When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 210 Defense Wins Championships, But Talent Determines the Ceiling
On September 20, 2004, during a rest day after the league, Roy arrived at the parking lot of the golf club in Surrey as agreed.

As Roy drove his Land Rover into the parking lot, Lampard and Bridge were chatting by the car.

The two men had their golf bags neatly stacked in the trunk, looking like soldiers about to go to battle.

Roy parked the Land Rover and took a brand-new set of golf clubs from the trunk; the packaging film was still on.

“I just bought it yesterday,” he patted the golf bag, the metal clubheads clanging loudly. “The salesperson said this set is best for beginners.”

Lampard glanced at the gold-stamped "Titleist" logo and limited edition model on the golf bag and whistled: "A beginner's set? I played for five years before I could afford clubs of this level."

Bridge was laughing so hard he couldn't stand up straight: "You bought equipment, not skills."

Roy grinned and slung his bag over his shoulder: "Anyway, it's Abu's money I'm spending."

The three walked toward the course, joking around, with Lampard recounting his embarrassing moment of making a hole-in-one last week.

The ball went in, but unfortunately it was in the hole on the other side of the course.

The club's neatly trimmed lawn gleamed in the sunlight, and a few white dots moved slowly in the distance.

The manager was looking at the appointment list at the door when he looked up and saw three Premier League stars walking over. He immediately jogged over to greet them.

"Mr. Lampard! Mr. Bridge!"

He greeted him warmly, but paused noticeably when his gaze fell on Roy, his tone instantly becoming eight octaves more respectful, "Mr. Roy! Welcome, welcome!"

He rubbed his hands together. "Have you ever played golf before?"

Roy shrugged: "Never touched it."

The manager's smile widened: "No problem! We'll arrange the best coach for you!"

Under the coach's guidance, Roy awkwardly swung his club a few times, the ball either veering into the grass or rolling several meters away.

Lampard and Bridge played with ease, occasionally stopping to give him a few pointers.

“Don’t be too stiff with your wrist,” Lampard demonstrated the movement, “Just imagine you’re kicking a curveball.”

Roy laughed and said, "I could score a curveball with my eyes closed. This thing is much harder than a penalty kick."

Lampard: "By the time you play all 18 holes, your legs will be more sore than after overtime."

By the tenth hole, Roy finally hit a decent drive.

The white ball streaked across the sky and landed thirty yards from the hole.

He twirled his cue stick triumphantly: "See? That's what you call talent."

The three chatted casually, from last week's game to funny stories from the locker room.

The coach looked at Roy with some surprise.

This striker, who is fierce and menacing on the field like a living devil, is now chatting and laughing like a friendly boy next door.

Not only could he joke around with Lampard and Bridge at the same time, but he could also find time to chat with the coach. When he heard that the coach's son was in the West Ham United youth academy, Roy immediately perked up and reminded him as someone who had been there: "Make them practice their weak foot more. If they don't practice it when they're young, they'll suffer a lot when they go to the professional arena."

Lampard interjected with a laugh: "Personal guidance from the Premier League's top striker is far more effective than guidance from youth coaches."

The contrast between his on-field and off-field performances is astonishing; he doesn't seem like a superstar earning a top salary in the Premier League at all, but rather like an old friend he's known for many years.

"By the way, what's your son's position?"

"Goalkeeper."

The sun climbed directly overhead, and the grass began to radiate heat.

Roy's last shot finally flew straight for dozens of meters, and all three of them applauded.

“That’s enough, that’s enough,” Bridge shouted, wiping his sweat. “If we keep playing like this, I’ll get tanned like Drogba.”

Lampard smiled as he put away his clubs: "Roy improved rapidly today; he can challenge for par next time."

Roy casually tossed the glove to the caddie and pulled out a few bills from his wallet, handing them over: "Thanks for your hard work."

"Come on, all I want to do right now is take a shower."

After playing golf, the three of them took a shower and changed their clothes.

Lampard stuffed his clubs into the trunk and turned to suggest, "I know a little Italian restaurant in Knightsbridge; their seafood pasta is definitely worth a try."

Roy frowned. "From Surrey to Knightsbridge? That's at least an hour's drive from here."

Bridge also suggested that they could settle it on the spot, as he knew of a good restaurant in Wimbledon.

"Come on. That crappy place doesn't even have a decent olive oil. Take the A3 and turn onto Parkside, it'll take at least forty minutes."

Roy frowned. He had never been a fan of British food, but the thought of driving for more than an hour to Knightsbridge made him hesitate.

However, hearing that they were going to eat Italian food was better than continuing to endure fish and chips, he finally nodded reluctantly: "Okay, hopefully the spaghetti will be worth the journey."

The three cars drove out of the golf club one after another.

Lampard's Mercedes led the way, Roy's black Land Rover followed in the middle, and Bridge's blue BMW brought up the rear.

The Italian restaurant in Knightsbridge Alley is small, with wooden tables and chairs that are polished to a shine.

The owner personally served the seafood pasta, the shrimp still glistening with oil.

Roy picked up a fork, chewed it twice, and nodded.

Bridge had already taken a second bite and mumbled indistinctly, "It really works."

The three of them pushed open the wooden door of the restaurant, and the afternoon sun slanted down onto the stone pavement.

Bridge pulled out his car keys and twirled them on his finger: "I know you guys are all free later, how about a drink at the usual place?"

Roy glanced at his watch: "No alcohol for 36 hours before training, but a cup of coffee is fine."

The two Englishmen exchanged a glance and laughed in unison: "Come on!"

Ten minutes later, the three cars stopped one after another in front of a Georgian-style red brick building.

The security guard at the entrance saw them and quietly opened the side door.

The sound of billiard balls clashing and faint laughter and curses drifted from the end of the corridor, while the air was filled with the mixed scents of cigars and leather sofas.

A waiter in a white shirt led them into the innermost private room. Bridge sank into the sofa and immediately ordered: "Scotch whisky, no ice. And a box of Montecristo cigars."

"I want the one with the aluminum tube."

The waiter didn't even lift his eyelids, turning around to get the goods. These days, there aren't many Premier League stars who don't touch this stuff.

In the 2004 Premier League dressing room, half the team smoked.

Ferguson's "hairdryer" only cared about winning and losing, while Wenger prohibited alcohol, but Arsenal's French players still secretly drank red wine, and Arsenal was also a notorious heavy smoker.

The dressing room was notorious for its smoke in Wenger's early years.

In the team that won the double championship in 98, a few French veterans who were heavy smokers always liked to gather in a corner to smoke after training, and even the captain Adams was used to it.

It wasn't until Wenger later established rules that the smell of smoke gradually dissipated from the locker room.

But some people always sneakily smoke it in private.

"Want to try some? It's Dominican."

Bridge cut the end of the cigar and handed it to Roy.

Lampard was already smoking across the street, the smoke swirling under the chandeliers.

Roy waved his hand: "I don't smoke."

The three of them started chatting, their conversation ranging from team gossip to recent transfer rumors.

According to Italian media outlet Calciomercato, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich plans to acquire three Ajax players in a package deal: a €1500 million offer for Rafael van der Vaart, who recently scored twice in the Eredivisie, a €900 million offer for Wesley Sneijder, and a €100 million plus player Edinson Babayaro in exchange for Maxwell.

The report states that these offers are exploratory, and Chelsea hopes to complete the deal during the winter transfer window.

Lampard took a sip of whiskey and asked casually, "You've fought Van der Vaart and Sneijder, how did they fare?"

Both of them are midfielders, and he feels threatened.

Roy sensed the probing in his words and chuckled, "What, are you worried that Mourinho's tactics board won't have room for your name?"

Bridge watched as the two suddenly fell silent, cigar ash falling softly into the ashtray.

"Frank, I really enjoyed playing with you. The two of us, and Didier too, we're not quite on the same wavelength yet, otherwise we'd definitely have the most formidable attacking line in the Premier League."

Roy looked at Lampard with a firm gaze, making his position clear: he fully supported Lampard and enjoyed working with him.

He proved himself to be an indispensable player and demonstrated his core status in just six league games and one Champions League match for Chelsea.

If Roy expresses his willingness to have a ball-handling, playmaking midfielder behind him during the winter transfer window, the club will likely consider signing Sneijder or another similar player.

But at this moment, Roy made it clear that he believes Lampard is the most suitable person to stand behind him and build the best attacking system for Chelsea.

"As for Sneijder, his passing is quite interesting, and he has the potential to become a core player for the Netherlands. And then there's our team's Arjen."

"As for Van der Vaart, forget about him."

Bridge interjected, "Is that the kid who was competing with you for the Golden Boy award?"

Roy swirled his glass, the ice clinking against each other: "It's not to the point of fighting over it. The Italian judges have good taste."

Around six o'clock, Roy glanced at his watch, got up, and said goodbye.

Bridge, engrossed in his story, waved his half-smoked cigar, urging him to stay longer: "Sit a little longer! There'll be more later."

“No,” Roy straightened his shirt collar. “I have things to do at home.”

Lampard raised his glass to him as a farewell.

Roy had just stepped out of the private room when Bridge's voice came from behind him:

"Frank, I've always thought Roy was a good guy. About that incident before... the training..."

Roy chuckled and muttered to himself, "With your naivety, you'll probably end up thinking French women are nice too. Terry also thinks that woman is pretty good."

In the evening, Mourinho studied his new tactical system at home. The core of his 4-3-3 tactical system is the combination of a solid defense, explosive wing play, and quick counter-attacks.

The tactical board was covered with the names of Monaco players.

Roy, Giuly, Morientes—these names are like knives, piercing to the eye.

Since losing that Champions League final in Gelsenkirchen, he has lost count of how many times he has dismantled the tactics of this red and white team.

Every time I review the game, those scenes replay in my mind like slow motion: Roy's change of direction, Evra's tireless sprints, and Pedroti's precise long passes.
He bit the pen cap and added a few more lines of annotations to his notebook.

Monaco's 433 is like a precision machine.

Left winger Roy is the real explosive point; he doesn't need to track back too far, but he must create threats every time he gets the ball.

Either cut inside and shoot, or cross from the byline.

Center forward Morientes is the pivot, responsible for receiving the ball with his back to goal and making runs into the box, while also creating space for the two wingers.

Right winger Giuly is more like a supporting winger, needing to drop back frequently to support and create opportunities for Maicon to make runs forward.

The attacking midfielder Rothen is the pivot connecting the midfield and the forward line. He doesn't need to dribble much, but he needs to ensure that the ball is quickly moved to the danger zone.

Left defensive midfielder Pedretti is the defensive core, responsible for sweeping and covering, as well as dropping back between the center-backs to receive the ball, and making long passes and distributions.

Right defensive midfielder Bernardi is more involved in attacking organization, forming a diawa-style combination with Maicon on the right flank.

In defense, left-back Evra is the invisible engine, his forward runs creating one-on-one opportunities for Roy.

Left center-back Abidal is responsible for pressing forward, while right center-back Squillaci drops back to provide cover.

Giuly plays the role of a winger on the right wing, often dropping back into midfield to assist Rothen in organizing and orchestrating the attack.

His inward movement created wide openings for Maicon, allowing the Brazilian full-back to fully utilize his explosiveness and crossing ability, becoming a true attacking force on the right flank.

This division of labor allows Monaco's right-wing attack to maintain both organizational structure and the ability to launch single-target attacks.

The core of Monaco's tactical system lies in dynamic fluidity.

Through frequent positional changes of the attacking trident, the full-backs pushing forward significantly, and the midfielders rotating quickly, coupled with the excellent physical conditioning built by fitness coach Pintus, the team achieved continuous high-intensity running for 90 minutes.

This rapid offensive and defensive transition, built on superior athleticism, allows the team to maintain both offensive breadth and depth, creating a multi-pronged offensive attack.

Chelsea's 4-3-3 must be sharper and more lethal.

He stared at the tactics board, where Makelele's name was pinned to the defensive midfield position.

This is the iron gate of the defense line.

Roy's name was pinned to the left wing.

He is the core of the entire tactical system.

His individual ability is beyond doubt; he excels in dribbling, shooting, and passing.

But Mourinho wants more than just his talent; he wants him to unleash his full potential within the team framework.

“Others need to create space for him,” Mourinho drew arrows on the tactics board, “but Roy also needs to track back, stretch the defense, and relieve pressure on his teammates in crucial moments.”

This is the balance – the whole team revolves around Roy, and Roy must repay that trust with goals and assists.

Talent and discipline are both indispensable.

Drogba was at the forefront, like a nail driven into the opponent's defense.

"First, tighten the defense," he muttered to himself, "then rely on the wingers to create gaps, and the counter-attacks must be quick, getting into the opponent's penalty area within three touches."

This was his plan: solid defense, flank attacks, and a fatal blow.

Simple, direct, and effective.

The roar of a Land Rover engine outside the window interrupted Mourinho's thoughts.

When he looked up, his wife Mathilde had already opened the door.

"Joseph, your guest has arrived."

Roy stood at the door, still carrying the chill of the night breeze.

He nodded to Mathilde, who smiled slightly and led him directly to the study.

The study door was open, but Mourinho didn't even look up, still engrossed in his tactical board.

The light from the desk lamp illuminated his furrowed brow, and his tactical notes were scattered all over the floor.

When Roy walked in, he didn't even exchange pleasantries. He simply tapped a spot on the tactics board with his pen, where Roy's name was written.

Mathilde quietly closed the door and left.

Roy raised an eyebrow, not at all surprised by this "special treatment".

He walked straight to the tactics board and looked at the dense array of arrows and markings on it.

“I’ve studied everything on the tactics board. Monaco’s 4-3-3, how Deschamps set it up, how you guys positioned yourselves—it’s all written down in the report. But those are all static. Now I want to hear you tell me, when the game reached the 43rd minute and you had the ball facing my full-back, what was the first thing that flashed through your mind? When the whole team was locked in a fierce battle on the field, and you couldn’t hear the coach shouting from the sidelines, what was your basis for choosing to cut inside or cross? The report won’t tell me these things. What I want to know is, in those split-second moments, what were your instinctive reactions as a player? What were the last words Deschamps said when he gave you the tactical instructions? When the team’s stamina dropped, what positioning adjustments did you secretly make? These are the things I really want to hear.”

“Don’t rush to answer,” Mourinho interrupted him, raising his hand. “I’m not asking you to repeat the Monaco system. My goal is to use this group of players—Makelele, Lampard, Terry, and the like—to forge a sharper new weapon.”

He turned and pointed to Chelsea's lineup on the tactics board: "It's true that Deschamps' 4-3-3 beat us, but Chelsea is not Monaco. What I need is for you to stand here, look at these names, and tell me, if you were to break down the opponent's defense, how would you need Makelele to cover for you? When would you need Lampard to push forward? How much space would you need the full-backs to create for you?"

Forget about Monaco.

He tapped Roy's name with the tip of his pen. "Now, tell me how to make you a more lethal weapon in the Blue Team system."

Roy pulled out a chair and sat down next to Mourinho.

Mathilde gently pushed open the door, placed two steaming cups of black tea in front of them, and then quietly withdrew.

Roy picked up his teacup, took a sip, and began to recount details from a first-person perspective that would never be mentioned in tactical reports.

Mourinho leaned back in his chair, listening intently.

Tactical analysis can break down positioning and passing routes, but it can never replicate the instantaneous decision-making logic of a player under pressure, which is precisely the key information he needs to obtain.

“You’re right, the two teams are completely different and we really need to start from scratch.” Roy tapped his finger on his spot on the tactics board: “But the most important thing is that the Roy I am now is a completely different player from the Roy who played in the Champions League final four months ago.”

Mourinho nodded slightly, but his gaze remained fixed on Roy as he pressed, "Tell me specifically, what's different?"

Roy made no secret of his statement: "Last season, I was the world's best winger. No one was faster, sharper, or more lethal than me."

Mourinho whistled, a slight smile playing on his lips, and nodded in approval: "The Special One."

“This season at Chelsea, I have to do much more than just break down the flanks and shoot. At Monaco, Giuly would help me with the playmaking. In the French national team, Zidane is the attacking midfielder, and that name says it all. But at Chelsea, Lampard is indeed a top midfielder. His passing, positioning, late runs, and long-range shooting are all world-class, and his football intelligence is also very high. But I know you originally wanted to use Deco in that position.”

“The organizational task doesn’t disappear into thin air; it just shifts. Since Chelsea needs someone to take on this responsibility, I can, and I have the ability to do so.”

Mourinho frowned and said, "But that will inevitably distract you from your energy and stamina in attack. I've noticed that you haven't been playing comfortably on the pitch lately. That's not what I want."

“But we won,” Roy responded calmly. “Winning is good.”

Clausewitz famously said in his "On War" that, if one had to choose, an ugly victory is far more valuable than a dignified defeat.

Mourinho nodded deeply: "That's right."

“Roy, if you're going to take on more playmaking responsibilities in the new system, it means you'll have to put more effort into passing and distribution. Won't that reduce your dribbling efficiency and finishing ability? If so, why don't we just bring in a dedicated playmaker like Deco, have Lampard partner with him in midfield, and you can continue to focus on attack? Tell me, are you sure you can do both of those things well at the same time?”

"Coach, you must have watched Maradona and Cruyff play, right?"

"Of course, I've seen them play," Mourinho said, "but football in that era was completely different from today. The defensive intensity, tactical discipline, and physical demands that Maradona and Cruyff faced are completely different from today's games. Back then, a talented player had more freedom to play, while now, every opponent uses a tight system to limit you."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Modern football has a more organized defense, involves greater running distances, and is more tactically targeted. You can't easily break through an entire defense like Maradona did with your individual skills. Modern football requires more precise calculations and more efficient decision-making."

“I’m not doubting your abilities, Roy. But we have to be realistic. You need to find the most reasonable balance between organization, breakthrough, and finishing. It’s not a question of whether you can do it, but how to do it consistently at the highest level of confrontation.”

"You're right, modern football has indeed changed."

Roy's voice was calm and firm: "But truly top players never passively adapt to the times; they redefine the game."

"Maradona faced a brutal, logistical defense, while Cruyff had to break down the most advanced zonal defense of his time. Every era has its challenges, and the best players always find the answers."

“The current defensive system is indeed more solid, but the loopholes still exist, just hidden deeper. A player can create space with passing and stretch the defense with off-the-ball movement. When the opponent thinks he is going to organize the attack, he may suddenly make a forward run. When they are guarding against his breakthrough, he may find an opening with a through ball.”

Roy looked directly at Mourinho: "You wanted to bring in Deco in the past, and now it might be Sneijder, simply because you wanted a brain that could control the tempo under pressure. But have you ever thought about how the opponent would defend if this brain also had the explosive power to instantly destroy the defense? Would they assign a defensive midfielder to mark his passes, or have the full-backs guard his breakthroughs?"

"A truly top-class player doesn't disrupt team football; on the contrary, he makes the whole team play more easily. When the opponent has to assign two or three players to specifically mark him, the pressure on his teammates is reduced. Full-backs no longer have to worry about being one-on-one exploited, and midfielders can get more unmarked passing space. But this is not a one-sided sacrifice; the team must also support him: the midfielders and defenders must know how to quickly move forward when he drops back, and the wingers must be able to cut inside in time to take advantage of the space left after he draws the defense. Like gears meshing, he drives the whole team, and the whole team, in turn, creates a stage for him to perform. It's not a question of who depends on whom, but rather about amplifying everyone's strengths through tactical design."

He added softly at the end, "Let me try, and you'll see a different kind of football."

"what do you need?"

Mourinho asked directly.

"free."

As soon as Roy finished speaking, Mourinho's face darkened.

"I believe that football, as a game constrained by rules and tactics, has no freedom."

Mourinho's tactics contradict the "King of Football's style of play".

He preferred disciplined defense and fixed counter-attacking patterns, such as target men like Drogba, or attacking midfielders who strictly executed tactics like Sneijder later on.

In this system, players' individual performance opportunities are often limited.

Just like Joe Cole of Chelsea in the original world, who clearly had creative talent but was required to focus on defense first.

Mourinho believes that repeatable tactical combinations are more reliable than relying on a star player's moment of brilliance.

However, if a player can break the deadlock with his individual ability while adhering to tactical discipline, such as Hazard's breakthroughs on the counter-attack, this style of play can become Mourinho's ultimate weapon in counter-attacking.

The key is finding a balance; star players need to give up some freedom, and they also need to appropriately relax their desire for control.

"What I need is relative freedom within order, and my freedom itself is also part of the order."

Roy looked Mourinho straight in the eye and said, word by word:

"I will strictly adhere to the discipline you demand regarding off-the-ball movement and defensive positioning, just like a defender. When the opponent assigns three players to mark me, I will transfer the ball to the weak side within three seconds of touching it. Even if we only have 30% possession throughout the game, as long as we are leading when the final whistle blows, that is the victory I want."

"But in the area twenty meters from the penalty spot, I demand absolute autonomy. This isn't a request, it's a fact. When you ask me what I was thinking the moment I faced the Porto defender, the answer is simple: I wasn't thinking about anything. My body knew better than my brain what to do."

“You can question many things, but don’t question my instincts in front of the penalty area. Because in this area, I can give something that no one else in the current football world can, and that’s why Chelsea bought me.”

Mourinho's gaze lingered on Roy's young face for a moment.

He recalled his time in Leiria three years ago.

At that time, the team he led played a fluid, attacking style of football, creating twelve to fifteen shooting opportunities per game.

But now it's different.

Porto failed to win the Champions League, while Deschamps led Monaco, relying on attacking geniuses like Roy, to victory after victory.

The world seems to have a greater preference for beautiful football.

He certainly believed in his tactical philosophy, but reality was what he was faced with.

Perhaps, even within a strict and disciplined system, we should leave some breathing room for geniuses.

That night, the two sides finally reached a tactical compromise.

Mourinho was acutely aware of one fact: if these negotiations broke down, given Roy's standing in the club's hierarchy, if he were to present his arguments about tactical autonomy to Abramovich directly tonight, he would face the immediate threat of being dismissed as head coach.

This understanding is not conjecture, but based on a sober assessment of the club's power structure.

When it comes to the balance between star player value and coaching authority, Russian owners have always leaned towards the former.

After this long late-night talk, a completely new tactical system began to take shape at Chelsea.

This is not a sudden, whimsical change, but a tactical evolution based on realistic considerations.

While maintaining his defensive philosophy, Mourinho created a unique space for talented attackers like Roy to shine.

In the following training sessions, the coaching staff began to implement these adjustments:
Drogba was instructed to use his back to the wall more often to create one-on-one opportunities for Roy.
Lampard's late runs into the box have been redesigned to create cross-runs with Roy's cut inside.

The timing of the full-backs' attacks was precisely calculated to ensure they could provide width support when Roy had the ball.

The first passing point during the team's counter-attack was clearly the area where Roy was located.

Chelsea's 4-3-3 system is fundamentally different from Monaco's, not only in terms of personnel but also in terms of tactical philosophy.

In attack, Monaco relies on the team's smooth movement and rotation, as well as exquisite short passing combinations, while Chelsea emphasizes the direct bursts of individual ability.

Roy needs to transform from a simple wing attacker into a more well-rounded offensive core.

He must continue to utilize his one-on-one dribbling skills and relentlessly attack the opposing full-backs on the counter-attack. Mourinho won't limit his dribbling, but he demands that he be more efficient.

It's not about dribbling past opponents for the sake of dribbling past them, but about creating real offensive opportunities for the team.

Drogba was not a technically gifted center forward like Morientes, but rather a pure power pivot.

Roy needs to adjust his playing style: reduce intricate short passing combinations and increase simple and direct passing options, either immediately passing to Drogba or receiving his pass back and shooting directly.

Robben or Duff on the right wing are pure wingers, unlike Giuly during his time at Monaco who took on playmaking responsibilities, which makes Maicon's forward runs into the box more cautious.

The most obvious difference is reflected in the midfield configuration.

Makelele was a pure defensive shield, hardly involved in organizing or orchestrating the attack, which was completely different from Pedretti's role in Monaco, where he was responsible for both defense and long passing.

Lampard's versatility far surpasses Rothen's, and his late runs and long-range shots will be a key weapon, requiring Roy to accurately grasp the timing and understanding between them.

When Lampard makes forward runs, Roy needs to learn to drop back to support him or create space on the flanks.

While Thiago Mendes undertakes some playmaking duties, his passing is more concise and direct, unlike Bernardi's pursuit of complex lateral transitions.

In terms of defensive system, Chelsea focuses more on positional discipline rather than Monaco's mobile covering style.

Abidal's assists will be less than Evra's because Lampard has already provided enough attacking support.

Maicon needs to adjust the attacking habits he developed at Monaco, since Robben or Duff won't drop back to cover like Giuly.

The defensive line of Terry and Carvalho is known for its solidity. They rarely risk pressing forward, instead relying on excellent positional awareness to build their defense, making Chelsea's defense more difficult to penetrate on the counter-attack than Monaco's.

Overall, Mourinho is building a sophisticated winning machine that abandons Monaco's artistic flair in favor of the most efficient way to score.

Roy needs to adapt to his new role, maintaining his dribbling threat while also becoming a key link between the midfield and the attack.

The team's attack will revolve around three key players: Roy's dribbling ability, Drogba's role as a target man, and Lampard's late runs into the box.

Counter-attacking will be a deadly weapon. Once Makelele makes a tackle, Chelsea will quickly pass the ball to Roy or Robben to end the game in the simplest way.

At the same time, Mourinho will not tolerate anyone slacking off on the defensive end.

Roy must track back and provide cover, just like any other striker, to help the full-backs. This isn't about limiting his talent, but about ensuring the team's overall balance.

Mourinho will not stifle Roy's talent, but he will demand that Roy be more pragmatic.

Within 20 meters of the penalty area, he can still roam freely. But in other areas, he must obey tactical discipline. Chelsea doesn't need him to dribble past three players every game; they need him to deliver the decisive blow in crucial moments—that's the value of a top star.

These changes may seem subtle, but they mark Chelsea's transformation from a disciplined tactical machine into a new type of team that combines efficiency and creativity.

Harrington Training Base.

"Left-wing attack strategy"

Faria's assistant coach blew the whistle, and Abidal started his run from the full-back position with the ball.

As he advanced to the vicinity of the center line, Roy dropped back from the left winger position to receive the pass.

When the two were 5 meters apart, Abidal passed the ball to Roy and then made a forward run.

Roy played a one-two pass back to Roy, completing a one-two combination.

Abidal continued to advance 5 meters along the sideline before passing the ball back to Roy.

At this moment, Drogba moved from the center forward position to the left flank, drawing away a center-back.

The opposing full-back Glen Johnson was forced to tuck in to cover.

Roy observed this opening and had two options:

He accelerated directly down the flank and crossed with his left foot near the byline, where Drogba contested for the header near the penalty spot.

He suddenly stopped and changed direction, passing the ball across to Lampard who had made a run into midfield, and the latter unleashed a long-range shot from the edge of the penalty area.

After completing the attack, Roy needs to immediately drop back to the left winger position.

At the same time, Abidal must quickly return to defense and maintain the four-man backline.

Mourinho reminded him from the sidelines: "One-twos need to be quick, and crosses need to be accurate. Roy, get back two seconds faster."

"Rapid counter-attack tactical training."

Makelele made an interception in the defensive training area.

He immediately looked up to observe and passed the ball to Roy, who had retreated to the left side of the center circle.

Roy received the ball and turned as he did so, while Drogba had already started his forward run from the center forward position.

At this point, the coaching staff arranged three defensive positions to simulate different situations:
When the opposing full-backs are positioned further forward, Roy chooses to dribble forward himself.

After breaking through 20 meters down the left flank, he either crossed the ball or cut inside to shoot near the penalty area line.

When the opposing center-back turned slowly, Roy delivered a through ball with his right foot.

Drogba made a diagonal run and received the ball near the penalty spot to complete a one-on-one opportunity.

When the opponent's defense leaned to the left, Roy passed the ball across to Duff, who was making a run down the right flank.

The Irish winger crossed from the byline, and Drogba made a run into the box in the middle.

Mourinho emphasized: "The counter-attack must be completed within 8 seconds. Roy, you need to observe the defensive positioning before you get the ball."

"Feint attack on the right flank, then switch to the left flank in training."

Maicon dribbled the ball 10 meters from the right-back position and completed a short pass with Duff.

The two players exchanged three passes on the right flank, drawing three defenders to that side.

When the defensive focus shifts to the right, Thiago receives the ball near the center circle.

He made a slight adjustment and sent a 40-meter long pass with his right foot, transferring the ball to an open area on the left flank.

Roy had already started his run before even passing the ball.

He needs to anticipate the ball's trajectory and sprint two seconds in advance, stopping the ball directly with his left or right foot while facing the direction of the attack and observing the position of the defenders.

If there is no cover, cut inside and shoot directly.

If the full-back tracks back, choose to cross the ball to Drogba.

At this moment, Lampard pushed forward from the central midfield position, preparing to contest for a possible second ball.

If the cross is cleared, he is responsible for controlling the second ball.

Mourinho called a timeout twice, emphasizing: "Thiago needs to pass the ball faster, and Roy needs to be more decisive in his runs."

During tactical drills at the Harrington training ground, Chelsea's 4-3-3 formation showcased a variety of attacking tactics.

Abidal's through ball rolled along the sideline, and Roy received the ball and instantly started a stepover.

The defender shifted his weight, and he accelerated to cut inside.

Drogba blocked the center-back with his body, and Roy curled a right-footed shot that sent the net trembling in the far corner.

Maicon and Duff made consecutive short passes on the right flank, drawing the attention of three defenders.

Suddenly, Thiago's long pass over the top of the field soared across the halfway line.

On the open left flank, Roy chested the ball down and, before it hit the ground, unleashed a powerful volley with his right foot. Goalkeeper Cudicini only heard a loud thud.

The moment Makelele intercepted the ball, Roy had already started his run.

The French defensive midfielder's through ball was perfectly timed; Roy used his speed to outpace the defender and deftly chipped the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper.

From intercepting the ball to scoring, the timer stopped at 5.8 seconds.

Lampard took a tactical corner kick, Roy received the ball and pretended to cross, then suddenly cut inside to create space.

His curling shot sailed over the wall, and the goalkeeper's fingertips touched the ball but couldn't stop it from flying into the top corner.

Drogba backheeled the ball to Roy, who feigned a powerful shot.

When the defender lunged to block him, he deftly cut inside and switched to his right foot to shoot into the far corner.

The ball wasn't fast, but its angle was so tricky that it left the goalkeeper in despair.

Roy's cut inside from the left was blocked, and he passed back to Lampard before continuing his forward run.

The Englishman immediately passed the ball to Roy, who took a step to adjust his position 25 yards out and unleashed a powerful shot with his right foot.

The ball flew straight into the top corner like a cannonball, and Cudicini didn't even have time to make a save.

Through continuous training and tactical refinement, Mourinho observed that Roy demonstrated an extremely high level of tactical understanding and execution on the field.

Data analysis shows that when Roy is given appropriate decision-making freedom, the team's overall tactical operation becomes more efficient.

The coaching staff discovered through video analysis that Roy's improvisations often inspired his teammates to make more reasonable positioning choices.

Drogba would automatically adjust his defensive routes based on Roy's movements, Lampard's forward runs became more precise, and Makelele would instinctively cover and protect.

This positive interaction allows the team to maintain tactical discipline while becoming more creative and threatening on offense.

Mourinho therefore adjusted his tactics, giving Roy more autonomy in the 30-meter zone on the left flank, but requiring him to immediately track back after losing possession.

This change quickly yielded results, with training data showing a significant improvement in the team's offensive success rate and defensive transition efficiency.

The teammates gradually developed a tacit understanding and were able to automatically adjust their positioning and responsibilities based on Roy's on-the-spot choices.

This dynamically balanced tactical system retains the tactical discipline emphasized by Mourinho while fully leveraging Roy's individual talent, making Chelsea's attack more layered and varied.

(End of this chapter)