We made you the King of Prisoners, and now you've become the King of Football?

Chapter 108 The Fox of the Forbidden Zone?

"The match is over!"

Monaco ultimately defeated ten-man Paris Saint-Germain 2-1!

"This young army has truly capsized the French warships that had set sail!"

"They've won the French League Cup again after thirteen years!"

"This is their first championship of the season!"

"But I believe this won't be the last championship!"

"They also have the French Cup! And the Europa League!"

"If they can win all of these, this will be the most successful season in Monaco's history!"

The instant the whistle blew.

All the players on Monaco's bench rushed onto the field.

The red and white crowd in the stands erupted in cheers.

Before Jiang Ming could even react, he was tackled to the ground by a group of teammates.

-

"champion!!!"

"We are the champions!!"

Mbappe grabbed Jiang Ming and shook his shoulders repeatedly.

Lemar rushed over and jumped onto the group.

Veteran Carvalho slowly approached, watching the group of young people celebrate wildly, and the image of lifting the trophy years ago flashed through his mind.

Carvalho then nodded with satisfaction.

This is an era for young people.

the other side.

Jardine had just given assistant coach Cardella a high five.

The next second, he was surrounded by a group of staff.

"Boss!"

"We did it!"

In the stands.

Monaco fans who had traveled from afar kept waving red and white scarves.

The singing and cheers mingled together, resounding throughout the Stade de France.

Allez Monaco!

'

"AllezMonaco!"

They had waited too long for this moment.

Thirteen years —

Thirteen years!

Monaco have finally lifted the French League Cup trophy again.

Moreover, they ascended to the throne by stepping on Paris Saint-Germain.

On the sidelines, the score on the big screen lingered for a long time.

Paris Saint-Germain 1-2 Monaco

The numbers on the big screen seemed to be announcing something to everyone.

The era belonging to this young team has quietly begun.

Soon, the on-site announcements started playing again.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please have both teams remain on the field."

"Next, the 2015-16 French League Cup champion award ceremony will be held."

The staff quickly set up a temporary podium in the center of the stadium.

The Paris Saint-Germain players were the first to step forward.

Ibrahimovic accepted the runner-up medal with a blank expression, shook hands briefly with the presenter, and then left the award area with his teammates.

The spotlight at the Stade de France was now completely on the Monaco players.

The host then introduced the event.

One Monaco player after another stepped onto the podium.

Gold medals were hung around everyone's neck.

-

Many young players couldn't help but look down and stare, their upturned lips impossible to suppress.

This is their first championship in their professional career.

Finally, Captain Thuram slowly walked to the trophy.

The silver League Cup gleamed under the lights.

He accepted the trophy with both hands, turned around, and waved to his teammates.

All the Monaco players immediately surrounded them.

3!

'

2!

'

1!

'

"champion!!!"

Amidst deafening cheers, Toulalan raised the trophy high.

Golden ribbons fluttered in the air.

Fireworks burst into the sky above the Stade de France.

All the Monaco players rushed to reach out and touch the trophy.

Jiang Ming stood in the center of the crowd and reached out to support one corner of the trophy.

This is his first championship trophy in his professional career.

But it will certainly not be the last one.

Photographers on site kept pressing the shutter to freeze this moment forever.

Post-match press conference.

Laurent Blanc, the manager of Paris Saint-Germain, was the first to be interviewed, representing the losing side.

Blanco took a deep breath before placing the microphone in front of him.

"We failed to win the game, in one of the most crucial matches."

"The main problem is that our midfielders aren't at full strength yet, so we can't compete with Monaco in terms of midfield toughness."

"But my guys won't be discouraged by this."

"After all, the French League Cup is just a minor, insignificant cup competition."

"Our main focus is on the league title and the French Cup."

"Verratti's return from injury will allow us to compete against Monaco in top form."

"I believe that my team will be able to wash away this defeat by winning the championship."

After a while.

Yalding stepped into the press conference hall with light and quick steps.

His black suit was stained even darker by the water.

It looks like the Portuguese coach was drenched in beer from head to toe.

What else can I say?

"We worked together and won our first championship of the season so far!"

"Although the French League Cup is just a trivial and insignificant competition in the eyes of fans."

"But a champion is a champion, and this honor is the greatest reward for the young men!"

"I believe we will ride this momentum and continue to move forward!"

-

"As long as we keep moving forward, the road will keep extending!"

"We want to win even more championships!"

"Slap slap slap—"

The applause of the audience was thunderous.

In the locker room.

Bakayoko stood in the center and started dancing wildly.

Mbappe transformed into a demon, holding a champagne glass, relentlessly chasing after the other players who hadn't yet suffered the consequences.

Jiang Ming sat down in the chair and opened the system.

[Ding! The road to the championship has begun!]

Congratulations on winning the French League Cup!

[Reward: Pauleta's "Goal-Scenting" module; 8 attribute points can be freely allocated]

Pauleta's "Smell of the Goal" module: When inside the opponent's penalty area, the final instinct for crosses, deflections, and clearances that are not far enough to reach the goal.

He possesses an accurate sense of positioning, making it extremely easy for him to exploit weaknesses in front of the opponent's goal. [Note: He is the Eagle of the Azores in Ligue 1, and also Portugal's big-game choker.]

In an instant, a vast amount of experience flooded into my mind.

It took Jiang Ming quite a while to come to his senses.

I roughly sensed the memories in my mind.

Jiang Ming understood the function of this module.

Simply put, it means being able to anticipate the ball's trajectory when entering the opponent's penalty area.

Whether it's a cross, a deflection, or a clearance that doesn't go far.

The ball's final destination will be marked, just like a signal in a game.

If we use a game as an analogy...

The Berbatov module is like a minimap guide in the game.

The Pauleta module is a "target location on the map" in the game.

One lists the route, and the other marks the destination.

When you put the two together, you get a complete combo!

"Am I getting closer and closer to becoming a fox in the forbidden zone?" Jiang Ming couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Then, add the remaining 8 freely distributable attribute points to speed.

[Speed ​​58-66]

"All physical attributes are now at 60!"

Jiang Ming estimated that after finishing this season's matches, his physical attributes would be close to 80.

By then, judging solely from his stats on paper, his ability will be considered top-tier in the five major leagues!

Not to mention the numerous passive modules —

Beautiful!

Putting away the system, Jiang Ming grabbed a glass of champagne and joined the team's celebration.

The next day.

China Sports Channel.

-

—《French League Cup Final! Monaco defeats Paris Saint-Germain 2-1!》

—[Title: Monaco lifts the trophy! Success on multiple fronts this season! First achievement!]

—"A Young Man Grows Up After Leaving Home! Chinese Prodigy Jiang Ming Wins His First Title in One of the Top Five European Leagues!"

—Tonight, the sky above the Stade de France belongs to red!

—Ibrahimovic's post-match interview: The French League Cup is not important, Zlatan just took a nap

—Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc: The French Cup final is the real test!

—"The road keeps extending! Renowned coach Jardim: We aim to win more than one title this season—"

The most upvoted comments in the comment section were pushed to the top.

"Wow, Jiang Ming's first championship is here already? It didn't seem too difficult!"

"That's normal. The French League Cup is a rather lackluster competition, with a much lower level of prestige than the French Cup. Before, hardly anyone hyped up this competition."

"Oh, no wonder Blanc said the real showdown would be in the French Cup; he wasn't just being stubborn."

"Actually, it's kind of stubbornness, since the championship is right in front of them. Have you ever seen a team give up in the final?"

Does AC Milan count?

"You're slandering my Mao again? Take him out and shoot him for five minutes!"

"No matter what, it's good that Jiang Ming won a championship; it boosts morale."

"Give the young players some experience in finals, and then they'll be able to put up a fight against Sevilla in the Europa League final!"

The next day.

Latourby Training Centre.

Having just won the title the day before, Monaco still needs to prepare for the next match.

The second leg against Villarreal will take place two days later.

Although most players believed the game was already won.

However, Jardim, as the head coach, will certainly maintain a cautious attitude.

After all—right?

As soon as Jiang Ming stepped onto the training field, a familiar voice rang in his mind.

-

[The Elf's Comeback Plan - End]

After this period of competition and training, your physical functions have recovered significantly.

Although you haven't returned to your peak form yet, your current physical condition is more than capable of handling the competition.

[You've decided to show the world your recovered form, letting fans know that the football genius has returned to the pitch!]

[Mission Objective: During the match, dribble forward independently and create 5 goals]

[Reward: Balance +10; Ronaldinho's "Poké Ball Sense" module]

Jiang Ming stared at the task description on the system panel and silently considered it in his mind.

The entire quest chain, "[The Elf's Return Plan]", revolves around physical recovery from beginning to end.

Speed, acceleration, agility, endurance, strength, balance.

Of the six physical attributes, five have been completed.

He also transformed from the useless guy who would pant after just a couple of steps and be sent flying by a single bump from an opposing defender when the system was first activated.

The key player who can withstand Matuidi's onslaught and launch a solo attack to break through the defense.

This task chain is like a recovery plan.

Step by step, they helped him rebuild his "Prison King" body into a form capable of playing professional football.

It's reasonable that the mission has come to an end.

Jiang Ming then turned his gaze to the rewards section.

Ronaldinho's "Poké Ball Sense" module.

If we were to pinpoint the most talked-about aspect of Ronaldinho, it would undoubtedly be his historically exceptional ball control.

Jiang Ming was already looking forward to the feeling of being one with the ball when he dribbled forward after completing the last task and obtaining the module.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Match day.

The Stade Louis II was brightly lit.

Eighteen thousand fans filled the stands to capacity.

"Welcome to the second leg of the 2015-16 UEFA Europa League semi-final, Monaco hosts Villarreal."

1

Zhan Jun's voice rang out.

-

"Monaco won the first leg 3-1 at El Madrigal, and with three away goals, their chances of advancing are very good."

"For Villarreal to turn things around, they need to win by at least two goals away from home, which will be quite difficult."

Zhang Lu chimed in: "Today, Marcelino will start with two strikers again, Soldado and Bakambu."

"In midfield, Pina and Soriano are paired together, possessing both defensive toughness and playmaking ability."

"Monaco is still using a double defensive midfield setup, with Jiang Ming holding down the ball and Bakayoko responsible for sweeping up. Their attacking trident is at full speed, clearly indicating they're going to continue playing counter-attacking football from a defensive position."

"Whoosh!"

The referee blew his whistle.

The competition has officially begun.

Villarreal did not launch a strong attack right from the start as many had predicted.

Soldado passed the ball back to midfield, and Soriano dribbled the ball sideways for two steps.

Seeing that Monaco's defense was solid, he passed the ball back to center-back Bailly.

-

Villarreal's entire defensive line slowly advanced, with the two defensive lines pressed extremely close together. Their passes were mostly short, lateral passes, making them incredibly stable.

In the first ten minutes, neither side created any decent opportunities.

Monaco stayed in their own half and didn't come out, while Villarreal didn't rush to pass the ball in. The ball mostly spun around in midfield.

"Both sides are quite cautious," Zhan Jun smiled. "Villarreal is afraid of counterattacks, and Monaco wants to maintain their advantage. The first half hour is probably all probing."

Zhang Lu nodded: "Marcellino is an old hand; he wouldn't reveal all his secrets right away."

"Let's slowly look for opportunities to steal one first, and if we can't steal one, then we'll push the order up."

Sidelines.

Marcelino stood in front of the substitutes' bench.

He repeatedly told the team before the match: "Don't rush at the start, or you'll give your opponent an opportunity."

the other side.

Yaldin, on the other hand, was quite relaxed.

-

He leaned against the railing of the coach's bench, his gaze sweeping across the field.

Jiang Ming was positioned very deep today, almost parallel to the center-back.

As a result, Villarreal's high-pressing tactics couldn't find a way to exert their pressure.

When the opponent presses forward, Jiang splits up to the side.

If the opponent doesn't press, Jiang will slowly pass the ball around to waste time.

This is a classic example of taking advantage of one's own strength and waiting for the enemy to tire themselves out.

Anyway, the lead is on their side.

After the 15th minute of the match.

Villarreal gradually picked up the pace.

Full-back Gaspar started making frequent forward runs, and the number of crosses from the right wing increased.

Soldado won two consecutive balls in the penalty area.

Unfortunately, they didn't put in enough effort, and the ball went quite wide.

-

Monaco's defense was gradually pushed back into the penalty area.

Villarreal's players also seemed more relaxed.

The 18th minute of the match.

The deadlock on the field was broken.

Soriano dribbles laterally in midfield.

He wanted to pass the ball to the onrushing left-back, Costa.

He had just turned around.

A red and white figure suddenly cut across.

Jiang Ming anticipated his passing route.

He stretched out his leg to intercept and took the ball.

Jiang Ming did not stop after intercepting the ball.

He then passed the ball across to Fabinho, who had made an overlapping run down the right flank.

"Interception! Jiang Ming's prediction was spot on!"

"Monaco has a chance to fight back!"

Fabinho sprinted at full speed along the sideline.

Gaspar hurriedly chased back but was always half a body length behind.

Fabinho rushed to the edge of the penalty area and delivered a low cross.

The football crossed the penalty spot and headed straight for the far post.

All eyes followed the ball as it moved to the far right.

Mbappe had somehow already made a diagonal run into position and gently tapped the ball with his foot.

The football grazed his foot, changing its direction.

It squeezed into the net, close to the far post.

Asenjo couldn't make the save and could only watch helplessly as the ball went into the net.

September 12, 1986 – September 12, 2006!

Monaco takes the lead at home!

The final score is 4-1!

"Goal!"

"Mbappe!"

"Fabinho's cross found Mbappe at the far post, who tapped it in!"

Zhan Jun said with a smile, "Monaco's counter-attacks were too smooth. Villarreal just tried to press forward, and their defense was breached."

Zhang Lu continued, "The key was Jiang Ming's interception, which happened just in time to catch Soriano passing the ball."

"After breaking through, immediately split to the side, without any hesitation, and the rhythm of the counterattack immediately comes out."

The Stade Louis II erupted in cheers.

Mbappe ran to the corner flag and bumped shoulders with Fabinho, who was rushing towards him.

Jiang Ming stood near the center circle, smiling and clapping.

Marcelino's face turned pale.

What you fear most is what happens.

They were hit with a counterattack as soon as they pushed forward, making it even harder to play now.

He waved to the crowd.

"Stay calm and keep the formation intact!"

The live stream chat was flooded with comments.

"With an aggregate score of 4-1, how can Villarreal possibly turn this around?"

"Jiang Ming's midfield ability is getting stronger and stronger; he can not only organize the offense but also intercept the ball!"

"It's mainly because of his good awareness. He doesn't rely on his body to steal the ball, but on his awareness to reach out and intercept in advance."

"It's safe, Monaco's ticket to the final is halfway there."

After conceding a goal, Villarreal seemed to play more freely.

Since we're already behind, we might as well launch a full-scale attack.

The 27th minute of the match.

Denis breaks through on the left and crosses the ball.

Soldado overpowered Wallace in the penalty area and headed the ball powerfully toward the goal.

Subasic leaped and tipped the ball over the crossbar with one hand.

"Great shot! Soldado's header! Subasic makes a brilliant save!" Zhan Jun shouted.

"If this ball is headed straight, it's basically a goal."

Zhang Lu nodded in agreement: "Villarreal still has a clear advantage in aerial combat."

"Monaco's defenders are at a disadvantage in terms of height, so they have to rely on their goalkeepers to make up for it, which is why Subasic has performed so well this season."

The corner kick is taken.

Victor Ruiz flicks the ball on with his head at the near post.

The football grazed the far post and went out of bounds.

It was a close call, but no real danger.

The next ten minutes or so.

Villarreal bombarded Monaco's penalty area relentlessly, but they couldn't break through the defense.

Bakayoko is like a mobile barrier.

He swept back and forth in front of the penalty area, intercepting many passes.

Jiang Ming would occasionally drop back into the penalty area to help contest for second balls.

Once the physical confrontation began, he was no longer the boy who would fly away with a single collision.

There was a time when he clashed head-on with Bakambu.

The opponent swayed and took a half step back, but he was able to stand firmly and protect the ball.

The combination of flexibility and increased strength resulted in an even better effect than expected.

Two minutes of stoppage time were added in the first half, but neither side created any further threats.

When the referee blew the whistle, the score was still 1-0.

Monaco went into the locker room with a one-goal lead.

The 4-1 lead in the overall score made the atmosphere in the locker room very relaxed.

Jardim briefly explained some defensive precautions, emphasizing marking players on set pieces, and then let everyone rest.

Jiang Ming sat on a bench drinking water, his mind replaying the details of the first half of the game.

Villarreal's attacks mostly go down the flanks, with little penetration through the middle.

They will definitely press harder in the second half, creating more gaps in midfield.

There will be even more opportunities to counterattack than in the first half.

After a 15-minute break, the two sides switched sides and resumed play.

Marcelino made the necessary adjustments, replacing midfielder Soriano with striker Uche, switching to a three-striker formation.

"They've made a substitution; Villarreal is going all out," Zhan Jun said. "They're taking off a midfielder and bringing on a striker; they're going all out."

Zhang Lu chimed in, "There's no other way; if we don't try, we'll have no chance."

"But this makes the midfield defense even weaker, giving Monaco more space to counter-attack."

Villarreal launched an attack right from the start.

Three forwards took turns attacking Monaco's penalty area, with crosses coming one after another from the flanks.

The higher you press down, the bigger the gap behind you becomes.

The 61th minute of the match.

The balance on the field was completely broken.

Jiang Ming received the ball in the backcourt and glanced up.

Swing your leg forward gently.

The low, through ball was like a scalpel, precisely piercing through Villarreal's entire defense and heading straight for the space behind the penalty area.

Mbappe had already started his run, using his unstoppable speed to shake off the defenders behind him.

He faced Asenjo one-on-one.

Mbappe didn't hesitate and flicked his toes lightly.

The football sailed over the goalkeeper's head and into the far corner of the goal.

September 12, 1986 – September 12, 2006!

-

In the 61st minute, Monaco scored again!

The final score is 5-1!

The suspense surrounding their advancement has been completely put to rest!

"Goal! Mbappe scores his second goal! Jiang Ming's through ball! Another precise counter-attack pass!"

Zhan Jun's tone rose: "With this goal, the outcome of the game is completely decided."

"With a four-point deficit on aggregate, even if Villarreal scores three more goals, it won't make a difference."

"Jiang Ming's through ball was perfect; Mbappe could charge forward as soon as he got the ball, without needing to slow down at all."

The cheers at the Stade Louis II reached their peak.

The fans stood up in unison, waving their scarves and chanting the players' names.

Mbappe slid to his knees on the sidelines, and his teammates rushed over to surround him.

Jiang Ming stood not far away and gave Bakayoko a high five as he ran over.

Yaldin finally showed a clear smile.

He whispered something to his teaching assistant, Cardella.

Marcelino then turned around and walked back to the coaching bench, where he plopped down on the floor.

His face looked as pale as if he had swallowed a fly.

He knew that the team had absolutely no chance.

Villarreal, trailing by two goals, seemed to have lost their fighting spirit.

Their attack was disorganized and their passing was frequently erratic.

Monaco, on the other hand, steadily controlled the pace, slowly whiling away the time.

77 minutes.

Monaco are awarded a corner kick on the left.

Jiang Ming stood in front of the ball and exchanged a glance with Bernardo Silva next to him.

The whistle fell silent.

Jiang Ming did not drive directly into the restricted area.

Instead, he passed the ball sideways to Bernardo Silva, who came over to receive it.

-

Tactical corner kick!

Villarreal players were stunned for a moment, and then someone rushed over.

Bernardo Silva gently tapped the ball back.

Jiang Ming followed up with a step and crossed the ball.

The football, with its inward spin, was precisely smashed into the center of the penalty area.

Carvalho rushed up from the back row, shook off Ruiz, and leaped high into the air.

He slammed the ball hard into the goal.

Asenjo couldn't make the save, and the ball slammed into the net.

September 12, 1986 – September 12, 2006!

In the 77th minute, Monaco sealed the victory!

The final score is 6-1!

A resounding and exhilarating victory!

"Goal! Carvalho! A tactical corner kick combination! Jiang Ming's cross was perfectly placed, and Carvalho headed it into the net!"

Zhan Jun laughed, "It's 3-0 now! This match has completely turned into Monaco's show!"

"Jiang Ming delivered two assists and a crucial steal today, his performance was nothing short of perfect."

"This corner kick tactic was cleverly designed, it created space for the defenders."

"The cross was of very high quality, landing precisely in the blind spot of Villarreal's center-back."

The cheers from the stands grew louder and louder.

Carvalho ran to the sidelines and pumped his fist at the fans.

This was his first European goal of the season.

After scoring, Jardim made several substitutions.

Mbappe, Jiang Ming, and Traore were substituted with reserve players.

This is both to conserve energy for the main players and to let everyone experience the atmosphere of advancing to the next round.

When Jiang Ming left the field, the entire stadium stood up and applauded.

He waved to the stands and quickly walked back to the substitutes' bench.

Yaldin handed him a bottle of water and patted him on the shoulder.

The remaining time became completely wasted time.

Villarreal players have lost their will to fight.

The three minutes of stoppage time passed quickly.

The referee blew the final whistle.

The score remained 3-0.

Monaco secured a resounding home victory against Villarreal.

With a total score of 6-1, they advanced to the Europa League final in a dominant fashion!

The Stade Louis II was transformed into a sea of ​​red and white.

The players rushed onto the field and hugged each other in celebration.

The young faces were full of smiles, and some even had tears in their eyes from excitement.

Who would have thought that this young team, which was fighting for European qualification at the beginning of the season, would actually make it all the way to the Europa League final?

Jiang Ming stood in the crowd, looking up at the brightly lit stands.

Europa League Final!

They are just one step away from winning the Europa League title.

The next step is to bring the championship trophy back!