[{"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-178":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},1555865,2020,"Chapter 178: Chapter-178 Goal","emperor-of-football-julien-de-rocca-chapter-178",178,"\u003Cp>The Rennes fans at Route de Lorient Stadium were stunned by Lukaku's \"black whirlwind\" charging power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Rennes players hadn't expected Bastia to come out so aggressively from the start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The key issue was that coach Antonetti had prepared too little for Bastia's other players—sixty percent of his pre-match preparation had focused completely on Julien.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After last season's French Cup defeat, Antonetti remained convinced they had lost because of Julien.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as Rennes could contain Julien, they wouldn't lose!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Defensive midfielder M'Vila and the two center-backs, Boyer and Biyik, formed an inverted triangle, surrounding Lukaku in the middle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having finally gotten this chance for a long-distance sprint, Lukaku wasn't interested in playing intricate football.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just charge!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just pure speed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing trouble, M'Vila reached out to grab Lukaku's shirt before he could create separation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tugged at the jersey but was pulled by Lukaku's forward momentum, his hand slipping as he fell to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another collective gasp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lukaku dribbled toward the front, approaching the penalty area. Earlier he had been charging blindly, but as he neared the goal, his mind began racing—Should I push with my left foot? Strike with my right? I should...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where's my ball?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boyer and Biyik had been tracking Lukaku throughout. When they saw his hesitation, Boyer timed his intervention perfectly, deflecting the ball away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This player, brought to Rennes from Ghanaian club Hearts of Lions, gave the Rennes fans a moment's relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, a blue figure once again set the Rennes supporters' hearts racing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Julien!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Lukaku was charging forward, Julien had been sprinting as well. When he saw Lukaku instinctively begin to line up his shot, Julien knew something would go wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who was Lukaku, after all?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A player who shot wildly in all directions and fell over at the slightest contact from defenders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, Julien immediately cut inside to provide support, but instead of receiving Lukaku's pass, he received Boyer's \"pass.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Julien flicked the ball to the right and immediately surged forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Julien on the ball, fans' minds flashed back to unpleasant memories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last season, Julien had single-handedly carved through Rennes' defense in exactly this way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Julien!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The TF1 commentator shouted Julien's name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the Sunset Café, everyone stood up, eyes glued to the single screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Biyik quickly closed down on Julien, trying to position himself to block his path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Julien instinctively nudged the ball forward, creating some space to avoid direct contact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The outside world said he played like Ronaldinho, but Julien knew that only his dribbling ability was similar. On the pitch, he lacked Ronaldinho's incredible physical strength and explosive acceleration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to rely on technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing Biyik, Julien dropped his shoulder. When he saw Boyer approaching from the left, he immediately feinted a move to the right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Boyer coming to help, Biyik made his judgment—Julien would break through on the right and took a big step to intercept.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Julien suddenly cut back. Then pushed forward again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He burst through the gap between the two defenders. Biyik realized he'd been fooled and tried to turn and follow, but his earlier step had been too large.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His pursuit was clumsy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boyer didn't think twice—he slid in with a tackle. If he was any slower, Julien would be in the penalty area!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to bring Julien down!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Left-back Théophile-Catherine had the same idea as he tracked back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both slid in simultaneously. One from the left, one from the right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Julien chipped the ball to Lukaku, who was making a run on the far side. With Julien drawing all the defense to the edge of the penalty area, Lukaku was nearly unmarked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, Julien's chip would allow Lukaku to head directly at goal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the ball flew toward Lukaku, he instinctively dropped back a step and used his chest to bring the ball down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He controlled it to his feet, then looked to shoot. But M'Vila, tracking back, was already on him, providing physical pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lukaku's balance shifted slightly. He still managed to get his shot away!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shot was powerful and well-placed, heading for the far corner!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The strike had good quality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, because Lukaku had taken time to adjust, goalkeeper Costil was ready. He flew to push the ball away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having stretched to his limit to make the save, Costil couldn't direct the ball out for a corner. The ball flew back into the goalmouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both Julien and Boyer arrived at the same time, but Julien's footwork was a fraction quicker. After all, Boyer was a center-back—slower with his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Julien got there first, firing with his left foot toward the middle of the goal!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ball hit the net. Julien was knocked down by Boyer, who had also stuck out his foot, and they both went to ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Julien!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that instant, the same name echoed throughout the Sunset Café, throughout every street and alley in Bastia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Startling the seagulls at the harbor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the Route de Lorient Stadium, Julien picked himself up from the ground and ran toward the corner flag. Bastia's small away section was tucked away in a distant corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Julien pointed toward them. This prompted wild cheers from Modoso and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boooo!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But louder still were the boos from the Rennes fans. Julien ignored them, and began celebrating with his teammates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lukaku ran over and high-fived Julien: \"Thank goodness you were in position. That ball was my fault—I was too slow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Julien smiled and sad, \"My fault—I should have played it to your feet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Lukaku was the \"iron-headed fool, the big guy, one-nine-zero who doesn't head\" and a \"professional winger.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>De Bruyne embraced Julien and patted his head, \"Brilliant run.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having jogged up slowly from behind, De Bruyne had watched Julien's entire movement during those few dozen seconds. He had to admit that Julien's emergence as a key player for both Bastia and France's wing play showed real quality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>De Bruyne rarely thought of others as particularly talented, but Julien just about qualified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the sideline, Antonetti threw up his hands, wanting to ask: What the hell kind of defending was that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So many players, and they couldn't mark one man?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fucking De Rocca again!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Antonetti said angrily, then stepped to the sideline, waving at his Rennes players to signal more aggressive attacking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Playing at home, he couldn't just sit back and defend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Already with two consecutive defeats to start the season, this match could not be lost!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For this game, Antonetti had prepared a 4-5-1 formation with highly mobile wing midfielders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Antonetti had analyzed Bastia's defensive line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Kanté covering such a large area in the center, Rennes would focus their attacks down the flanks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The striker they'd bought from PSG for 6.6 million euros during the winter window, Erdinç, would serve as the central pivot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the TF1 commentator was still praising Bastia's opening blitz: \"Julien has broken his personal record for fastest goal—69 seconds! While this is still far from Michel Rio's 8-second goal from 1992, through this goal Julien has demonstrated Bastia's strength this season.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice from the television mixed with the clinking of glasses and conversation throughout the Sunset Café.\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>",1212,"2026-06-06T07:35:06.182Z",1,"novelbin.me","fb84f4825c0ec9d0c555a10ddc04607cdb0164a87c62ad9a322e692ec6219677","emperor-of-football-julien-de-rocca-chapter-179","emperor-of-football-julien-de-rocca-chapter-177",628,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Femperor-of-football-julien-de-rocca-cover.jpg"]