Chapter 12 The One

I don't know how many people still remember what Chen Hero said after defeating Ibrahimović and winning his first Serie A Golden Boot: "Sorry, I'm not used to sharing the Golden Boot with others."

Now he and Messi have the exact same number of goals, twelve each.

If neither of them scores again, they could end up sharing the Golden Boot.

But it's clear that neither Messi nor Chen Hero will accept that outcome.

Messi is the number one player in the world today. How can he tolerate condescending to share this honor with someone else?

And Chen Hero is even more arrogant. Even before he was so famous, he dared to challenge Ibrahimović, saying he didn't want to share the Golden Boot with the Swedish giant. Exclusive honors are his personality. Even if he were the worst player in the world, he would probably stick to this idea...

In fact, for many people, Chen Hero's current performance has shattered their expectations more than once. His performance has shocked many people. Even if he doesn't win the Golden Boot, or shares it with Messi, many of those who were originally waiting to laugh at him can't bring themselves to say those harsh words now, only full of admiration. Who can score twelve goals in just seven games in the Champions League knockout stage?

No one, only Chen Hero! He is the most amazing person in the fifty-year history of the Champions League.

If he had been able to participate in the group stage this season, I'm afraid he would have broken Altafini's fourteen-goal record as well...

How terrifying!

Many people even think that Chen Hero has already won this Golden Boot battle. Messi played six more group stage games than Chen Hero, yet he scored the same number of goals. This can only mean that his scoring ability really isn't as good as Chen Hero's.

But Chen Hero doesn't see it that way. No matter how harsh or amazing the objective conditions are, he only acknowledges the absolute result—that is, I don't want to be relatively better, I want to be absolutely the best!

Twelve goals in seven games is awesome, but if I just tie with Messi, I haven't beaten Messi. At most, it's just a tie. Not the "number one."

Only when I score thirteen goals in seven games can I surpass Messi and become the undisputed number one!

I, Chen Hero, hate adding "one of" after those honors...

※※※

After Napoli replaced Suniga and Raul, they didn't shrink back to defend to the death, but continued to strengthen their counterattacks, continuing to play this long-ball tactic. Mazzarri had no choice, that was all he could do. If the game was dragged into extra time, it would be a heavy blow to the team's morale, because as soon as everyone thought about how little stamina they and their teammates had left, they would lose confidence...

It can be said that Napoli's last chance, and best chance, would only appear in the ninety minutes of the game, and never in the one hundred and twenty minutes.

※※※

Due to the rapid decline in stamina, Chen Hero felt that the support in the frontcourt was decreasing. Even Arshavin couldn't rush up every time they counterattacked.

So, many times he could only fight alone.

Barcelona's players thought this was a good thing. In a one-on-one situation... Chen Hero is definitely not as good as Messi. They are afraid of Messi, but not of Chen Hero.

The reason why he was so threatening in Napoli's long-ball counterattacks before was because he had teammates around him. He jumped up to compete for the first point and passed the ball to his teammates. It was because of this kind of cooperation that they were able to create threats to Barcelona's defense.

But now Cassano is off the field, Arshavin has no stamina, Raul's efforts are isolated, and plus he has a strong sense of responsibility, so he often has to fall back to defend. His speed is not as good as Cassano's, and he can't insert in time.

So, for a time, Chen Hero seemed a little lonely.

Most of the time he has to find ways to solve problems and create opportunities himself. He can't wait for his teammates to pass the ball to him anymore.

He has to work harder than before, use all his skills, and maybe then he can create an opportunity.

But Chen Hero didn't even frown. He has received technical training in the instance, so he has a foundation. He has listened to Raul's teachings in the game, telling him to run even if there is only one person left in front and there is a lack of support. He also once said to Cassano: First of all, you can't give up yourself, then there is hope. If even you give up, then even God can't save you!

So, what's there to complain about the current situation?

This is just one of the necessary scenes in a classic game. If you can't even handle such a small difficulty, what's the point of talking about winning the championship, or winning the Golden Boot?

"Napoli's long pass from the backcourt... now Napoli's tactics seem more like a last resort... Hero gets the point... Piqué doesn't compete with Chen Hero for headers anymore, because he knows he can't head the ball anywhere, his teammates lack support... Long shot! Oh! Chen Hero turned around and took a long shot directly! But this shot is terribly off!"

"He is already a very good shooter, he is still pursuing goals... but it's too reluctant. As a center forward, he needs strong support from the midfield and backcourt... but anyway, his spirit is worthy of our respect!"

Chen Hero doesn't need his spirit to be worthy of respect, that's one of the common excuses for losers. What he needs is to win the respect of others in the face of real achievements.

He wants to be a king, he wants both collective honors and personal honors!

※※※

By the eighty-sixth minute of the entire game, Napoli's counterattacks were becoming fewer and fewer. They were at the end of their rope.

Barcelona, on the other hand, had high morale. There was even one time when Messi almost broke the goal. If De Sanctis and the goalpost hadn't worked together miraculously, Napoli would have lost.

At this time, everyone was even more anxious, hoping that someone could stand up.

Napoli needs a hero!

Yes, they need a hero.

※※※

Hamsik got the ball in the backcourt, and Barcelona's players rushed up to besiege him again. They often did this during this period, making it difficult for him to pass the ball forward.

Barcelona's players seemed to have no stamina problems. They were small, but agile. If two or three people tackled at the same time, he really couldn't handle it.

He couldn't pass the ball directly to the front, so he had to pass the ball to De Jong next to him.

De Jong was closer to him, so it was easier to pass.

After passing the ball, he immediately ran out of the encirclement.

At the same time, De Jong was also targeted. The Dutchman quickly passed the ball back to him, otherwise it would have been intercepted...

Hamsik didn't bother to continue dribbling the ball. He looked up and observed Chen Hero's position while running.

When De Jong's ball came over, he swung his foot and kicked the ball over.

This was not the kind of long aerial pass of dozens of meters, traversing the entire stadium, but a ground ball, rolling towards Chen Hero.

The reason for not choosing a high ball was because the high ball takes too long to fly in the air, and Barcelona's defenders can have plenty of time to deploy their defenses, making it difficult to achieve unexpected results...

Moreover, even if the high ball is passed over, it will only allow Chen Hero to compete for the first point. No one can get the second point. If the second point cannot be controlled, such an attack is meaningless. It will only quickly return control of the ball to Barcelona.

So this time he chose a ground ball, so that at least the ball could be passed to Chen Hero's feet, and there would be a chance to fight.

※※※

Chen Hero received Hamsik's pass in the center circle on the right. In front of him was a whole half of the field, and one, two, three... four defenders - not counting goalkeeper Valdés.

What about his teammates? There's Raul, in the middle—he and Raul just switched positions, just to make it easier to receive the ball, the defense in the middle is too dense...

Arshavin is on the left—he came to the right, so Arshavin, who was originally on the right, must have run to the left. Chen Hero is not good at using his left foot, so naturally he couldn't run to the left—but he's a bit far away from him, too close to the sideline, and cannot form a connection with him.

Basically, except for Raul in the middle who can provide him with a little support, he can still be regarded as a lone ranger, who can only fight alone.

At this time, he can choose to pass the ball to Raul, so that the two people can establish a connection, and at least he will no longer be fighting alone.

However, what the other party will do with the ball after it is passed to Raul's feet has nothing to do with him. Maybe Raul will pass the ball back to him, maybe not at all.

And... Raul is now tightly缠住 (chán zhù - entangled) by Puyol.

Passing to Raul is not necessarily a good choice...

Chen Hero quickly considered it and made a decision—he chose to dribble the ball himself!

He pushed the ball forward, accelerated, and rushed towards Barcelona's half with the ball!

Alves is shrinking towards the center, his target is him.

Busquets is cutting in diagonally from the center circle, chasing him.

Piqué is guarding a key fortress in front, forcing him to either go to the sideline or pass the ball.

While Puyol is tightly缠着 (chán zhe -缠着) Raul, his eyes are also watching him.

Valdés stood in front of the goal and shouted loudly: "Force him to the sideline! Force him to the sideline!!"

In front of him, all were enemies, and he stepped forward without hesitation.

Yes, he is not good at dribbling the ball, he rarely dribbles the ball. But that doesn't mean he doesn't dare to dribble the ball.

He has his own inexplicably strong confidence, even when facing the team with the best skills, he dares to dribble the ball and rush up.

"Hero is dribbling the ball! He rushed up..."

"This is Napoli's counterattack opportunity, he should pass the ball to Raul... but unfortunately he chose the most unwise approach!"

The commentator may be right, this is not wise at all.

But at least it takes courage.

Football games are originally the kind of sport that makes people's blood boil. Those who don't have the courage to challenge strong enemies will only be losers even if they have reason, because they are too rational, and they don't even have the idea of ​​trying.

Who knows whether what is blocking the way is a strong enemy or... a layer of window paper?

So, the irrational Chen Hero rushed!