I AM the Football Star

Chapter 16: Chapter 7: Attacking Fullback, I Just Want to Win!

Brownie is the owner of a small tavern called ”goal” outside the Sanremo City Stadium. He is fifty years old this year.

He is one of the die-hard fans of the San Remo Team and a season ticket holder.

When he was young, he never missed a home game of the team. On that day, he would let his wife manage the business in the shop.

But that habit has long disappeared.

About more than ten years ago?

Back then, San Remo fell from the Italian Third Division to the Italian D Division, and after struggling in the Italian D Division for two years, they fell to the Liguria Region League. That’s the fifth-level league, which doesn’t even fully count as a professional league.

Three years ago, San Remo encountered the golden period of Rondo and other players, won the Liguria Region League championship, got promoted to the Italian D League, and played vigorously in the league.

Last year’s first half, after failing to move up to the Third Division at the last moment, everyone was not desperate because Rondo was still there, the team was stronger, the second half would definitely be fine!

Who knew... as soon as the second half started, Rondo was severely injured and couldn’t play for at least half a season.

And the team indeed kept losing consecutively, reaching the fifteenth place in the league.

If they keep playing like this, San Remo will have to return to the Liguria Region League again.

Some say the most painful thing is not having no hope, but despair after hope is shattered.

The previous San Remo fans were in despair.

Three years ago, Brownie really wanted to watch the team’s home games, but he held back. He told himself that when the team returned to the Third Division, he would revive his tradition of attending home games without fail.

But... watching the dead silent fans on TV and in the tavern, Brownie knew that he might never return to the Sanremo City Stadium in his life.

Even if he was just a step away from the stadium.

When football loses hope, it is no longer the world’s number one ball sport but a form of torture.

”This damn brat, does he know what position he’s playing? Does he think he’s still playing in a celebrity match? This is a league! Not a platform for him to perform!” Brownie cursed angrily at Lu Yang, who kept controlling the ball after the kick-off.

Many people cursed along with him.

They were cursing Lu Yang, but in fact, they hated the entire team’s decline.

Just then, after a V-shaped pull by Lu Yang, a long pass followed.

Brownie was stunned.

Directly telling him, after this kick, a story will unfold.

Three seconds later, the TV sounded ”GOAL.”

The tavern fell into silence.

But behind the tavern, the stadium erupted with frenzied fan roars.

They scored!

At thirteen seconds into the second half, San Remo successfully equalized the score!

Statistics show that this is their first time equalizing after being behind this season.

This data seems inconspicuous but makes die-hard fans of San Remo feel something different.

That is the spirit of not giving up!

For some reason, even though it was just two youngsters, why did the team’s morale suddenly change?

In the next second, Lu Yang and Morici appeared on the screen.

”Attention, attention, you are now watching the legendary San Remo! Setting sail!”

Boom!

The tavern burst into an uproar.

”Awesome, kid!”

”San Remo Legend!”

”Is his name Lu Yang? I’m already his fan!”

”This magical central defender, I won’t criticize his ball control anymore!”

Fans began to enthusiastically exchange words.

But Brownie’s eyes suddenly turned red, and glistening tears slipped down the corners of his eyes.

He seemed to have a chance to return to that soul-stirring stadium!

...

On the field.

The commentator was very excited: ”A very sharp tackle, successfully stopping Avellino’s attack once again, this is Lu Yang’s fourth tackle in a short time!”

”Here it comes... sure enough, it’s Lu Yang again, he successfully intercepted the opponent’s crucial through ball, if this ball had passed, it would have been a one-on-one!”

”The 10th player, Avellino’s exceptionally active midfield core in the first half, has been completely frozen by Lu Yang, his defense is everywhere, he has totally dominated San Remo’s midfield and backfield!”

”Seven tackles, two breakouts, and he even initiated two counterattacks. Why was Lu Yang promoted to the first team so late? The former coach of San Remo really squandered a great talent, if Lu Yang had joined the first team early, perhaps San Remo wouldn’t be in the relegation zone now, he’s so stable!”

”Lu Yang’s breakout stats aren’t many, but that doesn’t mean his contribution is small, because compared to other central defenders who only make long clearances, he totally has the ability to control the ball, doesn’t need long clearances at all! It’s risky, but so far, the effect is good.”

”San Remo’s midfield and backfield no longer look chaotic under the management of Lu Yang and Morici. This is a completely different style from previous San Remo games. They are helping their teammates become better, teammates no longer have too much pressure facing presses, because as long as they pass the ball to Lu Yang or Morici, all problems are solved!”

”Speaking of which, we have to talk about Morici, if Lu Yang became the backbone of San Remo’s defense in this game, then Morici is the core of San Remo for the entire match!”

”Yes, in terms of defense, the short Morici did not become a defensive black hole. Avellino’s player number 11 suffered a lot at Morici’s hands, losing three excellent possessions.”