When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 5: Time to prepare for my Ligue 1 debut! (Please read on!)

Team A Roster: Flavio Roma, Max, Squillaci, Rothen, Giuly, Pulso

In the afternoon, after the players finished their warm-up exercises.

Jean Petit was reading out the rosters for the intra-squad training match from the sidelines. When he read out the last name, black striker Shabani Nonda, the lineup was basically Deschamps' starting lineup for the recent matches.

Deschamps' attacking tactics are very clear: there is no traditional attacking midfielder; the attack is mainly orchestrated by the two wingers, Giuly and Rothen.

Two powerful center forwards in the frontcourt.

Standing at 1.83 meters tall, "Congolese Black Panther" Shabani may be slow, but he has amazing jumping ability and is good at heading the ball and picking up loose balls for follow-up shots, making him extremely efficient at scoring goals.

The 1.88-meter-tall Croatian center forward, Pulso, once formed a twin-tower attacking line with Klasnic for the national team. He is known for his powerful left-footed shots and runs an average of 12 kilometers per game.

"B Team Roster: Silva, Giulietta, Rodriguez, Abidal, Marcelo Gallardo, Grax Roy."

When Petit finished reading the B team roster, the players from both teams went to the assistant coaches in an orderly fashion to receive their yellow and blue training vests.

Only one short, stocky, dark-haired player glared at Petit, reluctantly walking past while muttering in Spanish, "Damn it."

Marcelo Gallardo, a name Roy had never heard before, was introduced to Roy by Giuly.

"I am Argentina number 10."

"Galado said proudly."

"Your name is Riquelme? If I remember correctly, he should be at Barcelona."

When Roy asked the question, Gallardo's face instantly darkened.

Gallardo is only 1.68 meters tall, but he is burly.

After Roy suspected it might be Maradona, Argentina's number 10 was placed under a height restriction order.

He started his career at Riverplate at the age of eighteen and fought alongside players such as Ortega, Crespo, Aimar, and Saviola.

With exquisite technique, superb dribbling skills, and outstanding playmaking and passing abilities, he was hailed as "Maradona's successor" at the time.

There's nothing wrong with that; Argentinians are practically going crazy waiting for a successor to Maradona.

Whenever a young, talented player emerges from River Plate or Boca Juniors, this nickname is added, making it seem like there are more Maradona heirs than Maradona's illegitimate children.

However, after joining Monaco, Gallardo's form gradually declined, and he lost the number 10 jersey for the national team. What made it even more painful for him was that people now called him "Little Riquelme".

River Plate and Boca Juniors, those who know, know.

Similar to Riquelme's poor performance at Barcelona, ​​Gallardo, who has the same technical style and the same flaws, but is even worse than Riquelme, is also not valued by Deschamps at Monaco.

Wearing the number 10 jersey, he could only sit on the bench.

Why is Roy paying attention to him?

It is said that Gallardo has a bad temper, and even Giuly doesn't like him.

Moreover, his relationship with Deschamps has become very strained, and the conflict has almost become public. Even though he did not leave the team in the winter transfer window, it seems that the countdown has already begun.

He's gone, so the number 10 jersey is now vacant.

But it's too early to talk about these things now; we need to show good performance first.

Jean-Pettit blew his whistle.

"Beep!"

Roy was placed in the center forward position in this match, and the other center forward, Grax, passed the ball to him. The players on the field started moving instantly and began to get into the game.

"Give me the ball!" Gallardo shouted from behind.

Deschamps observed the situation on the field. After Roy received the ball, he flicked it to Gallardo with the outside of his right foot, heading towards the heart of Team A. He then stopped and turned to look back.

What a clever location!

He can receive Gallardo's through balls while ensuring a right pass to Grax, who is on the same diagonal line as him.

But Gallardo didn't pass the ball; instead, he dribbled past A team's Bernardi, who was pressing forward to intercept.

His short, thick legs were surprisingly agile; with a flick and a push, he moved with effortless ease, then stepped back to create distance between himself and Giuly before looking up to observe.

Giuly didn't press, but kept pressing after lowering his center of gravity. When Gallardo tried to nutmeg him, Giuly immediately twisted and pressed close. Then Givet, who had moved forward, slammed into Gallardo.

Intercept the ball!

"what?"

Roy ran back like a headless fly, silently thinking: the classic attacking midfielder deserved to die.

However, Gallardo later changed his mindset after taking over as coach, winning 14 titles in eight years at River Plate and earning the title of "Godfather of River Plate".

The tactics emphasize "high-position pressure plus rapid transition", commonly known as the crazy running 433 tactic.

He mentored players like Álvarez and Enzo Fernández.

Team A's overall strength is far superior to Team B's. In addition, with both teams starting together, their tactical coordination is also high, and his plan to seize an early lead instantly fell through.

Giuly dribbled the ball and quickly advanced down the flank, stretching the B team's right-wing defense. He then suddenly pulled back and unleashed a powerful dribble, creating a clear path forward. He surged forward to the sideline and crossed the ball to the weak side. Rothen controlled the ball at the edge of the penalty area and then chipped it into the box.

The tall and imposing Pulso suddenly leaped up, like a giant beast smashing past the B team's center-back and heading the ball across.

Shabani's black shadow suddenly darted into the open space in the distance.

It shot into the net!

A typical Monaco-style attacking tactic!

Just a few minutes into the game, Team A broke through their opponent's defense!

Deschamps shook his head; Marcelo Gallardo's instinctive ball-hogging directly led to Team B conceding a goal at the start of the game.

Team B restarts the game.

Roy had considered that he might not have many opportunities to pass the ball because he was new to the team, but he never imagined that he would account for two-fifths of his team's total ball possession.

It was because they received two kickoffs within just a few minutes.

Upon receiving the ball, he no longer looked for Gallardo, but instead reviewed the situation on the field and passed the ball to a deeper position, to the feet of the onrushing Greek defensive midfielder, Akis Zikos.

When Gallardo asked Zikos for the ball, the latter noticed Roy running a few steps toward the center circle, attracting the attention of Team A midfielder Bernardi, before suddenly changing direction to the left.

He happened to be in a gap between several players, so he took a risk and sent out a through ball.

Team A's center-back Givet pressed forward again, while defensive midfielder Bernardi switched positions to provide cover. However, Roy received the ball, dribbled forward a few steps, and then suddenly passed it to Suleiman Kamara on the right wing.

He himself was thinking of making a diagonal run down the middle to get closer to the center-backs' overall defensive line.

After receiving the ball with his back to goal, Grax was closely marked by Max. During the physical challenge, the ball was hastily passed to Gallardo, who had made a run forward. After being dispossessed once at the start of the game, Gallardo learned his lesson this time.

After receiving the ball, he calmly observed the situation, repeatedly changing direction and weaving among the A team players before suddenly delivering a left-footed diagonal pass that went straight into the edge of the penalty area.

A classic attacking midfielder who can pass the ball is still useful!
The ball fell towards the back of Team A's half of the court, and players from both sides were rapidly moving towards the landing point, which created a pocket area.

The so-called pocket area.

This refers to a dangerous gap left between the opponent's defensive line and midfield line, usually created by the attacking team through player movement or passing, used to break down the opponent's defensive structure.

Who created this pocket area?
Roy's forward run drew away A team center-back Squillaci's marking. After Gallardo delivered a forward pass from behind, Roy suddenly twisted in place, his studs shattering the turf, and he accelerated in an unimaginable manner as he turned around on the spot.

French defensive stalwart Squillaci, nicknamed "the sheriff," is known for his calm and collected defensive decisions.

However, his relatively slow speed makes him an easy target for fast-paced teams!
After Grax drew Max away, Roy deliberately moved Squillaci around, forcing the defensive stalwart, who was used to trailing behind, to keep a close eye on him.

As Roy accelerated past Squillaci in an instant, a hint of "fear" flashed in the latter's eyes. Roy sprinted forward, turned his head to observe, and controlled the ball with his foot in one smooth motion!
Squillaci's body had not even fully turned around.

Commonly known as "aircraft carrier turning around"!
Deschamps narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed entirely on Roy.

The moment Roy controlled the ball, defender Gilville pressed him closely, not wanting him to have a comfortable stop!

But as the ball landed on Roy's foot, it bounced forward again, flying over Gilville's head, with Roy's explosive figure following closely behind.

He lobbed the ball past the opponent and then instantly unleashed his full speed to devour them.

Simple breakthroughs often involve the most straightforward methods—explosive bursts of speed!
The moment Roy swept past Gilville like a whirlwind.

All that remained in front of him was Flavio Roma, the goalkeeper for Team A.

Monaco's starting goalkeeper took a deep breath, as if facing a formidable enemy. Roy, who had regained possession of the ball in the penalty area, showed no intention of slowing down and headed straight for the goal.

In a split-second decision, Flavio Roma chose to attack!
Suddenly, Roy, who seemed unable to stop his frantic sprint, lunged at him.

Between lightning and flint!

The feint with the shoulder lowers draws the opponent's weight, followed by a side step with the outside of the foot, and then acceleration again after the change of direction.

Flavio moved with fluid movements.

The goal was empty.

The moment Roy deftly tapped the ball into the empty net!
His ability to end things with a calm, almost ruthless demeanor was on full display.

"I don't want to say for now whether he can reach Henry's level, although I think he's calmer than the eighteen-year-old Henry!"

Jean-Pettit said.

Deschamps nodded, his expression saying, "The younger generation is truly formidable."

"If the game goes well tomorrow, he can make his Ligue 1 debut."

On the field, Roy, who scored the goal, ran towards Gallardo.

"What a beautiful pass!"

Roy was overjoyed.

"I now believe you are the great Argentine number 10!"

Gallardo was overjoyed; he felt a long-lost sense of respect.

(End of this chapter)