Dominating Football with Perfect Ball Control

Chapter 352: 352. The Most Fiery Madrid Derby

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Perhaps it was Saúl’s abstract behaviour, or Griezmann’s quota curse.

Barcelona, who had been invincible for half a season, also stumbled!

Las Palmas, a newly promoted team, with a total squad value only 1/10 of Barcelona’s, currently a minnow team hovering on the brink of the relegation zone.

They actually drew 1-1 with Barcelona at home!

Messi misfired, Neymar left injured, and Suárez missed 3 clear chances.

Barcelona maintained 82% possession throughout the match, with 23 shots.

Las Palmas had less than 20% possession, only 4 shots, 2 on target, and 1 goal.

Lance only remembered that moment after watching the match:

The entire Atlético Madrid changing room was cheering!

In that instant, everyone was a fan of Las Palmas!

Who cares what kind of team they are, if they can draw with Barcelona, they’re a good team!

As a result, the La Liga big three were back on equal footing!

Barcelona — 70

Real Madrid — 66

Atlético Madrid — 66

Athletic Bilbao — 45

Still a 4-point difference!

There were still so many rounds left in the league, and there were two important matches: Real Madrid vs Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid vs Barcelona.

It was anyone’s game!

Of course, Barcelona’s matters were put aside for now.

Just 3 days after the league ended, all of Atlético Madrid had arrived at the Bernabéu Stadium.

It was the second leg of the Copa del Rey!

”In the first leg, the two teams drew 2-2. Real Madrid’s excellent luck allowed them to take the lead at one point. But Lance’s superb performance at the end forcefully helped Atlético Madrid salvage a glimmer of hope!”

”Today, they will have a life-and-death showdown at the Bernabéu! Just like a bullfight, the bull, or the bullfighter, must die today!”

Facing this midweek key match, the match was scheduled to be broadcast on the paid channel Moviestar+.

Therefore, commentator José ángel’s rhetoric also became bolder, using a fast and passionate Spanish, he stirred up the fans’ enthusiasm before the match began.

For how many years have the two Madrid teams engaged in countless peak confrontations.

Every time was full of gunpowder.

The aristocratic class, high above, and the commoner-representing Los Colchoneros, the two sides were inherently in an unending struggle!

The pre-match press conference already showed the tension; Simeone, who had been speaking cautiously recently, had a serious expression:

”What I want to say is... we will step over Real Madrid’s corpse to enter the final!”

OHHHH—

The reporters present immediately erupted, flashbulbs flashing continuously!

Simeone was really explosive today!

Coincidentally, the player who attended the press conference with Simeone was Lance, Atlético Madrid’s central attacking core.

Reporters all aimed their cameras at him, hoping Lance could also say something explosive.

Lance raised the microphone, suddenly remembering what Ms Hanna Mouller, the player PR manager, had told him before the press conference.

”Lance, for the brand image of the sponsors, and the PR needs of Atlético Madrid Club, it’s best to keep a low profile. If the result isn’t good, Spanish media and extreme self-media bloggers can easily seize the opportunity to stir up trouble and tarnish your image.”

Hanna Mouller’s worries were not unfounded.

Ever since Lance joined Atlético Madrid for a sky-high price, becoming the transfer market’s record signing.

He was destined to attract everyone’s attention in Spain.

Those who liked him, naturally liked him very much.

This also meant that there were more people who disliked Lance.

Fans of Barcelona, Real Madrid, and even Athletic Bilbao, Villarreal, Sevilla, and other clubs, would fear or dislike Lance.

Since the beginning of the season, labels such as ”Chinese capital crony,” ”disrupting Spanish football,” and ”sky-high bust” were constantly pinned on Lance.

Later, Lance’s brilliant goals and his position as the top scorer gradually silenced these voices, then different voices emerged.

”Not humble at all,” ”disrespecting Spanish fans,” ”disrespecting Real Madrid,” ”making arrogant remarks,” ”imitating Mourinho.”

This was a new round of criticism.

Lance never cared about these things, so for most of the season, he almost ignored these voices, focusing his attention on football.

How netizens and media evaluated him was not important.

But Ms Hanna Mouller had been fighting against these haters.

Especially many rumours, saying that Lance was a team tyrant, disrupting Atlético Madrid’s atmosphere, having conflicts with Griezmann, and arguing with Simeone.

There were even some more excessive discriminatory remarks, as well as rumours targeting Lance’s sponsors, claiming that the watches, cars, and clothing he endorsed had quality issues.

Hanna Mouller, on multiple occasions, leveraged the connections of super-agent Jorge Mendes, dispatching legal teams to sue the leading rumour-mongers.

These were not making a mountain out of a molehill.

If a person’s reputation is poor, it can genuinely affect commercial collaborations, causing Lance to lose a lot of income for no reason.

To avoid putting pressure on Lance, Hanna Mouller only informed him of the results of these matters, never the process or details, fearing it would affect his performance.

All these pressures were absorbed by Ms Hanna herself, whilst Lance focused on matches and training, Hanna was also fighting her own battle.

Hanna wasn’t afraid of trouble, but she was very worried that Lance might get caught in a public opinion storm due to some unintentional remarks, affecting his performance.

That’s why she tirelessly reminded Lance to be careful with his statements.

Seeing that the situation was getting a bit out of control today, Simeone was already hyped up.

Hanna’s expression immediately tensed, and she looked at Lance with eager eyes from the side.

”Please, stick to the script.”

Press conferences are routine procedures; just say some platitudes to get through it, no need to be serious.

What he said wasn’t important; the match was.

As a result, before speaking, Lance glanced to the side, met Ms Hanna’s gaze, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

”This guy!”

Hanna wished she could go over and give him a rap on the head.

That mischievous smile surely meant he was going to mess around again.

Annoying!

I’m not going to bother with you anymore!

Hanna huffed, wrinkling her small nose, clenching her small fists on her hips, annoyed beyond measure.

Indeed, Lance said seriously into the microphone:

”As the coach just said. The Copa del Rey is an important competition, and the Copa del Rey trophy has a lot of prestige. Therefore, in this competition, only one team can represent Madrid. That is Atlético Madrid!”

OHHHHH—

The entire room erupted again.

The tension was palpable!

Reporters on the scene quickly took out their phones to draft headlines:

”Lance: Only Atlético Madrid Can Represent Madrid”

”Atlético Madrid’s No. 10 Stuns: Real Madrid Cannot Represent Madrid, Atlético Madrid Is Madrid!”

”Lance Provokes Opponent at Press Conference: Real Madrid Is Unworthy”

Hanna sighed, rubbing her forehead, her mouth twitching.

Standing next to her was Atlético Madrid Club’s press officer and PR manager, who couldn’t help but comment:

”Lance is sometimes really surprising.”

”Heh heh, he seems like a good kid, but in reality, this guy is wild.”

”Young people, if they’re not a little wild, how can they be considered young?”

Atlético Madrid’s PR manager, however, had a good attitude and advised with a smile.

Yes, young people.

Hanna also let it go, suddenly finding the sharp Lance on stage quite handsome.

Her thoughts couldn’t help but drift to that day, the domineering feeling when Lance forcefully carried her on his back.

Ms Hanna Mouller couldn’t help but blush slightly, muttering to herself:

”Damn it, what am I thinking? Be professional, Hanna!”

...

”Oh? Atlético Madrid can represent Madrid? I laughed!”

Soon, Lance’s statement reached the home team’s changing room at the Bernabéu.

Cristiano Ronaldo was grinning ferociously.

”Good, good, our last encounter isn’t over yet! Today is our home ground! You will pay the price! Damn it!”

Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t realise that as he glared at his reflection in the mirror, Modri?, Gareth Bale, Toni Kroos, and Marcelo behind him saw it all.

The young Toni Kroos broke into a sweat:

”Is he always like this?”

Modri? and Bale remained silent, not daring to comment.

Only Cristiano Ronaldo’s admirer, Marcelo, nodded sheepishly, smiling awkwardly:

”Yes, that’s Cristiano. Regardless, today’s match will definitely be the most explosive of the year. Guys, mentally prepare yourselves.”