When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 195 I'm THE SPECIAL ONE.
On the morning of July 20, 2004, a black Land Rover Range Rover slowly drove into Chelsea's Harrington training ground.

Staff were already waiting at the entrance. Upon seeing the license plate, they immediately waved and guided the vehicle to the players' parking area.

The Land Rover was parked steadily in its designated "Roi" parking space, right next to Lampard's parking space.

After the driver turned off the engine, the door opened, and Roy stepped out, casually straightening the collar of his training uniform.

"Your parking space is right across from the locker room," a staff member explained as they approached. "You can get in your car directly from here after training."

He pointed to the specially widened passageway next to the parking space, "Considering that you may need to adapt to right-hand drive, the club has arranged a driving instructor, and you can start adaptation training at any time."

Roy nodded, his gaze sweeping over the empty parking area.

The morning sun slanted across the concrete ground, and the training base was quiet except for the staff.

“You’re the first one here today,” the staff member said with a smile, pointing to the empty parking space next to him. “This is Mr. Lampard’s reserved spot. He usually drives a silver-grey Mercedes.”

Roy noticed that Lampard's name was indeed painted on the empty parking space.

He imagined that in a little over an hour, the parking lot would be filled with his teammates' luxury cars, but right now, the entire parking lot only had his black Land Rover.

According to British traffic regulations at the time, Roy, who held a French driver's license, could legally drive in the UK without needing to exchange it for a new license.

However, since France drives on the right with left-hand drive, while Britain drives on the left with right-hand drive, there are fundamental differences in driving habits.

To ensure safety, Roy needs to undergo specialized adaptation training to drive freely on British roads. This shift in driving style involves adjustments to steering wheel position, turn signal operation, right-of-way rules, and many other aspects, requiring some time for drivers accustomed to left-hand drive to adapt.

The staff member sounded somewhat surprised: "To be honest, I didn't expect a star player like you to be so disciplined. Most new signings relax a little on their first day."

Roy slung his training bag over his shoulder and smiled: "Back in Monaco, Coach Deschamps always said that being on time is being late, and being early is being on time."

He glanced at his watch. "Besides, making people wait on the first day isn't my style."

As soon as Roy finished speaking, a silver-gray Mercedes slowly drove into the parking lot.

Through the windshield, Lampard could be clearly seen raising his eyebrows in surprise.

He clearly hadn't expected anyone to arrive earlier than him, and even less did he expect that this "early bird champion" would be Roy, who had just joined the team.

The Mercedes came to a smooth stop in front of Roy, and the window slowly rolled down.

Lampard poked his head out, a slightly complicated smile on his face: "Looks like the European Championship Golden Boot winner's early rising habit is as precise as his shooting? Seriously, I still remember the way the net shook when you chipped the ball past him."

Roy paused for a moment, then smiled knowingly: "Your long-range shot in that game gave me a real scare. But now, we finally don't have to torture each other anymore."

Lampard opened the car door, and Roy reached out his hand.

Lampard took his hand, smiled, and said simply and sincerely:

"Welcome to Chelsea, Roy. Europe's best striker has finally arrived! With you here, our attacking firepower will be elevated to another level. Let's fight for the championship together in the new season!"

Roy spoke sincerely:

"Thank you, Frank. With a top-class midfielder like you anchoring the midfield, our attack will be much more threatening."

The two walked through the training base, occasionally chatting about the latest news in the football world.

At that moment, Mourinho walked diagonally from the office area and waved to them from a distance.

His gaze finally settled on Roy, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes. This young top star neither arrived late nor was he accompanied by a team of agents; he reported for duty alone, just like an ordinary youth player.

He hesitated for a moment, then suddenly spoke:
"Are you ready?"

Roy met his gaze, his eyes firm yet humble, a gentle smile playing on his lips:
"Of course, BOSS."

His voice was calm and measured, carrying just the right amount of respect, demonstrating both obedience to the head coach and the composure of a top striker.

On the training ground in the early morning, Lampard and Roy were doing some simple passing and receiving warm-up exercises.

The ball traced smooth arcs between the two players, while the sounds of engines from the distant parking lot broke the silence of the base.

The first person to appear at the edge of the training field was Damian Duff, who waved from a distance.

Next came Gremy's leisurely stroll, followed by Scott Parker jogging closer.

Each of his teammates couldn't help but glance at him a few more times, but Roy greeted them all in the most ordinary way, just like he would an old friend.

Next came Cech, whose tall figure stood out in the morning light.

Roy's gaze involuntarily fell on the Czech man's striking golden-brown hair, at which point he had not yet put on the helmet that would later become his trademark.

Thinking back to the Reading match in 2006 that changed everything, Roy hopes that it will never happen again.

"Finally, I don't have to face the goal you're guarding anymore," Roy said, extending his hand. "Back in Monaco, those saves of yours made me grit my teeth for three or four days."

"It's a pity that the final assist still gave you the win. But now, it's time for the other goalkeepers to have nightmares."

Cech grasped his hand, his blue eyes beneath blond hair carrying a warm smile: "With you scoring goals up front, it'll be much easier for me behind."

Terry and Joe Cole walked side by side, their expressions slightly stiff.

Roy nodded naturally to them: "Good morning, John Joe, it's an honor to meet you."

Joe Cole frowned slightly, his gaze lingering briefly on Roy's training jersey number, which originally belonged to him: 10.

Roy simply turned around calmly and continued warming up, without mentioning the jersey incident.

Terry cleared his throat and patted Joe Cole on the shoulder: "Let's go, it's time to start training."

As Desailly strode into the training field, Roy was chatting animatedly with Makelele and Gallas.

The French defensive legend's eyes lit up, and he walked straight toward them.

The veteran French defender strode forward and gave him a firm hug.

"I've finally waited for you, little monster."

Desai patted Roy on the back forcefully, his voice full of affection, "I made a bet with Thuram the other day, and he said you would never come to Chelsea. You know why? That bastard said that this old bone of mine can't keep up with your pace anymore, and I'm not even qualified to be your sparring partner."

Roy couldn't help but laugh out loud and hugged the older brother back: "Then you'd better go easy on him during training."

Desailly released him, shaking his head with feigned seriousness: "Don't even think about it. The whole team knows now that you have to be double-teamed to deal with me."

He winked at Terry, who was warming up, "But now, it's the Premier League defenders' turn to have a headache."

The French team was chatting animatedly when Mourinho's whistle suddenly rang out: "Training begins!"

As Roy was leaving, Desailly's voice rang out behind him:
“Listen, kid, this is my last season. Last season we had a great defense and tough guys, but we always fell short. Now that you're here, I see something different. Maybe this year, we can really lift that Champions League trophy. You know what I mean? This isn't an ordinary season; this is the old guys' last chance. I need you, Chelsea needs you. Take us to Istanbul with your goals.”

The players lined up in neat rows and began their morning run, each maintaining a steady pace, the ball rolling at a uniform speed as if it were glued to their feet.

The only sounds on the training field were the rhythmic breathing and the screech of shoes against the grass.

Mourinho stood on the sidelines with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over each player like a hawk.

As Roy ran past him, the Portuguese suddenly blew his whistle: "Keep this rhythm, but double the frequency of your touches!"

Roy immediately adjusted his pace, and the ball under his feet began to be passed back and forth between his feet at a faster frequency.

His movements were clean and efficient, and he kept the ball within a meter, as if it were being guided by an invisible thread.

"see it?"

Mourinho turned to his assistant coach Faria and said, "That's top-level ball control."

Upon hearing Mourinho's words, Robben immediately increased the pace of his dribbling.

He quickly nudged the ball with his feet, sometimes making a sudden change of direction, and the ball seemed to be glued to his feet.

The Dutchman deliberately sped past Roy, his cleats making a "whoosh" sound as they scraped the grass.

Not long after, marker cones were set up on the sidelines.

Groups of players took turns sprinting, stopping abruptly, and changing direction repeatedly over short distances, their training shirts quickly soaked with sweat.

The clanging of metal plates in the weight room was more frequent than usual.

The newly added balance balls and resistance bands have replaced some of the treadmills, so the players are no longer just mechanically repeating endurance training, but are instead doing competitive strength training in small groups.

In the suspended training area, two players, back to back, pass and receive the ball while maintaining core stability. On the other side, players use resistance bands to simulate changes of direction during a contest, sweat dripping onto the anti-slip mat with a "plop" sound.

Mourinho stood at the door, his little notebook filled with notes.

When he sees someone's movements become distorted, he immediately calls out: "Stop! Lower your center of gravity by five centimeters during the confrontation."

His voice was particularly clear amidst the clanging of the metal instruments: "Remember, in the Premier League, you have to stand firm before you can control the ball."

Mourinho completely changed the team's training methods.

The curriculum, which had previously focused on long-distance running and endurance training during the Ranieri era, was redesigned and replaced with a large amount of competitive training involving ball.

The weight room has been equipped with new equipment for balance and explosive power, and small-group passing and tackling drills can be seen everywhere on the training field.

Next came the team cohesion and training.

The players repeatedly practiced formation changes on the training field.

As the assistant coach blew his whistle, the 4-3-3 formation that had been launching an attack instantly contracted.

The two wingers need to quickly drop back to the midfield position, and the whole team immediately becomes a compact 4-5-1 defensive system.

However, during offensive drills, the situation was exactly the opposite.

After receiving the pass, the wingers no longer simply went down the wing, but instead decisively cut inside and dribbled the ball, completely giving the flank corridor to the overlapping full-backs.

The central midfielder makes timely forward runs to fill the gaps in the middle, creating a multi-layered attacking posture.

This transition will be repeated hundreds of times every day until every player can adjust their position the instant they hear the instruction.

Occasionally, someone goes astray, and the whole team has to start over.

On the training ground, Lampard delivered a precise through ball to Roy's feet, shouting at the same time, "Hey, buddy!"

After receiving the ball, Roy made a clever feint and easily got rid of Gremi's defense.

Gremy stumbled a step from the sway, then scratched his head and gave Roy a helpless yet admiring smile: "Not bad, that was a pretty cunning move!"

However, when Roy dribbled forward, Bridge on the left wing remained stationary, once again failing to grasp his attacking intentions, and the rhythm of their coordination was completely out of sync.

Roy didn't rush; instead, he stopped and turned to walk towards Bridge.

“Wayne, next time I go down the middle,” Roy wiped the sweat off his shirt and gestured casually, “you can just run down the wing. If they’re marking me, you’ll have a wide-open space in front of you.”

"Well done, Frank!"

Roy turned around and gave Lampard a thumbs up.

Bridge nodded, a hint of uncertainty in his eyes.

Roy noticed his hesitation and offered his hand: "Don't worry, I believe you can do it, buddy."

His tone was relaxed and sincere, without a trace of arrogance.

Bridge paused for a moment, then grinned and gripped Roy's hand tightly: "That's enough!"

This time, when Roy dribbled inside and drew the defense, Bridge decisively made a high-speed run along the sideline.

Roy's backheel pass was as if he had eyes in the back of his head, delivering the ball precisely into Bridge's running path.

The full-back received the ball comfortably and delivered a beautiful cross.

Mourinho on the sidelines nodded slightly and made a few notes in his notebook.

This simple combination has already shown the beginnings of an attack down the left flank.

On the field, Desai nudged Makelele with his elbow and gestured toward Roy: "See? What did I tell you? This kid is born to get along with his teammates."

Makelele nodded, watching Roy and Bridge chatting and gesturing about tactics. The full-back, who had just made a mistake in their coordination, was now much more relaxed.

But Terry, standing not far away, had a tense expression. He stared at Roy's back, his mind racing with doubts.

This kid has only been here for one day, he hasn't even warmed up his training clothes yet, how come he has the whole team revolving around him? Although Roy didn't put on airs and spoke politely, Terry was all too familiar with that "just do as I say" attitude.

Although he is not yet the captain, as the core of the defense, he has always established his authority in the team with his strong style.

But things changed when Roy arrived.

This kid doesn't put on airs, but he exudes leadership qualities in every gesture. Even the current captain, Desailly, takes the initiative to call him brother.

French teammates like Makelele and Gallas quickly rallied around him, offering casual pointers during training that convinced teammates like Bridge to respect them wholeheartedly.

Terry stood on the field, watching Roy and Desailly chatting and laughing arm in arm, feeling a lump in his throat: he had endured so many years, and with Desailly about to retire, the captain's armband should have rightfully fallen into his hands.

But if a younger and more popular Roy were to arrive, given the current trend, it's really hard to say who would be in charge of the locker room in the future.

He kicked at the grass at his feet, thinking, "Just you wait and see, the Chelsea dressing room isn't a place where just anyone can be the boss."

Bridge is a notorious "cuckold" in the Premier League and the victim of Terry's "wife-swapping" scandal.

Terry's "wife-swapping" scandal was a major scandal that shocked the global football world in late 2009 and early 2010.

England national team and Chelsea captain John Terry has been exposed for having a long-term affair with his teammate Wayne Bridge's French model girlfriend, Vanessa Perroncel, resulting in her pregnancy.

Terry not only secretly arranged for Vanessa to have an abortion, but also paid £2 in hush money in an attempt to cover it up.

The incident, first exposed by The Sun, triggered a chain reaction: Bridge angrily withdrew from the England team and refused to shake hands with Terry during Manchester City's match against Chelsea, staging a "refusal of the century".

Terry was stripped of his national team captaincy by the FA, and his public image completely collapsed.

Vanessa's subsequent contradictory statements (first admitting to the relationship, then denying it, and later revealing that she had sex with someone five times a week) exacerbated the controversy.

The incident ultimately ended with Terry's family on the verge of collapse, Bridge never forgiving him, and Vanessa gaining both fame and fortune from the scandal, becoming a lifelong stain on Terry's career.

Roy was like a magician on the field; the ball seemed to stick to his feet once it reached his feet.

Whether it's a high ball or a low pass, he can always easily control and flick the ball, and it will obediently stop in the most comfortable position.

As soon as the defender rushed up, he made a feint and suddenly changed direction, and he had already darted two or three meters away.

The teammates on the sidelines clicked their tongues in amazement.

Joe Cole nudged Terry: "That guy's ball control was so good, the ball didn't even bounce."

Terry watched as Roy once again gently deflected the high-speed long pass onto the turf with the instep, and shook his head: "No wonder Monaco is asking for such a high price, it's like they bought a Ferrari that can play football."

After Makelele intercepted the ball, he poked it to Roy. Before the ball hit the ground, Roy gently tapped it with the instep of his foot, turning and dribbling past the onrushing Scott Parker.

Parker panicked and reached out to grab his jersey, but Roy used the momentum to shake him off.

Joe Cole rushed over to help defend, but Roy, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, flicked the ball over their heads with his toe.

Before the ball even hit the ground, he had already caught it steadily with his chest and was about to charge forward.

Just as Joe Cole and Parker were frantically trying to block him, he suddenly flicked his ankle and flicked the ball with a backheel, sending it flying between their legs as if by magic.

By the time the two staggered around, Roy had already dribbled away with the ball, leaving them standing there staring at each other, hands on their hips, panting heavily.

Desailly, standing on the sidelines, slapped his thigh with glee: "Those two unlucky bastards!"

During set-piece training, Terry and Gudjohnsen stood in the center of the penalty area, constantly adjusting their positions to block defenders with their bodies.

Lampard took the corner kick, his precise curling shot finding Gudjohnsen at the near post, who headed the ball across, and Terry, making a run into the box, overpowered the defenders and headed the ball toward the goal.

Cech shouted instructions to the wall from the opposite half: "Move two steps to the left! Cover the near post!"

He waved for Makelele to cover the post, while he kept a close eye on the ball's trajectory, ready to make a save.

The training ground echoed with shouts of positioning, as Mourinho meticulously recorded the details of each player's runs from the sidelines.

Roy, arriving at the far post, was a step too slow; the ball had already been headed into the goal by Terry.

After landing, Terry glanced at Roy, who was standing by the goalpost shaking his head slightly, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

Set-piece training began, and center-backs such as Terry and Desailly positioned themselves in the penalty area as usual, preparing to contest Lampard's passes.

But Mourinho suddenly stopped training and signaled Roy to take the penalty.

Lampard raised an eyebrow in surprise, but still relinquished possession of the ball and stood aside.

Terry stood in the penalty area, watching Roy walk towards the free-kick spot, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

This kid's only been here for one day, and he's already trying to steal the set-piece penalty?

Roy took a deep breath, ran up, and delivered a strangely curved pass.

The ball went around the wall, and Desailly surged forward from the far post to head the ball with a powerful header!

Cech lunged across the field, barely managing to touch the ball with his fingertips before it slammed against the crossbar and bounced back into play.

Mourinho's applause rang out from the sidelines: "See that? That's the change!"

Although Terry had just scored, he felt a strange mix of emotions as he stood in the penalty area watching Roy and Desailly high-five and celebrate.

He glanced at Lampard and saw the latter staring thoughtfully at Roy's footwork, seemingly wondering how many more surprises this newcomer could bring.

On his second penalty kick, Roy took a deep breath, took a few steps, and then slammed his right instep into the bottom of the ball.

The ball traced a strange arc, bypassing the wall of players and heading straight for the top right corner of the goal.

Cech made a diving save, barely managing to touch the ball with his fingertips, but the ball was too fast and ultimately slammed against the underside of the crossbar with a "bang" before bouncing into the net.

The Chelsea players immediately erupted in whistles and cheers.

After the midday training session ended, many more people came over to greet Roy.

Roy smiled and chatted with everyone for a few minutes.

He performed well on the first day, but that doesn't mean everyone in the locker room respects him.

The locker room is a complicated place, and he came here with an outrageously high salary; being "not bad" is far from enough.

He must play at a level far exceeding that of ordinary star players and maintain that level in the long run to truly earn the respect of his teammates.

In the afternoon, Drogba completed his medical at Chelsea's Harrington training ground and officially joined the team for €3600 million. Adding to the €4000 million spent on Roy, Abramovich's summer spending on the forward line has reached a staggering €7600 million. Clearly, with these two high-profile signings, Kezman is no longer in Chelsea's transfer plans.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho led his players to their first preseason press conference, where all the newly signed players made their debut.

Mourinho chatted and laughed on the stage, revealing his full confidence in the new season.

Reporters bombarded him with questions, mostly focusing on the ambitions of this newly rich Premier League team, especially the new faces who had just joined.

Someone asked Robben: "Arjen, you transferred from PSV Eindhoven to Chelsea for a hefty fee, and Mourinho has high expectations for you. Do you think you can adapt to the physical pace of the Premier League?"

"The Premier League does emphasize physical confrontation more, but I am confident in my speed and agility. I will respond with smarter positioning and faster decision-making, rather than just head-on confrontation."

Another person asked, "Will Mourinho's tactics, which require wingers to frequently track back, limit your attacking talent?"

"Recovering defensively is part of the team, and I don't think it will limit my offense. On the contrary, a solid defense allows us to regain possession more quickly and create more counter-attack opportunities—which is exactly what I'm good at."

The last reporter asked the most pointed question: "You were originally competing with Duff and Joe Cole for the left winger position. Mourinho likes to rotate players, but now Roy has joined for a record transfer fee. His favorite position is left winger, not center forward. What do you think your role will be in the new season?"

Robben remained silent for several seconds after hearing the question.

His gaze unconsciously drifted to Roy sitting not far away, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes—was it wariness? Competition? Or simply observation?

A few seconds later, he looked away and gave a slightly restrained smile.

“Competition will always exist on the football field. Duff and Joe Cole are top players, and now we have a genius like Roy. But for me, competition has never been a problem—it only makes me stronger.”

He paused briefly before continuing, "The coach knows my strengths very well. Whether I'm on the left, right, or in another position, I'll give it my all. Cutting inside from the right is actually one of my strengths, but the final decision depends on the team's needs. Mourinho knows how to maximize each player's value, and I completely trust his decisions."

Finally, he looked directly at the reporter who asked the question and said firmly, "The important thing is to be prepared at all times, and let your performance speak for itself when the opportunity comes."

Cech was surrounded by reporters: "Peter, Chelsea spent a record transfer fee for you as a goalkeeper. Do you feel a lot of pressure?"

"Price is just a number. My job remains the same: to keep the ball in the goal. Pressure? Every goalkeeper lives in the spotlight, but for me, it's actually a motivation."

Another reporter added, "Cudicini performed consistently last season. How do you plan to convince the coach that you are the right choice for the starting lineup?"

“Carlo (Cudicini) is an excellent goalkeeper, but competition is part of football. I will not try to ‘convince’ anyone, but will prove myself with my performance in every training session and every warm-up match.”

He added, "Mourinho knows very well that under him, the best players will be in front of the goal."

As the most eye-catching new signing, Roy was bombarded by reporters.

Sharp questions rained down on him, but he maintained his lazy demeanor, leaning back in his chair, tapping the table lightly with his fingers, and a faint smile playing on his lips.

Whenever a reporter throws out a difficult question, he neither rushes to defend himself nor tries to curry favor. He simply raises an eyebrow slightly and glosses over it with a few words, as if these aggressive questions are nothing more than an insignificant game.

Occasionally, when faced with particularly harsh questions, he would even chuckle lightly before slowly speaking. This nonchalant attitude, in turn, made the aggressive reporters seem impatient.

Mourinho, standing beside him, occasionally glanced at him, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

This kid has a natural talent for controlling the pace under the spotlight.

When a Times reporter pressed him on whether he considered himself a unique genius, Mourinho suddenly interjected: "I'll answer that question. When your goals bring back championship trophies, they'll naturally call you God."

The press conference was instantly flooded with flashes of light.

When the Times reporter asked that question, Roy, who had been lounging back in his chair, suddenly leaned forward slightly.

As soon as Mourinho finished speaking, he shook his head slightly, a signature smile playing on his lips.

"Mr. Mourinho, thank you for your compliment."

He nodded to Mourinho first, then turned to the reporters, his tone calm and almost casual, "But I want to say... yes, that's me."

The room erupted in commotion, but he continued, "Listen, I had already scored enough goals before I came to the Premier League, and I had won the best trophies in Europe. So, to be honest, I don't need to prove to anyone whether I'm a genius or not."

He shrugged. "If anyone thinks I'm not good enough, that's simple—let them try. But before that, I want to say that the data doesn't lie, and neither do the trophies. You can question it, you can wait and see me fail, but my resume is there, and my goal tally is there."

"Perhaps you're thinking, 'That was only accomplished in a little over a year, what kind of resume is that? Maybe it was just a flash in the pan?'"

"Yes, gentlemen, that's the most interesting part. I accomplished in 18 months what others couldn't do in five years. If this is called a flash in the pan, then I'd be happy to let this 'flash in the pan' continue to bloom in the Premier League."

Roy glanced at the British media members in front of him, who were displaying various expressions, and then at Mourinho beside him, who was listening to his rant with great interest. Suddenly, a playful smile appeared on his face.

He spoke slowly and deliberately:
“I'm the European champion, so I think I'm not one of mortals. I'm THE SPECIAL ONE.”

This was supposed to be Mourinho's signature declaration when he arrived in the Premier League.

But in this timeline, before he could even crown himself with the Champions League title, the bold statement "THE SPECIAL ONE" was uttered first by this young newcomer.

The reporters' expressions were priceless; some were taken aback, some were trying to suppress their laughter, and many more were secretly glancing at Mourinho, eager to see how the notoriously arrogant coach would react.

Mourinho stared at Roy for two seconds, then suddenly grinned.

This kid's arrogant, but damn, that line was fucking cool.

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Real Madrid thrashed the local youth team 8-1 in a pre-season friendly in Xerez, fielding a reserve team in the first half and a starting lineup in the second. Ronaldo and Morientes each scored two goals, with Morientes saying, "I feel great. It's a shame Roy didn't choose Real Madrid, but we will prove with our performance that the team is still strong."

Zidane, Raul, and other key players also performed excellently. Capello focused on practicing high pressing and set-piece tactics in preparation for the Champions League qualifiers. The team will continue with two training sessions a day until August 11th.

—Marca

Newcastle United have officially announced the signing of Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert to a three-year contract. The Dutch forward said, "It's an honor to join, and I'm looking forward to the Premier League challenge." Manager Bryan Robson praised him, comparing him to Alan Shearer, saying he will strengthen the team's attack. The 28-year-old Kluivert has scored 90 goals in 182 league appearances for Barcelona, ​​holding the Dutch national team record of 40 goals.

—The Newcastle Chronicle

(There's one more chapter, which I originally planned to release together.)

(End of this chapter)