From Arsenal to the Ball God

Chapter 57: Chapter 57: The Best Player in the Championship?

”7 goals and 8 assists!”

Hans barely struck a pose before someone heavily hugged him from behind. It was Gilbert’s excited voice: ”God, are you just a loan player or the best player in the Championship?”

”He’s the best player in the Championship right now.”

Evans, who picked up an assist, was the second to arrive, stretching out his arms towards them, ”I looked at Sean Long’s stats yesterday, he has generated 14 goals this season, but Hans already has 15!”

Sean Long is a Reading player and is currently recognized as the strongest player in the Championship League, only 23 years old, considered to be immensely talented.

In the past, when Sheffield United players thought of him, they’d often admire his ability, praise his talent, envy his future; he was an insurmountable gap in their minds.

But now look, their little brother Hans seems to be leading him in every aspect.....

For a moment, amidst the excitement, they felt slightly complex, how should they face Hans?

Should they be proud of having the chance to be teammates with such a player, boldly saying a few words that Sean Long is no big deal; or should they honestly place Hans in a higher position, giving him more respect than Sean Long?

Seems like neither is right?

”Turning the tide!”

Janu came up and sighed, then smilingly reminded everyone, ”Hans has already scored 2 goals to equalize the score, let’s not spend too much time celebrating, we need to quickly turn the score around, otherwise wouldn’t it be a disservice to him.”

”You’re right.”

Gilbert gave him a thumbs up and then ran towards their own half alongside Hans.

Along the way, they passed countless Doncaster players with heavy faces and astonished looks; these guys certainly felt not so well.

And more frustrating for the Doncaster players is that the player who knocked them off the lead and made them extremely tense is only 17 years old.

What a great age.....his future must be in the top league.

”By the way.”

Gilbert ran a few steps and suddenly remembered something: ”In my contract, it states that generating 15 goals increases my pay to 20k, does yours have the same?”

Hans glanced at him with a faint smile, shrugging helplessly: ”Sorry, I’m about to enter the ’20k weekly pay club’ ahead of you.”

”Damn you.” Gilbert’s excitement was mostly gone, nearly shedding a few unwilling tears.

...

”Beep!”

After the match restarted, Doncaster retreated completely, demonstrating a solid defending stance.

Sheffield United’s morale was obviously at its peak, nobody was foolish enough to go head-to-head with them at this time.

Victory?

They no longer wanted it, preserving one point and not gaining anything else was enough.

”Boo boo boo.....” This clearly disappointed their fans, the cheerful singing and cheering at the beginning replaced with boos, some even left early cursing.

The Doncaster head coach no longer dared to face the gaze from the fans’ area, he could only stand by the sidelines, hurriedly directing the defense.

Trying to preserve a draw already led to this.

If they were really turned from a 2-goal lead to losing by 3, what kind of scolding would he face after the match?

”Back defense! Get back!”

He was pacing back and forth, ignoring the fourth official’s obstruction, ”Run a few more steps, there’s more than ten minutes left! Hold on, keep it tight!”

”Seal the return line! How can you let him break through that position? What are you thinking?”

”Second point! Second point! If you can’t seize the second point, you’ll be forced to defend, and that’s even more exhausting!”

Under his shouting, Doncaster’s players gradually woke up, joined forces and commenced defense.

Especially after several successful defenses, they high-fived and roared, bumped chests for encouragement, and regained the momentum lost during their attacks.

This kind of team is not easy to concede goals.

In the Sheffield United coaching area, Garrispeed stood with hands in his pockets, not pacing back and forth. He had a stern face, with a hint of expectation slowly diminishing.

The earlier equalizing goal wasn’t celebrated greatly by him, because from the moment of equalizing, he started anticipating the goal that would turn the score around.

Every Sheffield person knows, that moment is when all emotions will be unleashed!

But....looking at the opponent’s posture, it seems destined to defend till the end, can they overturn the score?

”Phew.” Garrispeed exhaled, glancing at the clock, with every tick of the second hand, he grew more anxious and tense.

The feeling of hope being dashed isn’t great either, sometimes even comparable to failure.

People are just like that, never fully satisfied, it has nothing to do with identity or status, it’s more of a mindset.

Garrispeed, having been a player, innately loves winning with a comeback, and has experienced it many times....as for equalizing, although it’s nice, it feels somewhat lacking, is it not a bit regretful if not pushing further?

...

”Bang!”

Hans sent out a cross from the wing, watching the football being cleared by the opposing defender who leaped up, he supported his knees for a brief rest, and then turned around to run.

He could feel the tense atmosphere enveloping the pitch, both opponents and teammates were engulfed in this emotion.

Communication among field players became scarce, everyone was tightly wound and couldn’t let loose.

Time slowly passed 85 minutes, both teams’ players’ physical abilities had declined to various degrees, Doncaster seized two opportunities to swiftly counterattack during possession changes, completing a shot, but unfortunately couldn’t control the height.

”Bang!”

In the 88th minute of the match, Sheffield defender Steven launched a long pass, aiming for Bolodanovich’s head in the center forward position.

Bolodanovich seemed unable to jump anymore, his height advantage not utilized, getting the ball headed back by the opposing defender from behind towards the midfield area.

Gilbert, always fantasizing about having air superiority attributes, leaped up and again headed the ball back towards the penalty area but was thwarted by the opponent’s defender who stepped forward to block it with a foot arch.

”Bang! Bang! Bang...!”

An aerial tug-of-war ensued, the chance of the ball landing was rare, both sides just reciprocated, neither wanting to let the opponent organize possession.

When Gilbert once seizing an empty space managed to stop the ball, the fourth official at the sideline had already raised the extra time board, the second half had 2 minutes of added time.

The last 2 minutes!

Gilbert initially intended to pass back, but suddenly, spurred by tension, chose to pull the ball back and launched a raid against Doncaster’s defense line.

In the Arsenal Youth Team, he was known for his breakthrough ability, but after joining the Championship League team, he rarely chose to dribble confidently due to lack of self-assurance.

But this time, he wanted to give it a shot!

Gilbert lifted the ball, immediately changed direction, abruptly accelerated, and burst past the defender tight on him.

Upon observing that the opponents were densely situated in the central area, he instinctively moved towards the left-wing, amidst left and right shifts, although somewhat staggered, leaving Doncaster’s midfield and rear players in disarray.

”Close in!”

Someone in the Doncaster defense commanded, with three to four people closing in on Gilbert.

He continued forwards, attracting the right-back defender’s attention, then noticed Hans cutting across into the middle.

”Bang.” With an outer-foot flick, Gilbert gently sent the ball past the defending players in front of him towards the central area.

His mission was complete!

Hans followed up quickly, carried the ball to the center of the penalty arc, glanced at the goal, and never felt this much itch in his foot before.

”Shoot the damn thing!” Gilbert urged, his leg muscles were tensed, waiting to celebrate.

The other Sheffield United players mostly felt the same, some quickly sidestepping to avoid blocking Hans’ shooting path, some obstructing opponents to prevent interference, others with clenched fists and eager eyes.

Garrispeed on the sidelines finally stirred, withdrawing his hands from his pockets, clutching them in front of his chest, ready to fly at any time.

Everything was propelling Hans to unleash his signature long shot, a grand momentum was already poised, and he did not disappoint everyone.

”Bang!!”

After taking a deep breath, Hans squared up, swung his left arm back, kept his right foot ankle straight, and fiercely swung it forward, pressing his body down at the shooting moment.

Everyone quieted down at that instant, making his shot echo throughout the stadium, reaching everyone’s ears, countless expectant gazes following the football.

...

P.S.: Use a photo of a Liverpool captain’s shot, it’s the ultimate perfect shooting pose.