When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 259 Chelsea, the Champions

In the post-match studio of BBC's "Match of the Day," the director had just finished replaying Roy's signature celebration.

After scoring a goal, Roy would always stand on the grass, cross his arms in front of his chest, and make his signature metallic salute with his index and little fingers sticking out like a pair of sharp points.

Fans call it the "Gates of Hell" because whenever he makes this gesture, it looks like the opponent's goal has been pried open by a demon.

Host Gary Lineker turned to his co-host Alan Hansen and asked, "Gary, in one sentence, what's your take on Roy's season?"

(Alan Hansen is a former Scottish professional footballer who played as a centre-back. He spent his career with Liverpool, winning eight English top-flight league titles and three European Cups. After retiring, he became the chief football commentator for the BBC's Matchday, known for his incisive tactical analysis and signature opening line, "I've got to say." He pioneered the technical style of television football analysis and was named "the most influential football commentator in British television history" by The Guardian upon his retirement in 2014.)
Alan Hansen stared at the data on the screen, frozen in time: 40 goals, 21 assists.

The number simply hangs there quietly, needing no embellishment; it says it all.

"He makes scoring goals look as easy as eating breakfast. He has one every day, and never the same thing twice."

In the BBC studio, after the on-set director gave Lineker instructions through an earpiece, Lineker slightly adjusted his posture and, in a formal but slightly authoritative tone, made a clear request to Alan Hansen:

"Allan, now we need you to abandon all conventional polite evaluation criteria, avoid standard phrases like 'one of the world's top strikers,' disregard polite embellishments, and disregard the restrained expression traditionally observed in BBC commentary. The specific requirements are as follows: First, it must be based on objective statistics of 40 goals and 21 assists this season. Second, it must be a complete and independently quotable statement. Third, it must have sufficient topical impact to spark widespread discussion. Fourth, maintain the professional standards of a football commentator, but are allowed to deviate from conventional evaluation criteria. Please give your essential assessment of Roy's performance this season now."

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha"

Under the studio lights, Alan Hansen suddenly threw his head back and laughed, pretending to be stumped.

"Ha! You guys are trying to force me to tell the truth?"

He deliberately frowned and pretended to be deep in thought, circling his fingers twice on his temples.

"There are only two kinds of players on this planet: Roy and everyone else."

The studio erupted in laughter and cheers, creating a fantastic show.

Another guest, former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson, asked:

“Gary, based on what Alan just said, are we now going to put Roy on the same level as Pelé and Maradona? Just a year ago, we were debating on the show whether he or Michael Owen was better, or measuring him by Ronaldo's standards. Thierry Henry has long been the benchmark of the Premier League, and this season Henry is still the only one who can barely keep up with him statistically. But now, the situation has suddenly changed drastically, as if... as if our discussion has suddenly shifted from top stars on Earth to superhuman beings from outer space. So, let's face this ultimate question: In your opinion, who is stronger, Roy now or Maradona at his peak?”

Lineker suddenly forced a smile: "Dear Mark, allow me to ask a question. Who is Maradona?"

This was clearly a carefully crafted question, deliberately stirring up old grudges in English and Argentine football history.

"Okay, okay. It's worth noting that Roy is only twenty years old and has only played two and a half seasons of professional football. But what's terrifying is that you can see the titles he has won: two Ligue 1 titles, one French Cup, one French League Cup, one Champions League, one Confederations Cup, one European Championship, one Premier League title, and one English League Cup."

"And speaking of individual awards: three consecutive league top scorers, three league best players, a European Golden Boot this year is a sure thing, the European Championship Golden Boot, the European Best Player, the first Golden Boy award, as well as the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year. And that's not all, in a few days they will play Arsenal in the FA Cup final and compete with AC Milan for the Champions League title."

"To be honest, even if Roy suddenly announces his retirement tomorrow, his current honors are enough to get him into the Football Hall of Fame."

Most of Chelsea's matches ended on this day.

With only two matches remaining—the FA Cup final against Arsenal and the Champions League final against AC Milan—these two games will determine the most important title and a major cup competition of the year.

If Chelsea can win these two games, they will become the first team in Premier League history to win four major titles in a single season (Premier League, League Cup, FA Cup, Champions League), becoming the only quadruple winners in English history.

Even Ferguson had to silently pray during the match at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff a few days later: "God bless Arsenal!"

Because if they don't do this, Manchester United will no longer be the only treble winner in the Premier League, and this season this group of robbers, built up with rubles, will steal almost all the "unique" honors in the Premier League.

Pro-Manchester United media outlets directly adopted L'Équipe's nickname for Roy in their reports – "Attila the Hun".

In their description, Abramovich bought the player, who resembled an ancient nomadic chieftain, for a huge sum of rubles.

Roy is portrayed as an aggressive, all-conquering conqueror who leads Chelsea, a team of "villains," to defeat English clubs one after another like nomadic cavalry raiding cities, almost without a single victory.

This metaphor compares Chelsea's rise to an ancient barbarian invasion, emphasizing their disruptive impact on the traditional order of the Premier League.

When the media asked Roy for his opinion, he smiled and said:

"In that sense, we've made up for the fact that England has never been conquered by nomadic peoples in its history. Quite a novel experience, isn't it? The same thing can always be interpreted differently. Manchester and North Londoners feel like they've been plundered, but West London is currently immersed in celebration. It's like the Viking Age: the English hate Ragnar Lodbrock and his sons—Ivar the Boneless, Hafdan the White, Sigurd the Snake-Eye, Bjorn the Warrior, and Harald Bluetooth—these Norse chieftains, while the Scandinavians regard them as legendary heroes from epic tales."

"Essentially, there's no difference. When Manchester United or Arsenal won the title in the past, the opposing fans were just as unhappy. The reason for these exaggerated comparisons now is simply because we've demonstrated unprecedented dominance in the Premier League. People always overreact to things that are beyond their comprehension, but they'll get used to this feeling and gradually become accustomed to it. In my opinion, what Manchester United and Arsenal should do now is to be like Alfred the Great of Wessex, regroup, and wait for the opportunity to counterattack."

"So, will they win? Roy, I mean, can we take you guys down next season?"

Suddenly, a reporter in the crowd shouted at the top of his lungs.

Roy didn't even lift his eyelids, and answered while adjusting his cuffs:
"Maybe, but if we could actually do it, it would make our victory even more memorable."

That evening, Roy boarded a plane bound for Nice, France.

This trip had two main purposes: firstly, to conduct brand promotion activities during the Cannes Film Festival at the request of sponsors Rolex and Dior.

Although he has no particular interest in these kinds of cross-industry business activities, as a leading figure in French football, his appearance at such a globally renowned cultural event can bring huge exposure value to the brand.

On the plane, Roy's assistant, Heathlen, was reporting the details of the trip to him:
"After we land in Nice tonight, we will travel directly to Cannes. Dior's costume designers and stylists are already waiting at the Hotel Magnesdick to prepare your red carpet look. Four short interviews have been arranged for the media, including Paris Match and Japan's NHK television."

"In addition, several Asian celebrities have expressed their desire to meet with you, including Zhang Ziyi from mainland China and Takuya Kimura from Japan. They are both partners of the brand. Would you like to arrange a brief greeting?"

Roy nodded slightly in agreement, and Heathlen added, "Mr. Jean Reno also specifically mentioned that he would like to invite you to his private party. However..."

He frowned as he looked at the itinerary. "The time is indeed very tight. We have to leave for Portugal at 3 pm on the 16th."

"If I have to go to the party, I can only squeeze in two hours between 11 am and 1 pm on the 16th. Should I reply to him to reschedule? Or..."

"I will go."

Immediately afterwards, Roy had to rush to Portugal to attend the Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony.

However, he was not nominated for Male Athlete of the Year.

This was not unexpected at the time, because it is very difficult for football players to win individual awards in the Laureus Awards, which tend to recognize the achievements of athletes in individual events.

However, as members of the French national team, they were nominated for the 2005 Laureus World Sports Team of the Year award, with Roy being one of the award recipients.

At the same time, he was nominated for the Laureus World Sports Award for Best Newcomer, along with Chinese track and field athlete Liu Xiang, Danica Patrick, the first American female driver to win the IndyCar Series, Spanish F1 driver Fernando Alonso, and American gymnast Nastia Liukin.

On the Cannes Film Festival red carpet on May 16, Roy became the most dazzling focus.

The French national team's star player, who had just led Chelsea to an unbeaten Premier League title, appeared at the film festival the day after the season ended, immediately attracting a frenzy of media attention.

Under the flashing lights, he first exchanged pleasantries with the Beckhams, who were also there to participate in the exhibition. Victoria chatted enthusiastically with Roy about fashion topics for a long time, while Beckham patted him on the shoulder and praised him, saying, "Your performance this season has been truly amazing."

"40 goals and an undefeated season to win the championship have transcended the ordinary realm of football."

He lowered his voice slightly and looked at Roy earnestly, "As someone who has played in the Premier League, I know better than anyone what kind of focus and perseverance this requires."

"It's been a long time since English football has had such a perfect season. To be honest, I'm already looking forward to seeing what surprises you can bring next season."

Roy laughed and said, "I'll seriously consider it. But Manchester United will be in trouble then."

Beckham reacted with lightning speed, immediately flashing his signature charming smile: "You know, my mind is entirely on Real Madrid right now."

The flashes of light from the cameras came on like a torrential downpour, engulfing the three figures in blinding white light.

Roy subconsciously narrowed his eyes. He did have some prejudice against the Beckhams in the past, always feeling that the couple had mixed up football and the entertainment industry too much.

But after several close encounters, he realized he was wrong.

Beckham is much more down-to-earth than he imagined; he's actually quite a sentimental person.

This Englishman doesn't just rely on his looks; his understanding of football is quite professional, and when he talks about training details, his eyes flash with the kind of dedication that only players understand.

Roy nodded to himself: Any player who takes their profession seriously deserves respect.

As for Victoria, every turn and smile she makes in front of the camera is so precise it's as if it were measured with calipers.

Watching her effortlessly switch between three languages ​​and deal with different reporters under the flashing lights, Roy had to admit: at least when it came to being a celebrity, she was frighteningly professional.

At the subsequent reception, Roy skillfully navigated the social circles of various celebrities.

He clinked glasses with Asian celebrities who came to greet him, discussed his new film with a familiar French director, and even maintained a polite smile when he bumped into his ex-girlfriend Leticia Costa.

Letizia recently finished filming a movie called "Sexiest Celebrity Bodies" with Gong Li, Michelle Yeoh, and Takeshi Kaneshiro.

At this moment, these Asian celebrities wanted to get to know Roy, and with Leticia, an acquaintance, introducing them, the atmosphere immediately became much more relaxed.

Roy acted with ease and didn't seem awkward at all being in the same place as his ex.

Gong Li said to him in fluent English, "You have quite a few fans in China. Jiang Wen often says that Roy is the most temperamental star. He's a real man."

Roy turned to look at Leticia, who was not far away.

She was wearing a silver sequined dress and holding a champagne glass, looking this way.

When their eyes met in mid-air, she didn't look away at all; instead, she curled up the corners of her mouth into a nostalgic smile.

Just like last year on a night in Crimea, she watched Roy pointing out the Turkish lights to her with high-powered binoculars.

"I remember you said you would take me to see the real Istanbul night view."

Her eyes seemed to say it all.

And now Roy is indeed going there; he has once again reached the Champions League final.

The photographer's sudden flash cut short the silent eye contact, and Leticia gracefully turned and blended into the crowd, leaving only a faint scent of perfume.

The most dramatic encounter occurred in the screening area of ​​Woody Allen's "Match Point," where Scarlett Johansson, who had just been recommended by Roy to be the lead actress in a new Coca-Cola commercial, walked right towards him.

After a friendly cheek kiss, she suddenly raised an eyebrow:

"I finally have the chance to thank you in person."

Roy shrugged, a lazy smile playing on his lips. "Don't thank me. Remember when you wished me good luck on the phone last time? I scored in that game, and the team won. This is the second time. Maybe I should call you Miss Luck?"

When Scarlett heard this, the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up slightly.

She knew Roy had a girlfriend, but the hottest football star in all of Europe was looking at her with his smiling eyes.

"Miss Lucky?"

She silently repeated the title to herself, finding it much more interesting than those generic compliments.

This man clearly had some feelings for her.

Scarlett gently swirled the champagne glass in her hand, suddenly finding this chance encounter in Cannes quite intriguing.

After all, who could resist winning over a star player who is about to shine in the Champions League final?

Her gaze swept thoughtfully over Roy's profile, secretly considering whether she could give it a small try.

"Anyway."

She said to herself, "Cheryl isn't here, is she?"

Scarlett tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear, looked directly into Roy's eyes, and said, "Then I hope you stay lucky. I mean, if that's true, do you still need the good luck I bring you?"

"of course."

Roy laughed: "Now you can wish me luck again. Win against Milan, just like in New York. But this time, the Champions League trophy is much more important than a friendly match."

"I will go to the Champions League final. In fact, I have already bought a ticket."

She paused deliberately, her gaze lingering on Roy's face for a second. "Originally, it was just to enjoy the game, but now it seems I have a new mission?"

Her tone was relaxed, but the subtle hint in her words was remarkably clear.

She wasn't just going to watch the game; she was going to see him.

"My pleasure."

Roy turned and left with ease, his back view exuding the relaxed air characteristic of a young genius.

For Scarlett Johansson, and other ambitious actresses and supermodels, twenty-year-old Roy was practically a walking "shortcut card" to success.

He possesses Leonardo DiCaprio's captivating face from his youth, Tiger Woods' dominance in sweeping all awards, and the Beatles-like star power that draws crowds to the streets.

In terms of exposure alone, every goal in the Champions League knockout stage can easily dominate the headlines of sports sections worldwide, but movie stars would need to spend six figures in US dollars to buy articles to get the same amount of coverage.

The viewership of the Champions League final was several times that of the Oscars.

The following day, Roy traveled to Portugal to attend the Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony as scheduled.

His girlfriend, Cheryl, was unable to attend the Cannes Film Festival due to a project with Fox Music, but she made a special trip to accompany Roy to the awards ceremony.

The couple appeared together on the red carpet, their outfits perfectly coordinated, showcasing their image as a model couple in the public eye.

The ceremony was attended by numerous celebrities from the sports and entertainment industries.

Roy's reunion with the Beckhams sparked a media frenzy in the UK for this historic moment of "the Premier League's first couple 1.0 and 2.0" appearing together.

Roy then exchanged words with international film star Jackie Chan, who was also attending the event.

Jackie Chan specifically praised Roy's past support for the Chinese community, to which Roy responded humbly, emphasizing the importance of identity.

When the two took a photo together, Roy took the initiative to imitate Jackie Chan's classic kung fu pose, making palms with his hands, one in front of the other, in a defensive stance, with a smile on his face.

He then explained, "I grew up watching your movies. I've watched 'Police Story,' 'Project A,' 'Rumble in the Bronx,' 'Rush Hour,' and the like at least ten times."

Jackie Chan laughed heartily after hearing this, patted Roy on the shoulder affectionately, and the two then took a lively and interesting photo together.

In the major awards segment, the Male Athlete of the Year award was won by Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer. Federer had an outstanding 2004 season, winning three Grand Slam titles—the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open—and reaching the ATP year-end world number one ranking for the first time.

The Best Female Athlete Award was given to British middle-distance runner Kelly Holmes in recognition of her outstanding achievement of winning gold medals in both the women's 800m and 1500m at the Athens Olympics.

During the award ceremony for the Best Team of the Year, due to the absence of captain Patrick Vieira, the French national football team was represented by head coach Raymond Domenech and Roy on stage to accept the award.

Vieira's absence was not without reason; he had just held a small private wedding a few days earlier with his girlfriend of seven years, stockbroker Sheryl Pracha, who is eight years older than him.

The contrast between 20-year-old Roy, the new generation core of the French team, and 58-year-old coach Domenech when they received the trophy together was striking.

In his brief address, Domenech specifically mentioned: "This award belongs to all members of the French team, including Vieira, who was unable to attend today, although he may be busy adjusting to his newlywed life."

Good-natured laughter immediately erupted from the audience.

In his acceptance speech, Roy gave a brief statement: "It is an honor to accept this award on behalf of the French team. In team sports, there is no greater achievement than winning the Team of the Year award, which proves that we were the strongest, most united, and most cohesive team in the world over the past year. This award is less a recognition of our strength and more an affirmation of our team spirit and perfect teamwork. It feels wonderful to receive such an honor."

He added, "I want to thank the coaching staff, my teammates, and all the staff for their hard work. Special mention goes to Patrick Vieira, who couldn't be here today; as captain, he has always been a role model for us. This trophy belongs to everyone on the French team."

The moment Roy finished speaking, the audience erupted in enthusiastic applause.

French football figures sitting in the front row, including Football Federation President Claude Simone, stood up and applauded.

Head coach Domenech looked extremely pleased.

French journalists in the stands quickly jotted down the same observation in their notebooks: the cohesion of this French team is simply awe-inspiring.

The accompanying reporter from L'Équipe quickly wrote the headline: "One heart, one goal. This is our new Azzurri."

When the camera panned across the audience, several French film stars could be seen wiping the corners of their eyes.

Audrey Tautou, famous in Europe for her role in "Amélie," gently touched her eyes with a handkerchief, while veteran actor Jean Reno clapped and nodded repeatedly. French national treasure actor Gérard Depardieu told reporters, "The unity shown by this team is reminiscent of the golden generation that won the 1998 World Cup. As a loyal fan of the French team, I would say that this team is even stronger and more united. On the field, each player is like a different part of the same soul, their teamwork is astonishing. We have the strength and determination to win any championship, I firmly believe that. Look at Roy, although he is only 20 years old, he exudes a natural leadership quality, an innate talent. He reminds us of Platini's aura in his youth, but with the characteristics of a new era. Now what we need to do is give him time and patience, waiting for this young man to fully blossom. When Roy truly reaches his peak, coupled with the amazing cohesion this team has already shown, I believe French football will usher in an unprecedented era of glory."

In a subsequent interview, Depardieu added: "I've followed the French national team for over 30 years and have never seen such a special team atmosphere. The veterans are passing on their experience without reservation, and the young players are learning with great eagerness. This kind of passing on of knowledge deeply moves me. In particular, seeing young leaders like Roy emerging fills me with hope for the future of French football. This is not just a football team, but more like a united family, and that is the cornerstone of making history."

In the subsequently announced list of nominees for the Best Newcomer Award.

中国田径运动员刘翔凭借2004年雅典奥运会110米栏金牌（12秒91平世界纪录）和2005年世锦赛银牌的杰出表现，荣获本年度劳伦斯最佳新人奖。

Roy congratulated Liu Xiang after the award ceremony.

In fact, Roy didn't care too much about the Rookie of the Year award, after all, the Laureus Awards have always been very selective for football players.

To date, only Zinedine Zidane has been nominated for the Best Male Athlete award.

Ronaldo won the "Best Comeback Award" in 2003, which is the highest achievement for a football player in this award.

In the real world, since its inception, only Lionel Messi has won the Laureus World Cup in 2023, demonstrating the stringent selection criteria for football players.

For a football player to win this award, one or two years of peak performance is not enough. They also need to accumulate a high enough historical status, have an outstanding individual heroic performance in that year, and win a sufficiently prestigious championship title.

After the event, Victoria delivered her signature star-like remarks to reporters: "David and I have always admired Roy, and frankly, we think he is the most dominant player in the Premier League right now. The two of them talked a lot about professional topics in Cannes, such as free-kick skills and captaincy—the essential things in football. David specifically mentioned that in this era of showy football, Roy's sincerity and tough personality are truly rare."

She skillfully steered the conversation to a more personal level: "Actually, we were discussing inviting him to our estate in the Cotswolds just a few days ago. You know, besides football, his fiancée and I should have a lot in common when it comes to fashion."

She continued, "My friends in the music industry all say that Cheryl is the most promising member of the new generation. Girls Aloud is currently the most dazzling phenomenon in the UK, and even our van radio station in Madrid is playing them on repeat. Compared to today's over-packaged idols, they are rare in that they retain genuine British qualities. Especially Cheryl's performance in the 'Jump' music video. You know what? That cover version even sold better than the original."

"I often think of my younger self when I see her, oh my god!"

"Speaking of which, I'm currently working on a new single and in talks with several film companies. David and I are also discussing some crossover projects, such as content production that combines sports and entertainment."

“As you know, we’ve always wanted to build a platform where outstanding athletes and artists can support each other. Young talents like Roy and Cheryl are exactly the kind of people we want to work with.”

She added, "Of course, these are just initial ideas, and the most important thing now is to congratulate Roy on receiving Lawrence's approval."

A typical "Victorian" socialite, she always manages to turn any compliment into a prelude to potential collaboration.

After the awards ceremony, Roy and his girlfriend Cheryl attended Federer's celebration party.

The next day, the two stayed in Lisbon for a short vacation.

Afterwards, Roy was invited by Jackie Chan to attend a private party.

This was a high-profile gathering, attended by important businesspeople from the overseas Chinese community and representatives of elites from various sectors.

Roy's arrival lifted the spirits of the entire party.

The guests present all knew that the humble young man in front of them was the hottest superstar in the world of football today.

Roy was polite throughout, which made the older brother feel very proud.

Before parting, Jackie Chan patted Roy on the shoulder affectionately and said, "We've all seen your performance on the field, it's truly remarkable. If you ever come to Asia to develop your career, or if you need connections here, feel free to contact me. There's an old saying in the martial arts world: 'Even the most skilled can't bully others, there's always someone better.' But I think that in the world of football, in a few years, you'll be the highest mountain!"

More important things happened in Paris.

Chelsea desperately need Roy's help to finalize Essien's transfer negotiations.

The deal, which was close to being finalized, was stalled due to Real Madrid's sudden intervention.

The club's management believes that if Roy, as the team's core player, can communicate with the Ghanaian midfielder in person, it will greatly increase the chances of a successful transfer.

Therefore, after completing his business trip to Cannes, Roy had to immediately travel to Paris to participate in this crucial transfer negotiation.

Chelsea made a £14 million bid last week for Lyon's Ghanaian defensive midfielder Essien, but the French Ligue 1 club rejected the offer outright.

Chelsea have not given up and have raised their offer to £1800 million, sending CEO Kenyon to France for negotiations.

However, the transfer did not go as smoothly as expected.

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas stated in an interview with L'Equipe on Monday: "The team will not sell Essien. Chelsea is indeed interested in him, but Lyon is determined to win back the Ligue 1 title next season. Apart from Govou, the team will not let any players go."

Secondly, Manchester United and Arsenal, two Premier League powerhouses, have long been interested in this defensive midfielder, who was hailed as the "new Vieira" by Wenger and Ferguson.

To complicate matters further, Real Madrid suddenly joined the race.

The involvement of Real Madrid has made this transfer battle even more unpredictable.

Essien has already agreed personal terms with Chelsea and is just waiting for Lyon to approve his release.

However, Lyon president Aulas stubbornly refused to let go, causing the transfer to reach a stalemate.

At this point, Real Madrid suddenly joined the competition. Although their offer was not as generous as Chelsea's, they had two advantages: first, the prestigious "Real Madrid" brand, and second, the opportunity to have Essien and his idol Beckham as teammates.

Interestingly, Essien, a tough guy, idolizes Beckham the most.

When he was 16, he finally got Beckham's autograph during his trial with Manchester United, but his teammates snatched it away when he got back to the dormitory, and he was so upset that he cried.

The opportunity to fight alongside his idol is a great temptation for Essien.

On May 18, 2005, under the Parisian sun, Roy and Essien greeted each other with a warm hug upon meeting.

He looked directly into the eyes of the Ghanaian midfielder and said bluntly, "Michael, if we can fight side by side in midfield in Istanbul right now, I bet the Champions League trophy will be ours in ninety minutes."

After saying that, he sighed softly, "To be honest, every time I study Chelsea's lineup, I feel that position should be yours."

Essien's heart skipped a beat.

Standing before him was Roy, the hottest striker in European football over the past two years, the best player in Ligue 1, the best player in the Premier League, and the Ballon d'Or winner, yet he spoke of his importance to him with such sincerity.

This top star, who is invincible on the field, now treats me like a longtime friend, even regarding me as a key figure who can decide the outcome of the Champions League.

Such recognition and respect stirred an indescribable feeling within Essien.

Psychologist Philippa Perry famously said, "The essence of love is being seen."

Kenyon held a new round of negotiations with Essien and his agent.

When the agent mentioned Real Madrid's interest, Kenyon pointed out that their £1700 million offer was too low and did not guarantee a starting position.

He emphasized that Chelsea not only offered a higher salary but also ensured Essien's important position in the team.

Kenyon said meaningfully, "Don't forget Makelele, he was frustrated at Real Madrid, but now he is the defensive midfield core of our Chelsea team."

2005 5 Month 21 Day.

The 2004/2005 FA Cup final was held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, marking the 124th edition of the FA Cup.

Arsenal holds the record for the most appearances in the finals and semi-finals, with 24 semi-final appearances and 16 final appearances, winning 9 trophies.

Chelsea, on the other hand, reached the FA Cup final five times and won three of them.

In 1970, Chelsea defeated Leeds United 2-1 in the final to win the FA Cup for the first time.

This classic overtime match has been called one of the "most violent finals in history".

In 1997, Chelsea defeated Middlesbrough 2-0 thanks to a lightning-fast goal by Di Matteo just 43 seconds into the game.

The Italian became the record holder for the fastest goal in an FA Cup final.

In 2000, Zola scored the winning goal in the 71st minute, and Chelsea defeated Aston Villa 1-0. Then-manager Vialli became the first player-coach to win the trophy.

In the locker room, Chelsea players were discussing the burglary that had occurred at Lampard's house a few days earlier.

Lampard's face was grim, his voice filled with obvious anger: "Those damn bastards, sneaking into people's houses in the middle of the night to steal things, they're scum! If Eileen hadn't been so scared, I would have..."

The other team members stopped what they were doing and looked at him.

Roy patted him on the shoulder, but Lampard was still muttering under his breath, "Stealing cars is one thing, but they even prey on pregnant women. Those bastards better pray I don't run into them."

Around 4 a.m. on May 18, two burglars broke into Lampard's London home.

Lampard was at home with his 28-year-old Spanish fiancée, Irene Rivers, when two thieves broke into their apartment and began stealing from various rooms. Rivers, who was pregnant, was reportedly frightened and was later taken to the hospital for a check-up. Fortunately, neither she nor Lampard were harmed.

Lampard and his fiancée had just moved into their £300 million apartment on Fulham Road in London when it was burgled. Two thieves drove off with Lampard's Mercedes-Benz G-Class and an Aston Martin DB9, along with stolen items such as a television.

Before the game started, Roy stood up from the locker room bench and cleared his throat.

The chatter in the locker room immediately stopped.

“Listen, guys, Frank has had enough bad luck lately. But if we lose the FA Cup today, even if we win the Champions League, we’ll have a permanent regret this season. Nobody will recognize us as quadruple winners, and even our treble-winning status will be diminished. The EFL Cup is simply not comparable to the Premier League and the Champions League.”

He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping across each of his teammates' faces:

“We have a perfect record against Arsenal all season, not even a draw. But if we lose to them today, ten years from now, the North London fans will only remember one thing: that Arsenal stopped Chelsea from making history. They will say, ‘Our great team stopped Chelsea from becoming quadruple winners, and their treble was just made up of the EFL Cup.’”

The locker room was so quiet that you could hear the noise from the fans outside.

Roy continued:
"The Champions League isn't a chance to compete for every year, and the opportunity to win the treble might only come once in a lifetime. We got to where we are today because of our strength and a bit of luck, but that's not important anymore. What's important is now, that we're only two games away from becoming true legends, from becoming great in the truest sense of the word 'great.' Some opportunities, once missed, are gone forever."

"Now, go out there as usual and beat Arsenal as usual. Some opportunities may only come once in a lifetime, and you have to consider whether this is your only chance in this life."

The Chelsea players fell into a moment of contemplation after hearing this. Roy smiled and decided to put it more bluntly:

“Listen, brothers, we’ll never be younger than we are today. This 124th FA Cup title, once missed, is gone forever. Just like... just like a beautiful girl you missed when you were young.”

A few soft laughs rang out in the locker room, lightening the atmosphere somewhat.

“That girl might be very sexy and attractive,” Roy continued. “You might meet new, beautiful girls later, and even win her back years later. But that won’t be the best time, and the feeling will be completely different. Only now, only this moment, is the best opportunity.”

"If you still feel it's not enough, if your fighting spirit isn't high enough, then think of Bergkamp, ​​Vieira, or Kolo Toure as the guys who stole your sweethearts back in the day, and Wenger as that old neighbor you hated most when you were kids. Go on the pitch, just like you've done every season, and beat them all again!"

He clapped his hands: "So now, right today, we must make the right decision! Go out there and take this championship!"

"Chelsea champions!"

Roy raised his voice and shouted.

Terry immediately responded loudly, "Yes! That's right!"

The other team members joined in the shouting.

Four days later, the entire Chelsea team will travel to Istanbul to participate in the Champions League final against AC Milan.

In this FA Cup final, Mourinho fielded his full starting lineup, but the team's attacking and defensive rhythm was quite restrained and conservative.

Chelsea players were exceptionally cautious in attack, striving for a safe approach with each advance, and also avoiding excessive physical exertion in defense.

In contrast, Arsenal, in their fight for their last remaining title hopes this season, pressed relentlessly like trapped beasts.

Despite Chelsea treasuring every attacking opportunity, neither side managed to score by the 83rd minute.

The score remained 0-0, and the game was deadlocked.

Arsenal players were noticeably more active in their runs, but Chelsea's defensive system remained solid throughout.

Both teams are waiting for an opportunity that could change the course of the game.

In the 84th minute of the match, substitute Robin van Persie lost possession of the ball in the attacking third.

Carvalho received the ball and passed it to the left front, where Abidal received it and passed it to Roy, who had dropped back to the edge of the penalty area to provide cover.

The moment Roy received the ball, he was immediately double-teamed by Shabani Nonda and Ljungberg.

Nonda quickly closed in from behind and rammed Roy in the back with his strong body.

Roy then flicked the ball to the left with his left foot, successfully widening the distance between himself and Nonda.

Ljungberg tried to block but failed to make an effective interception. Just as he was about to make close marking, Roy suddenly pushed the ball forward and used his explosive power to forcefully break free of the two players' double-team.

After shaking off his defender, Roy passed the ball to Lampard.

Lampard received the ball and immediately passed it back to Roy, who was now facing Lauren's defense when he got the ball again.

Roy suddenly dribbled the ball forward with great force, and the experienced Lauren immediately turned and blocked the passage between Roy and the sideline, while quickly chasing back.

The ball rolled past Mourinho and Wenger as it passed through the technical area.

Mourinho saw the ball getting closer and closer to Lauren, while Roy was still more than a meter behind Lauren and was stuck in the inside position.

Roy chose to accelerate and overtake from the outside of the sideline, his pace quickening as if he were walking on air.

"Roy's pass was a bit too strong, too deep. Lauren, with his experience, has already firmly marked him. Actually, he could have paused a little, made a feint to create some angle, and then broken through. The game is already over 80 minutes in, and it's still 0-0. You can see Roy is getting a bit anxious! He's accelerating outside the sideline!"

"Roy! He accelerated past Lauren from outside the sideline! He completely overwhelmed her with speed!"

The commentator suddenly raised his voice, "Lauren desperately chased back, but Roy had already broken into the penalty area—"

Roy's right arm firmly gripped Lauren, his strong body blocking his opponent like a wall.

In a flash, he suddenly pulled the ball with his left foot, and his whole body spun counterclockwise with his back against Lauren!
"A beautiful turn! That was pure brute force!"

The commentator's voice cracked with excitement, "Senderos makes a sliding tackle to defend! Roy fakes a shot! He's fallen!"

Roy raised his right foot high as if to shoot, but Senderos made a flying tackle and missed.

At this moment, Lyman swayed left and right in front of the door, stumbling and moving to the left as if drunk.

"Readjust! Lyman is completely disoriented!"

The commentator screamed, "Roy kicks!! A powerful shot!!!"

The ball slammed into the net like a cannonball, causing the net to tremble violently!
"GOAL!!! 86th minute! Winner! Winner! Winner! This is priceless individual ability! Roy completely blew past Arsenal's entire defense!"

"Two crucial matches, two invaluable game-winning goals! Remember that winning goal against Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final? That's Roy, that's the Roy you can always rely on! That's the value of a world-class striker! Chelsea are just minutes away from their third trophy this season, and Roy has once again breached Arsenal's goal. Coach Wenger must be incredibly frustrated right now, after all, Roy has created so many classic moments against Arsenal this season: the five-man dribble at Highbury, the title-winning goal at Stamford Bridge, and now this incredible outside strike to seal the victory!"

"With the match entering its final countdown, Chelsea have already secured the EFL Cup and the Premier League title, and now the 124th FA Cup is within reach. The blue sea of ​​the Millennium Stadium is completely boiling, and the chants of 'Roy' echo through the sky."

Arsenal players who performed well after the match all appeared very frustrated, with Fabregas crying on the sidelines after being substituted.

Chelsea players celebrated their victory by spraying each other with champagne.

At the awards ceremony, Arsenal players lined up first to receive their runner-up medals.

Unlike Ferguson, who refused to go on stage to accept his award in the past, Wenger, after consideration, went on stage to accept the silver medal.

The entire Chelsea team and manager Mourinho then went on stage one by one to receive their championship medals.

Finally, when Prince Macke of Kent, England, presented the FA Cup trophy to Chelsea captain Roy, the entire stadium erupted in enthusiastic cheers.

In the VIP stands, AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti, who had come to watch the game, frowned and looked thoughtfully at the celebrating Chelsea players, clearly already considering the Champions League final against this team four days later.

In the center of the pitch, Roy, holding the FA Cup trophy high, shouted: "Chelsea champions!"

The entire Chelsea squad responded in unison, and the fans in blue jerseys in the stands erupted in deafening cheers, instantly transforming the Millennium Stadium into a sea of ​​blue.

(End of this chapter)