As everyone knows, the Italian team is known as Little San Remo!

"My god, what am I seeing! Lu Yang has toyed with the opposing defenders! And he didn't even use a V-Pull, but a rabona pass!"

"A beautiful rabona assist! What else can Lu Yang do?"

"I thought this attack had reached its end, but Lu Yang deceived his opponent. He feinted a breakthrough to the right, but instead of touching the ball with his left foot, he wrapped his right foot behind his left to deliver a brilliant pass!"

"This pass is pure spectacle; Lu Yang's football is always this beautiful!"

"Three-nil at halftime, the Foggia players have completely collapsed, especially with it being so close to the break—it's a fatal blow to their morale!"

"I hope their head coach can make some adjustments at halftime, otherwise these lads might truly lack the courage to keep playing."

"San Remo is too strong. Is the gap between seventh and tenth in the standings really this wide? They might actually have a chance to enter the promotion playoffs."

During the halftime break, Soto praised everyone in the locker room.

Then, he emphasized the defensive issues in the backline.

On one hand, he instructed Lu Yang to help out more in defense. On the other, he told Rondo not to play too aggressively, especially avoiding the kind of intense foot-to-foot challenges seen in the first half.

The team cannot afford to lose Rondo.

Rondo indicated that he understood.

The second half kicked off.

In the seventy-first minute, Rondo, who had just returned from injury, was substituted off for the backup center-back Nagy.

Soto truly cherishes Rondo's physical well-being.

After all, having seen Lu Yang in the defensive midfield position, no one would ever miss Lu Yang at center-back again.

Men are just that fickle.

But soon, the time bomb in the San Remo backline went off.

Even with Lu Yang dropping back to cover, they were still breached by the Foggia players.

The difference in a backline with or without a defensive commander is immense.

For example, Manchester City in the '21 season: after the arrival of Dias, Stones, who had been considered a lost cause, was revitalized and delivered eye-catching performances.

So, when San Remo's backline had neither Rondo nor Lu Yang, they truly couldn't stop the opposition.

Conceding 46 goals in the first half of the season was no joke.

"Hey, mate, we need to talk." Moric approached Lu Yang. "I like partnering with you, but I don't want to be the only one responsible for defense and organization while also having to watch out for double-teams."

"We have to help the team's defenders and make them look reliable."

"'Look' is a well-chosen word." Lu Yang nodded. After playing a free role, no one wants to return to a fixed position; it is human nature.

Yearning for the wind and freedom.

"Let's ramp up the attack and blow them away!" Moric suggested.

Lu Yang signaled his agreement.

Subsequently, Lu Yang frequently pushed forward, launching an offensive.

Although this might make one feel that San Remo's backline would be left exposed, Foggia had no strength left to exploit these weaknesses.

They were left flustered by the forward runs of Lu Yang and Vedian.

In the seventy-ninth minute of the match.

Lu Yang surged forward again, but because there had been so many such movements, the Foggia side had become somewhat lax.

Moreover... Moric passed the ball to the right forward, who tried to dribble through but found no opening, so he passed it back to Moric.

Moric, capable of playing with both feet, distributed it to Vedian this time.

Vedian found space and immediately sent in a cross.

The opposing right-back managed to graze the ball, but it didn't change trajectory, only soaring high into the air.

Lu Yang had already stormed into the Foggia penalty area.

The opposing center-back engaged in physical contact with Lu Yang, but since they were in the box, he dared not be too reckless.

This gave Lu Yang an opportunity.

At the same time, the San Remo center-forward and right forward were also charging into the box, drawing away some of the defensive pressure.

Lu Yang made a motion to trap the ball with his foot.

This made the center-back marking him feel more at ease.

Unlike the team's center-forward, as a defensive player, he possessed plenty of defensive techniques.

The moment Lu Yang went to trap the ball, a little bit of physical pressure would be enough to send the ball flying away.

Although Lu Yang's previous display of cushioning the ball with his instep was impressive, no one believed it was a standard part of his repertoire.

If even Moric couldn't do it, why should Lu Yang be able to?

"We see that Lu Yang wants to trap the ball; that's very unwise."

"Attacking opportunities are often fleeting; where in the opponent's penalty area is there time for you to trap and adjust?"

"Perhaps this is the difference and the gap between Lu Yang and a forward. Some people previously said they hoped to see Lu Yang play as a forward, but this scene right now tells us directly that it is impossible."

The commentator wasn't looking down on Lu Yang, but the choice Lu Yang made was truly not the optimal one.

At that moment, fighting for a header to knock the ball down to a teammate outside the penalty area was the best choice; even a fool would know that. Why was Lu Yang the only one who didn't?

Lu Yang was completely confused.

You just said it yourself, only a fool would know that. I, Lu Yang, am not a fool, so why should I know?

But soon, history repeated itself.

The football landed directly on the top of Lu Yang's foot without any bounce.

This was equivalent to expecting something to fall and then bounce, but it lacked that "then."

This split-second difference in timing gave Lu Yang the opportunity to nudge the football into the empty space beside him.

Then, Lu Yang turned around and pulled his leg back to fire...

The Foggia center-back lived up to his reputation as a wily veteran; having missed the chance to disrupt Lu Yang's reception, he did not miss the chance to block Lu Yang's shot.

He went straight into a sliding block.

At the same time, the Foggia goalkeeper also dove toward the right side.

But... Lu Yang's first touch did not actually make contact with the ball.

Instead, he feinted over the ball, stepping beside it, then wrapped his other foot behind to flick the ball up with a rabona.

The football sailed over the Foggia center-back and, in the eyes of the Foggia goalkeeper, drifted slowly toward the left side of the goal.

The next second, the ball hit the net!

"Genius, you are a freaking genius!"

Vedian rushed over, though he had originally thought Lu Yang would pass it back to him, as he had already found a shooting opportunity outside the penalty area.

"That was too flashy, but I'm really worried you'll snap your own ankle with those moves." Moric was also happy, but a bit worried that Lu Yang would become a target for malicious tackles due to his high profile.

This is the difference between back-line players and other players.

Rarely do back-line defensive players have their ankles targeted by others.

That is usually something they are the ones doing.

"Can't help it, I'm feeling it today." Lu Yang smiled slightly. "I'll be careful; from now on, I'll seal my feet away."

Moric was speechless.

If you seal your feet, what the hell are you going to play with?

It must be said that this goal by Lu Yang completely shattered any possibility of the Foggia players equalizing the score.

If one-to-three wasn't desperate enough, one-to-four meant there was really no need to keep playing.

Moreover, because Moric was worried about Lu Yang, he began to organize possession play after winning the ball.

This served as a signal to the Foggia players: we aren't attacking anymore, so don't be too angry.

After all, Lu Yang's rabona pass and shot were truly infuriating.

And this was something a center-back had pulled off, for heaven's sake.

The first minute of stoppage time.

San Remo won a corner kick.

Moric took the kick casually, and the match was about to end.

However, Lu Yang actually charged to the near post, leaped high, and executed a Lion's Header to flick the ball on.

Nagy, the young San Remo substitute center-back who had caused the goal conceded earlier, landed and used his height advantage to head the football directly into the Foggia goal.

Five to one!

This was definitely a rare, massive victory in San Remo's history!

It was also the largest scoreline in this round of the Serie D.

The Foggia players were all stunned.

Wasn't it agreed that we were playing a gentleman's game?

Why are you suddenly attacking again?

To this, Moric could only say sorry.

As a veteran player of football simulation games, scoring at the kickoff and scoring at the final whistle are just habits. My apologies.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

The referee blew the final whistle.

Lu Yang and Moric chatted as they walked, and when they passed by Nagy, he patted Nagy on the shoulder.

Nagy turned his head, and seeing it was Lu Yang, he became very excited.

His eyes were red because he had cried when he scored just moments ago.

It was Lu Yang who saved him.

If not for that goal, he dared not imagine how much criticism he would have faced.

After Rondo was injured, Nagy became the starting center-back for San Remo, but his performance was abysmal.

Although he stood at one meter ninety-three, he was neither strong nor tough.

After Lu Yang burst onto the scene, he took the starting spot that had belonged to Nagy, causing Nagy to lose his playing time for a period. While the team's other tall center-back was also trash, he was at least more seasoned than Nagy.

With Rondo returning from injury and Lu Yang moving to a more advanced position, the possibility of Nagy serving as a backup for Rondo emerged.

Yet, the moment he stepped onto the pitch, he ruined everything.

Until... that Lion's Header flick from Lu Yang flew onto his head.

He completed his own redemption.

"See? That's it! Keep it up!" Lu Yang said, looking at Nagy.

Nagy nodded.

"You have great talent. With your height, if you just put on a little muscle, you'll be an indispensable member of the backline." Lu Yang gave Nagy some encouragement.

In fact, compared to the other clumsy center-back, Lu Yang favored Nagy more because he was... young!

That other center-back was already thirty-five, a year older than the team captain Rondo, and it was uncertain if he would even be playing next year.

After Nagy left, Moric said speechlessly, "Why are you acting like a veteran? He's nearly five years older than you!"

Lu Yang spread his hands and said, "So what? Can't you see the leadership qualities in me?"

Moric froze, then asked in surprise, "You want to be captain?"

Lu Yang did not hide it: "Either lead others or be led by others. I'm used to being free, so..."

Moric looked at the people around them, then whispered, "But how long do you think you can play at San Remo? Based on your current performance, there will definitely be teams buying you during the transfer window!"

"What kind of teams?" Lu Yang asked calmly.

"Serie C!" After Moric said it, he paused himself.

San Remo might not lack the chance to play in Serie C next season!

"Or, Serie B? Mr. Arthas should have the connections," Moric said.

"Then if we go to Serie B, what kind of role do you think we could play?" Lu Yang countered.

He said "we," not "I."

In fact, the one who truly wanted to go to Serie B was not Lu Yang, but... Moric!

"Would I still be able to enjoy such high-freedom arrangements from the coaching staff? To push up when I want, to cover defense when I want? Impossible. I would become a midfield workhorse, and even if I could occasionally have a flash of brilliance, it would only draw dissatisfaction from the head coach, the coaching staff, teammates, and fans."

"The teams in Serie B with ambition exist solely to push for promotion to Serie A; they don't need any X-factors! And I am the biggest X-factor in the Italian leagues."

Moric nodded, as if acknowledging Lu Yang's point, but there was still an inexplicable glimmer in his eyes.

It was about himself.

"And you..." Lu Yang turned to Moric, "Do you think you could be treated and developed as a core player in such a team? Sorry, Serie B doesn't produce core players. Weak teams can't keep young players who act as cores, and which strong team doesn't already have their own?"

"Perhaps Portugal and the Netherlands have such space, but your influence clearly doesn't reach that far. Are you willing to leave me to go play in the Netherlands?"

Moric pondered for a long time.

"What do you think? Lu, you know you're the one I trust most. I'll listen to you." Moric made up his mind.

Lu Yang put an arm around his shoulder and leaned in, saying, "The club president inviting Soto actually revealed enough information; he is preparing to go all out. Of course, this requires a prerequisite: we players need to show him something first, for example..."

"Leading the team into Serie C!"

"As long as we make it into Serie C, we will definitely get strong reinforcements this summer transfer window. Soto and Arthas will work hard for it. And with the support of Serie A-level players, we won't even have to stay in Serie C for long. Serie B... is not far off!"

"We don't need to leave the best environment for growth just for the sake of that one year. There are countless examples of talented players missing their best developmental stages because they wanted to join a giant club. San Remo isn't a giant, but since you and I have become the core here, for us, this is the best childhood home!"

"Vedian is leaving this season, but he will soon run into us again in Serie B. By then, he might not be doing better than us. That will be the surprise we give him."

Moric was a smart man. What Lu Yang said sounded crazy, but... if the legend of San Remo was setting sail, then all of this became reasonable.

A legend, by definition, is doing what most people think is impossible.

"Then why didn't you tell Vedian these things?" Moric asked, curious.

"Do you really need me to be so blunt, Moric?" Lu Yang looked at him. "Because you are my best friend. I want to fight side-by-side with you and see just how far we can go together."

Moric's eyes turned red: "Are you sure it's not because Vedian could be sold for more?"

Lu Yang: "That is a factor, but it's not a big one—maybe about ninety-five percent."

San Remo might not know it, but they had invisibly gained the recognition of two core players.

Of course, after this match, the recognition San Remo received was not limited to that.

The Italian superstar Maniero clearly watched the match, and the moment it ended, he reposted five GIFs of the goals with a comment: "As everyone knows, the Italian national team is known as the 'Little San Remo'!"

"They have found a perfectly compatible dual-core. If they keep playing like this, they will be able to charge out of Serie D this season!"

What kind of popularity and status did Maniero have in Italian football?

His words immediately set the entire Italian football world in motion!