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Starting as a Defensive Midfielder at Real Madrid

Chapter 287 285: Double Digits in the League – Top Scorer in the Premier League! · Nov 11, 2026

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Chapter List (401)

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251 Chapter 251 249: What the Hell, You Still Dare to Fight Back? 2026-11-11
252 Chapter 252 250: Iron-Blooded Blow to Özil, 8-Goal Rout of PSG 2026-11-11
253 Chapter 253 251: Facing Barça in the Quarterfinals — Li Ang’s Smile! 2026-11-11
254 Chapter 254 252: Arsenal, It’s Time to Stop Dreaming 2026-11-11
255 Chapter 255 253: I Don’t Want to Say Chelsea Will Clinch the Title Early, But That’s the Reality 2026-11-11
256 Chapter 256 254: Returning to Camp Nou Feels Just Like Coming Home~ 2026-11-11
257 Chapter 257 255: Damn, Messi, You’re Actually Going All Out?! 2026-11-11
258 Chapter 258 256: The Counterattack Begins Now! 2026-11-11
259 Chapter 259 257: What We’re Doing Is Pure Torment—Crying? That Counts Against the Clock Too 2026-11-11
260 Chapter 260 258: Stop Scoring, Man—You’re Already Fourth in the Premier League Golden Boot Race 2026-11-11
261 Chapter 261 259: See You Next Year, Leo 2026-11-11
262 Chapter 262 260: The Red Devils Are Dead—Long Live the Blues! 2026-11-11
263 Chapter 263 261: The Champions League Is Full of Giants Lining Up to Get Revenge on Li Ang 2026-11-11
264 Chapter 264 262: Chelsea’s Midfield and Defense Still Need Major Reinforcements! 2026-11-11
265 Chapter 265 263: Hey Kuan, Bro, The Boss Here’s Generous—High Salary, Come Quick! 2026-11-11
266 Chapter 266 264: You Know It—The Little Lion’s My Brother, and Zlatan’s a Beast 2026-11-11
267 Chapter 267 265: Reinforcements Assembled, Legends Return—This Time, We’re Taking It All! 2026-11-11
268 Chapter 268 266: Li Ang, When Are You Winning the Ballon d’Or and Becoming a Grand Slam Champion? 2026-11-11
269 Chapter 269 267: A Dominant First Win—The Rise of the Galactic Chelsea Begins 2026-11-11
270 Chapter 270 268: The “British Battleship” Makes His Premier League Debut — The Excellent Maguire 2026-11-11
271 Chapter 271 269: Not a Single One Can Keep Up 2026-11-11
272 Chapter 272 270: Rotation? Even Chelsea’s Rotation Is a European-Class Powerhouse 2026-11-11
273 Chapter 273 271: Replicating Kaka’s 2007 Season? Why Not! 2026-11-11
274 Chapter 274 272: A Premier League El Clásico Reimagined 2026-11-11
275 Chapter 275 273: Guardiola, I Am Your Nemesis! 2026-11-11
276 Chapter 276 274: Your Blade Is Sharp, But So Is Mine 2026-11-11
277 Chapter 277 275: Premier League’s Finest—A Duel Between Possession and Relentless Pressing 2026-11-11
278 Chapter 278 276: In This Era, I Am Destiny! 2026-11-11
279 Chapter 279 277: A Hat-Trick to Be Crowned! The One True God of the Premier League! 2026-11-11
280 Chapter 280 278: Ambition on All Three Fronts 2026-11-11
281 Chapter 281 279: It’s Not That We Played Well—The Opponent Was Just That Bad 2026-11-11
282 Chapter 282 280: What, Arsenal Wants to Be the New Top Dog Too? 2026-11-11
283 Chapter 283 281: Eden, Stand with Me at the Summit of World Football 2026-11-11
284 Chapter 284 282: Everyone’s Showing Off—Except United, Who Are Getting Beaten Up 2026-11-11
285 Chapter 285 283: Tyrant Leon 2026-11-11
286 Chapter 286 284: Smashing the Face of the Premier League’s ”Top Club” 2026-11-11
287 Chapter 287 285: Double Digits in the League – Top Scorer in the Premier League! 2026-11-11
288 Chapter 288 286: Closer to the Ballon d’Or Than He Ever Imagined 2026-11-11
289 Chapter 289 287: I Want to Face the Strongest—But If It’s Barça First, That’s Fine Too 2026-11-11
290 Chapter 290 288: Luiz, Don’t Let Your Loyalty Ruin You 2026-11-11
291 Chapter 291 289: If You Ever Get the Chance, Think About Us—I’ll Be Waiting at Stamford Bridge 2026-11-11
292 Chapter 292 290: The Winning Streak Ends, But an Undefeated Title Run Is Still Possible 2026-11-11
293 Chapter 293 291: Little Lion, Are You Seriously Going for the Golden Boot?! 2026-11-11
294 Chapter 294 292: Time for Everyone’s Favorite Event—Beating Spurs Again 2026-11-11
295 Chapter 295 293: He’s Already a Young Legend 2026-11-11
296 Chapter 296 294: Someone Please Shut His Mouth Next Time! 2026-11-11
297 Chapter 297 295: Aiming for a New Midseason Record—Time to Sharpen the Blade Against Sky City 2026-11-11
298 Chapter 298 296: Nineteen Wins, the Big Boss of the League—A Perfect Midseason Finish! 2026-11-11
299 Chapter 299 297: 2014 Silver Ball Winner—Leon! 2026-11-11
300 Chapter 300 298: Hype Helps, but Performance Is What Truly Matters 2026-11-11

”Leon has just scored his ninth Premier League goal of the season! His scoring form is scorching hot!

As of now, with nine league goals, Leon has drawn level with Cavani, and the two now share the top spot on the Premier League scoring chart!

Maybe missing out on the rare ’20 goals and 20 assists’ achievement by just one goal last season has only further fueled him.

Even after becoming a global superstar, Leon continues to evolve and grow!

I’m sure many fans are hoping that by the end of this season, Leon will break Henry’s legendary record and set a new bar for future generations!”

…

As Leon found the back of the net for the ninth time in the league this season, even the Sky Sports commentators couldn’t help but join in the excitement.

Nine goals and four assists in the first nine matches of the new season.

Leon wasn’t just maintaining the red-hot form he had shown last year—he was becoming visibly more consistent in his attacking output.

This kind of steady efficiency might mean fewer jaw-dropping individual performances compared to last season,

but any coach or professional player would tell you: a striker who can consistently score one goal per game is terrifying.

And Leon wasn’t just scoring—he was averaging two goal contributions per game.

If you included the one League Cup match and the first three Champions League group games,

Leon had already racked up a staggering 13 goals and 11 assists in just 12 matches—and that’s not even counting the current Premier League game, which wasn’t over yet.

And we hadn’t even reached the quarter-mark of the season.

A player who already had double-digit goals and assists, averaging two goal involvements per match—Leon was now someone even other Premier League stars could only look up to.

Leon himself wasn’t so arrogant as to believe he could maintain this level of efficiency all season.

He was in great form at the moment, sure, but he was also aware that the schedule had been somewhat favorable recently.

Take the last Champions League match against Maribor. If it hadn’t been a team of that level,

he certainly wouldn’t have pulled off three goals and two assists as easily as he did.

Leon considered his self-awareness to be one of his best qualities.

Celebrate the great performances when they come—but never overestimate your own ability just because you’ve been bullying weaker teams.

That mindset was something he shared with Mourinho. Both of them preferred reliable wins.

They knew their own strengths, but never lost sight of the bigger picture.

And when you had a clear understanding of your own capabilities,

you could better assess your opponent.

Just like today’s match against Manchester United—

Chelsea’s coaching staff and Leon had already finished their preparation with confidence.

Scoring first? That was part of the plan.

But once they had the lead, Leon had no intention of relaxing and giving United any chance to flip the script.

Against attacking-minded top Premier League sides, Chelsea often needed to press harder on offense.

Those teams liked to push up, which left space for counterattacks.

But facing a United side willing to shelve their pride and play counterattacking football—especially at Old Trafford, where home support might give them a mental boost—

Chelsea had planned from the very start to prioritize defensive solidity.

So after scoring the opener, Leon quickly dropped back to his old position as a holding midfielder.

Before that, he’d been playing level with Kroos, often drifting back to help Ashley Cole defend.

Now, he fully committed to shielding the backline, while Kroos moved up into the No. 10 role—a position he hadn’t played at Chelsea before.

The result? Chelsea’s midfield coverage and ability to resist United counters instantly improved.

But this was only part of the tactical ”feast” Chelsea had prepared.

Most United fans probably hadn’t yet realized the subtle shift in Chelsea’s tactics.

All they saw was their team pressing higher, trying to trap Chelsea’s defenders and regain momentum.

That illusion—that ”the tempo is swinging back to us”—gave Red Devils fans false hope.

They started to believe again.

But Van Gaal, a seasoned tactician, saw through it.

Watching Matic and Leon defend and distribute like a third and fourth center-back, he was reminded of how Manchester City once broke Chelsea’s press with their own backline possession.

Back then, City had stacked the back with ball-playing defenders to control possession and beat the press.

Mourinho, instead, rolled out something simpler—but just as effective:

inverted fullbacks, holding mids dropping deep, and a rotating three-man backline that added an extra layer of protection.

And let’s be honest—if Fabregas and Fernandinho had made a mistake in deep possession,

they wouldn’t be able to recover defensively nearly as well as Matic and Leon could.

What made Mourinho’s strategy even more fascinating was how Leon and Matic didn’t both drop deep at the same time.

They alternated—one staying back to form a temporary back three with Maguire and Thiago Silva, while the other stayed higher.

And when it came to distributing from deep?

Both Leon and Matic were among the best in the league at it.

No matter who dropped back, Chelsea always had a secure outlet from their last line.

The evolved three-at-the-back setup created a solid shield in front of their box.

Meanwhile, the fullbacks tucked inside and pushed forward, joining Kroos and the other holding mid to form a tight possession unit in midfield.

By occupying the half-spaces, the fullbacks also blocked United’s passing lanes after winning the ball—

making it nearly impossible for them to play dangerous through balls into Chelsea’s box.

Try attacking through the channels? No way.

Go long? Chelsea’s defenders weren’t afraid.

Even when United managed to steal the ball, all they could do was shunt it out wide—

giving Chelsea just enough time to regroup and lock down the shape.

This strategy only really worked when the opponent was burning energy to press high.

If they were in possession, it might leave the flanks exposed.

But Mourinho clearly wanted to test this backfield control tactic against United.

After all, it had worked well for City when they’d used it against Chelsea before.

Mourinho might not have Guardiola’s endless tactical creativity,

but when it came to adapting proven systems and integrating them into his own framework?

He was a master.

”Leon has just scored his ninth Premier League goal of the season! He’s on absolute fire!

At this point, with nine goals, Leon has drawn level with Cavani—they now share the top spot in the Premier League scoring charts!

Maybe the heartbreak of falling just one goal short of a historic 20 goals and 20 assists last season has lit an even fiercer fire inside him.

Even after becoming a global superstar, Leon continues to evolve and push his limits!

Many fans are already dreaming that by the end of this season, Leon will break Thierry Henry’s records and raise the bar for everyone who follows!”

…

After Leon netted his ninth goal of the Premier League season, the Sky Sports commentators erupted in celebration.

Nine matches, nine goals, four assists.

Leon wasn’t just sustaining his form from last season—he was growing even more consistent in his offensive output.

This kind of steady, high-efficiency scoring might result in fewer jaw-dropping hat-trick performances,

but to coaches and professionals, a player who can average a goal per game is terrifying.

And Leon? He was averaging two goal contributions per match.

Include the League Cup and three Champions League group-stage games,

and Leon had already posted a monstrous stat line: 13 goals and 11 assists in 12 games—and this Premier League match wasn’t even over yet.

And the season wasn’t even a quarter done.

Double digits in both goals and assists. Two goal involvements per game.

Leon had officially reached a level where even other Premier League stars could only look up to him.

Of course, Leon himself wasn’t cocky enough to think he’d maintain this pace all season.

He was playing well, sure—but he also knew the schedule had worked in his favor.

Take the last Champions League match: if they hadn’t faced a side like Maribor,

he never would’ve casually dropped three goals and two assists.

Leon considered self-awareness one of his best traits.

Celebrate when it’s time to celebrate, sure—but never overestimate yourself just because you’ve had some easy wins.

Like Mourinho, Leon had always favored stable, reliable victories.

He knew his limits—and that’s what gave him the clarity to target his opponents effectively.

Today’s match against Manchester United was a perfect example.

Chelsea’s staff and Leon had completed their prep with absolute confidence.

Scoring first? That was part of the plan.

But after that, Leon had no intention of easing up and giving United any chance to claw back.

Against the Premier League’s top teams, Chelsea could press more aggressively,

since those teams typically played attacking football, leaving space behind.

But United? This United had no problem parking the bus and playing on the counter—even at Old Trafford, even with home crowd momentum.

Chelsea had started the game prepared to defend first and attack second.

After scoring the opener, Leon immediately dropped back into the holding midfield role.

Previously, he’d been level with Kroos, helping Ashley Cole on defense when needed.

Now, he was fully playing as a defensive midfielder,

allowing Kroos to take over the No. 10 role for the first time at Chelsea.

The change instantly strengthened Chelsea’s defensive shape and neutralized United’s counters.

But that was only part of Chelsea’s tactical plan.

United fans might not have noticed the subtle shift—

All they saw was that their team seemed to be pushing higher, pressing Chelsea’s backline harder.

It gave them the illusion that the tempo of the match was swinging back their way.

And sure enough, their confidence began to grow.

But Van Gaal wasn’t fooled.

He quickly realized that Matic and Leon were defending and distributing like third and fourth center-backs.

In his mind, he recalled the way City had used deep ball control to break Chelsea’s pressing trap.

Back then, City had stacked their backline with technical players to control the ball and evade pressure.

Mourinho? He went another route—pushing fullbacks into midfield, dropping one of his holding mids deep,

and rotating the trio at the back to act as a fluid defensive core.

And compared to City’s Fabregas–Fernandinho midfield,

Chelsea’s Matic–Leon pairing was much better at pressing, intercepting, and organizing.

The tactical wrinkle Mourinho added today was especially clever.

Leon and Matic didn’t drop back at the same time. They rotated.

One of them always stayed high while the other slotted into a three-man backline with Maguire and Thiago Silva.

In terms of deep distribution?

Leon and Matic were elite.

No matter who dropped, Chelsea always had a safe outlet to launch attacks.

With the three-man backline and tucked-in fullbacks,

Chelsea created a midfield diamond with massive coverage and ball retention.

And with the fullbacks occupying the half-spaces, United couldn’t deliver dangerous through balls after turnovers.

Their central channels were blocked.

Their long balls were useless against Chelsea’s tall backline.

At best, United could knock the ball wide.

That gave Chelsea just enough time to reset their shape and lock down the defense.

Of course, this setup only worked if the opponent was pressing high.

If the opponent held possession and built from the back, the exposed wings would be vulnerable.

Still, Mourinho clearly wanted to test this strategy against United.

After all, it had worked wonders for City.

Mourinho didn’t have Guardiola’s playbook of endless tactical innovations,

but he could certainly borrow and adapt proven systems into his own framework.

Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.

Read 40 Chapters In Advance: /johanssen10

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