When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 162 2004, the intertwined fates of two football fanatics
May 12, 2004, Ligue 5, Round 36.

Monaco will play away against Strasbourg.

In the 60th minute, manager Deschamps made substitutions, replacing Ribery and Caniggia with Roy and Giuly.

In the 68th minute, Monaco broke the deadlock.

Czech midfielder Plasil delivered a precise through ball from midfield, and Roy cleverly beat the offside trap, dribbling at high speed into the penalty area before calmly unleashing a powerful shot into the near corner past the onrushing goalkeeper, making it 1-0.

In the 82nd minute, Monaco extended their lead.

Right-back Maicon broke down the wing and delivered a low cross. Roy suddenly made a run to get past the defense and volleyed the ball into the net from the edge of the six-yard box, completing his brace and sealing the score at 2-0.

"Incredible! Roy has once again proven himself to be the most lethal striker in Europe today! Look at that timing of beating the offside trap, the power and angle of that powerful shot—it's simply a work of art!"

"Friends, this is our Monaco superstar! With only two weeks until the Champions League final, Roy's form has come at just the right time! Just think, how will Porto's defense stop Roy like this? Can Ferreira keep up with his speed? Can Carvalho anticipate his runs?"

"The second goal was a textbook example of teamwork! Maicon's cross was so precise it looked like it had been measured with a ruler, and Roy's tap-in was as effortless as if it were a training session! This kind of understanding and efficiency is simply a performance tailor-made for the Champions League final!"

"Listen, all of Europe is trembling! Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Arsenal have all fallen at our feet, and now it's Porto's turn! Roy's 16 Champions League goals are just the beginning. The Veltins-Arena will witness the birth of a new legend! Monaco's golden generation is destined to write the most glorious chapter in Champions League history!"

"Allez Monaco! Forward to Monaco! Let the world remember May 26, 2004!"

On May 12, 2004, at a fine restaurant in London’s Mayfair district, Didier Deschamps’ agent Jean-Pierre Bernes dined with Chelsea CEO Peter Kenyon and renowned agent Pini Zahavi.

Bernes put down his glass, his tone calm but firm: "Peter, I must be frank with you, Deschamps currently has limited interest in coaching Chelsea. Monaco has already prepared a new three-year contract for him with a very generous salary."

He paused briefly before continuing, "Furthermore, several other top European clubs are also closely monitoring Deschamps' situation. If he were to leave Monaco, his first choice would be a team that can compete for the Champions League."

Kenyon put down his knife and fork, his tone becoming serious: "Jean-Pierre, that's strange. How could Chelsea not qualify for the Champions League? We're currently firmly in second place in the Premier League, and Mr. Abramovich has invested hundreds of millions of pounds in building this team."

He leaned forward slightly, his eyes gleaming with confidence: "And you must understand, this is just the beginning. This summer we will build an even stronger squad, and Mr. Abramovich has promised to sign at least three world-class stars. Our goal is clear – not only to compete for the Premier League title, but also to challenge for the Champions League title."

"Deschamps did a good job at Monaco, but Chelsea can provide a bigger stage and stronger financial support. Mr. Abramovich's ambitions go far beyond that; he wants to build a powerhouse that can dominate European football."

Bernardes nodded thoughtfully: "I understand Chelsea's ambition, but Deschamps values ​​stability in his coaching environment more now. Monaco has given him a lot of trust and freedom, which is something money can't buy."

"Of course, the world of football is constantly changing. Some opportunities, once missed, are hard to come by again, such as the position of certain traditional powerhouses."

Zahavi astutely caught the hint: "You mean the invitation from Italy?"

Bernes smiled noncommittally: "I was just using an analogy. But indeed, for a coach like Deschamps, managing a top European club with a rich history and a stable structure would be a very attractive option."

He deliberately avoided mentioning Juventus by name, but his words implied that Deschamps had a more tempting option than Chelsea.

Just then, the waiter came in to change the plates, forcing the conversation to stop.

The three of them gazed at the London night view outside the window, each lost in their own thoughts, while a subtle atmosphere of strategic maneuvering filled the dining table.

Zahavi tried to smooth things over: "However, coaching a newly emerging powerhouse like Chelsea is a challenge that any coach would find hard to refuse, isn't it? Jean-Pierre, how about at least arranging a meeting between Deschamps and Chelsea?"

Bernes smiled and said, "Let's talk about it after the Champions League final. Deschamps is focusing all his energy on preparing for the Porto match right now."

Although Chelsea had the financial backing of Abramovich in 2004, many top coaches and players still took a wait-and-see approach to them, mainly for several reasons: First, Chelsea had not yet established a mature foundation as a top club, and compared with traditional powerhouses such as Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Juventus, it lacked historical accumulation and a stable competitive system.

Secondly, Abramovich's management style after taking over was quite aggressive, and the frequent changes of coaches (Ranielli was dismissed at the end of May 2004) made famous coaches worry about the stability of their coaching.

Furthermore, the English Premier League was not yet fully established as the top league in Europe at the time, and Serie A and La Liga were still more attractive to top players.

In addition, Chelsea's "nouveau riche" image has also made some coaches and players who value club culture hesitant.

For example, Deschamps preferred a traditional powerhouse like Juventus with a mature system, while Chelsea's transfer targets at the time, such as Crespo and Veron, also showed a fondness for Serie A.

Most importantly, Chelsea had yet to prove their Champions League competitiveness, having been eliminated in the quarterfinals of the 2003-04 season.

All these factors meant that Chelsea was still in the growing pains of transitioning from a strong team to a powerhouse in 2004, making it difficult for them to immediately attract top football talent.

The reason he was able to recruit so many top players in such a short period of time is simply because he offered them too many.

2004年5月12日，意大利杯决赛第二回合，尤文图斯在2-0领先的大好局面下被拉齐奥连扳两球，最终以2-4的总比分痛失冠军。

This defeat marks the end of Lippi's second stint as Juventus coach, and the club has confirmed that the two sides will not renew his contract.

During his ten years at Juventus (two terms as manager), Lippi brought the team 13 titles, including five Serie A titles, one Champions League title, and one Toyota Cup title.

Despite failing to score a single goal this season, his contributions are still remembered by the club and fans. Juventus tried to retain him in the management, but Lippi declined, saying, "I can't bear to personally get rid of players who have given everything for the team."

Honorary president Agnelli publicly expressed his gratitude, saying that Lippi brought "glory" to Juventus.

Lippi has not specified his future plans.

Despite rumors that he might take over Lazio (if Mancini leaves and a new owner takes over), everything is still uncertain.

Lippi's purchase of property in Rome, along with the fact that his two sons work there, increases this possibility.

However, his more likely option is to take over the Italian national team, provided that Trapattoni leaves after the European Championship.

At the press conference, Lippi quipped, "Who would refuse to work?"

It implies to oneself that one will not be able to rest for long.

With Lippi's departure, the selection of Juventus' new manager has become one of the biggest mysteries in Serie A this summer.

General Manager Moggi initially narrowed it down to two candidates: Parma manager Prandelli and Monaco's young manager Deschamps.

Initially, Deschamps was the biggest favorite. The young French coach's record at Monaco was nothing short of amazing—two consecutive Ligue 8 titles, especially the 2003-04 season when he won the title unbeaten with eight rounds to spare. In the Champions League, he led the team to the final with a perfect group stage record, eliminating giants such as Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Arsenal.

Such dazzling results greatly appealed to Juventus' management, who offered increasingly attractive terms: not only did they promise high salaries and greater say in transfers, but they also agreed to retain the coaching staff from his Monaco days. However, as Monaco continued to make breakthroughs in the Champions League, Deschamps' demands rose accordingly, even including hard conditions such as "keeping Trezeguet and bringing in a top-class midfielder," gradually leading to a stalemate in negotiations.

Meanwhile, Prandelli's name quietly surfaced.

This Parma coach is known for his tactical finesse, his ability to develop young players, and his coaching costs are far lower than Deschamps'.

Italian media have begun speculating about the possibility of the "Parma contingent" taking over Juventus – players such as Gilardino and Ferrari may be brought to Turin.

However, Prandelli himself was cautious: "Juventus has never officially contacted me."

Currently, Juventus' management is still weighing the prowess of Deschamps in the Champions League and the potential high investment risk, or Prandelli's cost-effectiveness and localization rebuilding.

Juventus vice-president Bettega returned to Turin from Monaco on Wednesday. Ostensibly, the trip was to support Libya's bid to host the 2010 World Cup (Libyan Football Association president Muammar Gaddafi Jr. is a Juventus shareholder), but in reality, he secretly met with Deschamps. The two sides discussed coaching details in depth, and key progress was made in the negotiations.

Deschamps initially demanded a €200 million annual salary, but may ultimately accept €150 million for the first year (on par with Lippi), with increases in the second year depending on performance. This concession demonstrates Deschamps's approval of the Juventus platform and reflects the club's financial prudence.

Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi, when discussing the progress of the coaching selection, said: "Deschamps is indeed a key candidate for us. His achievements at Monaco are evident, especially his experience of leading the team to the Champions League final, which is very attractive to us. Although there are some details that need to be worked out during the negotiations, both sides are sincere."

However, Moggi also admitted that replicating Monaco's success would not be easy: "We value Deschamps' ability to develop young players, but the environment in Serie A is different from that in Ligue 1, and it will take time to adapt."

When asked if they were considering signing Monaco's star player, Roy, Moggi seemed somewhat helpless: "This transfer will be very difficult. The player himself doesn't seem very interested in the Italian league. He rejected offers from both Milan clubs, but we will continue to try."

"Deschamps' coaching style is a good fit for Juventus. He understands tactics and is good at managing the locker room."

Moggi added, "If it ultimately comes to fruition, I believe he can bring new energy to the team. However, it's too early to say anything now; let's wait and see after the Champions League final."

In a wooden private room at an old-fashioned restaurant in Porto, Mourinho and Mendes were talking in hushed tones.

Mendes had just hung up the phone, his face beaming with excitement.

"Joseph, breaking news."

He lowered his voice, "Although Chelsea's first choice is Deschamps, that guy's mind is entirely on Juventus, and Kenyon is getting impatient."

Mourinho slowly cut his steak, lost in thought: "Is Deschamps definitely going to Juventus?"

"pretty close."

Mourinho suddenly chuckled and raised his coffee cup to Mendes, saying, "Congratulations, Jorge, on signing such a golden nugget."

Mendes shook his head meaningfully: "He chose me, not the other way around."

"No matter how high Abramovich's offer is, it's useless. This kid currently has three offers from Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea, but even I can't figure out what he's thinking."

Mourinho raised an eyebrow slightly: "That kid is really good. His technique, speed, and shooting skills are all top-notch. The key is that he never falters on big occasions."

The image of Roy dribbling past Real Madrid's defense in the Champions League quarter-final flashed before his eyes. "If only I could coach a player like that."

"That's the key!"

Mendes lowered his voice, "Imagine if you took over Chelsea and had a striker like Roy. Of course, Monaco is definitely the favorite right now. But even if the final result isn't what you hoped for, you and Roy teaming up at Chelsea next year would still shake up European football."

He made an explosion gesture, "The Premier League defenders are going to have nightmares."

Mourinho astutely caught Mendes' hesitation and sneered:
"Jorge, what you're saying sounds like you're giving me a way out in advance."

"No, no, no," Mendes quickly waved his hands, "I just meant that Deschamps' Monaco team was indeed very strong; they eliminated Real Madrid and Arsenal."

Mourinho: "The question is, where does this kid want to go? Manchester United has Ferguson, Chelsea has..." "Money, and you too!"

Mendes interrupted, "Listen, as long as Deschamps decides to go to Juventus, Chelsea will do everything in their power to win you over. With your charm and Abramovich's checkbook, you might actually be able to sway him. After all..."

He paused meaningfully, "You are all ruthless characters who will stop at nothing to win."

Mourinho leaned back in the restaurant's leather chair, raised his eyebrows, and began to formulate his tactics.

If Roy really comes to play under him
First of all, this kid is definitely his trump card in counter-attack tactics.

Imagine this: when the opponent is pressing forward, a long pass from the backfield sends Roy flying like a bullet.

With his speed, he could create a single blade by starting from the center line.

This is far more terrifying than players like Delre. They don't need complicated combinations at all; a single through ball is enough to solve the problem.

We're not afraid of teams that park the bus anymore.

Mourinho knows all too well the destructive power of this type of player.

Roy doesn't need particularly refined footwork; his speed and explosiveness alone are enough to force two or three opposing defenders to move towards him.

At this point, a quick ball transfer will immediately create a large opening on the other side.

As a defensive expert, he knew how difficult it was to deal with such a simple and brutal penetrator, because even the tightest defense could be torn apart by such unreasonable impact.

Not to mention his free kicks.

Within 30 meters, it's all within range; if the opponent dares to foul, they're just giving away points.

This is far superior to the "workhorse" type of forwards he used to coach.

Mourinho even thought that as long as Roy was on the field, the opposing defenders would definitely not dare to push too far forward.

This gives midfielders more space to receive the ball, making the transitions between attack and defense much smoother.

However, this kid needs to be given enough freedom and special privileges, just like he was given to Ronaldo at Barcelona back then.
Allow him to occasionally not return to defense, conserving his energy for a fatal blow.

Thinking of this, Mourinho smiled.

Such a player is practically the ultimate weapon tailor-made for him.

He can both implement his tactical ideas and use his personal abilities to resolve those troublesome stalemates.

If he could really coach Roy, maybe even those who criticize him for "only knowing how to defend" would have to shut up.

He recalled the scene two years ago when he was leading the team in Leiria.

That small team played brilliantly under his guidance, with fluid and efficient attacks; there was no such thing as "parking the bus".
But the media is like a goldfish, with a seven-second memory.

Everyone now calls him a defensive coach, as if he only ever stayed in the backcourt.

"Jorge, don't you think it's ridiculous?"

He swirled his coffee cup. "When I was beating Braga to a pulp in Leiria, these reporters were still writing about 'Portugal's rising attacking coach'."

Mendes smiled knowingly: "That's how it is in football; once a label is on you, you can't take it off."

"so"

Mourinho's eyes suddenly sharpened. "If you can play beautiful football at Stamford Bridge with a player like Roy..."

He deliberately left it unsaid, but the meaning was clear; that was a real slap in the face.

He was able to develop a dazzling offensive style back in Leiria, and now with a super weapon like Roy, he can make those critics swallow their spit.

He tapped the table with his finger:
"Roy is a good player, but now is not the time to talk about a transfer. He wants his first Champions League title, and I'm waiting for mine too. Let's wait until the season is over and see who wins the title first before discussing a partnership."

In his office late at night, Mourinho's tactics board was covered with detailed notes on the tactics of both teams.

He repeatedly watched recordings of Monaco's last six Champions League matches.

“Deschamps’ 4-3-3 system,” he analyzed in a low voice, “Rothen has a wide range of movement in the attacking midfield position, but his real killer move is on the left wing.”

In the video, Roy and Evra's combination play on the wing was extremely threatening, with the two frequently breaking through the defense with one-two passes.

“Evra’s attacking runs were very wide, which gave Roy space to cut inside. We had to cut that connection off.”

"Ferreira must strictly enforce the perimeter defense strategy and always push Roy towards the sideline. Costinha must immediately move up to interfere when Roy drops back to receive the ball, preventing him from comfortably receiving the ball and turning. Carvalho must be careful to provide cover, and once Roy breaks through the first line of defense, he must immediately block his inside cut."

“Maniche needs to be ready to cover this side at all times, especially to keep an eye on Roy and Bernardi’s one-two passes. Nuno Mendes needs to control Evra’s attack on the right flank and not let him push forward easily.”

"Deco needs to move more to the right flank when attacking, forcing Evra to drop back and relieving the defensive pressure on our right flank. Albou and Delre need to be ready to counter-attack at any time, taking advantage of the gaps left by Evra's attacking runs."

"If Roy still manages to break through the defense, then commit a tactical foul decisively. It's better to get a card than to give him a shooting opportunity. Remember, 11 of Roy's 16 Champions League goals this season came from cutting inside and then shooting. We absolutely cannot let him into that area."

"The most important thing is to maintain defensive discipline. Everyone must strictly follow the tactical arrangements for 90 minutes without any slackening. Only by defending as a whole can we limit the most dangerous inside-cutting wingers in the world."

"The problem with the defensive midfield pairing of Pedretti and Bernardi is that they are both typical 'positional' midfielders, better at defending through anticipation and team movement than through individual duels. The data shows that their number of interceptions per 90 minutes is good, but their one-on-one duel success rate is only 62%, which is insufficient in the level of competition in the Champions League."

“We need to use high-intensity pressing to target this. Deco and Maniche need to take turns attacking them, especially when Monaco is organizing attacks from the back. Pedretti tends to pass the ball to the left, while Bernardi prefers short passing combinations. We need to cut off these passing lanes specifically.”

"Costina's task is clear: to physically dominate Rothen. Rothen's passing accuracy will inevitably decrease when he is closely marked. We need to keep Monaco's attacking organization in an uncomfortable state at all times."

“When we win the ball in the attacking third, we need to immediately look for Albu. His ability to play with his back to goal can effectively exploit the weaknesses of Pedretti and Bernardi in terms of slow recovery speed. Data shows that Monaco's defensive positioning rate within 5 seconds of transitioning from attack to defense is not very high, which is a period we can focus on attacking.”

“Deschamps’ defensive system is built on overall movement, so we must be more active in our off-the-ball movement. We need to disrupt their defensive formation with constant positional changes and runs, especially in the midfield area.”

"Costina needs to mark Rothen and cut off his connection with the forwards. Maniche needs to constantly pressure Pedretti and force him to pass back. Deco needs to drop back and disrupt Bernardi's passing lanes when he's off the ball. We need to keep Monaco's midfield trio under constant pressure."

“A special strategy is needed to deal with Morientes. Carvalho needs to mark him closely and prevent him from receiving the ball comfortably. Costa needs to be ready to cover at any time, especially when crossing. Morientes has a 78% success rate in aerial duels in the Champions League this season, so someone must interfere with his jump when crossing.”

“Giuly is indeed dangerous on the right flank, but we need to focus our efforts on dealing with the threat on the left flank first. Mendes should pay attention to providing support, but his main focus should be on containing Roy. If Giuly starts to dominate the attack, then Ferreira and Costinha should switch positions to provide support.”

"The key is to maintain defensive flexibility. When Monaco shifts their attacking focus to the right flank, Maniche must immediately move to the left flank to provide support, and Deco must also adjust his positioning accordingly. We need to make every attacking play difficult for them."

"The right-wing pairing of Giuly and Maicon is equally dangerous, and we must prepare countermeasures. Maicon's attacking ability has become apparent in the last half of the season; he likes to make high-speed runs down the flanks, while Giuly excels at cutting inside and organizing play."

"Mendes needs to pay special attention to his positioning when defending, and not give Maicon any easy space to move forward. When Maicon moves forward to assist, Valente must immediately move up to block the crossing route, and Costa should move to this side to prevent Giuly from cutting inside."

"The key to dealing with Giuly is to limit his turning. Deco needs to apply pressure immediately when he receives the ball, forcing him to pass back or to the wing. If Giuly receives the ball and faces the direction of the attack, Maniche needs to immediately cover and prevent him from having time to observe and organize."

“Maicon’s crosses are of high quality, so Costinha needs to be careful to protect the area in front of the penalty box. Carvalho needs to mark Morientes specifically, and Baía also needs to pay attention to his defensive positioning near the near post. We need to make sure that Maicon’s crosses don’t find their target as much as possible.”

"If Giuly and Maicon play a one-two, Valente should decisively choose to mark Maicon and pass Giuly to Maniche in midfield. In this situation, it is better to let Giuly receive the ball in the middle than to let Maicon get a chance to cross from the wing."

“Giuly covers a lot of space, but Maicon’s attacking routes are relatively fixed. We need to anticipate their moves and coordinate our defense to neutralize the threat posed by this combination.”

Mourinho put down his tactical board, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes to rest.

He reflected on how various teams defended Roy in the Champions League this season: In this season's Champions League, from Irureta to Hiddink, from Hitzfeld to Queiroz and the famous Wenger, no one's defensive tactics truly limited Roy.

Now, it's his turn to face this problem.

Mourinho opened his eyes and looked at the defensive plan he had designed: Ferreira as the main defender, Costinha as the supporting defender, Carvalho as the backup, plus the whole team's defensive support system.

This plan is more comprehensive than any of the previous competitors'.

He exhaled softly, a defiant smile appearing on his lips.

In tomorrow's training session, he wants the players to practice this defensive system until it's perfect.

No one in European football has ever been able to truly stop Roy, and now he is about to become the first.

2004年5月15日法甲第37轮，摩纳哥客场4-1大胜雷恩。

In the 18th minute of the match, Giuly broke through on the right wing and crossed the ball, and Roy pounced on the ball in front of the goal to open the scoring.

In the 33rd minute, Plasil took a corner kick, and center-back Rodriguez headed the ball in to extend the lead.

In the 51st minute of the second half, Roy scored his second goal after receiving a through ball from Morientes.

Although Rennes pulled one back through Monterubio in the 68th minute, substitute Pulso sealed the victory in the 82nd minute.

On May 11, Roberto Baggio, the famous Italian football star currently playing for Brescia in Serie A, finally confirmed that he will retire at the end of this season.

On May 14th, former Atletico Madrid president Gil passed away at the age of 71. This controversial figure led the club for 16 years, known for his outspokenness and numerous criticisms of Real Madrid, including allegations of referee bias. Despite being imprisoned on corruption charges, he remained devoted to the team, famously insisting on keeping Torres to compete against Real Madrid. His passing marks the end of an era of outspoken "Special Ones" in La Liga.

On May 15, 2010, South Africa was awarded the right to host the 5 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first African country to host the event. FIFA announced this historic decision in Zurich, marking the first time the World Cup had been held on the African continent.

On May 17th, AC Milan officially announced the signing of Dutch defender Jaap Stam for €9 million to strengthen their defense. Galliani confirmed that they will also bring in a young striker to replace the loaned-out Borriello, while rumors of a Crespo transfer were denied. The Rossoneri's summer transfer window signings are now more than halfway complete.

(End of this chapter)