[{"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-171":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},1555858,2020,"Chapter 171: Chapter-171 Bastia's Players","emperor-of-football-julien-de-rocca-chapter-171",171,"\u003Cp>Bastia's treble was no accident—they'd not only retained last season's core players but had also made excellent signings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last season's core: De Rocca, Rothen, plus defenders Joplin and Angula.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Combined with the current De Bruyne, Lukaku, Kanté, and Sidibé, Bastia had assembled a sufficiently strong squad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike Furnier, who saw Bastia as Reims's relegation rival, Zidane looked at Julien on television and thought: are they aiming for the Ligue 1? Getting past PSG won't be easy though.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his view, although PSG had started poorly, that was merely a matter of chemistry—their players were all world-class.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Bastia to defeat PSG, they'd need improvements in several positions: left midfielder, right-back, both center-backs, and goalkeeper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zidane had also heard news about Bastia's owner mortgaging the entire club.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Bastia had achieved so far was already their limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time continued to tick away on the pitch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zidane always looked forward to De Rocca getting on the ball. Every time Julien touched it, Zidane smiled with satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching him play was simply a class above everyone else, and De Rocca had gained composure and calm from his European Championship experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was only 17 years old.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zidane marveled—talent was simply talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kevin, use that counter-attacking approach.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the Cesari Stadium:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bastia won a free kick in the attacking third. De Rocca, De Bruyne, and Rothen all gathered around the ball, covering their mouths as they discussed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rothen suggested the counter-attacking routine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Julien said, \"Kevin, why don't you take a shot? This position is within your range.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They'd witnessed De Bruyne's long-range shooting in training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>De Bruyne had actually considered shooting directly. But he quickly suppressed that thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that De Rocca had brought it up, his heart raced with excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Julien with slight surprise. \"I'm not entirely confident.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Julien gave him an encouraging look. \"Who dares claim absolute certainty with free kicks? I believe in you. Treat it like training—come on, shoot!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>De Bruyne wasn't one to hesitate. He simply nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After making the decision, Julien immediately moved to a position just outside the penalty area, ready to pounce if De Bruyne's shot was blocked by the wall or saved by the keeper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rothen stood with De Bruyne in front of the ball.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whistle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The referee's whistle sounded, indicating they could take the kick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both players gestured toward their teammates in the box.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rothen positioned himself farther back with a longer run-up, while De Bruyne stood just three steps from the ball.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>De Bruyne started his approach first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Agassa and Reims's wall thought Rothen might take a shot, so when De Bruyne began his run, they didn't react immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he struck the ball powerfully, their reaction came too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wall's jump didn't reach maximum height. The ball had already cleared the wall!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It flew directly toward the near post. Agassa saw the danger and immediately shifted, launching himself in a desperate dive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the ball bounced once off the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ball flew over him into the net.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Goal!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>34th minute—De Bruyne's direct free kick!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bastia 2-0 Reims.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kevin!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When De Bruyne scored, De Rocca immediately roared his name and charged toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>De Bruyne grabbed Julien, and they ran together toward the corner flag. At that moment, the Bastia stands erupted once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In front of the stands, De Bruyne didn't have any elaborate celebration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply raised his fist toward the supporters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His usually stern face finally broke into a spring-like smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fans in the stands loudly chanted his name—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kevin!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bastia fans had questioned De Bruyne, wondering if he could shoulder the responsibility of Bastia's midfield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after just one match—the French Super Cup—Bastia supporters accepted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They felt he would become De Rocca's capable assistant, leading Bastia toward success once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After celebrating, De Bruyne turned and embraced Julien tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Julien, you were right. I scored.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>De Bruyne's voice trembled slightly with emotion, though there was pride in his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if saying: come on, praise me!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Julien laughed heartily. \"Of course! You already proved your technique in training.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lukaku came over and lifted De Bruyne up, laughing. \"That shot was absolutely brilliant. I can temporarily give you my title as Belgium's most handsome player for this one match.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Julien patted Lukaku. \"Get ready for the next chance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just get the ball to me, and I'll definitely score!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Julien remained noncommittal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as Lukaku played striker, Bastia basically avoided crossing from the wings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It couldn't be helped—Lukaku couldn't win headers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lukaku's inability to win aerial duels fundamentally came down to poor judgment of the ball's trajectory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This ability was difficult to train and could be considered innate striker's instinct—after all, not every big man could become Drogba.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing high balls, Lukaku's positioning in the box was particularly poor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite his excellent physique, his balance was mediocre. Even when he did reach the right spot, it severely affected his heading accuracy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a top striker himself, De Rocca had noticed another bad habit of Lukaku's—he loved lurking at the back post. He always seemed to skillfully miss the first contact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Often, he'd position himself for the initial delivery, then wait for scraps to poke home. Again, there was that saying: Lukaku had a striker's body but a winger's mentality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whistle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the referee's signal, play resumed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leading by two goals, Bastia felt no urgency. They didn't press high up the pitch, instead waiting for Reims to attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hadzibegic shouted from the touchline for his players to drop back, but he didn't want De Rocca to retreat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He worried about Julien having to make long sprints to collect the ball later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Bastia's right flank was near the technical area, Hadzibegic called De Rocca over during a break in play. \"Whatever you do, don't make long sprints! Absolutely don't—do you hear me? Health first!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Julien nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hadzibegic then gestured to Lukaku, De Bruyne, and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Defensive counter-attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the new season, Hadzibegic was under immense pressure. As a promoted side, defense would be Bastia's main theme this season.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today's early aggressive play was only because Reims was a familiar Ligue 2 opponent, giving Bastia a psychological advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With their goal cushion established, it was time to adapt to defensive counter-attacking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mainly because in the sixth round, Bastia would host Paris Saint-Germain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This summer, PSG's spending spree of 100 million euros was truly shocking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Ligue 1, PSG was worth more than all other teams combined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This would be a tough battle.\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>",1097,"2026-06-06T07:35:06.182Z",1,"novelbin.me","516fd56c17c21720b92f30c07d0f6ab5909f18af1cc66c885a6cd8695fdca487","emperor-of-football-julien-de-rocca-chapter-172","emperor-of-football-julien-de-rocca-chapter-170",628,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Femperor-of-football-julien-de-rocca-cover.jpg"]