Manchester United's heir apparent, but can't play football.

Chapter 132 The Midfield Soul of the Red Devils?
Time passed by minute by minute.

Fans who witnessed Li Luo's brilliant performance were extremely excited and even more eager to see how the game would unfold.

pity.

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman quickly made adjustments: target Manchester United's weakest link in the ball distribution.

Possession of the ball changed hands repeatedly.

The scene fell into chaos for a while.

"Koeman, as Cruyff's disciple, firmly believes in his mentor's philosophy: you must make sure the opponent's worst player gets the ball often, so that you can win back possession more easily."

"A single sentence can be interpreted differently in different eras, and the tactics used to achieve the same goal can vary."

"By pressuring the opponent's weakest link, forcing them to expose their weaknesses, we can take control of the game."

For example, I would say: People need to eat!

"Now we can use chopsticks, forks, and our hands. What about the future? Maybe we'll use our feet or arms. Different eras use different tools. This is because the same tactical philosophy can be interpreted differently in different eras, and the tactical means to achieve the goal are different."

So how did Koeman manage to get rid of Manchester United's worst players?
Carefully study and analyze before the match, and then probe the opponent's condition during the match.

Gradually, he found it difficult to catch his target.
Since Manchester United has several players who are somewhat weak, which one should they focus on?
"Wonderful!"

"Lingard's ball control is overflowing with inspiration!"

"Van Gaal valued his speed in first touch, which fits Manchester United's current system well; as well as his positive attitude in tracking back, his awareness of cooperating with the full-backs in defense, and his football intelligence."

"Quickly pass the ball. What is Lingard doing?"

"Spread it!"

"Can not you see?"

"Go ahead and spread the word! Why are you going after Krasi?"

Lingard was relaxed, constantly twisting his hips, flicking and pulling the ball, trying to get rid of Krasi in a simple way.

I was imagining in my mind: what kind of celebration should I do if I score a goal tonight?
Snapped!
The ball is gone.

The 169cm tall Saints midfielder, with his faster footwork, then shoved the British star aside with his solid and strong body!
There was no fancy positional game involved.

A poke, a collision.

Southampton, switch from defense to offense!!!

"A defensive midfielder of this height has a very stable center of gravity."

Boos erupted at Old Trafford.

Some Manchester United fans want to take advantage of their home ground.

Some Manchester United fans are complaining: Lingard is a complete freak; when he's on fire, he goes on a rampage like there's no one around, but at other times he just seems silly.

These guys who come out of Manchester United's youth academy all have a few flaws.

Besides our Lee!

Li Luo fought back to defend.

That's too late.

The Saints' offensive transitions were extremely fast.

Mane receives the ball, turns, and accelerates.

Manchester United full-back Darmian was "slipped away" like a scarecrow being chopped in half.

"Second acceleration!"

Wow! Three accelerations!

"It can even speed up?"

"One man single-handedly dismantled Manchester United's entire defense! Like walking a dog!"

"Senegal supercar!"

"Senegal's sharpest sword!"

At the Theatre of Dreams, tens of thousands of fans couldn't help but let out a gasp of fear.
Studio.
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What did Luo Ge do? Did he bring the national football team back to the national team?
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It's not fair to say Manchester United were bad; it's just that their opponents were strong.
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How can we possibly stop that?

Courtside.

Maranda on the bench was stunned: he thought he absolutely couldn't stop Mane!

Van Gaal looked grave.

He vaguely sensed that Koeman had not only made progress on a tactical level, but also on his team-building philosophy.

The other side.

Koeman frantically waved his hand, signaling his other disciples to help Mane create space.

Mane burst into the left side of Manchester United's penalty area, raised his arm, and swung his leg slightly!
Bah!
The football skimmed the grass, transforming into a sharp arrow, and hurtled towards the near corner!
This is the Senegalese black goat's fighting power during its growth period.

Within ten meters, a ball traveling at a speed of over 90 kilometers per hour is very difficult for an average goalkeeper to stop!
but.

The one guarding the gates of Manchester United is De Gea!
A reaction arc comparable to lightning.

With a towering 192-centimeter frame, he moved with lightning speed, displaying incredible flexibility and terrifying speed at which he landed!

Snapped!
The platinum gloves caught the oncoming football.
Cheers erupted from the home stands, while sighs echoed from the away stands.

Two emotions intertwined in the night at the Dream Theater.

"Wonderful!"

"A superb shot!"

"An incredible rescue!"

Mane sullenly held his head in his hands.

De Gea let out a long sigh of relief, grabbed Li Luo's hand as he returned to defend, and stood up again.

Li Luo's thoughts drifted briefly: De Gea's strength is so formidable, just how powerful are the shooting skills of the stars who have tormented him in the past, such as Messi, Ronaldo, and Suarez?
Courtside.

Van Gaal was still shaken.

Giggs shook his head helplessly: "Fuck, our defense, no one can stop Mane!"

How can someone be so fast, have such good ball control, be able to accelerate multiple times, and frequently change lanes?

If this little black striker develops, he will definitely be a dominant force in the Premier League.

The other side.

Koeman applauded enthusiastically.

He loudly encouraged his players to seize the opportunities for transition attacks and launch several more assaults on Manchester United's defense! Even if De Gea were a god, he couldn't hold them off!
A few minutes later.

The towering Wanyama charged aggressively to the front of the formation, charging towards Carrick who was preparing to receive the ball!
African defensive midfielder vs. British playmaker!
"Pull the ball back and make a slight change of direction."

"Carrick's age is... well, he's got rid of Wanyama, but not Mane!"

Snapped!
Just as Carrick finished getting rid of the ball and was about to pass it, a dark figure flashed by and took the ball away.

Southampton switched from defense to offense.

The dark shadows once again confronted Manchester United's defense.

This time.

Mane blew Blind apart!
“Cut inside!”

"Wow!"

"They pretend to cut inside, then suddenly peel it outwards to speed up the eating!"

"Cross the ball again!"

With a vertical, a horizontal, and a diagonal running route, he completely disrupted Manchester United's defense!
Snapped!
The football was swept across the front of the goal.

Manchester United defender Chris Smalling made a timely clearance, but the ball then crashed violently into his own goal.

De Gea leaped into the air and narrowly saved the own goal.

The whole audience exclaimed.

Manchester United fans' hearts are about to break.

Another near miss tonight.

They became anxious again: they were being beaten too badly; although the opposing team hadn't scored, they were always able to easily threaten Manchester United's goal.

Studio.
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[It's like Lopez is returning to Manchester United, just like he's returning to the Chinese national team!]
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[That's normal. De Gea's save count last season was built up by being beaten like that. Goalkeepers of truly strong teams don't get that kind of treatment: often the defense has already solved the problem.]
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Why do I feel like Carrick's skills have declined a lot due to his frequent injuries and absences?
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[Hehe, I bet on Southampton, it's a sure thing, a goal is just a matter of time! I ordered two takeout orders, they're on their way.]

Sky Sports live stream.

A bunch of big mouths from the Premier League are chattering away again.

"Koeman is avenging Van Gaal in every game."

"He has found the key to victory and knows how to counter Manchester United's tactics tonight."

"A familiar rhythm."

"Li needs more time to adapt to the Premier League."

Time passed by unnoticed during the match.

The atmosphere at Old Trafford gradually weakened.

From God's perspective, countless red lines completed their mission of exploration and snapped one after another.

Li Luo looked confident and didn't convey any negative emotions to his teammates.

'Everything is under control.'

Take advantage of the dead ball phase.

He gestured to his teammates, making adjustments.

At first, the teammates wanted to see what Van Gaal's reaction would be, but remembering the Manchester United heir's equalizing goal and seeing his confident demeanor, they made a decisive decision: listen to Li.

After a while.

The game resumes.

"The formation has changed."

"Li Luo drops down and moves inside to the defensive midfield position."

"Luke Shaw will move up from the left flank and take the position left by Li Luo."

"Damian will come in from the right flank."

"Let's see how Southampton responds."

Koeman's response was very direct.

Southampton have sped up, their off-the-ball movement in the midfield and attacking third has increased, bang bang bang!
Snapped!
Blind passed the ball to Li Luo.

The moment Li Luo received the ball, he turned and changed direction repeatedly, shaking off the approaching Wanyama.

"Turn inward, then follow up with a Cruyff turn."

"He's grown taller and not as agile as before. Six months ago, Li Luo could turn around and, at most, take a small hop, and then create space like Matthäus or Maradona to 'quickly move forward to handle the ball.'"

“His previous small hops could quickly shift his weight from the supporting foot to the attacking foot in less than a second, leaving the opposing defense with no time to react.”

"Hey, look at this, now you have to do an extra Cruyff turn. Using rhythm to shake off your opponent looks good, but it doesn't have the ability to create a threat with a series of rapid movements like before. How many seconds have passed now?"

"A round of enthusiastic applause erupted in the Dream Theatre."

"Almost every time Li Luo touches the ball, Manchester United fans applaud enthusiastically as if they have seen hope. This is the kind of treatment you get when you come from your own youth academy."

Putting aside the confined spaces, just considering one-on-one dribbling in midfield, Li Luo thinks growing taller isn't a bad thing.

why?
My legs have grown longer.

The ball control radius has increased.

My stride has become longer.

In the central battle environment, balanced use of both feet and the outside of the foot can increase the ball control radius.

Dynamic threats have decreased, while static combat capabilities have increased.

Pa~pa~
They performed a wall-ramming combo with Uncle Carrick.

He managed to get past Tadic and Mane in quick succession.

Southampton players aren't fools. Seeing their pressing defense broken, they quickly collapsed into their midfield and backfield to build up defensive depth, unlike the opponents Li Luo had faced before who were so foolish as to leave space behind them.

Courtside.

Van Gaal's eyes lit up. Suppressing his urge to control, he waved his large hand and roared at his disciples, "Properly support Lee!"

Giggs suddenly realized: That's right, we still have to play like this, we can't worry too much about Lee getting into physical confrontations.

The other side.

Koman quickly made a hand-pressing gesture.

The original plan was for our defensive midfielder, Wanyama, to push forward, entangle Manchester United's midfield playmaker, playmaker, and orchestrator, Carrick, shut down the source of attack, and then create opportunities for a counter-attack.

Li Luo has now switched from being a burst damage dealer on the left flank to an organizer in the mid flank.

what does this mean?
Li, playing in the center, will face a comprehensive test of the intensity of the Premier League.

changed.

Once the game entered the positional attack phase, the style of play changed.

Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap!
Pass the ball.

Positioning.

A kick to the ball.

Rooney pushed up to the very front of the formation, Morata dropped back to support, Mata rediscovered his long-lost wingman role, Carrick also fulfilled a regret in his career, and Blind's strengths were fully utilized.

With Li Luo's passing and dribbling, Manchester United seemed to transform into a flowing painting.

Every pass lands perfectly in the most comfortable position for the teammate, and every run creates openings for the opponent.

With him positioned in the center, the team's attack gained a framework. Every touch of the ball added a stroke to the picture, calmly and steadily making the whole scene clearer and more impactful.

92 passing points, God's-eye view.

The net weaver.

Gradually, the Red Devils on the field lost Van Gaal's influence and only exuded the aura of Manchester United's crown prince.

Of course, Lao Fan did take action. He roared from the sidelines: "Players with poor skills, get out of here and stop messing around!"
Southampton's aggressive sweeping in the 30-meter zone left them somewhat exhausted.

Koeman's gaze was vacant, vaguely as if he saw the back of his childhood idol: the spotlight fell on that midfield maestro, and even the night breeze seemed to rise and fall with his rhythm.

Wanyama was on edge, running tirelessly and participating in deep defense. His patience and stamina were quietly dwindling: Fuck you, these Manchester United guys... It's the same players, how come they've suddenly become so threatening? Like they've taken some kind of aphrodisiac?
The wind swept across the grass, carrying cheers from Old Trafford. Wanyama looked up and saw Li Luo standing in midfield. After passing the ball, he raised his hand to signal to his teammates.
this moment.

Little Black Egg suddenly understood: it wasn't that Manchester United's players had become stronger, but rather that there was a hero with a halo that elevated the Red Devils' positional attack and control to several levels.

At Old Trafford, tens of thousands of fans saw hope again.

Ferguson, Jack, and Tom were also visibly excited.

This is the midfield maestro.

This is the cornerstone of revival.

commander.

soul.

brain.

The master strategist and the one who breathes with the Red Devils!

"Thank you, Black Gold!"

"Quickly ask the club to suggest that they loan some outstanding, age-appropriate players from their youth academy to Wolfsburg!"

Studio.
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[So handsome, so dashing and elegant midfield commander, my husband~]
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No male wives!
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What? Is this still Manchester United?
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[Where did I come from?]
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[Huh? Is that Bayern Munich wearing red jerseys?]
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[The Saints' men didn't even dare to use a shovel. Faced with such precise rhythm, carelessly using a shovel was tantamount to suicide. I finally understand the meaning of Maldini's words!]
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Does Manchester United have a Doraemon? Whatever they lack, he appears! Last season was so tough; the midfield lacked a key player, forcing Van Gaal to develop some rather unusual tactical systems. And the result? The returning heir apparent is the absolute best playmaker of the new generation!
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[A system player, a player who is a system in themselves, a hero with an aura, boosting the entire team's fighting power!]
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Manchester United are focusing their attack on Li Luo! Good strategy, very clear thinking.
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[That's what a crown prince looks like! He's back and already leading Manchester United to play like a top club!!!]

Sky Sports Studios.

Premier League legends stared at the screen, slightly surprised.

"Li didn't stop moving, what was he doing? At this intensity, how could he maintain the accuracy of his passing?"

"Rooney has a high football IQ, actively pressing Southampton's defense and freeing up Morata."

"Morata's footwork is beyond question; he is a natural fit for a passing and possession system, and is a top-class modern center forward in terms of passing, stopping, and dribbling."

"Mata, the top wingman for Haddadi, a system amplifier, a facilitator in building the system. He won't steal Li Luo's ball possession and rhythm, and he can accurately find the gaps in space that the core hasn't covered yet. He has top-notch ball intelligence."

“Carrick’s biggest regret in life is that he never benefited from the system. He is an adaptable upgrade component. He no longer hogs the ball for long periods of time, but acts as an invisible adjuster, relieving Li Luo’s pressure and playing a ‘supplementary role’ in Li Luo’s system: long passes to widen the width, dropping back to provide protection, and adjusting the pace.”

"Blind doesn't demand the ball and won't disrupt Li Luo's passing and control rhythm, but he can cover and connect in unnoticed positions. With his passing skills, he can act as a switch point for Li Luo's rhythm."

"The prerequisite for these players to perform at their best is that they need a Li Luo."

"Hey Lingard, don't get too close! Go and stretch the defense!"

As Lingard prepared to drop back to receive the ball.

Li Luo quickly cut diagonally from outside the penalty area arc to the right side of Southampton's penalty area.

Carrick understood immediately and decisively passed the ball to Blind, who had moved up to the left flank!

Why wasn't it passed to Lingard?

Why wasn't it passed to Luke Shaw?

"Pretty!"

"Pass it to Blind, a long diagonal pass from Blind!"

"Rhythm switching point!"

"Li Luo!"

"Misaligned bombing!!!"

Southampton's penalty area.

The Saints' defense had already been torn apart by Li Luo.

The moment Manchester United accelerated.

Someone still realized it: Saints' 178cm tall full-back Bertrand.

This guy is the first player in Champions League history to win the title in his debut in the final.

He had noticed Li Luo's diagonal path in advance!

quicken your pace and keep up closely.

The soccer ball is falling.

The Saints defender decisively pushed off the turf and jumped.

next moment.

Bertrand regretted jumping a little too early; he couldn't reach the ball.

In a trance.

The view suddenly went dark.

it's dark?
The sky is naturally dark!

He noticed that the spotlight above his head had been blocked, and that there was now a shadow riding on his own shadow on the grass.

what?
The Saints' defender stared blankly.

How could a Chinese prodigy of similar height jump so high?

Tens of thousands of spectators held their breath and focused their attention on Red Devil No. 7.

stunned.

On the green field, Manchester United's heir apparent overpowered the Southampton defenders, using a few steps of running up to propel himself high into the air.

That was an incredible jump height, as if he were bounced up by an invisible spring.

My body felt as if it had frozen in mid-air!

The terrifying suspension in mid-air seemed to render the scrolling advertising boards on the sidelines a frozen backdrop!

Van Gaal looked completely bewildered.

Koeman frowned.

"Wow!!!"

The falling soccer ball was slammed hard into Li Luo's head.

In an instant, it turned into a cannonball!
98 points for a header, and he was in the air!

It is spinning violently.

They swooped down on Southampton's goal with unstoppable force!

Saints goalkeeper Foster leaped into the air and made a save.

Football has already lifted the white net.

2:1! ! !

Old Trafford Stadium erupted in cheers, with the stands bursting into a massive uproar as crowds surged forward, raising red scarves, banners, and flags high into the air!

gradually.

All the Manchester United fans in the stadium began chanting Li Luo's name.

"The ball is in!"

"Li Luo! It's Li Luo again! He's taken the lead!"

"Turning the tide, achieving a second victory, and shining brightly at Dream Theater!"

"Perfect anticipation of the ball's trajectory!"

"The perfect timing for the jump!"

"An unbelievable moment of being suspended in mid-air!"

"An unstoppable headbutt!"

"Endpoint".

"The Red Devils, who were about to be mired in a quagmire, were saved by his two goals!"

The commentator's tone was excited.

Coach Zhang was utterly shocked.

Studio.

The slow-motion replay showed Li Luo's header goal from various angles.
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[Overtaken?]
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Smash it!
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【Awesome! 】
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[I almost thought he took flight. That angle is amazing! The red jersey billowing in the wind, the silhouette of Manchester United's number 7 flying through the air.]
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[This attack was full of details. I didn't expect Li Luo's heading ability to become even more monstrous after he grew taller! It's not the diving header he used to have, but a powerful, vertical leap!]
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Great news! Manchester United are saved!
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[Morata, Mata, and Carrick's passing and ball control are beyond question; I just didn't expect Blind to be activated by Li Luo! Turned into a speed booster!]

Li Luo landed on his feet, touched his forehead, helped Bertrand up who had fallen to the ground, and then ran all the way to the corner flag area, turning around to show his jersey number to the stands.

Red Devil No. 7!
Crash.

This action thrilled the Manchester United fans in the stands, who chanted his name at the top of their lungs.

Savior!
A glimmer of hope!
The midfield maestro who led Manchester United to a resurgence!
Manchester United teammates swarmed around him.

Mata was somewhat incoherent: "Lee, it's been such a long, long time since I've played football like this."

35-year-old Carrick couldn't help but sigh, "My physical condition has recovered since I stopped doing high-intensity shuttle runs, Lee."

Rooney gave Li Luo a hard chest bump: "Great job! I'll definitely treat you to a good meal!"

Morata, amidst his excitement, was a little bewildered: "Didn't I come to Manchester United for the Golden Boot? I haven't scored yet, while Lee has already scored two."

Courtside.

Van Gaal pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "That's right, that was my initial tactical objective!"

I said that before the match.

“Li has grown taller in the last two months and his jumping ability is also very strong. He can perform a mismatch attack from the finishing position.”

"The logic is simple: once the formation has advanced to a certain extent, pass the ball to Li! Let Li smash the ball into the net."

Giggs, who was celebrating, suddenly realized: "That's right, Blind made a long diagonal pass, Lee misjudged and bombarded the goal with a header. But the process was different. We didn't need to go through all that trouble anymore. Lee controlled the game and the tempo. His positioning made Carrick and Blind the points of transition, speeding up the pace."

"Stop with the nonsense. This means Li approves of my tactical plan. Quickly, remind everyone to pay attention to Li's hand gestures!"

The other side.

Koman gazed at Li Luo's retreating figure.

This organizational ability, this commander's demeanor, this leaping height, this confident aura—isn't this exactly what my childhood idol looked like?
Shake his head.

He quickly cleared his mind.

With little time remaining in the match, Southampton must leave Old Trafford with at least a draw!

(End of this chapter)