When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 228 Don’t Mention the Past

On December 6, 2004, the entire Chelsea team flew to Nice to prepare for their final Champions League group stage match against Monaco.

On the plane, Lampard smiled and said to Roy, "So, this time you're finally home, right?"

A burst of laughter erupted from the cabin.

Roy gazed at the clouds outside the porthole without replying.

Six months ago, he was a hero in this Mediterranean town, winning the treble for Monaco and leaving with the Champions League Golden Boot.

Now, he's back wearing a blue jersey.

As soon as Roy stepped off the plane's steps, Maicon came up from behind, smacked his lips, and said, "The 'Blue Lobster' baked snails at the port still make my mouth water just thinking about them."

"If we win tomorrow, I'll take the whole team out for a feast."

Roy slung his gym bag over his shoulder and said without turning his head.

Abidal didn't say anything, he just nodded silently.

But the Chelsea players following behind immediately erupted in chaos.

"Hey, I heard the nightclubs in Monaco are really exciting?"

Bridge leaned closer, winking and putting his elbow on Roy's shoulder.

Roy grinned: "Fantastic. As long as your wallet is thick enough, there's no happiness you can't buy here."

"Including winning?"

Terry suddenly interrupted, causing the whole team to burst into laughter.

Joe Cole chimed in from behind, "Then the boss should prepare more cash tomorrow!"

Abidal found it very uncomfortable.

Maicon also wanted to argue, because the Champions League title they won for Monaco was one they fought tooth and nail to achieve.

Roy raised an eyebrow and spoke casually:
"That's right, guys. Monaco did pay us a bunch of guys, including me. Last year we didn't lose a single group stage match, we took down Bayern and Real Madrid one by one, thrashing them twice at the Bernabéu and our home ground. The semi-final against Arsenal, haha... we completely crushed them in both games. We're paid to do our job, but we've dominated all of Europe, so there's nothing wrong with saying that."

Terry's expression was rather unpleasant.

Although Roy didn't directly refute him, he was clearly showing off that he, Maicon, and Abidal were all European champions.

These words carried a warning: Show some respect. The Arsenal team that eliminated your Chelsea was utterly defeated by our Monaco team in two legs.

However, Roy still gave Terry a way out, not completely ruling out the possibility of a confrontation.

Roy continued, "But I think we're very strong this year, guys. Let's win another one this year."

The Chelsea players suddenly fell silent, except for Makelele, who showed no reaction.

Everyone else stood still, their eyes gleaming.

Roy said "get one more" so casually, it made people's hearts itch. It's the Champions League title, who wouldn't want to lift the Big Ears trophy?

As soon as the glass doors of the airport arrival hall opened, a deafening roar of sound rushed in.

"ROOOOOI!!"

Hundreds of fans wearing Monaco's red and white jerseys surged toward the cordon, with a burly man at the front unfurling a huge welcome banner. It was a picture of Roy defeating Porto goalkeeper Baía in last year's Champions League final, with the words "Louis II's eternal hero" written below.

Mourinho glanced up at the huge photograph, his face immediately darkened, and he turned and strode quickly toward the VIP passage, leaving the noisy welcoming scene behind.

Reporters from AFP, L'Équipe, Sky Sports, BBC, RMC Sport, ESPN, Gazzetta dello Sport, Associated Press, Marca, Bild, AS, La Repubblica, TF1, The Guardian, and RAI were all huddled together.

The flashing lights were incessant, illuminating the entire arrival hall as if it were daytime.

What will it feel like to return to the Cleveland Stadium?

"Since Monaco fans love you so much, will they go easy on you after you score?"

"How is the current Monaco team inferior to your championship team?"

"Do you feel sad if Monaco fans boo you?"

"Bayern have strengthened their defense this year. What do you think of the Kovac-Lucio pairing?"

"Who do you think is the biggest rival in this year's Champions League? Is it Wenger's Arsenal or Ancelotti's Milan?"

Dozens of questions came at me simultaneously in English, French, and Italian.

Roy took the marker and began signing fans' jerseys, scarves, and even arms.

Several die-hard fans crowded at the front, holding old photos from the Monaco era, tickets, and hand-drawn posters, and desperately handing them forward.

As he signed his name with his head down, he casually answered the reporter's questions:

“This Monaco team is not bad. Frank and the new Arshavin are very strong, Pršo is my old teammate, Adebayor is also a young talent, and Saviola Blanco is a good coach.”

"They won't boo me. You see, they love me. I won't celebrate either, because I love them too. But I won't hold back, because I'm a professional player."

Just as the cheers of the Monaco fans reached their peak, and shouts of "Roy, we love you forever!" echoed throughout the hall, Roy spoke his final words into the nearest microphone:
"Returning to the Stade Louis II is probably like returning to the old classroom after school."

"The value of some moments is only truly understood after they become memories."

"But it is precisely because we cannot relive those moments that they remain forever vivid in our memories."

Before the words were even finished, the fans behind the barrier were already glistening with tears.

Roy scribbled a few strokes on the scarf with his pen and then took the next jersey.

Someone shouted, "Win the Champions League again!" Roy flashed a bright smile: "Of course."

We love you, Roy!

"I will always love you all too."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to every corner of the hall.

Hundreds of hands waved scarves frantically, some people choked up and shouted his name, and others buried their faces in old jerseys with his number on them.

At that moment, it was as if time had flowed back to a certain night in the 03/04 season, when he was still that young striker who charged toward the corner flag after scoring a lightning-fast goal from open play.

And they are still the same Monacoians who would burn all night for him.

At 8:45 p.m. on December 7, 2004, the lights in the Stade Louis II suddenly went out.

The entire stands fell silent instantly, with only a few flashes of light from cameras flickering in the darkness.

Suddenly, a huge TIFO slowly descended from the die-hard fans' stand.

The image above features countless silhouettes of Roy, including his youthful appearance when he first represented Monaco, his sprint after scoring a crucial goal, and his signature "Hell's Gate" celebration.

The silhouette in the very center is particularly striking: Roy holds the 03/04 Champions League trophy high, the trophy gleaming under the lights.

At the very bottom of TIFO, written in bright red French, are the words: "Nous n'oublierons jamais!!!" (We will never forget!!!)
The moment the TIFO fully deployed, the entire stadium erupted in a deafening roar.

The fans began clapping rhythmically, the cheers growing louder and louder.

Some people pointed at the silhouettes and shouted excitedly to their companions, while others hugged the strangers next to them tightly.

Several elderly fans took off their hats and silently wiped their eyes.

The security personnel on the sidelines also stopped and looked up at the huge TIFO.

One of the caddies forgot he was supposed to return to his position and stood there with his mouth agape.

Even the players on the away team's bench couldn't help but stand up and watch this amazing scene.

Glen Johnson nudged Hutt beside him with his elbow, his voice low but unable to contain his amazement: "Holy crap, that's fucking awesome."

When the lights came back on, Roy's silhouette on TIFO swayed gently in the night breeze, as if those moments had truly come back to life.

In the stands, fans pulled out their cameras, wanting to capture this night forever. Thierry Rolland's rich voice resonated throughout the nation via television:

"Good evening, dear viewers. Right now, in the TIFO stadium of the Stade Louis II, the image of that 19-year-old French boy running is still vivid. Although he only played for Monaco for two seasons, he left an indelible mark on this Mediterranean town with 17 key goals in the Champions League."

"The boy from back then has grown up, but his feelings for Monaco have never changed. The phrase 'We will never forget' below TIFO is the most sincere sentiment of the fans. On this special night, let us witness together the purest emotional connection in the world of football."

"The director reminded me to keep track of the time, but there are moments when it's worth breaking the routine. Please allow me to quote Victor Hugo: 'The highest form of commemorating yesterday is to live today as if tomorrow will remember it.'"

"Just like the red and white scarves fluttering in the air above the field right now, memories will always sway in the wind, but the roots will always be planted under this grass."

The players spread out near the center circle, with Chelsea's black jerseys and Monaco's red and white jerseys alternating.

Roy waved to the stands, then bent down and stomped on the grass before focusing intently on the referee.

Fans in the stands began chanting the names of Abidal and Maicon, paying tribute to the two Champions League heroes of the 03-04 season.

Arjen Robben, standing on Chelsea's right wing, glanced at Monaco winger Franck Ribéry across the field, and their eyes met briefly.

Near the center circle, Adebayo suddenly clapped his hands at Roy, the older center forward who was looking at his young idol with respect.

"Sometimes the greatest magic of football is not creating new legends, but keeping old stories alive and forever."

Thierry Rolland's commentary had barely ended when the referee's whistle blew across the stadium, officially starting the match.

The fans in the stands suppressed their emotions and turned their attention back to the game.

Monaco took the ball, and Chelsea players quickly spread out to form a defensive position.

Roy moved slowly down the left flank, sometimes stopping to observe his teammates' positions, and sometimes raising his hand to indicate passing routes.

His calm and experienced playing style left the Monaco fans in the stands looking at each other in bewilderment. Was this still the young demon king they remembered, charging ahead with boundless energy and passion?
The answer is yes, but it is also disheartening: he is still Roy, but he is no longer the Roy who belongs only to Monaco.

After the opening whistle, Chelsea's formation was deep, with the three lines maintaining close spacing.

Makelele acted like a moving gate, always hovering ten meters in front of the defense, while Lampard and Mendes were responsible for cutting off Monaco's midfield passing lanes forward.

On the other hand, Monaco's young players showed great fighting spirit.

Ribery frequently called for the ball on the left flank. Although Maicon marked him closely, the French winger still managed to create several threats through his agile changes of direction.

Arshavin constantly moved into the attacking midfield position, completing several quick one-two passes with Saviola.

Adebayor acts as a pivot point on the edge of the penalty area, using his strong physique to create space for his teammates.

Roy's performance on Chelsea's left flank was exceptionally composed.

He rarely makes blind breakthroughs, but instead receives passes from his teammates through precise positioning.

On two occasions, he received the ball near the sideline and skillfully passed it back, eliciting nostalgic sighs from the older Monaco fans in the stands.

When Monaco has possession, he will tuck inside to assist the midfield defense, demonstrating a tactical awareness beyond his years.

For the first seven minutes, Monaco completely controlled the tempo of the game, with an average possession rate of 65%.

Bernardi and Aldonin were particularly aggressive in their midfield battles, twice successfully dispossessing Lampard.

However, Chelsea's defensive organization was quite tight, and although they were on the back foot, they never gave their opponents a real chance to score.

In the 7th minute, Monaco launched a smooth attack in the attacking third.

Ribery received the ball on the left wing and quickly cut inside, but Maicon marked him closely, interfering several times with his foot, making it difficult for the Frenchman to break through easily.

Seeing this, Ribery immediately passed the ball back to Evra, who had made a run into the box. Evra, without stopping the ball, crossed it to the middle, where Arshavin cleverly let it pass, and the ball ended up at Saviola's feet.

Saviola faked a shot and then cut inside past Lampard's defense, before delivering a through ball. Adebayor, with his back to Carvalho, suddenly turned and accelerated, leaving the Portuguese center-back half a body length behind.

Adebayor dribbled into the penalty area and was about to shoot.

At the critical moment, Makelele appeared out from behind like a ghost and made a precise sliding tackle to clear the ball!

The ball bounced into the air, and Cech reacted with lightning speed, leaping forward to catch it securely.

Before the Monaco players could retreat, the Czech goalkeeper immediately launched a quick low cross. Abidal received the ball on the left wing and pushed it forward. Roy, already on his way, caught the pass securely, and Chelsea's counter-attack instantly began.
Roy looked up after receiving the ball, and the Monaco fans involuntarily held their breath.

He suddenly accelerated, pushed the ball forward with his right foot, and charged directly into the Monaco penalty area.

Elfakiri fought and retreated, and Roy made two consecutive changes of direction. Just as the opponent's center of gravity shifted, he suddenly passed the ball to Lampard in the middle with the outside of his foot.

Lampard made no adjustments and passed the ball diagonally to the left wing.

Abidal surged forward at high speed, forcing Alfakiri to abandon Roy and go to defend him.

Monaco's defense was thrown into chaos. Squillaci kept a close eye on Roy, and Bernardi even reached out to grab his jersey, but Abidal had already crossed the ball.

The ball arced towards the penalty area, and Roy suddenly darted away from the defender.

He lifted his right foot and lightly tapped the ball down, as if it were glued to the instep of his foot.

Goalkeeper Roma made a decisive rush out to block the near post, but Roy gently pushed the ball with the instep of his foot, and the ball passed between the goalkeeper's legs and slowly rolled into the net.

"GOOOOOAL!!! Roy scores against his former club! Chelsea take a 1-0 lead!"

"BUT it was Roy who scored the goal."

After Roy scored, Mourinho stood motionless, his hands deeply tucked into the pockets of his gray trench coat, his face expressionless.

On the other side, Blanc rubbed his temples. Although his Monaco had already secured qualification, they lost to Chelsea in the first round of the group stage. Now, if they could win this match, combined with Chelsea's draw against Panathinaikos in the last round, they would have a chance to overtake them and become the group leader.

Chelsea players rushed excitedly toward Roy to celebrate, but Roy stood still, and as his teammates surrounded him, he raised his hands and pressed them down, clearly indicating that he would not celebrate the goal.

The previously noisy stands suddenly quieted down a bit, and a few veteran Monaco fans clapped their hands subconsciously before awkwardly stopping.

But soon, sporadic applause spread across the stands like sparks, eventually coalescing into a burst of enthusiastic applause.

Some people, with tears in their eyes, shouted "Merci, Roi! (Thank you, King!)" while many others simply stood silently and applauded.

In the die-hard fan section of the South Stand, the banner that read "Nous n'oublierons jamais" (We will never forget) was once again held high, fluttering in the night wind.

Every face the broadcast camera panned across carried the same complex expression.

That was a gesture of politeness to the opposing team's players, but also a final act of tenderness towards one's own child.

In the 31st minute, Makelele intercepted a Monaco pass in the backfield and quickly passed it to Lampard.

The England midfielder looked up and delivered a precise long diagonal pass to Roy on the left wing.

After receiving the ball, Roy did not rush forward blindly, but instead played a one-two with Drogba in the middle.

Drogba, with his back to Givet, gently passed the ball back to Roy, who then suddenly accelerated and cut inside, drawing the attention of two defenders.

Just as Monaco's defense tightened up, Roy deftly tapped the ball across to Robben, who was making a high-speed run down the right flank.

The Dutch winger received the ball and feigned a shot, but Squillaci was fooled and made a diving block.

But Robben calmly cut inside and changed direction, creating an opening before taking small steps to adjust, and then unleashing a tricky, curved shot with his left foot!
The ball flew straight into the far corner of the goal. Roma made a diving save, his fingertips almost touching the ball, but he still couldn't stop it from going into the net.

2-0! Chelsea scored again, and this time, Roy's calm pass and Robben's decisive strike completely tore apart Monaco's defense.

Robben excitedly rushed to the sideline, jumped high and pumped his fist in celebration, then slid down to his knees, leaving two long marks on the grass.

He laughed and pointed at Roy, who had made the assist, and his Chelsea teammates rushed over to surround him.

As the final whistle blew, Roy walked alone to the sidelines, raised his hands above his head, and slowly clapped.

Chelsea fans chanted the nickname "The Devil," while Monaco fans responded with sporadic applause before falling silent.

The sea breeze swept away a few forgotten ticket stubs, and the stadium lights began to go out one by one.

Staff pushed a cart of tools into the venue, and the poster of last season's Champions League winner was still bright and shiny.

After this night, everything will be in the past.

(End of this chapter)