Chapter 464: Golden Ball Mr.'s Performance (Everyday Transition)

The ball was finally cleared out of bounds by the Ji tian ma ye who came to provide defensive support.

A zha er's expression was a bit dazed, he turned his head and gave Li Kang a thumbs up.

Fan Dai ke and his teammates made several gestures, finally clenched their fists and waved them forcefully.

Saints fans again burst into waves of cheers.

"Arrogance exposed."

"Leader's demeanor."

"Indomitable barrier."

"Even if the opponent is the thriving Qie er xi, he must defend the home's dignity."

"Command tower!"

"Handsome talent, Fan Dai ke earned everyone's respect with his performance, the defensive commander of Nan an dun!"

On the sidelines.

Dino frowned: "His instant reading ability is close to Li."

Tu he er's eyes were filled with admiration.

After the desire to control deteriorated, the tactical gene lock of Qie er xi's head coach seemed to be opened.

"This kid is the most perfect centre-back in the mainstream tactical environment of European clubs!"

"But he was crushed in the national team."

"Although several basic skills are poor, he knows where to stand before the opponent's attack begins."

"But he was crushed in the national team."

"Although he cannot integrate ball stealing and passing, as long as he has adjustment time, he can become an attacking origin point above the standard line."

"But he in the national team"

"Enough, as long as we pair with a player of Nan an dun's level in positional defense, we can fully unleash Fan Dai ke's strengths."

In 2017, broad fans gradually learned from the news that Fan Dai ke would be very expensive.

In the imagined "world's number one defender": perfect defensive skills, tight one-on-one interception, fierce physical combat, divine tackle, extreme step frequency, intuitive kick, moving bulwark.

One man guards the pass, ten thousand cannot get through.

In reality, the "world's number one defender": How does he look so foolish? How can his defensive basics be so far behind Ba lei xi, Ma er di ni, Ne si ta? Wow, he just defended by retreating!

Dragging, pressing, together with the goalkeeper and teammates who came to provide cover, forming an overall defensive matrix.

Minute 23 of the match.

Li Kang, positioned at the dragged-back position of the formation, again found a breach in Nan an dun's high defensive line.

A rainbow-like arc, astonishing St. Mary's Stadium.

"Excellent!"

"Golden Ball Mr.'s cruise guidance!"

"Mo la ta!"

"No offside!"

Mo la ta and Fan Dai ke almost started simultaneously.

The former, with the boost of the legendary connection, judged the ball's landing point more accurately.

No dragging stop-ball adjustment.

During the sprint, the heel of the back foot lifted.

The ball lightly leapt forward.

Speed exploded again!

"Hook and pass, completed in one go."

"This is Mo la ta!"

"One-on-one!"

"Wow! Fan Dai ke actually caught up!"

The ultimate Dutch centre-back, peak 100-meter speed up to 10.4 seconds.

Even out of position, he can likewise rely on explosive physical quality to achieve positional balance!

The audience couldn't help but hold their breath.

Eyes fixed on the one-on-one duel on the field.

"One person is a defensive line!"

"He can still calmly raise his hand to command goalkeeper Fu si te to block the near corner!"

"Too terrifying!"

"Mo la ta dribbles toward the penalty area!"

"Oh no!"

"Mo la ta's preferred foot was blocked by Fan Dai ke's body!"

"No shooting angle!"

The speed of Qie er xi's god striker slowed.

Fan Dai ke, with hands behind his back, was staring fixedly at his own eyes with a determined gaze.

Correct.

"Defensive traits of the current version's strongest centre-back."

Not observing step frequency, not observing step point rhythm, not observing body inclination.

Just observe your eye's changes.

Morata sensed the Southampton players tracking back were about to take position.

Can't drag this on any longer!

Can't shoot with my strong foot!

Sudden stop, pass the ball.

Create space.

Slight swing of the left leg.

Thud!

The ball lifted off the ground, like a heavy cannon, flying toward the goal!

Van Dijk's expression was relaxed: everything was under control.

He had long instructed Foster to cover the near post.

"Wow!"

"The crossbar diagonally opposite the near post!"

"Oh no, a deflection!"

"The ball went in!"

"What superb shooting, turning decay into magic!"

"He turned the impossible into possible!"

"He blew up the top-tier center-back Van Dijk head-on!"

"This is Morata!"

The score on the big screen quietly changed to 0-1!

The Saints fans found it hard to accept the reality before them.

Obviously.

Van Dijk glanced blankly at his own goalkeeper, while Foster wanted to cry but had no tears.

Morata stared for two seconds, looked around, confirmed he had really scored, then began to celebrate wildly!

Li Kang also didn't expect the goal to be so easy; he was still preparing to join the second attack after the siege was lifted.

【The most underestimated top-class striker: Morata.】

【Morata: I'll let Li know that assisting is a simple matter.】

【Van Dijk's physicality is truly monstrous, his game-reading ability is also strong; he always finds the best defensive positioning and can even clash with top strikers for that final burst of explosiveness!】

【There's nothing to be done about this goal; Van Dijk deserves a better goalkeeper.】

【Next season he's going to Liverpool; that's where he'll have the most suitable setup.】

On the sidelines.

Tuchel, amidst his excitement, couldn't help but show doubt.

Half a season has passed; he still seems not to have figured out Morata's true shooting level.

Dino was pulling Cahill and David Luiz on the bench into wild celebration.

The starting lineup, however, hadn't suffered too many injuries.

Just too tired.

Fighting on four fronts.

Weary from travel.

Let the Blue Army show its fatigue.

On the other side.

Mauricio loudly encouraged the players.

His tactical style is extremely aggressive; he doesn't fear conceding goals, but fears his disciples losing the courage to attack when facing strong teams.

The match continued.

Time flew by.

Southampton's high defensive line kept pushing higher.

However, Chelsea's attackers didn't gain much advantage against Van Dijk.

On the contrary, the aerial duels near midfield made the audience realize another divine skill of the Dutch center-back: the high defensive line—strategic command tower!

Chelsea's transitional attacks were repeatedly neutralized.

"One can feel that the Blue Army, fighting on four fronts, is full of fatigue."

"Players aren't robots."

"They will get tired, they will suffer fatigue."

"They cannot perfectly execute the tactics deployed by the head coach."

"."

The Saints fans' fervor melted Southampton's winter night.

The mighty momentum uplifted the red-and-white jerseys on the field.

Even though the team was still behind.

But they saw hope of equalizing.

The weary Blue Lions will ultimately bow before the Saints' ground!

Of course, the above is the home team's filter.

The actual match situation: the weary Blue Army still firmly controlled possession, with all statistics far ahead of the home team.

Li Kang's vertical running distance wasn't much.

According to Tuchel's deployment, he spent most of his time in a withdrawn position in the formation.

God's perspective analyzed Southampton's defensive system.

The True Eye observed the shift in Van Dijk's ultimate form's center of gravity.

78th minute of the match.

Azpilicueta altered his movement; in the thirty-meter area, he brought down Raymond on the left half.

The referee pulled out a yellow card,

St. Mary's Stadium, boos rang out.

Azpilicueta shook his head and helped up the Southampton attacker nicknamed "Little Henry".

"A promising free kick in the attacking third."

"Southampton must seize the chance to equalize."

Mauricio waved his arms vigorously on the sidelines, signaling the team's high players to push up, including Van Dijk.

Almost every top central defender in history has had one trait: scoring ability from set pieces.

Beep!

The referee blew the whistle.

Romeu took a three-step run-up.

Smack!

The ball lifted off the ground and arced into Chelsea's penalty area.

Van Dijk outmuscled Christensen, leapt high, and hammered a header on goal!

Buffon anticipated three seconds early, reading the opponent's shot path.

He lunged and securely caught the ball in his arms.

The crowd sighed.

"What a shame!"

"Just a little more and we could have leveled the score."

Buffon didn't go to ground. Wanting to launch an attack quickly, eh, Raymond's interfering action might be a foul!

Raymond deliberately lingered in front of Chelsea's goalkeeper.

No way.

This is the best way for a mid-table team to disrupt Chelsea's transition into attack.

Buffon wasn't annoyed either; he smiled and patted the youngster's head.

The match was entering its final stages.

Mauricio's hair was disheveled as he eagerly directed his teammates to go all-out attack.

The Saints' fans' voice grew ever louder.

Defend the home ground's honor!

"During this period, Southampton had no tricks, just launching long balls to bomb Chelsea's penalty area!"

"Interesting, Van Dijk has become a striker, pushing up front."

"Li Kang dropped back to the defensive line; his understanding with Buffon is too seamless."

"Tuchel might be aiming for an easy win, rotating heavily at the back; in the upcoming European Round of 16, Chelsea's defense will face the terrifying front line of Mbappé, Cavani, and Neymar."

【Li Mingdeng is as lazy as Messi; you can see his coverage doesn't push forward, always involved in defense.】

【He needs to help guard the left flank area, making up for Christensen's weakness; no problem, you see Chelsea's possession rate is still far ahead.】

【Kante covered Li Kang's share of the running.】

【In a while we'll play Paris Saint-Germain; Tuchel's idea of conserving energy in the league is understandable.】

90 minutes of regular time ended.

The score remained 0-1.

The fourth official raised the board: 3 minutes of injury time.

After Buffon once again defused the danger, both teams' players quickly took their positions.

Li Kang returned to the left half.

Van Dijk also returned to his own defensive line.

The ball zipped quickly among the blue jerseys.

It swept past the midfield circle.

"92nd minute."

"Kante passed the ball to Li Kang."

"With little time left, the one-goal-leading Chelsea should keep possession and not commit too many men forward."

"Is our Ballon d'Or winner still supposed to attack?"

"Tadic intercepted quickly, bent low to lower his center of gravity—this forward's defensive fundamentals are solid."

The red line of God's perspective contracted to a point, analysis complete.

The True Eye throbbed violently, unusually excited.

Li Kang nudged the ball with his left foot, feinting a move into the middle.

Tadic shuffled sideways, adjusting his position to block Chelsea's main threat's advance.

The space out wide was opened up.

Li Kang jerked the ball back and began to accelerate.

"The Ballon d'Or winner's explosiveness!"

Tadi Qi can't keep up, he's been tackled!

Eh?

Europe's Best has slowed down again?

Being a beat slow, he fortunately avoids a head‑on clash with Van Dijk and Cedric.

But now he's also caught in a three‑man trap!

Let's see how the World Footballer handles this.

Li Kang was forced onto the flank.

Chelsea teammates quickly moved in to support.

Van Dijk held the central position in the triple‑team, locking his gaze firmly on Li Kang.

He and his teammates formed a triangle.

He deliberately left gaps on his left and right sides.

No matter which direction Li Kang dribbles, the Southampton defenders are confident they can make the tackle.

Li Kang lightly nudged the ball with his left foot, perfectly avoiding Cedric's tackle.

He was still tightly marked.

Besides a back pass, there's no forward passing lane.

Wow!

The next moment.

An unexpected scene unfolded.

Li Kang pushed the ball with his right foot.

The ball slipped through the narrow gap between Van Dijk and Tadi Qi.

His whole body exploded again with terrifying acceleration.

He forced his way through the gap between Van Dijk and Cedric.

The whole stadium was stunned.

Triple team? He put man and ball apart!

Unbelievable!

Incredible!

So imaginative!

Great Ballon d'Or winner!

Tadi Qi and Cedric stood frozen in place.

Van Dijk turned and gave chase immediately!

Give it your all!

Give it your all for one final burst!

St. Mary's Stadium, applause like a tide.

Two seconds later, Li Kang received his own pass.

Van Dijk closed in.

The two were positioned on the left diagonal of the penalty area.

Smack!

Li Kang, under the frantic interference of the Dutch centre‑back, delivered a through‑ball as precise as a scalpel.

A deadly pass!

William!

Thud!

St. Mary's goalkeeper Foster couldn't block the close‑range push shot of the Samba magic wing.

The ball went from low to high, lifting the net.

0:2!!!

The ball's in!

William didn't waste the chance created by the Ballon d'Or winner!

No time left.

Chelsea expanded their lead in the dying moments, killing the suspense!

A thrilling individual performance!

The visual spectacle is too high!

As expected of the World Footballer, two assists sealed the victory!

Li Kang was hugged in turn by his teammates.

Van Dijk lay painfully on the grass, cramping.

Having fought the whole match, contributing in attack, aerial duels and defense, the world's best defender was exhausted.

He felt it was time to leave Southampton to pursue his dream.

He had long made up his mind: Liverpool! That's where he could showcase his talent.

【Too handsome.】

【If Van Dijk were to face Li Kang one‑on‑one, maybe we could buy a little time.】

【Too sudden; Southampton never expected Li Kang to carry the ball all the way.】

【Li Kang is too lazy; his running distance is about Messi's, yet he still managed two assists?】

【Golden Ball Mister！】

【World Football Mister！】

Premier League referees, compared to Bundesliga referees, need to be a bit more conscientious in stoppage time.

The ball was placed back in the centre circle.

The match continued.

Even if it exceeds injury time, they must give Nan'anpudun a chance for their last attack before announcing the match ends.

Beep! Beep-beep~

The whole match ended.

Nan'anpudun 0:2 Qie'ersixi.

Tuhe'er instinctively patted his chest, and embraced each of the main defensive stalwarts on the bench one by one.

European Champion League round of 16 knockout.

Qie'ersixi can, with a full-strength defence, challenge Balishengri'erman's 'four hundred million folly'.