When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 218 A theater forty thousand people, a war of twenty-two, an epic of one man.

On October 14, 2004, Robben made a phone call from his London apartment to his girlfriend Bernadine, who was studying to be a teacher in the Netherlands.

"My injury is healed, and I can return for the game against Manchester City the day after tomorrow. The team is in great form right now, having won eight consecutive games, but we're short-handed up front. If I don't return soon, I'm afraid I'll be forgotten. Mourinho's current tactics suit me well, although it's difficult for me to return to my most familiar left wing. That Frenchman Roy is indeed very strong. Do you remember comforting me when I missed out on the Golden Boy award? Actually, even without Roy, it would be difficult for me to beat Van der Vaart. As long as Roy doesn't cause me trouble in the dressing room, we can work together perfectly well."

Bernardine chuckled softly on the other end of the phone: "Arjen, you will never be forgotten. Arjen, you have amazing talent in both football and tennis, and I have always believed you are the best. No matter what difficulties you encounter, you will always find a way to overcome them. I love you, and go to the court with my blessings to prove yourself. You will always be my pride."

Robben hummed a song as he hung up the phone, a smile unconsciously playing on his lips.

He gently placed his phone on the table, stood there for a few seconds in a daze, unable to hide the smile on his face.

The rain was still falling in London outside the window, but his mood was exceptionally bright.

Roy was invincible on the field, but he could never find someone who could truly embrace him.

Those cheers and applause are always dedicated to the "superstar," not to the real him.

Robben, however, was different.

Every time he finishes a game, there's always a girl waiting for him outside the locker room. She doesn't ask for autographs or discuss business collaborations; she just simply asks, "Does your knee still hurt?"

Bernardine, who had been with him since his student days, would cook him hot cocoa after a loss, would remember that he hated carrots, and would say to him when he missed out on the Golden Boy award, "Anyway, you'll always be number one in my eyes."

So you see, the outcome of a match on the football field is only temporary.

In the long game of life, Arjen Robben has long been a winner.

That evening, Robben spoke to the media through his agent:

“I hope to get playing time soon. I’m ready. You know, it’s not easy to sit in the stands and watch every game. I broke my ankle 10 weeks ago, but the recovery has been going well and it’s fully healed now. The only problem now is the ligaments around my ankle. It hurts a little sometimes, but I’m patient and waiting for it to fully recover.”

"I want to play as many games as possible, and hopefully I can show the fans something special."

On October 15, 2004, when Robben walked into Chelsea's training ground, he saw Roy playing with a ball alone on the training field from afar.

The Frenchman was juggling the ball with his knees, chest, and the back of his feet, and the ball seemed glued to him, never touching the ground.

Robben stood on the sidelines and watched for a while. Roy even tried to stop the ball with the back of his neck. The ball bounced up gently and then landed steadily back on his foot.

The entire movement was fluid and seamless, without a single unnecessary step.

Roy continued his performance.

He first gently tapped the ball with his heel, and the ball obediently flew over his head, only to be caught steadily by his shoulder as it fell.

The ball rolled down his arm to his back, and with a turn, it miraculously returned to his toes.

At that moment, he looked up and saw Robben, smiled, and waved.

But the ball at his feet was still bouncing, as if it had come to life.

Suddenly, Roy flicked the ball to the side with the inside of his foot, then turned and volleyed it before it even hit the ground.

The ball traced an arc and flew precisely into the distant net.

Roy looked at the ball still bouncing in the net, then turned and walked towards Robben.

He extended his hand and simply said, "Welcome back, Aryan."

Robben was somewhat surprised.

They had barely spoken before, their only interaction being in the Champions League group stage, where PSV Eindhoven lost twice to Roy's Monaco.

Roy seemed to sense his hesitation and added, "I can't wait to work with the most talented genius in the Netherlands."

On October 16, 2004, in the ninth round of the Premier League, Manchester City faced Chelsea.

Manchester City Stadium was packed to capacity.

Even before the match started, the cheers from Manchester City fans were already deafening.

They sang their team song and waved their sky-blue scarves, making the entire stadium look like a churning ocean.

Every time a Chelsea player touches the ball, a deafening chorus of boos erupts from the stands.

Kevin Keegan stood on the sidelines with his hands in his trench coat pockets.

This once-glorious English striker now has a brow so furrowed it could trap a fly.

Manchester City have played terribly this season, and the fans' patience has long since run out.

Ironically, Manchester City have lost nine out of their last ten league matches against Chelsea.

Keegan looked up at the scoreboard. The game had only just begun, but his heart was already heavy.

However, Chelsea also have a number of injured players.

Robben, who had just recovered from injury, was placed in the left forward position, while Duff dropped back to play as an attacking midfielder.

Because Roy had played the full 90 minutes during the international break, Mourinho placed him on the bench as a precaution.

Keegan's tense expression eased slightly upon seeing Chelsea's starting lineup.

In the 8th minute, Chelsea launched a quick counter-attack.

Gudjohnsen held off Manchester City midfielder Bosvelt near the center circle and passed the ball to Robben, who was making a run down the left flank.

Robben received the ball and immediately accelerated. Manchester City's right-back Mills tried desperately to chase back, but the Dutchman changed direction and shook him off.

After penetrating into the left side of the penalty area, Robben gently tapped the ball with the sole of his right foot, transferring it to his left foot before unleashing a low shot.

The ball traced a tricky arc, slammed against the far post, and bounced back into play.

Manchester City goalkeeper David James didn't even have time to make a save.

Robben squatted on the grass in frustration, holding his head in his hands.

The broadcast camera panned to Mourinho standing on the sidelines, chewing gum with a blank expression.

On the bench, Roy, wrapped in a coat, calmly looked at the field, revealing no emotion.

Sky Sports Studios.

Taylor: "Oh dear! Robben's shot... just a hair's breadth away! Chelsea's most dangerous attack since the start of the game, the Dutchman almost single-handedly tore apart Manchester City's defense!"

Gray: "Yes, Martin. But apart from that, the game was quite dull. Chelsea were clearly affected by injuries, with Drogba and Abidal out, Roy on the bench, and a lack of link-up play in the attacking third. When Duff dropped back to attacking midfield, the Blues' attacking tempo noticeably sluggish."

Taylor: "Mourinho's team played cautiously today. Lampard and Makelele were solid in midfield, but lacked the drive to attack. On the other hand, Manchester City, although they had less possession, had very determined strikers Anelka and McKen, and overall showed a tendency to play an attacking game against Chelsea."

Gray: "Now it's a matter of who can break the deadlock first. Either Robben will shine again, or Mourinho might need to consider bringing on Roy to change the game."

In the 11th minute, the situation on the field suddenly changed.

Lampard's free kick was cleared by Manchester City, and the away team immediately launched a counter-attack.

Gallas slipped and made a mistake in midfield, and Bosvelt seized the opportunity to deliver a precise long pass.

The French striker sped off like a cheetah, instantly shaking off Chelsea's entire defense.

Maicon chased after him desperately, but he was already two body lengths behind.

Just as Anelka was about to break into the penalty area, the Brazilian defender risked stretching his leg out from behind.

His right foot struck Anelka's supporting leg, and the Frenchman fell to the ground, rolling twice inside the penalty area.

Referee Webb immediately blew his whistle.

He jogged to the scene, his right hand firmly pointing to the penalty spot, while his left hand pulled a yellow card from his pocket.

Maicon excitedly spread his hands to defend himself, but Webb simply shook his head and pointed to his eyes with his finger, indicating that he could see it clearly.

Anelka slowly got up from the grass and brushed the grass clippings off his socks.

He picked up the ball and walked to the penalty spot. The entire city stadium fell silent, everyone holding their breath and waiting for the result of this penalty kick.

After calmly observing Cech's movements, Anelka delivered a deft right-footed shot into the bottom left corner of the goal.

Manchester City took a 1-0 lead, and the entire City Stadium erupted in cheers.

Mourinho suddenly stood up, shouted loudly at the field, and waved his hand forcefully to signal the defense to adjust their positions.

Roy sat on the bench, his gaze fixed on Manchester City's Chinese player, Sun Jihai.

This Chinese international, making his fifth start of the season, played as a defensive midfielder today, mainly operating in front of the center-backs to protect the defense, and didn't have many opportunities to touch the ball.

In the 19th minute of the match, Sun Jihai attempted a bicycle kick to clear the ball in the backfield but missed, but fortunately his teammate Dunn controlled the ball.

Two minutes later, he was defending Duff with his teammates on the right wing, but the opponent still broke through and crossed the ball, but fortunately Dunn cleared the ball in time.

In the 23rd minute, Sun Jihai pushed Thiago down during a midfield challenge.

In the 26th minute, he successfully intercepted Carvalho's long counter-attack pass.

In the 28th minute, Sun Jihai completed a one-two pass with Phillips on the right flank, but was blocked by Gala when he made his forward run.

In the 37th minute, he delivered a brilliant over-the-top pass to Sibierski, but the latter missed a golden opportunity.

An accident occurred in the 39th minute.

When Sun Jihai tackled Gudjohnsen, he was knocked to the ground and his left calf was pinned down.

He collapsed to the ground in pain, covering his face with his hands. After a long period of treatment, he finally left the field in tears, supported by the team doctor.

In the 43rd minute, McManaman came on as a substitute, and Sun Jihai's match ended prematurely.

As the halftime whistle blew, Mourinho turned and looked toward the substitutes' bench.

Roy stood up without waiting to be called and went straight to the head coach.

Manchester City fans were immediately agitated when they saw this, as everyone knew the Frenchman was about to come on.

A chorus of curses erupted from the stands: "Bloody hell!" "Not that French bastard!"

Several excited fans even smashed their beer glasses on the ground.

"Arjen, you played very well in the first half, but you've only recently recovered from injury and need time to regain your form. This position isn't suitable for you either, so rest for now. Roy, you'll come on in the second half. Also, Bridge will replace Gallas."

Robben hung his head, his face filled with disappointment.

Roy walked over and gently patted his shoulder: "Don't worry, just get through this. As long as you stay healthy, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future."

Robben nodded, secretly relieved that Roy recognized his abilities.

But he didn't notice that the real point of Roy's words was the second half, which was to say "stay healthy," because in the intense Premier League, a fragile winger can't go far.

After the start of the second half, Chelsea significantly intensified their attack.

Roy immediately became active on the left flank after coming on, frequently linking up with Duff and Lampard.

In the 47th minute, he dropped back into midfield to receive the ball and made a diagonal pass to Gudjohnsen on the right wing. The Icelander then passed the ball across the middle, but Lampard's shot was blocked by Dunn and went out of bounds.

In the 49th minute, Manchester City responded in kind.

Anelka dribbled forward and passed the ball to the wing. Phillips crossed from the right, but McCann's header was easily caught by Cech.

After intercepting the ball in the backfield, Makelele looked up and made a precise long pass over the top to Roy on the left flank.

Roy deftly controlled the ball with the instep of his right foot, turned around, stepped on the ball with his left foot and pulled it back, then pushed forward with the outside of his right foot.

The ball passed between the legs of the onrushing McManaman like a scalpel!
A deafening roar suddenly erupted from the Chelsea away fans' stand.

Roy's nutmeg was so effortless that he didn't even glance at McManaman.

He started moving instantly, dribbling the ball forward with great strides.

Manchester City's right-back Mills rushed forward to block, but Roy didn't slow down at all. Just as the two were about to collide, he made a diagonal pass with the outside of his right foot. The ball skimmed along the grass and accurately passed through the last gap in Manchester City's defense!
Duff darted in from the right flank like a ghost and unleashed a low shot to meet the ball!
James reacted with lightning speed, diving to the ground and barely managing to deflect the ball out of bounds with his fingertips.

Martin Tyler: "Look at this attack! Roy completely changed the rhythm of the game after coming on! Makelele's long pass, Roy controlled the ball deftly, turned, pulled the ball back, and nutmegged it! It was fluid and graceful! That's the instinct of a world-class player!"

Andy Gray: "So elegant, Martin! He didn't even consider McManaman a threat, it was as easy as crossing the street in the morning! And then that diagonal pass, the timing, the power, the angle... perfect! Duff's shot was saved, but this attack has already showcased Roy's top-notch vision and creativity!"

Taylor: "That's the value of a top striker! In just a few minutes, he has completely transformed Chelsea's attack! Mourinho's substitutions have had an immediate effect!"

In the 53rd minute, Chelsea executed a brilliant combination play.

Makelele intercepted the ball in the backfield and passed it to Lampard. The English midfielder and Duff exchanged a series of one-two passes before the ball was passed to the wing.

Roy received the ball on the left flank, suddenly changed direction and cut inside, dribbling past Mills before unleashing a low shot.

The ball bounced in front of the goal, arced in an unpredictable way, and flew into the far corner of the net.

1-1! Chelsea equalized in a flash, Manchester City players looked at each other in dismay, while Roy had already run towards the corner flag with his arms outstretched in celebration.

This goal, from start to finish, involved only six passes and completely tore apart Manchester City's defense.

Chelsea players excitedly rushed towards Roy to celebrate.

Roy turned around, opened his arms, and hugged Lampard, Terry, and other teammates, forming a circle around them.

With a radiant smile, Roy shouted, "Frank! That was a fantastic pass! We've equalized! Remember, we are Chelsea! We will keep running, fighting, and battling to the very end!"

Lampard grinned and raised his fist.

Roy met the attack without hesitation, and their fists collided heavily in the air, producing a crisp sound.

The teammates cheered enthusiastically.

Roy looked around at everyone and said firmly, "I will always believe in you, just as you can always believe in me!"

The game continued, and Chelsea's attack became increasingly fierce. In the 64th minute, Mourinho substituted Joe Cole for Mendes to further escalate the attack.

In the 71st minute, Terry intercepted the ball in the backfield and delivered a long pass without hesitation.

Roy suddenly accelerated amidst the encirclement of three Manchester City defenders, sprinting wildly towards the landing point.

He first controlled the ball with his chest, then pushed it forward with his knee. Manchester City midfielder Bosvelt reached out to pull him down, but Roy stumbled and didn't fall!
He controlled the ball with the instep of his left foot, then stepped on it and pulled it back, abruptly stopping and changing direction, leaving Bosvest completely behind!

Roy flicked the ball with his left foot to the right and accelerated forward. Manchester City's right-back Mills rushed up to challenge him, but just as Roy was about to be knocked down, he sent a diagonal pass from outside the penalty area!
Duff received the ball, made a slight adjustment, and then unleashed a left-footed shot!

The ball struck Dunn's ankle and bounced back. Gudjohnsen reacted quickly and scored on the rebound! The ball hit the back of the net!

2-1! Chelsea take the lead!

Goodjohnsen clenched his fists and roared to the sky.

Duff and Roy rushed over immediately, and the three of them hugged each other tightly, pounding their chests in celebration.

As the Icelander turned and pumped his fist toward the away fans, Roy smiled and pointed at him, while simultaneously gesturing to the Chelsea fans to give the goal scorer an even louder cheer!

Chelsea fans watching on television erupted in cheers, chanting Gudjohnsen's name.

But soon, everyone's conversation turned to Roy.

"Roy deserves half the credit for that goal!"

"That pass was incredible!"

"With him up front, we always have a chance!"

"Oh my god, I'm falling more and more in love with him."

"He's simply a miracle!"

"How can there be a player like this? There has never been one in the history of the Premier League!"

"Roy is our savior!"

Amid cheers, Roy's name was repeatedly mentioned, and the fans' faces were filled with admiration.

Such contradictions will always exist on the football field.

Honors are earned by the team, but the spotlight always shines on a few.

Just like Messi of Barcelona and Ronaldo of Real Madrid, people often remember the shining superstars, rather than the teammates who made silent contributions.

Mourinho's Chelsea played the most cohesive style of football, with each player functioning like a finely tuned gear.

Ironically, the head coach, who emphasizes teamwork the most, has become the most eye-catching focus.

Today, as Chelsea battled on the pitch, all eyes were on Roy.

Every touch of the ball and every breakthrough he made made the audience forget that this was originally a battle of 11 people.

Fans have gradually forgotten Mourinho's tireless efforts in studying tactics day and night, and have also overlooked the luxurious lineup that Abramovich built with a huge investment.

In their eyes, everything changed with Roy joining the team.

It's as if it doesn't matter who the coach is, as long as this Frenchman is on the field.

"If Ranieri were still here, Roy would have won just as well!"

Such arguments began to circulate in the tavern.

People selectively ignored the coaching staff's carefully designed system and only remembered Roy's dazzling individual performances.

Football has ultimately become a stage for the creation of idols.

2004 10 Month 17 Day.

Espanyol vs. Barcelona.

In the 83rd minute of the match, the fourth official raised the substitution board.

Messi (number 30) replaced Deco (number 20).

Deco walked to the sidelines, smiled, gave the 17-year-old Argentine player a high-five and a hug, and whispered a few words of advice.

Messi looked tense, clearly nervous about his first league appearance.

At that moment, Aimar, who had just joined Barcelona this season, came over, ruffled Messi's hair, and encouraged him with a smile.

It is said that Messi once said that Aimar is his idol.

At a powerhouse like Barcelona, ​​it's difficult for young players to get opportunities.

But on this day, Messi, at 17 years, 3 months and 22 days old, still made history – becoming the second youngest player to appear in a league match for Barcelona.

(End of this chapter)