I AM the Football Star

The match restarted.

The players of San Remo started to get restless; it was less than ten minutes into the beginning and they had already conceded a goal.

”Bottom cross!” Morici issued the command to his teammates.

Temporarily halting the positional swap tactics for wing attacks.

So, Canyes took off immediately, charging forward on the wing.

Bam!

Canyes successfully reached the bottom line and smoothly delivered a cross.

Dong!

Sogel made a header attempt, but unfortunately missed, and the ball slammed into the advertisement board behind the goal.

A few minutes later, Canyes was again causing a storm on the right wing.

Drawing defenders in, he swung a long pass to the left, finding Lu Yang.

Lu approached the sideline, controlling the ball with plenty of space around him.

Using the width of the field can create considerable space on one side for players.

Even if the opponent’s defense isn’t torn apart, this space can still provide conditions for forward breakthroughs.

Without this space, it would become origin bursts, which are extremely challenging.

With such space, dribbling breakthroughs, speed, change of direction, and small tricks could all come into play.

Lu Yang did a series of stepovers, attempting to cut inside.

But Udinese’s players were defending well, with eyes on the ball rather than the person, leaving Lu’s feints ineffective.

Bam!

Lu followed his stepovers with a rabona cross, which was quite decent.

But unfortunately, it was too sudden, and Sogel couldn’t jump in time. The ball went over Sogel and was secured by Udinese’s central defender.

For fifteen long minutes, San Remo relentlessly attacked, indeed making some arrangements on both wings.

But it wasn’t enough!

With just Sogel and Bai Zhami, there was still no guarantee of their header’s success rate; chances from crosses were too slim.

Even the current ”god of headers,” C Luo, finds it tough to seize header opportunities when the opponent is focused. His header goals often come during late game stages, or even stoppage time, largely because it’s this time when opponents’ defenses slacken due to fatigue.

Though everyone knows C Luo is most terrifying in the final moments, they still can’t defend against him.

Moreover, C Luo’s positioning is often unpredictable—up, down, left, right, BABA—making it difficult for his defenders to know where he intends to go until it’s too late.

Sogel hasn’t mastered such advanced positioning and super judgment of the ball drop, so it’s naturally difficult for him to attain header opportunities under such conditions.

This is a Serie A team, not Serie B!

Next year, while playing In Serie A, Sogel will further experience how much Serie A Level defenses restrict him.

If he can overcome this difficulty, he can become a star forward In Serie A.

But if not, he risks becoming a water cargo star—overwhelming in Serie B but timid In Serie A.

Twenty-seven minutes into the match.

Canyes once again took off on the right, driving the ball into the attacking third.

Canyes cut inside.

Sogel pulled back, Morici pushed forward, the two made a positional swap.

When someone prepares to cut inside outside the penalty area, central defenders are typically hesitant to rush forward.

Sogel thus gained a momentary open space.

Canyes quickly passed the ball.

Sogel held the ball three meters behind the arc top on the right side outside the penalty area; it was highly threatening.

Udinese’s defensive midfielder moved to cover Sogel, but in doing so left a path open between Sogel and the advancing Morici.

Bam!

Sogel made a direct pass!

Morici received the ball inside the penalty area.

Udinese’s center-back faced Morici defensively but dared not make a tackle.

Morici charged towards the small box area.

Udinese’s center-back tried to stretch his leg, but Morici knocked him aside.

Due to the collision, Morici’s feet should also bounce the ball away.

As they collided closely, Morici was nearly knocking into the opponent’s embrace.

This close distance forbids Morici from continuing ball control.

Yet...

As Morici charged forward, he flicked the ball back with his heel, crashing himself into Udinese’s center-back.

He wasn’t attempting to break through; he wanted to block the Udinese center-back.

This was a seemingly legitimate pick-and-roll.

Udinese’s center-back could only watch as another figure in blue and white surged towards the ball.

Bam!

Blasting into the top left corner of the goal.

The ball entered the goal without suspense.

Batigoal!

”Oh! It’s a goal! San Remo has equalized the score!”

”Lu’s advance was extremely timely! Morici’s heel pass was exquisite!”

”San Remo’s twin stars are in perfect sync!”

”Udinese executed its restrictions on San Remo well for most of the time, but just one lapse costs them a goal. Such a San Remo is truly terrifying!”

”Sogel’s tactical impact is tremendous! If paired with Izalelt, it might further free up Izalelt! It’s a pity...”

The commentator did not continue.

It’s unfortunate that this summer Izalelt is very likely leaving, and it remains to be seen how much transfer fee Real Madrid is willing to pay for him.

Sogel is strong, but at San Remo, because the midfield’s attacking capability is overly prominent, Sogel has developed a habit of tactically pulling back and moving wide.

To maximize his power, it’s not to let him storm the fortress, but rather to have him stir up chaos and hold the ground for attack!

Without top wingers or attacking midfielders, Sogel’s value and performance might diminish significantly.