When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 223 A capable minister who governs Gaul, a ruthless leader who commands the Blue Army

At 3:15 p.m. on November 12, Roy's car slowly drove into the east entrance of Stanford Bridge.

Assistant Heathlund turned from the passenger seat, his voice steady: "Roy, Sega's promotional activities are ready, taking place in the filming area next to the home stadium's locker room. According to the contract terms, the base appearance fee starts at £15, with an additional £5 for image rights and an extra £3 for an exclusive interview."

He paused, opened his notebook, and added: "A special reminder: three models will be participating in the event, namely Marshall Marsh, Lylene Jones, and Alex Best."

Heathlen's tone became cautious: "It should be noted that the first two models explicitly expressed their special affection for you in interviews with GQ and FHM. Considering that the rumors about you and Ms. Cheryl have not yet subsided, I have contacted Sega and asked the photographer to avoid any physical contact shots that could cause misunderstandings. This is the revised shooting script; please take a look."

He handed Roy a document marked with yellow highlighter, which detailed the positioning and action requirements for each step.

Next to the "Model Interaction" section, there are also photocopies of newspaper clippings, which are the interviews with the two models, with words like "If I could spend a night with Roy" circled in red.

Roy glanced at it: "Well done."

I mean what I say.

Who would have thought that the defensive midfielder who sat at the end of the bench at Monaco back then could now do such a great job as an assistant?

From scheduling to crisis management, Heathlen is like a finely tuned machine, now even handling such details in advance.

Roy had long realized that he couldn't live without this meticulous assistant.

A makeshift locker room was set up next to Stamford Bridge, and as soon as Roy stepped out of the players' tunnel, Sega staff jogged up to him.

The three girls not far away had already started making a fuss. Marshall was standing on tiptoe to look, Leleni was biting her lip and tugging at the hem of her skirt, and Alex was whispering something in the ears of the other two.

Their burning gazes almost burned holes in Roy's suit, and their chatter could be heard ten meters away:

"My God, he's even sexier on TV!"

"I'm going to pretend to fall down later."

I bet five hundred pounds I can get his phone number.

This commercial event on November 12th is an important part of Chelsea Football Club's overall business plan.

CEO Kenyon personally oversaw the development of a detailed business development plan, aiming to transform Chelsea into a commercial behemoth comparable to Manchester United.

Meanwhile, Chelsea is moving forward with a key financial independence plan.

According to internal documents disclosed by The Sunday Telegraph, Kenyon has drawn up a five-year profit roadmap aimed at gradually reducing the club's reliance on owner Abramovich's funds.

Since acquiring Chelsea in 2003, the Russian billionaire has invested hundreds of millions of pounds.

Locking in manager Jose Mourinho is seen as a key step in Chelsea's strategic plan.

The club is working on an unprecedented ten-year contract, which is not only an offer of employment for "Special One" but also a declaration to the entire football world that Stamford Bridge will become the new generation's mecca for elite clubs.

At the same time, the dressing room core, led by Roy, is also included in the long-term plan. The board knows that to truly rival Real Madrid and surpass Milan, simply throwing money at the problem is far from enough. What they need is a team that is both immediately competitive and can inherit the genes of a top club. A flagship figure like Roy is the key link connecting the present and the future.

With each successful contract renewal negotiation, Kenyon's folder would accumulate several more business development proposals. From the Asian tour to the naming rights for the training base, all plans pointed to the same goal: to ensure that the Blues' brand value steadily increased, just like their winning record.

These moves demonstrate Chelsea's determination to transform from a "money-driven club" into a self-sustaining, profitable, and modern football enterprise.

Although Roy holds full personal image rights, he has always actively cooperated with the club's various commercial arrangements.

Roy understands the rules of the game in football very well: the commercial value of clubs and players has always been mutually reinforcing.

Although he has already earned the lion's share of personal profits through his image rights, he cannot keep all the profits to himself.

Making sure to participate in every business activity that needs to be coordinated is the most basic professional attitude.

After all, success on the field requires club investment, and club operations cannot function without commercial revenue. Roy understands that by cooperating with these activities, he is not only safeguarding the overall interests of the team but also creating a better environment for the entire team's development. If every star player only cares about making money for themselves, the club will collapse sooner or later, and in the end, the players themselves will suffer.

Therefore, Roy never put on airs during these business events at Stamford Bridge.

He knows his limits. It's a skill to earn a lot for himself, but the long-term solution is to ensure that the club also increases in value.

Roy stood in front of the camera with a tense expression, his muscular shoulders wrapped in a dark brown fur jacket.

Three models wearing matching jackets and newsboy caps came up to them, their sky-blue bikinis peeking out from under their fur coats, making them appear dazzlingly white in the studio.

When Marshall shoved the game disc into his hand, he deliberately scratched the web between Marshall's thumb and forefinger with his fingernails.

Leleni rubbed his jawline with the brim of his newsboy cap, the perfume so strong it could choke a mosquito.

Alex then placed all his weight on his right arm, the cool skin beneath the fur pressed against his elbow.

Roy stood there like a javelin, his jawline taut.

As the camera flashed, he clenched his back teeth.

Three models coiled around him like snakes, their perfume scent filling his nostrils, their cool nails scraping against his wrists, their waists swaying and twisting beneath their fur coats.

He's no saint, but he knows his face can't appear on the front page of The Sun tomorrow.

"Hold"

While changing positions, Roy glanced at Heathlen, who was smirking behind the monitor.

If it had been Terry who came today, that guy would have been overjoyed, surrounded by women on both sides, and might have even taken them straight to the hotel for a foursome after the shoot.

He'd already come up with tomorrow's tabloid headline for Terry: "Chelsea's defensive linchpin leads a real-life 'Football Manager' game."

The moment the photographer called for a break, Roy loosened his collar and let out a long breath.

Earning this money is more tiring than playing the whole game for his mother.

As soon as the filming wrapped up, the three girls couldn't wait to surround them.

Leleni tossed his hair and leaned closer to Roy: "I'm a die-hard Chelsea fan, you know."

Roy raised an eyebrow; he was tired of hearing those words.

Clairney suddenly lowered his voice: "When Abramovich spent that 100 million pounds last year, I tattooed his surname on my left buttock."

She winked mischievously. "Now I want to get a prettier tattoo on the right side, like your name. Or you can choose the location yourself."

Heathlen coughed at the opportune moment and handed the phone to Roy: "Boss, it's time for your next appointment."

Roy put the pen back in his pocket and nodded to Leleni: "I suggest you think it over carefully. A tattoo is a lifelong thing."

After saying that, he turned and walked towards the parking lot without looking back, followed by the giggles of the models and Lelney's persistent shouts: "I insist on getting the tattoo! But you have to sign it yourself—"

Chelsea are in full swing preparing for their away game against Fulham on November 13.

Meanwhile, British media reported that Roy, the team's star player, is looking for a luxury home in Cobham, Surrey.

Previously, he had been renting a villa near the Harrington training facility, and also rented a high-end serviced apartment in Knightsbridge, not far from Stanford Bridge.

Since joining Chelsea half a season ago, the striker has gradually adapted to life in London.

His decision to buy property in Cobham is not only due to its proximity to the club's newly built training ground, but also demonstrates his growing sense of belonging to the team.

Roy's five-year contract began in the summer of 2004 and will expire in the summer of 2009.

Although the Cobham training facility won't be operational until 2007, he has already chosen to buy property there, clearly indicating that he considers it his future home.

This decision not only facilitates future training but also reveals his intention to stay at Chelsea long-term.

Cobham is a traditional home for Chelsea players, and legends like Terry and Lampard have lived there.

Roy's move to buy a house will undoubtedly delight Chelsea fans, as it means that another key player for the club is preparing to settle down here.

On November 13, 2004, before the Premier League match between Fulham and Chelsea in the 13th round, veteran Andy Cole was asked to comment on Chelsea striker Roy.

As one of the Premier League's all-time top scorers, Cole admitted that Roy has shown the instincts of a top striker, but believes it is too early to talk about breaking the single-season record of 34 goals.

Kerr recalled that when he and Alan Shearer were vying for the Golden Boot, the competition lasted until the end of the season.

Although Roy's 12 goals in 11 rounds so far are impressive, Cole predicts that the final goal count may be around 28.

The Manchester United legend also humorously remarked that if Roy were to break the record, he would be willing to buy him a drink.

"To be honest, Roy's stats surprised me. 14 goals in 12 games is already impressive, but to add 9 assists? That's extraordinary. Usually, a striker's assists decrease when they focus on scoring; conversely, if they organize attacks like Cantona, their goal tally is affected. After all, a person's energy is limited. But Roy seems to have broken this rule. He can score as efficiently as a pure striker while also creating opportunities for his teammates. This kind of all-around performance is truly rare, unless this kid has some special secret to energy management."

At that time, the football world had not yet witnessed the dominance of the all-around attackers that would later emerge in the "Messi-Ronaldo era," and Roy's statistics seemed to defy common sense in football to many.

Veterans like Kerr were particularly moved: "In our day, scoring 30 goals in a single season was already considered a legend, let alone being able to provide so many assists."

Behind this astonishment lies a harbinger of a major shift in football philosophy.

In 2004, no one in the football world could have foreseen the revolutionary changes that Messi and Ronaldo would later bring.

At that time, Messi was just a rising star in Barcelona's youth team, having just made his first-team debut in October.

In the autumn of 2004, Cristiano Ronaldo was stronger than he was at the same point in time.

The average number of goals per game has increased from 0.2 in history to 0.4, but it is still significantly lower than the terrifying scoring efficiency of its peak period.

Under Ferguson's tutelage, this Portuguese rising star is rapidly shedding his "king of fancy dribbling" label.

Attackers in this era are often clearly categorized into different types.

They are either pure shooters or playmakers; it's rare to find someone who excels in both.

That's why Roy's performance, which combines scoring an average of one goal per game with frequent assists, is so impressive.

In fact, it is unfair for many people to later call Ronaldo a "pie striker".

He provided 42 assists in 183 Champions League matches, ranking first in the new century.

He has 218 assists in 918 appearances across the top five European leagues, ranking sixth all-time.

Ribery, who ranks fifth, also has 218 assists, but it took him 611 games.

Such organizational capabilities would be considered top-notch in any era.

The term "assist forward" is more of a bias that arises from two fan groups deliberately comparing the assist data of specific players.

If we had to nitpick, it would be somewhat more objective to say that his dribbling efficiency has declined, but even so, his career average number of successful dribbles per game is still higher than most players in his position.

In fact, such discussions often stem from disagreements between fans regarding their positions.

When people compare superstars with a magnifying glass, they will always find some insignificant "shortcomings".

For example, some people always say that Messi's heading ability is not good.

But in fact, according to official statistics, Messi has scored 27 headers in his career.

This number may not be as high as that of a dedicated center, but it has surpassed the vast majority of technically skilled attackers of the same type.

Just like arguing that Jordan's three-point shooting wasn't accurate enough, it's less a flaw and more a label deliberately emphasized to highlight others' strengths.

Perhaps it will be years later, when Messi and Ronaldo have fully blossomed, that people will truly understand the foresight of these players.

But this era doesn't need Messi and Ronaldo.

Key players such as Lampard, Carvalho, Robben, and Gudjohnsen have all returned after being rested for the midweek League Cup match.

Fulham, playing at home, fielded the same squad that played in the midweek League Cup match.

This team has not beaten Chelsea at home for 28 years, and their last home victory in the West London derby dates back to April 1976.

The long wait has fueled their desire for this match, but facing a formidable Chelsea side, Fulham's chances of rewriting history will not be easy.

"GOOOOOOOAL!!! Roy!!! Roy!!! Roy!!! It's Roy again!!! In the eighth minute, a brutal cannonball from thirty yards out blasted right through the underside of the crossbar! Goalkeeper Crowsley was stunned, the ball went into the net like it had been struck by lightning! My God, this wasn't a free kick, this was a war machine firing!!"

The atmosphere at Craven Cottage Stadium froze.

Tens of thousands of Fulham fans were cheering for their team's fierce opening attack.

Just 43 seconds into the game, Andy Cole unleashed a powerful shot from 25 yards out, the ball grazing the post and flying out.

In the 3rd minute, Radzinskiy unleashed another threatening shot from the edge of the penalty area.

However, the situation changed drastically.

In the 7th minute, Makelele intercepted the ball in the attacking third, leaving Malbranque with no choice but to foul, giving Chelsea a free kick from 30 yards out.

Just when everyone thought Chelsea would use tactical combinations and take advantage of tall players like Terry and Carvalho to head the ball, Roy unexpectedly unleashed a powerful shot!

The ball flew like a cannonball straight into the top right corner of the goal, slammed against the underside of the crossbar, and bounced into the net.

The Fulham goalkeeper didn't even have time to make a save.

The once noisy home stands fell silent, with only the Chelsea fans who had traveled with the team going wild.

This unexpected world-class goal completely changed the course of the game.

The moment the ball slammed into the net, Roy had already opened his arms to welcome the Chelsea fans in the stands.

He crossed his arms over his chest, making his signature "Gates of Hell" salute, igniting a frenzy of cheers from the Chelsea fans who had traveled with the team to the away game.

Robben and Lampard were the first to rush over and put their arms around his shoulders, one on each side, and the players on the bench also jumped up.

This goal not only broke the deadlock in a flash, but also heralded a complete upgrade of Chelsea's free-kick tactics.

It's worth noting that last season, Chelsea's set pieces relied solely on headers from Crespo and Terry.

But now, Roy's powerful shot at 120 km/h made the goalposts of Craven Cottage tremble.

Fulham goalkeeper Crowsley didn't even have time to move before he could watch the ball blast into the top corner.

This goal perfectly demonstrates the evolution of Mourinho's team: from simple aerial bombardment to now having such a powerful long-range weapon.

Since Beckham left the Premier League, there have been very few players who can kick such powerful and beautiful direct free kicks.

While Ronaldinho of Manchester United might be comparable in terms of technique, Roy's ability to treat free kicks like penalties and to execute them with such violent aesthetics is unique in the entire Premier League.

It's important to understand that in the world of football, this kind of powerful and incredibly precise direct free kick goal has always been one of the most exciting ways to score that drives fans wild.

After all, such a goal requires not only skill, but also an innate star quality.

The match entered a heated phase, with both sides engaging in fierce competition at Craven Cottage.

Chelsea took the lead thanks to Roy's stunning free-kick at the start of the game, but Fulham did not give up, frequently attacking the Blues' defense through Andy Cole and Radzinski.

On the field, Chelsea's attack was more threatening.

Roy controlled the ball steadily on the left wing, every step exuding composure.

His dribbling is concise and efficient; he can sometimes shake off Walz's defense with a sudden change of direction, putting continuous pressure on Fulham's right flank.

When given the opportunity, he will decisively cut inside and take a long-range shot.

When coordination is needed, it can deliver accurate crosses.

Waltz was tormented by his repetitive changes in rhythm, but he could never predict his next move.

Every touch of the ball seemed effortless, and his upright posture was particularly eye-catching on the field.

Even in the midst of fierce competition, he maintained his unique composure, as if everything was under control.

The cameras on the sidelines occasionally captured his sharply defined profile, his cold expression showing no sign of emotion.

But whenever he creates a threat, the sharp glint in his eyes always sends chills down his spine.

In the 38th minute, Roy received the ball on the left wing, observed for a moment, and then decisively passed the ball to Smertin in the middle.

Smertin immediately passed the ball to Robben on the right wing, who quickly went down the byline and crossed it to the edge of the penalty area.

Lampard unleashed a powerful shot, but Rehman made a timely save to push the ball out of bounds.

Fulham were not to be outdone, with Diop's interceptions in midfield earning them some counter-attacking opportunities.

In the 50th minute, Cech's rare miscontrol gave Radzinski an excellent opportunity, but Terry made a crucial save in front of the goal.

As the game progressed, Chelsea's 4-3-3 formation gradually took control of the situation.

Robben and Roy's relentless attacks on both flanks overwhelmed Fulham's defense.

Chelsea's attacking system is undergoing subtle changes.

Robben began to be called "the Flying Dutchman" by fans, as he frequently received the ball on the right wing and broke through the opponent's defense with his speed and changes of direction.

Roy, who should be good at this approach, tried something new.

Because opponents are wary of his individual combat ability, they often send heavy troops to guard him. In response to this situation, he takes the initiative to retreat inward and operate more in the middle and flanks.

The 38th minute of the match was a typical example: Roy did not blindly go down the wing, but instead dropped back to midfield to receive the pass, and delivered a long diagonal pass that accurately found the right wing, while he quietly slipped into the penalty area to draw the defense away.

This clever movement put Fulham's defenders in a dilemma: marking him meant leaving Robben open, while marking Robben might mean missing Roy making a run from behind.

In Mourinho's tactics, Roy's role has evolved from a simple winger to a "pseudo-winner with true core".

In the 54th minute, Gudjohnsen's exquisite through ball found Robben, whose powerful shot from a tight angle was brilliantly saved by Crowsley.

Fulham equalized in the 57th minute when Radzinski's cross from the right was headed away by Terry, but Senegalese international Diop volleyed home from 28 yards out in the bottom left corner. 1-1
But Chelsea quickly regained the lead in the 58th minute when Robben dribbled past several players from 14 yards out in the center of the penalty area and fired a low shot into the net with his left foot.

The score is now 1-2.

This is the Dutchman's fourth consecutive goal.

In the 73rd minute, Maicon's sharp breakthrough on the right wing forced a foul from a Fulham player, winning Chelsea a crucial free kick.

In the 73rd minute, Roy once again stepped up for a free kick, and the entire Craven Cottage stadium held its breath.

After all, his powerful opening goal was still fresh in everyone's memory.

Fulham's wall nervously adjusted its position repeatedly, with goalkeeper Crowsley even adding an extra player to block the near post, clearly still wary of Roy's direct shot.

But this time, Roy smiled slightly, took a run-up, and suddenly unleashed a beautifully curved shot that flew over the wall and landed at the far post of the penalty area!

This deceptive pass completely tore apart Fulham's defense.

Diop misjudged the header at the near post, and Abidal quietly emerged from behind Rehman to easily head the ball into the empty net! 1-3.

In the 76th minute, Malbranque unleashed a powerful right-footed shot from 25 yards out on the right wing, but Cech made a diving save to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Malbranque then took a corner kick, and Tiop headed the ball over the bar from 10 yards out in the middle.

In the 77th minute, Duff replaced Robben.

In the 78th minute, Duff's shot from a tight angle on the right side of the penalty area was blocked and saved by Crowsley.

In the 81st minute, the scoreboard remained at 1-3.

After coming on as a substitute, Thiago Mendes received the ball on the left wing and immediately passed it to Roy on the edge of the penalty area.

Facing the defender, Roy feigned a breakthrough and then suddenly stopped. In the instant the opponent lost his balance, he delivered a precise diagonal pass to Duff on the right wing.

The Irish winger understood immediately and passed the ball back without hesitation.

At this moment, Mendes had already quietly moved forward, received the ball, took two steps to the side, and unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area. The ball flew into the bottom right corner of the goal like a cannonball.

The scoreboard at Craven Farms ended 1-4.

Chelsea players embraced in celebration, while Mourinho on the sidelines high-fived his assistants one by one.

This marks Chelsea's thirteenth consecutive win this season, maintaining their lead at the top of the standings.

Chelsea fans who had traveled with the team to the stadium chanted "We are top of the league," while the home fans had already begun to leave.

Roy contributed a goal and an assist in this match, and was once again named the best player.

The transformation from a winger to a tactical playmaker seems to be helping Chelsea usher in a new era.

After the final whistle blew, Roy walked straight to the Fulham side.

He took off his sweat-soaked blue jersey and exchanged jerseys with Andy Cole.

The two shook hands briefly. Cole put his arm around Roy's shoulder and squinted his eyes: "You came to the Premier League too late, kid. If it had been ten years earlier, you, me, and Shearer, we should have really had a good showdown. These strikers now, tsk, they're all softies."

Roy grinned: "So, between me and Dwight Yorke, who do you choose?"

Cole burst out laughing: "Dwight? I don't know him."

He paused, then said, "Honestly, if you were here back then, would you have come to Manchester?"

Roy blinked: "I'll make Ian Wright obediently relinquish his position as Gunners King."

Cole jokingly shoved him, and the two turned away from each other under the spotlight.

One headed towards the home team's dressing room, while the other left surrounded by his Chelsea teammates.

The camera lens only captured the backs of the two exchanged jerseys draped over their shoulders.
Arsenal previously narrowly defeated Tottenham 5-4 in the North London derby, extending their unbeaten run across seasons to a terrifying 53 games.

However, after drawing with Manchester United, they only managed to get 3 points in the first three rounds.

Chelsea won all three of their matches during the same period, widening the gap between the two sides from 2 points to 8 points.

Arsenal's defense completely overwhelmed manager Arsène Wenger.

In the North London derby against Tottenham, goalkeeper Lehmann retrieved the ball from his own net four times.

This is Arsenal's worst number of goals conceded in three years; the last time they conceded four goals in a single game was against Charlton in 2001.

In their last five matches, Arsenal have conceded more than two goals in each game and have failed to keep a clean sheet in nine consecutive matches.

Ironically, the three goals they conceded in the first 60 minutes of this derby match were exactly the same as the total number of goals conceded by league leaders Chelsea in all 14 games of the entire season.

Such a defensive performance makes their hopes of winning the championship even more remote.

On the field, the defense, lacking Campbell's anchor, seemed to be sleepwalking: Toul was described as "a kitten chasing a ball of yarn but never getting it," while Cygan "won headers all over the field, except in his own penalty area."

Media outlets described Arsenal's performance as "a one-off celebration, a cocktail that irresponsibly mixed together disastrous defense and brilliant goals."

Wenger commented after the match: "I don't think we've lost our confidence in scoring goals, but we've lost our confidence in defense. Three points can help us a lot, but conceding four goals is obviously not a good thing. When you win, you forget a lot of things, but defenders obviously aren't as happy as forwards."

The media also lashed out at the underdog: "Four goals? You should use four nooses to hang yourself, one for each defender."

Such a defense naturally gave the opponent an opportunity to mock them, after winning the game against Fulham.

Mourinho sarcastically remarked: "I didn't watch Arsenal's game, but 5-4 is a joke. This shouldn't be a real football score; it should be an ice hockey score. For a team to concede four or five goals, their defenders are a disgrace. I often have three-on-three games in training, and if the score is 5-4, I send the players back to the locker room and stop the game because they clearly aren't doing their job properly, and I can't stand that. Think about it, it's a three-on-three game! In a real game, I find it hard to believe that such a result proves the defenders were doing their job. Some people might say it's the most exciting game they've ever seen, but how can a manager be happy about that? It's like a nightmare."

Arsenal's decline made Mourinho feel that there was no longer any threat:

"I don't consider myself vain or arrogant. Look at the standings, we're at the top, an unbeaten team in 14 rounds, playing better than our opponents in every game. If a team like this doesn't win the championship, who does?"

In an interview with the BBC, Beckham admitted that although he is currently very happy at Real Madrid, he does not rule out the possibility of returning to the Premier League in the future.

The 29-year-old England star is actively recovering from injury and hopes to be fit for England's friendly against Spain.

When asked about his future plans, Beckham mentioned Chelsea and Arsenal: "Chelsea and Arsenal are both great clubs."

However, he did not mention Manchester United, and given his conflict with Ferguson, the possibility of returning to Old Trafford is extremely slim.

There were previous rumors that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was interested in signing Beckham, and Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger had also publicly praised him, but said that the Gunners could not afford the transfer fee at the time.

However, Chelsea now shows little interest in Beckham, and rumors linking him to superstars like Figo and Ronaldo have also come to nothing.

With Roy's explosive growth, this new superstar, who combines handsome looks with an arrogant personality, not only leads the European top scorer list with his amazing goal-scoring efficiency, but also has a very high chance of winning both the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year awards.

Stamford Bridge already has its own superstar.

Abramovich's transfer strategy has quietly changed.

Having secured the well-deserved number one player in Europe, Chelsea's next signings will prioritize immediate impact and tactical fit.

During the board meeting, the technical director's presentation clearly stated: "In future transfer windows, we will prioritize practical players who can directly increase our chances of winning the championship."

This season, Chelsea's commercial value has seen explosive growth.

The club's financial report shows that since signing a record-breaking jersey sponsorship contract with Nike at the beginning of the season, six international brands have taken the initiative to seek cooperation.

In particular, the chest sponsorship on jerseys has become a focal point of competition among major brands.

Existing sponsor Emirates has offered to renew its contract and is prepared to raise its offer – the current sponsorship fee of £500 million per year is expected to increase significantly.

Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics has also joined the competition, hoping to upgrade the training uniform sleeve patch to a chest advertisement.

Existing partners such as Audi, Carlsberg, Panasonic, and EA Sports are also closely watching this business battle.

Coca-Cola is in talks with clubs to launch a limited-edition "Blue Lightning" energy drink, with plans to release it first in the UK market.

HSBC has proposed issuing a co-branded Stamford Bridge-themed credit card, which would give cardholders priority access to purchase stadium tickets.

The most eye-catching offer was from Dubai Holding, which wanted to name the Cobham training ground under construction. However, the offer was ultimately declined due to Abramovich's sensitive relationship with Middle Eastern politics and business.

The competition in the razor market is particularly fierce.

Gillette wanted to continue its "superstar strategy" by signing Roy in addition to Beckham, but was rejected.

Roy's team made it clear that they would not accept the role of "second spokesperson".

Gillette had no choice but to turn to Chelsea vice-captain Terry, offering him an endorsement deal worth £80 per year.

Meanwhile, competitor Schick seized the opportunity, planning to tailor-make a "Strongest Blade" advertising campaign for Roy, and also attempting to sign seven Chelsea players, including Makelele, Lampard, Robben, and Duff, to form a "Blues Shaving Army" marketing campaign.

The club's commercial department has received multiple letters of intent for cooperation and is currently evaluating the best option.

As the team's performance improves and the star power becomes apparent, Chelsea's commercial value is being redefined.

In terms of influence, in addition to the rapid expansion of the fan base in the UK, the team's popularity in French-speaking regions, Russian-speaking regions, and Chinese internet continues to rise.

Although their total fan base is still far behind traditional powerhouses like Manchester United and Arsenal, their online buzz is already on par.

French media coverage shows that Chelsea's viewership in France has increased by 217% compared to last season.

The French newspaper L'Équipe even launched a special column called "The Blues Watch," dedicated to tracking and reporting on the performances of national team players such as Roy, Makelele, and Abidal.

Chelsea's two official flagship stores in Paris are doing brisk business, with jerseys bearing Roy's name selling far more than those of star players from some of the top French clubs.

French fans' adoration for this new national team star has led to a rapid rise in Chelsea's commercial influence in the French-speaking region.

In China, due to limited broadcasts of Ligue 1 and the Champions League, fans used to only be able to learn about Roy's performance at Monaco through news clips.

His mixed Chinese and French heritage and various legendary stories mean that although many fans know his name, they still lack a direct impression of him.

It wasn't until this summer's European Championship that Chinese fans saw Roy's brilliant performance on live television for the first time.

With his transfer to Chelsea, a large number of new fans began to pay attention to this Premier League powerhouse.

After all, the Premier League's broadcast times and viewing channels are much more convenient than those of Ligue 1.

These new fans, who became fans because of the tournament, are becoming fresh blood in the Chelsea fan base.

That's how the world of football works; major tournaments are always the best way to attract new fans.

Some call them "championship fans," but who didn't fall in love with football after a stunning performance?

Just like the kids who fell in love with Manchester United in 1999 because of the treble, by 2025 they have long since become the most loyal Red Devils fans.

Time is the fairest sieve.

When these middle-aged men in red jerseys are still cheering for the relegation battle late at night more than 20 years later, who will care whether they came for the trophy or for their good looks in the first place?

True fan culture is always passed down through generations.

On November 14, 2004, Roy made a surprise appearance at Cheltenham Racecourse, standing among the crowd to watch the day's highlight.

Greatwood Hurdle.

The French striker was dressed casually in a dark coat and wearing sunglasses, but he was still recognized by sharp-eyed Madrid fans.

He stood by the railing and watched the game for a while, then quietly met up with his teammate Lampard who had arrived.

Lampard was also seen with his girlfriend Ellen Reeves on his arm; the Spanish lingerie model was wearing a camel-colored turtleneck sweater, her blonde hair fluttering slightly in the wind.

What's even more striking is that he was accompanied by Cheryl, the British singer with whom he was recently rumored to be having an affair.

The two stood side by side in the VIP stands, sometimes talking quietly, sometimes cheering for the horse race.

Cheryl, wearing a beige trench coat, was frequently photographed flashing a bright smile at Roy.

Lampard flipped through the horse racing manual, pointed to a horse named "Blackjack," and said to Roy, "This one is absolutely sure to win; I've been following it for two years."

Roy couldn't understand the fancy information above, including the jockey's record, recent performance, and the 5/1 odds.

They decided to play the simplest "winner-takes-all" betting strategy: they would win money as long as the horse came in first.

"Then I'll believe you once."

Roy smiled and pulled out ten hundred-dollar bills from his wallet, suddenly feeling playful.

He gently handed the banknotes to Cheryl: "Blow on me? Lend me some of your good luck."

Cheryl was taken aback at first, then burst out laughing.

Cheryl leaned closer, her hair brushing against Roy's wrist, carrying a sweet, cloying fragrance.

"Lucky for you~"

She spoke in a drawn-out tone, almost pressing her entire body against Roy.

As he walked toward the betting counter, Lampard raised an eyebrow: "I taught you how to pick horses, but you know how to pick the right time."

"Opportunists always score points before theorists."

“Interesting,” Lampard said with a smile.

Roy held up three fingers and wagged them: "You teach me how to bet on horses, and I'll demonstrate how to win over girls. Three times the tuition, deal?"

He filled out the betting slip at the betting window: "Match 3, Big Wood Steeplechase, £1000 for 'Blackjack'."

The staff member skillfully accepted the cash and handed over a receipt with the betting number printed on it.

Lampard and Roy maintained a natural distance in their interactions in the locker room.

The two neither deliberately avoid each other nor show excessive enthusiasm.

During training, they would silently coordinate with each other's positioning, and after the game they would occasionally exchange a few tactical comments, but they never participated in the brotherly banter in the locker room.

Lampard and Roy's relationship gradually became more harmonious, perhaps because they were both intelligent enough.

When he was at Chelsea, the team organized an IQ test after Terry suffered a head injury in the EFL Cup, mainly to assess whether the player's brain function was impaired in the future.

Lampard scored 150 points.

要知道普通人智商多在90到110之间，130以上就是前1%的聪明人，而150分已经是全球顶尖的那0.1%了，跟爱因斯坦（160分）差不了多少。

His school transcript was also impressive; he got over a dozen A's in his GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) exams, including an A+ in Latin.

Roy's IQ was also quite high; although he couldn't remember the exact number, he was certain that he scored over 130.

However, he never took the test again. For him, knowing that he was smarter than most people was enough; there was no need to prove it with numbers.
It certainly wasn't because Roy was never inferior to anyone in his life.

"Blackjack! Give it your all!"

"Silver Hoof! Silver Hoof! Surpass it!"

"Oh my god! The midnight storm of January 20th is coming!"

"This is insane! This match is insane!"

"Silver Hoof! Charge forward!"

Lampard yelled at the top of his lungs, his fists clenching involuntarily.

Roy stood up and shouted, "Blackjack! Faster!"

Cheryl turned around at the sound and met his gaze.

"How was the game?" Roy asked, his voice still carrying the lingering warmth of his earlier shout.

Cheryl's eyes lit up: "That was so exciting! I've never seen such a spectacular sprint!"

As the race entered its final sprint, "Blackjack" was still in second place.

Its black body glistened with sweat in the sunlight, and the jockey bent low, whipping the horse with all his might.

But just two hundred yards from the finish line, a grey horse named "Silver Hoof" suddenly accelerated from the outside lane, followed by the dark horse "Midnight Storm" with odds of 20/1 emerging from the inside.

The rider of "Blackjack" hurriedly adjusted the reins, but it was too late.

When the three horses crossed the finish line almost side by side, the electronic timer on the sidelines showed that 3 minutes and 58 seconds had passed.

The final 200 yards took only 23.4 seconds, but 'Blackjack' still lost by half a horse length.

（大伍德障碍赛的标准赛程是2英里1弗隆（约3410米），优秀赛马完成时间通常在3分50秒-4分10秒之间。）
A wave of cheers and frustrated sighs erupted from the sidelines, and the big screen replayed the decisive moment in slow motion, with a close-up of "Blackjack" exhaling white breath from his nostrils.

Roy, clutching the now-invalid betting slip, shrugged at Lampard: "Looks like your 'sure-win advice' is just as bad as my luck."

Lampard patted him on the shoulder: "Next time, remember to listen to my whole analysis. You were already placing your bet before I even finished."

Roy just smiled and didn't say anything more.

That evening, the four of them had a simple dinner together.

We chatted about trivial things at the dinner table, and by the time we said goodbye at the restaurant entrance, it was already late at night.

"Will you blame me for not bringing you good luck?"

Cheryl looked up at Roy, her voice trailing off softly, as if hooked.

A man like Roy, who is both assertive and has a dangerous aura, always makes people irresistibly drawn to him.

He was so good at manipulating people's hearts, yet he never made any promises.

But it is precisely this point that makes women unable to resist getting close, even knowing the danger.

Roy gently stroked the corner of her lips with his thumb, a nonchalant smile playing on his lips that women both loved and hated:

"My dear little gambler, you've stopped relying on luck with me a long time ago. But if you really feel guilty, you can make it up to me in another way."

The nickname made her heart skip a beat.

Roy opened his eyes in the morning light.

Cheryl was still fast asleep beside him, her hair scattered messily on the pillow.

He glanced around the room; the clothes scattered on the floor, the overturned wine glass, and the crumpled sheets all served as reminders of the madness of the previous night.

Roy tiptoed to his feet, picked up his robe from the floor, and put it on.

In the kitchen, he started cracking eggs into a frying pan, and the sizzling sound of the pan quickly filled the quiet apartment.

The phone suddenly rang.

Roy glanced at the unfamiliar number, frowned, and pressed the answer button: "Who is this?"

"Nikolai Anelka".

Anelka's hesitant voice came from the other end of the phone: "Roy, do you really hate me?"

Roy scooped the fried egg onto a plate and laughed inexplicably: "Why would I hate you? I must say we're not even close."

He paused, then said, "Look, you don't even have my phone number. Where did you get it from?"

“Our team’s Chinese defender, surnamed Sun, actually has your private phone number.”

Roy raised an eyebrow.

He knew, of course, that it would be easy for Anelka to get his phone number, but his roundabout probing was clearly to avoid alerting the national team.

“Listen, brother. If you want anything from me, let me finish my breakfast first.”

"Or, you can just get to the point."

Anelka was somewhat irritable:

"That bastard Domenech promised to call me up to the national team!"

"I know I'm not as good as you or Henry, but I'm at least better than Cisse and Saha, right? What the hell makes you so special?"

"It's always the same. They agree to something, but then they change their minds."

“I’m not the coach,” Roy quipped. “When you were wearing the French national team jersey, I was sitting in front of the TV eating potato chips.”

The sound of teeth grinding came from the other end of the phone; Anelka's voice sounded like it was being squeezed out from between his teeth.

"I know that you're in charge in the locker room now. Zidane has retired, and everyone listens to you."

He remained silent for a long time.

"Let's give our brother a hand."

"I try my best"

Roy laughed and then hung up the phone.

2002年4月17日在法兰西大球场被俄罗斯0比0逼平后，阿内尔卡就再没出现在蓝军阵中。

After being forgotten by Lemerre and Santini, Anelka decided to focus on his club: "Whether I'm selected for the national team or not is not my problem. People can criticize my character. But I have no complaints about myself. I have never been in contact with Domenech, I don't know him."

As for his failure to be elected, his reason was simple: "Because I was on the blacklist."

A blacklist of players for the French national team has been circulating for some time, including Anelka, Micoud of Werder Bremen, Frei of Parma, and Lucien of Atlético Madrid.

They all became public enemies in the coaching world because of their flamboyant personalities.

Roy was puzzled. "Flamboyant personality? Who can be more flamboyant than him?"

The main reason is that Anelka is not very bright and has a very bad relationship with reporters.

This summer, Anelka was photographed by paparazzi wearing Muslim attire while vacationing in Dubai, and newspapers subsequently publicized that he had converted to Islam.

But actually, Anelka wanted to change his clothes because he was hot.

The previous diplomatic incident of him refusing to meet with French President Chirac and missing a Real Madrid banquet was simply because he couldn't understand the club officials' Spanish and missed the banquet.

These smear campaigns against him were all "rewards" for offending journalists.

Manchester City are heavily indebted, with debts exceeding £6200 million.

The team is likely to sell Anelka to alleviate its financial situation, and Anelka's first choice is Monaco: "Blanco is one of the very few people who really understand me. Monaco is also very suitable for me. The atmosphere there is similar to that in England, where celebrities can relax and enjoy themselves."

"Moreover, this is a truly strong team, the treble winners last season, and they remain strong this season despite competing on multiple fronts. I want to be a part of them and help them push them even further."

In English football, it would be hard to find another person like Roy who has such close personal relationships with Monaco president Rybonov and Crown Prince Albert.

Anelka's desire to connect with Monaco is likely only superficially based on his national team situation.

In recent weeks, the French national team has lost three key forwards: Trezeguet, Wiltord, and Cissé. Media outlets including L'Équipe and France Football believe this presents a golden opportunity for the Manchester City striker, and Anelka has also taken the opportunity to express his desire to be selected for the national team.

“If Cissé is injured, I will naturally consider him.”

Domenech himself has said this several times.

This time, the excuse the reporters heard from the French coach was: "This season, I personally went to watch four of Anelka's games live, and I need to test other methods first."

Many French media outlets have raised questions about his broken promise.

"If competitive form is your only criterion, then what makes Saabnikola, who has made 7 appearances this season, including 4 as a substitute and only scored one goal, so good?"

Besides the Anelka incident, Pires has recently made an even bigger move, attacking Domenech as a "complete hypocrite" in France Football magazine on October 29.

The interview with Pires is 5,000 words long.

The interview took place at a restaurant in London's Hamstad district, with Pires' girlfriend Jessica in attendance.

This time, Pires completely broke ties with Domenech.

On October 12, France attacked Cyprus.

At halftime, Domenech substituted Moreira for Pires.

Pires was practically accusing someone: "I took a shower, got dressed, and walked out of the dressing room. If this were Paris, I would have left long ago."

Pires spent the entire second half in the parking lot with a security guard who gave him his chair.

Many friends sent him text messages asking if he was injured.

“I spoke to my girlfriend Jessica on the phone, which was a moment I’ve never experienced before. I was texting for the entire 45 minutes, but what could I reply? I waited alone until the end of the game. Jessica told me that Henry had scored.”

This is the second time Pires has criticized Domenech: "I was on vacation in Mexico when he was selected as head coach, and Henry, Vieira, and I were all very happy. But when he arrived in France, we were all greatly disappointed."

Pires also sharply criticized Domenech's coaching style: "What's most unbearable is that he treats us like 20-year-olds, while the real kids have become the new popes of the French team."

Pires also took the opportunity to criticize Domenech by bringing up Wenger: "Wenger didn't let me play against Manchester United, but he explained it to me very clearly beforehand. What about Domenech? It's been more than two weeks, and he hasn't spoken to me once or made a single phone call."

He doesn't deny that he performed poorly, but he doesn't understand why he was the only one substituted.

"Is it because I'm the most honest and easy to talk to that he targets me? The defense was terrible. After Thuram and Lizarazu left, the backline was a mess. Barthez was forced to make two one-on-one saves. Is this all my fault?"

This marks another public display of internal conflict within the French team, following Anelka's criticism of Santini a year ago.

Historically, similar "internal strife" has occurred twice before: the first time was with Kepa, in 1962, when the Real Madrid hero had a year-long feud with the Villarreal manager.

Another instance was with Cantona. However, Pires was relatively polite; in 1988, Cantona called then-coach Michel "shit."

Pires got into more trouble than that.

When he appeared on a television program on October 10th, he was surprisingly wearing a Puma sweater. Keep in mind that at the time he was representing the French national team, whose sponsor was Adidas.

This matter immediately alarmed the French Football Federation, who quickly issued a hearing notice, demanding that Pires explain in person why he violated the rules by wearing a competing brand.

As expected, Pires was not included in the French team's roster this time.

"I have only one selection criterion, and that is the state of athletic performance."

Domenech gave a very cunning yet stern answer to the question.

"I don't object to players expressing their opinions in the media, but the premise is that they must be responsible for their words. Even Pires himself admitted that he hasn't been in form lately, so how am I supposed to answer this question?"

Domenech chose Malouda for Pires' position, and the 24-year-old Lyon midfielder was selected for the national team for the first time.

The kitchen fell silent again, with only the gurgling of the coffee machine remaining.

The French team's locker room is now in complete chaos.

Pires publicly criticized Domenech, Anelka sought help from all sides, and veteran players and new forces engaged in open and covert struggles.

But Roy, watching this farce, started to make plans in his mind.

He knew this was a golden opportunity.

The key is to skillfully maneuver: relay messages between Anelka and the coaching staff, make timely statements during media storms, and step in to stabilize morale when teammates are in disarray.
Once the storm has passed, everyone will remember who took control of the situation amidst the chaos.

At that time, not only will the young players follow him wholeheartedly, but even the veterans who were originally dissatisfied with him will have to admit: in the end, this French team still has to depend on Roy's mood.

Roy picked up his glass, took a sip, and turned to look at the bedroom. Cheryl was wrapped in his shirt, leaning sleepily against the door frame.

"Whose phone number?"

She rubbed her eyes and asked, her bare feet on the kitchen tiles, the hem of her shirt swaying slightly with her movements.

Roy tossed his phone onto the table and put his arm around her waist: "He's selling loans."

Cheryl snorted and poked his chest with her fingertip: "Liar. I heard you say 'I tried my best'."

Roy just said, "Let's have breakfast."

Cheryl leaned in and bit his ear: "This isn't what I want to eat."

(End of this chapter)