When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 236 The Young King's Choice
On January 9, 2005, Roy filmed a commercial for Hennessy.

Since Hennessy and the Dior brand, which Roy signed a contract with, are both under the LVMH Group, the cooperation negotiations between the two parties have progressed very smoothly.

Since then, Roy's commercial endorsement activities have maintained a long-term and stable cooperative relationship with the LVMH Group.

As one of the most influential top stars in French football at the time, Roy's commercial value was highly valued and given priority by the LVMH Group.

Night fell over the city, and Roy stood in the brightly lit rooftop bar, his tall figure accentuated by a sharply tailored black suit.

He held a Hennessy XO in his hand, the amber liquid swirling in the glass, reflecting the faint outline of the stadium in the distance.

"Some people measure value by age."

The scene suddenly shifts to the football field, where Roy unleashes a powerful long-range shot from outside the penalty area, the ball flashing through the air and nestling into the net.

"And I define youth with Hennessy XO."

The camera zooms in, and he raises his glass for a light sip, his sharp eyes revealing unwavering confidence.

"Not all youth is called brilliance, and not all victories require waiting."

The final shot freezes on the interplay of a wine glass and the city nightscape, with the subtitles slowly appearing: Hennessy XO, the choice of young champions.

Roy wouldn't dare say that every young king loves Hennessy, but those who aspire to be kings never refuse it.

After all, how could someone who wants to win every championship miss out on becoming the top seller?

Chelsea will host Manchester United in the EFL Cup semi-final on January 12, and British media have already begun to hype it up.

With Van Nistelrooy sidelined for an extended period due to injury, Manchester United's attacking options are indeed stretched thin. Alan Smith has been in red-hot form at the start of the season, scoring goals in quick succession and pushing Cristiano Ronaldo to the wing.

But after their fight on the training ground, Ferguson still chose to support Ronaldo.

He and Rooney have now essentially secured their positions as starting strikers.

As for Giggs, after enduring his time as a substitute at the beginning of the season, he finally returned to his familiar left wing, forming a two-pronged attacking wing combination with Ronaldinho.

Ronaldinho's situation at Manchester United is deteriorating rapidly.

Two key events brought the conflict to a head: first, his consecutive failure to be shortlisted for the top three in both the 2004 Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards was a major blow to the Brazilian talent's career; second, his team, led by his brother Assis, believed that Manchester United had failed to deliver on its promises made during the signing period, causing the Brazilian talent to suffer significant financial losses.

In a holiday interview with Folha de S.Paulo in January 2005, Ronaldinho's brother and agent, Assis, made a serious accusation against Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson:

“We have to question Sir Alex Ferguson’s integrity. The verbal promise of the number 7 jersey was given to that kid from Lisbon, the verbal guarantee of a tactical core role turned into a role player, and the club’s promise of ‘going all out for the Ballon d’Or’ now seems absurd. When your coach always prioritizes other players in crucial moments, so-called support is nothing but public relations rhetoric.”

"Eighteen months have passed, and the Champions League? We haven't even touched the semi-final pitch. The Premier League? We're 13 points behind Chelsea. And they're still demanding that Ronaldo change his innate football style. This is a desecration of Brazilian football culture! The British media are keen on sensationalizing his private life, but they turn a blind eye to the systemic suppression. Look at the humiliation of being substituted after scoring the only goal of the game against Tottenham in the last round."

"Listen to this absurd fact: when Ronaldinho was still playing for Paris Saint-Germain, he and that French kid Roy were clearly discussed on the same level by all the experts. And now? Roy is treated like a god at Stamford Bridge, the whole of Chelsea is kneeling and serving him, and he actually won the Ballon d'Or!"

"And our Brazilian magician? He doesn't even get a starting position at Manchester United unless Ferguson is in a good mood! The most ridiculous thing is that the old man actually said in a press conference, 'A player like Roy is what Manchester United needs'! A Frenchman who has never played a single minute for Manchester United is more popular than the genius we bought for a lot of money?"

“Let me tell you, this isn’t a matter of ability. Roy could waste chances at Monaco, but at Chelsea he had unlimited freedom to shoot. And Ronaldinho? He gets criticized by the British media for three days for ‘disrespecting his opponent’ just for doing a rainbow flick. This double standard is disgusting!”

Assis's remarks immediately caused a huge uproar in the football world upon publication.

Manchester United's public relations department received more than 200 media interview requests that day, and The Sun even used "Betrayal!" as its headline on the front page.

According to sources within the club, Ferguson was furious after seeing the report and immediately canceled the planned training session, calling an emergency meeting with the entire team.

Even worse is the business impact.

Nike, the main sponsor, said in a statement that it was "highly concerned about the situation" and that the new advertisement, which was scheduled to be filmed next week, has been abruptly halted.

The reaction was even more intense in Brazil, with Manchester United's official store in Rio de Janeiro being besieged by fans and sports radio hotlines in São Paulo being bombarded with calls from angry fans.

The Premier League has also been embroiled in controversy, with the referees' committee reportedly discussing whether to provide special protection for technically gifted players.

Meanwhile, Barcelona's sporting director, Txiki Begiristain, was spotted in Manchester.

Manchester United's share price fell 2.3% on the day the news broke, marking the biggest single-day drop of the season.

The club has remained silent so far, but sources say the board will hold an emergency meeting within 48 hours to discuss solutions.

Meanwhile, in Manchester.

Assis slammed a stack of Nike posters onto the sofa, pointing at a large portrait of Roy and yelling, "Look at this! Now his ads are everywhere! We've had a contract with Nike for so many years, and they give you less than half the resources he does!"

Xiao Luo lay on the sofa playing PS2, grunting "hmm" without even looking up.

The TV was showing Roy's latest Nike commercial, in which the Frenchman was showing off his shiny new sneakers in front of the camera.

"I just had dinner with people from Adidas."

Assis snatched the game controller. "They're in a real hurry right now. Zidane will retire in a few years, Beckham is almost 30, and they only have a few old stars left to hold their own."

He leaned close to his brother's ear and said, "They're offering more generous prices than Nike, and they'll even design a custom logo for you, guaranteeing your face will appear in all the important advertising spots!"

"You and Kaká will be marketed together as the Brazilian duo."

Ronaldinho has been quite upset lately because of all the messy things happening in the locker room.

To be honest, Ferguson treated him quite well, at least much more leniently than when he was younger. He wasn't severely punished for being late to training, and even when he had some off-field scandals, he wasn't really benched.

The problem lies with his older brother, Assis.

This guy keeps saying things like, "Look at Roy!" "Roy signed a new endorsement deal!" "Roy's weekly wage is the highest in all of England!"

This made Ronaldinho increasingly resentful.

Indeed, that French kid has earned more money in just two years than many stars have in their entire careers.

The English media are constantly calculating Roy's earnings, making the entire football world envious.

Manchester United's management now hangs up immediately whenever they see Assis's call.

The terms agreed upon when Ronaldinho was signed are now being renegotiated by his brother every few days.

Ronaldinho's teammates in the locker room also began to distance themselves from him. After all, who would want to be friends with someone who complains about not having enough money all the time?
Xiao Luo is actually quite casual about money. If you ask him how many zeros are in his account, he'll grin blankly and say, "Enough for me to treat my friends to a party!"

This guy's concept of money is: enough to get by, but of course it would be better to earn more.

His Manchester mansion is filled with all sorts of unopened limited-edition sneakers and game consoles, and he can't even remember where he got them from.

His teammates sometimes jokingly ask him, "How much did you pay for that watch?"

He would usually just grin and say, "My brother will handle everything. I just need to play football, who cares!"

What really bothered him wasn't that Roy earned more than him, but that everyone thought Roy was better than him.

Every time Roy's commercials air on TV, or newspapers boast about the Frenchman earning an astronomical endorsement fee, he feels uneasy.
"Why should he get all the limelight?"

So when Assis was stirring things up in his ear, Ronaldinho appeared indifferent on the surface, but in reality, he was already starting to compete with Assis.

"Money? Whatever. But I have to save face!"

That's why, although he doesn't actively cause trouble, he doesn't object to his brother going head-to-head with the club, as long as it allows him to save face in the end.

Ronaldinho tossed the game controller onto the sofa, looked up at his brother, and asked, "So... are we going to Barcelona?"

"I should have gone to Barcelona," he muttered.

He went on vacation to Barcelona in the summer, which broadened his horizons.

The beach parties there can go on until dawn, the nightclubs are much more fashionable than those in Manchester, and most importantly...

No one would chase after him like the British paparazzi.

He spent a week there, and not a single piece of gossip or news broke.

I regret it now.

If I had listened to Barcelona's offer back then, I might be able to go straight to the beach after training every day now, unlike in Manchester, where it's difficult to even find an authentic Brazilian barbecue restaurant.

"No, no, no, Ronaldo, we're talking about Milan! President Berlusconi has personally promised to build the strongest team in history. Rui Costa is leaving soon, and they've written it in black and white that the number 10 jersey is reserved for you. Listen, Ancelotti knows exactly how to use a talent like you. In Milan's system, you'll have complete freedom to play. Imagine this lineup: Shevchenko leading the charge, Kaká and you taking turns orchestrating the attack, Seedorf and Pirlo handling the passing and distribution, Gattuso sweeping up from behind, and Inzaghi always ready for the decisive blow. My God, this team could turn European football upside down! To hell with Roy and his Chelsea team built on money! Serie A is where true artistic football is respected; that's where you can become a true legend."

Xiao Luo raised an eyebrow, somewhat tempted.

"Winter? I'm leaving immediately. Will Manchester United agree?"

"summer!"

Assis said decisively, "The transfer fee is all agreed upon. Now all that's left is for you to agree. The salary will be 30% higher than Manchester United's, and you'll get 70% of the image rights. Also, they've promised to find you a penthouse apartment with an outdoor pool in the center of Milan, a hundred times better than Manchester's awful weather."

Xiao Luo slumped silently on the sofa.

He knew in his heart that if he wanted to leave Manchester United early, he would have to put on a show with Assis and cause chaos in the locker room.

But this is not in line with his personality. He has always been the type who would smile and beg for forgiveness even if he was late for training and got scolded by Ferguson.

But now the situation is clear: either continue to be a good boy and watch Roy thrive in the Premier League.

Alternatively, she could cooperate with her brother to put on a grand show, pretending to be nonchalant during training, saying a few ambiguous things at a press conference, and then "accidentally" being photographed having dinner with the vice president of Milan.

As soon as Manchester United fans start booing him, the management will naturally be eager to get rid of this hot potato.

Roy is currently in London preparing for the match, completely unaware of the turmoil that has erupted at Manchester United.

If someone told him that Milan was building such a team, he would probably frown and say, "Damn. This lineup sounds really scary."

If you think about it carefully, it becomes clear that if Ronaldinho could maintain his peak form for two more years, in Ancelotti's magical tactic that could fit four number 10 players, the dream midfield he formed with Kaká, Seedorf, and Pirlo would be enough to suffocate any opponent.

Just imagining these geniuses taking turns dribbling and advancing the ball is enough to send chills down your spine.

Since Chelsea stirred up a storm in the Premier League with Abramovich's rubles, the old-established giants of European football have been restless.

Milan's current moves resemble a collective counterattack by traditional powerhouses against a nouveau riche.

You have money? We have a rich history and even more talent.

This clash between the old and new worlds is getting more and more interesting.
This is understandable; when faced with the ancient dark forest, the only useful strategy for humanity is to stick together.

Teaming up is not shameful and can be effective, as long as you can win the championship.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are in a crucial stage of their Premier League title race, and Mourinho is busy maintaining peace in the dressing room.

But Cameroonian midfielder Geremi had had enough of sitting on the bench and became the first Chelsea player this season to request a departure.

After Mourinho took over this summer, Geremi completely lost his starting position.

He has only started two games so far this season, which has made him determined to transfer to Middlesbrough.

Two years ago, he was loaned to Middlesbrough, and now he wants to make a permanent return.

Geremi said: "I'm very unhappy staying at Chelsea. Mourinho won't give me a chance, and I hate sitting on the bench. I hope Chelsea will agree to my transfer. Going to Middlesbrough would be a great outcome; they are a high-level club. I would be happy to go there if their offer is right."

Gremi said he admires Ranieri more for being willing to give more people a chance.

"Mourinho is a good coach, but he rarely makes substitutions, while Ranieri focuses more on rotation. In the past two seasons, I have proven that I am capable of playing well in the Premier League, but not at Chelsea. I do not regret coming to England to play because I have learned a lot, but now I want to play."

Gremie started in the FA Cup last weekend and helped the team win 3-1. However, Gremie is clearly not willing to accept this. He is not willing to wait for opportunities like Parker or Cole. He wants to go to a place where he can guarantee his position.

Previously, Mourinho had praised Geremi for being able to play a role as a substitute and contribute to the team, and used Geremi as an example to show that Chelsea would not hoard big-name players like Real Madrid.

Meanwhile, Babayaro, who is frustrated with his time at Chelsea, is preparing to transfer to Newcastle, and Joe Cole is also showing interest in clubs such as West Ham United. Chelsea's squad is not at peace.

On January 12, the entire Chelsea team traveled to Manchester for the EFL Cup semi-final.

Mourinho has fielded goalkeeper Cudicini in goal this time, Robben is absent due to suspension, and Gudjohnsen will start in place of Drogba at center forward.

Chelsea remain the favorites, but Manchester United have a 55-year unbeaten run against the Blues in cup competitions, and Ferguson has won his last 10 semi-final matches.

After Rooney was released from his three-match ban, he partnered with Ronaldo in attack, while Phil Neville, who continued to start, became Manchester United's captain for this match.

However, with Manchester United facing Liverpool away this Saturday, Ferguson has had to retain half of his starting lineup.

In the pre-match press conference, Ferguson mentioned Manchester United's 55-year unbeaten record against Chelsea in cup competitions, emphasizing that Manchester United is better at big games.

Mourinho responded that historical records are meaningless, pointing out that Chelsea's strong performance this season and squad depth are the key factors.

Ferguson stated that league and cup competitions are completely different, and Manchester United will focus on winning this semi-final.

Mourinho sarcastically remarked that Manchester United can only find a sense of presence in cup competitions now, given that they are already far behind in the league.

Roy had no interest in the pre-match war of words. While the two coaches were exchanging heated arguments at the press conference, he was warming up on the training field.

When a reporter from the Manchester Evening News pressed him for details about his preparations, he gave an unexpected answer: "I bought a Bugatti 16/4 Veyron."

The reporter looked bewildered and asked him what this had to do with the competition.

Roy shrugged: "It's the fastest car in the world. Owning it makes me happy. When you're happy, you can relax and play at your best."

The reporter paused for a moment, then shook his head with a smile: "That sounds cool, Roy. That's all I can say."

"So tonight's game will be just as cool."

Roy slowed his pace and walked side by side with Cudicini in the passageway.

"I heard you rejected the club's new contract?"

“I’ll be 32 in September, while Cech is only 22. Last week, my daughter asked me why the goalkeeper on TV is always a younger man. I told her it’s because Daddy has to be the goalkeeper in more important games.”

"Hey, we need you, Cuddy."

Roy suddenly stopped and turned around to look Cudicini directly in the eyes.

The roguish smile that usually graced his lips disappeared, his brows furrowed slightly, and a rare seriousness shone in his dark eyes.

Carlo Cudicini is not someone who constantly complains to the media. The former "Premier League Best Goalkeeper" has always chosen to train harder. However, goalkeeper is not a position that needs rotation. This position requires even more stability.

Cech has performed exceptionally well, conceding only 8 goals in 22 league matches. What more could you ask for?

As a result, many people started complaining about Cudicini, and even Chelsea fans wrote to the club's magazine asking if we were being selfish. They suggested that as long as he didn't go to Manchester United or Arsenal, we should let Carlo go; as a substitute, he's really being taken advantage of.

Cudicini has received offers from several top clubs.

Manchester United and Arsenal have expressed clear interest, and Liverpool have also joined the race after Kirkland's injury.

Returning to Italy offers limited options: AC Milan has Dida, Juventus has Buffon, Inter Milan has Toldo in goal, and Roma's Perizzoli also holds a starting position.

Cudicini is already 32 years old, and he doesn't have many options left.

On Thursday, several British media outlets, including The Daily Telegraph and The Sun, reported that Chelsea signed 19-year-old Leeds United youth team goalkeeper Scott Carlsen for a transfer fee of £100 million.

The England U21 goalkeeper is exceptionally tall and quick-witted. Chelsea have offered him a contract with a weekly wage of £1, exceeding Liverpool's offer.

Roy believes Chelsea need Cudicini.

But he couldn't recall whether the Italian player ultimately stayed with the team.

After all, Cech's performance was so outstanding that who would remember the goalkeeper on the bench?
"Stop kidding, Roy. You don't need anyone, you don't need Cudicini, all you need are teammates who can help you win championships."

Roy and Cudicini didn't interact much, but the Italians had a fairly deep understanding of him.

His teammates, who are close to him, think he is easy-going and friendly, and they feel relaxed and comfortable around him.

His adversaries, who had conflicts with him, described him as vengeful and ruthless.

As an observer, Cudicini noted that Roy's behavior always revolved around his goals, and his level of commitment to interpersonal relationships depended entirely on how well the other person could help him achieve those goals.

Those who are neither friends nor enemies on the fringes often realize that Roy is essentially an extremely rational person, and all his emotional expressions serve the ultimate goal.

“Smart. So you want to be my championship teammate? We need you, Cuddy, not as a locker room mascot, but as the madman who saved three penalties at Stamford Bridge last season.”

"Chelsea are in good form right now. Cech is young, but he still needs to gain experience. You've performed very consistently in the League Cup, and you're not without a chance to start in the FA Cup. Staying might allow you to win a few more trophies, and the club should be willing to discuss your salary. Are you in such a hurry to leave because you feel you're not getting the opportunities you deserve here, or because you doubt you can win any trophies here?"

Roy reached out and patted Cudicini on the shoulder.

"Think about it carefully, Cuddy."

Cudicini watched Roy's retreating figure, wiping his nose, the thought that he was about to say, "The damp weather in England is not suitable for Italians," remained unspoken.

Cudicini was hunched over, his gloves resting on his knees.

Ronaldinho received the ball on the right flank, poked it through Lampard's legs with his toe, and then deftly chipped it over him.

The ball sailed over Maicon's head and landed precisely at Giggs' feet.

Giggs gently flicked the ball with his left foot, causing Maicon to shift his weight to the left.

He pulled back with the instep of his right foot, causing Maicon's spikes to slip on the wet surface.

Giggs glanced up and delivered a low cross with the inside of his right foot.

The ball rolled steadily over 18 yards, and Ronaldo made a diagonal run from the flank, guiding the ball forward with his right foot.

Ronaldo quickly cut inside, Gallas stepped up to block him, and Makelele made a strong push from the side and behind, causing the Portuguese player to stumble, but the ball was still passed out.

Rooney received the ball at the edge of the penalty area, faked a shot, cut inside past Terry, and unleashed a powerful right-footed shot into the near corner!
Cudicini lunged sideways, his glove deflecting the ball out of play.

He got up, panting, and quickly scanned the field. Maicon was pushing the ball up while looking back. Terry was shouting something to Gala, and Makelele had already retreated to his position.

In midfield, Lampard is directing the defense to push forward.

In the attacking third, Roy slightly bent his knees on the left wing, ready to start his run at any moment.

On the sidelines, Mourinho stood with his hands in his pockets, expressionless.

Ferguson chewed his gum, his face grim.

Before the Manchester United players could retreat, Cudicini launched a long ball towards the center circle, where Gudjohnsen held off O'Shea and headed the ball across.

Roy launched himself instantly, like a drawn sword, piercing straight into Manchester United's right flank!
He received the ball with his back to goal on the left side, and Phil Neville immediately closed in, grabbing his jersey with his right hand and blocking his position with his left leg.

Roy lifted his left foot and paused gently, then flicked the ball with his toe, sending it flying over Neville's head.

He turned around quickly, and Neville lost his balance and staggered back to chase after him.

Seeing this, Fletcher flanked from the side.

Roy stepped on the ball with his right foot, pulled it back, and then flicked it with the instep, sending the ball through the narrow gap between the two players.

A low gasp of surprise rippled through the stands at Old Trafford.

Roy didn't continue dribbling, but instead passed the ball across to Lampard in the middle.

After Lampard received the ball, Djemba pressed forward, but the Englishman suddenly accelerated, dribbled past the defender, and quickly passed it back to Roy.

Roy feigned stopping the ball with his left foot, but before touching it, he took a step and let the ball roll past him.

O'Shea and Heinze were both fooled by the feint. They hesitated for a moment, and Roy had already slipped into the gap between them, gently pushing Abidal, who was making a run behind, with his right foot.

Abidal was completely unmarked, dribbled down the wing, glanced at the penalty area, and then crossed the ball.

At that moment, Roy had already made a high-speed run towards the six-yard box.

The ball arced through the air, and Roy leaped before Heinze could reach it, delivering a precise header to his forehead.

The ball flew straight towards the near corner! Howard dove to save it, but it was too late, and the ball nestled into the net.

"GOAL! Roy – a header! Who could have imagined it? Who could have imagined it?! This magician, known for his footwork, killed the game today in the simplest way! This is his first header for Chelsea! 35 minutes! Chelsea are 1-0 up."

As Abidal dribbled down the wing, Chelsea striker Gudjohnsen suddenly dropped back to the penalty spot, drawing the attention of Manchester United defenders O'Shea and Heinze.

Duff then quietly swam to the back post, forcing Searswitt to distract himself and guard the right flank attack.

At this moment, Manchester United's defensive midfielder Djemba was still on his way back to cover, while Fletcher, who was supposed to be marking Roy, was drawn towards the edge of the penalty area by Lampard's off-the-ball movement.

It was this moment of defensive chaos that allowed Roy to suddenly surge forward from the edge of the penalty area and deliver a deadly header with no one marking him.

Cristiano Ronaldo had his head down, his cleats crunching on the grass.

His older brother scored a goal right in front of him again.

Now he doesn't even dare to look at Roy with a competitive gaze, as Roy has already won the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards.

Cristiano Ronaldo is a competitive person, but he won't boast about defeating Roy until he actually wins those honors himself.

That seems a bit too overpowering.

Roy's header in the 35th minute gave Chelsea a 1-0 lead.

After scoring, Chelsea continued to control the game, while Manchester United retreated to a defensive posture.

In the 40th minute, Lampard unleashed a long-range shot from 30 yards out, which Howard tipped over the bar, and Gudjohnsen's follow-up shot went high.

Manchester United's defense was very well organized, with Silvestre and Phil Neville constantly using physical challenges to thwart Chelsea's attacks down the flanks.

In the 55th minute, Roy cut inside from the left and delivered a through ball, but Duff's shot from a tight angle was blocked by Silvestre.

Ronaldinho looked to be in good form, but in the 60th minute, a careless backheel pass went directly out of bounds, prompting Ferguson to shake his head on the sidelines.

In the 68th minute, Makelele intercepted the ball and passed it to the wing. Maicon crossed from the right and found Gudjohnsen, whose header went just wide.

Manchester United's counter-attacks posed limited threats. In the 75th minute, Ronaldinho's attempt to chip the ball over his opponent failed, and Makelele easily dispossessed him. This was the third time the Brazilian had attempted a similar fancy move today.

In the 90th minute, Drogba and Ronaldo got into a physical altercation while vying for a throw-in on the sideline. Players from both sides quickly surrounded them, but no one made a move.

Referee Barry showed yellow cards to both Drogba and Ronaldo to quell the situation.

In the final stages of the match, Chelsea maintained control, but Manchester United's defense gave their opponents few more chances, and the final score was 1-0.

In a post-match interview, Ferguson stated:
"For 55 years, we have never lost to Chelsea in a cup competition. It's not a big deal that this record has ended today. You can't keep some insignificant records for a hundred years, and even if you did, it wouldn't make any sense."

"Regarding Ronaldinho, it's not insurmountable; he just needs to get rid of certain distractions. A player's primary task is to focus on the game. We are trying to regain his form, both in terms of his competitive ability and in maintaining good communication with him."

“If we had maintained this level of performance at the beginning of the season, the standings wouldn’t be like this. Right now, every team is winning, and I don’t think Chelsea is that much better than us. Today, only half of our regular starters were in our starting lineup, so a 1-0 result is perfectly acceptable.”

When asked why he rarely scores with his head and what was the reason for his goal today, Roy replied:

"To be honest, I'm more used to handling the ball with my feet. But as a winger, the coach has always asked me to improve my heading ability, and I have to thank Abidal for his perfect cross today."

“We practiced this kind of cross-and-volley combination repeatedly in training. When I saw Gudjohnsen drop back and draw the center-back away, I decided to move forward to the near post. This was not a flash of inspiration, but the result of our usual training.”

"I've practiced heading a lot more often, but to be honest, the way you score isn't important; what matters is helping the team win."

That evening, Morientes' agent appeared in London.

This striker partnered with Roy in the 2003-2004 Champions League season, where they won the Golden Boot and Silver Boot respectively.

Chelsea already has two strikers, Gudjohnsen and Drogba. If Morientes joins, the competition for striker positions will become even fiercer.

The magazine *442* analyzed that if Chelsea were to sign Morientes, he would be better suited as a tactical rotation option rather than a starter. Compared to "false 9s" like Gudjohnsen, who excel at dropping deep to orchestrate attacks, Morientes is more in line with the characteristics of a traditional center forward. His ability to get into scoring positions in the box and his Champions League experience (2003-04 Champions League Silver Boot winner) could enrich Mourinho's attacking tactics, especially against defensive formations where he could serve as a backup option for Drogba.

However, his limited range of movement conflicted with Chelsea's system of pressing high up the pitch at the time, and Gudjohnsen was better able to connect the midfield, so the Icelander was still a more balanced rotation option.

Morientes should be positioned as a tactical supplement in specific situations, such as when there is a need to enhance aerial bombardment or when experience is needed in crucial Champions League matches.

Signing Morientes is more like an insurance move for Chelsea.

This Spanish striker has become a fringe player at Real Madrid, with his playing time severely squeezed by Ronaldo, Raul and Owen.

But Mourinho had a special fondness for him; in the 2004 Champions League final, it was Morientes' Monaco who eliminated Mourinho's Porto.

From the locker room's perspective, Roy's push to bring in Morientes implicitly reflects his consideration of establishing his own influence. As the team's newly crowned Ballon d'Or winner, Roy needs reliable supporters, and Morientes is not only a former partner with whom he has a good working relationship, but also a low-key "one of his own."

As a French player, Roy is systematically building his own dressing room influence by bringing in non-English players such as Morientes.

At that time, there was a clear division of language factions in the Chelsea dressing room: the Portuguese group represented by Maicon and Thiago, the French group represented by Gallas and Makelele, and the English group represented by Terry and Lampard.

Roy cleverly used his Ballon d'Or status to expand the Franco-Spanish-Portuguese-speaking alliance under the guise of technical synergy. Morientes' arrival will not only consolidate the team's tactical dominance in the attacking third, but also enhance the collective bargaining power of non-English speaking players.

The UK's Daily Telegraph once pointed out that "every transfer suggestion by Roy is imbued with political calculations," while the French newspaper L'Équipe directly called him a "locker room chess player."

Although Mourinho was aware of these moves, he chose to acquiesce in order to balance the local faction, since a dispersed faction is easier for the coach to control than a single dominant faction.

Morientes was merely the choice of a young king.

----------

Real Madrid have officially announced the signing of 28-year-old Danish midfielder Johan Gravesen from Everton for €350 million on a three-and-a-half-year contract. Gravesen has performed exceptionally well for Everton this season, ranking first in the Premier League's ACTIM midfielder ratings, even surpassing three top Premier League defensive midfielders: Vieira, Gerrard, and Lampard. His well-rounded abilities will strengthen Real Madrid's weak defense. Everton were ultimately forced to let him go due to his expiring contract and insistence on a transfer. Club manager Vinicius stated that they had tried everything to retain him without success.

—Marca

(End of this chapter)