When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 239 Roy ~ Score a goal whenever he wants (Begging for monthly votes!)

On February 3, 2005, Roy went to a hospital in London to visit his teammate Robben, who had been injured in the previous day's match against Blackburn.

Roy sat on the edge of the bed, listening to Robben say somewhat emotionally, "It's so unlucky. Everything was going so well. This is a huge blow. I was in the best form, I've never felt so good in a game. This injury is really annoying because I know I might miss many weeks of games, even the whole season. I can even feel that a bone in my foot is cracked again."

“I know Arjen, you’ve always been my favorite strike partner. Don’t blame yourself too much, everyone knows your ability. Once you’re fully recovered and come back, we can work together like before. That chemistry won’t disappear just because of this injury.”

Robben's talent is undeniable, but his frequent injuries have caused him to miss most of the games each season, let alone maintain full attendance like other players.

Frequent injuries not only affect playing time, but also prevent players from giving their all on the field.

For professional athletes, having a physique that can withstand injuries is crucial.

Robben was not exactly a team player in the Chelsea dressing room.

He was arrogant and ignored ordinary players, always thinking that he was more talented than others.

But he was somewhat convinced of Roy's abilities. Firstly, he acknowledged that Roy was indeed stronger than him, and secondly, Roy tolerated his tendency to play alone on the field, though he would always have a good talk with him afterwards.

More importantly, Roy never showed favoritism on the field, only passing the ball based on position, something Robben couldn't fault.

Moreover, he knew that Roy also had a fiery temper, but he would never lose his temper indiscriminately.

"I can only watch you win the championship on TV at home," Arjen Robben said with a hint of regret.

“Listen, Arjen, you have nothing left to miss. We’re already the Premier League champions. Look at the standings, how many points are we ahead of second place? You’ve done a lot of work on that. Even if you’re not fully recovered by then, you can still come to the stadium and lift the trophy with us. But I think you’ll definitely be able to make it to the crucial Champions League match. I bet we’ll be standing together in Istanbul, bringing that damn Champions League trophy home.”

French national team coach Raymond Domenech has announced a 20-man squad in preparation for next Wednesday's friendly match against Sweden.

Juventus striker David Trezeguet has recovered from injury and returned to the national team for the first time since last year's European Championship.

The French national team roster ultimately underwent dramatic changes.

Arsenal midfielder Pires, who was on the verge of being dropped from the squad after publicly criticizing manager Domenech, was ultimately selected at the last minute after receiving further public support from Roy and Henry.

Meanwhile, Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele, who had previously announced his return, was unsurprisingly called up.

What garnered the most media attention was that, six months after announcing his retirement, Zidane, during a Christmas Eve gathering with Roy, Makelele, and others, stated that he was "open to a comeback."

On the evening of February 4th, the football world received a major announcement: due to the La Liga schedule and his personal condition, this legendary midfielder will not accept the national team call-up for the time being, but he will not refuse to play for his country if he is in good form in the future.

In an interview with Marca, he said, "Maybe I'm not old enough to retire yet. The day I saw Roy win the FIFA World Player of the Year award, I was thinking, what else can I do for the French team? We won a World Cup and a European Championship in just a few short years, and last year we won another European Championship. This was undoubtedly the golden age of French football, like a dream. Beckham said I shouldn't retire so early; he's a very responsible teammate, without a doubt. And Roy also told me not to wake up from this dream so easily. I have no doubt that France will continue to be great with Roy and Thierry. But since I can still help, I should continue to contribute. French football will never fall."

Domenech said at a press conference: "No one would refuse when a legend is willing to fight for his country again."

Roy told the media in London: "I sincerely welcome Zidane back to the French national team. He is a truly great player, the best midfielder in history in my opinion, and the strongest teammate I have ever played with. With him, we have the confidence to compete for any championship."

“Many people said I should take over the number 10 jersey, but I always felt Zidane would come back, and now my intuition has proven correct. To be honest, I miss him. Playing with him on the field was a unique experience.”

With both teams boasting top strikers, this match was seen as a direct confrontation between Roy and Ibrahimovic.

Roy is at the top of the Premier League scoring charts by a wide margin, while Ibrahimovic is the top scorer for Serie A leaders Juventus.

The duel between the two forwards became the biggest highlight of the match.

Ibrahimovic joined Juventus from Ajax in the Netherlands after the European Championship last summer. With Trezeguet sidelined due to injury and Del Piero and Zalayeta out of form, the Swede almost single-handedly carried the Old Lady's attack.

Raiola pushed open the door of a taekwondo gym in Turin and saw Ibrahimovic sparring with his sparring partner on the mat.

The agent stood on the sidelines, silently observing the Swede's agile movements.

Ibrahimovic first tested his opponent with several quick side kicks, which his sparring partner barely managed to block.

Suddenly, he feinted past his opponent's defense, then swept his right leg high straight at the head, stopping abruptly five centimeters from the temple.

The sparring partner instinctively closed his eyes, hearing the sound of his feet brushing past his ears.

"Come again."

The Swede retracted his long leg and tossed his brown hair.

The sparring partner rubbed his numb forearm and muttered, "Zlatan, your legwork is fit for the Olympics."

Ibrahimovic raised his chin: "Back in the Malmö dojo, my coach told me I should focus on fighting. Now? He watches my football matches every weekend. Zlatan can do anything."

Ibrahimovic caught a glimpse of Raeola as he wiped his sweat.

"Mino, want to come up and give it a try? I promise I won't use a roundhouse kick unless you're fast enough."

Raiola rubbed his hands together and laughed: "Look at that legwork! My God, no wonder those defenders tremble when they see you. They're not defending against a football player, they're fighting against the Nordic god of war!"

"Ha! My skills are no match for a master like you."

Raiola patted his stomach and took two steps back. "My physique is more suited to using my skills at the negotiating table, such as getting the club to willingly give you a raise."

Ibrahimovic's lips curled into a smile, clearly enjoying the flattery.

He casually wiggled his ankle: "You're smart, fatso. You're the one who calls the shots at the negotiating table, but on this mat and on the court, I'm God."

“Deschamps always says in training that Roy would definitely have scored if he had been on that ball. But to be honest, I don’t think Roy is that much better than me. We each have our strengths. His speed and finishing are indeed reliable, but my positioning and passing vision are not bad either. Football is not judged by just goals. The chances I can create, he may not be able to do.”

Raiola's brow twitched when she heard Roy's name, and a pang of pain shot through her heart.

He clearly remembered that he was the first to come into contact with Roy, when Roy's agent was still Migliaccio.

But in the blink of an eye, Roy quietly switched sides to Mendes's team.

Raiola has always believed in his judgment of people.

He had long recognized that Roy might be the strongest player of his generation, and even had the potential to become a historical superstar.

Now, at only 20 years old, Roy has already won both the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards, completely proving his judgment correct.

Players of this caliber don't need any marketing; they're rare gems on the transfer market, and their agents can sit back and count their money.

"Of course, you each have your own skills. You have what he has, and you are no less capable than him."

While on the phone, Raiola finalized the publicity plan with the media.

He knew perfectly well that Ibrahimovic's ability was indeed inferior to Roy's, but that did not hinder his marketing plan.

After all, although Serie A at this stage was no longer as glorious as it once was, its influence was still strong.

If they can package Ibrahimovic as a superstar on par with Roy, his commercial value in Italy alone will be enough to make them a fortune.

In an interview with Tuttosport, Ibrahimovic spoke about his upcoming match against Roy: "We haven't faced each other directly yet, but he won the Golden Boot at Euro 2004, while our Swedish team was eliminated early. However, I think I played well back then. Roy is indeed good, but not as amazing as people say. I'm getting better and better at Juventus, and I'll win all the honors I'm supposed to win."

When Tuttosport praised Roy as an "extraordinary striker," Ibrahimovic responded directly: "There is only one extraordinary player, Ronaldo."

Ashley Cole is having a party with some teammates in a luxury villa in London.

Pennant, Manchester United striker Alan Smith who was sidelined with an injury, and others were present. The table was piled high with expensive liquor, and several scantily clad nightclub girls sat around them.

The room was filled with smoke and laughter.

But Cole was far from happy; the Premier League was investigating his private contacts with Chelsea, which was causing him distress.

Cole took a swig of his drink and suddenly blurted out, "What do you guys think Roy's skill level is?"

The room fell silent for two seconds.

Pennant stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray: "That guy... the media is practically turning him into the new Pelé."

Alan Smith, with his arm around the woman, sneered: "He just won the Ballon d'Or by sheer luck? Why are you bringing him up? You're not really going to Chelsea, are you?"

"How could that be? The old man will kill me."

Cole muttered, but Arsenal's salary for him was indeed too low, and even if he agreed to a raise, it would still be far less generous than what Chelsea offered.

Cole's feelings for Roy were complicated; he both hated and feared him.

What he hates is that he has never beaten Roy: Arsenal lost to Monaco in the 2004 Champions League semi-final, England was defeated by France in the European Championship, and then this season Arsenal's 56-game unbeaten record was ended. In that game, Roy dribbled past five players in the second half to score, and Cole was one of the players who played in the background.

What's even more hurtful is Roy's comment: "Go tell Wenger to try moving you to the right wing to defend me."

Cole knew in his heart that he really couldn't defend against it.

What frustrated him even more were his personal matters.

He had previously set his sights on singer Cheryl at a nightclub, but his persistent pursuit was rebuffed.

Not long after, Cheryl and Roy went public with their relationship.

No man could stand this.

Chelsea's offer is indeed tempting.

They are willing to offer the second-highest salary among their guards, second only to Terry.

Cole had worried that Abidal would occupy the left-back position, but Mourinho made it clear that if Cole joined, Abidal would be the left center-back option.

Due to Carvalho's fluctuating form, Gallas has been playing as a makeshift left center-back in recent matches.

If Cole joins, Abidal will be permanently positioned at center-back, while Cole will play at left-back.

This would mean that Cole and Roy would be teammates on the same side of the club.

Thinking about this, Cole became even more furious.

He couldn't help but curse Roy a few times, and Pennant and Alan Smith echoed him.

"I'd rather join Tottenham than Chelsea. You want me to be that bastard Roy's underling? I'm too tough to stoop."

"Then you're the reverse Campbell too."

Alan Smith laughed and said, "If you ask me, you should come to Manchester United. Silvestre is no longer good enough, and Heinze can only play center-back. The old Scotsman will love you."

He's recently been pursuing Sarah Harding, another member of Girls Aloud, but what he doesn't know is that Cole has also set his sights on the blonde bombshell, while Roy's girlfriend Cheryl is keen to introduce her to Roy's former teammate, Arsenal's Pedretti.

Kerr stroked his chin and asked Alan Smith, "What makes me worse than Roy?"

Smith and Pennant both burst out laughing.

The girls burst into laughter, and one of them leaned over and pinched Cole's cheek: "Honey, you know we don't care about looks."

Is this considered a consolation?
Roy flipped through the newspaper, which detailed Chelsea's alleged unauthorized contact with Cole:

On January 27, Chelsea CEO Kenyon, manager Mourinho, Cole and his agent, and well-known agent Zahavi were reportedly seen meeting secretly at a London hotel. The hotel manager confirmed the meeting lasted two hours, and Zahavi paid the bill by credit card at the end. Furthermore, Chelsea fans testified that they saw the three leave together and sign a legal affidavit.

Article K3 of the Premier League Regulations states: "Any contact, directly or indirectly, between a club, a player, a player's agent or any other representative of the club and a player under contract is a breach of the regulations and will be punished in accordance with the provisions of Part R."

The terms in Section R cover penalties for violating the charter, including point deductions.

Arsenal are fully cooperating with the Premier League's investigation.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and CEO David Gill also quickly condemned Chelsea's practice of contacting players privately.

If the evidence is conclusive, Chelsea could face a penalty of losing league points. If the penalty reaches 10 points, Arsenal and Manchester United will immediately return to the title race.

Cheryl walked in carrying a fruit platter and leaned lazily into Roy's arms.

She glanced at the newspaper, frowned, and turned the page away: "Don't let me see that pervert from North London. He didn't say anything nice at the nightclub last time."

Roy tossed the newspaper aside, put his arm around Cheryl's shoulder, and said, "Next time at Stanford Bridge, I'll take care of him for you."

Cheryl's eyes lit up, and she leaned in to kiss him: "Then I'll definitely be there to watch."

"But it probably won't be able to be fixed many more times."

Although Roy said he would help Cheryl get revenge, he was secretly planning something else.

He actually hoped that Cole would join Chelsea.

After all, Cole's left flank is top-tier.

He planned to sound out Cole's opinion first.

If this guy is really determined to come, as the rumors suggest, that would be for the best.

If Cole hesitates, Roy is prepared to persuade Mourinho to turn to his old teammate Evra.

Anyway, Abidal can play on the wing or in the middle, so he can be used however you like.

As for Carvalho and Gallas? Roy didn't even consider them in his plans; they were never part of his inner circle.

Roy and Cheryl cuddled for a while, and a thought flashed through their minds.

In another world, she was supposed to marry Cole.

But in this world, even if he and Cheryl were to separate one day, given her current discerning eye, she probably wouldn't look down on Cole anymore.

On February 6, 2005, at the pre-match press conference for Chelsea's game against Manchester City, Roy responded to Ibrahimovic's comments.

When a reporter mentioned that Ibrahimovic said he wasn't "that amazing," Roy nodded in agreement: "Indeed, I'm just an ordinary person, unlike some people who claim to be God all the time. If God's goal tally were less than that of a mortal, that would be an insult to God. As for mortals who insist on calling themselves God for no reason..."

He shrugged. "I suggest you see a psychiatrist."

When asked if he thought he was more talented than Ibrahimovic, Roy glanced at the reporter who asked the question: "I was born in '84, and he was born in '81."

You all keep saying he has a bright future, so when exactly will that come true? This year? Next year? Or until we all retire?

Laughter erupted at the press conference, but the reporters were clearly unwilling to let this hot topic pass them by.

After all, Ibrahimovic is a top striker in Serie A and also receives a lot of attention in the Premier League.

Roy deliberately put on a stern face and pretended to be annoyed, saying, "Deschamps really should watch his mouth and wait until he lifts the Champions League trophy before he comments on me."

Suddenly, he feigned an expression of sudden realization: "Oh right, some legendary players may have only won the European Championship or the World Cup, those honors are much harder to come by. I mean, you need at least one truly significant title, right? Otherwise, what gives you the right to judge someone?"

He shrugged. "You think we can rely on winning the Eredivisie title?"

Then Roy shrugged and got up to leave. His attempt to smooth things over was to prevent Ronaldo, Pelé, or Maradona from hearing his words. He didn't notice Mourinho's ashen face. He should have added that the UEFA Cup was a significant title.

Your "championship strategy" is just so effective!

英超25轮后，切尔西73分强势领跑，曼联60分紧追却难撼13分差距，阿森纳52分（连续遭博尔顿爆冷、曼联4-2攻陷海布里）已落后榜首21分，争冠悬念宣告终结。

Even Sky Sports and the BBC have declared that this year's title race is unprecedented, with the Premier League showing a pattern of "Chelsea in a league of their own, Manchester United in second place, and Arsenal falling behind."

In the final match of the 26th round of the English Premier League, Chelsea encountered resistance at Stamford Bridge.

Despite Chelsea's relentless attacks throughout the match, the Blues failed to break through Manchester City's tenacious defense and ultimately drew 0-0.

This draw brought Chelsea's winning streak to an abrupt end, and their lead at the top of the table shrank from 13 points to 11.

The most thrilling moment of the match came during stoppage time.

Roy had a golden opportunity to score, but Manchester City defender Dunne made a desperate sliding tackle to thwart the shot.

Roy then had another chance, but his powerful shot was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper James.

These two crucial defensive plays completely extinguished Chelsea's hopes of a last-minute victory.

The only consolation for the home team was that goalkeeper Petr Cech continued his excellent form, extending his consecutive clean sheet streak to 871 minutes.

This number continues to grow, vividly illustrating Chelsea's rock-solid defense this season.

However, this unexpected draw undoubtedly injected a renewed sense of suspense into the Premier League title race.

(Manchester City are Chelsea's nemesis this season, remaining unbeaten with one win and one draw. Respect to the best)
After a disappointing draw at home against Manchester City, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho surprisingly opened up about the championship.

"I think they will have a fierce battle for the league runner-up position. I don't care about Manchester United or Arsenal anymore. I only care about Chelsea."

This maverick, who avoided talking about winning the championship at the beginning of the season, is now overflowing with confidence.

The Independent interpreted Mourinho's message as follows: the title race was already decided, and the other two giants were merely vying for a place as runners-up.

Just as Chelsea were on a winning streak, key defenders John Terry and Michael Bridge withdrew from England's squad for the friendly against the Netherlands due to injuries.

This further exacerbates the already depleted England team, with Manchester United's Ferdinand and Arsenal's Campbell already confirmed to be absent.

For Chelsea, Terry's absence due to injury is particularly critical.

British media generally believe that if it weren't for this injury, Terry would have been the undisputed starter against the Netherlands.

What interests the media even more is who will take over Chelsea's on-field captain's armband if Terry is unable to return in time.

Meanwhile, a bombshell news rocked the British football world: Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was once again waving his checkbook.

German midfield maestro Michael Ballack may soon embark on his Premier League journey.

Despite the 28-year-old Bayern Munich star's lackluster performance this season, he remains a hot commodity in the transfer market.

Abramovich is trying to bring him to Chelsea with a huge offer.

Bayern Munich's general manager, Uli Hoeneß, doesn't want to give up on his key player, but admits it's difficult to retain him: "It's not that we don't want to keep Ballack; we are preparing to negotiate with him about staying in Munich. I think his current contract could be improved, but it seems like Mr. Abramovich has a money-printing machine; it's hard to compete with him."

Ballack's national team statistics are quite impressive: 32 goals in 50 appearances.

He almost joined Barcelona for €1200 million after the 2004 European Championship.

Ballack remained open to Chelsea's offer: "I have 18 months left on my contract, and we'll see then. Playing abroad is very appealing to me; it would be a completely new experience."

On February 9, 2005, on the eve of a friendly match between France and Sweden, dramatic news broke: Sweden's star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was injured during training and had to withdraw from the match.

This unexpected situation excited the French media, and the pre-match war of words between Roy and Ibrahimovic, the two key players, was escalating.

Roy once bluntly retorted, "Wait until you win a decent championship before comparing yourself to me. You'd better shut up now." Now that Ibrahimovic has suddenly withdrawn due to injury, the French media immediately interpreted it as him "chickening out," jokingly saying that he "failed to win the verbal battle and even ran away."

Although the Swedish team doctor emphasized that this was a precautionary measure, the highly anticipated individual duel ultimately did not take place.

France fielded a classic 4-3-3 attacking formation in this match.

In goal, the experienced Coupet guards the goal.

The back line consists of Zebina, Squillaci, Abidal, and Evra, a line that combines speed and power.

26-year-old Zebina made his national team debut.

This versatile defender, who came through the Cannes youth academy, finally got the opportunity to represent his country after playing for several Serie A clubs throughout his career.

Zebina, who was playing for Juventus at the time, started as the first right-back.

Despite already being a Serie A champion (winning the title with Roma in the 2000-01 season), the national team call-up came later than expected.

This also became his only appearance for the national team in his career.

The midfield saw a significant change, with veteran Makelele returning to the starting lineup to form a "tough triangle" with Vieira and Pedretti.

These three defensive midfielders will bring France a strong interception ability, making them a veritable "Maginot Line".

Makelele's return has significantly improved the French team's midfield strength.

A heartwarming scene unfolded on the front line: key player Roy voluntarily gave up his familiar left-wing position to Henry, switching to the right wing himself.

This arrangement not only demonstrates Roy's team spirit, but also ensures that Henry, a key attacking force for the French team, can unleash his full potential in his most comfortable position.

In the center forward position, prolific striker Trezeguet serves as the spearhead.

According to L'Equipe, this lineup maintains a solid defense while offering endless possibilities in attack. In particular, the positional swap between superstars Roy and Henry demonstrates the harmonious atmosphere in the French team's dressing room.

On February 9, 2005, the French team faced their old rivals, Sweden, at the Stade de France.

Historical records show that the last time the Swedes defeated France was back in 1952.

After the match began, the French team, with the home advantage, quickly took control of the game.

Roy made a striking appearance on the right wing, frequently delivering dangerous passes to the forwards through dribbling and breakthroughs.

However, Sweden's solid defense proved exceptionally tenacious, repeatedly thwarting the French team's attacks.

In the 11th minute, an unexpected turn of events occurred.

Sweden seized their first attacking opportunity when Auerbach unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area that struck the right post and bounced out. Ljungberg followed up with a clever tap-in.

This goal broke the French team's solid defense, which had only conceded one goal in their last seven matches.

However, the French quickly retaliated.

In the 36th minute, Henry broke through on the left wing and delivered a precise cross, which Trezeguet headed into the net, outjumping the defenders. This was the Juventus striker's 30th international goal, equaling the records of French legends Fontaine and Papin.

This crucial equalizer sent the more than 5 French fans in attendance into a frenzy.

Halftime.

Sweden's head coach, Lagerbäck, made a key adjustment, replacing Ljungberg with Nicolas Alexandersson in an attempt to strengthen midfield control.

However, this substitution was immediately met with strong pressure from the French midfielder.

The midfield barrier formed by Makelele and Vieira began to siege the new Swedish signings, and their tacit double-teaming left the opponents breathless.

Vieira seized the opportunity and, the moment Rosenberg received the ball, delivered a fierce yet clean tackle, knocking the 1.9-meter tall striker to the ground, and the ball slipped out of his control.

Vieira, upon receiving the ball, did not hesitate at all and immediately passed it to Pedretti on the left.

The young defensive midfielder, dubbed "Deschamps II," looked up and delivered a precise long pass to Roy, who was making a high-speed run down the right flank.

At this moment, Swedish left-back Edman desperately chased back, trying to block Roy's advance with his body. However, in the instant the two clashed, Roy suddenly stopped and changed direction. Edman was thrown several meters by inertia and fell to the ground in a sorry state.

The French fans at the Saint-Denis Stadium erupted in cheers, with chants of "Roy! Roy!" echoing through the air.

Roy, sprinting forward, did not disappoint them. He first used his chest to steadily deflect the bouncing ball, and then, as the ball bounced a second time, he gently flicked it with the toe of his right foot. The ball traced an elegant arc, just over the head of Swedish center-back Lucic, who was desperately reaching out.

Roy, who broke into the right side of the penalty area, displayed amazing composure. He pretended to pass the ball across to Henry, who was making a run into the box. This convincing feint made the entire Swedish defense pause for a moment.

Just as the other center-back, Melberg, shifted his weight to the left, Roy suddenly flicked the ball with the outside of his right foot, changing its direction and sending it rolling towards the byline.

Before the defenders could react, he immediately unleashed a powerful right-footed shot, the ball flying like a cannonball into the far top corner of the goal.

The entire Saint-Denis Stadium was completely ignited at that moment!

French fans stood up en masse, their cheers almost lifting the stadium roof off.

Roy sprinted towards the corner flag and slid down on his knees, leaving the Swedish defense sprawled in disarray behind him.

At this moment, bursts of mocking shouts erupted from the stands of the Saint-Denis Stadium.

French fans chanted in unison, "Where is Ibrahimovic? Where is Ibrahimovic?"

Now, Ibrahimovic is out injured, while Roy helped France overtake the opponent with a world-class goal.

The fans' mockery was both an echo of Roy's brilliant performance and a "response" to Ibrahimovic's pre-match boast.

The stadium echoed with these provocative shouts, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic, watching from a VIP box with the team's management, wore a grim expression, forced to watch helplessly as his national team fell into a passive position.
After scoring, Roy smiled mischievously and deliberately stopped celebrating, placing his right hand on his brow bone as if he were looking around.

This highly provocative gesture was clearly a response to the fans' chants of "Find Ibrahimovic".

He then spread his hands, shrugged his shoulders dramatically, and made a helpless expression that said, "I can't find him either."

This dramatic impromptu performance instantly ignited the entire audience!

The French fans in the stands were laughing so hard they were doubled over, and the waves of mockery grew louder and louder.

Even the French substitutes on the sidelines were laughing hysterically, with the assistant coach even clutching his stomach and unable to straighten up.

When dealing with a madman like Ibrahimovic, polite flattery is completely useless.

You have to use your strength to subdue him.

Roy knew this all too well; he had no intention of being friends with this Swedish towering figure.

Every time they meet, Roy uses even more dazzling skills and more lethal goals to completely dominate Ibrahimovic.

Once wasn't enough, so he did it twice; twice wasn't enough, so he did it three times, until the Great Khan either wholeheartedly admitted, "This kid is even more formidable than Ronaldo," or he stubbornly refused to admit it and became a laughing stock for the whole world.

On February 10, Roy flew to Munich, Germany, to attend the "Sports Icon Awards" ceremony hosted by the renowned German sports magazine SportWeek.

That evening, he beat tennis legend Roger Federer to win the award, and the presenter was none other than Swiss tennis star Martina Hingis.

The two are old acquaintances; Hingis had warmly attended Roy's celebration party after he was crowned FIFA World Player of the Year in Zurich last year.

After the party, the Swiss tennis star took the initiative to keep in touch with Roy through private channels, chatting with him from time to time, and even inviting him out for coffee alone several times.

The tennis princess's favor did not sway Roy, whose relationship with his British singer girlfriend Cheryl remained stable.

However, Hingis quickly turned her attention to other Premier League stars. She was frequently photographed with Arsenal defender Campbell in London, and photos of the two shopping at restaurants and watching performances frequently appeared in tabloids, becoming the hottest gossip in British sports circles at the time.

In the 27th round of the Premier League, Chelsea will visit Everton, who are fourth in the league.

Everton manager David Moyes offered a different perspective on Chelsea's impressive performance, stating bluntly: "I don't think their success should be attributed to Mourinho. Look at Chelsea's starting lineup last season; they were already Premier League runners-up and Champions League quarter-finalists, not some weak team in need of saving. When Mourinho took over, the team was already on the rise, and the owners were also investing heavily in strengthening the squad. Under these circumstances, isn't it only natural that they achieved results?"

Moyes continued with a comparison to reality: "Back at Everton, I had to personally teach Rooney how to position himself. But Chelsea? They just bought Ballon d'Or winner Roy, a player who scored over 70 goals last season and has a good chance of scoring 30 more in the Premier League this season. Facing such a monster striker, the coach just needs to hand him a bottle of water, analyze the opponent's video, and then sit back and wait for the goal-scoring performance."

Last November, Everton's unbeaten run ended with a 0-1 defeat to Chelsea away from home, and Moyes understands that taking all three points at Goodison Park tomorrow will be a tough task.

"Like all teams, you can't be at your best for a period of time during the season. Perhaps Chelsea don't feel like they're at their best right now, but they're far ahead of other teams. Whenever I see them play, they have almost no flaws."

"Roy has gone two Premier League games without a goal. In the game before that, he contributed an assist, and in the game before that, they drew with Manchester City. To be honest, if these statistics were applied to other strikers, you might think he's in good form. But he's Roy, the standards are different, and I actually think he's not in good form. For him, scoring one goal in a game is already considered a normal performance. People are used to him scoring hat-tricks, braces, goals and assists, dribbling past several players to score, and scoring directly from free kicks, so when he 'only' provides an assist, it becomes news."

On February 12, 2005, the first match of the 27th round of the English Premier League was played.

Roy, who had just played the full international match for the French national team, was given a rest, and England midfielder Joe Cole started in his place.

With captain John Terry sidelined due to injury, manager Jose Mourinho surprisingly opted to have Joe Cole wear the captain's armband, a decision that sparked widespread discussion in the British media after the match.

Media outlets have questioned whether appointing Joe Cole, who is not a regular starter, as captain will affect the team's on-court leadership.

The game took a crucial turn in the 8th minute when Everton's £600 million winter signing striker Beattie lost his temper on the left wing while contesting a long pass with Chelsea defender Gallas. He first shoved the defender forcefully, and then deliberately headbutted Gallas, causing the latter to fall to the ground in pain.

Referee Riley quickly ran to the scene and showed Beatty a red card without hesitation, sending him off directly.

This reckless move put Everton, who had just spent a lot of money to acquire him, on the defensive, and with one less player, they immediately tightened their defense.

Chelsea capitalized on their numerical advantage and launched a fierce attack. In the 10th minute, Duff's left-footed shot from 25 yards out on the right went just over the crossbar. A minute later, Everton created chaos in the Chelsea penalty area with a free kick, but Carsley's long-range shot went wide.

In the 14th minute, Duff tried another shot from the edge of the penalty area but still failed to hit the target.

In the 17th minute, Chelsea had a golden opportunity when Thiago received a brilliant pass from Gudjohnsen inside the penalty area and took a shot, but unfortunately the ball went over the crossbar.

Everton goalkeeper Martin made several brilliant saves, blocking Gudjohnsen's close-range shot and Joe Cole's low shot from the left. Defenders Naismith and Stubbs also made several crucial clearances. In the 32nd minute, Cahill received a yellow card for fouling Makelele to stop Chelsea's attack.

Although Chelsea dominated, Lampard's shot in the 37th minute was saved by Martin, and his subsequent free-kick cross nearly resulted in an own goal by Stubbs during clearance. Makelele's pass to Thiago also created a threat, but all of these were stubbornly thwarted by Everton.

At the end of the first half, despite Chelsea having 72% possession and 15 shots, the score remained 0-0 thanks to Everton's solid defense.

At halftime, Mourinho made a key adjustment, preparing Roy from the bench to come on.

In the locker room, he announced directly: "Roy will come on in the second half and wear the captain's armband."

This decision means that Joe Cole's temporary captaincy lasted only 45 minutes, but it also conveys Mourinho's determination to win, even if the rotation plan was only implemented for half the game, he still had to send in his star player to break the deadlock.

Inside the locker room, veteran Desailly, who has rarely played this season, was the first to applaud in support.

Lampard then clapped, followed by teammates like Maicon, Abidal, Makelele, and Thiago, who are close friends with Roy.

Rumors have been circulating in the locker room that with Desailly's impending departure, the club is considering having Roy officially take over the captain's armband next season.

Although Terry has served as captain for most of the season, Mourinho's last-minute decision seems to suggest that a change in captaincy may be quietly underway.

Roy took the armband, raised an eyebrow, and put it on with a swift and decisive motion.

After putting on the captain's armband, he immediately waved for the Chelsea players to gather around him.

He surveyed his teammates and spoke in a calm yet sharp tone:
"Brothers, look at the reality. They only have ten men on the pitch. Starting with that malicious foul on Gallas in the 8th minute, we've been battling this depleted Everton squad for over thirty minutes. I saw it clearly from the sidelines: how many good chances did we create? How much possession did we have? Our attacks completely suffocated Everton, but the problem is, we didn't put the ball in the net."

He paused for a moment, then raised his voice:

"Do you know what the Daily Telegraph will be writing tomorrow? 'A depleted Everton force a draw against Chelsea' or 'The Blues suffer two consecutive draws.' Moyes will definitely be smug in the dressing room after the game, ready to celebrate with the players, because they stole a precious point from Chelsea, which is invaluable for their fight for a European spot."

"And all of this is simply because we failed to convert our advantage into goals. In the second half, we need to show everyone that the idea of ​​a ten-man team taking a point from Chelsea should not even exist in our vocabulary."

"We're going to tear Everton apart like hungry wolves. Imagine Moyes's smug face. Getting the ball into the net is like ripping that face off. Before the game, he negated our efforts, our sweat, our blood, and the hard work of our coach. He attributed everything to Mr. Abramovich's money. Yes, we do get paid, but what professional player doesn't? All Premier League players get what they deserve, but he humiliated our honor as athletes and as warriors. This Blues team is one of the strongest in English history, although I hope that by the end of the season I will say there is no other. Now, let's go."

Chelsea players erupted in shouts, filling the dressing room with an atmosphere of excitement.

Terry had never done anything like this before; this highly inflammatory speech clearly exceeded the scope of his expression.

Only Morientes, who had previously played for Monaco, and the experienced Mourinho remained calm, having long witnessed Roy's ability to ignite the team's fighting spirit.

Before opening the locker room door, Roy left his final words: "I will be at the forefront, taking on the responsibility of attacking, breaking through, and scoring goals, and you are my comrades. Remember, being held to a draw by ten-man Everton? That shame will never belong to us. From now until the final whistle, we can only have one thought in our minds: to flatten Goodison Park."

As the players from both sides lined up again and walked out of the tunnel, Roy, wearing the Chelsea captain's armband, walked proudly at the front.

The away stands at Goodison Park erupted in deafening cheers. Roy raised his left arm, adorned with the armband, in response to the fans, his signature flamboyant smile still on his face.

Chelsea launched a fierce attack immediately after kickoff.

Roy started from the left wing, played a one-two with center forward Gudjohnsen, and then made a run into the penalty area.

Duff on the right wing also made a forward run, drawing away Everton's left-back Piston.

Lampard received a pass from Makelele in the middle and suddenly played a through ball to Roy, who was making a diagonal run, but Everton center-back Yobo cleared the ball first.

In the 47th minute, Maicon crossed from the right wing, and Gudjohnsen's header was saved by Martin and went out for a corner.

In the ensuing corner kick, Carvalho outjumped Will to get to the ball, but his header was too straight and was easily caught by the goalkeeper.

Everton attempted to launch counter-attacks through Cahill and Kilbane's interceptions in midfield, but Makelele's defensive coverage repeatedly rendered their long passes ineffective.

In the 53rd minute, Roy cut inside from the left wing, beating two players before passing the ball to Lampard, whose 25-yard long-range shot hit the crossbar and bounced out. Gudjohnsen's follow-up shot was blocked by Stubbs with his body.

With one less player, Everton retreated to a tight defensive line, with five defenders: Stubbs, Will, Jobo, Naismith, and Piston.

Goalkeeper Martin made several brilliant saves, denying Duff's powerful shot and Roy's close-range effort.

In the 57th minute, Chelsea's sustained pressure finally paid off.

After intercepting Kilbane's pass in the center circle, Makelele immediately passed it to Maicon on the right wing.

The Brazilian full-back dribbled the ball forward 20 yards and suddenly delivered a diagonal pass with the outside of his foot, accurately finding Gudjohnsen who had made a run into the penalty area.

The Icelandic striker, with his back to Welsh, cleverly backheeled the ball to him.

Roy shot straight into the penalty area from the left flank like an arrow. Before Naismith could turn around to block him, he had already unleashed a low shot with his right foot.

The ball flew into the far corner of the net, and Goodison Park was instantly engulfed by the roar of Chelsea's away fans.

Mourinho raised his arms and shouted from the sidelines, and all the players on the bench jumped up.

The Chelsea players swarmed Roy and pinned him to the grass, with Maicon even excitedly ripping up his jersey.

Right now in London, tens of thousands of Chelsea fans are glued to their televisions, standing up and chanting: "Super Roy! He scores when he wants!"

Everton's five-man backline briefly lost their positions during the defensive play, and Stubbs failed to cover in time, prompting goalkeeper Martin to berate the defenders.

"Chelsea's attack is on again! Wave after wave of attacks, Everton's ten-man defense is teetering on the brink! Roy is simply insane, he's attacking, he's orchestrating, he's linking up the entire field, that's a super player! A super player! Look at this attack. Abidal dribbles forward quickly and passes to Mendes in the middle."

In the 61st minute, Abidal played a beautiful one-two with Mendes on the left wing, shaking off Scalli's defense and making a run straight to the byline.

When the French full-back crossed the ball, Duff outjumped Piston at the far post and headed it back into the center of the penalty area.

At this moment, Lampard made a move to unleash a powerful shot from the edge of the box, but suddenly changed tactics and deftly pushed the ball towards the penalty spot with the instep of his foot.

Roy suddenly started his run and got to the ball before Cahill, who had failed to create an offside trap, could do so.

Facing the onrushing Jobo, he made a sudden stop and change of direction to shake off his opponent, and then with a low right-footed shot, the ball accurately passed between Martin's legs and rolled straight into the net.

Everton's midfield defense was completely outmaneuvered throughout the entire process.

Kilbane was drawn away by Mendes' run, Cahill misjudged the situation, and the defensive formation of the three midfielders was torn apart by Chelsea's continuous passing within just ten seconds.

This goal, initiated from the wing, followed by a central attack, culminating in a decisive strike, is a textbook example of teamwork.

In the 78th minute, Chelsea sealed the victory with a textbook counter-attack.

Bent's long-range shot from 30 yards was easily saved by Cech, and the Czech goalkeeper immediately launched a counter-attack with a throw-in.

Makelele, without making any adjustments near the center circle, directly passed the ball to Lampard with one touch.

After observing the situation, the England midfielder launched a penetrating through ball with his right foot, which precisely passed through the gap between the Everton center-back and the full-back.

At this moment, Roy suddenly cut inside from the left flank, first feigning to run towards the middle to lure Scully off balance, then changing direction and accelerating to shake off Stubbs who was covering.

As Martin rushed out of his goal, Roy deftly flicked the ball with the instep of his right foot near the penalty spot, sending it arcing perfectly over the goalkeeper and into the empty net.

This goal completely exposed the fatigue of Everton's defense. The defensive spacing between the five defenders was dangerously wide, and the three midfielders were a step too slow to track back.

Everton's 5-3-2 system completely failed throughout the match: Bent on the front line received no support, and the midfield trio of Kilbane, Cahill and Scalley were firmly suppressed by Chelsea's midfield trio.

Despite being outnumbered, Everton's defense crumbled under the relentless attacks from Chelsea's flanks.

Roy's goal perfectly showcased the killer instinct of a top striker; from the timing of his initial run to the final touch, it was flawless.

After scoring, Roy didn't celebrate much. He first raised his right fist to acknowledge the away team's stands, then waved both hands upwards to signal his teammates to stay focused and continue the attack.

Even with a three-goal lead, Chelsea maintained a high-intensity pressing effort.

Roy constantly shouted instructions to his teammates on their positioning, while Makelele and Lampard continued to intercept in midfield, and Duff and Morientes, who came on as a substitute, continued to make frequent forward runs. (Drogba injured)
Chelsea continued to create chaos in the Everton penalty area until the very last minute of stoppage time.

But the home team, playing with one less player, ultimately preserved their dignity and prevented the score from widening further.

When the final whistle blew, the scoreboard stood at 0-3. The scoreboard at Goodison Park reflected the starkly different expressions of the two teams' players: Chelsea players high-fived and hugged each other, while Everton players slumped on the grass, helplessly watching the goal that Roy had breached three times.

Moyes stood on the sidelines, his hands tucked deep into his trench coat pockets, staring at the scoreboard with a furrowed brow.

Behind him, the chants of Chelsea fans from the away stands pierced through the air: "Super Roi! He scores when he wants!"

The song pierced the heart of Everton's manager like a knife.

Meanwhile, Mourinho on the other side was opening his arms to welcome Roy as he slowly walked towards him, the smile on the Portuguese man's face brighter than the lights of Goodison Park.

Moyes could hardly comprehend the ecstasy of victory at that moment.

His team fought with all their might, but ultimately they couldn't defeat the man wearing the blue armband.

He once felt that Mourinho should feel ashamed, that taking over such a team and achieving results was nothing to be proud of.

But now he knows: Mourinho's happiness is beyond his imagination.

(End of this chapter)