You still owe us a meal from last time
With both teams bringing their A-game, the match between Valencia and Sevilla quickly became the center of attention for soccer fans.
Home game tickets sold out in a flash, and even scalpers found it tough to get their hands on any.
Sevilla, playing at home, was thrilled and jumped into the hype, using every channel possible to boost the game's visibility, even arranging pre-match interviews.
Sevilla's coach, Unai Emery, praised Rohan for his exceptional free-kick skills, calling him the finest Indian player out there. But he was confident in his own players, believing they wouldn't give Rohan any chance to score.
While some played the good cop, others took on the bad cop role.
Sevilla's star player, Gameiro, acknowledged that Rohan was indeed a standout among Indian players, but reminded everyone that this was Europe, the heartland of soccer, where great players are a dime a dozen.
He pointed out that shining in just a few games doesn't really prove anything,it could just be a flash in the pan.
...
Amidst the mixed opinions from the outside world, Rohan himself remained remarkably calm.
He wasn't one to get easily upset, so he wasn't bothered by any media or fan criticism.
He used to follow sports news closely himself. Before every game, the media would hype up a topic to try and mess with the opposing players' heads.
One match that left a deep impression on Rohan was the Champions League knockout game between Juventus and Atlético Madrid.
With Atlético leading 2-0 at home and their solid defense, few believed Juventus could turn it around in the second leg. Atlético's coach, Simeone, even made a provocative gesture to unsettle Juventus players.
Atlético fans mocked Cristiano Ronaldo before the second leg, telling him to just go home.
But the tables turned spectacularly.
Ronaldo's hat-trick sent Atlético packing, and he mimicked Simeone's gesture right in front of all the fans.
That night, Rohan was so pumped he couldn't sleep, imagining himself charging down the pitch, pulling off a Ronaldo-esque rescue for his team in a dire moment.
Now was his chance to pay homage to his idol Ronaldo with a hat-trick of his own.
Thinking about it, Rohan couldn't help but clench his fists in excitement.
But excitement aside, he knew that achieving his goal would hinge on his own skills.
So, rigorous training was essential.
Currently, his free-kick skills were top-notch, but his other stats were pretty low.
Soccer is a comprehensive sport, and even if his passing was on par with the average in the top five leagues, his other skills were lacking.
As a midfielder, a 50 in tackling was quite an eyesore.
He could manage in regular matches, but in high-stakes games or Champions League knockouts, he might not even be able to hold onto the ball.
That's why Rohan was focusing on boosting his tackling strength, though improving it was much harder than passing since it involved enhancing strength across various parts of his body. After three days of intense training, his tackling score had only increased by one point.
However, the core strength training also boosted his physical strength, which was a pleasant surprise for Rohan.
...
Time flew by, and soon it was the day of the match between Valencia and Sevilla.
Thanks to all the hype, the Pizjuán Stadium was packed, with crowds even spilling outside.
Most were Sevilla fans, with a few Valencia supporters who had traveled a long way.
Even before the match started, the fans were already at each other's throats.
"Starting an Indian player, really? Has Valencia run out of options?"
"What's wrong with having an Indian player? If he's part of the Valencia team, we trust him."
"Trust him? Lucky to score a few goals and you treasure him like gold? Wait till you see how you lose."
"Lose? You must be joking. We're taking home the three points today."
The fans rolled up their sleeves and went at it, neither side backing down.
This scene was broadcast live by the Indian media and streamed into Shaiju's channel.
Shaiju chuckled, "Europe truly is the holy land of soccer. Nothing can replace the passion people have for this sport here. That's what you call a deep-rooted culture."
"Getting back to business, the upcoming match is the 13th round of La Liga, with Sevilla hosting Valencia, Rohan's team."
"Sevilla is lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with number 9, Gameiro, leading the attack, and the Spanish native, Rico, as the goalkeeper..."
"On the Valencia side, the starting goalkeeper is still Brazil's Diego Alves, with the center-backs being João Cancelo wearing number 2 and Ruben Vezo with number 3..."
"It's noteworthy that the young Indian player, Rohan, is starting in midfield, probably thanks to his impressive performances in the Champions League, which must have caught the eye of Valencia's coach, Nuno."
"Let's hope he can continue his stellar performance in this game and score some spectacular goals for his team."
Bineesh shook his head, "I doubt it, Sevilla's home ground is notoriously tough. Even Real Madrid and Barcelona have to bring their A-game here. It's going to be tough for Valencia to take away three points."
Shaiju nodded, not disagreeing.
Although Rohan had scored in his last two matches and Valencia's recent performances were quite impressive.
But Sevilla, being the Europa League champions, are undeniably strong.
Especially Gameiro, the number 9 striker, whose finishing skills are top-notch even among the elite of the top five leagues.
And with the home advantage, Sevilla's chances of winning are at least 70%.
For Valencia, not losing this match would already be a big win.
But in soccer, until the final whistle, you never know who will come out on top.
That's the beauty of the game.
Perhaps encouraged by Bineesh's words, a big shot in the chat jumped in.
"Valencia is doomed if they're letting Rohan play in such a crucial match."
"True, Valencia's success this season is mainly due to their solid defense. Putting Rohan in midfield is like giving up their strength, not a wise move."
Watching the discussion, Bineesh nodded, "Indeed, from what we've seen in Rohan's last two matches, his weak defense is undeniable, and Coach Nuno must be aware of it."
"He's fielding this lineup probably aiming to score early. It's a bold and risky tactic."
A viewer commented, "If Valencia wins this match, I'll eat a smelly sock live."
"You still haven't eaten the last one yet."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone