[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-emperor-of-football-julien-de-rocca":3,"chapter-emperor-of-football-julien-de-rocca-emperor-of-football-julien-de-rocca-chapter-155":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Emperor of Football: Julien De Rocca",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1555842,2020,"Chapter 155: Chapter- 155 De Bruyne's Thoughts","emperor-of-football-julien-de-rocca-chapter-155",155,"\u003Cp>Emiliano was somewhat stunned when he heard about going to Bastia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Dibu\" was his nickname, used by people who were close to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This came from his middle name Damián.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His full name was Damián Emiliano Martínez Romero.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Dibu\" is a common nickname variant for the name \"Damián\" in Spanish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Argentine culture, such abbreviations or variant nicknames are very common.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Additionally, Argentina had a classic comic called \"Dibu,\" and young Emiliano looked somewhat similar to the protagonist Dibu, so his family and companions all called him that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emiliano shook his head, \"Bastia is too far away. I don't think Mandinha would want me to be so far from her either.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Giroud shrugged, \"Of course, family is important. I was just making a suggestion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mm-hmm, I'm going then.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Giroud returned his attention to the broadcast, where Montpellier was still pressing Bastia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bastia's defensive players were far less talented than their attacking players.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They looked quite flustered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The game wasn't particularly pretty to watch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Giroud's thoughts turned to Emiliano, this 20-year-old Argentine goalkeeper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Giroud's view, his talent was quite impressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he was stuck at Arsenal, where he certainly wouldn't get opportunities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arsenal had too many excellent goalkeepers. But Bastia was quite short on that front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Emiliano was right - his girlfriend Amanda \"Mandinha\" Gama wouldn't want him to be far from London.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gama's parents owned a restaurant in London that all the Arsenal players knew about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, when they gathered privately for meals, there was always gossip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How did the introverted Emiliano quietly win over the restaurant owner's daughter?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gama was very outgoing. She didn't mind sharing how she and Emiliano first met—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He started coming to eat when he was 18. I was still in university then, sometimes helping my parents at the restaurant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We'd usually see each other on weekends, but we never spoke. Once I asked his friend: 'Why does he always look down whenever he sees me?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He must have talked to his friend about it, because later he sent me a message: 'I'm not very brave, I'm quite shy, but if you're willing, would you like to go for coffee together?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's how it all started.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We met up, chatted, and went back to my apartment next to the restaurant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We had coffee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he first entered my place, he was just so tall. I thought: 'I can't date him, he's too tall and I'm too short.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he came in, I just said: 'So tall.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He's always been so sweet, I've always thought he was the most adorable person in the world.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time Gama shared her story with Emiliano. Giroud could see the love in both their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It reminded him of Jennifer. They were just as in love. Perhaps sending Emiliano to Bastia really wasn't appropriate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Red Bull Arena, New York.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the field, De Bruyne was playing somewhat anxiously. Bastia didn't have possession, and there was a serious disconnect between their front and back lines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, when he came to Bastia, he had already anticipated such situations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of strength could you expect from a newly promoted team?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>De Bruyne came here with the purpose of accepting a challenge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chataigner had promised him that the team would definitely strive for the Europa League.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, his positioning for himself and the team was very practical, they were all \"Big Dreamers\" with dreams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"FORZA, Bastia!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>De Bruyne could always hear the Bastia fans' cheers. He wondered, don't these people ever get tired?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn't even a home game. Bastia fans didn't have the numerical advantage. This wasn't the first time De Bruyne had experienced Bastia fans' fanaticism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kevin!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Rothen shouted his name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>De Bruyne had been watching the field situation. Montpellier had lost the ball, and Rothen was pushing forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>De Bruyne immediately moved up. This was Bastia's attacking opportunity!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He scanned the front field and assessed the situation. The left flank attack was paralyzed: Palmieri couldn't even get up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the center, Lukaku and De Rocca on the right were both making runs forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was an opportunity, but also the area with the strongest defensive pressure. If it were the left flank...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Hmm?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Rothen passed the ball to De Bruyne's feet, he suddenly saw a black shadow charging up the left flank: Sidibé!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In training, De Bruyne had a deep impression of Sidibé.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sidibé's physical attributes were explosive. If only his football intelligence were a bit higher, he'd be a top-class left-back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for now, he was good enough!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>De Bruyne didn't waste time after receiving the ball. In his view, football was actually quite simple: through positioning and passing, create momentary advantages for the team in certain spaces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Football's biggest taboo was: first stop, then look, then pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether you could create momentary advantages: that was the difference between top-class midfielders and ordinary ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>De Bruyne played a horizontal pass. He gave the ball to Sidibé who was overlapping, while he moved toward the area where Lukaku and De Rocca were operating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they were stretching the space, he could get space for a long shot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The match time was already 36 minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bastia finally got a decent counter-attacking opportunity. Hadzibegic watched the front field intently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pass the ball!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hadzibegic saw Sidibé still running with his head down and shouted loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sidibé was indeed useful defensively, but his attacking play still couldn't keep up with the pace. He still needed some coaching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sidibé ran all the way with his head down to the left side of the penalty area, with the opposing right-back Congré sticking close to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sidibé finally realized he should pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But, Montpellier's players had already gotten back in position. There weren't any great opportunities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>De Bruyne shook his head and quickly pulled out, preparing to go over and provide support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sidibé suddenly made a touch, creating a positional advantage, then launched a big cross toward the center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>De Bruyne's heart sank. 'Why didn't he pass earlier or later, but only when I've already come out to receive?!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He quickly looked toward where the ball would land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Lukaku didn't really like physical battles with defenders, at this moment he knew that if he didn't go for the header, it would be hard to justify.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The key was that De Rocca had spoken so nicely, \"With your build, you can easily dominate any penalty area.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, when Sidibé's ball flew toward the center, Lukaku jumped with all his might, planning to deliver a \"Belgian thunderbolt.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, When he jumped up, he realized that Sidibé's cross was somewhat high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This guy was treating him like a spring-loaded man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither Mbiwa, Lukaku, nor Hilton managed to touch this ball.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ball flew toward the right side of the penalty area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Julien had already prepared to fight for the second ball from Lukaku's header, but no one had touched it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was coming his way!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Estrada's tight marking, he had no space to control the ball, and crucially, Sidibé's cross was too powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't have time to prepare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Activating his explosive power, taking advantage of the moment when Estrada was watching the ball, he turned his body and met the ball with a volley!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A left-footed blast!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the moment of the side volley, Julien felt ultimate control over the ball with his left foot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flexibility enhancement!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>De Rocca managed to keep the ball down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without losing pace, the ball flew toward the goal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>________________________________________________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Check out my patreon where you can read more chapters:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>patreon.com\u002FLorianFiction\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks for your support!\u003C\u002Fp>",1263,"2026-06-06T07:35:06.182Z",1,"novelbin.me","c03058e4a6ea207328de56bdd996c1e97ba1d94fea215f59e460ed1ee1a7b6d0","emperor-of-football-julien-de-rocca-chapter-156","emperor-of-football-julien-de-rocca-chapter-154",628,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Femperor-of-football-julien-de-rocca-cover.jpg"]