Chapter 155: Chelsea's Counterattack?

The football was like a shell fresh out of the barrel.

It howled.

It spun.

It carried a fierce and vigorous momentum.

Wearing white platinum gloves, he domineeringly lifted the goal net that was within reach.

The fallen Courtois couldn't help but let out a sigh.

Hiddink's face turned ashen.

The football clung stubbornly to the net, spinning violently.

The goal frame kept trembling.

0:1!

!

Stamford Bridge fell silent for a few seconds, then erupted in astonishment.

Tens of thousands of Chelsea fans stared wide‑eyed, as if they had seen the apparition of a departed loved one.

"Beautiful!"

"He scored!"

"A shocking, world‑shaking close‑range cannon shot!"

"The 17‑year‑old Havertz slipped a through‑ball from inside the box, the 18‑year‑old Li Kang pounced on the rebound and scored! The two youngsters' magical combination gave Lewokusen the lead!"

"That goal is so Chelsea!"

"Unbelievable—he actually breezed through Stamford Bridge's defenses!"

"Chelsea's ironclad defense, their blue‑army god‑keeper Courtois, had no answer to the heavy artillery of the Bei lai yin prodigy!"

"Can Li Kang lead the team to replicate the qualification miracle of a few years ago?"

The live‑stream room.

Comments flooded the screen.

-【What are you playing at? Chelsea's behind?】

-【Lewokusen couldn't really be aiming for the semifinals, could they?】

-【The attack looked simple and direct, yet it precisely hit the soft spot in Chelsea's back line—Li Kang seized the moment when the two full‑backs drifted into the penalty area to strike!】

-【After a header lay‑off and a forward burst, he fired off in one fluid motion—even though Li Mingdeng had fallen to Tier 1, he remained terrifying!】

-【The replay the director gave ran a bit long—starting from Pato's one‑on‑one, Li Mingdeng charged into the Chelsea box as if he knew the opposition was hopeless.】

-【Don't talk nonsense—it must be Mr. Tuop who's figured out how to use Li Kang, keeping him out of defensive duties to unleash his attacking power.】

-【Chelsea's defence doesn't know enough about the 17‑year‑old Havertz—this rhythm‑type little demon has insane ball sense, and even when he hits the turf he can still slip a through‑pass.】

-【Lewokusen's one‑goal lead isn't safe—the match has just begun, and Chelsea could equalize any minute.】

Pitchside.

Dino flung the water bottle to the ground and stomped on it hard: "Boss, as long as we hold the score, we'll make it into the Champions League semifinals!"

Just as Tuopu Laotou was about to celebrate, he stopped, thought for a moment, and said: "Don't tweak the tactics yet—we might not hold on, and we still don't fully understand how Rémy and Pato play in Chelsea's system."

Rémy came through Lyon's academy, scored goals while playing for Nice and Marseille, and was once the most watched newcomer in Ligue 1.

Pato needs no explanation—who knows whether this European Golden Boy can ever return to his peak at Chelsea?

People often fear the unknown.

In the Lewokusen manager's mind, Chelsea's forward line in the second leg threatens no less than Diego Costa.

On the other side.

Hiddink quickly calmed down, pulled out a little notebook and pen, and took earnest notes.

After all, he's a legendary coach.

He wouldn't lose his composure at home just from shock.

"Stay calm, what's there to panic about? The game's only just begun!"

"Lewokusen's back line can't withstand our assault!"

Li Kang turned toward that small cluster of away‑fan stands and raised his right fist.

"Lee!"

"!"

"Lewokusenallez!"

"!"

Lewokusen doesn't have the hundreds of thousands of fans that Frankfurt does.

Attending a match at Stamford Bridge is too expensive; the Champions League fixture fell on a Wednesday, so only a handful of Bei lai yin supporters made the trip.

Gradually.

A group of neutral tourists in Chelsea jerseys also began chanting Li Kang's name.

Havertz jogged over, bumping fists and hugging him.

Teammates piled in.

The gloom weighing on everyone's hearts gradually dissipated with that goal.

Next.

They had to withstand the roar of the blue behemoth of Stamford Bridge!

VIP box.

Abu's expression was complex.

He felt a mix of sorrow and anger.

Look, see how outstanding the player I favor is—Li is fantastic, don't you think his style suits Chelsea? Lampard, Ballack, and others also like to launch attacks like this!

Damn it, Pato that soft-legged shrimp, is he wasting his energy in London nightclubs?

With such a great one-on-one chance, even my daughter could score!

Hiddink was too careless; we originally had the advantage of an away goal, we should have played more conservatively.

The staff members' expressions remained normal.

They had long grown accustomed to the big boss's meddling in affairs.

The game restarted with a center kickoff.

Remy was annoyed.

He stayed, but Chelsea couldn't play him as a regular starter.

He wanted to leave, but couldn't.

During the winter transfer window, a Chinese Super League club clearly wanted to sign him, willing to pay an astronomical transfer fee and huge wages.

Before Mourinho was sacked, he said: "Remy's contribution is not just about scoring."

Chelsea immediately halted negotiations with the Chinese Super League big spender.

He shook his explosive little braids.

Remy kicked the ball with his weaker foot, passing it back to Fabregas.

Amid the clamor from the stands on all sides.

Lewokusen's midfield and forward players launched a frenzied press.

At the forefront was Havertz.

He surged forward aggressively, aiming for Chelsea's midfield core.

"Lewokusen's press is fierce!"

"Five players actually charged past Chelsea's half—aren't they defending? We're leading by one goal!"

"Oh! Look at their runs—they've formed a dense, intersecting press network!"

"Chelsea is very passive!"

Fabregas became familiar with Havertz's traits.

At the moment the opponent got close.

He lightly pulled the ball back with his left foot.

He turned, creating distance between Havertz and the ball.

He swayed his upper body to the right.

Havertz decisively kicked out, but only struck air.

Fabregas swiftly turned from the left, dodging Lewokusen's little monster.

"Brilliant!"

"He defeated rhythm with rhythm!"

"He has always been Chelsea's midfield core!"

"This escape move seems a bit showy, dragging the tempo—he should release the ball quickly!"

Li Kang guessed Fabregas's intention.

He immediately rushed toward Hazard's direction.

Fabregas's feint was not deliberate showmanship, but an intentional 'pause'.

He was waiting.

Waiting for Lewokusen's defensive line to push forward.

Waiting for Chelsea's front line to find space to sprint into.

Brandt and Son Heung-min simultaneously surged toward Chelsea's advancing midfield.

The two formed a pincer, seeming about to win the ball.

Fabregas remained calm.

He had grasped Li Kang's movements.

He did not slow his speed.

As one of La Masia's trainees trained for the number four position.

His vision and awareness were terrifyingly extreme.

His true purpose was not to wait for Hazard to find space to sprint.

But to tear apart Lewokusen's intersecting press network.

What followed next.

It caused tens of thousands of Chelsea fans to erupt instantly.

Fabregas, running.

His body leaned back slightly.

The ball left his right foot.

It rose off the ground.

Like a rising firework, it sliced through the night sky.

An exceptionally elegant arc, like a rainbow after rain over Stanford Bridge.

"Brilliant!"

"In the Premier League, how many players can, while sprinting, deliver such a wonderful and precise long pass?"

"Fabregas... Fabregas connection!"

"Remy!"

Fabregas's long pass.

Easily tore apart Lewokusen's defense.

Boateng and Kramer quickly retreated.

But no matter how fast they ran, they couldn't outrun the ball.

They could only watch helplessly as the ball flew past midfield.

It landed right in front of Chelsea's explosive-haired player.

Remy's burst speed is very fast.

How to say he was once a genius striker who scored double-digit goals every year.

Lewokusen's defense?

Not enough to stop his charge!

Jonathan Tah blocking the way?

Too clumsy!

Remy gave a light push.

The ball slipped through Lewokusen's center-back's legs!

His whole body burst forth with terrifying speed, evading defenders and charging toward Lewokusen's half!

At the same time.

Chelsea's midfield and forward players seemed to have been injected with chicken blood.

They kept neat spacing.

Frantic sprint!

Like a sudden gust and rain, it washed over Lewokusen's tender backline.

"Too fast!"

"Lewokusen paid the price for its carelessness!"

"Fortunately, there are still two full-backs and Van Dijk in the back!"

"Can they hold back the furious blue beast?"

Pitchside.

Tuopu Laotou struggled to calm himself.

Dino hysterically took notes, trying to dissect Remy and Pato's traits in Chelsea's attacking system.

Especially that Remy.

Could it be Mourinho's secret weapon left for Chelsea?

On the other side.

Hiddink's breathing was rapid, a flush rising on his face.

Wonderful.

It's truly wonderful.

Even without Mourinho's attacking system, we can defeat this fragile Lewokusen!

VIP box.

Abramovich couldn't help but stand up, making a celebratory gesture.

"I was so far-sighted, I strongly demanded to buy Remy back then, but Mourinho wouldn't allow it!"

"Look! Doesn't he resemble Drogba?"

Li Kang didn't run around randomly.

He still tightly followed Hazard's sprint.

He knew he had been deceived by Fabregas during the transition phase.

The historical training goal for the number four position at La Masia.

In terms of overall view, it's hard to tell who's winning.

But.

Hazard is absolutely the most terrifying component of Chelsea's attacking system.

Van Dijk isn't panicking at all.

During this period, he has diligently studied Chelsea's match footage.

Plus, the precious experience of being thoroughly crushed by the blues while at Southampton.

How could he lose his composure?

Stay calm.

As he retreated, he directed Schweinsteiger and Boateng to fall back.

Still leaving space on the two flanks.

Contracting toward the middle.

"The combination of power and speed."

"We can see the shadows of Chelsea's former great strikers in Remy!"

"After Mourinho's training, his impact is strong!"

"Van Dijk only has two helpers; it's hard to resist Chelsea's onslaught!"

Lewokusen's backfield, winds sighing and cranes crying.

Chelsea's attacking players surged forward like a flood, as if they had stirred a raging torrent, determined to flood the opponent's goal.

Pato, William, Mikel, and Yin Wan Nuoweiqi's speed kept increasing, and they widened the attack width.

Lei Mi has many choices!

Chelsea's ways to score are countless!

In front of the penalty area.

Lei Mi encountered Bo'er Resi.

No flashy feints at all.

His sturdy little braid brutally shoved the Samba full-back aside!

"Pato is in a great spot, reaching for the ball!"

"William also has a chance to take a long-range shot!"

"Mikel is marking Hilbert!"

"Is Lei Mi going to do it himself?"

"Why would Lei Mi want to do it himself?"

"Although he's slow-witted, he's not alone."

"He just doesn't trust these teammates."

"He instinctively imagined it like in training: slot the ball into the box and let some super teammate finish with a decisive strike."

"Azhaer!"

"Azhaer is truly my golden partner!"

"With his speed, he must have already caught up."

"No!"

"Where is my Azhaer?"

"Lei Mi glanced sideways: that Azhaer guy is still sticking his butt to Lewokusen's number 10 in the thirty-meter zone!"

"No time to hesitate."

"Lewokusen players quickly tracked back!"

"He can't shoot himself!"

"The damn Dutch center-back is too crafty, blocking his shooting angle!"

"In the flash of lightning and sparks."

"Lei Mi completed the psychological battle."

"He gritted his teeth."

"He passed the ball sideways to Pato, who had made a run into the six-yard box!"

"That pass was perfect!"

"Open goal!"

"Pato!"

"Lai Nuo focused intently."

"Critical moment."

"Even if his cheek itched a little, he didn't dare reach up to scratch it!"

"The fate of Lewokusen now lies in his hands!"

"His knees slightly bent, his feet ready to unleash power at any moment."

"Bring it on!"

"Chelsea's finishing blow!"

"Tuopu Laotou trembled as he clutched his forehead."

"Dino's pen and paper fell to the ground."

"Hiddink's eyes burned with fervor."

"They thought that by restraining Azhaer, they could limit Chelsea's attack!"

"European Golden Boy!"

"Pato!"

"He is truly my finisher under my command!"

"Pato lightly lifted the ball."

"As he turned."

"His thigh swung to an extremely exaggerated height."

"He struck a volley."

"The European Golden Boy prepared to announce his return to the European stage with such a shot!"

"In a flash."

"The cheers at Stamford Bridge."

"It let him regain his own youth."

"Under the spotlight."

"The golden boy of San Siro has returned to his peak!"

"Bang!"

"Accompanied by a crisp sound."

"The football howled as it thundered toward Lewokusen's goal."

A straight line.

It harbors the resentment of the tide's rise and fall.

It harbors the regret of a fleeting blossom.

The ball slammed... into Lai Nuo's arms.

Stanford Bridge, dead silent.

What a suave volley stance—yet it ended up shooting the ball into the keeper's arms?

Too stupid!

Pato, who was about to raise both hands to celebrate, had a twisted expression, his hands drooped, and he clutched his head.

Remi angrily swung his arm, looking displeased, and muttered: "What the hell are you kicking? Even Sterling could kick this ball in!"

Azar glanced at Li Kang beside him, patted his butt, and sighed helplessly.

Fabregas stomped his foot in anger: "I haven't lied to Li Kang; I'm just lying to myself, damn it!"

In front of the goal.

Van Dijk and the others excitedly patted Lai Nuo on the back of the head.

"Lai Nuo, your recovery was great!"

"I damn just stood still and didn't move!"

CTV5 live broadcast.

Duan Xuan and He Wei were momentarily at a loss for words.

Especially He Wei.

He had long been holding inside lines like "Having weathered a thousand voyages, he returns still a youth," and things like "how beautiful," "how soulful," "how the twilight movement,"... "how dreams and greatness!"

None of it is usable anymore!

Pah!

Save it for later for Little Li!

At the edge of the field.

Tuopu Laotou and Dino, relieved, excitedly clapped.

"Boss, I've grasped the characteristics of the opponent's two substitute forwards in Chelsea's attacking system!"

"As long as we compress their sprinting space in advance, we won't pose any threat to the back line!"

"Stanford Bridge will fall tonight!"