I AM the Football Star

Averro looked at the goal, clearly displeased, puffing his cheeks like a kid.

”Wasn’t there a foul just now?” Averro approached the main referee, ”I got hit like that just now, it must’ve been a foul!”

The main referee was speechless.

Kiddo, as a professional player, don’t you feel embarrassed saying such things?

Lu Yang kindly approached Averro and said, ”Buddy, it was me who kicked the ball away just now, and then we collided. Even if there’s a foul, it should be your foul, understand?”

”You should tell the main referee that you fouled, so he should’ve stopped the game just now.”

Averro’s eyes lit up. Although he knew Lu Yang was mocking him, he thought this idea was feasible.

”Main referee, I might have bumped into him just now, maybe fouled?” Averro looked at the main referee.

The main referee couldn’t help but laugh, ”That’s still an advantage to the offense.”

Averro was stunned at first, but then he understood without being taught, ”But just now both of us fell to the ground, shouldn’t the game be stopped in case we’re injured?”

The main referee said, ”Deciding when to whistle is my job, your job is to play the ball at your feet... if you have the ball. I hope you won’t interfere with my work anymore, or I don’t mind giving you a yellow card to teach you the rules on the field.”

Admittedly, the main referee was in a good mood, willing to discuss with Averro.

Looking young still has its advantages, the main referee wasn’t strict with Averro.

In the 25th minute, San Remo got the ball and launched a threatening attack.

Morici advanced with the ball, under the defense of Sporting Lisbon’s midfielders. He didn’t opt for a safe back pass but was looking for an opportunity.

Two consecutive fried meatballs, instantly picking up speed and creating space.

Bam!

Morici passed to the left, the ball bypassed two players with strong penetration.

Bai Zhami was unusually active today, racing to get the ball, then sprinting down the wing.

Sporting Lisbon’s defenders were exhausted chasing after him, but they couldn’t exert much pressure on Bai Zhami.

Due to the team’s structure and tactics, Bai Zhami didn’t hold the ball as much as other winger players.

For example, today, Averro, who started as the team’s left winger, oh no, now the right winger, had considerably longer possession, with more dribbling attempts, successful dribbles, lost possession, and threatening passes compared to Bai Zhami.

But in terms of performance, Bai Zhami was definitely not inferior to Averro, in fact, he even scored a goal which gave him an advantage in key statistics.

That’s the difference between players.

Bai Zhami and Averro are both sharp tools.

But Bai Zhami is only responsible for tearing open wounds or delivering deadly blows.

Whereas Averro takes care of everything - anesthesia, cutting open wounds, heart bypass, lighting, delivering deadly blows...

From this perspective, Bai Zhami’s upper limit isn’t as high as Averro’s.

That’s why after the first Champions League match this year, Averro emerged as a star.

He can do everything and do it well.

He could be the cornerstone for any team’s rebuild.

Bam!

Bai Zhami made a pass on the wing.

Sporting Lisbon’s right back raised his leg.

No!

Not a pass, but a dribble!

Bai Zhami’s dribbling skills at maximum!

He broke through along the baseline, displaying extremely crafty thinking.

Few players would choose to cut in from this angle.

Because after breaking through, there’s not much use.

With nearly a zero angle, he can’t shoot.

In terms of passing, there’s also limited option and not much of a surprise element.

Efficiently speaking, a direct cross is much simpler and practical.

During Bai Zhami’s breakthrough, Talista and Lu Yang executed a crossover run.

Talista moved back and to the right.

Lu Yang dashed straight into the penalty area.

Sporting Lisbon’s central defenders perfectly switched their marks, ensuring neither lost their target, instead through switching, each had a defender in front of both Lu Yang and Talista.

The coordination of these two central defenders was impeccable, they were the main reason why Sporting Lisbon reached the Champions League last year!

Even the central defender marking Lu Yang gave him a slight bump, making Lu Yang, who was rushing towards the small penalty area, stagger and be forced out.

Bam!

Bai Zhami struck the ball with force, making a quick horizontal pass.

The originally squeezed out Lu Yang suddenly accelerated towards the near post.

At that moment, Sporting Lisbon’s seasoned central defender immediately realized he’d been tricked!

Lu Yang wasn’t just shoved out; he came over for a flick like a dragonfly touching water.

This kid is too cunning!

Not only is this movement elusive, but intentionally bumping makes it easier to give the illusion of ”I’ve got him covered.”

Then you end up with this unmarked situation.

Lu Yang was unmarked at the near post.

But Sporting Lisbon’s central defender was also experienced, although he missed the first moment, he continued to follow closely behind Lu Yang.

From Lu Yang’s angle, as long as he doesn’t turn, he can’t do much.

This wasn’t a high ball, either, where you can rush and shoot from the near post.

This was a low, fast ground pass.

Due to the uneven ground, the ball bounced slightly, making it about twenty centimeters off the ground.

This height is even more awkward to deal with than a pure ground roller.

It happened to hit halfway up the calf, an awkward position, not much can be done with it.

Bam!

Lu Yang lightly hopped, raising his right foot, seemingly to let the ball go past.