When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 206 "The Post-Zidane Era"

The draw for the Champions League group stage took place in Monte Carlo, Monaco, and the results were quite dramatic.

Three groups feature fierce battles between Serie A and La Liga teams. AC Milan and Barcelona are in the same group, and their coaches, Ancelotti and Rijkaard, were teammates at AC Milan. In the Gamper Trophy match early this morning, Barcelona defeated AC Milan 2-1 at home.

Inter Milan face their arch-rivals Valencia.

In the quarterfinals of the 2002/03 season, Cooper led his team to eliminate his former club Valencia on away goals, relying on a solid defense.

The most dramatic matchup in this Champions League draw was undoubtedly the clash between defending champions Monaco and Chelsea.

The multiple grudges involved make this matchup particularly noteworthy:

First of all, Chelsea's current manager, Mourinho, is the coach who led Monaco to victory in last season's Champions League final against Porto.

He led the then-dominant Porto to the final, only to be utterly defeated by Monaco at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

Even more dramatic is the player-level storyline: Roy, the key player who led Monaco to a treble last season (Ligue 1, Champions League, and French Cup), joined Chelsea in the summer transfer window for a club-record fee of 40 million euros.

This attacking linchpin, nicknamed "The Devil" by Monaco fans, will return to his home ground in the Chelsea jersey during the group stage.

The good news is that Mourinho has finally gotten his long-awaited revenge match.

He not only faced his old rival Monaco again, but also held the same knife that had defeated him back then.

The bad news is that Deschamps, who personally defeated him, has moved to Juventus, and Blanc is now sitting on the Monaco coaching bench.

Although the stage for revenge has been set, the main adversary from back then has changed, making this revenge battle less of a head-to-head confrontation.

The specific results of the lottery are as follows:

Group A: Deportivo La Coruña, Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, Olympiacos.

Group B: Real Madrid, Roma, Bayer Leverkusen, Dynamo Kyiv.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Juventus, Ajax, Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Group D: Manchester United, Lyon, Sparta Prague, Fenerbahce.

Group E: Arsenal, Porto, PSV Eindhoven, Rosenberg.

Group F: Barcelona, ​​AC Milan, Celtic, Shakhtar Donetsk.

Group G: Valencia, Inter Milan, Anderlecht, Werder Bremen.

Group H: Monaco, Chelsea, Panathinaikos, CSKA Moscow.

On August 28, 2004, Roy slept until eight o'clock in the morning.

The fatigue from the Premier League and national team preparations in the past few weeks finally eased, and he was unusually free from the alarm clock and training schedule. He simply let the sunlight stream through the gaps in the curtains onto the bed and slowly woke up.

He rubbed his eyes, stretched, and listened to the occasional birdsong outside the window, feeling a long-lost tranquility.

There was no tension of a match day, no pressure of media interviews, only a day of laziness and relaxation.

"Finally, I can get a good night's sleep."

He muttered to himself, turned over, and decided to stay in bed for another ten minutes.

The next round of the Premier League doesn't start until September 11th, which means he has a two-week break, but the actual rest time is only two days.

The World Cup qualifiers will kick off on September 4, and the French national team has already sent out call-up notices.

This means that after a short rest in London, he will have to pack his bags and fly to the Clairefontaine training ground to report for duty.

Mourinho might have preferred him to rest for a few more days, but Domenech has already called.

National team matches cannot be refused.

Roy went downstairs, where a high-protein, low-fat breakfast customized by a nutritionist was already laid out on the dining table.

Boiled eggs, oatmeal, avocado, and chicken breast.

He had just sat down when his sister, Romi, rubbed her eyes and slowly walked downstairs in her nightgown.

"Brother, don't you have training today?" she asked, yawning.

"Rest today."

Roy smiled and handed her a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. "Here, have some with me."

Romy took the cup, took a sip, then suddenly put it down, tilted her head, and asked, "Brother, what do you think 'existentialism' means?"

Roy nearly choked on his oatmeal and looked up at her: "Where did you learn that word?"

Romy waved the book in his hand, Camus's "The Myth of Sisyphus," with a picture of a little man pushing a boulder on the cover.

"Stolen from your pile of books."

She looked serious. "But I don't quite understand why pushing the stone is considered 'resistance'."

Roy put down his fork, thought for a moment, and pointed to a tree outside the window, saying:
“Look at that tree. Every autumn, all its leaves fall off, and they grow back in the spring. It knows that the leaves will fall off again, but it still grows new leaves every year.”

Romy wrinkled her nose: "What kind of resistance is this?"

Roy laughed: "Because even knowing the outcome is useless, it still chooses to grow. It's the same with Sisyphus pushing the boulder. The gods wanted to punish him with 'wasting his efforts forever,' but he refused to admit defeat, and every time he pushed the boulder, it was as if he was saying: 'I'll give it a try.'"

Romy blinked: "...So he actually won?"

"Yes, he won because he didn't let those gods see him cry. Eat up, your orange juice is going to oxidize."

Roy pushed the orange juice towards her, and Romy opened her mouth as if to ask another question, but he smiled and wagged his finger:
"Your daily 'Why' quota has been used up. Please come back early tomorrow."

He tried his best to be a brother who wouldn't spoil the fun.

He patiently answered Romy's strange questions, sent Rowan to Real Madrid's youth academy to pursue his basketball dream, and even in his busy career, he remembered to keep his promises to his family.

Those who walk alongside Roy, if they can also achieve success on the path of supporting him, can stand shoulder to shoulder for a long time.

If the goals no longer align, parting ways becomes inevitable.

After breakfast, the security personnel knocked on the door to announce that the private therapist had arrived.

Roy lay down on the massage bed, letting the other person massage his tense leg muscles, and ice packs were placed on his knees.

The soreness made him frown, but he gritted his teeth and endured it when he thought about the World Cup qualifiers next week.

He then sat down at his desk and opened a stack of letters that the club staff had selected.

All of them were handwritten cards from young fans, with crooked colored handwriting, and some even had the Chelsea logo drawn on them.

“I wear the number 8 jersey to play for the school team! I didn’t cry when I scraped my knee yesterday. The nurse said I’m as brave as you.” — Thomas, 7 years old.

Roy's reply: "Dear Thomas: Number 8 is a great number. It means that you have to both charge into battle and take responsibility for your teammates."

A scar on the knee is a man's first medal, but you can cry next time you fall and hurt yourself. When I was a kid, I cried louder than you the first time I was tackled.

Be brave, but don't force it. —Roy

"Can girls be professional players? My goalkeeping coach said my saves are like Petr Cech's!" — Amy, 9 years old.

Roy's reply: "Dear Amy: Women's football already has the World Cup and the European Women's Club Cup, and in the future there will definitely be the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year. More girls will lift the trophies and fill the stadiums to capacity. Perhaps one day, we will stand on the highest podiums of men's and women's football respectively in the same year, and then laugh together and say, 'Back then, you were more reliable than Cech when you made saves.'"

Remember: Great goalkeepers aren't defined by gender, but by courage. —Roy

“Watching your games during chemotherapy made the pain go away; Mom said it was magic.” — Sofia, 10 years old.

Roy's reply: "Dear Sofia: Yes, I have magic, but the secret is: before each shot, I silently say, 'This ball is for the little warrior fighting against the pain.' Your mother is right, football is a painkiller, but the real magician is yourself. Next time you have chemotherapy, try blowing into the IV tube and pretending it's a free kick you just scored!"

P.S.: Enclosed is one of my wristbands; it's yours now. Wear it, and you'll be my starting teammate. —Roy

Roy paused for a moment when he saw the last letter.

"Dear Mr. Roy: "

I'm Harry Kane, and I joined Tottenham's youth academy this year!
The coach said my shooting is good, but I'm not fast enough and don't seem agile enough. I spent time in Arsenal's youth academy when I was 8, but they didn't think I was good enough. Now, even though I'm in Tottenham's youth team, I still wonder: can I really become a great striker?

I still have many questions I want to ask you.

Would you ever play for Tottenham? If North London fans pooled their money to sign you, like kids pooling money for a new net, would you come?
Everyone says Henry is the best striker in North London, but my dad and I think you're the best striker in London! — 11-year-old Harry

Roy smiled, picked up his pen, and wrote a reply.

"Dear Harry: I heard you've joined Tottenham's youth academy? That's wonderful! There are the best youth coaches in all of London there, and they'll help you become the best player."

Shooting ability is a natural talent, but running and agility can be developed through training. I know many top strikers who were told they were 'not fast enough' when they were young.

As for Arsenal?
They will definitely regret abandoning you in the future.

When you score in the North London derby, remember to glance at their coaching bench.

Keep working hard, and you will definitely become a striker that everyone remembers.

As for whether I will join Tottenham, I'm currently wearing Chelsea's blue, but in the world of football, 'never say never'.

If someone does raise money to sign me, remember to have your dad donate an extra five pounds!
Finally, you and your dad have really great taste! —Roy

In the afternoon, Roy nestled on the sofa and read Clint Eastwood's "A Fistful of Dollars" again.

This is one of his favorite actors. He could recite the lines from the movie long ago, but every time he saw that lone gunman in the cloak, he couldn't help but grin.

Roy saw that classic shot.

Clint stood in the blazing sun, wearing a tattered cloak, a revolver dangling at his waist.

The opponent drew his gun first, but he fired first and took him down with a single shot.

"It's noon."

Roy laughed after saying that.

In the evening, Roy sat at his desk, flipping through recent business reports and stock transaction records, the papers scattered haphazardly on the table.

The phone screen lit up every now and then, displaying a few text messages.

Most of the invitations came from teammates, with messages like "Come over to my place tonight" or "I'm having a private party tonight, wanna come?"

He glanced at it, but didn't reply immediately, continuing to tap numbers on the calculator.

My phone vibrated again.

"Hi, Roy, I'm Laura, the cover model for GQ last month~"

He simply turned off the screen.

Last week it was contestant Sarah, the day before yesterday it was reality TV star Tasha, and now even magazine models are showing up.

He couldn't match any of the names to his name, but they always managed to get his number through various means.

His relationship with Letizia had long been on the verge of collapse.

One plays football in London, the other works in Paris—it's like a scene from Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities."

There was no revolution or redemption between them, only increasingly long silences over overseas phone calls.

We've met so many times I can count them on my fingers.

Roy knew in his heart that he couldn't give her the stability she wanted.

The words "marriage" and "family" made him feel suffocated just thinking about them.

More realistically, marriage is never just a matter between two people.

Prenuptial agreements, prenuptial agreements, and ethical clauses in sponsorship contracts—aren't they all business?

They could have gotten away with it, until that UEFA awards banquet.

When Leticia saw the Deschamps and their child enjoying each other's company, she couldn't hide the envy in her eyes.

On the way back to the hotel, she suddenly asked, "Will we be like this in the future?"

Silence is like a slap in the face; that night's argument tore away even the last shred of dignity.

August 28, 2004, a high-end billiards club in London.

Gala squinted at the white ball, muttering, "Domenech? That guy's alright with the U21s, but the national team isn't a place for youth training. Houllier at least knows how the locker room works; even Blanco would be better than him."

The white ball exploded with a "bang" through the pile of red balls:
"Who knows what he's thinking? You saw it in the last game, the tactics were a mess. The people at the Football Association are just messing around. They all think coaching is a lucrative job, so they're desperately pushing their own people up there, fighting tooth and nail, and in the end they get this piece of trash. I don't think they ever wanted to win the World Cup."

Makelele silently wiped his cue, letting Gala's complaints echo in the pool hall.

He stared at the rolling white ball, without saying a word.

"If Zidane really retires, the locker room will probably be in chaos. Who will be in charge then?"

"Vieira? You? Or should Roy take over? He's only nineteen."

Makelele slowly dusted off the chocolate, listening to Gala get more and more excited as she talked:

"That kid was already this arrogant at nineteen. On his first day at Chelsea, in front of tens of thousands of people at Stamford Bridge, he talked about winning the Champions League. Now in the French national team's dressing room, besides Zidane, who has he ever given a second glance? Anyone who dares to challenge him ends up badly. He just snatched Wiltord's number 11 shirt without a second thought, and then he just disappeared."

"On the surface, he's all polite and courteous, but deep down he's all about it. 'Those who obey him prosper, those who defy him perish.' That kid doesn't respect anyone else. Does he really think of us as his underlings?"

The billiard ball rolled gently on the green cloth. Gala sighed, "His talent is undeniable, but in a place like the locker room where seniority is important, isn't he moving too fast?"

"So what do you want? To bench him? Or to get a bunch of old guys to gang up on him and beat him up?"

"These days, strength is seniority."

Makelele squinted at the black ball, then suddenly sneered, "Your mouth will get you into trouble sooner or later."

Later, when Gallas was captain of Arsenal, he indeed revealed the inside story of Arsenal's dressing room to The Sun. From the near fight between Van Persie and Walcott after the North London derby, to pointing out the "bad apples" in the team, and even implying that young players "did not strive for improvement after receiving high salaries".

Enraged, Wenger stripped him of his captain's armband, suspended him for one match, and fined him £18.

Even more fatal was that his teammates had long been dissatisfied with him: he was cowardly and sensitive, lacked leadership qualities, and even Fabregas and others who volunteered to take over as captain were too lazy to hide their ambitions.

Makelele stared intently at the billiard ball, his mind completely clear.

Back when Beckham first arrived at Real Madrid, he received the highest salary in the team, and 60% of his image rights were taken away.

He was furious and went on strike to demand a raise, but what happened? His name was the first on the layoff list.

He glanced at Gala, who was still rambling on, and thought to himself: Why bother arguing with a star player?

Roy is now an absolute key player for both the national team and his club, carrying the team forward in every match.

Having a striker who can handle goals, assists, and all the pressure is something to be grateful for.

What's wrong with young people being a little wild? Who wouldn't be wild in that situation?

Gala bent down and wiped his club, muttering under his breath, "I was just saying that."

Makelele sneered, "I think you've forgotten how Roy dealt with Wiltord."

"If Thierry weren't smart enough, I think he would have even tried to take him down. Just think about it, if he shouted 'It's either Henry or me,' who do you think would be the one to leave in the end? What makes you think you can compete with him? And even if you can't stand it and retire, when they actually win the World Cup in 06, you'll be stuck at home eating potato chips and watching TV!"

The billiard room suddenly became eerily quiet.

Henry's agent, Darren Dane, accompanied him to Charles de Gaulle Airport, where they were immediately surrounded by reporters as soon as they exited the gate.

The flashes went off in a blur, and the microphone was shoved right in front of someone's face.

"Thirry! What are your goals for the World Cup qualifiers? Are you confident about the 06 World Cup?"

Henry pushed his sunglasses up his nose: "The goal? To advance with a perfect record, of course. As for the World Cup..."

"When have we ever not been aiming for the championship?"

What's your opinion on Zidane not accepting the call-up this time?

“Zidane has his plans,” Henry shrugged. “We respect his decision.”

"If Zidane really is absent"

The reporter persisted, "Who's going to lead the team? You or Roy?"

Darren Dine suddenly interjected: "Everyone, please ask Domenech about national team matters."

He helped Henry out, saying, "Can't you let the players catch their breath? They just got off the plane."

Darren Deane is the son of Arsenal vice-chairman David Deane. Leveraging his father's extensive network in the football world, he has been deeply involved in Henry's career planning as Henry's long-term agent.

His most famous move was the €2400 million transfer of Henry from Arsenal to Barcelona in 2007.

The Deane family is considered an "invisible powerhouse" in the Premier League agent circle, and David Deane is one of the key figures who facilitated the establishment of the Premier League, brought in Wenger, and worked on Bergkamp.

Darren Dane pulled out his phone as soon as he got into the car and dialed a number: "Hello, it's me. What size is Roy wearing this time?"

A voice came from the other end of the phone: "Number 11."

Darren raised an eyebrow, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Number 11? Interesting."

If Roy were to wear the number 10 jersey in this World Cup qualifier, it would be a clear indication that he is trying to seize power.

Zidane is such a proud person; if he sees his number has been taken, he would never come back.

In this way, all the pressure fell on Roy's shoulders alone.

Scoring goals, orchestrating attacks, and taking the blame—you can't escape any of it.

What will Henry do then? He'll have no choice but to back down and obediently become Roy's assistant.

After all, they dared to wear a size 10, which clearly shows they wanted to be the boss.

Darren loosened his tie and chuckled, "At least this kid knows to leave some room for maneuver."

Henry let out a half-sneer, thinking to himself that this fool didn't understand anything.

Roy is so arrogant now that he doesn't even care about numbers.

It would be better if he actually considered you a rival, but the most frustrating thing is that he doesn't even take you seriously.

It's like your opponent in the boxing ring is still in a starting stance, but then they just walk right past you with their hands in their pockets.

On August 30, the French national team assembled at the Clairefontaine training ground to officially begin preparations for the World Cup qualifiers.

Roy, Henry, Vieira, Makelele and other big-name stars were all present.

Since his record-breaking transfer to Chelsea, 19-year-old Roy has become the "number one target" of the British media.

Following the UEFA awards ceremony in Monaco, Roy's argument with his girlfriend Leticia was seized upon and sensationalized by The Sun.

The newspaper not only provided a detailed account of the argument between the two that day, but also continued to track Leticia's itinerary, discovering that after returning to Paris, she immediately flew to the Emerald Coast of Sardinia, Italy, for a solo vacation.

The situation escalated.

An anonymous private investigator contacted The Sun, revealing that Leticia had hired him to stalk Roy in order to find out if the rising star had a new love interest in England.

But after only a few days, Leticia complained that he wasn't good at his job.

They kept losing track of Roy, so they fired him and replaced him with someone else.

However, before leaving, the kid still spilled some information, revealing part of Roy's whereabouts.

The Sun deliberately interpreted this discovery as evidence of a "relationship crisis," suggesting that the two may have encountered problems in their relationship.

Not only did he imply that he had a new love interest in the UK, but he also seriously analyzed the possible targets, even questioning the female assistant hired by Chelsea's physiotherapist.

His training details at Chelsea and his every move in the locker room were all magnified and analyzed by the media.

On August 31, Roy leaned against the window of his room at the Clairefontaine base, his phone pressed to his ear, listening expressionlessly to Isabel Perrin's analysis.

Roy hired Isabelle Perrin, a professor in the Department of Media Studies at the University of Bordeaux, as a full-time public relations consultant to help alleviate the increasingly heavy workload of business manager Claire.

As Roy's business empire rapidly expanded, Claire was no longer able to handle everything on her own.

"Roy, my advice is that you want to resolve your relationship issues, but you must minimize the impact of public opinion. These reports in The Sun are not just simple gossip; they are shaping a public image that is detrimental to you—an image of a frivolous and immature young player. This directly contradicts the brand values ​​that L'Oréal wants to convey. L'Oréal's contract is at a crucial point, and revealing relationship problems now will directly impact the 'reliable' brand image."

“L’Oréal’s consumers are primarily mature women who value a reliable and professional image. If they perceive you as not serious enough about relationships, it will directly impact your commercial value.”

“I analyzed the media reporting trends over the past week. The Sun’s report has been reprinted 37 times by other media outlets, and the discussion on social media is still rising. If we don’t intervene in time, this negative image will quickly become entrenched.”

“I will do three things for you: First, issue a statement emphasizing that ‘the two parties parted amicably after consultation and remain friends’ to avoid any negative interpretations; second, we need to arrange a public event to showcase your professional image, preferably related to children’s charity, to shift media focus; third, have L'Équipe publish a feature article about your extra training to strengthen your professional image.”

"But the condition is that you don't get photographed alone with any woman for the next two weeks. Just get through the contract period, and then you can break up with her however you want."

Roy listened in silence, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.

He suddenly realized the crux of the problem: it wasn't the gossip itself, but the shock of the contrast in appearance.

Just like Leonardo DiCaprio, who has always presented a suave image, luxury brands are drawn to his irreverent charm.

However, Roy had previously cultivated an image of a "prodigy," and L'Oréal valued his clean-cut, focused, and football-oriented qualities.

He recalled Beckham's lesson: when the "perfect husband" image crumbled, Gillette razors didn't hesitate to pull all their ads. He'd been too mild-mannered lately, almost forgetting his original anti-hero roots.

That arrogant newcomer who boasted on the banks of the Seine that he would "conquer Real Madrid like Attila trampled Rome"; who declared in a post-match interview that "the entire Ligue 1 should be afraid of us"; and who made the "Gates of Hell" gesture at the camera after scoring a goal.

That rebellious genius, described by L'Équipe as "making a fiery entrance," is truly what he is like at heart.

This kind of persona, which carries a dangerous aura, is more resilient to storms than a carefully crafted "perfect boy."

Fortunately, he realized his mistake early and didn't let himself get completely trapped in that false image of a well-behaved child.

After all, a "bad boy" who never hides his brilliance will always have more commercial value than a fallen "saint".

He took the bad boy act to the extreme, from provoking opponents to disregarding the rules; he was the only one like him.

Ibrahimovic is too deliberate, Cassano is too flamboyant, but his natural rebelliousness carries a genuine quality that makes people both love and hate him.

This unique, sharp edge is what makes his business label so valuable.

Just like Jordan's dominance and Cantona's arrogance, people will always pay for genuine talent, but sooner or later they will get tired of those meticulously designed perfect masks.

On the evening of August 31, French football legend Jacquet made a rare public statement, directly criticizing Zidane and Thuram's decision to retire from the national team.

The 1998 World Cup-winning coach was scathing, saying the two star players "will surely regret their recklessness."

Zinedine Zidane, the midfield maestro who led the French team to consecutive World Cup and European Championship victories, suddenly announced his retirement from the national team on August 12.

Following closely behind, Desailly, Lizarazu, Thuram, and other members of the 98 golden generation also retired their boots, and the once invincible French team fell apart in just half a month.

In his speech, Jacquet said he fully understood Desailly and Lizarazu's retirement, but Zidane and Thuram were only 32 years old and had not "fulfilled their utmost responsibility" to their country.

The staunch coach told Football magazine: "No generation has achieved as much as theirs. I have great respect for them. However, they did not fully fulfill their responsibilities. I do not want to interfere with their decisions, but I believe they are fully capable of continuing to play for the national team. They failed to lend a helping hand to the new coach, Domenech."

Jacquet became increasingly agitated as he spoke: "I firmly believe they will regret it in a few months!"

In an effort to retain veteran players, new coach Domenech flew to Madrid and Marseille to plead with them, but Zidane, Lizarazu, and others still insisted on retiring.

Jacquet was scathing in his criticism: "They put the head coach in a very awkward position. I could clearly sense that Zidane and Thuram could easily postpone their retirement. I don't want to use harsh words to attack them, but as members of the national team, serving one's country is the least one's responsibility while one is still able to play!"

French media generally believe that this is inseparable from Roy's sudden emergence.

This summer, Roy not only helped Monaco achieve a treble, but also won the Champions League top scorer title with a record-breaking performance.

During the European Championship, he scored ten goals, almost single-handedly carrying the offensive banner for the French team.

As a leading figure of the new generation in France, Roy's rise has put the veterans in an awkward position.

Henry was able to adjust his mindset and coexist with the rising star, but Zidane, as the team's absolute core, faced a dilemma: he could neither suppress the talented young man on the field nor accept a subordinate role.

Ultimately, this veteran player chose the most decisive way: retirement.

The French team is in a turbulent period of transition, with many questioning whether 19-year-old Roy can shoulder the team's burden.

On the field, his ability is beyond question.

But in the locker room, they believed that Monaco had Giuly in charge, while the French team had long been dominated by Zidane.

Now you want this youngest kid on the team to manage the locker room?
Many people shook their heads: "He's just a young kid himself, how can he possibly keep the place in check?"

On the evening of September 1, a black sedan slowly drove into the Carrington training ground.

The car door opened, and 18-year-old Wayne Rooney, accompanied by his agent, walked briskly towards the training camp, dressed in a simple T-shirt and jeans.

In the distance, a flurry of flashes illuminated the scene, and the boy subconsciously squinted, pulling his baseball cap brim even lower.

曼联官网正式宣布完成埃弗顿18岁锋线新星鲁尼的转会，基础转会费2000万英镑（首付1000万，剩余2005年8月前付清），附加条款最高可达700万英镑（与球员留队、出场次数及球队成绩挂钩）。

Meanwhile, Manchester United included French striker Saha in the deal, further facilitating the agreement.

Rooney has signed a six-year contract with a weekly wage of approximately £50,000 and will wear the number 9 jersey, a symbol of Manchester United's starting lineup.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: "I am very happy. I think we have acquired the best young player the country has seen in 30 years. Everyone is happy about this transfer."

Manchester United chief executive David Gill said: "We are delighted to have reached an agreement on Rooney's transfer. He will be a huge asset to Manchester United and, without a doubt, he will have a bright future."

On the same day, Rooney's sex scandal completely overshadowed other Premier League star scandals.

British media revealed that he had relationships with at least 60 prostitutes in 18 months, and his activities took place in several brothels in Liverpool.

His fiancée Coleen was furious and demanded that he break off all ties with his three childhood friends who had "corrupted" him. Rooney tearfully confessed and complied.

Colleen's father confirmed that the engagement is still valid, but emphasized that "the relationship is in the hands of his daughter."

Roy's PR team was completely stunned when they saw the news about Rooney.

They had previously treated Roy's scandal with great urgency, issuing statements and arranging charity events, only to realize now that they had completely misjudged the situation.

It wasn't that they were too professional, but rather that Roy's fame had risen so quickly that they had the illusion that such a small matter could really ruin his image.

It turned out that the reason was that they couldn't understand the world of talented players.

Someone on the team shook their head with a wry smile: "Did we take Roy too seriously? Oh no, I mean..."

On September 2nd, major news came from the French national team.

Barthez suffered a foot injury during training and the team doctor confirmed that he will miss France's next two World Cup qualifiers.

On the same day, the French Football Federation announced a surprising decision: 19-year-old Roy will replace Barthez as the second captain of the French national team.

This decision immediately sparked heated discussions.

It's worth noting that Roy is not only the youngest player in the current French national team, but also one of the youngest captains in the team's history.

French national team coach Raymond Domenech said at a press conference: "Although Roy is young, his leadership on the field is evident. His performance at the European Championship proved that he can step up in crucial moments. We believe he can fulfill this role."

What's even more intriguing is that just a month ago, Zidane and other veterans announced their retirement from the national team.

Now, the captain's armband has been handed directly to the youngest player, Roy, marking the official entry of the French team into the "post-Zidane era".

Roy had already come up with a plan.

When asked by the media about Zidane, he replied sincerely: "As a young player, I must admit that Zidane's contribution to French football is irreplaceable. His control in midfield, his decisiveness in crucial moments, and his experience in winning important championships are all valuable assets that this national team urgently needs. We respect his decision to retire, but objectively speaking, a player like him, who combines technique and leadership, is a rare find for any team."

“I personally still have a lot to learn from him, especially in terms of game reading and tempo control. The French team is currently in a transitional period, and having a leader like him on the field will be a huge help to the development of young players.”

He plans to decline the vacant number 10 jersey three times.

First, politely decline twice, then "reluctantly" accept on the third attempt.

France's new head coach, Domenech, is placing great importance on the upcoming match against Israel.

Recently, he issued a series of strict team rules: uniforms must be worn during training, the team's meal times must be fixed, and an internal review must be conducted after each game.

These new rules have sparked considerable debate in French football, with some supporting them and others questioning them.

At the same time, Domenech made sweeping changes to the French team's lineup.

During the recent training camp, the team tried various formations and tactics, but has yet to determine a final solution.

Until the final tactical meeting before the game, when the coaching staff presented the finalized tactical formation to the whole team, the locker room fell silent.

No one expected the head coach to make such a bold tactical change.

Roy leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the tactics board.

Domenech was excitedly waving his marker, his voice rising higher and higher:

"After repeated studies by the coaching staff, we decided to adopt the 3-5-2 system. This is not a conservative concession, but a proactive change to maximize the strengths of the players."

“Coupet guards the goal, and the defense consists of Gallas, Squillaci and Givet as a three-man backline. Their complementarity can cover all aerial and ground threats.”

"The wings are key. Mendy and Evra must move up and down like the Pistons, participating in the attack and tracking back in time. The midfield is anchored by Vieira and Makelele as the double pivot, whose experience and interception ability are the cornerstone of the transition between attack and defense."

Roy's gaze lingered on Bernard Mendy's name.

This full-back, who can't even secure a starting position at Paris Saint-Germain, was now heavily circled by Domenech with a red marker.

"Rothen plays as the attacking midfielder, responsible for linking the midfield and the forward line. The strike partnership is Henry and Roy. Some might say this formation is too aggressive? But I would say that this style of play is designed to make Henry and Roy comfortable. The 3-5-2 formation is not a compromise, but a stage tailor-made for them!"

Henry frowned slightly, while Roy remained silent with his head down.

Neither of them showed any joy.

"How exactly to play? Let them decide. Roy can roam on the left wing or drop back to support; that's the unpredictability I want!"

While this 3-5-2 formation can enhance midfield control, it also has obvious shortcomings: the defense on both flanks relies too much on Mendy and Evra's ability to travel back and forth. Once they push forward to attack, the three-center-back system is prone to exposing gaps on the flanks.

While the two defensive midfielders, Vieira and Makelele, are strong in interception, their coverage area is limited when facing fast counter-attacks.

The forward trio of Rothen, Henry, and Roy lacked a clear division of roles in their runs, which easily led to overlapping positioning.

Even more critically, the front three lacked effective link-up play; Rothen's playmaking ability was not yet at a top level, and there was a lack of chemistry between Henry and Roy.

Overall, this style of play places extremely high demands on players' physical fitness and tactical discipline; a slight misstep can lead to an imbalance between offense and defense.

And why choose Rothen instead of Giuly? Although both are equally dear to me.

Using the tactics manual as cover, Roy nudged Juli beside him with his elbow and whispered, "Hey, tell me the truth, didn't you listen to my advice and actually went to mess with that female host?"

Juli's face turned deathly pale instantly, and he hurriedly shook his head, "What nonsense are you talking about! How could I possibly..."

He suddenly stopped mid-sentence, his gaze involuntarily drifting towards the coach's bench.

Roy took a deep breath and lowered his voice, "You'd better think about Diego."

September 4, 2004, Stade de France, World Cup qualifier
The opening whistle blew, and the French team kicked off first.

Domenech's 3-5-2 formation immediately launched an attack.

In the 3rd minute, Rothen received the ball in midfield, looked up to observe, and then sent a through ball. Roy made a run from the left flank, and facing the defense of Israeli center-back Saban, he used the inside of his foot to deftly flick the ball, creating space before shooting. The ball grazed the right post and went out of bounds.

The Israeli team quickly regained their composure.

Their 5-3-2 formation was very compact, with the two defensive lines maintaining good spacing, making it difficult for the French team to find space to penetrate.

In the 11th minute, Israel's left wing-back Antbi suddenly surged forward, taking advantage of the space left by Mendy's attacking run, and received a pass from Benayoun before crossing from the byline.

Center forward Goran attempted a header in the penalty area, but Gallas hastily cleared the ball, which fell to Tal outside the penalty area. Tal took a long-range shot, but Coupet made a diving save to push the ball out for a corner.

The French team's tactical problems are beginning to surface.

The three-center-back system was not solid enough in defense, especially with the two wing-backs, Mendy and Evra, frequently pushing forward, which often left gaps on the flanks.

Although the defensive midfield pairing of Vieira and Makelele was experienced, their coverage was clearly insufficient when facing Israel's fast counter-attacks.

In the 18th minute, Roy created another threat.

He received a long pass from Makelele on the left wing, used his speed to beat Israeli right-back Afik, cut into the penalty area and crossed to the middle, where Henry attempted a shot, but Bernardo blocked it with his body.

Israel's counter-attacks were very threatening.

In the 25th minute, Benayoun intercepted Rothen in midfield and quickly passed the ball to Tal on the right wing. Tal dribbled forward and crossed the ball, which Cattan shot from the edge of the penalty area, but the ball went just over the crossbar.

France's attack relies too heavily on Roy's individual abilities.

In the 32nd minute, Roy dropped back to midfield to receive the ball, evaded two defenders, and then sent a through ball to Henry, who broke through on goal, but Davydovic rushed out in time to block the ball.

Israel's defense was very well organized.

Their five-defender system made it difficult for the French team to find a breakthrough, especially center-back Bernardo, who made several crucial interceptions.

In the 38th minute, Roy attempted to cut inside and shoot, but Bernardo made timely cover and blocked the ball out of bounds with his body.

France had their best chance near the end of the first half.

In the 43rd minute, Evra crossed the ball from the left wing, and Roy suddenly changed his strategy at the near post, not shooting directly, but instead flicking the ball with his head towards the far post.

The ball arced towards the penalty area, and Henry leaped near the penalty spot, attempting a bicycle kick.

But he lost his balance in mid-air, his right foot missed the target, and the ball eventually rolled out of bounds, grazing the grass.

The Israeli defenders breathed a sigh of relief, and Davydovic loudly directed the defense to rearrange itself.

In stoppage time, the Israeli team nearly scored.

Benayoun took a corner kick, Saban flicked the ball on with his head at the near post, and Golan volleyed it from close range at the far post, but Coupet instinctively blocked the ball with his leg.

Roy walked off the court with his head down, sweat dripping down his cheeks.

The Israeli players excitedly high-fived and hugged, their faces beaming with joy.

In the stands of the Stade de France, the fans were silent. Some shook their heads and sighed, while others crossed their arms, their eyes filled with disappointment.

Domenech stood on the sidelines, scratching his head incessantly, his brow furrowed.

Domenech: "In the second half, you must lock down the space between Saban and Bernardo, and stop dropping back!"

Roy: "But Rothen's passes never reached my feet."

Domenech: "Have Henry pull wide and draw the defense away, you focus on attacking the far post. Remember, every time you cross, you must win the ball at the far post!"

Roy frowned and interrupted, "Every game I'm surrounded by two or three guys, and once I enter the penalty area, they just block me up like a wall. How am I supposed to break through?"

He pulled up the hem of his jersey to wipe his sweat. "The midfield is packed with Vieira and Makelele, plus Evra making a forward run. The penalty arc is crammed with people. I don't even have room to turn around! As for the far post you mentioned, I'm afraid I can't even get a jumping position."

Domenech: "Then create set pieces! Saban's handball is dirty, so get close to him."

France's 3-5-2 formation is too simplistic, relying mainly on crosses from the flanks.

But when Israel adopted a 5-3-2 defensive formation, there were always seven or eight defensive players crammed into the penalty area.

Every time Roy got the ball, he was tightly marked by Bernardo and Saban.

Under the tight defensive pressure, attacking midfielder Rothen was unable to pass the ball well, forcing Roy to frequently run back to midfield to receive the ball.

The most dangerous attack in the 32nd minute of the first half was created by his dribbling breakthrough from midfield. This constant running back and forth significantly reduced his threat in the penalty area.

What's more troublesome is that Domenech insisted on playing Henry as a right center forward, resulting in him and Roy often crowding onto the left side.

The attack in the 18th minute was obvious; after Roy crossed the ball, Henry ran over to try and get to the ball, and the two were completely overlapping.

This arrangement not only wastes Roy's finishing ability but also prevents Henry from fulfilling his supporting role.

Although Roy created three good chances in the first half through his individual ability, including a beautiful header in the 43rd minute, the team's tactical coordination was too poor, and even the best striker could hardly make a difference.

In fact, Roy performed quite well when he played as a right forward, but Domenech insisted on making adjustments after taking over.

He put Roy back on the left wing, where he was most familiar, and forced Henry to the right wing, saying it was to "clarify the tactical division of labor."

But as Henry played, he started drifting to the left wing. Roy wasn't the kind of player like Bergkamp who would play a supporting role. Asking him to accommodate Henry's movement? No way.

The result was that the left flank was crowded with players, while the right flank was left unused, and the tactics became increasingly chaotic as the game progressed.

Domenech's arrangement not only failed to establish his authority but also wasted the abilities of two top strikers.

The second half began, and the French team still couldn't break the deadlock.
Domenech stood on the sidelines, his face grim.

France's attack remained chaotic, with Roy and Henry barely coordinating in the attacking third, each playing their own game.

In the 51st minute, Roy received the ball on the left wing and made a strong breakthrough past Saban, but was intercepted by Bernardo and the recovering Tal as soon as he entered the penalty area.

Israel launched a swift counter-attack, with Benayoun playing a through ball to Golan, who broke into the penalty area and fired a low shot, which Coupet saved by diving to his feet.

In the 57th minute, Domenech made his first substitution.

Giuly was substituted for Mendy in an attempt to strengthen the attack on the right flank.

Giuly's introduction of the team did bring smoother right-wing play. His passing accuracy was significantly better than Mendy's, and several low crosses and 45-degree diagonal passes found dangerous areas.

The problem is that neither Roy nor Henry are traditional center forwards, and their ability to win headers in the penalty area is limited.

In the 59th minute, Giuly delivered a beautiful, curved cross to the edge of the six-yard box, but Roy, under pressure from Bernardo, failed to connect properly.

Three minutes later, he delivered another low cross, but Henry's shot at the near post was cleared by Saban because he was a little slow to get going.

France's attack still lacked threat, and Roy had to drop back frequently to receive the ball, but every time he dribbled forward, he was surrounded by two or three players.

In the 63rd minute, Roy once again demonstrated his individual ability. He received a pass from Vieira in midfield, dribbled past Badil and Tal with a series of changes of direction, but just as he advanced to the edge of the penalty area, he was cleanly tackled and destroyed by the covering Saban.

Israel quickly launched a counter-attack. Katan broke through Givet on the right wing and crossed the ball, but Goran's header went just wide.

In the 66th minute, Domenech made another substitution.

Pires replaced Rothen, hoping to improve the attacking organization with his experience and passing ability.

However, the French team's tactical system remained chaotic, and Pires's introduction of the team did not change the situation.

Roy and Henry still lacked understanding, and their runs even overlapped in the 71st minute.

When Roy cut inside from the left, Henry also moved to the same area, blocking the passing lanes and allowing the Israeli defender to easily intercept the ball.

In the 75th minute, Roy made a strong breakthrough on the left wing, beating Antbi and Saban in succession, but after entering the penalty area, Bernardo and Iham quickly surrounded him, and Roy's shot was blocked out of bounds.

This was France's most threatening attack in the second half, but it still failed to result in a goal.

As the match entered its final stages, almost all the Israeli players retreated to the edge of the penalty area, forming a moving wall.

A few Israeli fans who had traveled with the team began to sing folk songs, their voices echoing amidst boos from the French fans.

Domenech's first official match in charge of the French national team was on the verge of ending in an embarrassing draw.

For over eighty minutes, his team struggled against Israel's impenetrable defense like headless flies.

Crosses were cleared, long-range shots went wide, and even Roy's several individual breakthroughs were drowned out by the blue and white striped defense.

The boos at the Stade de France grew louder, and the broadcast cameras repeatedly captured Domenech's agitated expression as he frantically pulled at his hair on the coaching bench.

The match had reached the 89th minute when France was awarded a free kick in a good position, about 25 meters from the goal, slightly to the left.

In the 88th minute, Roy played a one-two with Pires just outside the penalty area.

As he received the ball with his back to the goal, Saban immediately closed in.

Roy feigned a pass back, but at the moment of contact, he flicked the ball backwards with his heel, then suddenly turned and made a powerful run!

Bernardo hurriedly covered for the defense, and Roy feigned going to the outside by lowering his left shoulder, then suddenly changed direction and cut towards the middle, creating an angle with two consecutive changes of direction.

Just as he was about to kick, Tal, who was chasing back, launched a tackle from the side and behind, and Roy fell to the ground.

The referee blew his whistle and awarded France a free kick in an excellent position, but did not show a yellow card.

Roy sat on the ground, rubbed his ankle, and looked up at the scoreboard.

The score of 0-0 flashed glaringly.

The boos at the Stade de France grew louder, this time directed at the referee.

Roy stood in front of the ball, took a deep breath, and stared at the wall of players and the goalkeeper's position.

The Israeli players formed a tense wall, while goalkeeper Davidovich directed the defense, taking two steps closer to the near post, seemingly anticipating Roy's shot towards the far post.

Run-up, kick.

Roy's shot arced over the wall and headed straight for the top right corner of the goal!

Davydovic lunged to make the save, but the ball was too fast. His fingertips barely grazed the ball, but he couldn't change its direction.

"Swish!" The ball slammed into the net!

The Stade de France erupted in cheers, which nearly lifted the roof off.

The moment Roy's curling shot hit the net, Domenech sprang up from the bench as if electrocuted, waving his fist and rushing to the sidelines.

His tie was already askew, and his suit jacket billowed up as he ran, revealing the back of his shirt soaked with sweat.

At this moment, she was jumping and skipping like a child.

His face flushed red, he yelled at the teaching assistant, "I told you so! I fucking told you he could do it!"

Roy didn't celebrate wildly; he just stood there, clenched his fists, and exhaled heavily.

He turned his head and glanced at the sidelines.

Domenech was excitedly waving his arms in celebration.

Roy's lips twitched slightly, and a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.

If you keep playing with abstract concepts like this, I'm really going to have to punish you.

1-0! France finally broke the deadlock in the final moments!

(End of this chapter)