Chapter 1 Time, Like a Pendulum

Time is like the ticking of a clock; you can hear it, but you can't stop it.

In the blink of an eye.

Premier League match day arrived.

The Stamford Bridge of today is no longer a quiet library, with an average attendance rate of 99.78%, second only to West Ham United's home stadium, the London Stadium.

"Lee!!!"

"Lee!!!"

"What are you shouting for? Lee is resting today!"

The die-hard fans in the North Stand were shouting Li Kang's name like crazy, a clamor of noise.

Blue flags fluttered in the wind.

This area is also known as the "Matthew Harding Stand."

It commemorates Matthew Harding, a club executive who died in a plane crash in 1996.

In 2006, after Chelsea defended their Premier League title, Mourinho threw his winner's medal into this stand to thank the fans for their support.

Li Kang, in plain clothes, sat in the stands with several of his main teammates.

Diego Costa took advantage of Azar's inattention and secretly lifted the hem of the latter's trousers.

Azar quickly retracted his foot and punched him.

The Chelsea striker has a well-known quirk: he likes to pluck other people's leg hair.

Rudiger was a little worried: "This game is a bit iffy."

Cahill waved his hand: "Relax, we have to believe in Morata. The kid has had plenty of rest and is in hot form."

Li Kang nodded in agreement.

The system prompt sounded quietly.

[Ding, Task Triggered: The Blues and the Gunners.]

[Task Description: Both sides have rotated their squads to prepare for the second leg of the Champions League! But this game is destined not to be dull. There is still a group of excellent players who will prove themselves on the Premier League stage. Tuchel versus Enrique, the Blues versus the Gunners, a battle of famous coaches, a clash at the summit!]

[Task Reward: Arsenal Legend · Black Iron Treasure Chest.]

Li Kang: "..."

How could it be Black Iron?

The difficulty is comparable to encountering a League One team in the FA Cup?

He still didn't understand when he saw the starting lineup displayed on the LED screen in mid-air.

Buffon suddenly reached out and touched the back of Li Kang's head, laughing, "Don't think too much. As a spectator, you should enjoy the game."

Kante quickly echoed.

Fabregas wasn't sitting with the others; he was sitting in the VIP box with his wife, who was 12 years older than him, and his stepdaughter, who was 12 years younger than him.

Chelsea fans in front of the TV felt a chill when they saw a bunch of key players huddled together in the stands.

"Ctv5! Ctv5! Good evening, viewers."

"We are now broadcasting live the Premier League focus battle."

"Chelsea versus Arsenal at home."

"Both teams are experiencing brutal and arduous multi-line battles, and have made large-scale personnel rotations in this game."

"Now, let me introduce the starting lineups of both sides."

"Chelsea's formation is 3-4-3!"

"Goalkeeper: Caballero."

"..."

"Arsenal's formation is 4-3-3!"

"Goalkeeper: Martinez."

"I believe that most fans' memories of this Argentinian goalkeeper are still stuck in that 7-5 goal fest!"

The referee team led the players from both sides onto the green field.

Stamford Bridge suddenly erupted in a wave of cheers.

Martinez provocatively looked at Morata, making a strange gesture with his hands.

Morata glanced at him and ignored him.

Understandable.

Most of the players cultivated in Argentina's local youth training system have this style after stepping onto the green field. Not all, but "most."

The influence of the environment.

It's not malicious; it's more often a means of disrupting the opponent's emotions.

Let's take an example.

Brazil U20 vs Argentina U20.

Just because a Brazilian youngster said, "We want to win the championship."

He was considered provocative by the Argentinian youngsters, who then beat up the Brazilian youngster.

That's the style.

The Argentinian women's football team also often fights, and several people are hospitalized at every turn.

Live broadcast room.

-

[Chelsea is done for. Martinez is Argentina's genius goalkeeper, and he will definitely shut down Morata.]

-

[7:5, 6:2, 4:0, 0:7. Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham, and Wolverhampton Wanderers say this genius goalkeeper is great.]

-

[He is more suitable for teams with a low-block defensive style. His coverage area is small, his ball-playing ability is poor, and he is not suitable for Enrique's high defensive line this season.]

-

[Let me say something fair. This youngster doesn't have many opportunities to play for Arsenal. Most of the teams he's been loaned to have a low-block defensive style. The tactical environment has made him grow into this type of goalkeeper. His ability is already very good, so there's no need to ask for too much.]

-

[Changes in the formation's defensive focus have a profound impact on a goalkeeper's growth.]

-

[He suffered from the club's tactical transformation.]

-

[In Ajax's documentary, the youth training coach asked the young goalkeepers to watch Alisson, Neuer, Ederson, and Courtois's long pass compilations.]

Tuchel gave Dino on-the-spot command of this game.

The young assistant coach stood in the command area, feeling excited.

He liked to read biographies of famous coaches: at this moment, he couldn't help but compare himself to Mourinho and Tuchel to Van Gaal.

The media reporters were a bit confused: they said it would be Tuchel vs Enrique...a battle of famous coaches. But they sent an assistant coach to command?

On the other side.

Enrique was calm and confident.

The depleted Chelsea squad was just a dish in his eyes.

With the referee's whistle.

The game officially began.

Arsenal had possession.

Giroud passed the ball back to Xhaka to kick off.

The football rolled quickly on the grass.

The Gunners' overall formation quickly moved forward.

"Enrique wants to seize an early lead."

"The overall defensive focus is very far forward."

"Starting center-back Koscielny is injured, which is a big hidden danger."

"Judging from Martinez's position, he doesn't seem to fit the high defensive line very well..."

Dino frantically waved his hands, directing the Blues' midfielders and forwards to press forward.

Not afraid of being penetrated.

Arsenal's backfield simply didn't have the ability to play the ball out.

In the 2017-18 Premier League season, if you wanted to set up a high defensive line, then the goalkeeper had to participate in the build-up play.

If he couldn't participate?

Then he would inevitably be pressed brainlessly by the opponent.

Martinez was a little annoyed.

He wasn't stupid, and he still had the ability to command a "low-block defense."

But now, asking him to expand his range of activity and participate in the backfield passing and control system...it was really too difficult for him.

How could he take on the goalkeeper's build-up play tasks?

Morata, Willian, and Pedro on the other side were like mad dogs.

"Holding's pass is a mistake! He's playing with fire!"

"Willian intercepts!"

"Passes to Morata!"

"One-on-one!"

Forty-meter area.

After receiving the ball, Morata charged ahead alone.

Martinez quickly adjusted his position...vaguely recalling that year's 7-5.

Absolutely, absolutely could not return to Argentina without accomplishing anything.

Too slow.

In the blink of an eye.

Morata had already reached the thirty-meter area, handsomely dribbling past the Arsenal goalkeeper.

At Stamford Bridge, the Gunners fans who had traveled with the team couldn't help but let out a sigh.

In his sights, the Chelsea striker was unstoppable.

"Isn't he going to shoot yet?"

"Open goal!"

"Beautiful!"

"Goal!"

"Morata took the ball to the six-yard box and pushed it into the empty net!"

"He didn't choose to celebrate after breaking his old club's goal!"

Morata raised his hands, refusing to celebrate.

The Blues teammates took turns embracing him.

On the other side.

Martinez slumped on the grass, constantly complaining that Arsenal didn't give him opportunities, and even expressing his dissatisfaction in front of the media.

In fact, Wenger had given him many opportunities.

Even though he had sat on the bench and been loaned out these years, Arsenal had borne all his wages.

Even though he had sat on the bench and been loaned out these years, Arsenal had borne all his wages.

Starting at £20,000 a week.

Increasing year by year.

If this account were calculated, a sale for less than 20 million euros would be a losing deal.

Holding looked guilty, raising his hand to signal an apology to his teammates.

Enrique stood on the sidelines, roaring loudly, pointing out the positioning problems of his disciples in the high defensive line.

Dino didn't celebrate for too long.

He turned around and ran to Tuchel, asking.

"Boss, next..."

"Don't ask me, you have to believe in yourself."

Dino couldn't help but feel a shock.

Wasn't this the master-disciple conversation between Mourinho and Van Gaal back then!

In the stands.

Azar and Diego Costa cheered along with the home fans.

Li Kang was slightly surprised.

It was difficult to explain the Black Iron Treasure Chest reward based solely on this goal.

As time passed, the game was full of climaxes.

In the 16th minute.

Elneny launched an attack on the right, attracting Chelsea's defensive forces, bringing the ball into the penalty area, and then passing it back to Xhaka outside the penalty area.

Xhaka chipped a pass to the front of the goal - the far post.

Giroud leaped high.

Header goal.

1:1!!!

Enrique raised his arms and cheered.

Four minutes later.

Willian drove straight in, blowing up Arsenal's depleted high defensive line, and sending a cross in the thirty-meter area.

Morata once again dribbled past the goalkeeper and pushed the ball into the empty net.

2:1!!!

A crazy back-and-forth attack without stopping.

Martinez stood behind the high defensive line.

The scene of that 7-5 was so clear. Gradually, he recalled the various tragedies he had experienced at Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham, and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

"If the heavens cover the earth, only our great Giroud!"

"Two behind, two equalizers."

"The Gunners striker who never compromises!"

"..."

"Ramsey, the Grim Reaper Ramsey!"

"Equalizes the score for the third time!"

"A game full of ups and downs! Arsenal, who would rather break than bend!"

"The Gunners never give up."

"..."

"Oh no! Morata has another great opportunity!"

"Pedro didn't pass it."

"He still passed it."

"Rabona!"

"Morata scores with a Rabona!"

"King of the weak foot!"

"Hat trick!"

The camera occasionally focused on Dino and Enrique on the sidelines.

The two commanders stood blankly in their respective command areas.

The thrilling back-and-forth attack battle made the audience cheer.

Li Kang's God's perspective had long stopped deconstructing.

Couldn't understand.

This game, with its complex situation and extremely fast offensive and defensive transitions, was really incomprehensible in terms of tactical level.

The ultimate strangulation and suppression of the high defensive line at the beginning, the shifting of the defensive focus to resolve the pressure, and the defensive contraction to resolve the wingers' inside cuts to break through the ribs all disappeared without a trace.

Live broadcast room.

Barrage flying.

-

[Too good!]

-

[I declare that this is the most exciting game of this round of the five major league match days. I have seen the tenacious and unyielding iron-blooded spirit in both teams!]

-

[This is the charm of football! Goals are the most thrilling.]

-

[Super Morata!]

-

[Magical winger Willian! Demonic knife Pedro!]

-

[God descends to earth, great Giroud! Grim Reaper Ramsey!]

-

[Don't just pay attention to the goalscorers. The substitute rotation players on both sides are also awesome. Holding has made up for his mistakes!]

VIP box.

Abramovich was excited.

He couldn't help but exclaim, "This little assistant coach, Dino, seems to be even more skilled than Tuchel!"

Technical director Cech's mouth couldn't help but twitch. He quickly explained...interspersing a lot of specialized terms in the middle.

Abramovich listened in a daze and said calmly:

"I was just kidding."

"Of course I saw through the tactical content of this game!"

In the end.

Beep! Beep beep~

The referee blew the whistle to end the game.

Chelsea 6:4 Arsenal.

Stamford Bridge, a sea of ​​joy.

The Gunners fans did not abandon them, singing to encourage the Gunners.

Morata embraced the old Arsenal partners one by one.

Enrique also hugged Martinez, like a kind and amiable old father, softly comforting him: "It's not your problem, it's the coaching staff's defensive focus deployment problem...adjust your mentality, you are the best."

"Football shouldn't just be about victory or defeat, or success or failure. Football should be a kind of enjoyment."

Judge by actions, not intentions.

This guy is indeed a famous coach in terms of set pieces and motivating players.

A moment later.

Post-match press conference.

Enrique said that classic quote again:

"If I chose the roster again, I would remove one of the players."

"Some players' performances were really bad, just a pile of shit."

Gradually.

Dino became the darling of the on-site media.

People praised this little assistant coach's Premier League debut.

"All of Arsenal's players performed very well. They tied the score three times."

"Forget the identity of the rotation players, their fighting spirit on the field has conquered the hearts of the fans!"

Li Kang returned to his residence in Fulham with the help of his little assistant.

Didn't know why.

He was a little expectant of the Black Iron Treasure Chest reward...even more expectant than the Dark Gold Treasure Chest.

What you've never had is always the best.

[Ding! Task Completed: The Blues and the Gunners.]

[Task Receipt: A hearty back-and-forth attack battle, the brave Giroud, the all-powerful Morata, thank them for bringing a goal feast!]

[Task Reward: Arsenal Legend · Black Iron Treasure Chest.]

Li Kang couldn't wait to take a look at the prize pool.

A Black Iron Treasure Chest that he hadn't even been able to obtain during his youth team days!

[Henry's smelly socks.]

[Vieira's expired sausage.]

[Wenger's broken zipper.]

[Bergkamp's hated tuna.]

[.]

What strange rewards?

[The Black Iron Treasure Chest is opening. Congratulations on obtaining: Wenger's Notebook.]

[Effect: None, because it really is just a notebook.]

A yellowed notebook appeared out of thin air in Li Kang's hand.

He opened the first page.

What caught his eye was a sentence: "You want to marry Miss World, I can find a way to help you, but if she just doesn't want to marry you, what can I do?"

Turned to the next page.

"Everyone thinks their own wife is the most beautiful."

Continued to turn the page.

"Once you get used to caviar, it's hard to go back to eating sausage."

"Team spirit is like a flower; you have to take care of it every day, or it will slowly wither."

(End of this chapter)