When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 245 The Double R's
On March 13, 2005, in the sixth round of the FA Cup, Chelsea played against Tottenham at home.

Before the match, Chelsea was embroiled in the "Colegate" scandal, with British media reporting the day before that Arsenal defender Ashley Cole had privately contacted Chelsea in an attempt to transfer.

In the 7th minute of the match, Chelsea broke the deadlock.

Roy executed a brilliant one-two with Lampard in midfield, easily beating Tottenham midfielder Brown before dribbling forward.

Facing a double-team from Naibette and Parmarot, Roy calmly dribbled laterally before suddenly stopping and delivering a subtle through ball to Drogba.

The Ivorian striker held off the defender and unleashed a low, powerful shot with his right foot, sending the ball into the net.

Both sides then traded attacks and defenses, but Chelsea maintained control of the game's tempo throughout.

Roy was substituted in the 60th minute, and ultimately Chelsea secured a 1-0 home victory against Tottenham thanks to his assist for Drogba's goal, advancing to the next round of the FA Cup.

In the FA Cup match between Arsenal and Bolton that day, Cole, who was supposed to start, was unexpectedly on the bench, an unusual arrangement that confirmed that there were indeed problems within Arsenal.

British media reports that Chelsea admitted during the FA investigation that they did have contact with Cole at the Royal Hotel, but emphasized that it was Cole himself who arranged it through his agent Barnett.

Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger then unexpectedly benched key defender Cole during an FA Cup match, an unusual move that sparked speculation in the British media that Cole might have been placed on Arsenal's transfer list.

According to the British newspaper Sunday Mirror, Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger plans to sell Ashley Cole for £2500 million this summer, with Real Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Inter Milan and Juventus all interested in him, in addition to Chelsea.

Cole's agent, Barnett, issued a statement strongly denying Chelsea's claim that "Cole made contact with him."

He accused Chelsea's statement of being fabricated and criticized their behavior as "arrogant and rude."

This transfer saga is like a soap opera: Mourinho and Cole are the leading actors, with agents Barnett, Zahavi, and Chelsea CEO Kenyon playing supporting roles, and Wenger also getting involved.

Chelsea's sudden revelation brought the incident to a climax.

British media analysts believe that if there was indeed a private agreement between the two sides, Chelsea's move not only undermines their understanding but also reduces the likelihood of successfully signing Cole. However, if this can sow discord between Arsenal's manager and players, forcing Cole to leave, Mourinho's strategy can still be considered successful.

Meanwhile, British media listed possible punishments for several individuals involved should they be found guilty:
Barnett (Ashley Cole's agent): As a FIFA agent, he will be fined, temporarily suspended, or have his license revoked.

Kerr: Suspended for 4 months.

Chelsea: fined, points deducted, and in the worst case, expelled from the Premier League.

Arsène Wenger gave an exclusive interview to Sky Sports after the FA Cup 1-0 victory over Bolton:

"This incident is very sad and unfortunate because we don't want our powerful neighbors to do such a thing. Although nothing has been definitively confirmed, I believe there was indeed a meeting between the two sides. But I must let the Premier League investigate and wait for them to make the right decision. At least the timing of this meeting is very unpleasant. It's not normal for a player to be poached just two days before a big game against Manchester United."

Wenger admitted his mistakes in the team's Champions League elimination: "The only thing to say now is that I was wrong. The facts are there, we are out of the Champions League, and there is no denying it. If Arsenal are indeed not as good as our opponents, we have to admit it, and there is no shame in it."

"We had too high expectations before the season, which makes the current failure even harder to accept. If we can't win any titles this season, it certainly won't be a good season. Is this the worst season? I can't say for sure. But I can be sure it was the season with the highest expectations, and the gap between reality and expectations is too big. In the past, when we lost to Manchester United, people didn't think it was too bad. But last season we created an unbeaten record, and everyone expected us to win all the titles this season, so the current result is particularly disappointing."

When discussing the team's injury situation, Wenger said: "We fielded five players under the age of 21 against Portsmouth, and they performed very well. Young players like Senderos and Flamini have already proven their abilities."

“Vieira will continue to play for Arsenal, and I believe he can maintain his world-class level for another three to five years.”

When discussing the midfield setup, Wenger specifically mentioned: "Pedretti has performed exceptionally well, and his Champions League victory with Monaco proves his ability. This young man is intelligent, tenacious in his tackling, and has an excellent sense of position. It's no wonder he's been called 'Deschamps II' after the European Under-21 Championship. In fact, Deschamps has indeed helped him develop into a better player."

Wenger is confident about the team's future: "Young midfielders like Pedretti and Fabregas are fully capable of playing for Arsenal for many years. They represent the future of the club."

"The club was willing to invest in strengthening the squad during the winter transfer window, but I thought we could wait until the summer to use the money, so we missed the last chance to make adjustments. In hindsight, that decision may have been ill-considered. The only consolation is that we may have £4000 million in transfer funds in the summer, which might be able to make up for our mistake."

On March 15, 2005, in the 28th round of the Premier League, German center-back Huth got a long-awaited starting opportunity in Chelsea's rescheduled home game against West Bromwich Albion.

The tall, strong, and determined German defender appeared somewhat nervous at the start of the game.

Although Chelsea's overall defense was solid in the first half, Huth's mistake in handling the ball in the 10th minute still made the home fans worry.

He intercepted the ball just outside the penalty area and then passed it with improper force, almost causing a dangerous situation.

Fortunately, as the game progressed, with the help of his teammates, Huth gradually regained his form and his performance became more stable.

20-year-old Huth impressed German national team coach Klinsmann with his performance in the Premier League and was selected for the latest national team squad.

This is a huge affirmation for the young player, after all, the German team has always placed more trust in experienced veterans.

However, Huth's situation at Chelsea is not stable.

Abramovich only recognizes ability, not people. Last season's top scorer Hasselbaink and key player Glennkjaer were both purged.

Chelsea are now in private contact with Arsenal left-back Cole. If Cole joins, Abidal and Gallas will return to the center-back position, and Terry, Carvalho, Abidal and Gallas will face fierce competition, making Huth's playing time even more limited.

According to media reports, Chelsea may use Gallas as a bargaining chip if Arsenal decides to sell Cole.

This means that Chelsea's central defensive pairing will be rotated among Abidal, Carvalho, and Terry.

Even so, Huth has no trouble finding a new job.

Reports suggest that Bayern Munich are interested in signing this rising German star to strengthen their defense.

At the same time, Arsenal are also actively looking for reinforcements to strengthen their defense.

Bayern Munich defender Kuffour has expressed his desire to join the club, but Wenger remains cautious about the transfer fee and has not yet made a final decision.

Chelsea took the lead in the 26th minute.

Lampard delivered a brilliant through ball from midfield, and Duff made a quick run down the right flank, shaking off defender Abrechtson before calmly crossing the ball across the face of goal.

West Brom goalkeeper Holt hesitated slightly as he came out to challenge, allowing Drogba to easily tap the ball into the empty net, scoring his 13th goal of the season.

After taking the lead, Roy began to take over the game.

In the 34th minute of the match, Chelsea launched an attack.

Makelele received a pass back from Lampard in midfield and immediately delivered a through ball.

At this point, Roy had already dropped back from the forward line to the midfield to create space for his teammates.

When Duff made a high-speed run down the right flank to receive the ball, Roy keenly observed the trajectory of the ball and began to move towards the edge of the penalty area.

Duff dribbled forward and, facing a double-team of three defenders, unleashed a left-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Goalkeeper Holt made a diving save, and the ball bounced high towards the top of the penalty arc.

West Bromwich Albion midfielder Volwalk attempted a header clearance but misjudged the shot.

In that split second, Roy, who had already moved quietly to the top of the arc, seized the opportunity and executed a beautiful side-spin overhead kick.

The ball arced perfectly, bounced in front of the goal, and went into the net.

Holt managed to get a touch on the ball, but it was too late. This brilliant goal made the score 2-0.

"GOOOOOAL!!! Roy! Roy! An incredible bicycle kick!!! Look at this goal! Look at this goal! Makelele's through ball, Duff's breakthrough shot was saved, and Volwalker misjudged the header. In that split second, Roy blasted the ball into the net with a perfect bicycle kick!"

"My God! That was a work of art! Roy leaped into the air at the edge of the penalty area, his body fully extended, like an eagle spreading its wings! The arc of the ball was breathtaking! Although Holt touched the ball, the power and angle of that shot were perfect!"

Just five minutes later, Roy received the ball on the left wing and faced West Bromwich Albion's right-back Richardson.

He first used his right foot to lead the ball forward, then suddenly accelerated.

Richardson quickly accelerated to catch up, but just as he was about to close in, Roy flicked the ball to the right with his left foot.

Richardson managed to maintain his defensive position, but Roy immediately followed up with a right-footed dribble and then used his left foot to change direction to the right, this time completely shaking off his defender.

After completely shaking off Richardson, Roy calmly cut towards the center and unleashed a precise bouncing shot with his right foot just outside the penalty area.

The ball arced through the air, bounced in front of the goal, and then nestled into the far corner of the net.

"GOAL!!! Roy scores twice!!! A magnificent individual performance! Look at this fluid dribbling, the continuous changes of direction completely dazzled Richardson, and the final shot was simply brilliant! 3-0! Roy completely destroyed West Brom's defense with a textbook breakthrough and shot. He strolled around the field as if he were warming up on the training ground. Poor Richardson was completely outmaneuvered!"

In the 58th minute of the second half, Duff was brought down by West Brom defender Robinson while breaking through on the right wing, and the referee awarded Chelsea an excellent free kick opportunity on the right side of the penalty area.

Roy walked slowly to the penalty spot, bent down to carefully place the ball, and then took five steps back to stand still.

He took a deep breath and looked firmly toward the goal.

After a running start, Roy delivered a low, ground-hugging kick with the inside of his right foot.

The ball flew at high speed through the gap in the wall of players and deflected off the ankle of a defender.

Goalkeeper Holt had already moved to his left to make a save, but was caught off guard by the change of direction and could only watch helplessly as the ball rolled into the net.

This goal completed Roy's hat-trick and extended the score to 4-0.

Although there was an element of luck involved in the goal, Roy's precise free-kick technique and calm performance were still key to it.

After scoring, Roy smiled and ran towards the corner flag to receive cheers from the entire stadium.

Two prominent spectators were spotted in the stands during Chelsea's rescheduled Premier League match against West Bromwich Albion.

Real Madrid's then-general manager José Ángel Sánchez and sporting director Emilio Butragueño.

The two made a special trip to Stamford Bridge to observe the players' performance and witnessed Roy's amazing hat-trick.

José Ángel Sánchez stood in the stands of Stamford Bridge, surrounded by the deafening roar of cheers.

The more than 30,000 Chelsea fans in attendance chanted in unison: "Super Roy, Super Roy, he scores when he wants!"

Then the special anthem dedicated to this Globe-winning player began to play: "The Special One!"

José Ángel Sánchez shook his head, his tone full of confusion: "I still can't understand how this Roy thing could have been so outrageous. A player like that in the youth academy, even if he wasn't groomed as a future core player, should at least be a highly anticipated rising star like Portillo."

"But there really wasn't any indication at the time. It was like... like one night aliens secretly replaced the original Roy, and when we woke up the next day, we suddenly found that there was a completely different player in the youth academy."

"Looking back now, it feels like a dream. How did that ordinary kid in Castile suddenly become a superstar who could score hat tricks at Stamford Bridge?"

Emilio Butragueño sighed and gently patted Sanchez on the shoulder: "Football is such a magical reality, José. We've seen too many examples of people who shine brightly in the youth academy but fade into obscurity in the senior team. Roy is precisely that rare exception."

"Do you remember his last six months in Castile?"

Butragueño recalled: "The coaching staff report repeatedly emphasized his change in training attitude, his extra shooting practice until late at night, his proactive study of opponent videos, and even his change in eating habits. At the time, we all thought it was just a young man's three-minute enthusiasm."

At the time, Roy's performance in Real Madrid's youth academy was actually quite ordinary. Those extra training sessions and changes were just his last effort when he realized he might be eliminated.

But now that he has achieved great success, Real Madrid has dug up these originally insignificant details and studied them repeatedly, trying to find out the reason for his breakthrough.

Reality is ironic; when you're unknown, no matter how hard you try, nobody cares.

But once successful, every move made in the past will be over-interpreted.

Real Madrid now practically wants to have all his past efforts analyzed, just to find that non-existent "secret to success".

I, Roy, have reached the pinnacle of European dominance entirely through my own efforts. System! Give me some points!

On March 18, 2005, the draw for the Champions League quarterfinals was held at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

Of the eight teams that participated in the draw, six have won the Champions League, bringing their combined total to 19 trophies.

AC Milan is the most impressive, having won the title six times, second only to Real Madrid, who have already been eliminated.

Liverpool and Bayern Munich follow closely behind, each with four title wins.

Juventus and Inter Milan have both won the title twice. Monaco, although the reigning champions last season and the treble achieved, has only won the Champions League once in its history.

Chelsea and Lyon are in a more awkward position, as they have yet to taste the Champions League title.

After the draw results were announced, the most attention-grabbing event was the derby match between the two Milan clubs in the quarterfinals, marking their first encounter since the Champions League semifinals in 2003.

Chelsea, the biggest favorite to win the title, will face Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, while the match between Juventus and Liverpool is reminiscent of the final that led to the Heysel disaster 20 years ago.

Lyon drew the defending champions Monaco.

This team, coached by Blanc, just advanced to the Round of 16 this season after eliminating Dutch powerhouse PSV Eindhoven.

This match was highly competitive. Although Monaco lost Roy, the key player from last season, their reorganized squad remains strong, showcasing the stamina of the defending champions in the Champions League.

Lyon, on the other hand, boasts stars such as Juninho and Malouda, and has scored a staggering 27 goals in 8 Champions League matches this season, second only to Chelsea's 28 goals in 8 matches.

UEFA's official website called this match "the French powder keg," a title that couldn't be more apt.

French newspaper L'Équipe went so far as to feature a front-page photo of the two coaches, Blanc and Le Guen, staring at each other across the field, with the striking headline: "Conquer or die."

The winner of this match will advance to the semi-finals to face the winner of the Milan derby (AC Milan vs. Inter Milan).

In other words, the semifinals in the upper bracket will be a showdown between the winners of the Italian and French civil wars, which is destined to be a fierce and exciting contest.

The specific matchups are as follows: Quarter-finals (home team first, away team second):

Liverpool vs Juventus
AC Milan vs Inter Milan
Lyon vs Monaco

Chelsea vs Bayern Munich

Semifinal Divisions:
Upper bracket: Milan derby winner vs. French derby winner

Lower bracket: Winner of Chelsea vs. Bayern Munich vs. Winner of Liverpool vs. Juventus

Of the eight teams that have advanced in this tournament, all three Italian Serie A teams – AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Juventus – have made it, while Chelsea and Liverpool are two Premier League teams.

Although the draw was completely random, it ultimately avoided an all-English Premier League clash, but resulted in high-profile matches like the Milan derby and a French civil war.

欧冠1/4决赛将在4月5、6日和12、13日进行，半决赛定于4月底和5月初，最终的决赛将于5月25日在土耳其伊斯坦布尔的阿塔图尔克奥林匹克球场上演。

Roy saw the Champions League draw results on TV; Chelsea will face Bayern Munich.

In the footage, club CEO Kenyon is seen shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries with Bayern executives.

When he was playing for Monaco, he would feel nervous for a moment when he drew a strong opponent like Bayern Munich, but now Roy is completely unfazed.

Last season in the Champions League, he broke through Bayern Munich's defense.

Bayern Munich is now nothing more than a defeated opponent in his eyes; the problem is how the Germans will defend against him.

There's more good news for Chelsea: Robben's injury is progressing well, and he could return for this weekend's league match against Crystal Palace. Reuters reports: "The Dutchman's recovery is going smoothly, and he has a good chance of returning to the field in this game."

Reuters sports reporter Mike Collett analyzed:

"Robben's activity on the right wing provided crucial support for Roy's attacks on the left. As one of the most dominant attackers in football today, Roy possesses top-notch dribbling, speed, and passing abilities. However, when Robben is absent, opponents often concentrate two or three defenders to double-team him, putting him under immense pressure to break through. At the same time, due to the lack of a reliable finisher, his threatening passes often go unanswered."

"Robben's return completely changed this situation. His powerful inside cut forced the opposing left-back to be hesitant to cover Roy and to maintain defensive distance, which created one-on-one space for Roy to break through. At the same time, Robben's attributes as a top finisher gave Roy's through balls and crosses a clear target. The two were able to continuously tear apart the opponent's defense by switching positions and making cross runs."

"More importantly, the gaps left by Robben drawing defenders gave Roy more time to handle the ball with ease. He could either break through and create scoring opportunities himself, or accurately find teammates making runs from behind, truly unleashing the full value of a world-class player. This tactical complementarity not only maximized the individual abilities of the two players, but also made Chelsea's attacking system more three-dimensional and difficult to defend against."

During this period, David Beckham starred alongside Jennifer Lopez and Beyoncé in a unique promotional video for Pepsi.

The two female celebrities wore black tight leather outfits, showing off their sexy figures, but Beckham, dressed as a samurai, stole the show.

He wore a white training uniform on his upper body and black training pants on his lower body, with a wide black belt around his waist, looking exactly like a foreign warrior. The advertising concept was inspired by Quentin Tarantino's movie "Kill Bill".

In addition, there's his signature charming smile and the aura of a football superstar.

This advertisement has already aired in Europe and Japan, and has received a very positive response.

Coca-Cola, which has never been particularly enthusiastic about celebrity marketing, decided to try "storytelling" advertising after seeing the potential of this ad.

They plan to borrow the style of "True Lies" or the 007 series to make an advertisement featuring a secret agent and a female partner. Roy will play a highly skilled agent paired with a charming female lead, creating a cool and humorous storyline to directly compete with Pepsi's samurai-themed advertisement.

Coca-Cola originally planned to have newly crowned Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron as Roy's advertising partner. The South African-born actress not only has a French father but also identifies as a Chelsea fan and occasionally watches Premier League matches.

From her image to her ability to generate buzz, she is the perfect candidate.

More than a year ago, she swept the Oscars, the Berlin Film Festival and the Golden Globe Awards with "Monster", at the peak of her international influence, and was also a long-term spokesperson for Coca-Cola.

Her elegant yet powerful demeanor, as well as her sharp skills in portraying a secret agent, perfectly match the advertising requirements.

The problem is that Theron's schedule is full, and filming can only begin at the end of the year at the earliest.

Coca-Cola executives, however, didn't want to wait any longer; they needed to immediately launch a high-profile promotional video that could rival Pepsi's Samurai ad.

This put the planning team in a dilemma: should they persist in waiting for this impeccable Oscar-winning actress, or look for other actresses with similar appeal?
After all, it would be a real shame to miss out on a spokesperson like Charlize Theron, who possesses acting skills, fame, and brand fit.

Roy slumped lazily into the sofa.

He doesn't care who his partner is at all; he can cooperate with anyone during filming.

Hearing the executives still debating Theron's schedule, he casually interjected, "So who else is on the shortlist?"

"How about Halle Berry? Oscar-winning actress, Catwoman just released, with plenty of experience in action scenes."

The planning director flipped through the documents.

“Kate Beckinsale would also work; her look in Underworld with a gun and leather jacket is perfect for that.”

"Or Scarlett Johansson? Although young, her popularity is soaring after 'Lost in Translation'."

When the planning director mentioned Scarlett Johansson, Roy raised an eyebrow slightly.

"You know her?"

The planning director astutely caught his reaction.

"We've known each other for a while; she's a very interesting girl."

His tone was casual, but the familiarity in his words made the executives present exchange glances, which was more interesting than expected.

Scarlett Johansson had just made her mark with "Lost in Translation" at the time, exuding a youthful and vibrant yet mature sexiness that contrasted sharply with Roy's tough and rebellious aura.

If the two are truly friends in private, their chemistry during filming is definitely something to look forward to.

The planning director immediately crossed Halle Berry's name off the notebook and wrote Scarlett's name instead.

Perhaps this scheduling conflict will actually lead to an even better combination.

2005年3月19日下午3:30，斯坦福桥更衣室。

Roy, who had just finished his pre-match warm-up, tossed his towel onto the bench when his phone suddenly vibrated.

An unfamiliar number popped up on the screen.

He frowned and pressed the answer button. A woman's voice, tinged with laughter, came from the other end of the line:
"Guess who I am?"

"It sounds familiar, but if I could guess every unknown number that calls, I should become a fortune teller."

A soft chuckle came from the other end of the phone; the other person seemed quite pleased with his reaction.

Roy vaguely felt that he had heard the voice somewhere before, but he couldn't remember where.

"Give me a hint?"

He added a sentence, his tone carrying a hint of lazy teasing.

"Hey, big star, I didn't expect you to still remember me? My agent just got a job with Coca-Cola, saying someone specifically recommended me. To be honest, I'm quite surprised."

"So, thank you. Although I don't know why you chose me, this opportunity is very important to me."

She didn't know that Roy had mentioned it casually and not specifically recommended it, but this opportunity was indeed important to her.

In early 2005, Scarlett Johansson was at a crucial stage in her career.

With her outstanding performance in "Lost in Translation", she won a BAFTA Award and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award, and has already gained some fame in the industry.

However, at that time, she was more of a "promising new actress with great acting skills," and there was still a considerable gap between her and A-list actresses such as Nicole Kidman and Charlize Theron.

Although the media has begun to call her "Hollywood's new muse," she is still far from being a true superstar.

In comparison, Roy is already a top superstar in the football world.

As a Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year winner, his fame and influence are global.

As the world's most popular sport, football makes Roy's commercial value far exceed that of the average Hollywood actor.

The top brands he endorsed, such as BMW and Rolex, were beyond Scarlett Johansson's reach at the time.

As a top global fast-moving consumer goods brand, Coca-Cola invests heavily in advertising, with a very wide reach.

From mainstream markets in Europe and America to emerging markets in Asia and Latin America, it is almost ubiquitous.

As a key brand ambassador, Roy's advertising campaigns are inevitably part of the highest-profile global campaigns.

For her, who was still on the rise at the time, this level of exposure was far more valuable than the paycheck itself.

After all, an actor's commercial value depends not only on their work, but also on their public recognition.

Coca-Cola's global promotion could quickly transform her from "that art-house film girl" into "a household name."

More importantly, such cooperation often brings about a chain reaction.

Other brands, seeing the positive results of her pairing with Roy, are likely to follow suit and extend offers.

So even though Roy was just mentioning it casually, it was indeed a major turning point in Scarlett's career.

"In short, I'll remember this favor. If you ever need my help in the future, just let me know."

"Then wish me luck and that I win this game."

Good luck. I hope you score lots of goals.

Roy hung up the phone with a smile, and Mourinho's footsteps were already beside him.

After Mourinho finished out his tactical instructions, Roy stood up and said briefly, "Play according to plan, don't give the opponent any chances."

Terry was already used to this.

Roy then walked over to Robben, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Welcome back, my brother."

In the 29th minute, Chelsea finally broke the deadlock.

Lampard received a pass back from Duff 25 yards outside the penalty area and unleashed a powerful shot without hesitation, the ball flying like a cannonball into the top right corner of the goal.

"Lampard—! Goal!! Chelsea 1-0 up! It's Lampard again, the Iron Man never misses a chance! A powerful shot from 25 yards out, straight into the top corner, the goalkeeper has no chance! This is his 8th league goal of the season, and even more amazing is that this is his 138th consecutive Premier League start! The most enduring Iron Man in Premier League history, Chelsea's legendary midfielder, the eternal key player! Stamford Bridge is cheering for him, Mourinho's team has once again broken the deadlock with a long-range shot from Lampard!"

Fans chanted "Super Frankie Lampard!"

In the 42nd minute of the match, Crystal Palace unexpectedly equalized the score.

Routledge took a corner kick from the left, and Lampard's clearance at the near post was not far enough, causing the ball to fall to the edge of the six-yard box and triggering a scramble.

Richilahti cleverly got to the ball before Carvalho could block it, and with a sliding shot from 6 yards out, the ball slipped under Cech's arm and into the net.

Stamford Bridge fell silent instantly, and the cheers of the away fans sounded particularly jarring.

This was Chelsea's first goal conceded in their last five league matches, and it came from a defensive error during a corner kick.

Just six minutes into the second half, Chelsea regained the lead.

Terry cleanly intercepted the ball from Andre Johansson in the backfield and quickly passed it to Maicon on the right wing.

Crystal Palace player Richilahti immediately pounced on the ball, but Maicon deftly turned and evaded him, pushing the ball forward.

Lampard turned his back to Zorondo, then suddenly flicked his heel, precisely finding Duff who was stuck in the hole.

The Irishman darted through three defenders like an arrow, completed a one-two with Lampard, and sped down the right flank before delivering a precise, curved cross to the far end of the penalty area.

Roy, making a run down the left flank, arrived in a flash and volleyed the ball into the net like a cannonball before it even hit the ground – 2-1!

Stamford Bridge erupted in cheers as Mourinho pumped his fist and roared from the sidelines. This fluid team goal, flowing seamlessly from the backfield to the front, took only 14 seconds.

"Look at this counter-attack! After Terry intercepted the ball, Chelsea launched an instant attack! Maicon, Lampard, and Duff made a series of seamless passes, seven passes in total! Roy shot forward like a bullet and volleyed the ball into the net! From their own penalty area to the opponent's goal, 14 seconds, seven passes, and a shot with zero adjustment! This is Mourinho's Chelsea, turning counter-attacks into a precise surgical procedure—ruthless, accurate, and deadly! This textbook-level team goal perfectly illustrates why this Blues team is the most terrifying attacking machine in the Premier League!"

Robben warmed up on the sidelines at the start of the second half, which drew enthusiastic cheers from Chelsea fans.

Crystal Palace maintained their fighting spirit. Suarez's shot from 20 yards out on the right was blocked by Carvalho, and then Routledge fell in the penalty area, but referee Dodd refused to award a penalty.

In the 61st minute, Chelsea extended their lead once again.

After Carvalho made a crucial clearance in his own half, he immediately delivered a precise long pass, which sailed over midfield and headed straight for the left flank.

Roy displayed amazing explosiveness, first using his physical strength to get rid of the Crystal Palace player who was marking him closely, and then, before the ball hit the ground, he directly volleyed the ball into the middle.

The pass pierced the defense with precision, landing perfectly behind Crystal Palace defender Boyce as he chased back.

Gudjohnsen keenly seized the opportunity, quickly starting his run to shake off the defense and dribbling the ball toward the penalty area.

Defenders Boyce and Granville desperately tried to get back, but the Icelander remained calm.

Just as he was about to enter the penalty area, Gudjohnsen suddenly delivered a diagonal through ball over 30 yards, the ball rolling rapidly along the grass and heading straight for the open space on the left side of the penalty area.

At this moment, Roy had already started his sprint, and his speed left all the defenders in the dust.

Crystal Palace defenders realized with despair that even their best efforts to track back could not close the gap with the speedy winger.

Roy received the ball steadily on the left edge of the penalty area. Facing the onrushing goalkeeper, he subtly adjusted his footing three times in a row with his right foot, and then suddenly unleashed a powerful right-footed shot from a very tight angle.

The ball made a crisp "bang" sound, rose from the ground, drew a sharp arc in the air, and accurately nestled into the far upper corner of the goal.

This goal extended Chelsea's lead to two goals and ignited the passion at Stamford Bridge.

In the 68th minute, Chelsea made a substitution, with Robben standing on the sidelines ready to come on.

Duff jogged to the sideline and high-fived the Dutchman to complete the handover.

The moment Robben stepped onto the pitch, a cheer erupted from the Stamford Bridge stands. The dribbling skills of this winger are always the performance that fans look forward to the most.

He quickly did a few high knees and then got into the rhythm of the game.

Crystal Palace's left-back visibly tensed up.

Mourinho stood in the technical area, hands in his pockets, watching the substitution. He knew that Robben's speed would bring a new nightmare to the already exhausted opponent's defense.

When a right winger who requires at least two defenders comes on, the opponent's defensive system will be caught in a dilemma.

They originally had to divert more players to help defend Roy on the left flank, but ultimately there weren't enough defenders on the field to simultaneously shut down the deadly threat on both flanks.

In the 75th minute, Chelsea launched a textbook counter-attack.

After a series of short passes between Roy, Gudjohnsen, and Lampard in midfield, Roy suddenly switched positions with the Icelandic striker.

Gudjohnsen quickly moved to the right flank, while Roy dribbled straight into the middle.

Facing a double-team from two defenders, Roy calmly made a series of changes of direction to break through, and in the instant that a third defender was drawn to cover, he accurately passed the ball to the open space on the left wing.

Robben had already made a high-speed run forward. After receiving the ball on the left side of the penalty area, he made a slight adjustment, used a convincing feint to shake off the last defender, and then unleashed a low shot with his left foot.

The ball whizzed past the goalkeeper's hand and flew straight into the far corner of the net.

This goal changed the score to 4-1 and completely killed any suspense in the game.

The Stamford Bridge fans rose to their feet and applauded the fluid teamwork.

Stamford Bridge fans chanted Roy and Robben's names in unison, referring to the sharp wing duo as "The Double Rs".

On the sidelines, Abramovich stood up, a satisfied smile on his face.

He clapped his hands lightly, his gaze sweeping over the blue figures sprinting across the field. Robben's breakthroughs, Lampard's orchestration, and Roy's attacking prowess—this "Roman Legion" he had built had finally regained its former dominance.

(End of this chapter)