章 14: Against Chelsea 2
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.....
"Welcome to Leicester's King Power Stadium! This is Sky Sports bringing you live coverage of the fourth round of the FA Cup, where Leicester City will host Chelsea, the Premier League giants from London!"
"In this matchup, Mourinho has made six changes to his starting lineup following their impressive 3-1 victory over Manchester United. It's clear he's opted for a strategic rotation of his squad."
"Nemanja Matic, the Portuguese Super League Player of the Season, who recently transferred from Benfica, is making his first start and will be partnering with Frank Lampard in the midfield."
"With this appearance, Lampard surpasses Bonetti to become second in the club's all-time FA Cup appearances, trailing only Harris by six matches."
"Leading the attack is Fernando Torres."
"Samuel Eto'o, who scored a hat trick against Manchester United in the last game, and captain John Terry find themselves on the bench today."
"On the other hand, Leicester City has also made some changes to their lineup since the last league match."
"The most notable inclusion is Tristan Hale, the 18-year-old sensation who has lit up the pitch with three goals and three assists in his last three appearances. Today marks his first start for the first team, a well-deserved reward after his standout performances as a substitute!"
As the live commentary continues, Tristan's handsome figure flashes on the stadium's big screen, eliciting cheers from the crowd. As a product of Leicester City's youth system, this kind of treatment comes naturally to him.
Facing the camera, Tristan smiles, causing the female fans in the stadium to erupt with joy, their hearts racing in excitement.
"So handsome!" one fan exclaims.
"Those beautiful green eyes!" another adds.
Before the match kicks off, both teams engage in a respectful handshake. Despite the whirlwind of excitement, Tristan strives to maintain composure, channeling the admiration of his fans as he stands alongside the stars he had only ever seen on television before—Lampard, Hazard, Ashley Cole.
To him, they are nice, but now they are the players he must compete against. His admiration for them is set aside during the game.
As the teams line up for photos, Tristan stands at the far left of the second row, flashing his brightest smile for the camera. With the sound of shutter clicks, the first team lineup is captured.
After the captains of both teams toss a coin, Leicester City earns the right to choose their side, while Chelsea prepares for the first kick-off.
In their half, Captain Morgan gathers everyone for a quick pep talk, urging his teammates: "Let's teach them a lesson!"
Joining his teammates, Tristan folds his hands atop theirs, the camaraderie palpable.
...
With a long whistle from referee Paul Tierney, the match officially begins!
Chelsea takes the initiative. Torres, clad in white, passes the ball back, sending it rolling to Oscar's feet. Without hesitation, Oscar plays the ball back again.
As the team's ball-holding core, Oscar makes three quick passes before the ball lands at Hazard's feet on the left flank.
Currently, there's a superstar in London, and that's Eden Hazard, Chelsea's left winger wearing the number 17!
With his sharp breakthroughs and extraordinary skills, Hazard has commanded attention since his debut in Lille, Ligue 1. After joining the Blues as the Premier League's top transfer target in 2012, he swiftly won over Chelsea fans at Stamford Bridge with his dazzling dribbling. Over the past season and a half, he has consistently ranked among the top three players in England for dribbling success rate.
Though still approaching his peak, Hazard is already Chelsea's sharp weapon on the left, capable of slicing through defenses!
Receiving the ball, Hazard charges forward without hesitation, going head-to-head with Leicester City's right-back, De Wright.
During tactical preparations, Pearson emphasized that Chelsea's left side would be their primary offensive route. To combat Hazard, De Wright was instructed to apply more physical pressure, while right central midfielder Andy King was also told to provide support.
Yet, even when faced with a double team, Hazard remained undeterred. He deftly dodged left and right, maneuvering into the Leicester City penalty area.
Then, creating some space, he unleashed a shot!
With a loud "bang," the ball soared through the air, curving toward the far corner of the goal.
Fortunately, goalkeeper Schmeichel was alert, diving instinctively and grazing the ball with his fingertips, redirecting it off-course and out of danger!
Hazard could only hold his head in disbelief. Having dribbled from the wing, cut inside, evaded the defender, and lined up his shot, he had thought he was destined to score.
Yet, Schmeichel's relaxed dive thwarted his effort.
After staring at Schmeichel's calm demeanor for a moment, Hazard jogged back without any reluctance, silently vowing, "You blocked it this time, but I'll get you next time."
Witnessing this near miss, Chelsea fans sighed in collective disappointment, while the Leicester City fans broke out in cold sweats, relieved that Hazard hadn't found the net.
If Hazard had scored early, the game could have taken a very different turn.
Under Mourinho's leadership, Chelsea's defense has always been their strongest asset!
The commentator echoed the sentiments of the crowd: "What a perfect display of dribbling!"
"It's unfortunate that the final shot wasn't executed better. A more precise arc could have made it impossible for Schmeichel to save!"
Hazard's aggressive start was just the opening act.
As the ball transitioned, the Leicester City coaching staff and players were caught off guard. Chelsea, known for their defensive counterattacks, had opted for a high-pressure strategy at King Power Stadium from the outset!
Beginning with striker Torres and moving through midfielder Matic, the entire formation surged forward. Matic shadowed Tristan closely, denying him any chance to receive the ball.
In a moment of frustration, central midfielder Dean Hammond was forced to pass the ball out to the wing.
But Knockaert, on the left, barely took two steps before being double-teamed by two Chelsea players, swiftly losing possession.
The momentum shifted rapidly. In the blink of an eye, Chelsea's players surged toward Leicester City's backline like a relentless tide, applying immense pressure on their defense.
Watching this unfold, Pearson, who had been calmly observing from the sidelines, shot to his feet, concern etched on his face.
He had not anticipated such an aggressive start from Chelsea.
Glancing over at Mourinho in the visiting team's booth, he muttered, "What on earth is this Portuguese up to?"
Mourinho, seated in the visiting coaching area, couldn't help but smirk at the chaos on the pitch. He had a plan, and it was working perfectly.
By starting Lampard, who possesses greater offensive capabilities, in place of Mikel or Ramires, both known for their defensive skills, Mourinho intended to seize the initiative and strike early at King Power Stadium.
His plan: score quickly, then switch to a defensive counterattacking style to protect their lead.
Lampard was expected to make frequent forward runs, often slipping behind Torres to act as a second striker, maximizing his ability to shoot from deep.
Matic would take on the bulk of the defensive responsibilities, with explicit orders to keep a close watch on Tristan, the main passing hub of Leicester's attack.
In Mourinho's eyes, stifling Tristan would cripple Leicester City's central game, forcing them to rely on less effective flank plays.
Chelsea's full-backs, Ashley Cole and Ivanovic, are among the Premier League's elite defensively, making it challenging for Leicester to exploit the wings.
This strategic shift caught Leicester City completely off guard.
Having analyzed Chelsea's previous games, Pearson believed Mourinho typically favored a more defensive approach at the start. Hence, all tactical preparations had been based on this assumption.
However, this match was turning out to be a very different affair!
"This Portuguese is playing dirty!" Pearson thought angrily. "We need to regroup our defense quickly to weather this storm!"
But before he could sprint to the sidelines to rally his players, the situation shifted dramatically!
As Hazard continued his dribble on the left, Leicester City's right-back De Wright and central midfielder Andy King were left floundering, struggling to keep pace.
In a desperate attempt to regain control, the central defender Liam Moore rushed in to help defend.
But as Hazard skillfully maneuvered into the penalty area, Moore, eager to make a play, lunged too hastily and inadvertently kicked Hazard on the calf.
Chelsea's number 17 crumpled to the ground, screaming in pain.
Referee Paul Tierney, witnessing the incident from close range, immediately blew his whistle and pointed to the penalty spot!
"Penalty!" he announced.
"Hazard has been taken down in the box; the referee has awarded a penalty!"
"It's no surprise he's a penalty magnet!" the commentator exclaimed.
When Hazard arrived in England last season, he had already been noted for drawing penalties through his relentless breakthroughs.
And here he was again, showcasing that talent in the FA Cup.
The King Power Stadium erupted in unified boos from the home fans, expressing their outrage at the decision.
They didn't care that Hazard was writhing on the ground, clutching his leg in apparent agony.
"Oh no!" one fan yelled.
"What is that kid doing?! Why stretch your leg like that?!" another shouted.
"Come on! That's a flop!" a third added.
Despite the obvious foul, the replay on the big screen clearly displayed Moore's clumsy challenge on Hazard.
Yet Morgan, the team captain, stepped up to discuss the call with the referee, while Moore desperately insisted it was Hazard who collided with him.
Referee Tierney remained unyielding, issuing a yellow card to Moore and signaling Chelsea to prepare for the penalty kick.
Chelsea's designated penalty taker, Frank Lampard, approached the ball, and the stadium fell into a tense silence.
The moment felt surreal, as Leicester City's fans watched their fate hang in the balance.
The imposing figure of Schmeichel crouched low, ready to defend his goal.
And then, with a steady breath, Lampard took a few steps back and ran toward the ball!
"One-nil!"
"Chelsea has made a sensational start to their away game!"
As Chelsea's players celebrated near the corner flag, captain Morgan and Vardy raised their arms, rallying their teammates who were visibly deflated by the early setback.
"It doesn't matter! The game is just beginning!"
"Yeah, we still have plenty of time!"
"Let's get serious!"
Amid the shouts of his teammates and the cheers of the visiting fans ringing in his ears, Tristan's mind raced with possibilities. At that moment, one thought dominated his consciousness:
How could he help the team turn the tide against Chelsea and secure victory?
After his journey through time and space, Tristan had gained a system to enhance his abilities, but he refused to rely on it entirely. To him, the system was merely a catalyst, accelerating his growth as a player. He understood that to truly become a strong professional, dedication and hard work were essential.
Playing football required more than just skill; it demanded intelligence. Every moment, whether in training or on the pitch, Tristan was thinking ahead: How could he link his actions to the next play? What was the best way to deliver a pass that would create a scoring opportunity? How could he position himself to support his teammates more effectively?
This proactive mindset allowed Tristan to gain a clear understanding of his strengths and weaknesses.
His strengths: high passing accuracy, a variety of passing techniques, exceptional off-the-ball movement, exceptional vision and strong stamina.
His weaknesses: poor physical strength, average defensive skills, decent footwork, and finishing ability.
In today's football landscape, Tristan saw himself as the orchestrator of the front line, akin to a number ten. He focused on connecting plays rather than dribbling solo, aiming to create chances through smart passing and threatening the opponent's goal.
However, he was acutely aware of his limitations when it came to physical confrontations. Against someone like Matic, a tall and strong midfielder, he knew he had to be strategic; he couldn't even hold his ground against Oscar, who was the least physical player on Chelsea's roster.
So how could he break free when Matic inevitably targeted him?
Fortunately, Tristan had faced such scrutiny before. In his last match against Leeds United, he had also been closely marked but still managed to shine with a goal and an assist, helping his team claim victory. He could adopt a similar approach this time.
The solution lay in retreating and changing positions. If he dropped back into his own half to collect the ball and initiate play, Matic would hesitate to follow. If he did venture out, it would create a significant gap in Chelsea's midfield. If Matic stayed back, he could switch places with Mahrez on the right and launch threatening passes toward the goal.
But this plan hinged on teamwork.
With that thought in mind, Tristan waved to Mahrez, who was positioned nearby.
"Riyad! Over here, I have a plan!"
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