Chapter 127

Munich.

The living room of a residence.

Helmuth complained: "I miss that Bayern side that emphasized three-dimensional attacking, with speed and impact, not like now, when they focus more on possession, building advantages bit by bit—this style doesn't suit Bayern players!"

"Guardiola has brought a negative influence to German football."

Beckenbauer pulled out a cloth, wiped his glasses, and said: "Guardiola needs time; Bayern needs external conditions to stimulate it."

After putting his glasses back on, the Football Emperor, watching the goal replay on the TV screen, couldn't help but smile: "Li's control on the pitch is extensive, active across the entire central axis, organizing attacks, suppressing opponents' advances. He can also score!"

"How is he like Cruyff? He's practically identical to me in my youth, ruling over Bei lai yin!"

"No arrogance, no joy or sorrow—I only reached such a spiritual height at 28, exactly as the Dao De Jing says..."

"It's a pity he's not German..."

The crowd's mouths twitched: Li Kang couldn't make it to Bayern, and you still want him in the German national team?

But this isn't impossible!

Beckenbauer has participated in the formulation and revision of multiple major off-field rules by FIFA!

He is also an admirer of the Dao De Jing; during his playing days, he often brainwashed teammates, and even after becoming a coach, he still requires certain players to memorize...

Bayer Arena.

The match entered the positional warfare phase.

The noise gradually subsided.

Bayern Munich controlled possession, pressing Leverkusen into their thirty-meter zone.

Occasional aggressive forays into the penalty area, with passing that alternated between fast and slow yet terrifyingly stable, and frantic player movement.

Leaving the fans in the stadium barely able to breathe.

Robben's position was not fixed on the flank.

Alaba and Lahm moved inward to the center, where they could also create threats.

All Bayern players' positions became fluid, wildly eroding Leverkusen's defensive line.

This is the core of Guardiola's football philosophy: "PositionalPlay."

It has nothing to do with worshipping foreign things.

A translation error from the 1990s led Chinese football down many wrong paths, causing domestic football media to now dare not casually translate this phrase.

"We can't even tell who the on-field organizational core is!"

"Bayern's formation structure is very layered; the fluidity and fluidization of player positions allow them to control the extreme advantage of the game!"

"Leverkusen's pressure is great."

Leverkusen's pressure is not great.

After Guardiola took over Bayern in 2013, from top to bottom, the entire youth academy also inherited his football philosophy.

Most Leverkusen players, from the youth teams, were beaten into the first team.

They were beaten into gaining considerable experience.

For example, if you got caught a hundred times on the flank, you'd inevitably learn how to place wards.

For veterans like Hilbert, they feared Bayern during Van Gaal and Heynckes' era: just as dominant in possession, but with greater speed and impact—"Robbery" as an accelerator could crush any defense!

At this moment, Leverkusen's backline was very solid.

No matter how you run or pass!

Although we're weak, as long as we do our defensive duties in our respective zones, avoid easy mistakes, we can still hold out for a while.

After Li Kang last saw Claudia, he gradually mastered control over the shadows in his mind.

He operated ahead of the backline, repeatedly neutralizing Bayern's threatening attacks.

From God's perspective.

Leverkusen's half was marked with a series of grid lines.

On the same horizontal line, no more than four Bayern players appeared.

On the same vertical line, no more than two Bayern players appeared.

This is Guardiola's "test field."

Although terrifyingly stable, it doesn't fully suit Bayern players' traits.

The sideline.

Dino worried, saying: "The opponent will slowly compress our defensive formation to its limit! Then, using explosive players, they'll find fleeting gaps!"

Tuopu Laotou relaxed his expression: "Don't worry, our players are in good form today; Li's defensive support is excellent!"

The other side.

Guardiola wished he had a game controller in hand, able to control every move of the players.

The 24th minute of the match.

Costa, under interference from Bellarabi, made a passing error.

Li Kang intercepted the ball at waist height.

The home fans immediately erupted in cheers.

"Oh no, this mistake shouldn't have happened!"

"But Leverkusen's this counterattack can't get going—no teammates up front to receive it!"

Mueller quickly won the ball back.

Li Kang kicked the ball with his left foot, turned, shook off the opponent, and surged forward again!

From God's perspective.

Alaba and Lahm withdrew along the central axis.

Bidal and Alonso were pulled to the wings.

The four formed a parallel line.

Strengthen the width of midfield parallel defense!

Restrict Lewokusen's fan-shaped counterattack!

There was no sign of the little foal in the field of vision.

Li Kang, while advancing, forced the shadow in his mind to spread!

All attributes in the system panel began to amplify!

"The starting speed is very fast! Teammates can't keep up for a moment!"

"Li Kang kicked very smartly! Go to the right wing!"

"If you go through the middle, you'll fall into Bayern's encirclement... Bidal!"

Bidal was now close to peak condition.

Mo Xi's dry head, fierce face, explosive muscle lines made people feel he was a "butcher"!

Physical confrontation?

He had never suffered a loss!

After all, he was the man who formed an iron triangle with Juventus and Pirlo and Pogba!

Li Kang encountered the aggressive Bidal in the forty-meter zone.

The latter didn't like to battle of wits and courage, no hesitation.

Directly fell to the ground and slid!

Thick, dark legs stabbed toward the football!

Bidal could become a top European midfielder not only relying on physique, his football IQ and anticipation interception ability were equally strong.

Li Kang had no time to make any evasive action.

The opponent's huge body simultaneously blocked the passing space.

True Eye, thick black mist sprayed out!

Left foot lightly tapped the ball!

"A contest between beasts!"

Tuopu Laotou looked horrified.

Guardiola stared in disbelief.

Bang!

The audience had no preparation at all!

Then came a shocking sound of flesh striking from the close-range audio equipment!

The football bounced high.

Li Kang was completely overturned to the ground.

Bidal painfully covered his ankle.

"What happened?!"

"Bidal's tackle was clean! He got the ball first! The referee signaled the game to continue!"

Li Kang quickly got up.

The sharp pain from the calf gradually lessened.

He hurriedly ran toward the uncontrolled football.

This counterattack stalled, turning the positional battle into mobile combat! Most Bayern defensive players retreated to position, while Lewokusen's front-line players also assumed an offensive stance!

Pa!

Li Kang's left foot had just stopped the ball.

A tall figure came charging!

Lai Wan!

At close range, the Bayern center forward pretended to lift his leg to stab the ball, but instead slammed his shoulder hard into Lewokusen's number 10!

The benefit of this hidden move was high: no card, yet it again stalled Lewokusen's counterattack advance!

Dong!

Li Kang felt severe pain in his back.

One stood unsteadily.

Staggering, he struggled to stabilize the ball!

Lai Wan covered his shoulder, painfully collapsing onto the grass!

The crowd erupted in an uproar!

Fans of both sides simultaneously burst into a wave of boos!

The referee raised his hand to signal the game to continue!

"Two intense physical clashes! Failed to knock down Li Kang!"

"UEFA this season emphasizes the attacking advantage! Pursuing clean playing time! The referee did not stop the game!"

"Oh no! Another one?"

Lam didn't see clearly what happened.

But he thought the referee's bias favored Lewokusen!

At this moment, the right thing to do was to knock down Li Kang, then go argue with the referee team!

He angrily charged toward Li Kang!

Guardiola hurriedly shouted to stop! His voice was quickly drowned out by the fans' cheering!

Too late!

As Ram lost his position!

Li Kang found the most reasonable passing route!

Thump!

He struck with the inside of his left foot!

The ball rose off the ground!

In the mid-air of the Bayer Arena, it traced a beautiful arc!

Left flank!

Bellarabi shook off the aging Alonso!

The ball comfortably landed in front of him!

"Beautiful!"

"Li Kang's long pass is of exceptionally high quality!"

"Bellarabi has enough time to surge forward!"

Why did Alonso appear on the flank to intercept?

This is a major flaw in Guardiola's Bayern.

During the transition phase.

Lahm and Alaba, the two full-backs, tucked in centrally, shifting their positions to double defensive midfielders!

But to contain Leverkusen's wide attack,

Alonso and Vidal had no choice but to fill the defensive gap on the flank.

Tuopu Laotou and Dino rushed to the fourth official, frantically complaining!

Bellarabi sprinted at high speed down the right flank in Bayern's half!

No one went to stop him!

Boateng and Benatia dared not easily lose position!

Kiessling, Brandt, and Havertz ran out an attacking fan!

Behind them followed a Calhanoglu who hadn't even run past the referee!

"Come to the vicinity of the byline!"

"Cross from the byline!"

Bellarabi's speed is not inferior to Son Heung-min's.

But his style is unsuitable for overly complex attacking combinations.

Either cut inside, or go to the byline and cross!

The ball spun violently, plummeting straight into the penalty area!

Heads surged!

Kiessling and Boateng leapt high!

Thump!

White gloves, one fist punched the ball away!

The ball flew like a broken kite!

Drifting aimlessly, it flew out of the touchline!

"How dangerous! Brandt and Havertz are still at the far post!"

"Nuriel adopted the most conservative method to clear the ball!"

The referee signaled a temporary suspension of the match!

He turned and ran back to Laiwan's front, showing a yellow card!

Immediately raising his hand to call the team doctor onto the field!

Live broadcast room.

-【Tragic! Li Mingdeng took on two, knocked both down!】

-【What Vidal encountered was not a beast, but a heavy tank! Li Mingdeng is too awesome! No matter how many people come, the end result is them lying down!】

-【Is Laiwan delaying the match? I'm still behind! Get up quickly!】

-【He is genuinely injured, and the player who clashed physically with Li Mingdeng... who doesn't suffer? That said, watching football matches, I most hate players feigning injury, lying down for five or six minutes. I hope FIFA will later issue regulations to extend injury stoppage time!】

-【The unanimous football philosophy of world-class coaches: the centre forward must also participate in defense.】

-【The midfield that last year made Bayern look so embarrassed was De Bruyne!】

Vidal and Laiwan's physical qualities are extremely abnormal.

After simple treatment by the team doctor, the two still had energy left, and returned to the pitch.

The match resumed.

Boerthes picked up the ball, wrapped it in his clothes, wiped it, then immediately threw it to Brandt.

Clap!

Brandt touched the ball with one foot.

He passed it back to Kramer near the center circle!

To be honest, when Leverkusen controlled possession, they truly didn't know how to play against Bayern.

Facing the frantically approaching Robben.

Kramer passed the ball horizontally to Calhanoglu!

The idea of the ball king is simpler:

I'm a waste in open play, I can't withstand the opponent's midfield pressing, I'll lose the ball in minutes.

The best solution is to kick it with luck, give up possession, and continue defending.

Facing the Bundesliga giant, defending without the ball is much simpler than attacking with the ball.

If we keep pressing, Bayern's wing counterattacks will teach us a lesson in minutes.

Indeed.

I am the midfield brain of Leverkusen.

After a few simple passes of the football.

It returned once again to Calhanoglu's feet!

Thirty-meter zone!

He looked toward Kislin at the front edge of the penalty area!

He decisively sent out a super long-distance ground-penetrating through pass!

At the same time.

The Leverkusen midfield and backfield players, without making forward runs, are always ready to retreat!

Unfortunately.

Calhanoglu kicked it poorly!

Although it penetrated Bayern's midfield defense, the line was off, and Kislin couldn't possibly receive the ball!

Noyin couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

In a flash.

He saw Boateng's white silhouette, revealing a patch of black clothing?

What's going on?

Is nobody marking Leverkusen's number 10?

"Calhanoglu's angled through pass is exquisite!"

"Li Kang held Boateng off with his back to him!"

Vidal's expression was very helpless!

He was suddenly shaken off by Li Kang's acceleration!

That kid seems to have God's perspective, predicting his teammates' passing lanes too accurately!

On the sideline.

Tuopu Laotou and Dino were a bit bewildered.

Guardiola remained very calm.

The coaching staff of both teams unanimously agreed: Li Kang's current situation, even if he receives the ball, cannot threaten Bayern's goal.

At the top of the arc of Bayern's penalty area.

Boateng shifted two steps sideways, shaking off Li Kang's back-leaning pressure.

He tried to clear that awkward through pass.

Li Kang once again blocked in front of Bayern's center-back!

In his field of vision.

A red-and-white phantom appeared.

Arsenal's number 10.

Bergkamp.

Leverkusen's number 10 lifted his left foot, at the moment of touching the ball.

The BayArena fell silent.

The football seemed to be given life, tracing an artistic trajectory, skimming past his right shoulder.

Even more astonishingly...

Li Kang turned his body to the left.

Boateng's pupils contracted slightly, his gaze dazed.

Facing things coming from two directions.

Is he marking the man or the ball?

What kind of trick is this kid playing?

When he came to his senses.

He turned his head!

Li Kang had already gone around behind him!

Bayern's center-back quickly fell to the ground for a sliding tackle!

His thick, dark thighs thrust from between Li Kang's legs!

He didn't stab the football!

Li Kang, on the left side of the small penalty area, gently pushed the ball!

The motion was flowing and natural, perfectly executed!

Noyin's view had been blocked by Boateng the whole time, so he couldn't make any save in time!

He watched helplessly as his own net was lifted!

2:0!

!

Leverkusen Stadium, silence for a few seconds, then erupted with cheers like a mountain collapse and tsunami!

"Elegant! Too elegant!"

"Elegant! Never outdated!"

"Century turn!

!"

"A magnificent goal like a work of art! Heart-stirring!"

"Li Kang's turn fooled the whole world!"

"Boateng, once again became a background board! He tried his best!"

"A natural and elegant strike!"

"Li Kang helped Leverkusen expand their lead!"

"Peak showdown! Brace! He crushed the Bundesliga giants!"

Duan Xuan and He Wei could not suppress the excitement in their hearts!

Even wanted to wildly slap the table!

Live broadcast room.

Bullet comments flew everywhere!

-【Elegant! Li Mingdeng is too elegant!】

-【Green Field Waltz!】

-【How did he do it! What ball sense is this! Possessed by Bergkamp?】

-【I stopped the ball five meters away.】

-【Everything started from the space behind Li Kang, in this one-on-one duel, Boateng's view had two objects, one left and one right, going around him simultaneously, when he came to his senses, it was already too late, his position was blocked, he could only fall and slide tackle... crucially, he slid into thin air!】

-【Li Mingdeng is a monster? Last year's De Bruyne wasn't this flashy.】

-【Heart-striking goal!】

-【There's a way to stop the ball, called Bergkamp!】

-【The eternal Ice Prince, synonym of splendor and elegance...】

-【Awesome!】

Sideline of the field.

Tuopu Laotou stared blankly.

Dino was slow to recover.

When the stadium broadcast sounded.

The master and apprentice duo froze for a moment, then began wildly celebrating with dancing hands and feet!

"Boss, so happy!"

"Having Li, we are so happy!"

Other side.

Guardiola half-squatted on the ground, covering his mouth with both hands.

"When I left Barcelona, Li was only 15, his ball control..."

"In Leverkusen, what exactly has he gone through?"

Li Kang hesitated for a moment, ran to the corner flag area, faced the home stands, and raised his right fist!

"Leverkusenallez!

!"

"Leverkusenallez!

!"

"Leverkusenallez!

!"

Leverkusen teammates wildly lunged forward.

Calhanoglu didn't expect to get an assist either!

"Li! We two are really awesome!"

In the distance.

Noyin Er comforted Boateng, whose eye sockets were red.

After all, in his past conversation with Messi, the Bayern central defender had only been blown past once...

Robben fiddled with his trouser pocket, helplessly shook his head.

Vidal leaned close to Alonso, saying with a bitter face: "Is he a chameleon kid? In the last few matches, he embodied Kroos and Havi, today he scored another Bergkamp-style goal..."

Alonso waved his hand, signaling his partner not to continue: "Maybe he'll become Pirlo later, his weaknesses are many, but he always manages to play to his strengths at the right moment..."

If Li Kang truly imitates the way Xavi played in the last few matches, Bayern would have already torn Leverkusen apart.

Lai Wan pressed his slightly aching shoulder, gave up the idea of competing with Li Kang.

Munich.

The atmosphere was awkward.

Beckenbauer lightly tapped the table, saying: "Which point resembles Kroos? His playing style is closer to mine! Too bad, this era lacks competitors close to his age..."

"Why is Li so familiar with Guardiola's tactics?"

Helmuth thought for a moment, said: "The whole world is studying Guardiola, as Wo Le Er said, that kid also likes watching videos."

Everyone shook their heads, silent and speechless.

Beckenbauer laughed: "Li is only 17 this year, his career is still long..."

Bayer Arena.

Time passed minute by minute, second by second.

Bayern players showed no negative emotions, still calmly controlling the ball!

Guardiola was booed by the away fans.

What's the use of steadily bullying weak teams in the league?

They wilt when facing Mönchengladbach or tough Champions League matches!

The loss to Arsenal in the group stage hasn't been forgotten yet!

Bayern's head coach didn't care about the fans' reactions, still wildly gesturing, directing the team's attack.

42nd minute of the match.

In the dense passing, Alonso seized the perfect threatening ball opportunity!

34-year-old Spanish legendary midfielder, full of honors, doesn't pick systems, doesn't pick teammates.

The decline in physical function hasn't reduced his long-pass accuracy in the slightest.

The football rose off the ground!

Drawing a beautiful trajectory in mid-air!

Tore apart Leverkusen's right defensive line!

The landing point!

A bright, shiny head reflected the white glare of the spotlight.

"Beautiful!"

"Alonso's long pass can hit a wooden barrel forty meters away!"

"Robben!"

Alonso's passing power reached the pinnacle of perfection.

Robben didn't need to unload power at all, and even adjusted his position while stopping the ball.

The space for sprinting opened up!

Lateral dribbling!

Charged into Leverkusen's penalty area!

Dribbling sideways! Nobody can stop him!

Kramer and Calhanoglu quickly tracked back!

Facing Robben's terrifying step frequency speed.

The two dared not lightly make a tackle.

Press! Can't be tight!

Robben pulled the ball toward the baseline, a sudden stop and turn!

He slipped right between the two!

"He's eating two people raw again!"

"He's going to cut inside!"

Bayer fans were excited at this moment!

Even forgot the score!

Robben's raw dribbling is the most visually impactful!

Lai Nuo was so nervous his palms sweated.

Jonathan Tah and Papadopoulos had complex emotions.

Leverkusen's back three had experienced the nightmare brought by Robben...

Robben didn't cut inside; the older he got, the steadier he became.

In 2015, all Bundesliga teams knew to assign someone to guard the far corner when facing him, with the goalkeeper covering the near corner.

Before Li Kang's defensive support was in place.

Robben hooked his foot and pushed!

The ball skimmed over the top line of the penalty arc!

A tall, sturdy figure suddenly burst out!

"Vidal!"

"No one marking him!"

"Is he going to kick it?"

Thud!

Vidal met the ball.

Explosive thigh muscles, containing fierce power!

He swung his leg and fired angrily!

Blast! He fired a cannon shot!

The ball screamed toward the center of Leverkusen's goal!

Lai Nuo exerted all his strength!

He jumped hard!

His body stretched out in mid-air!

The green glove clenched into a fist!

Bang!

The football was blocked out!

Tuopu Laotou clutched his chest, not daring to breathe!

Dino tightly gripped the folder in his hand!

Guardiola's eyes showed anxiety.

The football bounced to the left side of the penalty area.

The landing point was exactly where Muller made his forward run!

Hilbert, who was marking him, hadn't reacted yet!

Bang!

Muller completed the shooting action!

The football was then lofted toward the upper right corner of Lewokusen's goal!

Lai Nuo didn't have time to get up and make a second save.

2:1!

!

Bayern Munich fans cheered wildly!

"Beautiful!"

"Muller's shooting instinct is too sharp!"

"What a brilliant chip! Straight into the top corner! Lewokusen's defenders have no way to deal with it!"

"There's still time left in the match!"

"With Robben as this explosive point, Bayern equalizing the score is not difficult!"

"The battle for the top spot remains full of suspense!"