Chapter 249: The League Concludes: Ale's La Liga Silver Boot and Tom's La Liga Assist King!
Check Dongqiu Di match report: Barcelona drew 3-3 at home against Eibar, suffering a last-minute equalizer; after 38 rounds, they sit temporarily in second place with 86 points.
Check Dongqiu Di pinned post: Leading by 88 points after 37 rounds, Real Madrid has secured the 2016-17 La Liga title one round early.
69th minute of the second half!
"Pick it up!"
"Pick up the pace!"
Barcelona's draw sent the Yellow Submarine players' morale soaring; Bruno, who had been feeling somewhat fatigued, suddenly felt his body brimming with strength.
Tang Ye chewed his gum, his expression exceedingly serious.
Seizing the opportunity of a set piece, Rodri ran over to inform Tang Ye of the news regarding Barcelona's draw.
Wow?
Tang Ye turned his head toward the substitutes' bench, where Escrivá was shouting wildly at the pitch.
"With twenty minutes remaining, if we score just one more goal, our ranking for this season will surpass Barcelona's."
Rodri covered his mouth and whispered softly.
"Score one more goal?"
Gazing at the penalty area before him, Tang Ye blinked: "We can do it right now."
"Beep!"
"Bruno has also moved into the box, so this ball is handed directly to Tang Ye to handle!"
"Lob the ball into the box!"
"Ale!"
"Head it straight on!"
"Gooooooaaaaallllllll!!!!"
"3-2!"
"Villarreal takes the lead!"
Ale led the Villarreal players charging toward the corner flag.
Tang Ye sprinted rapidly, his focus fixed on the open ground ahead of him.
A little faster!
Now is about right!
Bang!
Swish—!!!
Tang Ye slid directly on his knees to a stop behind Ale, stood up, jogged a few steps, and leaped straight onto Ale's back.
"Haha, Tom!"
Ale carried Tang Ye on his back, continuing to run toward the stands.
"I'll shout it, I'll shout it!"
"3, 2, 1!"
"Vamos!!!!"
【You have obtained 10 Counterattack Points】
【Brace achieved; you have obtained an additional 20 Counterattack Points】
After finishing the chant, Tang Ye jumped down from Ale's back; at that moment, Ale turned around and shouted another phrase: "Vamos Tom!"
"Vamos Tom!"
Rodri and Bruno arrived simultaneously, and the veteran Villarreal captain leaped directly onto Tang Ye's back.
"Damn, damn, I can't hold steady! Rod, help me, help me!"
The live broadcast showed scenes of the Villarreal players celebrating, when suddenly an English version of the league table data popped up on the screen.
La Liga Standings (if the scoreline holds until the end).
1. Real Madrid, 88 points (37 rounds).
2. Villarreal, 87 points (38 rounds).
3. Barcelona, 86 points (38 rounds).
The standings are the clearest thing of all; simply put, if this 3-2 scoreline persists, Villarreal is confirmed as the second-place finisher in this season's La Liga.
Barcelona has no chance to mount another comeback!
【I really need to kowtow to Eibar】
【Eibar, Escrivá. Brothers, I feel like Saint Escrivá controlled Eibar, just like Ten Hag controls Villarreal】
【Is Saint Escrivá still pushing hard?】
【Another assist from a set piece; GG Bond is in invincible form】
【Vamos Villarreal!】
"Haha!"
Near the corner flag, the Villarreal players high-fived each other; Bruno, Rodri, and Tang Ye walked side by side.
"Damn it, my form hasn't been good lately; otherwise, they wouldn't have scored that goal in the second half."
Tang Ye didn't hear clearly what Bruno was saying, so he asked Bruno to repeat it.
"It's fine!"
Tang Ye shouted toward Bruno's ear, then pointed his thumb at his own nose: "Bruno, my form is excellent; I'll carry you!"
"Rod's form is also excellent; he and I will carry you together!"
"Haha, good."
Bruno gave both Tang Ye and Rodrigo a pat on the shoulder, then broke into a run.
"We can still score more; let's pad Sebastian's stats."
Currently, Ale has 27 league goals, just one shy of Suárez in second place; however, since Ale has taken penalties, he ranks only third.
"We could snag the Silver Boot for Sebastian."
Tang Ye's eyes lit up as his mind raced.
The La Liga Silver Boot carries even more weight than the Eredivisie Golden Boot!
As Tom's friend, Sebastian fully deserves the honor of the La Liga Silver Boot!
"Don't overthink it; maintaining the lead is what matters!"
Ale shouted into Tang Ye's ear.
"I know, I know."
The match reached the 78th minute!
Zaza dribbled near Yellow Submarine's penalty area, weaving back and forth, waiting for teammates to arrive while seeking an opening himself.
This was the season's final match; Valencia certainly did not wish to lose at home.
"Get up there, get up there!"
Urged by Asenjo, Ruiz sprinted out of the box to block Zaza.
With momentum on their side, Yellow Submarine played with great boldness.
Fans watching from a god's-eye view felt immense pressure.
But thinking carefully...
Wasn't this aggressive style of play precisely Yellow Submarine's essence this season?
Slap!
Zaza passed to Cancelo, who crossed from the byline!
Cancelo's byline cross was intercepted by Gaspar!
"Wow!!!"
"Charge, charge, charge!"
"Pass forward, pass forward, find Tom, find Tom!"
The away fans beside him were incredibly passionate; Gaspar dared to clear the ball before Cancelo could reach him.
Slap!
It was a clearance struck in panic, so its accuracy was not high.
Players near the center circle were converging on the landing spot.
Tang Ye was also running toward the center circle!
Tang Ye lacked strong ability to judge landing points, but that didn't matter; all he needed to do was shield the Valencia players around him.
Only then would Ale's chances of winning the first header increase!
Tang Ye blocked Rodrigo's position!
Bang!
Ale headed the ball to Bakambu!
Bakambu controlled the ball on the spot!
OK!
Tang Ye spotted the opportunity, abandoned Rodrigo behind him, and pressed forward directly.
Bakambu stood still, waiting for Tang Ye to run past him from behind.
Bang!
Bakambu delivered a perfectly weighted through ball to Tang Ye!
While running forward, he lifted his head to survey the situation.
Valencia's defenders remained quite cautious; there was no longer a one-on-one chance.
No choice then; Tang Ye continued running toward the penalty area.
Soler rushed in from the side attempting to intercept, so Tang Ye passed the ball back to Bakambu behind him!
Charging straight into the penalty area!
The instant Tang Ye entered the box, Bakambu seized the moment and played a through ball out!
"Woww!!"
Facing the goalkeeper one-on-one!
Defenders inside the box focused entirely on Ale, allowing Tang Ye to reach the penalty spot with ease.
Goalkeeper Domènech advanced to narrow Tang Ye's shooting angle!
Tang Ye kept his eyes on the goalkeeper, pulled the ball back behind him with his right foot, then quickly sidestepped.
The goalkeeper was fooled by Tang Ye's feint and fell!
At this moment, Yellow Submarine's top scorer, Ale, took possession!
The goalkeeper was still on the ground, unable to rise; there was no need to hesitate now.
Bang!
"Goooooaaaaalllll!!!!"
"Goal!"
"4:2!"
"Ale's breakthrough!"
"An assist hat-trick!"
"Tang Tang Qiuwang's assist hat-trick!"
After scoring, Aleix did not rush out to celebrate but stood at the penalty spot.
Tang Ye ran from inside the six-yard box toward Aleix.
Arms spread wide!
Boom!
Tang Ye and Aleix collided.
【You obtained 10 Counterattack Points】
【Assist hat-trick: you obtained an additional 40 Counterattack Points】
"..."
"Beep, beep-beep—!!!!"
The final whistle blew; Matí, who had been sitting silently on the substitutes' bench, raised both hands.
"Vamos!"
Check Dongqiu Di match report: Yellow Submarine defeats Valencia 4–2 away; Tang Tang Qiuwang records an assist hat-trick.
【66666】
【The greatness of our Mr. Tang Tang Qiuwang needs no further words】
【A Yellow Submarine fan for life!】
"Villarreal!"
"Villarreal!"
"Villarreal!"
As the home supporters gradually departed, the Valencia stadium slowly became occupied by Yellow Submarine fans.
Bruno led Tang Ye to the area beneath the away stand; Tang Ye lifted his head and saw the signs held by the fans.
【Tom, Villarreal's strongest midfielder!】
【Thank you, Tom!】
【La Liga's top assister!】
"Damn, there are so many signs."
Tang Ye exclaimed in awe.
Just moments ago he had wanted to count exactly how many signs dedicated to him were in the stands, but he quickly gave up.
This was not something Tom's power could count clearly!
"Didn't I tell you this at halftime?"
Bruno approached silently; Tang Ye nodded. "I originally planned to look at the away stand right after coming out of the tunnel, but I forgot."
At halftime, Mr. Ferran had spoken many inspiring words; Tang Ye's attention had been entirely focused on the encouragement, completely forgetting what Bruno had said just minutes earlier.
The Yellow Submarine players slowly made their way to the area beneath the away stand.
This was the final La Liga match of the season, a special occasion; after the game, the players needed to acknowledge the crowd and thank the fans for their unwavering support. "Oh, right!"
Tang Ye suddenly remembered something and blurted it out.
"What is it?"
"I should have gone to the locker room first to get my backpack; I brought a lot of chewing gum today, intending to give it to them."
Having said this, Tang Ye prepared to run back to the locker room, but Escrivá, who had walked over, stopped him: "Wait, you still need to collect the MVP trophy; there's no rush."
That seemed true...
Tang Ye nodded and walked back to the area beneath the away stand together with Escrivá.
Clap clap clap!
Clap clap clap!
Players and fans clapped together, then began to sing.
"In the town where I was born~ (In the small town where I was born)"
"Lived a man who sailed to sea~"
!
"..."
"Everyone of us has all we need~ (We have everything we want)"
We have all we need—that is exactly what the Yellow Submarine looks like now!
The Copa del Rey, the La Liga title; apart from the Europa League final which had not yet begun, Villarreal had obtained everything they desired.
Yellow Submarine, Yellow Submarine...
The rhythm grew slower, the singing softer; then, without anyone knowing who started it, the over three thousand away fans in the stands suddenly switched to another song.
"Viva Tom Tom~"
"Viva Tom Tom~"
Haha!
Tang Ye and Bruno exchanged a glance, smiles on their faces, as they moved little by little closer to the stands.
The "Long Live Tom" song had barely been sung for a few lines before the fans started chanting something else.
"Tom!"
"Stay!"
"Tom!"
"Stay!"
Tang Ye suddenly stopped in his tracks, the smile on his face slowly fading away.
Bruno stood right beside Tang Ye, his two eyes fixed on Tang Ye's face; no one knew what was going through Captain Huang Huang Qian's mind.
Tang Ye suddenly dared not move forward.
"It's fine."
Escrivá walked over from behind, pushing Tang Ye toward the bottom of the stands to sign autographs for the fans.
"Viva Tom! Tom~"
"Viva Tom! Tom~~"
The fans continued their high-pitched chants, while Tang Ye used his pen to give autographs to the fans at the very bottom of the stands.
Looking at the grass beneath his feet, Tang Ye suddenly thought of something and stuffed the signature pen in his hand into Escrivá's arms.
Then he quickly ran toward the pitch.
Accelerate!
Faster!
Maximum speed!
Boom!
Swish swish swish—!!!
Tang Ye tore three stripes into the grass.
"Haha, Tom!"
The other players also got excited, sliding on their knees one after another toward Tang Ye's location.
Swish—!!
Swish swish swish—!!!
"Villarreal!"
"Villarreal!"
"Villarreal!"
Boom!
Bruno kicked open the locker room door, then stepped onto the chair in the center.
"No one is going home tonight! We've created club history, and now we must celebrate—we have to celebrate!"
"Don't rush, Bruno."
Tang Ye searched everywhere in the locker room for drinks while speaking to Bruno: "We still have a Europa League match to play."
Musacchio held up two fingers on his left hand and three on his right.
"Two-thirds; we've only created two-thirds of our history."
"The league just ended, and you're already thinking about taking on Manchester United, aren't you?"
Mateu walked in from behind, went around Musacchio, and then helped Tang Ye find a case of Lin Lin Jiade hidden under a bench.
Tang Ye twisted off the cap: "Mateu, don't hide the drinks like that; I can't find them."
"Ferran told me to hide them."
Mateu spread his hands to show his innocence: "He said you tend to drink too much, and it would be troublesome if you needed to use the restroom during the match."
Mateu patted Tang Ye on the shoulder: "Ferran knows you too well."
"So where is Mr. Ferran now? I feel I need to explain this to him."
"His interview isn't over yet."
Bruno walked over, pointing at the drink bottle in Tang Ye's hand: "You drank half the bottle in two gulps; is there still any need for an explanation?"
"That's different; the match is already over, so it doesn't matter if I drink now."
Having said that, Tang Ye took another sip; the drink in the bottle was nearly gone.
Crack crack!
Meanwhile, on the other side.
"So... could you give a brief summary of Villarreal's performance this season?"
Taking a light breath, Escrivá spoke slowly.
"Actually, strictly speaking, this season isn't over yet, but a summary is possible."
Escrivá held up one finger: "We won the King's Cup championship, which created club history."
Then he held up a second finger: "We finished second in La Liga, which also created club history."
"Perfect; I believe Villarreal's performance this season was perfect."
Escrivá nodded, his expression very serious.
When reporters below asked if he could rate each Huang Huang Qian player for the season, Escrivá did not refuse.
"Bruno?"
"Ten points!"
Hearing Escrivá's answer, the reporters below wrote the score down in their notebooks.
"Musacchio?"
"Ten points!"
"Ale?"
"10 points!"
The reporter scribbled furiously with a pencil.
After asking seven or eight players, Escrivá's answer to every single one was 10 points.
All perfect scores; it was clear that Mr. Ferran was truly very satisfied with the Yellow Submarine's players this season.
"Tom?"
"100 points!"
"..."
The reporter's pen suddenly stopped; he looked up at Escrivá before him.
Escrivá was looking at him too.
"Is something wrong?"
"Oh, nothing."
Villarreal News, front-page headline: Two comebacks against Barça ultimately secure second place in the league; Villarreal achieves the highest La Liga ranking in the club's history.
La Liga Official: Congratulations to Real Madrid @realmadrid for winning the 2016-17 La Liga championship.
Attached: La Liga standings (2016-17 season):
1. Real Madrid, 91 points
2. Villarreal, 87 points.
3. Barcelona, 86 points.
4. Atlético Madrid, 77 points.
5. Sevilla, 67 points.
6. Real Sociedad, 63 points.
Villarreal Official: Congratulations on winning the 2016-17 La Liga assist title; congratulations on winning the 2016-17 La Liga Silver Boot.
Attached: La Liga assist leaderboard (2016-17 season):
1. Tang Ye (Villarreal), 34 times.
2. Suárez (Barcelona), 14 times.
3. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), 13 times.
4. Neymar (Barcelona), 11 times.
5. Marcelo (Real Madrid), 10 times.
8. Bakambu (Villarreal), 6 times.
8. Bruno (Villarreal), 6 times.
【"Tang Ye, 34 assists"】
【"Where is Messi? My screen is too short; I can't see Messi."】
【"Don't mention it; I can't see Cristiano Ronaldo either."】
【"That's just how Messi and Ronaldo are; they think they're the Ball King, but when placed on the same list as the real Tang Tang Qiuwang, they start hiding again."】
【"Counting the few matches he didn't play, Tang Ye is nearing an average of one assist per game..."】
【"Messi has 35 goals; is there a chance to contend with him for the Player of the Season?"】
Is there a chance to contend with Messi for the Player of the Season?
This comment sparked fierce debate among fans on Check Dongqiu Di.
Messi's stats were 35 goals and 8 assists; Tang Ye's stats were 15 goals and 34 assists.
Judging by these stats, this season's La Liga Player of the Year will absolutely be decided between these two players.
Winning Player of the Year over Messi in his very first season in La Liga?
It sounds a bit absurd, but Tang Ye indeed posted stats of 15 goals and 34 assists!
But then again...
Letting a loaned player win the Monthly Best Player trophy three times in a row was already embarrassing enough for the Royal Spanish Football Federation.
Now are they supposed to let this loaned player win the Seasonal Best as well?
Thirty-four assists are certainly awesome, but 35 goals are nothing to sneeze at either!
Soon, a fan pointed out that Tang Ye would 100% win the Player of the Season award.
He provided very sufficient reasons.
That being the data from the all-time La Liga single-season assist leaderboard!
1. Tang Ye (2016-17 season, Villarreal), 34 times.
2. Xavi (2008-09 season, Barcelona), 23 times.
3. Sitting Like (2004-05 season, Villarreal), 22 times.
4. Messi (2011-12 season, Barcelona), 19 times.
5. Ronaldinho (2005-06 season, Barcelona), 18 times.
The assist leaderboard?
Tom isn't comparing himself to Suárez, nor to Kroos.
Of course, he isn't comparing himself to his teammate Neymar either.
He wants to compare himself to the historical players of La Liga!
He intends to defeat the assist kings of every single season in La Liga history.
That's just the kind of person Tom is.
That's Tom!
The King of Kings!
……
(End of Chapter)
End of Chapter
