Chapter 11 He Comes Back and There's Hope!

Seeing Zhou Yi start running again and create a scoring opportunity, the players on the Chinese team's bench cheered.

Without realizing it, they had already come to see Zhou Yi as someone they could rely on.

When the team was in trouble, the first person they thought of wasn't the team's top star, He Ying, but… Zhou Yi!

As long as Zhou Yi was still on the field, even if he was practically invisible, everyone would still have some expectation for the game.

You have to know that when Zhou Yi first joined the team, not many people looked up to him. They all thought he was just there to make up the numbers. A middle school student, an amateur player who usually just kicked a soccer ball around in gym class, how could he possibly keep up with our pace?

Up until the game against the Borussia Dortmund youth team, there were still quite a few people in the team who thought that way.

But after Zhou Yi started getting playing time, it only took him one and a half games to win everyone's support.

Of course, half of that game was because everyone compared Liang Qiqi and Zhou Yi and realized that Zhou Yi was indeed more reliable.

Then, after the two victories against the Chelsea and Liverpool youth teams, and the draw against Manchester United, everyone's trust in Zhou Yi had reached an unprecedented level.

Even after the two defeats against the Italian teams, that level of trust didn't drop.

Now, in the most unfavorable situation, they were still thinking of Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi definitely has a way!

With Zhou Yi back, there's hope!

Zhou Yi…

Zhou Yi…

Everyone looked at Zhou Yi with hopeful eyes.

Zhou Yi, of course, could feel this emotion and these gazes from his teammates, so he raised his head, a confident and composed smile on his face, as if everything was under his control.

This made the teammates who looked at him feel more confident.

But Zhou Yi's teammates could only see what Zhou Yi showed them. They couldn't see the thoughts in Zhou Yi's heart that he didn't reveal.

Although he appeared calm and collected in front of his teammates, Zhou Yi was actually very anxious inside.

He had only recovered a little bit of his stamina after resting for so long. He didn't know if that little bit of stamina could last him until the end of the game. Even if it could, he would probably just be walking around on the field until the end of the game.

So what was the point of lasting until the end of the game like that?

Could he really defeat Barcelona's youth training geniuses with just his mouth?

If he relied on his mouth, it would be difficult to even secure a draw.

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The La Masia youth team also noticed the changes that occurred after Zhou Yi personally participated in the Chinese team's attack.

Before, when Zhou Yi was just using his mouth, although the Chinese team could still pass the ball around, they couldn't advance to the edge of the La Masia youth team's penalty area. How could they deliver a fatal pass just by talking?

But once Zhou Yi started running, the Chinese team's attack immediately became threatening.

They weren't stupid. They had been playing against the Chinese team for almost an entire game. They could all see what role Zhou Yi played in this Chinese team.

Although it was unbelievable, when Zhou Yi started running again, these La Masia geniuses actually started to feel a trace of worry.

Plus, there wasn't much time left in the game, and the score was still tied. The La Masia youngsters were getting anxious.

Also anxious was Borel, the coach of the La Masia Youth B team, who was off the field.

When the La Masia Youth B team regained possession of the ball and launched an attack, he stood on the sidelines, waving his arms and shouting loudly, "Speed it up! Speed it up!"

If this game ended in a tie with the Chinese team, he didn't know if those proud kids would be in the mood to shake hands with their opponents.

Most importantly, in front of everyone, their team couldn't even beat a Chinese team… it was really embarrassing!

Urged on by Borel, the La Masia Youth B team launched an offensive towards the Chinese team's goal.

They kept attacking until they reached the Chinese team's penalty area, and then forward Rubén Rochina, under Guo Nu's close pressing, shot the ball into the side netting.

Sun Pan raised his hand as he made a lateral dive, but he didn't try to save the ball because he knew it was definitely going out.

Rochina ran out of bounds, grabbed the bouncing ball, and then helped Sun Pan place the ball on the six-yard line so that he could take a goal kick.

This action also showed that the La Masia Youth B team players were now racing against the clock.

And not only that…

When Sun Pan reset the ball and looked up, he was startled – that Rochina was standing on the edge of the penalty arc. He hadn't retreated at all!

Not only him, but as far as the eye could see, there were La Masia youth team players in Barcelona jerseys all over their half of the field!

Some of them were following the Chinese team players, while others were stuck between two Chinese team players.

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"Pressing in the frontcourt!"

Xu Yang exclaimed.

The Chinese team and the La Masia youth team had played two games, and it was the first time he had seen the other team adopt this tactic. They were clearly trying to prevent the Chinese team from getting the ball across the halfway line…

Hao Dong also looked grave. If the other team really launched a press of this magnitude in the frontcourt, it would indeed cause huge problems for the Chinese team.

The scouts off the field were also surprised. Many of them were local Spanish scouts who had often come to watch La Masia youth team games, but seeing this scene still shocked them – when did La Masia ever so urgently press a team like this?

Alan Powell and Tim Kist, the scouts who had been following the Chinese team all along, knew very well how terrible this would be for the Chinese team if the La Masia youth team did this.

Knowing Zhou Yi as they did, they were well aware that even if Zhou Yi still had a little bit of stamina, it would probably be very difficult for him to get the ball out under this kind of pressing.

Just look at his side… Two La Masia Youth B team players were following him every step of the way!

They weren't giving the Chinese team any chance at all!

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Seeing Rochina almost standing in his penalty area, Sun Pan reflexively looked for Zhou Yi. But what he saw startled him – there were two La Masia youth team players around Zhou Yi!

How was he supposed to pass the ball to him?

He had originally planned to give the ball to Zhou Yi and let Zhou Yi decide how to pass it.

He saw Zhou Yi also looking around, and then… that kid actually ran straight into the penalty area!

At the same time, he was gesturing to him, and that gesture was…

Sun Pan saw Zhou Yi's hand pressing down constantly, and coupled with the fact that he wasn't running fast, he guessed what it meant – he was telling him not to rush.

Okay, since Zhou Yi said so, he wouldn't rush. He stood still.

Zhou Yi ran straight into the penalty area.

Two La Masia Youth B team players had been following him all along, and they didn't give up even when he ran into the penalty area. When Zhou Yi ran into the penalty area, they still wanted to continue following him.

But when Zhou Yi ran all the way to the front of the ball, then turned around and stood behind the ball, posing as if he was going to take the goal kick in place of the goalkeeper, they were dumbfounded – it didn't seem like there was a precedent in soccer games for the opposing player to go up and mark the player taking the goal kick, right?

And they seemed to see a mocking smile on Zhou Yi's face, as if to say, "Go ahead and keep following me if you dare"…

This was crazy!

They never expected Zhou Yi to get rid of them in such a way…

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Seeing Zhou Yi really run to the front of the ball, ready to take the goal kick, Sun Pan asked him, "Is your long pass accurate?"

"Never practiced it," Zhou Yi replied succinctly.

"Then you!" Ten thousand grass mud horses galloped through Sun Pan's mind. (Internet slang for "what the f***?")

Zhou Yi didn't answer his question, but instead raised his arm, made a fist, and shouted loudly, "Guys!"

His voice wasn't just a little hoarse anymore, but very hoarse. This shout even cracked at the end, and it was completely different from his usual speaking voice. These were all aftereffects of "playing" soccer with his mouth earlier.

"They're pressing in the frontcourt, so this might be our last attack!!"

The Chinese coaches on the sidelines were also surprised that Zhou Yi wasn't in a hurry to take the goal kick, but instead started shouting, and that what he was shouting was actually telling everyone that this was the last attack…

Hao Dong looked down at his watch. It was the eighty-eighth minute of the game. There were two minutes left until the end of the ninety-minute game. He didn't know how much stoppage time there would be, but added together it shouldn't exceed ten minutes.

The last attack…

It seemed like Zhou Yi really couldn't hold on any longer.

He stared at the field and said to Xu Yang next to him, "Xu Zhi, how is Yang Fei preparing?"

"Ready to go at any time," Xu Yang naturally knew why Hao Dong was asking him this.

Hao Dong nodded.

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The Chinese team players who heard that this was the last attack were also surprised at first, not understanding why Zhou Yi said that. Did that mean that after this attack we could only defend and have no strength left to fight back?

But thinking about it carefully, what Zhou Yi said made sense. If this attack didn't score a goal, then they could really only try to hold on for a draw. The best outcome would be to get a draw in the end. Although they were unwilling, they had to accept it.

"So this time we have to pursue success! Everyone has to concentrate 100%, be careful of their pressing, don't let them steal the ball! Get ready!"

After shouting, Zhou Yi took a few steps back, but he still wasn't in a hurry to take the goal kick.

The La Masia youth team players couldn't take it anymore and raised their arms to complain to the referee about him delaying time – although they couldn't understand what Zhou Yi was saying, Zhou Yi ran back and stood in front of the ball and said so much, but didn't take the kick. What was this if not delaying time?

He must want to keep this 1:1 result, so he started using unscrupulous means!

How despicable!

The referee heard the voices of the crowd, and in response to public opinion, he ran towards Zhou Yi and showed him a yellow card – Zhou Yi's first card on this European challenge tour was born just like that!

Zhou Yi didn't care about this yellow card as long as it didn't get him sent off.

After the referee gave him the yellow card, Zhou Yi turned to Guo Nu and said, "Lao Guo, I'll pass the ball to you in a bit. Don't stop the ball. Pass it right back to Sun Pan."

Guo Nu was stunned for a moment, then nodded. He didn't understand what Zhou Yi was trying to do, but listening to Zhou Yi was never wrong.

After instructing Guo Nu, Zhou Yi said to Sun Pan, "After I kick the ball out, you pull to the right and get ready to receive Lao Guo's pass back."

Sun Pan heard Zhou Yi's words and asked curiously, "What are you trying to do?"

"Get rid of those two shadows," Zhou Yi smiled at the two La Masia youth team players standing outside the penalty area looking at him.

But in their eyes, Zhou Yi was clearly showing off and provoking them after successfully delaying the game. They couldn't wait to rush into the Chinese team's penalty area – if the rules allowed it.

While answering Sun Pan's question, Zhou Yi started his run-up.

Everyone thought he would kick the ball forward with a long pass, but when he ran to the ball, he kicked it towards Guo Nu, who was standing on the edge of the penalty box!

He kicked it with a lot of force, and it didn't look like a ground pass, but more like a ground shot!

But if he didn't do it this way, he was afraid someone would intercept it halfway…

The soccer ball flew forward along the grass.

Rochina rushed towards Guo Nu. The other two La Masia youth team players who had originally been following Zhou Yi also temporarily abandoned their task and rushed towards Guo Nu with Rochina. If they could intercept the ball on the edge of the penalty area, that would be the best outcome!

They didn't quite understand why Zhou Yi still chose to pass the ball to the center back when they were pressing in the frontcourt. But in their hearts, they wanted to thank Zhou Yi for such a stupid choice…

Without turning his head, Guo Nu could feel the situation behind him. The immense pressure made his hair stand on end – if he lost the ball here, he would be done for!

No matter what, he couldn't let the opponent steal the ball from him.

He swung his right leg to meet the ball. When the ball rolled over, his right foot swung back like a pendulum. Bang!

He kicked the ball directly back, rolling towards Sun Pan!

The three La Masia youth team players, including Rochina, missed!

One of them even crashed into Guo Nu, lost his balance, and fell to the ground.

At the same time that he kicked the goal kick, Zhou Yi had already rushed out of the penalty area.

When Sun Pan received the ball, he saw that Zhou Yi was almost running to the edge of the penalty box. He ran to the other side, with Liu Nian between him and Guo Nu. He was facing him sideways, shouting at him, "Now, pass the ball!"

Sun Pan lifted his foot and kicked the ball over.

Zhou Yi received the ball.

One of the two players who had been following him had crashed into Guo Nu and fallen, and the other was blocked by Guo Nu, so Zhou Yi was unguarded again!

But new La Masia players pounced on him – what else would you call frontcourt pressing?

Zhou Yi didn't hesitate and passed the ball directly to Yang Muge, who he could always find, and then ran without the ball, continuing forward!

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Yang Muge couldn't get the ball cleanly because there was also a La Masia player next to him, closely marking him.

After receiving the ball, he could only desperately protect the ball, trying not to let the opponent steal it. The opponent kept reaching out behind him, trying to intercept the ball. Yang Muge used his body and reasonable positioning to try to keep the ball under his feet.

Seeing that one person couldn't intercept Yang Muge's ball, the La Masia youth team sent two more people, trying to steal the ball right at the Chinese team's defensive midfielder position, and then launch a counterattack on the spot!

Yang Muge, who was surrounded, was under increased pressure.

Just when he was about to give up, he finally received the signal from Zhou Yi: "Pass to the right!"

Yang Muge opened his arms to block the La Masia youth team player behind him, while also resisting another La Masia youth team player on the side, and then swept the ball to the right!

The ball broke out of the encirclement of three people and rolled in front of Zhou Yi!

Along with the ball, two La Masia youth team players came towards Zhou Yi, one in front and one behind, blocking and chasing. The two were very close to Zhou Yi, and they were sprinting with all their might, not planning to give Zhou Yi a chance to stop the ball, control it, or adjust, or even time to think!

Seeing this scene, someone on the sidelines couldn't help but clench their fists, their heart beating faster and faster, as if it was about to jump out of their throat.

They could only clench their teeth and block their hearts.

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On the field, Zhou Yi faced the rolling ball and didn't lift his foot to stop it, nor did he look up to observe, but instead kicked it directly!

As if he had known where to pass it for a long time.

He kicked the ball forward, and there, was He Ying!

In the case of La Masia's frontcourt pressing, it was almost impossible to send the ball forward through the usual layers of passing, but that didn't mean that the Chinese team didn't have the ability to get the ball up there.

Passing wasn't working… then let's dribble!

After receiving the ball passed by Zhou Yi near the halfway line, He Ying took a touch to accelerate forward!

"Go!!"

The players on the Chinese team's bench all stood up, shouting to the field to cheer for He Ying.

This player with the best technique and most outstanding ability in the team received not only the ball passed by Zhou Yi at the last moment, but also the hope of the entire team to score a goal!

If, as Zhou Yi said, this was the Chinese team's last attack, then it seemed that only He Ying could shoulder such a responsibility!

Everyone, whether on the Chinese side or the La Masia side, whether players on the field or spectators off the field, focused their eyes on the Chinese team number ten, who was dribbling forward!