Super Wingstorm

”We’re seeing the Ajax fans welcoming Yang Yang back with a thunderous round of applause.”

”The seventeen-year-old youngster has had an outstanding performance in this match. Not only did he score the team’s first goal, but Ibrahimovic’s goal also came from his creation. It was he who, while being double-teamed by Kerri and Vieira, used a brilliantly imaginative back-heel to get the ball to Talabesi.”

”He is, without a doubt, Ajax’s best player on the pitch so far in this match.”

”Alright, with a stoppage in play, the referee has signaled for Yang Yang to return to the pitch.”

”The crowd erupts into thunderous applause once more. The Ajax fans clearly appreciate Yang Yang’s contributions.”

...

Only when they saw their son, Yang Yang, rush back onto the pitch did Yang Yongqiang and Shen Lifang finally breathe a sigh of relief. His mother, Shen Lifang, in particular, only then remembered to reach up and wipe the tears from her cheeks.

When the commentator mentioned a possible broken leg, it had truly terrified her.

She never knew playing soccer could be this dangerous. ’If someone really broke his leg, what would happen to his future?’

”Don’t worry, ma’am. He’s wearing shin guards, which offer some protection. The main issue is that the opponent was playing too dirty, too aggressively. I can’t believe the referee didn’t even give a card,” a nearby reporter from a local paper reassured her.

After National Television broadcast the top-of-the-table Eredivisie clash between Ajax and Eindhoven, it generated a huge buzz back in China. Yang Yang’s outstanding performance, in particular, had thrilled the fans back home.

’After so many years, when has China ever produced a talent like this?’

And for this first leg of the Champions League Round of 16, National Television was once again broadcasting live. While the national-level media didn’t send anyone to cover Yang Yang’s family this time, the local papers did.

”Well, that’s the Premier League for you. The pace is fast, but it’s a physical league. And Arsenal is known in the Premier League for being a brutal team. They commit a lot of fouls, get a lot of cards. It’s common for them to lash out when they get frustrated, but to go after a seventeen-year-old kid like that... Vieira was just being dirty.”

”Tell me about it.”

After hearing this, Yang Yongqiang and his wife still looked worried. The match wasn’t over. ’What if he gets injured for real?’

...

...

”What goes around comes around in football. Arsenal is playing ferociously, so dirty. Sooner or later, they’re going to pay the price for it.”

Inside Shen’s Chinese Restaurant in Almere, John Reep, who had seen his share of battles, big and small, throughout his professional career, shook his head.

It was hard to say if a team like Arsenal played that way to adapt to the competitive environment of the Premier League, or if it was simply their style. But one thing was certain: the team had made plenty of enemies in the Premier League, and many other clubs were not happy with them.

”Never mind anything else, just take their recent 1-1 away draw against Leicester City. While challenging an opponent for the ball, Ashley Cole went straight in with a vicious, two-footed chop to Satcher’s shin. It was a completely unnecessary and awful foul. The immediate red card couldn’t calm anyone’s anger, and after the game, it caused a massive uproar and unanimous condemnation from the British media.”

Dick Van Puer was also incensed by Arsenal’s brutality; after all, they were both supporting Ajax in this match.

”But what did Wenger say after the match? He ignored the facts and defended Ashley Cole. Leicester City’s manager, Adams, criticized Wenger’s stance and attitude. He also said that brutal foul left everyone on his team furious, and who knows if there will be retaliation the next time Arsenal runs into those players?”

John Reep sighed and nodded. ”Yeah. With an enforcer like Vieira around, things are probably a bit better for them now. But sooner or later, they’ll get caught out. I just wonder who will be on the unlucky end of it when it happens.”

Both of them were former professional players. Now that they were retired, they watched the game as spectators, their mindset completely different from their playing days.

The other people in Shen’s Chinese Restaurant didn’t share their insight; they were more concerned about Yang Yang’s injury.

When they saw Yang Yang return to the sidelines and walk back onto the pitch amidst the cheers of the Ajax fans, the restaurant also erupted in a wave of enthusiastic cheers, clearly happy for him.

’As long as he’s not injured, it’s a good thing.’

”He’s still too young, and doesn’t quite know how to protect himself yet. He’ll have to learn,” Dick Van Puer said. Seeing Vieira’s foul had given him quite a scare as well.

”Ajax has coaches specifically for that, don’t worry,” John Reep chuckled.

...

...

After the match resumed, Ajax looked even more resolute. They dropped back into a defensive posture, and their formation became even tighter.

Conceding again right after equalizing was a significant blow to Arsenal’s morale. Their offense looked ferocious, but it was all thunder and no rain. They had momentum but couldn’t convert it into a goal, and ultimately, they failed to score again.

The first half ended with Ajax holding a temporary 2-1 lead.

When Yang Yang got back to the locker room, he pulled down his socks and removed his shin guards, revealing that the mark from the kick on his right shin was still clearly visible.

Yang Yang sat on the bench and let the team doctor treat his right leg. While it wasn’t a serious injury, it still needed to be tended to.

Facing an opponent like Arsenal, every single person on the Ajax squad was under immense pressure. The physical toll was enormous, and everyone collapsed onto their benches, panting heavily and greedily gulping for air.

As Yang Yang looked over at Ibrahimovic beside him, the Swedish Striker happened to be looking his way. He gave Yang a sly look and chuckled. ”If I hadn’t seen you get hurt, I would’ve definitely strolled past their dugout again, just to give Wenger a good look at me.”

Having scored against Arsenal, the Swedish Striker was in high spirits.

He had been working incredibly hard in this match. As a tall player, his constant running and movement up front had certainly drained more of his energy than others. He looked exhausted, and Yang Yang was a little worried if he could last the whole game.

”Good thing you didn’t. What would you do if you score again in the second half?” Yang Yang said with a wide grin.

Ibrahimovic burst out laughing. ”Right, right! You’re absolutely right!”

The team doctor, squatting in front of Yang Yang, couldn’t help but crack a smile. He found that the two of them really were on the same wavelength. ’To be so dismissive of a team as powerful as Arsenal, to be thinking about scoring again in the second half... what kind of mindset is that?’

”But remember, don’t take risks,” Ibrahimovic advised with genuine concern after his laughter subsided. ”With your slight build, you’ll be the one losing out if you get into a physical battle with Vieira.”

”I have my own advantages. I was prepared for the worst on that tackle, which is why I dodged at the last second,” Yang Yang said.

Hearing this, the doctor couldn’t help but shake his head and chime in, ”It’s a good thing you did dodge. Otherwise, your match probably would have been over.”

His leg probably wouldn’t have been broken, but he would have likely been stretchered off with an injury.

”Those bastards really play dirty,” Ibrahimovic said, grinding his teeth.

He and Yang Yang were good buddies. A foul on Yang Yang was the same as a foul on him. How could he not be furious?

”Don’t worry about it. There are players who play even dirtier. We can’t change others, we can only hold ourselves to a higher standard. So, the best way to get revenge on them is to...”

”Beat them!” Ibrahimovic finished the sentence for him.

The two of them looked at each other and smiled again, a fighting spirit surging within them.

The opponent in this match was Arsenal. Regardless of whether they played dirty or not, the Gunners were one of Europe’s top teams.

If Ajax could pull off an upset and beat the Gunners at home, they would make a huge name for themselves, regardless of the result in the second leg.

Just as the team doctor finished treating Yang Yang’s right leg, head coach Ronald Koeman pushed open the door and walked into the locker room.

The moment he entered, the locker room fell silent. All eyes turned to him.

”You all played exceptionally well in the first half. We can’t ask any more of you. I know it’s incredibly tough right now, but I need you all to grit your teeth and push through.”

Ronald Koeman’s validation lifted the spirits of every player in the locker room. But the thought of having to face the formidable Arsenal again in the second half made their brows furrow once more.

The head coach, naturally, saw the players’ reactions.

Koman had been a very successful professional player himself; of course he understood the players’ mentality at this moment.

”Listen up, everyone. I want to tell you that, even though we’re leading 2-1, Arsenal’s advantage isn’t as big as it might seem on the surface,” Ronald Koeman said, walking into the middle of the group of players.

”I don’t know if you’ve been following the news, but while Arsenal is undefeated, they have too many draws. Their attack used to be incredibly sharp, especially their fast breaks. But this season, they’ve been focused mainly on shoring up their defense. With their defense stabilized, their offense has suffered. Their ability to control the game is built on their outstanding work rate.”

”Why has Arsenal often collapsed in the latter part of the season in recent years? Why are they so often tied or even overtaken in the second half of matches? The reason is simple. Their style of play requires an incredible amount of running, which is a huge challenge for their stamina. And on top of that, the Premier League has no winter break.”

Everyone listened silently to head coach Ronald Koeman’s analysis, feeling that it made a lot of sense.

”Before this match, Arsenal’s players were called up for National Team duty in mid-February, and many of them played two full games. After returning, they had a tough away game against Chelsea. And after they’re done with us, they have to go right back to the Premier League for another brutal clash. Their schedule is much more packed than ours, the pressure is higher, and the physical drain is far more intense.”

The implication of the coach’s analysis was clear: Arsenal might look powerful, but they weren’t necessarily so. Especially in the second half, with both teams physically drained, the Gunners were likely to be the first to break.

”Of course, we know Arsenal’s situation, and Wenger himself must be very clear on it too. Therefore, I can guarantee they will come out strong at the start of the second half. They’ll want to leave here with at least a draw. What I want you to do is defend this 2-1 lead with everything you’ve got, and wait for the right moment to hit them on the counter-attack.”

Ronald Koeman’s eyes gleamed as he shouted, his voice ringing with conviction.

The first-half result was extremely favorable for Ajax. If they could hold on in the second half and wait for Arsenal’s stamina to wane, they could try to extend their lead. That would make the second leg much easier.

Hearing this, everyone in the locker room felt a glimmer of hope for victory ignite in their eyes.