When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 45 Your tackles are as soft as your wife's kisses (Please read on!)
When the DJ announced "Monaco manager Didier Deschamps," the entire Vélodrome Stadium erupted in cheers.

Die-hard fans in the South Stand unfurled a giant tifo covering half the stand: Marseille fans love to create tifos with Champions League elements, leaving other fans watching with a mixture of pride and helplessness.

Today they added a silhouette of Deschamps' profile to the banner, blending it with the Champions League trophy, with "1993-ternel" written below.

The stands sang a modified version of "La Marseillaise" in unison, changing the original lyrics "Citizens, arm yourselves" to "Soldiers, remember your glory," and passed around a giant team flag from 1993 in a wave.

Deschamps stood on the sideline, his right hand on his chest, and bowed to each of the four stands.

The broadcast camera captured him quickly wiping away the glare from the corner of his eye.

Marseille manager Alain Perrin gave Didier Deschamps a fist bump, a rare moment of warmth on the French coaching bench.

Thierry Rolland, the French commentator for Canal+, rang out with passionate enthusiasm:

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Stade Vélodrome! The French League Cup semi-final! Tonight is a battle of giants: Marseille vs. Monaco, a clash of blue blood against red blood!"

"Remember 1993? Deschamps lifted the Champions League trophy for Marseille. Tonight, he brings Monaco back!"

"On one side, Marseille and their crazy fans; on the other, Monaco and their young cheetah: Roy! A new phenomenon in French football!"

"Roy, 11 goals and 6 assists in 9 games, at 18 years old, is already writing a legend!"

"So, will Marseille bleed? Will Monaco tremble? The answer—now revealed!"

Marseille kicks off.

After several passes of possession.

Center forward Chapuis passed back to defensive midfielder Celestini, whose long pass to center forward Bakayoko was headed away by Squillaci.

Monaco center-back Rodriguez passed the ball back to goalkeeper Roma.

Roma launched a long ball to the right side of midfield, and Monaco immediately launched their first attack.

Giuly chested the ball down near the sideline while using his body to withstand Laurentti's close marking.

Giuly dribbled the ball sideways for two steps, drawing Eker's challenge, and then backheeled it to Bernardi who had made a run into the box.

Bernardi received the ball and, without adjusting, immediately played a through ball that broke through Marseille's defense, allowing Roy to make a high-speed run from the flank.

When Roy received the ball, he had already left Marseille's right-back Laurentti by half a body length. He flicked the ball with the outside of his right foot and accelerated down the wing.

"Monaco showed their attacking desire right from the start! Giuly skillfully controlled the ball on the right flank, and Bernardi's through ball found Roy perfectly!"

After receiving the ball, Roy accelerated down the wing, and Eker rushed out from the center of the penalty area, making a low sliding tackle straight at Roy's supporting foot.

The cleats scraped hard against Roy's right shin guard, making a piercing "crack" sound, and Roy fell to the ground and rolled twice.

Marseille fans booed loudly and chanted "Dive!"

Monaco fans angrily waved their red and white scarves and chanted "Give us cards!"

Thierry Rolland: "Eker's tackle definitely deserved a yellow card! Roy's socks were torn! Deschamps was furious on the sidelines, while Perrin was smirking – is this Marseille's 'special welcome ceremony'?!"

Roy suddenly pushed himself up and glared at Eker, yelling furiously, "You fucking want to cripple me?!"

Eker slowly got up, spread his hands, and sneered: "Welcome to Velodrom, little prince."

Giuly was the first to rush up and shove Eker: "Trash like you only deserve to play in the amateur league!"

He was immediately pushed away by Eker.

Pulso immediately stepped up to hold the line, while the tall and strong Van Buyten also came over to confront Pulso head-on.

Roy lifted his shorts with his left hand, revealing fresh scratches on his shin guards, and showed them to the referee.

But the referee shook his head.

The match has just begun, and at this point he needs to control the pace of the game.

Marseille's die-hard fans in the south stand chanted in unison: "On aime les tacles qui saignent!" (We love those bloody tackles!)

The Monaco expeditionary force collectively raised their middle fingers and chanted, "Assassin!"
Rothen took the free kick, opting for a low shot towards the near corner.

Van Buyten blocked it with his thigh from inside the wall of players.

Roy cleverly intercepted the second ball and unleashed a right-footed shot from the corner of the six-yard box, but Marseille goalkeeper Renger made a diving save.

Roy spat and smiled.

five minutes later.

Marquez intercepted the ball again and sent a long pass, with Pulso jumping to head it from the edge of the penalty area.

Van Buyten pressed close from behind, his left hand subtly grabbing the hem of Pulso's jersey, his knuckles turning white from the force.

Eker rushed in from the side and behind to help defend.

Just as the three were about to collide, a red and white figure flashed in like lightning—it was Roy!

His sprint trajectory was precisely calculated, his right shoulder slightly lowered, and he struck Eker precisely in the lower back at the moment of takeoff. The force of the impact was perfectly controlled.

Eker's body visibly froze in mid-air, his defensive stance instantly crumbling, like a bird struck by a bullet.

Van Buyten's pulling motion lost its footing, and he staggered forward two steps.

Pulso seized the opportunity to head the ball across the goal, sending it in a perfect arc into the wide space behind the Marseille defense.

Referee Clement Tilpin had his whistle on his lips, but his view was blocked by Meyette.

This subtle blind spot allowed this heated confrontation to escape punishment.

Roy passed by Eker.

“You welcomed me to Velodrom, so this is my gift to my master.”

The 11th minute of the game.

Center-back Elfaqiri controlled the ball on the right flank of the backfield, observed the situation, and then suddenly launched a long pass.

Giuly battled Marseille captain Dos Santos near the sideline, leaping up to control the high ball with his right shoulder before turning and dribbling into the penalty area.

Giuly dribbled the ball to the byline, feigning a cross, and raised his right foot as if to pass to the far post.

Dos Santos was misled and leaned his body to block the cross.

Giuly suddenly cut back, pulling the ball back with his left foot to create space.

Monaco's defensive midfielder Max made a high-speed run down the wing, and Giuly passed the ball back to him. Max took a step, looked up to survey the penalty area, and delivered a 45-degree cross.

Pulso made a feint at the near post to draw defenders away from Marseille's center-back Van Buyten.

His movement created space for Roy to sprint.

Roy suddenly started from the penalty spot, displaying amazing explosiveness, and charged straight to the far post.

As Mayette jumped, she subtly pressed down on Roy's shoulder with her left hand and raised her right elbow to interfere.

The ball grazed Roy's hair and flew out of bounds by a hair's breadth.

Roy immediately turned around and raised his hand to the referee to indicate that Meyette had fouled.

He pointed to his shoulder and roared, "He's pinning me down so I can't jump!"

This is Monaco's classic "double-pronged attack" tactic, using Pulso's feint to create space for Roy.

Meyette's defensive maneuvers were highly experienced, both interfering with Roy and avoiding the referee's view.

The linesman raised his flag to signal a goal kick, and the referee waved to indicate that play should continue.

Monaco players surrounded the referee to argue, but to no avail.

Canal+ commentator Roland's voice was impassioned: "Monaco's attack was a textbook example of combining play from the wings and the center! Giuly's control and turn were beautiful, and Max's cross was precise, but unfortunately Meyette made a 'clever' defensive play that prevented Roy from winning the header. The referee didn't call a foul, and the Monaco players were very unhappy!"

Monaco fans angrily chanted: "Foul referee!"

Some people threw objects into the area.

Marseille fans applauded and mocked Roy: "Softie! Don't blame others if you can't jump!"

This foul could be called or not, but it escalated the tension on the court, making the confrontation between the two sides even more intense.

Three minutes later, the conflict broke out again.

Meyette suddenly surged forward from the center circle, forming a double-team with Celestini and dispossessing Giuly.

Roy quickly closed in and tackled Meyette, slamming his shoulder into her. Meyette staggered a couple of steps but still maintained possession of the ball.

Bernardi came flying in from the side and behind with a sliding tackle, his studs scraping the turf and sending Meyette flying!

Meyer rolled around in pain, clutching his ankle and angrily pounding the grass.

Celestini was the first to rush forward, shoving Bernardi aside and roaring, "You fucking want to cripple him?!"

Bernardie spat and remained silent.

Roy stood between the two with a cold smile, his chest colliding with Van Buyten's, their foreheads touching in a standoff.

The referee blew his whistle frantically and crossed his arms to signal "calm down!", but the players from both sides continued to push and shove.

"The powder keg has exploded! Bernardi's tackle was too vicious! Meyette fell to the ground in pain, and the Marseille players were completely enraged! Look at this chaotic scene—Roy and Van Buyten are forehead to forehead, neither willing to back down! Is this Monaco's revenge?"

Deschamps was furious on the sidelines, yelling at the fourth official: "That was a clean tackle!"

Perrin shook his head with a cold laugh and whispered to his assistant, "They're getting impatient."

Marseille fans booed wildly, and some threw water bottles onto the field.

Monaco fans chanted a provocative song: "All you do is kick people!"

Out of consideration for balancing the rulings, the referee ultimately had no choice but to give Bernardi only a warning.

Roy and Van Buyten each received a warning, and Celestini was also warned for shoving.

The 19th minute of the game.

Marseille's midfielder made a passing error, and Monaco's center-back Squillaci suddenly tackled and intercepted the ball.

He looked up and saw Roy dropping back to midfield to receive the ball, so he immediately sent a low through ball.

"A fatal misplacement in the Marseille midfield pass! Allez! Squillaci makes a quick tackle and intercepts the ball! Oh là là! He looks up and sees Roy dropping back to receive the ball—a surgical through ball! Mon Dieu! Monaco's counter-attack ignites instantly!"

Roy received the ball with his back to the goal, and Eker closely marked him from behind.

At the same time, Giuly quietly started from the right flank, making a diagonal run behind the Marseille defense.

Before the ball had come to a complete stop, Roy flicked it lightly with the outside of his right foot.

The ball passed precisely through Eker's legs and found Giuly making a run forward.

Roy shoved Eker through the crotch and then raised an eyebrow in a sarcastic manner.

"You bastard, your tackles are as soft as your wife's kisses."

Eker's face instantly turned black.

"Roy receives the ball with his back to goal! Ekker is right behind him! Watch Giuly's run—he's cutting diagonally behind the defense from the right flank! Before the ball can even stop, Roy flicks it with the outside of his right foot! Oh! The ball goes through Ekker's legs! Perfect timing! Perfect weight! Giuly is one-on-one with Ekker! After getting past Ekker, Roy doesn't forget to taunt him—haha, 'Put' (beep)! What did he say to Ekker? But the tension must have instantly escalated!"

Van Buyten, who was originally marking Pulso, had no choice but to abandon his position and move forward to block Giuly when he entered the penalty area.

Pulso took the opportunity to move laterally, drawing away another center-back, Meyette.

Giuly swept a low cross across the face of goal, and Van Buyten leaped to intercept.

The ball deflected and bounced towards the edge of the penalty area, creating a second chance.

Roy initially made a forward run after passing the ball, but upon seeing the ball blocked, he immediately retreated to the top of the penalty area.

He got possession of the ball half a step ahead of Celestini.

Roy took a step back and unleashed a powerful right-footed shot into the near corner.

The ball whistled past the junction of the crossbar and the post, hitting the side netting.

"The ball hurtled like a cannonball! It grazed the junction of the crossbar and the post! It hit the side netting! The whole stadium gasped! Roy held his head in disbelief! The Marseille fans' hearts, which had been on the verge of collapse, were saved! That ball was just a hair's breadth away!"

Monaco fans collectively held their heads in their hands and sighed, then applauded the brilliant teamwork.

Marseille fans breathed a sigh of relief and chanted, "Van Buyten! Our walls!"

Marseille coach Perrin immediately yelled at Van Buyten to stay in position.

The Monaco players high-fived each other, clearly indicating that this tactic is beginning to show results.

(End of this chapter)