When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 141 Roy Focuses on Football

Late at night on March 31, Claire's office was brightly lit.

The computer screen in front of her displayed the message she had just received.

A set of photos of Roy and Duchen talking by the canals in Amsterdam.

In the photos, the two maintained a polite distance, and the last photo shows Du Chen leaving alone from behind.

"We absolutely cannot let them scribble anything on this one."

She told her assistant while quickly browsing through similar images sent by several other Dutch media outlets.

Some photos captured close-ups of Roy looking down as he entered the hotel, while others captured the scene of the two saying goodbye calmly.

She first called John, a photographer for The Telegraph.

The phone rang six times before being answered, and the background noise from the bar could be heard.

“Mr. John, I am Claire, Roy’s manager.”

Her voice was crisp and clear: "Let's make a deal about the photos you took tonight."

A puzzled voice came from the other end of the phone: "Who is it? I don't know anyone."

“You just filmed two young people having a normal conversation,” Claire cut to the chase. “You can report it, and the photos can be published, but you must report the facts. It’s just a normal breakup, nothing scandalous.”

She paused for a moment, then said, "If you cooperate, I'll give you exclusive interview rights the next time Roy comes to the Netherlands."

"How can I trust you?"

John's tone clearly wavered.

"I can send you my business card and past collaboration examples right now."

Claire quickly pulled up a document. "You can check all the public relations incidents I've handled for Roy, including the Bernabeu incident that just happened."

She continued, “You only filmed ordinary friends talking. In exchange: first, the report must be objective; second, I will give you priority for the next Roy interview; I will buy out the other photos from different angles for 5 euros, and you can keep one photo of his back for the news.”

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone: "Deal. But the interview rights must be written into the contract."

"My assistant will contact you tomorrow to sign the agreement."

Claire pressed send, and the transfer receipt and her employment certificate were simultaneously sent to the recipient's email address.

After hanging up, Claire immediately dialed Nike's European PR Director: "I need to speak with you beforehand about the news regarding Roy. It's just a normal relationship issue and won't affect his upcoming endorsement activities."

She then contacted Cartier's brand manager: "We are controlling the direction of media coverage to ensure that it will not have any impact on the brand image. Roy's advertising shoot next week will proceed as scheduled."

The Coca-Cola marketing director offered a different perspective: "This incident could actually increase Roy's profile, and we are guiding the media to focus on his professionalism."

Finally, she sent a text message to Roy's agent: "I have contacted all the major endorsement partners, and they all understand. I will suggest that Roy give a brief interview during tomorrow's training session to emphasize that he is focused on the game."

She put her phone on the table and picked up her coffee, which had gone cold.

Three minutes later, the phone screen lit up, and Miliajo's reply was brief and almost indifferent: "Okay."

Claire stared at the ellipsis after the period for a long time.

She knew what the old fox was thinking—this delicate relationship had existed between them ever since Roy poached her from Miriam's team.

Miliacho's silence was not acquiescence, but a compromise after weighing the pros and cons.

After all, thanks to Roy's commercial endorsements and the Monaco players he helped sign, Migliaccio made a fortune.

Milia Jo put down her phone and leaned back in her chair.

Over the past six months, Roy has become increasingly reliant on Claire, who has handled business decisions, media relations, and even locker room relationships flawlessly.

He should have been happy, since Roy's commercial value was soaring and his commissions were rising accordingly.

But at this moment, he only felt a faint unease; Roy was slipping out of his control.

And Claire was the key figure behind it all?

He gave a soft hum and picked up the phone to dial the number of the editor of L'Équipe.

Now that Claire has dealt with the Dutch media, he has to do something on the French side.

In any case, he had to let Roy know who the real agent was.

But the truth is quite the opposite.

Just three hours earlier, Roy stood alone by the Amsterdam canal, the cold wind reddening his cheeks.

He took out his phone and sent Claire a short message: "I've been photographed. Prepare a PR plan."

Without panic or asking questions, the instructions were given directly.

He was as decisive as when he directed the attack on the field.

Claire was wearing a face mask when she received the message.

She immediately ripped off the face mask, not even having time to wipe off the serum on her face, and turned on her computer.

That's her job—to execute, to execute Roy's every request perfectly.

When Roy poached her, he made it clear: "I don't want a decision-maker, I want an executor."

She then turned to the PR team who were on standby: "Contact Pierre of L'Équipe immediately and have him publish a technical analysis of Roy's free kicks in his column tomorrow. The key is to be professional, the drier the better."

The assistant quickly jotted down the key points: "Should we mention his goal in the Dutch friendly?"

"Of course! Emphasize his point of contact with the ball and the angle of his run-up, accompanied by three exploded diagrams. This will draw the reader's attention to the football."

She then dialed the editor-in-chief of *France Football*: "Jacques, I have an exclusive for you. Roy has been studying Beckham's free-kick technique and is developing new training methods."

During the call, she instructed her assistant to send the prepared press release to several mainstream media outlets.

At three in the morning, Claire finally put down her coffee cup and began reviewing the sample copy of L'Équipe that she had just received.

The photo prominently featured Roy kicking a free kick, accompanied by the headline "The birth of a new generation of free-kick masters?"

She nodded in satisfaction, only then noticing that it was already getting light outside the window.

On April 1, Roy sat by the window of a hotel restaurant in Corsica, sunlight shining on the open Paris Match newspaper.

He had just taken a bite of the croissant when he suddenly stopped.

The newspaper published his photo on page three, with the headline "Golden Boy's Love Turns to Tragedy: Drunken Nights on the Eve of the Champions League."

He frowned as he looked down. The article detailed his tequila drinking at the bar the previous night, and quoted a "club insider" as saying, "We're worried this will affect his performance."

What annoyed him most was the last paragraph: "Some experts believe that relationship problems may cause this Monaco star to go silent in the second leg against Real Madrid."

In Ligue 1, Monaco plays away against Ajaccio.

In the 7th minute, Monaco got off to a dream start.

Roy received a diagonal pass from Bernardi on the left wing. Facing the defense of Ajaccio's right-back De Monte, he suddenly stopped and changed direction, flicking the ball towards the byline with the outside of his foot, and then accelerated down the byline.

Ajaccio's right-back, De Monte, lost his balance and staggered after chasing for a couple of steps before giving up.

Roy looked up and saw Morientes had moved forward to the vicinity of the six-yard box, so he immediately sent in a low cross.

The ball was extremely fast, skimming the grass as it passed through Danju's defensive zone. Morientes beat left center-back Sek to it and slotted the ball into the far corner with his right foot, making it 1-0!

However, Monaco's lead lasted only 5 minutes.

In the 12th minute, Ajaccio's attacking midfielder Diomede received the ball in midfield. Facing Pedretti's pressing, he turned and easily got rid of the defender, then sent a through ball that broke through Monaco's left flank defense.

Ajaccio's left winger Robin made a high-speed run forward, and Evra couldn't catch up in time. Robin dribbled into the penalty area and, with a very tight angle, unleashed a powerful shot into the near corner.

Roma managed to parry the ball away, but it bounced back to the edge of the six-yard box, where striker Locco reacted quickly and poked the ball into the net, making it 1-1!

Monaco's attack remains sharp.

In the 23rd minute, Rothen received the ball in the middle and, facing Diabate's defense, feinted a pass and cut inside before suddenly passing the ball to Roy on the left wing.

After receiving the ball, Roy cut inside, feigning a pass to the onrushing Evra, but suddenly unleashed a right-footed curling shot towards the far corner. The shot was perfectly angled, and Ajaccio goalkeeper Trevisan made a diving save, barely managing to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Giuly followed up with a shot on the right side of the penalty area, but in his haste, he shot the ball high.

In the 31st minute, Ajaccio took the lead!
Right midfielder Trier made a long pass from the backfield to right winger Greguar, who outjumped Givet and headed the ball into the center of the penalty area.

Locco, with his back to Rodriguez, suddenly turned and unleashed a powerful shot that flew straight into the bottom left corner of the goal, making it 2-1!

Monaco's central defensive pairing once again exposed their lack of physical strength. Givet was completely dominated by Greguar in aerial duels and also failed to stop Locco's turn and shot.

The match has reached the 44th minute, and the score is still 2-1 behind.

Roy received the ball on the left wing and, facing Demont's defense, accelerated twice in quick succession, forcing Demont to foul him. Monaco were awarded a free kick on the left side of the penalty area.

The entire stadium held its breath.

Roy stood in front of the ball, intently observing the positions of the wall of players and the goalkeeper.

He took a few steps back, took a deep breath, and then ran up – his right instep arced perfectly.

The ball pierced the night sky, bypassed the wall of players, and spun sharply towards the top right corner of the goal.

Trevisan leaped up with all his might, but the ball's trajectory was too tricky, and it finally slammed heavily against the junction of the crossbar and the post before bouncing back into the field.

A gasp of amazement erupted throughout the stadium, even the Ajaccio fans couldn't help but widen their eyes. Deschamps, standing on the sidelines, unconsciously stroked his chin, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Roy's free-kick skills have indeed improved by leaps and bounds.

The ball rebounded and was cleared by a long kick from an Ajaccio defender, and the referee immediately blew the whistle to end the first half.

Although no goal was scored, the quality of that free kick made everyone remember this night.

Roy stood there, gazing at the still slightly trembling beam, a relaxed smile playing on his lips.

He reached up and smoothed his sweat-dampened bangs, then turned and walked towards his teammates, showing no sign of frustration on his face.

The reporters on the sidelines looked at each other in bewilderment, and some had already begun to tear up the pre-written press releases that said "Roy's condition is affected by heartbreak."

Pierre, a senior journalist for the French newspaper L'Équipe, put away his recorder and shrugged at his colleague beside him: "Looks like our 'sentiment analysis feature' can be thrown in the trash."

The television cameras keenly captured Deschamps' expression.

The Monaco manager crossed his arms and smiled slightly.

Although the free kick didn't go in, Roy's technique and mentality spoke volumes.

As Roy walked past the coaching bench, Deschamps reached out and patted him on the back, and the two exchanged a knowing glance.

In the stands, several female fans holding signs that read "Go Roy!" screamed excitedly.

67 minutes.

After receiving the ball on the left wing, Roy attracted two defenders before delivering a precise diagonal pass to the overlapping Evra.

Evra crossed from the byline, Morientes headed the ball across the box past Seck at the near post, and Rothen volleyed it into the net, making it 2-2!

Monaco equalized.

However, Monaco's defense made another mistake.

In the 78th minute, Ajaccio's left-back Collin made a long pass from the backfield to the substitute winger, who used his speed to get past Maicon and then crossed the ball from the byline.

Givet missed his header, and Locco easily headed the ball into the net at the far post, making it 3-2!

The Monaco players were a little stunned, but Roy quickly stepped up.

In the 81st minute, he received the ball on the left wing, suddenly cut inside, shook off the defender, and curled a shot into the far corner. The ball arced into the top corner, making it 3-3!

Deschamps glanced at his watch on the sidelines and immediately made a substitution.

He substituted Ribery for Roy.

Having already won the league title, maintaining the winning streak is merely icing on the cake. If we can keep it, great; if not, it doesn't matter.

As Roy walked off the field, Deschamps patted him on the shoulder with a relaxed smile on his face.

L'Equipe's post-match report: Roy shone throughout the game, his professional attitude silencing the doubters.

In Monaco's 3-3 draw against Ajaccio, Roy once again proved his worth with a brilliant long-range shot and a crucial assist.

Despite the media hype surrounding his "heartbreak" before the match, the young winger silenced all doubts with his impeccable professional performance.

From assisting Morientes' goal in the 7th minute to cutting inside and unleashing a powerful shot to equalize in the 81st minute, Roy was consistently Monaco's most threatening attacking threat.

His record of 6 successful dribbles and 4 key passes was the best in the game, and he amazed the entire stadium with a free kick that hit the crossbar.

The image of him exchanging a smile with head coach Deschamps when he was substituted is the best testament to his professional attitude.

"True stars never let off-court factors affect their game."

In the post-match press conference, Deschamps emphasized, "Roy's focus today is what top players are all about."

As L'Equipe observed: while other players were still lamenting the crossbar, Roy was already smiling and launching the next attack.

This composure is far more persuasive than any public relations statement.

The Spanish newspaper AS published a special report questioning whether Real Madrid could achieve a comeback given the severe overexertion of their key players.

Florentino Pérez's "Galacticos" project is facing a crisis of confidence.

Besides the heated discussion about Roy's return, the chairman may urgently launch another plan: to bring in Van Nistelrooy to strengthen the attacking line.

However, some question whether bringing in a superstar would be a temporary solution when the existing roster is already operating at a severely overloaded level.

The 2003-04 season is now halfway through, and Real Madrid has fully demonstrated their strength to their opponents. In La Liga, only Valencia (one point behind) can currently put pressure on Real Madrid. Barcelona, ​​with one game in hand and trailing by 12 points, has focused all their energy on La Liga after their UEFA Cup defeat, and they might still pose a threat to Real Madrid.

Despite Monaco's 5-3 away victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final, creating one of the biggest upsets of the season, Real Madrid manager Queiroz remains convinced that his team has a chance to turn things around.

At the pre-match press conference, the Portuguese coach repeatedly emphasized that the two-goal gap was not insurmountable and pointed out that Monaco's defense tends to relax when they are in the lead.

The technical team has begun analyzing Monaco's right center-back Squillaci's defensive weaknesses and plans to adopt a more aggressive 4-3-3 formation in the second leg, with Zidane playing the role of a free-roaming forward, in an effort to achieve a comeback at the Stade Louis II.

Sources within Real Madrid's dressing room revealed that although the first-leg defeat shocked the players, captain Raul and veterans like Figo have already held a team meeting and reached a consensus on the determination to fight for victory away from home.

Meanwhile, Monaco coach Didier Deschamps warned his players not to get carried away by the big score, and specifically reminded them to be wary of Real Madrid's ability to perform well in adversity.

The latest odds from European bookmakers show that although Monaco has a 75% chance of advancing, experts generally believe that given Real Madrid's experience and strength, there is still a lot of uncertainty in the second leg.

Real Madrid will face familiar opponents in the second half of the league season, requiring only targeted adjustments to their existing tactics. Unlike the Champions League knockout stage, the La Liga title is more certain for the Galacticos, while the Champions League trophy will be contested through tough home and away matches. In both competitions, player fitness will be a crucial factor in determining success or failure.

Data shows that Real Madrid players have a much higher fatigue index than their competitors.

Queiroz's over-reliance on the starting lineup this season, rarely rotating players even when victory is assured, has come at a heavy price for the team. To date, Real Madrid's starting eleven have accumulated a staggering 39540 minutes of playing time, far exceeding Arsenal (34474 minutes), AC Milan (30033 minutes), Valencia (29637 minutes), and Barcelona (28226 minutes).

右后卫萨尔加多以4099分钟成为队内“劳模”，劳尔-布拉沃(4056分钟)、卡西利亚斯(3780分钟)、菲戈(3725分钟)、罗伯特-卡洛斯(3685分钟)和齐达内(3564分钟)紧随其后。

Except for Guti (2537 minutes), all the key players have played more than 3000 minutes, a figure far higher than that of other top clubs.

Arsenal has 6 players, Barcelona has 5, and AC Milan and Valencia each have only 3 players who meet this standard.

更严峻的是，这些球员还承担着繁重的国家队任务：卡西利亚斯470分钟、萨尔加多495分钟、罗伯特-卡洛斯360分钟、菲戈491分钟、齐达内408分钟、劳尔437分钟、罗纳尔多450分钟。

Such a dense schedule casts a shadow over Real Madrid's prospects of competing on two fronts.

On the afternoon of April 5, the Real Madrid team's chartered plane landed at Nice Airport.

The players, dressed in matching training uniforms, walked down the gangway one by one, with stars such as Raul, Figo, and Zidane leading the way.

Dozens of reporters and fans had already gathered at the airport, with flashes of light going off everywhere.

After the club staff quickly checked the luggage, the team boarded the bus parked next to the track and, escorted by police cars, headed to their hotel in Monaco.

The entire airport pick-up process lasted less than twenty minutes, and Real Madrid did not give any interviews.

On the day.

Fernando Morientes gave an exclusive interview to Radio Marca.

In a one-hour interview, the Monaco striker discussed in detail his career plans and future prospects.

Regarding the national team and the European Championship, Morientes said: "Being selected for the national team to participate in the European Championship is my biggest wish. It's not just about the goal on Wednesday, but also about my performance throughout the season. The 21 goals in 31 national team appearances means a lot to me. In the European Championship in Portugal, we will fight for the highest honor, and Spain desperately needs a major tournament title like this."

When discussing his position on the field, he explained in detail: "At Monaco, I mainly play as a center forward. This role requires me to create space for Roy and Giuly in the penalty area. When Roy receives the ball on the left wing, my task is to attract the attention of the center-backs and create one-on-one opportunities for him. Sometimes I need to deliberately move towards the near post to draw away the defenders, so that Roy can choose to cut inside and shoot or cross the ball."

“Giuly prefers to cross from the byline, and I would focus on getting to the near post then. But Roy is our main attacking initiator; he can both cut inside to shoot and pass, so my positioning needs to be more flexible. Sometimes it may seem like I'm setting up Roy, but actually I'm creating opportunities for the midfielders making runs from deep.”

“The situation is different in the national team, where I need to adjust my tactics based on Raul or Torres’ style of play. But in Monaco, everything revolves around maximizing Roy’s threat. On Deschamps’ tactical board, Roy is always the first attacking option, and Giuly and I both serve this tactical core.”

Regarding the upcoming Champions League second leg, Morientes frankly stated: "Although the 5-3 victory in the first leg gives us an advantage, the second leg at home will not be easy. Real Madrid has an amazing history of comebacks at home, and we must remain vigilant. Roy's hat-trick was certainly spectacular, but that's all in the past."

Recalling the victory in the first leg, he specifically mentioned: "When Roy scored his third goal, his 'self-crowning' celebration made the entire Bernabéu erupt. But as a veteran, I know better that this is just the victory of one battle. At the Stade Louis II, we need the same focus and determination."

Speaking about his feelings upon returning to the Bernabéu, Morientes said with mixed emotions: "It was a special night. I scored against my former club in the first leg. But in the second leg, I had to fight for Monaco. Although my loan contract was about to expire, all my thoughts were focused on helping the team make history."

Regarding the transfer prospects: "Monaco is indeed very satisfied with my performance, and we have had many positive conversations. Although people always say that Monaco has limited financial resources, don't forget that this team has strong support behind it. Last season they were able to retain key players such as Roy, Giuly, and Rothen, and they may create surprises this summer as well."

“The club’s management has shown me a clear plan; they want to build a team that can consistently compete in the Champions League. If this vision can be realized, staying here would be a very attractive option. After all, we have already proven the team’s potential, and the attacking partnership of Roy, Giuly, and myself is becoming more and more cohesive.”

"Of course, the final decision will take into account many factors. But what I can say for sure right now is that Monaco's ambitions should not be underestimated, and the possibility of them keeping me is definitely there. Let's wait and see after the season ends."

Speaking about his current teammate, Morientes specifically praised Roy: "I want to focus on Roy; this young man possesses incredible talent. In training, his technical ability and game intelligence often amaze me. Although it's too early to compare him to Raul or Ronaldo, if he continues on this trajectory, his achievements could very well surpass those two legends. Roy's ability to read the game and his composure in crucial moments are unlike those of a young player. At Monaco, we are witnessing the rise of a future superstar."

Regarding the competition for attacking positions at Real Madrid, he commented: "Ronaldo and Raul are both the best in the world in their respective positions. Raul's significance to Real Madrid goes far beyond scoring goals; he is the soul of the team. A Real Madrid without Raul is no longer the real Real Madrid. But the world of football always needs fresh blood, which is why I think young players like Roy deserve attention."

Morientes concluded by emphasizing, "My primary goal at this stage is to secure a place in the European Championship. Leaving Monaco could jeopardize that goal. Whatever the future holds, I will make the decision that is best for my career."

--------

Brazil's 0-0 draw against Paraguay away from home has sparked strong discontent among domestic media. *Globo* criticized the "new 3R" trio's lackluster performance, saying the match "started with the stadium going dark and ended with beautiful football going dark." *Lance* went even further, pointing to the team's "lack of desire to win," particularly questioning Ronaldo's numerous missed opportunities. Facing the upcoming Brazil-Argentina clash, if they cannot improve their form, the team will face an even fiercer media storm.

—Marca

Brazil coach Juan Pablo Parreira stated on the 1st that Kaká has fully matured and is capable of replacing Rivaldo as the national team's number 10. He praised Kaká's outstanding performance in the 0-0 draw against Paraguay, attributing much of his experience at AC Milan to his contributions. Parreira emphasized that Rivaldo's omission from the squad was due to club issues, not a lack of ability.

—Global Times

According to a report in the British newspaper *The Sun*, Victoria Beckham fought back tears on a flight to Geneva, insisting she believed there was no affair between David Beckham and his female assistant, Rebecca. Witnesses stated she didn't eat during the flight and appeared distraught. However, Rebecca's brother claimed the two were indeed in a relationship, and a former bodyguard confirmed witnessing intimate behavior. Sources revealed that Victoria had long been wary of Rebecca and had warned Beckham to keep his distance. Beckham issued a statement denying the allegations and stating he would consider legal action. This scandal has dealt a heavy blow to Victoria, who is about to turn 30.

—The Sun

(There will be more updates tomorrow after the match ends)

(End of this chapter)