When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 197 Heroes grow old, onlookers are heartless.
Both sides made personnel changes after the start of the second half.

For Chelsea, Cech and Robben made their debuts as substitutes.

Celtic switched to a three-center-back formation in an attempt to strengthen their defense.

But Chelsea's attack remained sharp, and substitute Robben quickly took over the rhythm of the game.

Roy, who scored a hat-trick in the first half, sat on the bench, wiping his sweat with a towel while chatting with Makelele.

The two watched as Robben made a series of breakthroughs on the left wing.

Makelele: "Robben is a good kid, both in speed and technique."

Roy: "Yeah, he's really fast when he dribbles. He's over 1.8 meters tall, and his stride frequency is so fast. If he develops his passing skills in a couple of years, he can definitely become one of the top three wingers in the world."

Makelele agreed: "The Dutch team will rely on him for the next few years."

Roy watched as Robben once again cut inside with his left foot and crossed the ball, then shook his head.
"You can't rely solely on your left foot on the left wing; nine out of ten people end up turning themselves into crossing machines. His right foot isn't his dominant foot; he should switch to the right wing so he can cut inside and create shooting angles. Right now, he always has to adjust to his left foot first, which makes the shooting range too narrow, and the defenders are already in position."

In the 50th minute, Robben received the ball on the left flank.

He first made a feint by lowering his shoulder, causing the defender to shift his center of gravity, and then with a flick of his right foot, he broke through the gap between the two players.

The defender stretched out his leg to block, but Robben got there first, poked the ball away, accelerated past the defense, and cut the ball back from near the byline.

The whole process was clean and efficient—change of direction, acceleration, and passing the ball, without any unnecessary movements.

Gudjohnsen controlled the ball, adjusted his position, and fired a right-footed shot from 14 meters out to score, giving Chelsea a 5-0 lead.

In the 59th minute, Robben chipped the ball down the left wing, and Gudjohnsen controlled it before passing it diagonally.

Duff broke the offside trap and had a one-on-one opportunity, slotting home a right-footed shot from 13 meters out to make it 6-0.

Roy's hat-trick in the first half had already secured the victory, and Chelsea continued their offensive onslaught in the second half.

Mourinho sat leisurely on the bench, chatting and laughing with his assistants.

Assistant coach Faria: "A player like Roy doesn't need a tactical manual. Give him the left flank, and he can outpace any full-back with his speed. His cut-in shots are accurate and powerful, and his crosses can find the far post or be passed back to the goalkeeper. Most importantly, he always chooses the most reasonable way to handle the situation. He's not just a winger; he's a thinking attacking machine."

Mourinho said slowly, "There might only be one player like him in the world. He's much stronger than he was a year ago, and it's hard to say how high he can go in the future."

He paused for a moment, then shook his head: "Deschamps is really lucky."

Mourinho still harbors resentment over that Champions League final.

He always believed that it wasn't his tactical setup that lost to Deschamps, but rather that Monaco had a super explosive player like Roy.

A monster capable of tearing through defenses at any moment.

In that match, Roy almost single-handedly dismantled Porto's right-wing defense.

His speed, technique, and calm finishing ability caused Mourinho's carefully constructed defense to collapse time and time again.

What frustrated Mourinho even more was that Monaco's squad at the time was already strong – Giuly, Morientes, Pulso, Rothen and others were in excellent form, and with Roy being an unpredictable explosive player, Deschamps ultimately lifted the trophy.

"If only I had a Roy back then."

Mourinho sometimes thinks like that.

But there are no "what ifs" in football. Now he can only be thankful that this opponent who once gave him a headache is now wearing a Chelsea jersey.

Assistant coach Faria: "Our squad is very strong this year, and now is the perfect time for you to shine, José."

The Chelsea players on the sidelines joked with Roy, and Roy responded with a few laughs, creating a relaxed and harmonious atmosphere in the locker room.

Roy put his arm around Joe Cole's shoulder: "Hey Joe, I have to tell you the truth."

He tugged at the number 10 on his back, "I just arrived and I took your number. The more I think about it, the more I feel it's not right."

Joe Cole paused in his actions, glanced up and saw the others in the locker room peeking over, and chuckled dryly: "Come on, with your performance today, the club was right to give you number 10."

Roy patted Joe Cole on the shoulder: "I'll pass you more often on the field from now on. Seriously, I watched you play when you were at West Ham. You have great technique, and your change of direction is especially quick."

He shook his head: "Eriksson is really blind. If I were the coach, I would have made you a starter long ago."

Joe Cole opened his mouth, but ultimately just shook his head and didn't say anything.

Roy lowered his voice: "That old bastard? All he thinks about is his crotch."

Joe Cole chuckled, then quickly covered his mouth.

The Football Association (FA) recently attempted to cover up the alleged affair between Sven-Göran Eriksson and FA secretary Faria Alam, but new evidence suggests that the two did indeed have an improper relationship.

Falia confessed to friends that she had spent the night with Eriksson on several occasions, even though the Swede still made public appearances with his wife Nancy during the European Championship.

After the tournament, the two secretly traveled to Sweden together. In a private email, Falia even commented that 56-year-old Eriksson was "in quite good shape."

This scandal has been dubbed "Svenska" by the media.

In the 68th minute, Celtic pulled one back.

Pearson's long-range shot was saved by Cech, Petta took a corner kick from the right, and Beattie headed the ball into the net from 7 meters out, making the score 6-1.

Petta then left the field due to injury, forcing the Celtics to play with 10 men.

In the 70th minute, Chelsea made a substitution.

Drogba and Abidal came on as substitutes to make their debuts.

However, both players had mediocre performances. Drogba failed to capitalize on two crosses, heading the ball wide once and then clearing it with a slightly heavy touch.

Abidal made some solid defensive plays at left-back, but his offensive contributions were limited.

In the 87th minute, Celtic scored again, bringing the final score to 6-2.

This year’s Champions World Tour features nine top European clubs and will include 11 matches at eight courses across the United States.

During the post-match thank-you ceremony, Roy shook hands with each of the Celtics players, most of whom had complicated expressions, clearly still shaken by his performance that day.

When he approached Sutton, the former Chelsea striker took off his jersey and the two exchanged it with smiles.

During the post-match farewell, Roy stood on the sidelines, his black hair neat and tidy, and the muscle definition in his arms clearly visible under his sleeveless vest.

When he heard the fans calling his name, he raised his right hand above his head and clapped a few times.

His dark eyes were both cold and bright as they swept across the stands.

In the stands, several fans wearing Chelsea jerseys were wiping their eyes vigorously.

In the United States, there are not many Chelsea fans. Most of them are international students or immigrants who used to be able to watch the broadcasts at night with a blurry signal due to the time difference.

But today, Roy's godlike performance made them truly feel the team's transformation for the first time.

No longer the patchwork "tinkerers' army" of the Ranieri era, but a true force resembling the sharp edge of a top-tier powerhouse.

Every touch of Roy seemed to rewrite the history of this team, and these blue-blooded fans who traveled across the ocean to watch the game had finally ushered in their golden age.

On July 24, 2004, at the Sheraton Hotel in Seattle, Abramovich and CEO Kenyon couldn't hide their smiles. The day before, Chelsea had swept Celtic 6-2 in their preseason game, especially Roy's godlike performance, which made Abramovich feel as if he could already see the team standing at the top of Europe.

Just one day before the match, Chelsea received another piece of good news – 26-year-old Lampard finally signed a new five-year contract, with his weekly wage rising to £8.5, making him one of the highest-paid players in the team, second only to Roy's £12.

In fact, Lampard began contract renewal negotiations with the club after the end of last season, but they couldn't agree on a salary. It wasn't until Mourinho took over that he made the final decision: "He is the core of the team and must stay."

Ultimately, the club raised its offer after the Portuguese insisted.

Lampard, who was named the team's best scorer with 15 goals last season, has long kept his heart at Stamford Bridge: "I have never thought about leaving. The fans treat me like family, and I am a true Londoner - I will not go anywhere but Chelsea."

Abu snapped his fingers, and a waiter immediately brought over several bottles of chilled champagne.

He took the bottle himself; the golden liquid bubbled gently in the glass.

"To football," he raised his glass, a triumphant smile on his lips, "to Chelsea."

The suited staff around him raised their glasses, the crisp sound of crystal glasses clinking drowned out by the warm light of the hotel suite.

Kenyon put down his champagne glass, leaned close to Abu's ear and whispered, "Mendes has arrived and is waiting for us in the reception room."

Abu nodded and casually straightened his suit sleeves.

The Seattle night was deep outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, but more than the neon lights, he could almost picture Porto midfielder Carvalho in his Chelsea jersey.

This is the final piece of the championship puzzle that Mourinho specifically requested.

At 9 p.m., the soft lights of the Sheraton Seattle Hotel bathed the rooms in light.

Roy leaned against the single sofa by the window, listening to Francis Cabrel's "Je t'aimais, je t'aime, je t'aimerai" on his headphones, while holding Camus's "The Plague" and reading half of it.

"Roy, this is Claire."

The female manager's efficient voice came from the other end of the phone, "I just finished a meeting with Coca-Cola and Nike. They want to put you on the cover of the next issue of Sports Illustrated."

Roy wiped his still-dripping hair, clipped his phone to his ear, and casually unscrewed a bottle of mineral water: "Cover? When?"

"Early next month."

Claire's tone was very pragmatic: "They also want to do a 6-page feature story, mainly about your transfer from Monaco to Chelsea. Nike's marketing director specifically emphasized that they want to talk more about your experience wearing their new boots."

"Is there anything I need to prepare?"

"There's a simple photoshoot the day after tomorrow, in the hotel conference room. The interview is scheduled for Friday after practice. The reporter is Gary Smith, a senior writer for Sports Illustrated. He has written many interviews with star players and his style is quite mild."

Clayton paused, "By the way, Coca-Cola wants you to have their new beverage in front of you during the filming."

"Got it. Just make sure the time doesn't conflict with Mourinho's training schedule."

"Also, send me the interview outline in advance," he stood up and walked to the minibar, taking out a bottle of mineral water. "Especially the questions about transfer details, I need to verify the information with the club's public relations department."

“There’s one more thing,” Claire’s voice suddenly brightened. “The advertising negotiations between AETHOS and Chelsea have progressed. Kenyon, out of respect for you, offered our sports accessories brand a good price – £100 million a season for a static billboard at Stamford Bridge.”

Roy paused for a moment as he unscrewed the bottle cap: "Lower than the market price?"

"Much lower. The annual fee for a prime advertising spot is normally in the range of £150 million to £250 million, while the non-prime placement we're looking for starts at £120 million."

"Kenyan's £120 million offer was actually a swap deal. They wanted to use advertising space at Stamford Bridge to offset part of your image rights usage fee, which would be about £110 million."

Roy gave a soft "hmm," which was taken as acceptance of the compromise.

In this way, Chelsea gained the convenience of using the image rights, while he ensured high-quality exposure for the AETHOS brand at Stamford Bridge. Both parties compromised and avoided complicated financial transactions.

Roy has complete control over his image rights, and Chelsea FC must pay and obtain permission to use his image on any occasion.

Whether it's official website promotion, sponsor advertisements, matchday commercial activities, or broadcast-related content, this absolute control forces clubs to conduct commercial negotiations and pay fees before using its image each time; there is no room for free use.

In theory, even Mourinho would need permission to have his picture displayed on his tactics board.

After training on July 25, Roy sat in the coffee shop of Chelsea's hotel and gave an exclusive interview to Gary Smith, a senior reporter for Sports Illustrated.

"I went to Real Madrid's youth academy when I was 14, but when I was 18..."

Gary Smith raised an eyebrow slightly.

The French football star in front of me not only speaks fluent English, but also has a pure American accent, and even occasionally throws in a few authentic slang terms.

This is nothing like a French player who has just arrived in the Premier League.

"Where did you learn English?" Smith couldn't help but interrupt.

Roy smiled and said, "When I was in Real Madrid's youth training camp, I watched a lot of Friends videotapes, as well as old movies like The Godfather and Taxi Driver."

Smith put down his coffee cup and tapped his pen lightly twice on his notebook: "Let's get back to the point. Real Madrid sold you to Monaco for 30 euros when you were 18."

He paused deliberately for half a second, "Do you think this price is a humiliation? When you eliminated Real Madrid in the Champions League with Monaco, was the thrill particularly intense? And this summer transfer window, you ultimately chose Chelsea instead of returning to the Bernabéu. Does that mean that the past is always a thorn in your side?"

Roy shook his head, his tone calm: "No, there's no revenge. This has nothing to do with revenge."

Smith clearly looked disappointed, and he subconsciously twirled the pen in his hand.

This is not the "heroic revenge" script that Americans want to hear.

"In the world of football, there is no revenge, only choices."

Roy suddenly asked, "Do you know what freedom is?"

James Smith, who was taking notes, scoffed upon hearing this: "Freedom?"

He deliberately dragged out the word, repeating it in an exaggerated American accent, "Freedom? Is there anyone who understands freedom better than Americans?"

Roy smiled: "Then I think you understand what I mean. Americans can claim that no one understands freedom better than them because they are powerful, because freedom itself is: having more choices. I can choose Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Manchester United. And the reason I have the right to choose is because I am strong enough; on the field, I have that ability."

Is this what American readers like to read?

Smith was overjoyed.

He flipped through his notebook: "In the 2002-03 season, you won the top scorer award at the halfway point of the Ligue 1 season as soon as you joined the league."

“I had just arrived in Monaco when the season was halfway through, and we were top of the table. As a striker, my job was to help the team keep winning. Lyon's points were very close, and we were locked in a fierce battle until the last few rounds. So I had to keep scoring goals, providing assists, and helping the team – did I score more goals than other strikers in fewer games?”

Roy spread his hands. "That's easy to understand, because I was stronger than him. There hadn't been such a strong striker in Ligue 1 that season."

"No one stipulates that you have to play the entire season to score more than 30 goals. Just like before me, no one had ever achieved the record of 17 goals in a single Champions League season, right?"

"The football field is like a primeval forest; you either become the hunter or the prey. And I choose to be the one who rewrites the rules."

The topic then shifts to the legendary 2003-04 season.

"Let's look back at that legendary season: a perfect group stage record, a 9-2 thrashing of Deportivo La Coruña, elimination of Bayern Munich, a double victory over Real Madrid, especially your iconic self-crowned celebration after your hat-trick at the Bernabéu, followed by a double victory over Arsenal, and finally eliminating Porto to win the title—it was simply..."

"This is a script that even Hollywood wouldn't dare to write!"

Smith slammed his fist on the table excitedly, “A perfect record in the group stage is like the origin story of a superhero. The 9-2 thrashing of Deportivo La Coruña was the first stunning moment, and eliminating Bayern Munich was the first real test a hero faces—and then!”

His voice suddenly rose, "A hat-trick at Real Madrid's home ground is the best test! A double victory over Arsenal is a warm-up before the final battle, and finally, we'll step over Porto to claim the top spot."

"A perfect three-act structure—the protagonist's growth, the confrontation with a powerful enemy, and the ultimate victory. In my opinion, this is even more American in spirit than *Top Gun*! What's your opinion?"

Roy raised an eyebrow and said casually, "Life is a fucking movie."

"As for the 10 goals in the European Championship? There's nothing to say. Many people want us to win, so we have to win."

Finally, when asked about the differences between his €4000 million transfer to Chelsea and his previous career, Roy said, "The grass at Stamford Bridge is as long as the Stade Louis II."

Smith jotted down notes quickly in his notebook, the pen scratching across the paper:
"The grass at Stamford Bridge is as long as that at the Stade Louis II"—literally meaning: the pitches are the same size, so playing in a different location makes no difference.

Roy used this simple metaphor to express:

The essence of football remains unchanged. No matter where it is played, the rules, the field, and the goal are the same.

Adaptation is not a problem. He doesn't need to change his playing style because of the transfer.

His market value isn't important. The 4000 million euro figure is other people's business; all he cares about is the game itself.

The subtext is: "Whether it's expensive or not is your business; I just need to keep scoring goals."

Actually, Roy just didn't want to talk about it anymore. This statement is like saying "tanks don't have rearview mirrors" or "bullets don't have eyes"—it's all obviously nonsense.

On July 27, Chelsea finally finalized the last major deal of the summer transfer window.

Sign center-back Carvalho from Porto for £1300 million.

After training, Roy was pacing in the hotel corridor when he suddenly heard a commotion.

Mourinho and several coaches quickly walked out of the conference room and headed towards the elevator.

At the end of the corridor, Carvalho's figure gradually came into view, followed by staff carrying his luggage.

Mendes, Roy's and Carvalho's agent, was by his side, sporting his signature shrewd smile.

Although Real Madrid and other top clubs had their eyes on Carvalho after the European Championship, he ultimately chose to follow his mentor Mourinho.

Once this deal is completed, Abramovich's total spending on transfers since taking over Chelsea will exceed £2 million.

Roy strode forward and extended his hand to Carvalho.

Mendes smiled and added, "Although you've faced each other in the Champions League final and the European Championship semi-final..."

Carvalho grasped Roy's hand, his gaze sweeping over the young Frenchman who had eliminated him twice.

"Looks like I'll have to study your footwork more in training, so I don't fall for the third time."

Roy smiled:

"This time we're wearing the same blue jerseys."

With Carvalho's successful signing, Chelsea's summer transfer activity is nearing completion. Only Brazilian right-back Maicon remains unreturned due to his participation in the Copa America, but this does not prevent the club from officially closing the summer transfer window.

Chelsea spent lavishly in this crazy summer transfer window, completing several blockbuster signings: signing the talented goalkeeper Petr Cech from Rennes for £700 million, bringing in winger Arjen Robben from PSV Eindhoven for £1200 million, signing the rising European striker Reus from Monaco for £2720 million, acquiring powerful center forward Didier Drogba from Marseille for £2400 million, signing midfielder Thiago from Benfica for £800 million, signing defenders Maicon and Abidal from Monaco in a package deal for £800 million and £1020 million respectively, and finally poaching defensive linchpin Carvalho from Porto for £1300 million.

According to statistics, Chelsea's total spending in this transfer window reached a staggering £1.094 million.

Although this figure is slightly lower than last season's transfer spending, Mourinho's new Chelsea team has shown greater competitiveness.

On July 28, the Champions World Tour in Philadelphia will feature a match between Manchester United and Celtic.

Despite the presence of 55,000 fans, Manchester United lost 1-2 to their opponents, suffering their second consecutive defeat.

Shortly after the start of the match, Celtic's Thompson was tackled by Manchester United's young player Eagles and was forced to leave the field for treatment.

In the 9th minute, Celtic seized a counter-attack opportunity. Petrov broke into the penalty area and was brought down by Spector. Sutton calmly converted the penalty, putting Manchester United 0-1 down.

Manchester United remained calm and continued to organize their attack.

But Ferguson, standing on the sidelines, looked grim and paced back and forth with his hands in his trouser pockets.

He casually pushed aside the tactical board handed to him by assistant coach Queiroz, his eyes fixed on the players' performance on the field.

A few days ago, Roy scored a hat-trick in the first half for Chelsea against Celtic, utterly defeating the Scottish giants.

Now, Manchester United are having a tough time against the same opponents.

In the 35th minute, Eagles took a corner kick, and new signing Smith cleverly headed the ball into the net, scoring his first goal for Manchester United and leveling the score.

Smith's goal was beautiful, but the team's disorganized attacking play and leaky defense made Sir Alex Ferguson frown more and more.

However, their good fortune didn't last long, as the Celtics rallied again in the second half.

In the 70th minute, Beattie used his speed to get past Keane and calmly slotted the ball past goalkeeper Howard through his legs, putting the score back in the lead at 2-1.

When the Celtics regained the lead, Ferguson kicked a water bottle that was lying on his side.

The players on the bench immediately fell silent, knowing that this was not only dissatisfaction with the score, but also anger at the Portuguese player in London who had once again stolen the spotlight.

Then the weather turned against them, with torrential rain disrupting Manchester United's attacking rhythm and ultimately preventing them from changing the score.

Manchester United's lackluster attack in this match was directly related to Cristiano Ronaldo's absence due to commercial activities, Ronaldinho's injury, and Van Nistelrooy's rest.

With all three attacking trios absent, Manchester United's frontline completely shut down.

Smith's opening goal was one of the few bright spots for Manchester United in this match.

The Celtic team was in high spirits, having shaken off the gloom of their 6-2 thrashing by Chelsea a few days earlier.

Craig Beatty continued his hot streak, scoring 4 goals in 3 games, becoming the team's sharpest weapon.

When the final buzzer sounded, the Celtics players raised their arms in celebration.

This victory not only ended Manchester United's winning streak but also avenged their 0-4 defeat last year.

After the match, when reporters asked Roy why he chose Chelsea over Manchester United, Ferguson waved his hand and left the field with a somber expression, leaving only the words: "I will not answer that question. Manchester United will not lose its competitiveness because of this small setback. Finally, I wish that kid all the best at Stamford Bridge."

Rainwater washed over the steps of the players' tunnel, and the veteran coach's steps were heavier than usual.

On the same day, the Chelsea team's flight landed in Philadelphia. After settling into their hotel, the players gathered in small groups to play cards and relax.

During a casual conversation, Gala suddenly brought up an interesting anecdote:
"You know what? On the night of July 24th, a few hot American girls tried to sneak into our floor, but security stopped them. Later, they went to the hotel bar and ran into Mutu."

He lowered his voice and continued, "Even though the coach had issued a no-drink order, that guy still secretly had a few drinks. He chatted very enthusiastically with those two girls and even took them to another floor to spend the night. As a result, when he tried to quietly send them out the next morning, Mourinho caught him red-handed. The coach discovered that he hadn't returned to his room all night."

Makelele whistled at the card table: "No wonder Mutu has been so listless during training these past two days."

Just as Roy chuckled, Desailly suddenly put down his cards, frowned, and asked, "Speaking of which, Mutu has always been indifferent to Roy since he joined the team. What's going on?"

“I’m not some hot American girl,” Roy shrugged and flipped over an Ace of Spades. “Why would he even bother with me?”

This remark drew another burst of laughter from the card table.

Makelele threw down a card, grinning, "I know about this. It's about an Israeli model. She's Miss Israel, and she tried to flirt with Roy at a party, but got rejected. Later, she got together with Mutu, and after they broke up, she went around making up stories about how Roy had ignored her."

He shook his head. "I really don't understand. How can he not be interested in such a hot girl?"

Roy toyed with the playing cards in his hand and said casually, "You know, Trezeguet is my brother. That party was after his 'Soap War,' when a bunch of Israeli tycoons paid to meet us."

On July 30, Chelsea played against Roma at Lincoln Financial Stadium.

Roma traveled to the United States to participate in the "Champions World Series" in an effort to alleviate a €300 million financial crisis, but head coach Prandelli declined to accompany them due to his wife's illness.

Roma will be missing three key players for this trip: Cassano (who needs 7 days of rest), Chivu (who sprained his ankle in beach soccer or may require surgery), and Tommasi (who may miss the rest of the season due to a serious right knee injury). All three are unable to travel with the team due to injuries.

Chelsea wore their new away kit, and Mourinho started Desailly in place of the injured Huth.

Abidal made his first start for Chelsea, playing as a left-back.

Roy joined Duff and Gudjohnsen in attack, while Drogba remained on the bench.

Center-back Gallas has contracted an ear ailment and may be unable to fly to New York for the match against AC Milan.

Roma also wore the new kit, with newcomer Mexes playing in the center-back position, partnering with Greek center-back Dellas.

The opening whistle blew and Roma kicked off first, but their first attack was quickly intercepted by Makelele and Gremi.

After receiving the ball, Geremi quickly passed it through to Lampard in the middle, who, without hesitation, passed it directly to Roy, who was making a run down the left wing.

Roma's key right-back Panucci will be unavailable for the match against his former club due to a hip injury.

Kufre, who came on as a substitute, was clearly unable to keep up with Roy's pace.

When Roy received the ball, Kufre was already close behind.

The Frenchman flicked the ball with his right foot, sending it whizzing past the inside of Koufre's body, while he himself accelerated past it from the outside.

As soon as Kufre turned around, Roy dashed out like a gust of wind, instantly creating a two-body gap between them.

Roma's center-back Mexes came over to cover, but Roy didn't slow down. He flicked the ball with the outside of his right foot, sending it rolling quickly along the grass towards the penalty area.

Gudjohnsen lunged forward and poked the ball, but Zotti reacted quickly, instinctively blocking it with his right leg, and the ball bounced out of bounds.

The whole process took less than five seconds.

From starting his run to crossing the ball, Roy's movements were clean and efficient, without any unnecessary frills.

Kufre stood there, hands on his hips, panting.

Chelsea's substitutes have already stood up; this fluid combination is just one step away from the goal.

After Roy crossed the ball, he retreated to the edge of Roma's penalty area.

He winked at Mexes and called out in French, "Remember to hurry up next time, Philip."

Mexes paused noticeably, forcing a smile as he retreated, replying, "You wait, I'll let you taste my sliding tackle in a bit."

But as he said this, his gaze involuntarily drifted to Roy's incredibly fast legs, and his Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

That's what they say, but if Roy really gets injured by a tackle, Domenech might not even be able to get him into the French national team squad.

When Chelsea defender Abidal fouled Mancini just outside the penalty area in the 7th minute, Roma fans in the stands had already stood up.

They knew this was Totti's favorite free-kick position.

Totti took a free kick from 25 meters out on the left, his right-footed shot hit the wall and bounced up, but goalkeeper Cech caught the ball.

Just 30 seconds before this foul, Totti had displayed his magic in midfield.

With his back to Makelele pressing him, he suddenly flicked the ball with his heel, sending it flying between the French midfielder's legs.

Gremi immediately came to cover, but the Roma captain made a sudden stop and change of direction, then delivered a penetrating through ball with the outside of his foot.

The small Mancini that was inserted was then put in place.

The Brazilians attempted a low cross, but Terry blocked the ball out of bounds with his outstretched leg.

During the ensuing corner kick, Mancini attempted to break through near the penalty area line but was brought down by Abidal's sliding tackle.

Totti would occasionally glance in Roy's direction while on the field.

The eyes of Roma's number 10 and Chelsea's number 10 occasionally meet briefly during a match.

Roy stared at Totti, wanting to learn his passing technique.

Before receiving the ball, Totti observes his teammates' positioning and can deliver a precise pass the instant he touches the ball, without needing to adjust at all.

This vision and decision-making ability are precisely what Roy wants to improve.

Totti's glance at Roy was perhaps an assessment of the Frenchman's speed and ability to change direction.

Roy's explosive power is indeed something to be wary of.

Although the two did not speak directly, this covert battle between the number 10s has become another storyline in the competition.

In the 10th minute, Chelsea broke the deadlock.

Lampard received the ball with his back to goal just outside the penalty area, under pressure from a Roma defender, and calmly passed it back to Geremi.

Gremi didn't stop the ball, but instead chipped it over the top with a diagonal pass.

Roy sped up instantly, darting between Mexes and Kufrey.

He got there before goalkeeper Zotti could pounce, and with a deft touch of his left foot, the ball rolled along the grass into the far corner, 1-0.

The whole process was clean and efficient.

From starting his run and getting past his marker to shooting, Roy's movements were swift and decisive.

After scoring, he pointed at Geremi and gave him a simple high five in celebration.

Mourinho on the sidelines nodded, clearly satisfied with the combination play.

The match became increasingly heated, with both sides making increasingly aggressive tackles, making it seem nothing like a friendly game.

In the 19th minute, Roy tackled Dacourt from behind while chasing back, and the referee immediately showed him a yellow card.

Roy immediately stood up and reached out to help the veteran French player up.

"Sorry, buddy, you went too far."

Dacourt grasped Roy's outstretched hand and used it to stand up.

"Watch out, Roy."

He patted his young teammate on the shoulder, his voice calm but his eyes complex, "This kind of move easily gets you a card."

In the 24th minute, Gudjohnsen delivered a through ball down the right flank, and the Roma center-back hesitated when clearing the ball.

Lampard made a sharp interception of the ball and immediately moved it to the open space on the left.

Roy received the ball on the edge of the penalty area. Facing the onrushing defender, he first gently flicked the ball with his left foot, then cut inside with his right foot, shifting the defender's weight.

Just as the second defender was covering, he deftly chipped the ball up and accurately passed it to Duff, who was making a run down the right flank.

Duff didn't stop the ball, but shot directly into the net, making it 2-0.

In the 29th minute, Geremi delivered a perfectly timed curling pass from the right wing, the ball arcing beautifully towards the penalty area.

Roy suddenly started his run like a ghost between the two center-backs, adjusting his footing as he ran, and completed a difficult left-footed volley before anyone else could react.

His timing in touching the ball was perfect; with a slight flick of his ankle, the ball changed direction and headed straight for the far corner of the goal.

Unfortunately, he lost his balance slightly at the last moment, and the shot was off-target by a few inches, the ball grazing the post and flying out of bounds.

Roy gave a frustrated, wry smile.

If this ball goes in, it will be a perfect half with two goals and one assist.

Mourinho on the sidelines clapped enthusiastically, clearly very satisfied with the agile run and shot selection.

A collective sigh of regret immediately rose from the stands.

This French star, who has already contributed one goal and one assist, can elicit cheers from the fans every time he touches the ball.

Five minutes later, Totti suddenly unleashed a long-range shot from 32 meters out, the ball whistling past the crossbar and flying out.

This response from the Roma captain only earned him a few scattered applause.

Most of the fans in the stadium, who were wearing Chelsea jerseys, were clearly more focused on Roy's performance.

Near the end of the first half, Totti had another free kick opportunity.

When he took the penalty from 25 meters out, boos even rang out from the stands.

The ball sailed over the wall and headed straight for the goal, but the angle was too straight, and Cech caught it securely.

As the broadcast cameras panned across the stands, fans waving French flags and Roy's number 10 jerseys were everywhere. The young star had become the focus of the entire stadium, while the Prince of Rome felt an unprecedented sense of alienation in this unfamiliar land.

The contrast at this moment is too stark, highlighting the harsh reality after the end of Serie A's golden age: Juventus and the Milan giants can still maintain their competitiveness by relying on their historical heritage, while teams like Roma are rapidly becoming supporting players in European football.

Perhaps it was this disparity that made Totti start seriously considering overseas offers.

In the second half, Mourinho brought on Lampard, Drogba, Robben, Smertin, Mutu, and others.

In the 47th minute, Mutu used his body to hold off Mexes on the left sideline, dribbled inside and passed the ball straight into the penalty area, where Drogba's shot from a tight angle went wide of the far post.

In the 51st minute, the active Smertin unleashed a powerful low shot with his right foot from 26 meters out, which went just wide of the left post.

In the 59th minute, Robben took a free kick near the right touchline, Drogba flicked the ball on with his head in front of the goal, and Zotti made a save on the goal line.

In the 62nd minute, Mutu's left-footed shot from 15 meters out was saved by Zotti, but Chelsea immediately came back. Robben quickly broke into the left side of the penalty area and passed back to Mutu, who shot with his left foot from 8 meters out. The ball deflected off Zotti's hand and rolled into the net, giving Chelsea a 3-0 lead.

In the 65th minute, Dacourt fouled Robben from behind, and Mutu rushed over and shoved Dacourt. Dacourt slapped Mutu, and teammates quickly stepped forward to separate the two. Dacourt and Mutu were both sent off.

In the 68th minute, Lampard unleashed a powerful low shot with his right foot from 26 meters out. The ball bounced inside the penalty area and struck Zotti's chest. Drogba then gently pushed the ball into the net with the outside of his right foot from 6 meters out, giving Chelsea a 4-0 lead.

In the 71st minute, Robben used his beautiful footwork to break through to the edge of the penalty area and his right-footed lob shot went slightly over the bar, but he injured his right foot and received treatment, and was subsequently replaced by Joe Cole.

Roy, watching this scene from the bench, unconsciously raised an eyebrow.

A fully healthy Robben is world-class, but unfortunately, "health" has never been part of Robben's value.

In the 78th minute, Montella's low left-footed shot from 28 meters out went just wide of the right post.

Throughout the match, Roma only managed two shots on target. However, Dacourt's red card will not result in a suspension, so he can still play in subsequent matches.

7月30日，在多伦多进行的冠军世界巡回赛第6场较量中，利物浦0-1不敌摩纳哥。

Liverpool dominated the first half, while Monaco, unlike last season, did not display their fierce attacking prowess and focused on counter-attacks, managing only three counter-attacks that resulted in two shots hitting the woodwork.

Shortly after the break, Ribery received a pass from his teammate, broke into the penalty area, and calmly slotted the ball into the net, scoring the only goal of the match. He was subsequently named the best player of the game.

For Liverpool, Owen and Cissé formed their first attacking partnership, while the defense featured two young players, Whitbread and Warnock. Riise moved to left midfield, and Gerrard made his first appearance since the European Championship.

Monaco underwent a major overhaul this summer, with manager Didier Deschamps leaving, key player Mario Roy transferring, and several other key players, including Giuly, departing.

However, some members of last season's championship team remained with the team, and the team also brought in several young new players.

Interim manager Jean Petit assembled a new attacking line with Ribery, Adebayor, and Pršo, while retaining some experienced veterans to anchor the team.

Although the team is still in the process of gelling together, the energy of the young players and the composure of the veterans are creating a new chemistry.

After training, Roy dragged his tired body back to his hotel room.

He casually tossed his soaking wet training clothes onto the sofa, grabbed the remote, and turned on the TV.

ESPN is broadcasting Tyson's comeback fight live: the former boxing champion is making his comeback in Louisville, the hometown of Muhammad Ali, after 17 months, to pay off huge debts, and will face British double champion Williams.

This unofficial event drew massive crowds due to the legendary boxer's down-on-his-luck return.

Tyson started relatively steadily, probing with a few left jabs before landing his signature low hook on Williams, but his punching speed was not as good as before.

In the second round, Williams started using dirty tricks, headbutting and elbowing Tyson to provoke him. The two then engaged in a fierce exchange in a corner, during which Tyson's eye was cut and bled.

In the fourth round, Tyson, exhausted, was repeatedly overwhelmed by Williams' heavy punches and was eventually knocked out by a right straight punch.

Tyson left in silence, and Williams showed no interest in celebrating.

The once-dominant boxing champion's downfall ended abruptly.

Roy stared at the blacked-out television screen, remaining motionless for a long time.

Tyson's last staggering figure lingered in his mind.

The once-fierce beast has now departed the stage like a weary old man.

This confirms a cruel truth: people love to see heroes triumph in their prime, but they dread seeing them grow old. Just as no one wants to see a beautiful woman age or a general grow old.

Looking at myself, at the age of 19, I have won two championships and joined a strong team as if I were chosen by heaven.

At the height of his confidence, all he could think about was Tyson's bewildered look as blood trickled from the corner of his eye.

It's like watching an old male lion being torn apart and forced to retreat by a young hyena.

He subconsciously touched his smooth knee, where there were no scars yet, but sooner or later they would appear.

The transfer fee had a frightening number of zeros, but it couldn't compare to the shock of the pitying looks from the audience when Tyson left the field.

Roy slapped his cheeks hard, putting his signature confident smile back on his face.

The thought in my heart was reaffirmed: I will never let anyone see me in my twilight years.

Abu stood in front of the hotel's floor-to-ceiling window, holding a half-glass of whiskey in his hand.

The bright lights of Philadelphia outside the window reflected on his smiling face.

Two games, four goals and one assist.

Roy proved his worth in the most direct way.

This 19-year-old boy was the very person Abu had been searching for.

That invincible genius on the green field, that valiant knight who expanded the territory of the Chelsea empire.

Abu gently swirled his glass, the ice cubes clinking together with a crisp sound.

He knew that with such players, his football empire would surely become even more glorious.

7月31日，在纽约巨人体育场举行的冠军世界系列赛决赛中，AC米兰与曼联1-1战平，最终通过惊心动魄的点球大战9-8获胜。

Both sides played cautiously after the match started.

Manchester United took the lead in the 32nd minute.

Nesta's back pass went astray, and Scholes seized the opportunity to fire a shot into the net.

Milan didn't equalize until the 89th minute when Shevchenko volleyed home a free kick from Kaká, forcing the game into a penalty shootout.

The penalty shootout went on for a full 10 rounds before a winner was decided.

Both sides were unerring in the first nine rounds, until the tenth round when Manchester United goalkeeper Howard hit the post, while Milan captain Maldini calmly converted his penalty, ultimately leading the Rossoneri to a narrow 9-8 victory.

Both sides fielded their strongest lineups in this match.

For Manchester United, players like Scholes and Silvestre, who had just returned from vacation, returned to the starting lineup.

Milan's attack was led by Shevchenko and Kaká.

Both teams created numerous opportunities during the match, but defensive errors were more eye-catching. In addition to Nesta's fatal back pass error, Kaladze almost replicated this "own goal assist."

It's worth noting that this is Manchester United's last match of their US tour. Next, they will return to England to prepare for the Vodafone Cup match against PSV Eindhoven and the Community Shield match against Arsenal.

After winning this thrilling penalty shootout, AC Milan will remain in the United States to prepare for their next major match.

They will face off against Premier League powerhouse Chelsea.

This match will undoubtedly be a crucial test of Milan's squad depth.

Having just endured a grueling 120-minute battle against Manchester United, Ancelotti needs to consider the players' physical recovery.

However, thanks to the strong mental fortitude shown in the penalty shootout and the red-hot form of key players such as Shevchenko and Kaká, AC Milan will face Chelsea with the momentum of their victory.

Chelsea, under the guidance of new manager Mourinho, is gradually developing its iron-clad defensive system.

This direct confrontation with the Italian Serie A giants will be a crucial test of the "Special One's" tactical philosophy.

Chelsea's defense will face a severe test, especially against Milan's formidable attacking line of Kaká, Shevchenko, and Crespo.

Meanwhile, Roy's explosive performance of scoring four goals and providing one assist in just 90 minutes across two tour matches has made the entire Milan team extremely wary of this top European striker.

Every touch of his ball is like a sharp blade drawn from its sheath, ready to pierce the opponent's defense at any moment.

The clash between two top European clubs is not only about the Champions World Series rankings, but also a preview of the new season's Champions League.

Fans are looking forward to seeing a spectacular clash between Italy's tactical sophistication and England's power-based football.

On August 1, 2004, Chelsea arrived in New York by car.

They will face their final opponent, AC Milan, here.

After the devastating defeat at Riazor last year, the Milan team has now regrouped, their eyes burning with a desire to return to the top of Europe.

Chelsea, on the other hand, are sharpening their knives, like a band of bandits who have never seen the capital before: greedily wanting to seize all the glory before them.

Roy sat in the slowly moving car, gazing at the neon lights of New York City outside the window.

He suddenly hummed a melody, Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind," which wouldn't be released for several years, but at that moment it inexplicably surfaced in his mind:

"There's nothing you can't do. Now you're in New York."

------------

On July 26, Real Madrid drew 2-2 with Benfica in a commemorative match, exposing weaknesses in their defense.

New signing Samuel has been underperforming and has failed to integrate into the La Liga defensive system, leaving the team with defensive lapses that persisted from last season.

Capello admitted that it will take time to improve, but the defensive problems of the "Galacticos" are still the biggest obstacle to winning the title.

Florentino Pérez spoke publicly for the first time after the match about missing out on Roy: "Paco Sanz's irresponsible comments were insulting to the player, and this kind of oversight should not have happened. We originally planned to give him the respect and compensation he deserved after signing him - Real Madrid has always regarded him as a son of the Bernabéu."

"But the arrogance of the Sanz family members, resting on their father's laurels, caused us to lose this talent in just three days. When Chelsea's signing photos arrived, our negotiators were still in Madrid preparing their final offer."

—Marca

(End of this chapter)