Campaigning at Meazza (Part 2)

The night was hazy.

The business van moved slowly along a country road in northwestern Germany.

Shadows of trees dappled the road as moonlight gently spilled through the thin clouds.

Tom suddenly remembered something and said seriously, "Li, the gaffer asked me to remind you that it's getting cold, so make sure you keep warm. Van Gaal also sent over several dozen pairs of high-tech tackling shorts for you to wear during training."

"Got it. I'll wear a long-sleeved jersey in the next match."

Li Luo took the brand-new shorts and gave them a light tug. They felt pretty good.

He decided to give some to teammates with similar sizes.

Then he picked up his phone again and casually replied to Lauren's messages.

It had nothing to do with romance.

Every now and then, he needed to talk with the opposite sex, get some emotional support, and maintain his physical and mental health.

Lauren was well suited to being a friend.

The Dutch girl had been to China, climbed the Great Wall, and eaten Chinese food. She also wouldn't say anything reckless in front of the media.

And she had a pleasant way of speaking.

She gave emotional support in abundance.

When Tom took the shorts, he accidentally caught sight of Li Luo's chat history. He immediately turned his head away, his thoughts churning. I can't betray Li. I can't tell the gaffer about this... I didn't see anything.

It was a Chinese brand, and the phone had been a gift.

The screen was far too big.

What had he seen?

[Li Luo: You said you were learning Chinese idioms? Then let me test you. What does "love the house and its crow" mean?]

The four characters for "love the house and its crow" were in Chinese.

The Manchester United assistant couldn't read them.

But he understood the next message.

[Lauren: I learned this one. If you like someone, you'll like their birds too.]

Li Luo advised Lauren not to be misled by all sorts of random teaching videos.

He put down his phone.

He couldn't spend all day chatting with girls.

He needed to study hard.

He picked up his tablet and began watching <Cantona: How to Treat Fans Gently and Awaken the Power of the Twelfth Man>.

The big match was imminent.

Hecking and the assistant coaches were busily preparing for the game.

The little magnetic markers on the tactical board were shifted again and again.

"Mazzarri's Inter Milan doesn't make that many changes on the fly."

"They'll either play a 3-5-2!"

"Or a 3-4-3!"

"Boss, I'm not so sure. Mazzarri hasn't made many proactive adjustments in Serie A, but he may change things up in the Europa League."

The Italian manager Mazzarri was no nobody.

Over the past decade or so, his titles had kept changing: "relegation survival master," "savior of mid-to-lower-table teams," and "soul of revival."

Two years ago, he led Napoli out of the group of death in the UEFA Champions League ahead of Manchester City, then went toe-to-toe with Chelsea in the knockout rounds.

As the match drew near, related news gradually gained traction.

<Even a broken ship still has three nails—Inter Milan are bound to beat Wolfsburg easily at home.>

<UEFA Preview: The live over/under line has risen from 2.5/3 to 3. A trap line? Or a trap line?>

<Japenese Media: Yuto Nagatomo vs. Li Luo—an Asian showdown!>

<Serie A's decline is affected by the Apennine economy: How aesthetics change across different economic stages.>

The comments section.

-[Yeah. When the economy is bad, people appreciate "defensive-looking faces" and "healing, delicate looks" more. Talented young Italian players... definitely don't come back to Serie A. You'll be ruined if you do.]

-[No need to watch. If Li Luo starts, this match is definitely going over.]

-[Yuto Nagatomo? The news said he's recently been dating an AV actress?]

-[He's probably tired of proper food. Yuto Nagatomo has plenty of rumored girlfriends.]

-[I don't think this Inter Milan side can contain Li Luo.]

Two days later.

The Europa League was about to begin.

Li Luo and the club arrived early in Italy's second-largest city, the famed capital of fashion and design: Milan.

"Compared to this place, Wolfsburg feels like the countryside."

"I see it differently. With the decline of Inter Milan and AC Milan, it feels like the city of Milan has grown dimmer too."

His teammates chatted idly.

Li Luo stared blankly at the buildings beyond the car window.

Gothic cathedrals, cafés everywhere, street performers, bustling squares.

Malanda suddenly interrupted his thoughts. "Li, I don't really understand the coaching staff's analysis. Playing against Italian teams feels like it takes a lot of brainpower."

Li Luo shook his head. "You don't need to think. Just watch for my hand signals when the time comes."

"Alright."

With his Spatial Awareness ability, Li Luo easily broke down Inter Milan's tactical system in the league.

Italian football had gradually declined as a whole.

During this period, the coaches of many Serie A clubs did not make tactical adjustments and targeted deployments every week as they did in other leagues.

But some teams were strong enough to be described as adapting to every situation by remaining unchanged.

De Bruyne was not idle.

He closed his eyes to rest.

His brain reinforced its memories: the changes in Inter Milan's defensive line's lateral spacing, the defensive responsibilities in the middle and back lines, and the goalkeeper's positioning.

At the same time.

Pinetina Training Centre.

Inter Milan's head coach, Mazzarri, was rallying his players.

The match footage on the big screen was paused from time to time.

"Hecking isn't some famous manager at all."

"Other than setting up a low block and playing a few transitions, what the hell does he know about tactics?"

"De Bruyne's movements are too exaggerated. There's no disguise to them at all."

"You can tell at a glance that this guy doesn't train properly. He's a lazy Belgian with good physical gifts and strong attacking vision, that's all. Otherwise, why would Chelsea have let him go?"

"Wolfsburg is nothing to fear."

"That Bendtner—do you think he even knows how to play football? Either he runs around blindly or he doesn't move at all. Look at this ball—is he trying to shoot or pass?"

"The only threat!"

"Listen, the only threat is Li!"

"That kid has eyes all over his body."

Mazzarri had been handsome in his youth, and now he looked like a big boss. His words seemed filled with magic.

They sent Inter Milan's players' morale soaring.

That was right.

Looking back through history, when had Inter Milan ever feared an opponent like Wolfsburg?

In the past, they had not even had the chance to face each other.

Historically, many players from Bavaria in southern Germany had been fond of Milan's two giants.

When Beckenbauer was young, he often went there to watch Inter Milan matches.

His idol was Facchetti.

On the eve of the 1966 World Cup, he signed a transfer contract with Inter Milan.

Unfortunately, at that World Cup... Italy lost to North Korea and was eliminated in the group stage.

The entire Apennine nation was enraged, and the Italian Football Federation issued a ban: foreign players were prohibited from transferring to Italian clubs, to ensure local players had opportunities to develop!

And so.

Beckenbauer's connection with Inter Milan came to an end.

Later, the "German Three-Horse Carriage" of Matthäus, Klinsmann, and Brehme became one of Inter Milan's most glorious combinations in history.

Matchday.

Meazza Stadium.

Blue-and-black striped flags fluttered in the wind.

Special red flares burned in the stands, sending thick smoke billowing into the air.

The fans clad in blue and black erupted with an overwhelming roar.

"Zhuangdian'er TV! Zhuangdian'er TV! Good evening, viewers!"

"We are now bringing you live coverage of the second round of the 2014/15 Europa League group stage."

"Inter Milan host Wolfsburg."

"The Nerazzurri take on the Wolves!"

Viewers in front of their televisions felt that the entire Meazza Stadium was very "dark."

The four stands, unleashing a terrifying atmosphere, had no lights on.

From the extreme camera angle, it seemed as though only the pitch was "bright."

The broadcast cut to the players' tunnel.

Many fans found Inter Milan's lineup unfamiliar.

"Former Manchester United player Vidic looked at Li Luo with a smile and patted his own forehead."

"A legendary Red Devil of his generation."

"Hehehe, that gesture means he can contain Li Luo's headers."

"Of course. With that huge frame of his, Vidic was once known as the center-back with the strongest aerial dominance in Premier League history."

The Europa League flag was slowly removed from the center circle.

The refereeing team led both sides out of the tunnel.

Meazza Stadium instantly erupted in thunderous cheers.

"Now, let us introduce the starting lineups for both teams."

"Inter Milan have lined up in a 3-5-2 formation!"

"Goalkeeper: Handanovic."

"Defenders: Ranocchia, Vidic, Juan Jesus."

"Midfielders: Yuto Nagatomo, Guarín, Medel, Kovacic, Dodô."

"Forwards: Palacio, Icardi."

Livestream chat.

-[Is this still the Inter Milan I remember? Huh?]

-[They won the UEFA Champions League just a few years ago. How did their squad turn into such a bargain-bin lineup?]

-[A guy like Icardi, who got involved in that "teammate's wife" scandal, can be Inter Milan's main man?]

-[What teammate's wife scandal?]

-[When Icardi was at Sampdoria, López treated him very well. Afraid that he would be lonely, López often brought him along to family day events. Before long, Icardi ended up cuckolding him.]

-[That woman was no saint either. She publicly said López was inadequate in that department. Absolutely ruthless.]

-[Maradona was furious about Icardi cuckolding a teammate. He said, "If this had happened in my era, Icardi would definitely have been beaten senseless in the locker room."]

"Wolfsburg, wearing their white away kits, have lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation!"

"Goalkeeper: Benaglio."

"Defenders: Sebastian, Naldo, Knoche, Ricardo."

"Midfielders: Vieirinha, Gustavo, Li Luo, Malanda, De Bruyne."

"Forward: Bendtner."

Li Luo looked around.

The dimly lit yet grand stands.

An endless sea of blue-and-black supporters.

Malanda suddenly said, "Li, I'm a little nervous. Why does the pitch feel like it's floating in midair?"

Li Luo nodded. "I'm a little nervous too. Don't be afraid—it's just an optical illusion from the lights. Try not to look at the stands."

This was a good thing.

There were sixty or seventy thousand spectators here.

Maybe after one match, he would gain enough Shock Points to redeem two more [Europa League Stars Blind Boxes].

The coin toss was over.

With a whistle from the referee.

The match officially began.

Inter Milan had possession.

After Icardi kicked off, he passed the ball back into defense.

"A very outdated style of play."

"Instead of having the defenders build the attack, they're leaving it to the midfield."

"Just as expected."

"Bendtner charged forward at the right moment. With one press, Medel made a mistake."

The ball went out of control.

Fortunately, nineteen-year-old Croatian midfielder Kovacic covered in time and kicked the ball out of bounds.

Inter Milan got off to a poor start and nearly allowed Wolfsburg to launch a transition attack.

Boos immediately erupted across Meazza Stadium.

At the sidelines.

Hecking sat calmly on the bench.

On the other side.

Mazzarri stood in the technical area, his expression grave.

"Wolfsburg fullback Sebastian takes the throw-in."

"He throws it to Li Luo."

"Look at Wolfsburg's attack—it follows a very clear pattern. De Bruyne cuts diagonally into the right half-space, while Vieirinha prepares to make his run down the left flank."

"Very good."

"Li Luo plays it one-touch, sending it to the left."

The commentator and Coach Zhang fired off analysis in rapid succession.

Vieirinha was not particularly tall, only 1.7 meters.

Last year, he had suffered an injury—a torn anterior cruciate ligament—and his effectiveness had dropped considerably.

Smack.

He controlled the ball and pushed it forward.

Then he accelerated straight down the outside of the left flank.

"Ranocchia's been blown past."

"Wolfsburg's wide midfielder dared to take the outside route. He's clearly looking to take you on one-on-one."

Ranocchia had once been hailed as Nesta's successor.

Back then, he had genuinely helped minnows Bari become the second-best defensive team in Serie A.

But fate had not been kind to him.

He suffered a serious knee injury and a torn cruciate ligament. After recovering, his physical condition was nowhere near what it had been, and he also developed depression.

"He's cut inside!"

"Vieirinha, the cutback!"

Inter Milan's defensive line was thrown into chaos.

Without hesitation, Wolfsburg's wide midfielder cut to the byline on the left side of the box and decisively sent a cutback pass behind him.

Li Luo had arrived right in the path of the pass.

The center of the penalty area.

Meanwhile, the quicker-reacting Inter Milan players swiftly closed in.

Vidic, the former Manchester United man, also moved immediately to seal off the Chinese youngster's shooting angle.

"It's coming!"

"Beautiful!"

Li Luo was like a magnet.

He was frantically drawing in the blue-and-black figures around him.

The ball rolled in along the ground.

Then something unexpected happened.

He gave a light hop.

And let it pass through.

Inter Milan's defensive line, as if struck by a heavy blow, could only helplessly watch the ball keep rolling...

It had been thrown into complete disarray.

Any Wolfsburg player arriving late could launch a lethal strike.

Waves of astonishment swept through Meazza Stadium.

"Ricardo!"

"A cannon shot!"

Bang!

The ball blasted out.

Inter Milan goalkeeper Handanovic threw himself into a full-stretch dive.

His pink gloves barely managed to keep the ball out.

The danger had not passed.

"Bendtner."

"Follow-up shot."

Drenched in sweat, Bendtner struggled to get a foot to the ball under the interference of Inter Milan's defenders.

The ball flew over the end line.

"That was close."

"It was just inches away from being a goal."

"Handanovic's save was crucial."

In the livestream chat.

Comments flew by.

-[That dummy from my Luo was so damn cool.]

-[Watch the attacking replay. After Li Luo passed the ball to the left flank, he ran diagonally forward. He even paused in the middle and made a feint to turn back before finally accelerating into Inter Milan's box.]

-[Is Inter Milan really that bad?]

-[The match has only just begun.]

On the touchline.

Hecking sat upright.

He knew that the toughest problem in this match was about to arrive.

On the other side.

Mazzarri's confidence and composure had returned.

On the pitch.

Inter Milan began building an attack from the back.

Wolfsburg pressed high up the field.

Gradually.

Malanda looked utterly confused, somewhat at a loss.

Because he realized that while Inter Milan were still passing the ball around in their own half, their two wide midfielders and twin strikers kept darting about.

They had actually manipulated the strong and weak sides of Wolfsburg's defensive shape?

"Coach Zhang, what do you think?"

"This is a complicated, rather redundant question to explain."

"Simply put."

"I owe Mazzarri an apology. His tactics tonight aren't outdated at all."

"Mazzarri's three-back system, ever since Napoli, has been capable of using the off-ball movement of the wing midfielders and forwards during the buildup from the back to disguise a self-initiated attack as a transition attack."

Coach Zhang had no idea how to explain it. If only he could draw diagrams for the audience.

It was difficult to deal with.

Even the coaching staffs of Manchester City and Chelsea had once struggled to crack this "Mazzarri Three-Back System."

Let alone this adjusted cup-version Inter setup.

Hecking could no longer sit still.

He abruptly rose to his feet, rushed into the technical area, and made exaggerated gestures to remind the Wolfsburg players to watch the spacing of their high defensive line.

Bendtner had been run ragged and was furious, nearly slipping to the ground.

Gustavo was somewhat overwhelmed, worried that the defensive line behind him could be exposed at any moment.

The night breeze fluttered the white hem of his shirt.

The Spatial Awareness model in Li Luo's mind spun at full speed.

Everything was under control.

De Bruyne, still running, could not help casting him a startled look. "Could it be? Li has thought of another way to break the deadlock? As expected..."

"Watch Li's hand signal!"

"Huh? He says there's no need to break the deadlock. We just need to go back and park the bus!"

"..."

The Belgian prodigy's mood at that moment was like discussing a difficult problem with a classmate, only for the classmate to say that there was no need to solve it.