I changed football.

Four days later, the 22nd round of the league.

This match is against Toulouse, a team that is fighting relegation and is ranked 17th in the league.

Li Yuan and Mbappe were included in the match roster for this game, but neither started.

However, unlike the previous three league matches, Jardim clearly stated in the locker room before today's match that both players would get a chance to play today, barring any player injuries.

After receiving the coach's promise, Mbappe's expression brightened.

When do you think we'll be able to play?

"It's definitely the second half, but we don't know the exact time. Hopefully, it will start as soon as possible."

"It depends on how the game goes. If they don't score in the first half, they might make a substitution at halftime."

"If we're already up 3-0 at halftime, they'll probably bring us on earlier in the second half."

"But what I fear most is that we're down 1-0 and the opponent keeps attacking. Given our coach's conservative mindset, he might just want to defend. I just don't understand. We played so well in the last French Cup match, we played so well on the field, so why can't we play in this match?"

Mbappe posed a probing question, while Li Yuan claimed to be indifferent, which was true in his heart as well. He wasn't in a hurry because in his plan, this season was just a transitional one, and his goal was to enter the first team this season and get playing time.

However, his previous consecutive goals gave Li Yuan hope, making him feel that he could get into the starting lineup sooner.

But now it seems that Yaldin wants to keep them in check. Since Li Yuan has no intention of leaving, then let's train hard and prepare well for the opportunity to play.

However, Mbappe clearly doesn't think that way.

"If I don't become a starter before the end of this season, I will go to a team where I can be a starter next season."

Mbappe's words were calm, but Li Yuan could hear the resolute attitude in them.

Li Yuan could tell from the reports and interviews in his previous life that Mbappe was a person with a strong sense of independence.

So he asked, "If that's the case, where are you going?"

"A team willing to give me a starting position."

Li Yuan was about to ask, "Which team can give a 17-year-old player a starting position?" when he remembered an interview he had seen in his previous life. The interview was with a member of Monaco's management, who said that during the first half of the 16-17 season, Mbappe was often running back and forth between the starting lineup and the substitute at Monaco. Under such circumstances, Mbappe was already considering leaving during the winter transfer window.

At that time, he also received offers from French Ligue 1 clubs that were at the level of the Champions League.

In retrospect, this was just brought forward a little.

"I don't think this will work. You should go talk to the head coach and see what his thoughts are."

"That's what I wanted to say too. If I hadn't played in today's game, I would have gone to talk to him."

However, this never happened.

Because Mbappe was substituted on in the 50th minute of the second half, and Li Yuan was substituted on in the 60th minute.

When he came on, the score was still 0-0.

"Even against a relegation-threatened team, Monaco's attack is so weak. Honestly, Jardim should seriously consider putting Li Yuan and Mbappe in the starting lineup. They can provide considerable impact and breakthroughs right from the start. If that were all, you could say they're not consistent enough, but together they've already contributed 13 goals to the first team. That's a much better goal-scoring efficiency than the previous wing combination."

"In today's world football, whoever controls the flanks controls the game. Ronaldo and Messi are both wingers, as are the Robben-Ribery duo. Why is this? Because the flanks offer width, allowing for breakthroughs, cuts inside, and shots. There are many options, and the flanks only have defenders in front, behind, and on one side, unlike the center which has defenders on all four sides. This is the simplest explanation, but the reasons behind it are actually more complex."

"In the 90s and early 00s, attacking players were mostly concentrated in the center forward and shadow striker positions, mainly in the central area. However, in the latter half of the 00s, the emergence of the weak-footed winger completely changed everything. Now, the dominant-footed winger has become a minority. Li Yuan and Mbappe are both weak-footed wingers. Li Yuan is left-footed and plays on the right wing, while Mbappe is right-footed and plays on the left wing. They are both like that."

"Furthermore, the blurring of positions is gradually becoming more prevalent in all aspects of world football, especially in attacking players. It's much less common for wingers to spend the entire game on the flanks now. Wingers now have a much wider range of movement, from the flanks to the half-spaces and then to the center. This is all too common now."

"This is also because the pace of modern football is too fast. Another reason is that full-backs now need to move up and down the pitch and participate in the attack. So many teams' attacking tactics involve the wingers cutting inside, which is essentially an inside forward, and then the full-backs overlapping to cross the ball, while the wingers move to the center or flanks to participate in the attack."

"Actually, there's some interesting data: in the past, when there were more attacks through the middle, goals scored in the penalty area accounted for a larger percentage. But now, goals scored from outside the penalty area account for a larger percentage."

After seeing Li Yuan come on stage, Zhang Lu immediately got excited and started talking non-stop. Zhan Jun tried to get back on track but couldn't, so he simply stopped and listened to Zhang Lu talk.

And as they were talking, Li Yuan gave them a helping hand.

"An attack down the flank, Li Yuan's chance!" Zhan Jun's voice remained loud and clear.

"Carrillo is in the middle, and Mbappe is on the left. Let's see if Li Yuan will pass the ball or cut inside himself!"

"Oh! Li Yuan has sent word, he's looking for—Mbappe!"

At this moment, Mbappe ran from the left wing to the half-space area, and is now at the corner of the left sideline of the penalty area. Li Yuan's pass is right in front of him, and the landing point is perfect.

Mbappe adjusted slightly and unleashed a powerful shot, aiming directly at the right side of the goal.

The Toulouse goalkeeper had no chance and could only watch the ball go into the net.

"Beautiful! Beautiful assist! Beautiful goal!"

"That goal was such a beautiful combination between Li Yuan and Mbappe! Li Yuan's pass was so precise, and Mbappe adjusted slightly before shooting. It was brilliant!" Zhan Jun kept praising Li Yuan and Mbappe.

At this point, fans in China who were still staying up late to watch the game also had something to say.

"See? We're definitely going to play Li Yuan. Last time, in the French Cup, you haters said the opponent was a relegation-threatened team from Ligue 2, so it wasn't a reliable indicator. How about today's game?"

"The moment Li Yuan came on, the game changed completely. He could dribble, pass, and run down the flanks; you couldn't stop him. That's what you call good, exciting football!"