When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 8 The Lion of Gerland (Please continue reading!)

"They won't fail to score a single goal tonight, will they?"

Stade Gerland, the famous red fortress, is one of the most intimidating stadiums in France, where the roar of 45,000 fans can reach 105 decibels.

But today he seemed rather listless, so much so that when a round-faced boy with short hair spoke, his companion could hear him clearly.

Karim Benzema, a prodigy from Lyon's youth academy, is only fifteen years old this year.

Since 1996, when he was only nine years old, he scored two goals in a match against Lyon's youth team and was spotted by Lyon scouts. He has grown into the best player in Lyon's youth training system, dominating the French U16 youth league and scoring 38 goals in a single season.

On the sidelines, Lyon's head coach Paul Le Guen frowned. This stern-looking Brittany man took over as Lyon's manager this season with the aim of building an invincible team in Ligue 1. This season, they have averaged 2.6 goals per game, making their attack exceptionally fierce.

However, Nantes, who were thoroughly defeated by Monaco in the previous round, withstood Lyon's onslaught at the Stade Gerland, and the match ended in a goalless draw as regular time was about to end.

Meanwhile, the stadium was simultaneously displaying league match results, and Monaco, their opponent in the next round, had just thrashed Sedan 5-0 at their home ground, which made him somewhat worried.

"Everyone should be afraid of us!"

Pulso's roar was almost drowned out by the surging cheers at the Stade Louis II.

As Monaco players rushed into the opponent's penalty area to celebrate, the Croatian towering figure grabbed Roy around the waist and lifted him up. At that moment, Roy fully realized that his physique was not actually that strong.

In the 88th minute, Pulso's powerful shot from inside the six-yard box pierced Sedan's goal for the fifth time, bringing the match to a perfect close.

After switching positions with Hassan El Fakiri, who replaced Rothen, on the left side of the penalty area, Roy dribbled into the penalty area and swept the ball across the face of goal from the sideline, assisting Pulso to score.

With a goal and an assist, it was a perfect debut.

Seven minutes earlier, Marcelo Gallardo, who replaced Giuly, delivered a precise through ball from the flank. Roy received the ball and accelerated while running, easily getting past defender Cedric Elzerde.

Offside trap successfully broken!
He charged straight into the penalty area and deftly chipped the ball into the goal past the onrushing Reinho.

Sedan coach Batney angrily kicked the water bottle away.

However, after being reminded by the linesman, the referee immediately blew his whistle, indicating that Pulso was offside before the pass, and the goal was disallowed.

"Mine, mine."

Pulso looked somewhat ashamed.

Roy said, "A striker without ambition will never be offside."

The 1.88-meter-tall Eastern European was stunned.

"Dado, you're offside because you want to help the team. Don't worry about it too much, it will make you lose your ambition to score goals."

Roy stood tall and proud.

Pulso swore that the young man's eyes were full of sincerity.

Even the usually composed Deschamps took off his leather jacket and rolled up his shirt sleeves.

Deschamps clenched his fist and roared, then turned to his assistant coach and said, "The best young player in Ligue 1 is already in our squad."

Jean-Pettit raised his eyebrows, an irrepressible smile playing on his lips, and uttered a French slang phrase:
"On a un diamant brut (We found a rough diamond)"
Really? Luckily, there's no Congolese blood on it.

The referee blew the whistle, and the match ended.

Roy took off his sweat-stained jersey and stepped off the pitch, only to be blinded by the dazzling lights of the cameras. Almost all the cameras and microphones in the media area were focused on him.

If it weren't for the security personnel around him, these reporters would have already rushed into the venue and surrounded him.

"Will you be attending the post-match press conference with me and Ludovic?"

Deschamps smiled, took Roy's hand, and extended an invitation.

"why not?"

Roy readily agreed, and inadvertently turned his head to look at the fans in the stands. His goal and assist in his debut earned him the initial affection of the Monaco fans, and Roy waved in response to the cheers.

His wet, black hair clung to his forehead, beads of sweat slid down his sculpted trapezius muscles, and deep-set eyes, dark brown, gleamed slightly with victory, rested beneath his arched eyebrows.

This action triggered another round of screams from the stands.

Deschamps, who was always low-key and unassuming during his playing days, found Roy's performance somewhat amusing.

In his view, it was this child.

With a fierce determination, they train hard, pursue victory, and enjoy the glory that comes with the competition and the victory.

He is more deserving of the title "star" than a player.

"what"

The female fan's scream was stuck in her throat. When he casually tossed the jersey into the stands, the number 25 jersey, which had already caused a scramble while it was still floating in the air, looked like a flag in slow motion.

After being asked to summarize the match and look ahead to their next title rivals, Lyon, Roy, sitting next to Deschamps and Giuly, was bombarded by reporters.

He was bombarded with a series of leading questions that were full of traps.

Marca's special correspondent: "You played very well in your first game and achieved quite an eye-catching result, with a goal and an assist. Considering you've only been with the club for two days, this hard work is a response to Real Madrid giving up on you."

Deschamps frowned, about to speak.

Roy casually picked up the conversation:
"Work hard? I don't understand why no team would sign a player who isn't willing to work hard, and no fan would support a player who isn't willing to work hard. I just did what I was supposed to do."

"What about your performance at Real Madrid? They kept many young players, why didn't they keep you?"

“This is Monaco!” Deschamps said.

This only proves that we have good judgment, otherwise what?

Deschamps was secretly gloating.

"Why didn't Atletico Madrid keep Raul? Isn't he the best player? The club, the coach, and the player all have their own considerations."

Roy countered with a question.

"If you perform well, will you return to Madrid?"

The Monaco members frowned, their questions laced with arrogance.

“We never know what the future holds,” Roy smiled.

"Right now, all I know is that I'm a Monaco player, and my contract expires in the very last minute. I'll only remember one thing: to fight for Monaco!"

The sound of laptop keyboards clicking filled the air.

A reporter from Le Parisien asked, "Do you identify more with Chinese or French football culture?"

Even more pointed questions followed.

All Roy could say was, "That's so classic!"
According to the character's starting position.

When my ancestors came out, it was during the Republic of China era. What was their evaluation?
Li Huitang? That guy is unbelievably strong!
Deschamps frowned and interjected, "Please respect the players' privacy."

There were also sports reporters from China at the post-match press conference. They immediately perked up their ears upon hearing this, even though Roy was only of Chinese descent and Ligue 1 did not attract much attention in China.

Let alone Ligue 1, in the early 21st century, it could almost be said that Serie A and other leagues were notable exceptions.

However, as a major European league, Ligue 1 still has foreign journalists.

But to everyone's surprise, Roy answered the question in French first, and then repeated it in standard Chinese.

"On the field, football is my mother tongue; sports should not be limited by national borders!"

Deschamps' mind went blank for a moment.

Did they sign a press officer?
L'Équipe reporter: "Does your Chinese heritage bring you any extra pressure?"

Roy smiled and spread his hands: "Zinedin Zidane is of Algerian descent, France's all-time top scorer Platini is of Italian descent, and Napoleon was also of Italian descent."

He raised an eyebrow and made a face: "Maybe there's pressure, but it doesn't do any harm except remind me that I should do better."

It is widely believed that only dwarfs, women, and foreigners can save France.

The Chinese journalists only asked some routine questions, but the conversations they overheard tonight were enough to generate countless sensational headlines for them.

As Roy left, he told the Chinese reporter, "Thank you, I will do better."

It made headlines on Sina Sports that evening.

L'Équipe ran a report titled: "Can we expect anything from him? Deschamps' new weapon!"

The Space Shuttle Columbia crashed in the United States! Seven astronauts perished!
—Le Figaro

In the 19th round of Serie A, Brescia defeated Piacenza 4-1 away from home. The best player of the match was Baggio, who scored a spectacular world-class goal. Fans all over Italy will shout: The unstoppable Baggio of the past is back!
— Gazzetta dello Sport

The 25th round of the French Ligue 1 concluded with Monaco defeating Sedan 5-0 at home. Under Deschamps' leadership, Monaco remains unbeaten in nine consecutive matches and rises to the top of the standings on goal difference. New signing 18-year-old Roy contributed a goal and an assist.

尼斯主场1比0力克甘冈，同积42分而排名次席。同样有42分的马赛如明天凌晨不败，便可重夺头把交椅。里昂主场与南特互交白卷，在2连平后退居第4位。

— L'Équipe's report on this round of Ligue 1 matches

Good evening, Monaco! Who just beat their opponent 5-0 in the Ligue 1 match? It was us!

— Radio Monte Carlo (RMC Monaco).

(End of this chapter)