Dominating Football with Perfect Ball Control

Chapter 185: 185. Lance’s Rookie Wall?

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”Welcome back to a long-awaited match day!”

”Ladies and gentlemen, I’m sure you’re all still basking in the joy of our World Cup victory.”

”But that was a month ago!”

”Starting today, the Bundesliga is reigniting!”

”The new season’s competition has already begun!”

On German television, commentator Mehmet Shaul was ecstatic.

More than a month without matches felt like being in prison.

Commentating matches was less a job and more his passion!

Especially commentating Bayer Leverkusen’s matches.

Lance’s performance has garnered widespread attention throughout Germany.

...

Before the match, many media outlets were already focusing on Lance.

For example, the Munich Evening News predicted that Lance, in his second Bundesliga year, might struggle to perform as brilliantly as last season.

”It’s well known that players who have an outstanding debut season often find their second season very difficult.”

”Ein hoher Baum f?ngt viel Wind (A tall tree catches much wind).”

Munich columnist Erik quoted a German proverb, hinting at Lance’s current situation.

”This situation is commonly called a ’sophomore slump,’ and there are too many examples in football.”

”Last season’s performance, as well as his brilliant showing in the World Cup, can easily be studied.”

”I believe that during the pre-season, the coaching staffs of all Bundesliga clubs have thoroughly analysed Lance.”

”His weaknesses will also be easily exposed and targeted by opponents.”

”Therefore, the new season is the real test for him!”

”Furthermore, players who perform well in the World Cup often struggle to deliver excellent performances in the subsequent league season.”

”This situation is commonly referred to as the ’FIFA virus.’ After a season of constant travel, Lance has had almost no rest.”

”It’s normal for him to have a sluggish performance in the new season. Under the influence of these double factors, we have reason to believe that Bayern Munich will become the king of the 2014-2015 season, returning to the Bundesliga throne!”

”Guardiola’s team, after a season of integration and adjustment, this six-time champion coach will surely lead his team to challenge for the Grand Slam...”

This column article in the Munich Evening News caused quite a stir on the internet.

After all, there were quite a few people who disliked Lance.

Last season, Bayer Leverkusen almost dominated every Bundesliga team.

Lance had accumulated a lot of resentment from opposing fans.

Werder Bremen, Wolfsburg, Schalke 04, VfB Stuttgart, Borussia Dortmund, and their biggest rival, Bayern Munich.

The fans of several clubs even formed an alliance in public opinion, jointly criticising Bayer Leverkusen fans, much like the six major sects besieging Guangming Peak.

Bayer Leverkusen fans were stunned.

After a summer, we’ve become the villains?

Commentary articles about Lance were regarded as gospel by other fans.

Everyone was hoping for Lance to hit a ’sophomore slump’ and quickly decline in his second year.

Only then could Bayer Leverkusen lose its backbone and fall, and the Bundesliga return to its rightful order.

Especially Schalke and Wolfsburg fans, who would rather their own teams never see hope than not drag Bayer Leverkusen down with them.

Under the promotion and discussion of many people, Lance was already under the scrutiny of countless eyes before the match even started.

Coincidentally, next up was the appetiser for the new Bundesliga season.

The DFL-Supercup!

Last season’s Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen, facing last season’s DFB-Pokal champions Bayern Munich!

...

Back on the field, after commentator Shaul and guest Kahn discussed Lance’s ’sophomore slump’ for a while,

Both teams were ready, and the match officially began!

”Both teams have made some personnel adjustments over the summer.”

”On Bayern Munich’s side, they brought in the star striker from rivals Borussia Dortmund this summer.”

”Lewandowski’s arrival will be a major reinforcement for Bayern!”

”Coupled with Real Madrid’s midfield general Xabi Alonso’s transfer, Bayern’s strength across all three lines has significantly improved.”

”In the new season, Bayern Munich might challenge for the Bundesliga throne, reclaiming their glory.”

”Looking at Bayer Leverkusen, they really had a crazy summer!”

Shaul even laughed; Bayer Leverkusen’s summer transfers indeed made quite a splash.

But they didn’t have a heavyweight signing like Lewandowski.

Bayer Leverkusen had many transfers, but they all seemed like minor dealings.

The only truly heavyweight transfer was the 22 million signing of De Bruyne.

Other signings seemed to be unknown.

”Bayer Leverkusen brought in De Bruyne, Hoffenheim forward Firmino, VfB Stuttgart centre-back Rüdiger—these are all familiar to our Bundesliga audience.”

”As for the defensive players Harry Maguire, Dutch centre-back Virgil van Dijk, Aké, loaning Liverpool full-back Alexander-Arnold, loaning Atlético Madrid player Saúl...”

”To be honest, I don’t understand these signings.”

Everyone was initially looking forward to Bayer Leverkusen signing big-name stars after winning the championship, gradually aligning themselves with top clubs.

But it was still the same old routine.

Selling unknown players after they proved their worth to maintain financial balance.

”That’s understandable.”

Kahn explained for Bayer Leverkusen:

”After all, we have strict investment limits and a strict financial system.”

”Apart from Bayern, it’s difficult for Bundesliga teams to spend lavishly like Manchester City or Paris.”

”Signing unknown players as a lottery might be their way of survival.”

”The only question is, can these ’lottery tickets’ that Bayer Leverkusen picked be cashed in?”

Based on Bayer Leverkusen’s pre-season warm-up match results, their performance didn’t seem too good.

The addition of multiple players led to a certain degree of lack of cohesion across all three lines of the team.

While their offensive firepower was strong, their defence was also easily exposed.

Bayer Leverkusen’s warm-up match was surprisingly drawn by a third-tier team, which somewhat reflected the team’s poor form.

Especially Lance’s performance, he seemed very ordinary, completely failing to make any impact.

No wonder he was questioned by the columnist from the Munich Evening News.

”It all comes down to this match!”

...

After 95 minutes.

”The match is over!! Bayern Munich defeated Bayer Leverkusen 2-0, successfully lifting the DFL-Supercup trophy!”

”They finally avenged last season’s double defeat!”

”The former Borussia Dortmund star striker, now playing for Bayern, Lewandowski, performed brilliantly.”

”He seized two consecutive opportunities in the box; his all-around ability is beyond doubt!”

”The new Bayern seems a bit terrifying!”

”In contrast, Bayer Leverkusen, the problems we mentioned before the match were basically exposed.”

”The major rotation in the defence led to frequent coordination errors, giving Bayern Munich continuous shooting opportunities.”

”De Bruyne still seemed to be finding his rhythm, Son Heung-min also didn’t make much of an impact.”

”And looking at the team’s most central player, Lance,”

”He truly seems to be troubled by the sophomore slump. He barely had any decent possession throughout the match.”

”Every move he made was anticipated by Bayern’s defenders.”

”Clearly, Guardiola had done his homework and made many detailed arrangements for Lance.”

”Of course, Lance wasn’t completely useless.”

”He contributed Bayer Leverkusen’s only three attacks.”

”Unfortunately, all three dribbling breakthroughs failed to breach Neuer’s goal.”

”Today, Neuer transformed into Spider-Man, making brilliant saves and performing heroically...”

...

In the locker room, Bayer Leverkusen lost their first official match of the season.

Everyone’s mood wasn’t particularly low.

It was just a Supercup, a meaningless competition.

The locker room atmosphere remained as usual.

Only Lance sat on the bench, a towel covering his head, deep in thought.

Good news: The fusion value has already exceeded 65%!

It surged during the World Cup, on the verge of breaking through 75%, and not far from 100% to draw the next template.

Bad news:

His weaknesses were truly thoroughly studied by Bundesliga opponents!