[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-am-the-football-star":3,"chapter-i-am-the-football-star-i-am-the-football-star-chapter-301":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","I AM the Football Star",{"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},1686146,2153,"Chapter 301 - 96: That’s It? I Think It’s Just So-So!","i-am-the-football-star-chapter-301",301,"\u003Cp>But soon someone noticed something was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morici maneuvered skillfully under the opponent’s pressing, not only did he not drop the ball, but he even used a \"fried meatball\" move to get past two pressing players!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then... he backheeled the ball, nutmegging it through, Morici dribbled past those players again, returning to face the two defenders, back to the original starting point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This scene left everyone a bit bewildered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this... a show?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Definitely a show!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And what a damn show it was!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But showing off is fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the key is, you’ve already gotten past two people, why run back?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Are you planning to dribble past them a third time?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Time!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the VIP box, Maniero communicated with Carrel and others: \"Morici is controlling time! He’s waiting for the three people upfront to get into position!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And... he’s also using his own threat to manipulate the opponents.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After he broke through those two, the opposing defensive midfielder and the left and right backs gave him a quick look, preparing to guard against his dribble or pass.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In that moment, both Fernandez and Becher’s got past their markers, gaining a positional advantage.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carrel frowned, \"Then why did he go back? Wouldn’t his threat be greater if he advanced with the ball?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because his goal isn’t to advance with the ball, but to pass!\" Izalelt was also onsite; AC Milan had a cup match the next day, and Izalelt wasn’t on the roster as he prepared for the upcoming Champions League quarter-finals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a playmaker and a midfield player, Izalelt obviously knew more about passing than a forward like Carrel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long passes require a player to put some force behind them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Morici broke through the two, advancing would indeed pose a bigger threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But because the opposing players were already in his half, many would disrupt him if he advanced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The threat of advancing with the ball seemed big, but wasn’t really.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s a kickoff, quite different from when all players are already in position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since advancing wasn’t that threatening, Morici was bound to pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sogel was not far ahead of Morici, roughly in the playmaker area; Morici could short pass to him and allow him to organize the attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Morici didn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That indicates Morici wants a long pass!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He plans to direct the ball to the feet of those three mad runners up front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And a long pass needs to be kicked a certain distance, requiring adequate leg space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with two people tightly following him, where does Morici have space to swing his leg?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he swings his right leg backward, it might kick someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he doesn’t hit anyone, having someone closely behind you brings psychological pressure or hints, affecting your leg swing, causing a rushed or incomplete movement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This would seriously affect the speed and accuracy of the long pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Morici backheeled the ball again, dribbled past, and returned to the starting position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, both defensive players were stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first reason is they’d just undergone two consecutive turns and their balance was off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second reason is having been dribbled past twice by Morici, they’re now hesitant to rush in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maintaining a distance is a known and effective trick to avoid getting dribbled past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bam!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Space and time, everything was just perfect!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morici raised his foot for a rocket pass and shot!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this kick, he told everyone he’s back!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upfield, Lu Yang passed by Sogel, and Samp’s defensive midfielder hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who to mark?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Morici’s pushing from midfield is less threatening,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>then Sogel having the ball midway between midfield and the goal line is very dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two steps forward, and it’s an opportunity for shooting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pass to either side can create a chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in the worst-case scenario, passing back to Morici can reorganize the play.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Samp’s defensive midfielder chose to mark Sogel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Lu Yang, there are still two central defenders!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Similarly, thanks to Morici’s brilliant consecutive plays past two, Fernandez and Becher’s left their fullbacks behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They interchar beneath at the penalty box line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the same way, Lu Yang’s advancing path will cross this point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More chilling, Morici’s quick pass and shot lands at this point as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four arrows shoot forth, paths aligned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>San Remo intends to take the match with a deadly first strike!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yang, despite having the shortest path, is the slowest runner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this pace, the two wingers will arrive at the point about a second before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mark him!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stay organized!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Switch defense!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Samp’s defenders were top-notch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The idea of the two central defenders was, as the wingers passed by, they would provide coverage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, the fullbacks would switch their marking to defend Lu Yang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Based on all players’ current running paths and speeds,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Samp’s fullbacks can’t catch up with San Remo’s wingers, trailing by one body length, but they can stand between Lu Yang and the goalkeeper before Lu Yang arrives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So with perfect switching, they can effectively defend San Remo’s three players with their four.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once they control the ball, it would then be their turn to attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the scene Sam’s defenders anticipated unfolded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>San Remo’s two wingers intersected at the penalty box line.\u003C\u002Fp>",870,"2026-06-06T13:45:08.170Z",1,"novelbin.me","135809286966e264cb293cd2286796a8cf4b8e0bbc668bbb9ab7089d8df3f664","i-am-the-football-star-chapter-302","i-am-the-football-star-chapter-450",836,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-am-the-football-star-cover.jpg"]