[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-start-with-r9-template":3,"chapter-start-with-r9-template-start-with-r9-template-chapter-129":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Start with R9 Template",{"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},1388731,1840,"Chapter 129 - 129","start-with-r9-template-chapter-129",129,"\u003Cp>The atmosphere in the press room was heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vincenzo Montella wiped sweat from his brow, looking like a man trying to sell a used car with no engine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Montella,\" a reporter from Marca asked, \"what are your thoughts on today's match? You conceded two away goals.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We didn't perform well in defense,\" Montella sighed, loosening his tie. \"We allowed Manchester United's number 7 to play in an armchair. He had time, he had space. This shouldn't have happened! It really shouldn't have!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But,\" Montella added, attempting to regain some dignity, \"we have lost the battle, not the war. There is no point in assigning blame now. We learn.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you confident for the second leg at Old Trafford?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course,\" Montella lied smoothly. \"We caused United a lot of trouble. In the second leg, I will have a specific plan. We will be better. I just hope the fans stay with us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes betrayed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew that if he crashed out of Europe, the Sevilla board—notorious for their short patience—would likely show him the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>United Press Room\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the adjacent room, Jose Mourinho was blunt. There were no excuses, only cold analysis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We didn't perform well,\" Mourinho stated, staring down the journalists. \"And that is my fault. I take responsibility.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The result proves one thing: the 4-3-3 formation is not suitable for this group of players right now. We tried it. It failed. We move on.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood up, buttoned his jacket, and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Short. Sharp. Ruthless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The squad flew back overnight. There was no time to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The schedule was relentless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In three days, Matchday 28 of the Premier League began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manchester United vs. Chelsea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a clash of titans. At the same time, Manchester City would face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup Final (and league shortly after).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The \"Big Six\" were eating each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For United, this game had extra spice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last time, United had scraped a 2-1 victory. But this Chelsea side was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the winter window, they had added Olivier Giroud, a target man who loved physical battles, and Emerson Palmieri.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the real narrative was David Luiz.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Brazilian defender had been exiled by Antonio Conte, banished to the stands for questioning the manager.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mourinho had rescued him. Now, Luiz was desperate to show Conte exactly what he had thrown away. He was training like a man possessed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While United prepared, the results of the Round of 16 First Legs rippled through Europe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Porto 0 - 5 Liverpool: The \"Reds\" were terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sadio Mané bagged a hat-trick. Salah and Firmino danced through the Portuguese defense. Klopp's heavy metal football was playing at full volume.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manchester City 4 - 0 Basel: Guardiola's machine rolled on. They were effectively through to the quarter-finals already.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Real Madrid 3 - 1 PSG: The clash of the Galacticos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neymar dazzled but lacked end product.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mbappe ran into blind alleys. Cavani looked isolated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a team of individuals against a team of champions. Cristiano Ronaldo, the inevitable man, scored twice (one penalty, one tap in) to reach 100 Champions League goals for Madrid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chelsea 1 - 1 Barcelona: Heartbreak at the Bridge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Willian had hit the post twice before scoring. But then, came a moment of madness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Andreas Christensen played a suicidal pass across his own box. Andres Iniesta intercepted, cut it back, and Lionel Messi finally broke his curse against Chelsea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The contrast was stark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liverpool and City were flying. Real Madrid were clutch. United? They had scraped a 2-1 win against Sevilla.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The doubts began to creep back in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Football Forum \u002F Reddit]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>@Madridista: Looking at Real, the Three-Peat is on. Ronaldo is a cyborg.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>@TacticalTim: PSG are a joke. Neymar and Mbappe occupy the same spaces. It's FIFA street ball, not Champions League football.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>@RedDevil: I'm worried about us. We struggled against Sevilla. People are saying the 7-0 vs Spurs was a fluke. If we play like that against Barca or Bayern, we get smoked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>@ABU_Fan: United are Premier League leaders but look like Quarter-Final fodder. It's typical Mourinho. Win the league and bore everyone to death in Europe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>@Optimist: At least we won away! Chelsea drew at home. We are in the driver's seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cobham Training Ground, London\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Antonio Conte stared into the bathroom mirror. He ran a hand through his hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt thinner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this rate, he would need another hair transplant before May.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stress was eating him alive. The Barcelona result was a gut punch—dominating the game only to concede to a childish error. And now, the league.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chelsea were fighting for their lives to stay in the Top Four.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had United away, then City away. It was a gauntlet of death. Given Roman Abramovich's history, two losses here could mean the sack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Conte shook his head, slapping his cheeks to wake himself up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Focus, Antonio. Fight.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He strode into the video analysis room. The players were waiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This match,\" Conte began, his voice raspy, \"is the turning point of our season. We lose, and we are in trouble. We win, and we are alive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pointed to the medical report on the screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good news. Ander Herrera is injured. He is out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A murmur went through the room. Herrera was United's engine, their pest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This changes everything,\" Conte said, circling names on the whiteboard. \"Matic. Pogba. McTominay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Look at them. They are giants. They are all over 1.90 meters tall.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Conte turned to his team, eyes blazing. \"Giants are strong. But giants are slow to turn.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We exploit this. We do not fight them in the air. We keep the ball on the ground. Willian. Eden [Hazard]. You are the key. You drift. You pull them wide. You make the big trees run.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When the gaps open,\" Conte pointed to Danny Drinkwater, \"you punch through the middle.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, Conte's expression darkened. He pulled up a clip from the previous fixture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It showed Ling scoring, then running to the corner flag and putting a finger to his lips, shushing the Chelsea fans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room went quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chelsea players felt the sting of humiliation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Conte turned to the smallest man in the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"N'Golo.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>N'Golo Kante looked up, his expression calm as always.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your task is simple,\" Conte said, his voice dropping to a growl. \"You see that Number 7? He is their engine. He creates the width. He creates the transition.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you remember the disrespect?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I want you to mark him. Not zonally. Man-to-man. Wherever he goes, you go. If he goes to the toilet, you go with him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Keep him pinned on the flank. Do not let him turn. Do not let him breathe. Can you do this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kante didn't smile. He didn't boast. He just nodded once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Boss,\" Kante said softly. \"He won't leave my sight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1138,"2026-06-05T22:48:23.062Z",1,"novelbin.me","8616e6bec98354184632f9186bd3beccb48ffecfc396dd6947fdcc2c4de462b8","start-with-r9-template-chapter-38","start-with-r9-template-chapter-128",371,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstart-with-r9-template-cover.jpg"]