for championships.

And this, perhaps, is San Remo’s greatest spiritual support!

A few seconds later.

”Alright, guys, since the goal is set, I need to tell you.” Sotu raised a finger, ”One game, just lose one game, and we are out of the championship race, understand?”

The enthusiasm of the crowd instantly waned.

Can’t lose even one match?

This...

”And if we fail to win two games,” Sotu extended two fingers, ”then this season is completely failed because we might really become the unfortunate 17%.”

”But I think that’s not unfortunate, but a lack of strength.”

”To be mocked as the weak, or to become miracle-making champions, which do you choose!”

”Championship!” everyone shouted again!

In the crowd, Vedian had a thoughtful expression, ”Is the championship really that important?”

Yes, for some, the championship is not important.

After this season, Vedian was about to leave, and the glory of the team had little to do with him.

Especially since he was likely going to a Serie B team, and this is just an Italian D League championship.

His current record of twenty-three goals and eight assists was already dazzling enough.

In fact, for him, winning every game coming up was not as important as scoring a goal or making an assist.

”Believe me, championships are important,” Lu Yang patted Vedian’s shoulder and said, ”A championship is a habit. Only when you become accustomed to everything a championship brings, can you win more championships.”

”Right now, no team newly entering the final of the Champions League has won the championship, and that’s the best evidence.”

”Even the team’s head coach and coaching staff, in player selection, especially in major tournaments, will consider this factor.”

”Even if it’s just an Italian D Division championship, it will become part of your DNA, it is still a champion gene!”

Vedian’s eyes lit up.

If it could increase his competitiveness for next season at a Serie B team, he would be willing to bring a championship trophy to San Remo.

Morici patted Lu Yang’s shoulder and said, ”Tell me, you’re not eyeing my league assist king position!”

Morici had one goal and one assist this round, current stats at four goals and twelve assists.

His assist numbers had already climbed to the top of the league.

Winning the assist king title within half a season was an outstanding performance.

However, this round, Lu Yang also achieved his first assist hat-trick, his personal stats surged to ten goals and nine assists!

Lu Yang was also in the top five of the assist leaderboard.

He was very likely to achieve a double ten in goals and assists before the season ends.

If he performed well enough, and if Morici was targeted more, he might have a chance to snatch the assist king title from Morici.

”What are you saying? We are best buddies, would I do that?” Lu Yang feigned being upset.

”Right, we are brothers.” Morici nodded, realizing he was being too petty. How could Lu Yang be that kind of person?

”Of course, if you can’t get through, passing the ball to me is also a good choice.” Lu Yang winked at Morici.

”Oh, you are still eyeing my assist king title!” Morici realized.

The two of them played around.

But in reality, they didn’t take statistics too seriously.

At least, the Italian D Division statistics weren’t that important.

Insufficient value, the biggest flaw of lower leagues.

Only exceptional discrepancies in numbers can truly reflect your level.

Like if everyone else scored twenty goals and you scored fifty alone, it indicates your skill is far beyond this league’s level.

This season, both Lu Yang and Morici had only played half a season. To still be able to compete for some awards in this situation is amazing.

But it couldn’t create a large gap between their and the league’s other players’ stats.

...

The thirty-third round of the league kicked off soon.

League sixth, Catania, suffered two consecutive draws, with 60 points, remained in sixth place unchanged.

Franca Villa’s main striker was absent, significantly affecting them. They faced Pagani Race, who lost to San Remo in the previous round, and amidst a barrage of attacks from the opponent, they were defeated 1-4.

They still had 65 points and missed the best chance to reach the summit.

San Remo’s players also watched this match and felt relieved.

So the second team in the league plays against Pagani Race and looked just as bad. We still did well, as we won, didn’t we?

It must be said, a team like Pagani Race, which plays only attacking football, is truly a giant killer helping the weak and punishing the strong. They often grab points against strong teams but frequently drop points against weak ones.

Moreover, in these final few crucial rounds, they can even deal a psychological blow.

At least after this defeat, many believe Franca Villa lost the momentum to challenge for the championship.

They were knocked senseless!

They became frightened.

But the good news was that Bisceglie also lost, still at 65 points.

And not only did they lose, but Bisceglie lost badly this time.

They lost to Tulis, who was ranked third in the previous round.

As a result, Tulis’s points rose to 67, claiming the top spot on the leaderboard!

Considering the stability of the Tulis team, their chances of winning the championship are extremely high.

Being at the top of the standings for nearly the entire season, only to be chased in the last few games, Bisceglie’s second-half of the season has been a disastrous performance.

Among the top six, only Palermo and San Remo were yet to play.

In the previous round, Palermo and Tulis had the same points, with Tulis ahead of Palermo by just one more goal difference.

In this round, as long as Palermo wins and by two goals or more, they can become the first on the Italian D League standings.

This match was Palermo’s battle to reach the summit.

But at the same time, this was also San Remo’s first battle in the charge for the championship.

Everyone couldn’t afford to lose!