When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 198 New York Rhapsody: The Birth of the Steel Blue Lion

At 7:30 a.m. on August 1, two Nike representatives dressed in dark blue suits walked into the lobby of the Plaza Hotel in New York.

In 1985, the United States and Japan signed the Plaza Accord, an international financial agreement that involved joint intervention in the foreign exchange market to devalue the dollar and force the yen to appreciate significantly, ultimately triggering Japan's economic bubble and long-term recession.

They were carrying black folders with the Nike logo. After confirming their appointment at the front desk, they were led to the meeting room on the third floor.

Chelsea CEO Kenyon was already waiting in the meeting room.

The Nike representative adjusted his glasses and said bluntly, "Yesterday we paid the full £1800 million in release clause to Umbro."

He took out a bank transfer receipt and placed it on the table. "As agreed, this sponsorship contract must be signed today."

As Kenyon picked up the voucher and examined it closely, the Nike representative continued, "Tomorrow's match result will affect the official announcement time—if Chelsea beats AC Milan, we hope you will announce the change of sponsor that night; if they lose, it will be postponed to August 6th."

He paused for a moment, then added meaningfully, "After all, defeating Adidas's Milan would be the most powerful marketing statement."

The contract is for a term of five years, with an annual sponsorship fee of £1000 million.

This figure is significantly lower than that of Manchester United (£2300 million), Juventus (£1800 million) and Barcelona (£1500 million), but slightly higher than that of Arsenal (£800 million).

In its 2004 business assessment, Nike pointed out that Arsenal's massive debt (£2.6 million) from the construction of the Emirates Stadium severely limited its operating funds. Financial reports showed that the club was forced to use 28% of its annual revenue to pay off debt, resulting in a 40% reduction in the transfer budget and a player salary increase capped at 5%.

This financial pressure is assessed to directly impact competitive performance over the next 3-5 years, including risks such as difficulty in renewing contracts for key players and a decline in the quality of new signings.

Therefore, Nike set the sponsorship fee at £800 million per year, 35% lower than the industry standard, and added a floating clause linked to athletic performance.

After listening, Kenyon picked up his pen and signed the contract.

The financial and legal representatives from both sides were also seated in the meeting room.

He knew that although the price wasn't top-tier, it was a good start for Chelsea at the moment.

As the former CEO of Manchester United, Kenyon is well aware of Nike's strength; he knows all too well Nike's marketing capabilities and influence in the US market.

The meeting lasted only half an hour, but the specific terms had already been agreed upon by both parties.

Ultimately, Kenyon signed his name on the last page of the contract, officially launching Chelsea's five-year partnership with Nike.

“Roy is in his suite on the 12th floor,” Kenyon said as he put away the documents. “He looks good today; he just finished working out at the gym.”

When the Nike representative took the elevator to the 12th floor and opened the glass door of the restaurant, Roy was having breakfast with Drogba and Makelele at a round table by the window.

In front of him was half a fried egg and a half-eaten piece of toast, and in his hand was a glass of orange juice.

Drogba: "Malouda is a funny guy. Once after training, he insisted on having a contest with me to see who could throw their socks the farthest."

Roy: "Is he still playing for Lyon?"

Drogba: "Yes, we might run into each other in the Champions League next season. Shall I introduce you two?"

Roy: "Great, we might end up playing together on the national team someday anyway."

Roy wiped his mouth and stood up: "Hey, Didier, I'll never forget what the Guingamp Twins did that year."

He winked at Drogba: "The day you two knocked out Lyon, we had just beaten Paris, and then we just coasted to the championship."

Drogba laughed and crumpled a napkin into a ball, throwing it at him: "Don't be so smug! We'll beat you again in the next round!"

Roy deftly dodged the attack and followed the Nike representative toward the elevator.

"Three o'clock in the afternoon, Nike store on Fifth Avenue," the Nike representative said as they walked. "It's the usual promotional and autograph session. But this time you'll be with A-Rod, the Yankees' newest signing, Alex Rodriguez."

"A super baseball superstar, the most expensive slugger in Yankees history, a legendary hitter who set a record of 50 home runs in a single season with the Rangers, and whose transfer in 03 caused a sensation throughout the league."

"Oh, by the way, tennis queen Serena Williams will also be there; she's the pride of New York."

Roy nodded, without saying anything more.

At 3 p.m., a long line had already formed outside the Nike flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York. Fans, holding sneakers, baseball caps, and tennis rackets, excitedly waited to see their idols.

The store's backdrop featured a huge Nike logo, with posters of Roy, A-Rod, and Serena Williams hanging on either side.

Wearing a Yankees hat, A-Rod posed for photos with fans with a big smile, and occasionally joked with Roy using broken football jargon.

Serena Williams, dressed in sportswear, looked energetic and didn't forget to high-five fans while signing autographs.

Roy sat at the autograph table, with his signature Nike Mercurial sneakers in their own colorway displayed in a showcase beside him. He expertly signed the shoes as he explained the personal logo and special design details on the tongue to the fans.

Nike staff quickly discovered that the football star displayed an amazing linguistic talent, able to switch between multiple languages ​​fluently depending on the ethnicity of the fans.

He greeted Latino fans in fluent Spanish; Chinese fans in friendly Chinese; and French fans in French.

He can use even simple greetings in Japanese and Korean with ease.

German is one of Roy's better foreign languages, thanks to his relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Dutch supermodel Doutzen Kroes.

He learned some Dutch during their relationship.

Every fan greeted in their native language had their eyes light up, their faces beaming with surprise.

This meticulous respect made the atmosphere at the scene exceptionally warm.

Nike staff stood by, watching Roy's smooth and natural interaction, and couldn't help but admire him. This was no commercial promotion; it was clearly a friendly cross-cultural dialogue.

Nike staff were extremely busy, handing out markers, taking photos, and guiding the queue.

The music, cheers from fans, and camera shutters mingled together in the store.
The event suddenly became lively as several of A-Rod and Serena Williams' celebrity friends came to show their support.

Famous rapper Jay-Z, wearing his signature baseball cap, stood discreetly at the edge of the crowd, but was quickly recognized by sharp-eyed fans, eliciting cheers.

He smiled and nodded at A-Rod as a greeting.

After the event, Jay-Z strolled over to A-Rod, took off his sunglasses, and grinned: "Yo, A-Rod, your new 'teammate' Roy is a fucking tough nut to crack!"

He gestured dramatically and continued in a street-smart Black accent, "Did you watch the Champions League semi-final? Ye (Kanye West) and I were there at Highbury. The way this guy beat up Arsenal—God! A nutmeg, a violent breakthrough, he made the opposing defenders run around in circles!"

As Jay-Z spoke, he strode over to Roy, bumping his fist with him: "Yo homie, you played with such intensity! Ye and I are still talking about your goals after watching the game!"

Roy smiled and shook his hand: "Thanks, man."

Jay-Z turned to A-Rod and raised an eyebrow: "See? This is what a real young superstar looks like—ruthless yet low-key."

A-Rod laughed and gave him a high five: "What, you want to sign him to your record label as a rapper?"

Jay-Z pretended to think seriously: "Hey, if he could play soccer as well as he raps, I'd release a platinum record for him right away!"

The event caused another stir.

Jared Leto strolled in wearing his signature round-framed sunglasses, followed by a girl in an oversized denim jacket.

A-Rod immediately went up to Leto and gave him a high-five, exchanging pleasantries; the two were clearly very familiar with each other.

Roy, who was signing autographs, glanced at the noise casually. He wasn't interested in the rock singer, the lead singer of the band Thirty Seconds to Mars, but he was very interested in the girl next to him.

The girl was wearing a simple white T-shirt and jeans, her fluffy golden-brown short hair was casually tucked behind her ears, and her face, which hadn't completely lost its baby fat, was dotted with a few playful freckles. Her green eyes, which would one day captivate the world, were curiously observing the event venue.

The way she tucked a stray hair behind her ear made Roy unconsciously stop signing his pen.

This girl... well, Durant wanted to drink her bathwater.

"That's Scarlett Johansson?"

She rose to fame last year for her role as a precocious yet confused girl in "Lost in Translation".

Roy whispered to the Nike staff member next to him, and after receiving confirmation, he immediately stood up and straightened his collar.

He had just been ignoring Leto, but now he suddenly became unusually enthusiastic, rushing over there in a few quick steps, leaving half a table of unsigned sneakers.

Roy quickly moved closer to A-Rod and suddenly put his arm around his shoulder enthusiastically: "Aren't you going to introduce your friend?"

Leto looked up, his sunglasses slipping slightly down his nose, revealing a half-smile. He certainly recognized Roy, the hottest rising star in European football, a regular in sports news.

Scarlett looked up and met Roy's gaze.

Those dark eyes were frighteningly deep, with a hint of wickedness, as if they could suck a person whole into them.

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.”

In the locker room, Kaka bowed his head, made the sign of the cross on his chest, and recited a short and powerful verse from the Book of Isaiah.

Ancelotti clapped his hands, his voice steady: "Remember, maintain formation and attack down the flanks. Kaladze, shut down Roy's cut-in angles; it's better to let him cross from the byline than to let him create space to shoot! Gattuso, be ready to close down the goal at any time."

Maldini stood up, his gaze sweeping over the entire team: "Let's go."

The players followed him out in single file, their footsteps echoing in the tunnel.

The New York Giants Stadium was brightly lit.

As the AC Milan players emerged from the tunnel, the stands erupted in deafening cheers, with American fans waving red and black striped shirts and chanting "Paul!" and "Shevchenko!"
As Roy walked toward the Milan players' tunnel, he gave each player a high-five, but deliberately stopped in front of Kaká.

As the two spoke in hushed tones, Kaka maintained a polite smile throughout.

Mourinho and Ancelotti shook hands on the sidelines.

In the 2003 European Super Cup, Mourinho was defeated by Ancelotti.

ESPN commentators gave an enthusiastic opening:
"Tonight, the New York Giants Stadium is ablaze with stars! Chelsea are deploying Mourinho's signature 4-3-3: Cudicini in goal, Terry anchoring the defense alongside French powerhouse Gallas, with Glen Johnson and solid new signing Abidal on the wings! Midfield stalwart Makelele partnering with Cameroonian beast Geremi, and Lampard orchestrating the attack! The front three are Ireland's speedster Mohamed Ralph, Drogba, and last season's European superstar Roy!"

AC Milan fielded Ancelotti's favorite 4-4-2 midfield: Abbiati in goal, Maldini and Nesta leading the defense, Kaladze at left-back, and Cafu at right-back! Gattuso anchored the midfield like a meat grinder, with Serginho and Dorasso on the wings! Kaká, the "son of God," was the attacking midfielder! The strike duo consisted of Shevchenko and Argentine striker Crespo! Crespo faced his former club Chelsea, where he played last season but is now on loan at Milan. The Argentine striker knows Terry and Gallas inside and out; can he greet his old club with a goal tonight?

"Friends, this is no friendly match, it's the Steel Blue Lions versus the Red and Black powerhouse!"

Carvalho also made his first appearance on Chelsea's bench.

Robben, Smertin and Mutu are out injured.

After the match started, both sides played cautiously, with Chelsea not pressing forward as aggressively as they had in the previous two matches.

After the match began, Milan patiently passed the ball around in their own half, with Nesta and Maldini making consecutive lateral passes, while Cafu quietly pushed into the other half.

Chelsea quickly settled into a 4-5-1 defensive formation, with Roy, Duff, and Drogba pushing forward in an arrowhead pattern, while Lampard and Gremie behind them cut off passing lanes.

When the ball was transferred to Cafu's side on Milan's right flank, Roy immediately started his run towards the Brazilian full-back.

He first pretended to press forward, but actually used his body angle to block Cafu and Dorasso's short passing lanes.

It's like using a shadow to obscure the path of a pass.

Cafu had no choice but to pass the ball back to Nesta, at which point Roy quickly moved laterally to the central axis between Nesta and Maldini, blocking the direct connection between Milan's two center-backs like a bolt.

In the 3rd minute, Kaká dropped back to the defensive midfield position to receive the pass. He first used the outside of his left foot to deceive Makelele's challenge, and then delivered a low through ball to Shevchenko.

As the Ukrainian player held off Terry with his back to goal, Kaká had already moved forward to the edge of the penalty area, but unfortunately Shevchenko's pass back was blocked by Gallas's sliding tackle.

Makelele received the ball and quickly passed it wide, Chelsea then made four consecutive passes to get the ball into the attacking third.

Roy received the ball on the left flank, and Dorasso and Cafu immediately formed a double-team.

He flicked the ball with his right foot, creating half a body space, and then suddenly chipped the ball over the top with his left foot.

The ball traced a tricky arc, sailing just over Nesta's head.

Glen Johnson, who was making a run into the far post, was about to control the ball when Kaladze had already marked him closely.

The English full-back looked up and saw Maldini moving laterally to block the cross, so he immediately ducked and hastily passed the ball back to Geremi in midfield.

A burst of good-natured laughter erupted from the stands. This was hardly the arrogant Chelsea star from last season; he was clearly a rookie scared off by Milan's defense.

As Maldini blocked Johnson, he caught a glimpse of Drogba quietly making a run forward, blocking Nesta's position, while Roy had already launched a second attack from behind Cafu like a ghost.

This 19-year-old was just moving slowly sideways, but now he suddenly changes direction and darts straight into the penalty area.

Despite Cafu's desperate attempts to catch up, Roy's changes in pace left the Brazilian legend in a difficult position, and the two were unable to maintain their distance.

"Damn."

Maldini cursed inwardly.

He is very familiar with this kind of movement; Inzaghi's specialty is this deadly rhythm of "walking and bursting".

But Roy is more troublesome: his explosive power and speed are far more terrifying than Inzaghi's.

What's more troublesome is that after receiving the ball, this kid can continue to create threats with his delicate dribbling.

Inzaghi needs to be fed pancakes, while Roy can make his own pancakes and eat them.

But now he was too busy to deal with the situation and could only watch helplessly as Roy stabbed into the gap behind him like a sharp knife.

Fortunately, Johnson chose to pass back; otherwise, that triangular back pass would almost certainly have been a dangerous move.

In the 5th minute, Chelsea began to organize an attack from their own half.

Cudicini made a short pass to right center-back Terry, who, under pressure from Crespo, calmly passed the ball to Gallas on the left wing.

Instead of blindly launching a long ball, the French center-back passed it to Makelele, who had dropped back to receive it.

Makelele passed the ball to Geremi before Gattuso could intercept it.

The Cameroonian midfielder used his body to hold off Serginho and then turned to pass the ball to Lampard in the attacking midfield position.

Lampard passed the ball across to Roy on the left flank.

When Roy received the ball, Kaladze had already closed in, and Gattuso was also closing in from the side and behind.

He didn't rush to break through. He lightly pushed with his right foot, pretending to cut inside. In the instant that Kaladze's center of gravity shifted, he flicked the ball with the outside of his left foot, passing it to Abidal who was making a run down the wing.

The entire movement was clean and efficient, without any unnecessary frills, yet it left two Milan defenders completely out of the way.

The French full-back crossed the ball, and Drogba outjumped Cafu at the far post to head it from 7 meters out, but the ball went just wide of the near post.

After Drogba's header went wide, Milan goalkeeper Abbiati quickly took the goal kick.

Nesta controlled the ball in the backfield, and Chelsea's three forwards immediately pressed. Roy blocked the left flank, Drogba pressured the center-back, and Duff marked Gattuso inside.

Nesta opted for a long pass to Shevchenko in the attacking third, but Terry headed the ball away first.

The ball fell into the area where Geremi and Gattuso were vying for it. After two consecutive tackles, Geremi poked the ball to Makelele.

The French midfielder observed the situation and passed the ball to the wing. Abidal advanced down the left flank, but Cafu quickly closed in, forcing him to pass the ball back to Lampard.

Lampard's through ball was intercepted by Gattuso, and Milan launched a counter-attack immediately.

As Gattuso dribbled forward, Geremi slid in from the side and behind, sweeping directly at his supporting foot.

Gattuso fell to the ground and rolled around, and the referee blew his whistle to stop the game.

After the team doctor came in to check on him, Gattuso stomped his foot to indicate that he was alright.

The game continued, and Milan won a free kick in their own half.

When Roy received the ball on the left wing, Gattuso was already pouncing on him.

He gently flicked the ball with his right foot, then quickly performed three consecutive stepovers.

The first time, Gattuso didn't fall for the feint; the second time, he leaned slightly; the third time, Roy suddenly used the outside of his right foot to push the ball sideways, and Gattuso was a fraction of a second too late to intercept.

Kaladze immediately came to cover, Roy stopped abruptly with his right foot, and just before Kaladze could pounce, he used the instep of his foot to pass the ball back to Lampard.

Lampard played a through ball without stopping it, and Roy simultaneously made a diagonal run into the penalty area.

Nesta lowered his center of gravity to block the near post, his right leg already wedged between Roy and the goal.

This defensive positioning is textbook perfect.

Roy gently stepped on the ball with the ball of his right foot and flicked it to the left.

The ball rolled less than half a step, but Nesta's center of gravity had already been deceived.

Just as his right foot landed, Roy's left foot was already outstretched, his instep pointing straight at the ball.

The entire movement was executed in one smooth motion; the right foot had barely touched the ground before the left foot had already completed the shot.

By the time Nesta's intercepting leg swept over, the ball had already left Roy's control.

This seemingly simple action is completed in the blink of an eye: stepping on the ball, turning, and shooting – three steps compressed into less than a second.

When Abbiati blocked the ball out of bounds, a collective sigh of relief rippled through the stands.

Roy turned to look at Nesta and grinned.

The Italian center-back immediately tensed his facial muscles and forced a stiff smile in response.

As he turned around, he unconsciously touched his nose with his right hand. This subconscious action revealed his inner turmoil, but the 28-year-old Serie A top center-back would never show the slightest hesitation in front of the 19-year-old newcomer.

From the breakthrough to the shot, Roy single-handedly disrupted Milan's entire defense.

Maldini walked over to Nesta, casually put his arm around his shoulder, and said a few words.

The veteran captain's right hand never left Nesta's back until the corner kick was taken.

In the 12th minute, Duff took a corner kick, and Terry's header at the near post was tipped over the crossbar by Abbiati.

In the ensuing second attack, Lampard's long-range shot from outside the penalty area was blocked by Nesta's body.

15 minutes.

Kaká received the ball near the center circle, and just as Gattuso's pass rolled to his feet, Makelele was already closing in.

Kaka didn't hesitate, he took a step forward with his right foot, a full meter, but his stride was even longer, and he shook off Makelele's entanglement in just two or three steps.

His running posture was unique; his upper body was straight, like a sword drawn from its sheath, but his legs moved quickly and lightly.

As Gallas rushed in from the side to cover, Kaka had already adjusted his footing, and with a gentle flick of the outside of his right foot, the ball passed through the gap between Gallas and Terry, precisely finding Shevchenko who was making a diagonal run.

The whole process is simple and straightforward: one trip, acceleration, and passing.

Without any fancy moves, they caught Chelsea's entire defense completely off guard.

A powerful shot from a tight angle by the Ukrainian was palmed away by Cudicini, and Crespo mishit the follow-up shot into the empty net, allowing Chelsea to escape a close call.

Crespo shook his hand in frustration, his gaze unconsciously drifting towards the sidelines.

Mourinho stood with his arms crossed in the technical area, his face expressionless.

The moment he miskicked the open goal occurred during a match against his former club, Chelsea.

18 minutes.

Roy received the ball on the left wing, but Cafu had already blocked the outside.

When he stopped the ball with his right foot, he deliberately took an extra half step to lure Cafu forward.

Just as the Brazilian stretched out his leg, Roy suddenly took a step into the air with his left foot and flicked the ball in the opposite direction with the outside of his right foot. This change of direction was close to 90 degrees, and Cafu's knee obviously twisted.

But Roy didn't force a breakthrough; instead, he stopped abruptly and pulled the ball back while observing the penalty area.

Drogba had already started his run, and Roy delivered a low cross with the inside of his right foot.

Maldini was originally marking Lampard, but the moment Roy passed the ball, he took three big steps to the side and finally blocked Drogba's shot with the toe of his supporting leg.

25 minutes.

Serginho accelerated past Johnson on the left wing and crossed the ball.

Despite being closely marked by Terry, Shevchenko still managed to head the ball back to the edge of the penalty area.

Kaka arrived in a flash and volleyed the ball before it even hit the ground. The ball whistled across the front of the goal and finally grazed the far post before going out of bounds.

Before the gasps from the Giants Stadium had even subsided, Kaká had already covered his head with his hands, while Shevchenko gave Serginho a thumbs up.

Terry, panting heavily, adjusted his shin guards. The confrontation had given him a taste of the Ukrainians' jumping ability.

American fans on the sidelines whispered among themselves, their eyes constantly shifting between Kaka and Roy.

Both of them had neat short black hair, and were tall and slender, with a height of around 1.85 meters.

Kaka was wiping sweat from his forehead with his jersey. The sunlight outlined his sharply defined profile, and his clear eyes and clean-cut demeanor made him look like a friendly boy next door. Roy, on the other hand, exuded a completely different aura. He pursed his lips slightly, and the shadow cast by his brow bone made his calm eyes appear exceptionally sharp.

He possesses a cool and roguish charm, yet exudes a calm and composed demeanor in every gesture.

The American female students on the sidelines were excitedly whispering among themselves. One of the blonde girls couldn't help but blurt out, "Oh my god, if I could just pick anyone to spend the night with, I'd be willing to live in a mansion for the rest of my life!"

27 minutes.

Makelele suddenly intercepted Dorasso's cross and then played a through ball to Roy, who was receiving the ball with his back to goal.

Gattuso and Kaladze pounced at the same time.

But Roy seemed to have anticipated the moment. With a gentle tap of his right heel, the ball, as if by magic, passed precisely through the narrow gap between the two players.

As Gattuso sprinted forward, he lowered his right leg, seemingly about to deliver a vicious tackle.

Just as Gattuso's studs were about to graz Roy's ankle, Roy, as if he had anticipated it, lightly jumped and turned in the opposite direction, slid past on the other side.

Gattuso's tackle missed its target, and Kaladze was thrown off balance by Roy's agile maneuver, stumbling and crashing into his teammate.

The entire movement was completed in one smooth motion, without the slightest hesitation.

Roy didn't even look down at the ball, as if he had already rehearsed everything in his mind.

Roy dribbled at breakneck speed, the ball seemingly glued to his feet.

His eyes remained fixed on the Milan penalty area, and his footwork was unwavering.

On the sidelines, Ancelotti's brows furrowed instantly, and his lips pressed into a straight line. He was all too aware of the threat posed by such a solo attack.

Nesta strode forward, his right shoulder directly hitting Roy's back, while his left hand discreetly grabbed the hem of Roy's jersey.

Roy was thrown off balance by the impact, but he used the force to twist his waist and abdomen.

He raised his left leg high as if to unleash a powerful shot.

The Italians instinctively spread their legs to increase the blocking area, but then heard a soft "snap": Roy's left ankle suddenly twisted inward at the last moment before contacting the ball, changing his shot into a dribble.

This subtle joint change suddenly created a half-meter gap between the two people's tightly pressed bodies.

Roy then fired a low shot with his right foot, the ball heading straight for the bottom right corner of the goal.

Abbiati made a diving save, barely managing to deflect the ball with his fingertips.

The ball hit the underside of the crossbar with a "bang" and bounced back into the field.

Just as Ancelotti breathed a sigh of relief, a roar erupted from the Chelsea bench.
"Beautiful! That was fucking awesome!"

"See that?! See that?! That kid is a genius!"

"Well done, Roy! Keep tearing them apart!"

"That rebound was absolutely brilliant! Those old guys from Milan didn't even have time to react!"

"1-0! Let them see how powerful we are!"

The moment the ball hit the crossbar, Maldini rushed towards the goal to clear it, while Nesta desperately chased back to block it.

But Roy was faster than anyone else; he adjusted his body almost at the same moment the ball bounced back, and swept it through the air with his right leg straight.

Abbiati had just pushed himself up from the ground, his arm only halfway up, when the ball whistled past his ear and slammed heavily into the net.

1-0!

Nesta's sliding tackle only touched Roy's raised studs, while Maldini's toes were still half a meter away from the ball.

Roy had already turned and charged toward the corner flag, leaving behind only two legendary Milan center-backs standing on the grass and the ball still spinning in the goal.

In the 31st minute, Milan equalized!
Kaka received the ball on the right flank and suddenly sent a through pass. Shevchenko made a diagonal run to receive the pass and deftly flicked the ball with his right foot, sending it arcing towards the right side of the penalty area.

Cafu started moving like lightning, instantly shaking off Gremi's defense.

The Brazilian veteran, facing the incoming ball, barely adjusted before unleashing a powerful right-footed volley.

The ball, with a strong outward spin, headed straight for the near corner of the goal.

Cudicini made a diving save, but the ball was too fast and the angle was extremely tricky, ultimately slipping into the net through the narrow gap between the goalkeeper's fingertips and the post!

1-1!

Cafu ran wildly with his arms outstretched in celebration, and the Milan bench erupted in cheers.

Chelsea players looked at each other in disbelief; no one could have imagined that the 34-year-old full-back could unleash such a world-class goal from such a tight angle.

In the 35th minute, Milan launched another attack. After several quick passes, the ball once again reached Cafu's feet on the right wing.

Roy dropped back to help defend, but he wasn't a defensive specialist and could only barely contain the paint.

Cafu accelerated and changed direction, easily creating space, and then took a low shot. The ball sped along the grass and eventually grazed the near post before hitting the side netting.

Just one minute later, Cudicini launched a long goal kick, and Abidal intercepted the ball on the left wing at high speed, then played a through ball that pierced through Milan's defense.

Roy feigned receiving the ball while running, but deftly let it slip between his legs the instant it rolled to his feet.

Lampard surged forward from the back and unleashed a powerful shot that skimmed the grass and flew into the bottom right corner of the goal.

Mourinho on the sidelines shook his hand in frustration, while Roy, who had executed the exquisite pass, gave Lampard a thumbs-up, indicating that the shot was the right choice.

In the 37th minute, Chelsea took the lead again!

Nesta fouled Drogba just outside the penalty area, and Duff took the free kick from the left into the penalty area.

Gattuso made a hasty clearance at the near post, and the ball drew a strange arc, almost spinning into the far corner of his own goal, before finally grazing the post and flying out of bounds.

Lampard then took a corner kick from the right, and Drogba suddenly cut in from the middle to the near post, using his amazing explosiveness to overpower Maldini and deliver a powerful header from 7 meters out.

The ball slammed into the bottom left corner of the goal like a cannonball!
2-1!

In the 41st minute, Roy outmaneuvered Cafu!
Chelsea launched a long pass from their own half to Roy on the left wing. Facing the incoming ball, he lightly touched it with the instep of his right foot, and the ball, as if by magic, lost its momentum and bounced steadily twenty centimeters off his foot.

A gasp erupted from the Giants Stadium, and the fans in the stands gasped in unison.

As Cafu lunged forward, Roy volleyed the ball with the instep of his left foot, simultaneously turning gracefully.

The Brazilian veteran braked and chased back, only to see Roy cut the ball and stop abruptly, then remain motionless. Just as Cafu leaned forward, Roy suddenly started and changed direction!
After creating space, Roy delivered a precise lob pass with his right foot, the ball sailing over Nesta's head and finding Drogba.

Drogba's low shot was blocked by Abbiati, who dived to the ground, and the ball bounced back into the penalty area.

Duff charged forward like a cheetah, forcing Kaladze to hastily clear the ball with a long kick.

But the ball didn't fly far and was intercepted by Makelele near the center circle.

After calmly observing the situation, the French defensive midfielder delivered a long diagonal pass to the dangerous area in the attacking third once again.

44 minutes.

Roy received the ball near the center circle and exchanged three quick one-two passes with Drogba.

The two worked together with the same perfect chemistry as if they had practiced a thousand times on the training field.

Roy suddenly delivered a through ball, and Drogba cut inside from the left flank, deftly cutting inside with his right foot just outside the penalty area.

In a moment of panic, Nesta stretched out his leg to intercept, and the Ivorian fell to the ground!

The referee blew his whistle sharply and pointed firmly to the spot where the foul had occurred.

Chelsea have a fantastic free-kick opportunity just outside the penalty area!
Nesta spread his hands in protest of innocence, but the referee remained unmoved.

Drogba slowly stood up, clutching his ankle, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips.

The Chelsea players quickly surrounded the ball to discuss tactics.

Lampard and Roy stood in front of the ball, whispering to each other.

Milan players lined up in a tense defensive wall, with Abbiati loudly directing the defensive positioning and constantly adjusting the spacing of the wall.

Roy took three steps back and took a deep breath.

Run up, swing your legs.

Instead of shooting directly with his right foot, he curled a beautiful shot into the net.

The ball bypassed the wall of players and dropped rapidly to the edge of the six-yard box.

Terry surged forward like a tank, leaping between Maldini and Shevchenko, and smashed a powerful header into the net!

3-1!

Before Abbiati could even make a save, the ball had already slammed heavily into the net.

Terry roared as he charged toward the corner flag, while Roy was surrounded by his excited teammates.

The Milan players stood frozen in place, while Cafu, in the wall of players, kicked the turf in frustration; they had all been tricked.

Roy jogged toward Terry, who was celebrating, a genuine smile on his face.

He reached out and patted Terry hard on the back: "Perfect header, John! You could have headed it in if the pass had been any worse!"

Terry grinned, grabbed Roy by the neck, and whispered in his ear, "Don't give me that, Roy! Your kicks curve like they have eyes. If you keep kicking like that, I'll have to be your bodyguard from now on!"

Roy ignored the pleasantries and retorted with a grin, "Come on, John, I can't afford your weekly wage!"

Both sides made personnel adjustments after the start of the second half.

Carvalho made his debut, with Joe Cole forming a new partnership on the left wing with Bridge.

The pace of the game gradually slowed down, and the two teams engaged in a tug-of-war in midfield, failing to create any real threat for a long time.

In the 58th minute, Bridge received a yellow card for a flying tackle on Maldini, and the Milan captain was substituted by Costacurta due to injury.

In the 61st minute, Joe Cole crossed the ball from the left wing, and Gudjohnsen headed it wide of the near post before Nesta could reach it.

Five minutes later, Chelsea midfielder Parker's volley from outside the penalty area also went wide.

For Milan, Shevchenko won a free kick in the 69th minute. His low shot from 28 meters out caused Cudicini to fumble, but fortunately the defender cleared the ball with a long kick in time.

A controversial moment occurred in the 74th minute.

Gattuso crossed from the right, Johnson chested the ball back but misplaced it, Crespo collided with Cudicini while trying to get to the ball, and then committed a handball foul that sparked protests from Chelsea players.

Four minutes later, the Argentine was again given a yellow card for deliberately kicking the ball into the stands after being offside.

The final moments of the match were filled with drama.

In the 84th minute, Terry was shown a yellow card for a flying tackle on Kaká.

With the match entering its final moments, Milan pressed forward with relentless attack. In the second minute of stoppage time, Serginho's powerful run down the left flank was brought down by Johnson, earning the Rossoneri a free kick in an excellent position.

Shevchenko stood in front of the ball.

The Ukrainian nuclear warhead took a deep breath, ran up, and unleashed a powerful shot with his right foot. The ball slammed into Terry's leg in the wall and changed direction!
Chaos erupted in the penalty area. Cudicini lunged in the opposite direction, only to see Costacurta appear on the edge of the six-yard box and gently tap the ball with his toe!
The ball went into the net! 2-3!

The 38-year-old veteran scored a goal and there was one less goal to go. Costacurta stood there stunned for a second, as if he couldn't believe that the ball had actually rolled into the net.

This loyal player, who has been fighting for Milan since 1987, suddenly realized that his legs could no longer keep up with the pace of his youth. The time spent on pre-match physiotherapy was getting longer and longer, and he even had to ice his knees for half an hour after training to relieve the pain.

Alessandro Costacurta is one of the representatives of Italian football's defensive culture. His career almost overlapped with Berlusconi's time at AC Milan, witnessing every detail of the establishment, decline, and resurgence of the Milan dynasty over nearly 20 years.

Milan pulled one back in the final moments!
Shevchenko rushed towards the goal to retrieve the ball and try to continue the game, but the referee immediately blew the final whistle.

Although the Rossoneri suffered a disappointing defeat, this brilliant last-minute goal allowed them to leave the field with their heads held high.

Roy slowly stood up.

He didn't join his teammates' celebrations, but stood alone on the sidelines, looking at the Milan veterans and clapping.

The young genius looked at the 38-year-old Costacurta's faltering figure with a respect beyond his years.

As the final whistle blew, Ancelotti high-fived each of his players, but his gaze involuntarily drifted toward Roy on the Chelsea bench.

The 19-year-old was celebrating his victory with his teammates, a youthful smile still on his face.

Ancelotti sighed softly.

He knew perfectly well that Chelsea not only had a gifted young talent like Roy, who was arguably the best player in the world at the moment, but also an ambitious young manager like Mourinho, plus a group of energetic new players.

Once this team has gelled in the Premier League, it will undoubtedly become a formidable force in the Champions League.

Mourinho stood on the sidelines, watching his players celebrate, a satisfied look on his face.

This victory was hard-won, but he knew it was just the beginning.

On the evening of August 2nd, after Chelsea narrowly defeated AC Milan 3-2, the entire team went to the famous New York nightclub Marquee New York to celebrate their victory.

Makelele looked at Roy, who had changed into loose-fitting trendy clothes, and turned to ask Abidal, "I thought this kid was a well-behaved boy who spent all his time in the library?"

Abidal grinned: "Roy does love reading, but he's been to nightclubs quite often. The most outrageous thing is that he always insists on paying the bill, and he'll get angry if anyone tries to stop him."

At the Marquee New York nightclub, Chelsea players turned the VIP area into a battleground for revelry.

Terry unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, embraced two hot blondes on either side, and swayed to the hip-hop rhythm in the center of the dance floor, occasionally raising champagne to spray his teammates.

Joe Cole and his three teammates occupied the largest booth, playing a dice game with a group of scantily clad Latina beauties. Every time he lost, he would hug the girl next to him and down a glass of tequila, drawing cheers from those around them.

Glen Johnson, his face flushed from drinking at the bar, was awkwardly trying to teach an Asian girl to dance the tango, and almost tripped over his own high heels.

The nightclub culture of English football players has long been an open secret in the football world.

Before major tournaments, tabloid reporters' telephoto lenses always manage to capture images of Three Lions players entering and leaving nightclubs.

This has almost become an alternative "England team tradition".

Before the 2006 World Cup, Rooney was exposed for drinking heavily in a nightclub all night; during the 2010 South Africa World Cup, Terry and his teammates partied in a bar until the early hours of the morning; and during the 2016 European Championship, he was involved in a scandal of "drunk on a yacht".

Even David Beckham, known for his self-discipline, was often photographed playing Texas Hold'em in bars with a cigar in his mouth in his early years.

The FA is well aware of this but has repeatedly tried to stop it, since these players, who have grown up on the guise of British pub culture, have long regarded "post-match celebrations" as a natural way to relieve stress.

Before the 2018 World Cup, Southgate even built a mock bar area at the training camp.

Rather than letting players sneak out, it's better to keep the danger under control. This unique football culture is perhaps the best explanation for why the England team always "drops the ball" at crucial moments in major tournaments: while players from other countries are practicing free kicks, their opponents might be sipping champagne in a nightclub with hot girls in their arms.

Makelele and Drogba sat on a sofa in the corner, with drinks in front of them.

They have never liked joining in the fun at nightclubs.

Roy, holding a glass of champagne, approached Abidal, took a sip, and watched his England teammates writhing on the dance floor. He suddenly chuckled and said in a low voice, "How can these Englishmen possibly manage Chelsea? We'll have to rely on us Frenchmen."

At noon on August 3, the entire Chelsea team gathered in the lobby of the Plaza Hotel in New York.

Mourinho announced to the players that the US preseason had officially ended and the team would return to London on a chartered plane.

The head coach said the players will have two days off before returning to the Harrington training ground to begin preparations for the new Premier League season.

Mourinho opposes Abramovich's plan to hold a separate unveiling ceremony for Roy.

The head coach originally planned for all the new signings this summer to make a group appearance, with the new signings holding Chelsea scarves for a group photo to emphasize the philosophy of "team above all else" and "this is a team born to win championships".

According to his plan, Roy, as the record signing, will stand in the center of the group photo and take a family portrait with the other new signings, which is in line with Mourinho's style of emphasizing team football.

However, Abramovich insisted on building Chelsea into a "Galacticos" team, believing that holding a separate unveiling ceremony for Roy would maximize media exposure.

Ultimately, Abramovich decided to hold a separate signing ceremony for Roy on August 7.

Roy leaned lazily against a pillar in the hotel lobby, listening to the phone call casually.

Leticia chattered on the phone about her recent activities: yesterday morning she was shooting the cover of ELLE magazine in the Marais district, and in the afternoon she rushed to the Champs-Élysées for a photoshoot for Dior's new perfume. She also mentioned that while jogging with her dachshund in the Luxembourg Gardens, she stopped at Café de Flore to buy a croissant, where the clerk recognized her and kept asking her about Roy.

As he listened, he gently kicked the wheels of his suitcase with his toes.

His girlfriend's voice was sometimes excited and sometimes complaining, but he only responded with an occasional "hmm".

The lobby was bustling with people. His teammates were busy organizing their luggage, while Roy just stood there, seemingly uninterested in everything around him.

"When you're not here, my bed is always half empty. I instinctively reach out, but only touch your pillow."

"I've even started to hate rainy days in Paris, because no one suddenly hugs me from behind anymore and says this kind of weather is perfect for staying in bed."

"Say something nice, right now. Or tell me, at what minute when we meet next time, are you planning to smudge my lipstick?"

"You know I love you."

Roy's voice was soft, yet it was like a key, precisely unlocking the emotions that had been building up on the other end of the phone.

The tone on the other end of the phone gradually shifted from a coquettish tone to a dangerous murmur:

“Listen, if you dare let those British tabloid cover girls come within three meters of you in London, I’ll fly to Stamford Bridge tomorrow and make headlines all over Europe about how France’s fiercest lioness is protecting her territory.”

Roy sighed softly, his voice low and resolute: "You know those newspapers just write nonsense."

The Moretti Triangle Match kicked off at 9 p.m. on August 3 at the San Nicolás Stadium in Bari.

The Trofeo TIM is a traditional Italian preseason friendly match where three teams compete in a single round-robin format for 45 minutes. The winner earns 3 points, while a draw is decided by a penalty shootout (2 points for a win and 1 point for a loss).

The tournament is fast-paced, and top clubs like Juventus, Inter Milan, and AC Milan are often invited to participate, mainly to test their lineups and refine their tactics.

In their opening match, Juventus defeated Inter Milan 1-0. Trezeguet scored the winning header in the 9th minute, while Camoranesi was sent off with a red card.

Inter Milan suffered a shock 1-2 defeat to Palermo in their second match, with Toni scoring twice and Coco making a mistake that gifted Palermo a goal.

Juventus defeated Palermo 2-1 on penalties in the final to claim the title.

Three 45-minute matches produced a total of 5 yellow cards and 1 red card, with Juventus' defense demonstrating its dominance by keeping a clean sheet.

Juventus ultimately won the title, while Inter Milan finished last with two losses.

at the post-match press conference.

New Juventus manager Didier Deschamps loosened his tie and smiled slightly.

"It feels great to win a title in your first official match as Juventus coach, even though it's just a preseason victory. But you know, wearing the Juventus jersey means always fighting for victory, even if it's just a three-game match. Trezeguet's header? That's what we train every day. Del Piero's cross, David's finish, perfect teamwork."

"Successor to Mr. Lippi is a huge challenge. He built a dynasty here and left a great tactical legacy. My job is not to overthrow anything, but to make this sophisticated machine run faster and harder. Look at Emerson's performance in midfield today, that's the toughness we need."

"New season? At Juventus, there is only one goal every season – the Serie A title. Although I just came from Monaco, I know very well how high the standards are here. My experience in the Champions League final taught me that if you want to go further in European competitions, you must first establish dominance in the league."

"To be honest, I'm more worried about the competition in the league. Roma and AC Milan have made some strong signings, and Inter Milan won't give up easily either. We have to start our sprint from the first round and not give our opponents any chance."

"As for the Champions League? Of course we'll go all out, but this competition requires both strength and luck. The draw, injuries, and form on the day—too many factors can influence the outcome. But if we could create a miracle in Monaco, why can't we try again at Juventus?"

"The most important thing now is to stay focused and take it one game at a time. The trophy won't be decided in August, but our attitude must start today."

"Buffon just secretly told me that the champagne in the locker room is almost gone. This kind of team atmosphere is exactly what we need: prepare seriously, enjoy the victory, and then continue to work hard tomorrow. After all, the Super Cup is waiting for us at the end of August."

"Roy's performance? To be honest, it doesn't surprise me at all. Five goals and two assists in just half a game in three games? That's his style. I knew it when we were at Monaco; you can never guess what he'll do next. He always manages to surprise you at the most unexpected times."

“Yes, we really wanted to sign him. I spoke with him many times, but in the end he chose Chelsea. It’s a pity, but every player has his own choices. I respect his decision, and he has always respected Juventus.”

"Regarding Roy, I must say—he will eventually become the best player in the world. Not because of how many goals he has scored now, but because of the incredible qualities he possesses. When we were at Monaco, our coaching staff discovered that the ceiling for ordinary players is a ceiling, while his ceiling is a constantly rising horizon."

"He always makes the right choice. Whether it's a sudden stop while running at high speed or an instant start from a standstill, every move he makes seems to be precisely calculated. This is not just physical talent, but a perfect combination of God-given football wisdom and acquired skills."

"Some players rely on instinct, some on experience, but Roy seems to possess both modes simultaneously. When you watch him dribble, you're amazed by his timing in changing direction; when you watch him pass, you're struck by his surgical vision. What's even more remarkable is..."

Deschamps pointed to his temple. "His intelligence may have been inherited from his parents; that ability to see the whole situation in the blink of an eye is more valuable than any physical ability."

"But what truly sets him apart is his relentless championship mentality. Many talented players are spoiled by their talent, but Roy uses his talent as fuel, playing every game as if it were his last. This mental quality is the key to his future ascension to the top of the world."

"Now that he's in the Premier League, all I can say is: don't try to predict his future using conventional wisdom. A player who led a team to the Champions League at 19 might rewrite the Ballon d'Or age record at 20. Of course."

Deschamps suddenly laughed. "I wouldn't be surprised at all if he showed up in Turin one day wearing a black and white striped shirt."

(End of this chapter)