0024 The Strongest Defense (Seeking Collections and Monthly Votes)

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The stadium fell utterly silent.

The Luigi Ferraris Stadium seemed to have been frozen in time.

An eighteen-year-old had dribbled past several world champions in succession, then toyed with Bergomi once again as the defender raced back toward the penalty area, slipping the ball through his legs.

This was one of the greatest defenders in history, one of the eleven players in Italy’s greatest-ever lineup.

Yet today, he had been humiliated by Lu Deyang—twice in a row.

Bergomi watched with complicated emotions as Sampdoria’s players swarmed around Lu Deyang.

No one understood better than he did exactly how he had been beaten.

As a defender renowned for his ferocious and precise tackling, Bergomi had already anticipated the challenge. He had calculated Lu Deyang’s speed before committing himself.

Under normal circumstances, the boy would have run straight into his leg.

But that kid still had something left in reserve.

He had never been sprinting at full speed. When he noticed someone coming across to cover, he timed it perfectly, sending the ball one way and himself the other, leaping over Bergomi’s outstretched leg in the process.

It was an exceptionally intelligent move.

But first, you needed absolute confidence, a huge heart, and a powerful physique. To face so many world-class players and still have the composure to scheme against them was astonishing.

The move reminded Bergomi of Verona’s Caniggia, though that man had never been so clever.

The second time, near the byline in such a confined space, was even more outrageous.

Put simply, Lu Deyang had anticipated Bergomi’s anticipation. He had deliberately drawn the defender closer, calculated the exact instant Bergomi would plant his foot, then changed direction and nudged the ball between his legs.

Was this really a player making his Serie A debut?

As an elite defender, Bergomi had performed brilliantly both as a full-back and as a center-back.

He was not particularly strong going forward, though neither was he weak. His ability to carry the ball forward and make an impact was quite good; it was simply that certain attacking tools, such as crossing and outright speed, were not his strengths.

In this era, Italian defenders were generally much better at defending than attacking.

Precisely because he had weaknesses, Bergomi had always relied on his intelligence to make up for them. He was a player who knew how to think.

That was why Lu Deyang seemed so troublesome to him.

Beating him twice in succession could not have been a coincidence or mere instinct.

The young man was far more seasoned than he appeared.

The camera turned toward the stands, where Monica looked as radiant as a flower.

The entire world seemed intoxicated.

She had broken the stillness, restoring everything to the way it was meant to be.

Sampdoria supporters began chanting Lu Deyang’s name.

“Deyang!”

“Deyang!”

“Deyang!”

On the sidelines, Boskov also threw his arms around Pezzotti and hugged him hard.

He had brought Lu Deyang on simply to try his luck, though he had also hoped the youngster might make an impression.

He had never imagined that Lu Deyang would give him such a tremendous surprise the moment he entered the field.

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It was like expecting Macron from your subordinate, only to discover that he was Napoleon.

What world champion?

What Serie A’s strongest defender?

They had all been shattered in a single encounter.

Even the two television commentators fell silent, unable to believe what they were seeing.

Paolo Rossi, the former world champion, swallowed and said, “That young man’s ability to control the ball while moving with it is already among the finest I have ever seen…”

Some people would only notice his acceleration, sudden stops, and changes of direction.

But the most outrageous thing about Robben was his ability to keep the ball glued to his feet.

Whether he was carrying the ball forward, cutting inside, or weaving through a tight space, it never strayed from him.

His height, combined with the way he shifted his center of gravity, made him extraordinarily deceptive.

That was why people could know exactly how he intended to dribble and still be unable to stop him.

Changing the timing of his acceleration by a fraction of a second, the angle of his shoulder, the direction of his gaze, or the force with which he nudged the ball beneath his feet—these elements could be combined into countless variations.

Only someone who had faced such an opponent could understand how terrifying it was.

Brehme also sensed that things were not so simple and looked toward Bergomi.

The Inter captain shook his head and said, “Be careful. That kid is no ordinary player.”

Brehme nodded solemnly.

Matthäus stood nearby, watching the Sampdoria players celebrate.

Mancini had clearly noticed the midfielder.

His normally sour face was covered in smiles. Anyone familiar with him might have thought he was an impostor.

Mancini affectionately hooked an arm around Lu Deyang’s neck and shouted at the top of his lungs, “What are you looking at? You couldn’t stop him either!”

Matthäus: …

The words he had spoken himself in the first half had been returned to him word for word.

The feeling was unbelievably infuriating.

He had been so arrogant because his individual ability was extraordinary.

A moment ago, he had genuinely rushed over to help defend, only to be dribbled past along with his teammate.

Matthäus’s face flushed a deep red, much to Mancini’s delight.

He decided that the very next day he would go to Milan and buy Lu Deyang a truly magnificent gift.

Damn the cost. Money was not the issue. The important thing was to humiliate that bastard Matthäus as thoroughly as possible.

After holding it in for a long while, Matthäus finally said, “A Pomeranian dares to taunt a lion when it is beside its master, but without its master, it is nothing but a coward.”

Pomeranians originated along the coastal border between Poland and Germany and were notorious for acting tough only when they had someone backing them.

Mancini’s expression changed at once.

Just as he was about to release Lu Deyang, the youngster spread his arms and stopped him.

“The biggest difference between us is that we are a team. Whether you are at Bayern or Inter, you are always on your own.”

The remark struck a nerve. Matthäus spat viciously onto the ground and turned away.

One of the main reasons Bayern had gotten rid of him earlier was that he was unpopular as a person.

“Thanks, Deyang,” Mancini said with a forced smile.

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Vialli kicked him and mocked, “With that obsequious expression, you look like a court jester.”

“Damn you! If I’m the jester, then you’re an Arab eunuch!”

Mancini charged at him, clawing the air, but Vialli darted away in an instant.

Boskov saw everything unfolding on the pitch and could not help smiling.

He was certain this was the team he wanted.

Trapatttoni clapped and shouted toward the field, “Switch positions! The two of you defend their right flank together!”

Brehme pointed at himself in confusion.

Trapattoni immediately nodded.

All right. Brehme had no choice but to exchange positions with Mandorlini.

Even so, he still felt that the coach was making too much of it.

The first encounter had caught them unprepared, which was why they had looked so helpless.

As a teammate, he knew exactly how strong Bergomi was. Defensively speaking, Germany might not even have a defender better than him.

The two of them were now on the same side, facing an eighteen-year-old.

Only Maradona had probably received treatment like this before.

After the restart, Klinsmann immediately played the ball back.

Berti received it and still wanted to wait for Lu Deyang to charge forward and press him, eager to regain the face he had lost after being dribbled past earlier.

But Trapattoni cursed from the touchline, “If you don’t want to play, get off the field! Can you take the ball past them and shoot directly from inside the penalty area?”

Berti hurriedly passed the ball away, then turned and cast a slightly aggrieved glance at his manager.

The coach really had not spared him any embarrassment.

Matteoli also moved the ball on quickly, tapping it to Matthäus.

They all had names beginning with M, but the gap in their abilities was enormous.

Matthäus was unquestionably the heart of Inter.

Once he received the ball, he surged forward like a humanoid beast.

With the referee allowing it, the collisions between muscle and muscle grew increasingly violent.

Lombardo tried to step in as well, only to be sent staggering by the impact.

“Cereso has come across to defend, but he is at a physical disadvantage, and age is a factor too. Pari is keeping an eye on the others… Deyang! The youngster has tracked back and immediately closed in beside Matthäus, slowing his progress with the ball. Cereso has recovered and successfully won possession!”

“Yes, Deyang has been extremely active today. This young player has given us quite a surprise.”

However, when Lu Deyang got the ball again, he realized there was a problem.

The combination of Bergomi and Brehme was genuinely difficult to deal with.

Mancini was stopped by Riccardo Ferri while carrying the ball forward. He immediately turned and dribbled back, looking for an opportunity to switch play over a long distance.

His long passing was only average. Lu Deyang kept retreating, then, near the touchline, positioned himself sideways and brought the ball under control with the outside of his foot.

Before he could turn around, Brehme charged in and swept the ball away with a sliding tackle.

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