When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 211 The Best Start in the Premier League is Born
On September 25, 2004, in the seventh round of the Premier League, Chelsea played away against Middlesbrough at Riverside Stadium.

The Chelsea away team's dressing room was noisy.

Roy changed into his jersey, walked over to Duff, patted him on the shoulder, and said:
“I watched you play last season, Damien, and you were really good. We haven’t really meshed well since we came here this season. But that’s okay, now that we’re on the wings, we’re sure to be able to play well together.”

"Just keep running. I'll definitely pass you the ball when you're in the most comfortable position. If you feel it's time to shoot, just take the shot without hesitation."

"Brothers, we not only want to win, but we also want to play with gusto and score more goals!"

Duff looked up at Roy. Ever since Robben joined Chelsea this summer, the media had been reporting that Mourinho didn't like Duff, last season's most expensive signing.

Fortunately, Robben was injured in the preseason and has not returned yet, and in Mourinho's preferred 4312 formation, Joe Cole is always more used than him.

However, after this lineup change, the coaching staff had Duff and Joe Cole practice wing play together.

Joe Cole, being a right-footed player, is better suited to the left wing, but Roy has firmly established himself on that side.

Roy could theoretically play as a right winger, but Duff knew Roy wasn't willing to.

Duff knew in his heart that Roy clearly preferred him as his partner on the right wing.

Although he was a left-footed player, he was actually more used to playing on the left wing – after all, in that era, there were not many wingers like Roy who liked to cut inside and shoot.

But in order to get more playing time, Duff is willing to adjust his playing style.

He secretly resolved to adapt to this tactic as soon as possible.

After all, in the highly competitive Chelsea, it's not easy to find a partner who is willing to support you.

Roy, who joined the club this summer for a record transfer fee, carries significant weight in the club's management and can even influence the decisions of Mourinho and Abramovich.

Roy told him privately that he shouldn't worry too much about Robben's competition.

"The Dutch are often sick; you should encourage them."

Roy's words reassured Duff.

He nodded, tucked the shin guards into his socks, and thought: Maybe this opportunity has really come.

As he spoke, Roy extended his right hand and gave Duff a high five, their palms making a crisp clap sound as they touched.

The Riverside Stadium was packed with people, and the cheers of Middlesbrough fans surged in like a tidal wave.

"Chelsea fielded a completely new 4-3-3 formation today, and Mourinho clearly wanted to take the initiative away from home! The goalkeeper position was still occupied by the solid Cech, and the back line from left to right was Abidal, Carvalho, Terry and Maicon. This defensive line combines speed and toughness, and Maicon and Abidal's ability to make forward runs will bring more variety to the flanks."

"In midfield, Makelele anchors the defensive midfield, responsible for sweeping and intercepting; Lampard and Thiago Mendes occupy the flanks, with Lampard's late runs into the box remaining Chelsea's key weapon, while Mendes's running and passing will supply ammunition to the forwards."

"The most terrifying player is left winger Roy. This super striker, who scored over 70 goals in the same position last season, is now a nightmare for defenders across Europe! His inside runs are like a sharp blade drawn from its sheath, and Middlesbrough's defense is probably going to have sleepless nights. Look at these statistics: 4.5 dribbles per game, a shooting accuracy of 56%, and what's even more terrifying is that he can outpace opponents with lightning speed and score with surgical precision. Middlesbrough center-back Southgate admitted before the match that defending against Roy requires 'the whole team to build three lines of defense'."

"Beside him, Drogba held the center-backs back like a battering ram, while Duff created scoring opportunities with precise crosses on the right flank. The terrifying thing about this attacking trident is that when you're focused on shutting down Roy, the other two can deliver a fatal blow at any moment. Middlesbrough's 4-4-2 defense will face its most brutal test today!"

Arjen Robben sat on the sofa in the living room.

The roar of the Riverside Stadium came from the television, and the camera panned across Chelsea's bench, where he should have been sitting.

Before the match, both teams observed a moment of silence for Brian Clay, a legendary figure in British football who had recently passed away.

Middlesbrough kicks off.

Robben stared at the screen. The preseason game in the United States seemed like yesterday: a simple confrontation, a damn injury, and then a long recovery period.

He should have been there, speeding down the flanks, tearing apart the defense with his speed.

But now, he can only watch Roy and Duff run around on the field, watching his team fight without him.

Robben took a deep breath, grabbed the remote, and turned up the volume.

The competition has only just begun.

After Middlesbrough kicked off, Viduka passed the ball back to Hasselbaink, and Chelsea's 4-3-3 formation immediately began to operate like precise gears.

Roy, Drogba, and Duff quickly pressed forward, forming an arrowhead shape as they approached Middlesbrough's defensive line.

Roy was particularly active; instead of blindly chasing the ball, he positioned himself in the passing lanes between Panabi and Southgate, forcing the opposition to either pass back to goalkeeper Schwarzer or take a risky long pass.

Lampard and Mendes positioned themselves on the left and right, closely marking Parlour and Boateng's receiving routes, while Makelele roamed like a shadow in the defensive midfield position, ready to intercept through balls to Doriva or Zenden at any moment.

Middlesbrough's midfield passing was fragmented. As soon as George Boateng (the Dutch player) received the ball, Mendes closed in, forcing him to pass it back hastily.

Abidal and Maicon did not rush forward blindly, but instead maintained a tight four-man defensive line with Carvalho and Terry, allowing Middlesbrough to pass the ball around from thirty meters away.

Once the ball reaches the wing, Abidal immediately moves forward to block Doriva, while Maicon uses his body to suppress Dozenden, forcing the opponent to pass back frequently.

He appears to be a left winger, but he constantly tucks in when he's off the ball, creating a local numerical advantage for Lampard.

Chelsea's defense was like a net that was gradually tightening, making every pass from Middlesbrough seem difficult and hesitant.

Mourinho stood on the sidelines, watching everything with a blank expression.

This is exactly the "suffocating defense" he wanted.

Roy silently blocked the passing lane between Panaby and Southgate, like an invisible wall blocking Middlesbrough's backfield.

Drogba, like a hungry lion, relentlessly pursued Quidru, who had the ball, forcing him to keep passing it back.

Schwarzer was so anxious in front of the goal that he jumped up and down, but the ball he kicked into midfield was easily headed back by Makelele.

Just as Parlour tried to control the ball, Lampard appeared like a ghost and slid in to steal it away with a clean and decisive tackle.

"Frank!"

When Lampard heard Roy's shout, he looked up and saw Drogba charging toward the opponent's penalty area like an arrow.

Without the slightest hesitation, he delivered a precise long diagonal pass that swept across the entire defensive line.

Drogba used his strong physique to push aside Southgate and control the ball steadily.

Behind him, Roy surged forward at high speed from the left flank, while Duff made a run down the right flank, and the three black lightning bolts simultaneously stormed into the penalty area.

Middlesbrough's defense crumbled instantly, and Schwarzer stood in despair in front of the goal, watching helplessly as Chelsea's deadly attacking trident completed its encirclement.

The boos at the Riverside Stadium stopped abruptly, and everyone held their breath.

Drogba charged forward like a bull, carrying Southgate on his back, who clung to his jersey and wouldn't let go. Quadru also rushed in, and it looked like they were about to double-team him.

Drogba suddenly stopped and turned, forcefully poking the ball through the gap between the two players.

The ball rolled to the left flank, and Panabi rushed over like a madman to make a sliding tackle.

Roy stepped on the ball first, and with a light pull back, Panabi's studs slid across the grass and missed.

He turned sideways and used his shoulder to block the onrushing Panabi, then suddenly flicked his ankle and delivered a lob pass that went over the entire defense.

Duff arrived on the right wing, stopped with his chest, and immediately unleashed a left-footed shot.

The ball whistled across the front of the goal and finally grazed the far post before flying out of bounds.

A gasp of relief rippled through the stands. Duff scratched his head in frustration, while Roy gave him a thumbs-up from afar.

Sky Sports analyzed: "Mourinho's 4-3-3 is like a precise war machine. Defensively, the three lines maintain perfect spacing, the front three form the first line of defense, and the midfield triangle blocks all passing lanes. Once possession is secured, Lampard's long passes immediately find Drogba as a pivot, while Roy and Duff on the wings cut into the flanks like sharp blades. Roy, in particular, has shown maturity beyond his years; he is both a burst of fire on the left flank and capable of dropping back to participate in defense, as well as delivering deadly passes on the counter-attack. Chelsea's tactical execution and speed of transition put Middlesbrough on the back foot from the very beginning."

"Ladies and gentlemen, let's focus on Roy, the key player in Chelsea's attack! Mourinho has given him tremendous tactical freedom. Observe his defensive style: not blind pressing, but precise positioning and intelligent defensive runs to specifically cut off the opponent's key passing lanes. This intelligent style of play allows him to conserve energy and be ready to deliver a fatal blow to the opponent on the counterattack!"

Schwarzer launched a long goal kick, and the ball flew towards the midfield.

Viduka and Hasselbaink were tightly marked by Carvalho and Terry, and could only manage to head the ball to the retreating Boateng.

As soon as Boateng received the ball and turned around, Makelele was already right behind him.

The Dutchman hastily passed the ball to Doriva on the wing, but Abidal had already anticipated the passing route and swiftly intercepted it.

Middlesbrough's attack was like hitting a black wall.

Zenden attempted to break through on the left flank, but Maicon marked him closely, eventually forcing him to pass back to Cooper.

Cooper looked up and saw that Mendes had silently blocked his pass to Boateng, and Drogba was also closing in menacingly.

Left with no other option, Cooper had to drive forward again with a big kick.

Hasselbaink and Terry started simultaneously, and the two collided violently at the point of impact.

The cheers from Chelsea's away fans instantly rose.

Amidst shouts of "Carefree!", Terry gritted his teeth and leaped high, towering over his former teammate by half a head, delivering a powerful header towards Lampard.

(From the team song "Blue is the Colour," specifically the line "We're all together and singing carefree!")

Mourinho suddenly punched the ball on the sidelines, his suit jacket fluttering wildly with the movement.

Lampard didn't wait for the ball to bounce; he used the instep of his foot to control it towards his body.

Parlour rushed forward to block, but Lampard had already turned and dodged the opening.

Without even looking, he directly passed the ball to Roy on the left wing.

Roy received the ball and pretended to shoot, tricking Panaby into raising his leg to block, but suddenly twisted his ankle and darted past the opponent.

He strode forward, darting left and right through Middlesbrough's compact defense, each step a precise touch and adjustment, like a ghost weaving through a narrow alley.

In the blink of an eye, he had reached the edge of the penalty area. Drogba and Duff came from the middle and right flanks respectively, and Middlesbrough's defenders panicked.

Just as Quaidru hesitated about who to mark, Roy suddenly flicked his right foot, cut inside to create space, and then curled his right foot into an arc.

The ball followed a tricky trajectory, flying straight towards the far corner of the goal!
The Middlesbrough fans erupted in cheers from the stands behind the goal.

When Roy dribbled the ball to the edge of the penalty area, the stands were already in an uproar.

Some people stood up, some gripped their scarves tightly, and everyone's eyes were fixed on the figure in black.

When Roy suddenly dribbled the ball sideways and cut inside, a desperate shout erupted from the stands: "Stop him!"

But it's too late.

He curled his right foot into a arc, sending the ball soaring into the air with a violent spin towards the far corner.

Goalkeeper Schwarzer made a desperate sidestep and dived to save the ball, his fingertips almost touching it.

But that shot was so tricky; the ball suddenly dropped at its highest point, grazing the corner of the crossbar and the post before slamming into the net!

The moment the online frenzy erupted, the Middlesbrough fans' stands fell silent, leaving only the wild cheers of the Chelsea away supporters echoing through the Riverside Stadium.

Robben stared at the television screen, his body unconsciously leaning forward.

When he saw Roy dribbling towards the penalty area, Middlesbrough defender Panaby had already closed in, but Roy gently flicked the ball with his left foot, as if it were glued to his foot. The moment Panaby stretched out his leg to intercept, Roy's right foot had already cut the ball to the right, squeezing through the gap between him and the covering Quadru.

"This guy"

After Roy broke into the penalty area, Southgate rushed over to block him, but Roy's next move was extremely wide. He flicked his right foot outward and moved almost two meters to the side. Southgate's sliding tackle didn't even touch the side of his boot.

The most amazing thing is that Roy's adjustment was incredibly fast. The moment he finished the cut, his right foot was already in position, curving out an arc.

"His perfect inside cut and explosive speed were even faster than mine! And that final curling shot... damn it, even the curve was more tricky than mine!"

On the field, Southgate and Quaidru kept their heads down, their lips moving slightly as they exchanged quick, barely audible words.

Southgate: "Frank, that guy's inside cut is like a ghost. I was clearly in position, but he still managed to find the angle."

Quaidru: "I had already blocked it in advance, but his change of direction was ridiculously fast, and I didn't have time to react at all."

“We need to adjust our positioning. Next time, we can’t give him room to move laterally. We have to force him to the sidelines.”

"The problem is, even when he's forced to the wing, he can still use his explosive power to overpower us. You saw that ball just now."

"Then we can only have Parlor provide early support; we can't let him face us one-on-one anymore."

"The problem is, if we tighten the contraction too much, Lampard and Drogba will be left with empty spaces."

"Damn, this guy is even more troublesome than Duff."

"Try creating an offside trap in the second half? At least prevent him from getting going."

Southgate sighed:

"Okay, but we need to act in unison. We can't let him score so easily again."

Hasselbaink passed the ball back to Boateng, and Middlesbrough tried to stabilize their rhythm.

But Makelele stuck to him like a plaster, and Boateng could only hastily pass the ball to Doriva.

As soon as the Brazilian received the ball, Abidal blocked his position, forcing him to pass it back to Panabi.

Roy suddenly accelerated, bursting out from behind Panabi and nearly stealing the ball!
Middlesbrough's right flank was in chaos, and Panaby quickly cleared the ball with a long kick, but it went straight to Terry's feet.

Terry passed the ball to Makelele, who looked up and made a diagonal pass to Roy, who had dropped back.

Roy received the ball with his back to goal, and Panabi immediately closed in. The Frenchman flicked the ball with his right foot, pretending to move to the wing. Just as Quadru shifted his weight, Roy suddenly cut the ball back with his left foot and made a clever turn, passing directly between Quadru and the covering Parlour!

Parlour frantically stretched out his leg to intercept, but Roy suddenly stopped and pulled the ball back with his right foot. Parlour couldn't stop in time and stumbled forward.

Just as Panabi lunged forward again, Roy flicked the ball with his toe, sending it obediently over the heads of both players. He then darted out from the other side like lightning, regaining control of the ball and accelerating!
The Chelsea away fans' stands erupted instantly.

This series of flicks, dunks, stops, and lifts was executed flawlessly, completely outmaneuvering Middlesbrough's defense!

Quaidru took long strides to catch up, but Roy's explosive power was instantly revealed.

He reached his maximum speed in just two steps, his black away jersey leaving a trail of afterimages on the green field.

As soon as Quadru pushed off the ground with his spikes, Roy shot two meters away like an arrow.

With his long, slender legs swinging rapidly, his dribbling rhythm remained perfectly steady, leaving the defenders behind in the blink of an eye.

In the stands of the Riverside Stadium, the gasps grew louder and louder as he sprinted forward.

Southgate stepped up to block, Roy pushed the ball with his right foot, and it passed between the two players, allowing Lampard to receive it.

Lampard dribbled forward, and Middlesbrough midfielder Parlour rushed to block him, but Roy had already quietly slipped diagonally into the left side of the penalty area.

Lampard understood perfectly and made a through pass!
The moment Roy received the ball, Cooper desperately chased back, but the Frenchman made a sudden stop and change of direction, and Cooper almost slipped and fell.

Chaos erupted in the penalty area. Southgate blocked the near post, Quadru made a diving block, and Panabi rushed in from the side.

Roy flicked past Quaidru with his right foot, then feinted past Panabi with his left, and suddenly unleashed a low shot through the gap between the three men.

The ball headed straight for the far corner, but Schwarzer made a diving save, deflecting the ball out of bounds with his fingertips.

The Middlesbrough players collapsed to the ground, staring in shock at the French magician.

In the 10th minute, when Hasselbaink was challenging for a high ball in the attacking third, Chelsea captain Terry rushed up from the side to clear the ball.

Terry raised his right foot too high, and his studs struck the Dutch striker directly on his left eyebrow.

Hasselbaink collapsed on the spot, and blood immediately gushed from the wound, staining the grass red.

The team doctor rushed onto the field to stop the bleeding, but the wound was too deep, and the bleeding could not be stopped even after simple treatment.

The referee signaled that he had to leave the field for treatment. Hasselbaink protested angrily to no avail and was eventually forced to leave the field for 10 minutes to receive stitches.

When he returned to the field with his head bandaged and wearing his teammate's number 4 jersey, the entire stadium applauded him.

Hasselbaink was a key striker for Chelsea, scoring 70 goals in 117 league appearances.

Although Mourinho removed him from the team after taking over, he harbors no resentment towards his former club.

In the first half, Roy was a constant presence in Chelsea's attacking organization.

When Drogba received the ball with his back to goal, Roy had already quietly moved into the space on the flank.

When Duff breaks through on the right wing, Roy will be there to support him at the far post.

When Lampard has the ball and is observing the field, the Frenchman can always find gaps behind the defense.

After Makelele intercepted the ball, his first look was for the number 10 on the left wing.

When Abidal dribbled forward, Roy always appeared in the right position to receive the ball and provide support. The Frenchman would sometimes drop back to receive short passes, and sometimes suddenly surge forward to stretch the defense, forcing Middlesbrough's winger Doriva to be distracted in his marking.

Whenever Abidal needed a passing option, Roy would always appear quietly in the blind spot of the defenders, forcing Middlesbrough's defensive midfielder Parlour to frequently move laterally to cover.

Middlesbrough's defenders had to be constantly on guard against him. Southgate and Quadru communicated more, and Cooper dared not push forward easily.

Although Roy didn't run long distances, every movement he made was perfectly timed.

His presence gave Chelsea more passing options and kept Middlesbrough's defense constantly on edge.

Mourinho stood on the sidelines with his hands in his pockets, his eyes constantly following Roy's runs.

He noticed that Middlesbrough's defensive formation began to shift due to Roy's activity, with Southgate and Quaidru positioning themselves further to the left, forcing Panabi to frequently tuck in to help defend.

In the away stands at Riverside Stadium, Chelsea fans who had traveled with the team began chanting Roy's name.

Chelsea fans watching on TV also noticed the changes: the previously dull attacks down the flanks became sharper, and the team's passing lanes increased significantly.

The commentator kept repeating, "Roy was everywhere today; he completely revitalized Chelsea's left flank attack."

When Roy once again shook off Quadru and delivered a precise cross, Mourinho nodded slightly.

His pre-match tactical adjustments are paying off, giving Roy more freedom and bringing the team's offense to life.

In a 4-3-3 formation, Roy, as a left winger, has more room to maneuver.

He doesn't have to stick to the wing; he can flexibly cut inside or move to the wing depending on the situation on the field.

Drogba draws the defense in the middle, while Duff draws attention on the right flank, which often gives Roy one-on-one opportunities.

Makelele's defensive coverage meant Roy didn't need to track back much, and Lampard and Mendes' midfield link-up always found him.

Abidal's overlapping run gave Roy more options to cut inside.

Middlesbrough's full-backs often face a dilemma: marking Roy exposes gaps on the flanks, while not marking him risks him directly threatening the goal.

In the 4-3-1-2 formation, Roy's position as left center forward is relatively fixed.

He needs to coordinate more with Drogba, which limits his range of movement.

Joe Cole occupied the attacking midfield position, which limited Roy's space to cut inside.

Maicon's placement as a right winger is not as wide as Duff's in a 4-3-3.

In a 4-3-3 formation, Roy can fully utilize his technical skills and positioning awareness to create threats in a wider area.

This is precisely why he is more difficult to defend in this system.

In the first half stoppage time, Middlesbrough made a risky push forward.

Viduka won the first ball and headed it to Hasselbaink.

The Dutch striker volleyed the ball before it even hit the ground.

Cech held the ball securely in his arms.

The Chelsea goalkeeper quickly got up and threw the ball powerfully to Makelele in the center circle.

The French midfielder looked up and made a precise 30-meter long pass to Roy on the left wing.

Roy received the ball and turned, while Southgate lowered his center of gravity and slowly retreated.

The Frenchman lightly tapped the ball with his right foot, then feinted to the left with his shoulder, and Southgate immediately shifted half a step to the side.

Roy then gently flicked the ball with the inside of his left foot, and the Englishmen quickly adjusted their balance.

Roy suddenly slowed down and lightly touched the ball three times with his right foot, each touch accompanied by a feint of his upper body.

Southgate's feet began to tangle, and his knees trembled slightly.

In the instant he hesitated, Roy flicked the ball hard with the inside of his right foot, unleashing his full power.

He was instantly launched into the air, his black figure flashing past like lightning.

Southgate hurriedly turned around to chase after him, but after only two steps, he found that the distance had already widened.

He desperately stretched out his leg to intercept, but couldn't even touch Roy's shoes.

Before the gasps from the stands had even subsided, the Frenchman had already dribbled the ball to the edge of the penalty area, leaving Southgate behind and only able to watch helplessly as he reached the byline and delivered a left-footed cross.

Drogba outjumped Southgate at the far post and unleashed a powerful header toward the goal.

Schwarzer made a diving save, but Lampard pounced on the rebound and easily tapped the ball into the empty net.

2-0!

Chelsea extended their lead.

The entire attack, from the goalkeeper's initiation to the goal, took only 12 seconds.

After the goal, Chelsea players in black jerseys huddled together inside the Middlesbrough penalty area.

Lampard was embraced by Drogba and Roy, while Duff ran over from the wing to join the celebration.

After a brief hug, the players quickly dispersed and returned to their half of the field to prepare for the restart.

Middlesbrough made a symbolic pass after kicking off from the center circle, and the referee blew the whistle to end the first half.

"Well done, everyone! Roy, your breakthrough was crucial. But listen, we need to hold on. They'll definitely come back in the second half. Lampard, keep supporting Roy. Drogba, watch out for the second ball. Makelele, keep a close eye on Boateng. Remember what the boss said, 2-0 is the most dangerous score."

In the locker room, after Mourinho finished giving Terry his tactical instructions, he winked at him.

The vice-captain immediately stood up: "Brothers, stay focused, one more goal and we'll kill the game!"

After he finished speaking, he habitually looked at Lampard, only to find that Maicon, Abidal, and several others had turned to look at Roy, who was tying his shoelaces, as had Thiago Mendes, the Portuguese.

Roy looked up and nodded simply: "John is right. If we follow the coach's tactics, their right flank is about to collapse."

After listening to Roy's words, Mourinho's gaze shifted from Lampard to Makelele, and finally settled on Desailly.

Desailly was tying his shoelaces when he looked up and met his coach's gaze.

"Marcel, you will partner Makelele in the defensive midfield in the second half."

The locker room fell silent for a second; this was the French veteran's first appearance of the new season.

Desailly is rock solid when playing center-back, and when playing as a defensive midfielder, he can use his experience to hold key positions. Although he is not as fast as before, his anticipation and physical strength are still on point.

Thiago Mendes silently took off his jersey, and Desailly stood up and nodded.

Terry looked down at the captain's armband on his arm and hesitated for a moment.

At this moment, Roy stood up, walked up to Desailly, and extended his hand: "Welcome back, old captain."

Makelele followed closely behind and bumped fists with Desailly.

Seeing this, Terry silently took off his armband and handed it to Desailly.

Desailly waved his hand: "You can wear it."

The atmosphere in the locker room finally relaxed, and the players walked towards the tunnel one after another.

Chelsea's tactical adjustments immediately took effect after the start of the second half.

Desailly and Makelele formed a double pivot in midfield, with the two positioned one in front of the other to control the midfield.

Middlesbrough attempted to organize an attack after kicking off, but their passing lanes were completely blocked.

In the 47th minute, Boateng received the ball in the center circle, and Desailly immediately blocked the direction he was turning.

Makelele hovered five meters away, ready to pounce at any moment.

Boateng could only pass back to Parlour, and Middlesbrough's attack ended before it even crossed the halfway line.

Chelsea began to intentionally control the tempo.

In the 51st minute, Cech made a short pass to Carvalho, and the Portuguese center-back and Terry passed the ball back and forth.

It wasn't until Viduka pressed forward that the ball was passed to Makelele.

After observing the situation, the French defensive midfielder passed the ball back to Desailly, forcing Middlesbrough players to push forward as a whole.

This is exactly the situation Chelsea wanted.

Roy's activities on the left flank kept Middlesbrough's right-wing defense constantly on the line.

In the 54th minute, Quadru made a mistake while pressing Desailly, and the French veteran deftly turned and passed the ball to Maicon.

The Brazilian dribbled forward and passed the ball to Lampard, who immediately played a through ball to Roy.

Roy feinted past Panabi and delivered a low cross to the front of the goal, where Drogba's sliding shot grazed the post and went wide.

Middlesbrough's attack became increasingly impatient.

In the 58th minute, Parlour sent a long pass to Hasselbaink, but Terry headed the ball away first.

Makelele received the ball and played a through ball to Duff, whose shot from a tight angle after a sprint down half the field was saved by Schwarzer.

Chelsea's every counter-attack put Middlesbrough's defense on edge.

Roy's positioning was particularly clever; he would sometimes cut inside to receive passes, and sometimes move to the wing to break through, leaving Panabi completely unable to figure out his defensive focus.

In the 62nd minute, Lampard took a short corner, Roy received the ball and then suddenly passed it back, Abidal crossed the ball, and Drogba's header hit the crossbar.

McClaren substituted James Morrison for Viduka in an attempt to strengthen the midfield.

But Chelsea's two holding midfielders completely controlled the game.

As soon as James Morrison received the ball, Makelele marked him closely, and Desailly cut off the passing lane.

He could only pass the ball back to Cooper, and the attack ended in failure once again.

By the 65th minute, Chelsea's tactics were executed almost perfectly.

Desailly and Makelele's sweeping presence in midfield prevented Middlesbrough from organizing effective attacks, while Roy's roaming in the attacking third deterred Middlesbrough's defenders from pushing forward easily.

Although Chelsea's key player didn't touch the ball often, he created threats every time he got his hands on it.

What frustrated Middlesbrough the most was that they knew Chelsea was trying to lure them into pressing forward, but they had no choice but to do so.

Trailing 0-2, Middlesbrough had to attack, and every failed attack was met with Chelsea's quick and sharp counter-attacks.

Roy was like a sword hanging over their heads, ready to deliver a fatal blow at any moment.

The broadcast cameras frequently focused on Mourinho on the sidelines.

The Portuguese man stood in the technical area with his hands in his pockets, his face expressionless.

But his tactical setup has been effective, with the two defensive midfielders locking down the midfield and the front three attacking trio waiting for a counter-attack.

Roy's role was particularly crucial; his runs and passes perfectly executed the coach's tactical intentions.

Stamford Bridge fans have already begun celebrating.

Although there were still 25 minutes left in the game, Chelsea's victory was already within reach.

After the sixth round of the Premier League, subtle changes have occurred in the standings.

Arsenal were held to a 2-2 draw by Bolton at Highbury in the last round, which allowed Chelsea, who had previously won all their matches, to take the top spot for the first time by two points.

The Blues now have an opportunity to extend their lead.

If they can beat Middlesbrough at Riverside Stadium, they will achieve one of the most perfect starts in Premier League history: a seven-game winning streak.

This surpasses Newcastle's six-game winning streak record set in the 1994-95 season.

In the original history, in the 2005-06 season, Mourinho's Chelsea created the best start in Premier League history.

They achieved a remarkable nine-game winning streak, a record that remained unbroken until later.

That iron-willed Blue Army team scored 19 goals and conceded only 1, crushing all opponents with their impenetrable defense and sharp counter-attacks.

相比之下，后来曼城在2016-17赛季、利物浦在2018-19赛季的6连胜，以及利物浦2019-20赛季的8连胜，都未能超越这个纪录。

Mourinho's Chelsea set an insurmountable record in the Premier League with that nine-game winning streak.

In the current standings, Chelsea have won all 6 games, accumulating 18 points, scoring 11 goals and conceding only 1, demonstrating terrifying defensive stability.

Arsenal have scored a remarkable 21 goals, but their seven goals conceded and the draw in the last round have left them in second place, just two points behind.

Wenger's team has an amazing attacking firepower, but Mourinho's Chelsea has topped the table with an impenetrable defense and efficient counter-attacks.

This match is of great significance to Chelsea.

If they win, they will not only solidify their top spot but also set a new record for the best start to a Premier League season.

The atmosphere in the locker room was both tense and exciting; everyone knew they were making history.

More importantly, this sends a strong signal to defending champions Arsenal: this Chelsea team has the strength to compete for the title.

Stamford Bridge fans are already hoping that Mourinho's team might actually end Arsenal and Manchester United's monopoly on the Premier League title.

In the 71st minute, Middlesbrough's attack was thwarted by Chelsea's tight zonal defense.

When Zenden received the ball on the left wing, Maicon immediately blocked his path down the wing, while Makelele blocked his way to cut inside.

The Dutch winger could only pass back to Boateng, but Desailly had anticipated this and rushed forward to interfere.

Boateng managed to pass the ball to Morrison on the right wing, but Terry immediately pressed forward.

The young Scottish midfielder, sandwiched between Terry and Lampard, had no choice but to pass back to Southgate.

But just as he was about to kick the ball, Roy suddenly lunged forward to interfere, causing the back pass to deviate and slow down.

As Southgate prepared to receive the ball on the edge of the penalty area, he clearly felt Roy closing in from behind.

The England international turned hastily, but the ball bounced off his feet.

In that split second, Roy suddenly appeared from the side, sprinting forward and blasting the ball forward!
Southgate hurriedly chased back, but the French winger had already dashed off like an arrow.

Quaidru tried desperately to catch up, but Roy was just too fast.

After dribbling into the penalty area, Roy made a slight adjustment and, before Southgate could make a sliding tackle to block him, unleashed a powerful right-footed shot into the near corner!

Although Schwarzer guessed the right direction, the ball was too fast and flew straight into the net! 3-0!

This goal perfectly demonstrated the power of Chelsea's counter-attacking strategy.

From the coordinated defense and pressing by multiple players, to Roy's keen seizing of the opportunity, and finally his solo breakthrough, the whole process was seamless.

The away stands at Riverside Stadium erupted instantly. Roy didn't opt ​​for the usual sliding celebration; instead, he ran to the Chelsea fans' section, clasped his hands together, and pressed them down, making a gesture as if he were leaning on a sword.

Maicon and Abidal rushed to his side, standing like knights in charge, their wings protecting him on either side.

Chelsea fans in the stands roared wildly, as if this brand-new celebration was announcing something.

He is the sharp blade charging into battle, and the undisputed king of this iron-blooded blue army.

In the seventh round of the 2004 Premier League, the early match between Chelsea and Middlesbrough kicked off at 1:45 pm.

At 4 p.m. sharp, as the other six matches (Tottenham vs. Manchester United, Manchester City vs. Arsenal, Liverpool vs. Norwich, Aston Villa vs. Crystal Palace, Newcastle vs. West Bromwich Albion, and Fulham vs. Southampton) were about to begin, all the teams' dressing rooms received the same message: Chelsea won 3-0, achieving a seven-game winning streak and setting a new record for the best start to the Premier League season.

Arsenal dressing room.

“Listen, Chelsea have won, seven games in a row. But remember, the league is a marathon, not a sprint. We play our own football, at our own pace. They're leading now? It doesn't matter. We'll take it one game at a time and get the three points. Now, go out there and play the Arsenal style!”

Manchester United dressing room.

"Chelsea seven-game winning streak? Great, let them be smug. But Manchester United never plays to please anyone! We win our games, they win theirs, and we'll see who comes out on top in the end. Remember, whether it's Old Trafford or White Hart Lane, no matter who the opponent is, we have to play our way!"

"Van Nistelrooy, Cristiano, Giggs, Ronaldinho, and Rooney who's injured. Our attack should have been unstoppable. Manchester United has never had such firepower in its history, it's just that we're not fully integrated yet! Rio, it's been eight months, today you have to let everyone know that Manchester United's defense is back. Now, go on the field and bring back the three points!"

费迪南德因2003年9月23日缺席英足总药检，被禁赛8个月，直到2004年9月才复出。

At 6:15, before the kickoff of the Bolton vs. Birmingham match, the same news reached Reebok Stadium.

(End of this chapter)