When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 221 Roy Robben Combination
On the morning of October 24, 2004, Roy and his agent Mendes took a helicopter from London to Manchester.

The purpose of this trip was to watch the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Manchester United's home ground that day.

By 5 p.m., Old Trafford Stadium was already packed.

Seventy-five thousand fans turned Old Trafford into a surging sea of ​​red, with the die-hard supporters in the Stratford Stand leading the charge in singing "Glory Glory Man United," their chants sweeping across the stadium like a tidal wave.

The announcements from the Old Trafford stadium echoed throughout the grounds:
Manchester United –

Goalkeeper: Carroll; Defenders: Gary Neville, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Heinze; Midfielders: Scholes, Phil Neville; Wings: Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho; Forwards: Rooney and Van Nistelrooy.

"Arsenal team—"

Goalkeeper Lehmann; defense: Lauren, Toure, Campbell, Ashley Cole; midfielders: Ljungberg, Pedretti, Vieira, Van Persie; forwards: Henry partnering Bergkamp.

As soon as the announcement ended, deafening cheers erupted from the stands as Manchester United fans sang their team anthem, the sound sweeping across the entire stadium.

Arsenal fans responded with synchronized clapping and chants: "49 unbeaten games! 49 unbeaten games!"

This is their proud Premier League unbeaten record.

Manchester United die-hards in the North Stand immediately responded with even louder boos, and some held up a banner that read, "October 24, 2004, the myth of Old Trafford ends."

Ferguson, chewing gum on the sidelines, sharply glanced at Wenger on the other side of the coaching bench.

Arsenal arrived at Old Trafford with a 49-game unbeaten run, and captain Vieira's return from an ankle injury was good news for Wenger.

Manchester United suffered a blow as captain Roy Keane missed the game due to the flu, and Phil Neville, who has only played one game this season, replaced him in the defensive midfield position.

The match was highly charged, with both sides engaging in fierce competition from the very beginning.

Arsenal are looking to extend their unbeaten run, while Manchester United are eager to stop their rivals at home.

The first half saw rapid transitions between attack and defense for both teams, but neither managed to score. Referee Riley's numerous controversial decisions sparked discontent among the players.

Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira was in poor form, making several mis-passes, while Phil Neville, who temporarily replaced Roy Keane for Manchester United, performed well.

Arsenal midfielder Pedretti displayed excellent vision and orchestrated numerous attacks, but the forward line led by Henry was unable to break through Manchester United's defense.

Roy stared at Pedretti on the field and suddenly said to Mendes beside him, "See? Benoît is still as good as ever, his passing timing is really accurate."

He squinted, watching Pedretti make another precise pass to the wing, and muttered, "A midfielder who uses his brain should be playing under Wenger."

For Manchester United, Ronaldinho frequently created threats on the left flank, with several exquisite passes tearing apart Arsenal's defense.

Rooney made active runs in the attacking third, dropping back to receive passes and orchestrate attacks on numerous occasions.

Cristiano Ronaldo's breakthroughs on the right wing were sharp, but his finishing was a bit rushed, with several shots going wide of the target.

For Arsenal, Henry repeatedly attacked Manchester United's defense with his speed, and his combination with Bergkamp remained excellent.

Although the Ice Prince is getting on in years, he still handles and distributes the ball with ease, and his several brilliant passes almost led to his teammates scoring goals.

Mendes turned to Roy and asked, "What do you think of Manchester United's current lineup?"

Roy frowned and glanced at the field: "That looks intimidating, four attackers packed into the frontcourt."

He clicked his tongue. "But it's too crowded. There are only Scholes and Neville in midfield, and the defense isn't strong enough. Ferguson is playing with fire."

Arsenal took the initiative in the second half, but were unable to break through Manchester United's defense.

The game took a turn in the 72nd minute when Rooney went down after a challenge with Campbell on the edge of the penalty area, and referee Riley promptly awarded a penalty, sparking strong protests from Arsenal players.

Van Nistelrooy held his nerve and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner to give Manchester United the lead.

Roy raised an eyebrow slightly, shifting his gaze from the field to the sidelines.

Ferguson was excitedly waving his arms in celebration, while Wenger stood still with his hands in his pockets on the other side.

In the 76th minute, Manchester United extended their lead!
Ronaldinho used a series of changes of direction on the left wing to get rid of the defender, and then suddenly made a cross to the right wing.

Van Nistel cleverly feinted, fooling Campbell and Touré's attention.

Cristiano Ronaldo made a high-speed run into the halfway line to receive the ball. Pedroti desperately chased back and pulled him down, but before the Portuguese player fell to the ground, he still managed to poke the ball to Rooney who was following up in the middle!
On his 19th birthday, Rooney calmly slotted a shot into the far corner, leaving Lehmann helpless!
Manchester United are leading 2-0, and Old Trafford is in a frenzy!
The trajectory of history seems to have been predetermined.

When Manchester United took a 2-0 lead, the entire Old Trafford crowd braced themselves to witness the end of the Gunners' unbeaten run.

However, the charm of football lies in its unpredictability.

In the 87th minute, Arsenal pulled one back!
Henry broke through on the left and delivered a low cross. Bergkamp cleverly let the ball pass, and Pires followed up at the far post to push the ball into the net, making it 1-2!

In the third minute of stoppage time, Arsenal miraculously equalized!
Vieira made a long pass from midfield, Ljungberg headed the ball down, and Henry volleyed it into the top corner from the edge of the box, making it 2-2!

Arsenal players celebrated wildly, while Old Trafford fell silent.

At this moment, history was rewritten, and the legend of 49 unbeaten matches continues.

As the Arsenal players stacked themselves on top of each other in celebration, the away stands erupted in deafening chants of "Hot Stuff."

Roy tapped his fingers to the rhythm and suddenly joined in, singing "Arsenal—"

He then got up and left his seat, heading towards the VIP box where Abu was.

He shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with prominent figures from all walks of life in Britain along the way, with a polite smile on his face.

The Manchester United fans in the stands followed the French striker with complex expressions.

Many of them had eagerly hoped that he would wear the legendary number 7 jersey for Manchester United, but now they can only watch him don the Chelsea jersey and lead the Premier League with his unparalleled goal-scoring record.

A delicate atmosphere permeated Old Trafford at this moment: the home team, leading by two goals, conceded two goals in quick succession, and Arsenal's unbeaten record continued.

And the team most likely to end this record is none other than Chelsea, where Roy plays.

Manchester United fans looked at this striker who was once within their grasp, their hearts filled with mixed emotions.

The only good news for Manchester United was that the infamous player brawl didn't break out after the match, and Ferguson was fortunate enough to avoid the embarrassing scene of being "drenched in soup".

The infamous "pizza gate" incident of 2004 did not occur; this time, both sides at least exercised minimal restraint.

(The "Pizza Gate" incident is one of the most famous post-match clashes in Premier League history, occurring in October 2004 after Manchester United's 2-0 victory over Arsenal, ending their 49-game unbeaten run. Enraged Arsenal players clashed violently with Manchester United in the players' tunnel. According to Ferguson's autobiography, Cesc Fabregas threw a pizza at him and the refereeing team, leaving his suit smeared with sauce.)
That evening, Roy, who had just watched the Manchester United match, returned to London from Manchester and was immediately invited to attend the maiden voyage of Abramovich's newly purchased "Sky Abramovich" private jet.

The $10 billion Boeing 767 took off from London, carrying Roy and other dignitaries to Moscow.

At the celebration party in Moscow, Abramovich personally introduced Roy to local political and business figures.

To Roy's surprise, he was quite popular in Russia.

Amidst the clinking of glasses, several energy oligarchs surrounded Roy, each holding a glass of vodka. One of them patted him on the shoulder and said, "I saw your hat-trick against Blackburn in Moscow!"

Even more surprisingly, Sergei Shoigu, then Minister of Emergency Situations of Russia, raised his glass in praise, saying, "A striker should be as fierce as a Siberian wolf."

This brief trip to Moscow gave him his first firsthand experience of Abramovich's immense influence in Russia.

In English football, Roy's influence is also expanding at an astonishing rate.

His goal highlights dominate prime time on major sports programs every week after match days.

From London to other cities in the UK, children on the streets began to imitate his unique celebration, and Chelsea jerseys with his name on them were always the first to sell out in sporting goods stores.

The media's attention on him has extended beyond the sports section.

GQ magazine described him as a "football artist of the new century," while columnists at The Times debated whether he was redefining the role of the modern striker.

Even serious news programs on the BBC quote his post-match interview segments in their reports.

The French striker's remarks were quite dramatic.

The seemingly arrogant declaration contains philosophical insights, and while it is provocative, it stops just short of being explosive.

His witty remarks, which generate buzz without actually offending anyone, are treasures to producers.

The media discovered that he was an interviewing genius; every sentence he uttered was like a meticulously crafted performance, perfectly balancing controversy and reach.

In 2004, Roy's name had become a phenomenon in English football.

In just ten Premier League matches, he scored 13 goals and provided 5 assists, statistics that strike fear into the hearts of all his opponents.

In Mourinho's tactical system, he is not only the sharpest striker, but also the core of the team's attack.

After each match, the sports pages discussed his incredible goal-scoring efficiency.

Such a performance naturally made Roy the most watched star in all of England.

Off the field, his life also attracts attention.

Fashion magazines are vying to have him shoot their covers, and top brands are lining up to seek collaborations.

Countless female celebrities and models have publicly stated that they want to date him.

In their eyes, Roy is the next Beckham.

No, considering his amazing talent and age advantage, his ceiling is clearly much higher than Beckham's.

Among these suitors, some were genuinely attracted, while many more fantasized about becoming "the next Victoria," hoping to replicate the Beckhams' business success.

But everyone knows that Roy is creating his own era, and his future is limitless.

On October 26, 2004, in the third round of the League Cup, Chelsea fielded a rotated squad against West Ham United.

In the 57th minute, Joe Cole delivered a brilliant through ball, and Robben made a high-speed run and slotted the ball into the net to break the deadlock.

In the 72nd minute, Robben once again tore through the defense on the left wing and crossed the ball in front of the goal, where Gudjohnsen easily finished to seal the victory.

Roy sat on the bench the entire game without even taking off his jacket.

Mourinho is clearly conserving his energy.

After all, the Premier League is currently in the midst of a grueling schedule, with matches every four days being the norm.

When the FA Cup starts, plus the Boxing Day match on Christmas Day, the players will even have to endure the torment of playing two matches in three days.

Roy rubbed his thigh on the sidelines.

Even though he was in top form, the continuous high-intensity matches had left his muscles aching.

Watching the West Ham United player's flying tackle, he secretly rejoiced that he didn't have to play today.

Even players with exceptional skills can't handle this kind of schedule, no wonder Arsenal always collapsed in the winter.

After the League Cup match, a reporter stopped Robben, who had scored a goal and provided an assist, and asked him if he was confident of competing with Roy for the starting position on the left wing.

The Dutchman burst out laughing on the spot.

He tilted his head and pursed his lips, his expression as if he had heard someone ask, "Can you beat Tyson with a spoon?"

"Roy's current form is simply incredible. His 13 goals and 5 assists in 10 Premier League games speak for themselves. As a player, you have to respect such performances; he deserves all the praise. But competition is part of football, and I will never be content to sit on the bench. Left wing, right wing, even the center—I'm ready to help the team in my own way whenever the coach needs me. We all have different strengths, and that's what makes Chelsea so strong. The important thing is for the team to win; who starts is a question for the coach to consider."

Robben played brilliantly in this match, and he is confident that he is the best winger in the Premier League, but he now clearly recognizes that Roy is a player of another level.

The two were discussed only because Roy happens to play as a left winger, and he hasn't won certain honors simply because he hasn't played enough games.

Roy's achievements in less than two years have exceeded the general understanding of the media and fans.

Despite his top-level performance, he is still habitually described by outsiders as having a "promising future" or being a "rising star," and they are even reluctant to use "peak" to describe his current state.

Because he seems to be constantly improving, as if there is no limit.

If Roy can maintain this level of performance and win a few more championships, even if it's not a Grand Slam, he will be compared to the greatest players in history in a few years, and he's only twenty years old now.

Robben has given up on competing with Roy; he understands that he is destined to be a supporting actor.

Now his focus has shifted to: who can become Roy's most important partner in Chelsea's attacking lineup.

When Robben entered the locker room, Roy had already changed into casual clothes and was chatting with his teammates.

Seeing Robben enter, Roy deliberately greeted him in Dutch, extending his hand with a sincere smile: "Hey, Arjen, your performance this year has been absolutely fantastic!"

Robben paused for a moment, then smiled and shook Roy's hand: "Thanks, buddy. But I'm still a long way from you."

He shrugged, his tone slightly teasing, but his eyes were serious.

Roy responded with a smile: "Who can predict what will happen on the football field? Today you are the protagonist, tomorrow it may be me or Duff and Drogba, Lampard. The important thing is that we are all playing for the same team."

This statement, seemingly humble but actually arrogant, might be directed at others, but most of the time it's me.

It's me again, always me.

Roy's mindset has inevitably changed.

When you always win, always become the key player in deciding the game, and are always praised to the skies by the media and fans, it's hard not to start believing.

I am the strongest, and I am invincible.

Even if Roy is smart enough and has high emotional intelligence, and can even joke about himself in the locker room to liven up the atmosphere, the humility in the bones of a person who is constantly immersed in victory and praise will eventually be eroded.

This change was gradual and subtle, and even he himself found it difficult to notice.

Looking back at Roy's early days, that arrogance seemed more like a survival tool, a deliberate attitude to gain a foothold in the football world.

But things are different now; the entire football world is pushing him to a higher position.

The omnipresent influence of newspaper headlines, advertising endorsements, and the adoration of fans forced him to get used to looking down from above.

He cannot constantly remind himself to be humble, nor can he tolerate being in a secondary position.

The winner's mentality is ingrained in their bones, as natural as breathing.

The pride I feel now is no longer feigned, but something truly ingrained in my bones.

When he was training at the Monaco stadium, he once silently thought to himself: the pitch is flat, and people should always look straight ahead.

But now, he has completely forgotten those words.

Now he habitually walks with his head held high, not to put on airs, but because the spotlight above him is so bright that he can't see the road ahead.

At a Manchester United press conference on October 29, 2004, a reporter asked a tricky question: "If you had one bullet, who would you shoot? Arsène Wenger or Victoria Beckham?"

The audience burst into laughter.

This question alludes to the long-standing feud between Ferguson and the Arsenal manager, as well as the conflict between Beckham and his wife over interference in training.

Faced with this provocative question, the 62-year-old Ferguson didn't get angry but laughed instead: "Don't be like that, why can't I have two bullets?"

On the same day, Arsenal held a groundbreaking ceremony for their new stadium at Highbury.

Staff carefully placed a piece of Highbury turf into a glass container. This handful of soil, which carries the legend of invincibility, will be permanently sealed underground at the future Emirates Stadium.

Arsène Wenger attended the press conference with captain Patrick Vieira and star striker Thierry Henry. The three posed for a photo in front of a plaque that read "Memories of Highbury," marking a quiet turning point in Arsenal's history.

October 30, 2004, Premier League Round 11.

West Bromwich Albion vs. Chelsea.

Less than a minute into the game, West Brovic's defense was already under attack.

Abidal accelerated down the left flank, shaking off the defender, and delivered a precise cross.

Duff sprinted towards the goal like a blue lightning bolt, seemingly poised to intercept the ball, but West Bromwich Albion's Hungarian midfielder, Gera, made a desperate chase and, at the last moment, slid the ball out of play. Chelsea's corner was cleared, but possession quickly returned to the Blues.

The ball was passed around three times before it reached Roy's feet. He dribbled the ball as if it were nothing, and in a few big strides he reached the edge of the penalty area.

The West Bromwich Albion defenders looked at each other, none of them daring to press forward.

In that brief moment of hesitation, Roy had already secured the ball and assessed the situation.

He suddenly flicked his ankle and passed the ball to Maicon, who had made a run down the right flank.

At this moment, West Brovic's defensive forces were all drawn to Roy, leaving the right flank completely undefended.

Brazilian full-back Maicon calmly adjusted his footing and unleashed a powerful right-footed shot. The ball flew into the net like a cannonball, giving Chelsea a 1-0 lead!

Chelsea controlled the game from the very beginning.

Mourinho's team is like a precision machine, with every part working together seamlessly.

Makelele was like an iron gate, ruthlessly blocking any attack that tried to pass through the middle.

Terry and Gallas had excellent chemistry; one pressed aggressively forward, while the other covered deep, making it nearly impossible for West Brovic's two strikers, Enshaw and Kanu, to touch the ball.

Abidal and Maicon on the flanks were equally adept at both offense and defense, not only shutting down the opponent's wingers Gra and Greening, but also frequently pushing forward to support the attack.

Lampard and Smertin constantly intersected in midfield, one responsible for orchestrating the ball distribution and the other focused on sweeping up and covering.

West Bromwich Albion's Johansen and Clement were overwhelmed and unable to mount any effective attacks.

Chelsea's passing is quick and accurate; they can get the ball into the dangerous area of ​​the attacking third with just a few passes.

Roy is the heart and soul of Chelsea's attack.

He roamed the left flank, sometimes cutting inside, sometimes drifting to the wing, causing chaos in West Brovic's defense.

His goal in the 3rd minute had already instilled fear in the opponents, and he continued to create threats in the following minutes: a long-range shot from the edge of the penalty area grazed the post, and a clever backheel pass nearly allowed Gudjohnsen to score.

Duff was equally active on the right wing, making Paul Robinson look foolish with several breakthroughs.

West Brovic tried to fight back, but their attack was like hitting a wall.

Enshaw and Kanu were isolated and helpless, and all their crosses from the flanks were easily cleared by Terry and Gallas.

Any occasional counterattacks were quickly quelled by Makelele and Smertin.

This is the most frustrating aspect of Mourinho's tactics.

It sticks to you like a piece of chewing gum, and you can't shake it off.

His team never goes toe-to-toe with you; instead, they tighten their defense so that you can't find a single opening no matter how hard you try.

Once you've exhausted yourself attacking, they suddenly launch a counterattack, each strike drawing blood.

That's how the West Bromwich Albion players feel right now.

Even though I didn't make any major mistakes, I still felt suffocated by the pressure.

Want to attack? You can't get through.

Want to defend? Roy and his gang pounced on them like sharks smelling blood.

Playing this kind of game is the most frustrating. It's like being held underwater, and just when you're about to look up to breathe, you're slapped back down.

With halftime approaching, Chelsea won a corner kick on the right.

Lampard stood at the corner flag, took a deep breath, and after a run-up, unleashed a flat and fast curling shot.

The ball bypassed the defender at the near post and flew precisely towards the far post.

Terry suddenly sprang into action like a cheetah, bursting out of the crowd and launching a fierce diving header from 8 yards out!

The ball slammed into the goal, and Holt managed to save it, but the crisis was not over yet.

Gallas, lurking in the penalty area, reacted extremely quickly, reaching out with his long leg to poke the ball less than two yards from the goal, ahead of all the defenders.

The ball went into the net! 2-0!

The entire goal sequence was clean and efficient: Lampard's precise pass, Terry's powerful header, and Gallas's fatal finish.

West Bromwich Albion's defense was completely breached. The two center-backs stood still and watched the ball go into the net, while goalkeeper Holt knelt on the goal line, his face filled with despair.

This goal completely killed any suspense in the first half. The Chelsea players walked back to the locker room chatting and laughing, while the home team players hung their heads, their steps heavy as if filled with lead.

At halftime, Mourinho substituted Duff with Robben.

In these matches, Chelsea have tried rotating Duff, Joe Cole, and Robben on the right flank, but Robben has been the most effective.

Although the Dutch sometimes like to lead the team too much, their breakthroughs are indeed sharp, and their cooperation with Roy is the most seamless.

As soon as Robben came on, Chelsea's attack immediately gained a sharper weapon.

Roy was originally the most terrifying winger in football.

With explosive power, unpredictable changes of direction, and precise passing, he is almost unstoppable.

While Robben was slightly inferior, his inside cut-in shots and straight-line sprints were equally deadly.

With the two players positioned on the left and right, West Brovic's defense was completely caught in a dilemma.

55 minutes.

Robben received the ball on the right wing, and his feet, clad in orange sneakers, immediately sprang to life as if powered by a motor.

He first made a few small, quick steps to adjust, and the ball seemed to be glued to his feet, bouncing gently with his high-frequency footwork.

Just as Paul Robinson lowered his center of gravity to prepare for defense, Robben suddenly dropped his shoulder, pushed off with his left leg, and sprang out like a spring, his first step was frighteningly fast.

His dribbling style is very special: his upper body leans slightly forward, his knees are raised very high, and his two legs cross quickly like scissors.

When dribbling, he always habitually pokes the ball gently with his toes, controlling each step to just the distance to catch up with the ball.

Robinson tried desperately to catch up, but found he couldn't get close at all. Robben's dribbling route was unpredictable, sometimes feinting towards the outside, and sometimes quickly changing direction by flicking the ball with the inside of his foot.

What's most deadly is his change of rhythm. Just when Robinson thought he was going to accelerate down the baseline, he suddenly stopped, flicked the ball with his left foot towards the inside, and turned in a direction as lightly as a ballerina.

Gadso rushed over to cover, but it was too late.

Robben kept his eyes fixed on the penalty area, but his feet seemed to have eyes. Just as Gadso rushed in, he gently pushed the ball through the gap between the two with the instep of his foot.

The entire breakthrough was fluid and seamless. His unique "small steps followed by explosive bursts" dribbling style made it impossible for defenders to stop him, even though they knew he was going to cut inside.

When Roy received the ball on the left wing, he looked like a cheetah ready to pounce.

Upon receiving Robben's pass, Roy controlled the ball briefly, then pushed it with the outside of his right foot, as if the ball were glued to his foot.

West Brovic's defender Smika desperately chased back, but Roy didn't give him a chance to get close.

Suddenly, with a change of rhythm, he flicked the ball out to the outside with his left foot and darted away.

Smika reached out to grab him but couldn't, and could only watch as the blue figure disappeared into the distance.

Roy drove to the byline and, without even looking up to observe, delivered a low cross based on instinct.

The ball was so fast that goalkeeper Holt didn't have time to go down; all Gudjohnsen had to do was extend his foot and lightly touch it.

3-0!

Compared to Robben's complex dribbling style, which relies on frequent short steps and changes of direction, Roy's breakthroughs have returned to simplicity.

He doesn't need many fancy moves; a simple shoulder drop and a single touch of the ball are enough to break down the defense.

Dribbling the ball is as natural as breathing; it seems to grow on his feet. Defenders know exactly where he's going, but they just can't keep up with his lightning-fast bursts of speed.

Those sudden stops, changes of direction, and nutmegs seem to be muscle memory; before the defender can even judge, his body has already made the most lethal move.

Mourinho stood on the sidelines with his hands in his pockets, chewing gum and squinting his eyes.

Roy and Robben were like two sharp knives on the field, one agile and unpredictable, the other sharp and direct, turning West Brovic's defense upside down.

He thought to himself: "Roy's explosiveness, Robben's inside cut, Drogba's battering ram-like pivot role, plus Lampard's late runs into the box."

But he quickly reverted to his poker face.

The Special One is not easily satisfied; he knows how brutal the Premier League winter can be.

We'll have to see if this combination can break through Arsenal's defense, and we'll also have to test whether they can maintain this sharpness in rainy, muddy conditions.

As he turned and sat back down on the coach's bench, he muttered to the assistant coach, "Observe for two more games."

But no one noticed that his notebook was already filled with drawings of Roy and Robben's running connections.

Just like a gambler who pretends to be calm when he gets two aces, but in reality he's already planning how to win the whole game.

Robben was Mourinho's "Plan B".

When the opponent assigns two or three players to closely mark Roy, the Dutch can stir up trouble on the other side.

He's like a dagger hidden in his sleeve, unassuming most of the time, but the moment you focus all your attention on Roy, he can unleash his signature inside-cutting burst to bleed you dry.

With him around, opponents simply don't dare to concentrate all their defensive resources on Roy's side.

Just like tonight, West Brovic was about to send someone to help defend Roy when Robben immediately showed them by outmaneuvering the full-back twice: Dare to leave me open?
The cost wouldn't be much less than letting Roy go short.

This dual-core approach creates a vicious cycle in Chelsea's attack: you can't always focus on one thing at the expense of another.

In the 67th minute, West Bromwich Albion finally seized their chance.

Kanu's powerful shot inside the penalty area was saved by Cech's diving save, but Gera reacted quickly and calmly slotted the ball into the net before Makelele could block it.

With the score at 1-3, the home fans finally erupted in a long-awaited cheer.

This goal kept the game barely suspenseful.

81 minutes.

Makelele made a sliding tackle in midfield to intercept the ball and immediately passed it to Lampard.

Lampard looked up to observe, then swung his right foot and delivered a 40-meter long pass.

The ball seemed to have eyes, traversing half the field and precisely landing on Roy on the left wing.

Roy gently nudged the ball with his chest, and it obediently landed at his feet.

Smika lowered her center of gravity and prepared for battle, but Roy suddenly shifted his shoulder to the left and flicked the ball to the right with his right foot.

With just this simple feint, Smika was pinned to the spot and unable to move.

In the blink of an eye, Roy had adjusted his pace.

He straightened the inside of his right foot and gently rubbed it like a golf putter.

The ball, spinning wildly, soared into the air, tracing a banana-shaped arc, heading straight for the top right corner of the goal.

Goalkeeper Holt made a diving save, barely managing to touch the ball with his fingertips, but he still couldn't stop it from slamming against the underside of the crossbar and bouncing into the net!
In the 82nd minute, Chelsea sealed the victory.

Roy dropped back into midfield to receive the ball and suddenly delivered a pinpoint through ball. Robben darted into the penalty area like an arrow and calmly slotted the ball into the far corner past the onrushing Holt.

5-1! This goal completely extinguished West Bromwich Albion's hopes of a comeback.

Robben and Roy high-fived in celebration, having orchestrated this attacking spectacle together.

"Arjen, your breakthrough was really impressive."

Roy wiped his sweat and said seriously, "But next time you see me making a run, pass the ball earlier. If you had dribbled a few more steps with that ball, the defense would have been drawn all over you, leaving me with an open space."

He pointed to the opponent's penalty area: "We need to play smarter."

Robben pursed his lips, staring at the grass and muttering, "I see it, but the angle is too narrow."

But he still looked up and nodded at Roy.

He's conceded defeat, since the Frenchman's passing and shooting were indeed more efficient than his.

Roy: "Take two more steps to the byline, and Gadso will definitely follow. A cross will open the net."

Robben: "Okay, next round you run offside, and I'll pass you over the top."

Mourinho clapped softly on the sidelines, a satisfied look on his face.

Despite conceding a goal, Chelsea's dominance throughout the match was convincing.

As the final whistle blew, the Chelsea players walked toward the locker room chatting and laughing, while the home team players left the field dejectedly.

Chelsea secured a resounding 5-1 victory to maintain their top spot in the Premier League.

Roy once again became the focus of the entire match, providing 3 precise assists and scoring a brilliant goal, completely tearing apart West Bromwich Albion's defense.

This French winger is in red-hot form right now, and defenders from all Premier League teams dread the mere mention of his name.

They couldn't stop his breakthroughs, they couldn't intercept his passes, and they couldn't stop his shots.

Mourinho's team played better and better, and this victory further extended their lead.

Stamford Bridge fans are already dreaming of the championship trophy, while managers of other Premier League teams are working through the night to figure out how to contain the formidable Roy Robben-Robben duo.

Mourinho's Chelsea have swept an eleven-game winning streak, leaving their Premier League rivals stunned and numb.

The only Manchester City defeat in this phase of real history is nothing more than an easy three points won by Roy's team in this timeline.

Chelsea's crushing victories have become a daily occurrence in the Premier League.

Roy felt numb, just like the media.

He was Chelsea's sharpest weapon, scoring goals, providing assists, and winning games – impressive statistics and a perfect performance.

Even with an eleven-game winning streak, he still felt like a mercenary, lacking any sense of belonging to the team.

Victory is a job, not a passion.

The locker room is an office, not a home.

Sometimes even Roy himself felt that the media was right; he was a weapon that Abramovich had bought with a lot of money.

Goals, assists, and victories are merely the performance parameters that a weapon should have.

The lawn of Stamford Bridge is like a showcase for arms dealers, and he is merely the latest killing machine.

Used to wreak havoc in the Premier League.

Roy stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window of his apartment, gazing at the London nightscape.

He realized he couldn't continue like this; he couldn't remain just a cold, emotionless goal-scoring machine forever.

He needs to find a real connection with this team and this city, otherwise no amount of victories can fill the void in his heart.

(End of this chapter)