Night lay hazy around them.
The minivan rolled slowly along a country lane in northwestern Germany.
Shadows of trees dappled the road, and moonlight spilled gently through the thin clouds.
Tom suddenly remembered something and said earnestly, "Li, Sir asked me to remind you to keep warm now that the weather's getting cold. Van Gaal also sent a few dozen pairs of sliding shorts made with the latest technology for you to wear in training."
"Got it. I'll wear a long-sleeved shirt next match."
Li Luo took the brand-new shorts and gave them a gentle tug. They felt pretty good.
He decided to give some to teammates who wore similar sizes.
Then he picked up his phone again and sent Lauren a brief reply.
It had nothing to do with romance.
Sometimes, he needed to talk to the opposite sex, get a little emotional support, and keep his mind and body healthy.
Lauren made a very good friend.
The Dutch girl had visited China, climbed the Great Wall, eaten Chinese food, and knew better than to shoot her mouth off to the media.
She had a lovely way with words, too.
The emotional support she offered was off the charts.
As 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 Sir about this... I didn't see a thing.
The complimentary phone from that Chinese brand had far too big a screen.
What had he seen?
[Li Luo: You said you were learning Chinese idioms? Let me test you, then. What does "love me, love my dog" mean?]
The four characters for "love someone, love their crow" were in Chinese.
The Manchester United assistant couldn't read them.
But he understood the next line.
[Lauren: I've learned this one. If I like you, I'll like your little bird, too.]
Li Luo advised Lauren not to let dubious instructional videos lead her astray.
He put down his phone.
He couldn't spend all day chatting with girls.
He needed to study hard.
Picking up his tablet, he began watching Cantona: How to Treat Fans Gently and Unleash the Power of the Twelfth Man.
The big clash was approaching.
Hecking and his middle-aged assistants were busily preparing for the match.
The little magnetic markers on the tactics board kept shifting.
"Mazzarri's Inter Milan don't make that many in-game changes."
"It's either a 3-5-2!"
"Or a 3-4-3!"
"Boss, I wouldn't be so sure. Mazzarri doesn't make many proactive adjustments in Serie A, but he might change things in the Europa League."
The Italian coach, Mazzarri, was no unknown.
Over the past decade and more, his labels had kept changing: "relegation survival specialist," "savior of lower-mid-table clubs," and "the soul of a revival."
Two years earlier, he had led Napoli past Manchester City to qualify from a UEFA Champions League group of death, then gone toe to toe with Chelsea in the knockout rounds.
As the match drew closer, related news began gaining traction.
<A battered ship still has sturdy nails: Inter Milan set to brush Wolfsburg aside at home.>
<UEFA preview: The closing over/under line rises from 2.5/3 to 3-is it a trap, or is it a trap?>
<Japanese media: Yuto Nagatomo vs. Li Luo-an Asian showdown!>
<Serie A's decline reflects the economy of the Apennines: How aesthetic tastes change at different economic stages.>
The comments section.
-[Exactly. When the economy's bad, people appreciate "defensive looks" and "soothing, understated faces" more. Talented young Italian footballers... whatever you do, don't return to Serie A. You'll ruin yourselves.]
-[No need to watch. If Li Luo starts, this match is definitely going over.]
-[Yuto Nagatomo? Didn't the news say he's dating a porn actress lately?]
-[Guess he's tired of the regular menu. Yuto Nagatomo's had 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 get underway.
Li Luo and the club arrived early in Italy's second-largest city, the famous capital of fashion and design: Milan.
"Compared with this place, Wolfsburg feels like the countryside."
"I see it differently. With Inter Milan and AC Milan fading, it feels like the city of Milan has lost its luster, too."
His teammates chatted intermittently.
Li Luo gazed absently at the buildings outside the bus window.
Gothic churches, cafés everywhere, street performers, bustling squares.
Malanda suddenly interrupted his thoughts. "Li, I don't really understand the coaching staff's analysis. Playing Italian teams feels like hard work for the brain."
Li Luo shook his head. "You don't need to think. Just watch my signals when the time comes."
"Okay."
With his Spatial Awareness ability, Li Luo had easily broken down Inter Milan's league tactical setup.
Italian football was gradually declining as a whole.
During this period, many Serie A coaches weren't making weekly tactical tweaks and opponent-specific preparations the way coaches in other leagues did.
Still, some teams were strong enough for that to count as "meeting every change with the same approach."
De Bruyne wasn't wasting his time, either.
He rested with his eyes closed.
His brain was reinforcing his memories: the changing lateral spacing of Inter Milan's back line, the division of defensive duties in midfield and defense, and the goalkeeper's positioning.
Meanwhile.
At the Pinetina Training Centre.
Inter Milan's head coach, Mazzarri, was rallying his players.
The match footage on the big screen was paused at intervals.
"Hecking is no master coach."
"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 big. He doesn't disguise anything."
"You can tell at a glance that he doesn't train properly. A lazy Belgian with nothing but physical gifts and good attacking vision. Why else would Chelsea have let him go?"
"There's nothing to fear about Wolfsburg."
"That Bendtner-do you think he even knows how to play football? He's either running around aimlessly or standing still. Look at this ball. Is he trying to shoot or pass?"
"There's only one 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-shot businessman. His words seemed to carry a magical power.
They sent the Inter Milan players' morale soaring.
Exactly.
Looking back through history, when had Inter Milan ever feared an opponent like Wolfsburg?
In the past, they hadn't even had a chance to face each other.
Historically, many players from Bavaria in southern Germany had been fond of Milan's two clubs.
As a young man, Beckenbauer had often traveled there to watch Inter Milan play.
His idol was Facchetti.
On the eve of the 1966 FIFA World Cup, he had signed a transfer contract with Inter Milan.
Unfortunately, at that FIFA World Cup... Italy lost to North Korea and went out in the group stage.
The entire Italian nation was furious, so the Italian Football Federation imposed a ban: foreign players were forbidden from transferring to Italian clubs, ensuring opportunities for homegrown players to develop!
And so.
Beckenbauer's connection with Inter Milan came to an end.
Later, the "German trio" of Matthäus, Klinsmann, and Brehme became one of the glorious combinations in Inter Milan's history.
Match day.
Meazza Stadium.
Blue-and-black striped flags fluttered in the wind.
Special red flares burned in the stands, sending thick smoke billowing upward.
The fans decked out in blue and black unleashed an immense roar.
"Zhuangdian'er TV! Zhuangdian'er TV! Good evening, viewers!"
"We're bringing you live coverage of matchday two of the 2014/15 Europa League group stage."
"Inter Milan host Wolfsburg."
"The blue-and-black army against Wolfsburg!"
To the viewers watching on television, the whole of Meazza Stadium seemed very "dark."
The four stands, erupting with a terrifying roar, were unlit.
From the wide-angle view, only the pitch seemed to be "bright."
The broadcast cut to the players' tunnel.
Many fans found Inter Milan's lineup unfamiliar.
"We can see former Manchester United player Vidic looking at Li Luo and tapping his own forehead with a smile."
"A Red Devils legend."
"Heh heh heh, that gesture means he can keep Li Luo's headers under control."
"Of course he can. With that imposing frame, Vidic was once called the most aerially dominant center-back in Premier League history."
The Europa League flag was slowly carried away from the halfway line.
The referee team led both teams out of the tunnel.
Meazza Stadium instantly erupted with thunderous cheers.
"Now, let's introduce the starting lineups."
"Inter Milan are lining up in a 3-5-2!"
"Goalkeeper: Handanovic."
"Defenders: Ranocchia, Vidic, Juan Jesus."
"Midfielders: Yuto Nagatomo, Guarín, Medel, Kovacic, Dodô."
"Forwards: Palacio, Icardi."
In the livestream chat.
-[Is this still the Inter Milan I remember? Seriously?]
-[They won the Champions League just a few years ago. What kind of bargain-bin lineup is this?]
-[A guy like Icardi, who got involved in that whole "teammate's wife" scandal, gets to be Inter Milan's star player?]
-[What teammate's wife scandal?]
-[When Icardi played for Sampdoria, López treated him really well. Worried he'd be lonely, he often invited him along on family outings. After a while, Icardi ended up cuckolding him.]
-[That woman wasn't exactly a saint, either. She publicly said López couldn't perform in bed. Talk about twisting the knife.]
-[Maradona was furious about someone cuckolding his teammate. He said, "In my day, Icardi would've been beaten to a pulp in the dressing room."]
"Wolfsburg, wearing their white away shirts, are lining up in a 4-2-3-1!"
"Goalkeeper: Benaglio."
"Defenders: Sebastian, Naldo, Knoche, Ricardo."
"Midfielders: Vieirinha, Gustavo, Li Luo, Malanda, De Bruyne."
"Forward: Bendtner."
Li Luo looked around.
The dimly lit, magnificent, sprawling stands.
The countless people in blue and black.
Malanda suddenly said, "Li, I'm a little nervous. Why does it feel like the stadium is floating in midair?"
Li Luo nodded. "I'm a little nervous too. Don't worry, it's just an optical illusion from the lighting. Try not to look at the stands."
This was a good thing.
There were sixty or seventy thousand spectators here.
Maybe after this match, he'd have enough shock value to redeem two more [Europa League Stars Blind Boxes].
The coin toss ended.
With a blast of the referee's whistle,
the match officially began.
Inter Milan had possession.
Icardi kicked off and passed back.
"That's a very outdated approach."
"They're not building attacks through the defenders, but through the midfielders."
"Just as expected."
"Bendtner charges forward, and a little pressure is all it takes for Medel to make a mistake."
The ball slipped out of his control.
Fortunately, Kovacic, the nineteen-year-old midfielder from Croatia, covered in time and kicked the ball out of play.
Inter Milan had made a poor start, nearly allowing Wolfsburg to launch a transition attack.
Boos immediately rang out around the Meazza Stadium.
On the touchline,
Hecking sat calmly in the dugout.
On the other side,
Mazzarri stood in his technical area with a grave expression.
"Wolfsburg fullback Sebastian takes the throw-in."
"He throws it to Li Luo."
"Look at Wolfsburg's attack. Everything follows a clear pattern. De Bruyne makes a diagonal run into the right half-space, while Vieirinha prepares to go down the left."
"Very good."
"Li Luo plays a first-time pass out to the left."
The commentator and Coach Zhang fired off their remarks in rapid succession.
Vieirinha lacked height, standing at just 1.70 meters.
He had suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament the previous year, and his effectiveness had dropped considerably.
Tap.
He controlled the ball and pushed it ahead.
Then he accelerated straight down the outside of the left flank.
"Ranocchia's been blown away."
"Wolfsburg's wide midfielder is willing to go down the outside. He's clearly challenging him one-on-one."
Ranocchia had once been hailed as Nesta's successor.
Back then, he had genuinely helped minnows Barry become the second-best defensive side in Serie A.
But fate had other plans.
He had suffered a serious knee injury and a torn cruciate ligament. After recovering, his physical capabilities were nowhere near what they had been, and he had developed depression.
"He's cut inside!"
"Vieirinha with the cutback!"
Inter Milan's defense was thrown into chaos.
The Wolfsburg wide midfielder did not hesitate. After driving to the byline on the left side of the penalty area, he decisively cut the ball back.
Li Luo arrived right in the path of the pass.
Right in the middle of the penalty area.
At the same time, the quicker-reacting Inter Milan players rushed to close him down.
Former Manchester United defender Vidic also immediately shut off the Chinese youngster's shooting angle.
"Here it comes!"
"Beautiful!"
Li Luo was like a magnet.
He drew the surrounding figures in blue and black toward him at a furious pace.
The ball rolled toward him along the ground.
Then something unexpected happened.
He hopped lightly into the air.
And let it run through.
Inter Milan's defense looked as though it had taken a crushing blow, helplessly watching the ball continue rolling...
They had been completely pulled out of shape.
Any Wolfsburg player making a forward run could deliver a lethal strike.
Waves of astonished cries swept through the Meazza Stadium.
"Ricardo!"
"An absolute thunderbolt!"
Bang!
The ball rocketed away.
Inter Milan goalkeeper Handanovic launched himself into a diving save.
His pink gloves just managed to block the ball.
The danger was not over.
"Bendtner."
"On the rebound."
Bendtner was smothered by burly defenders, barely managing to get a shot away under pressure from Inter Milan's players.
The ball flew over the byline.
"That was close."
"They were inches away from scoring."
"Handanovic's save was crucial."
In the livestream chat,
comments flew across the screen.
-[That dummy from our Li Luo was so cool.]
-[Watch the replay. After passing out to the left, Li Luo ran diagonally forward. He even paused and feinted as if he was going to double back before finally accelerating into Inter's penalty area.]
-[Are Inter Milan really that bad?]
-[The match has only just started.]
On the touchline,
Hecking sat bolt upright.
He knew the toughest problem in this match was about to arrive.
On the other side,
confidence and composure returned to Mazzarri's face.
Out on the pitch,
Inter Milan began building an attack from the back.
Wolfsburg pressed high up the pitch.
Gradually,
Malanda grew bewildered, unsure what to do.
Because he realized that while Inter Milan were still passing around in their own half, their two wide midfielders and two strikers were darting back and forth.
Somehow, they had shifted the strong and weak sides of Wolfsburg's defense?
"Coach Zhang, what do you make of this?"
"Explaining this would be very complicated and long-winded."
"To put it simply,"
"I owe Mazzarri an apology. His approach tonight isn't outdated at all."
"Ever since his time at Napoli, Mazzarri's three-centre-back system has used off-the-ball runs from the wide midfielders and forwards during the buildup phase to disguise a possession attack as a transition attack."
Coach Zhang did not know how to explain it. If only he could draw a diagram for the viewers.
It was very difficult to deal with.
Even the coaching staffs at Manchester City and Chelsea had not known how to crack this "Mazzarri Three-Back System" back then.
And this was Inter's modified version for cup matches.
Hecking could no longer stay seated.
He shot to his feet and rushed into the technical area, making exaggerated gestures to remind Wolfsburg's players to watch the spacing in their high defensive line.
Bendtner was furious at being given the runaround and nearly slipped to the ground.
Gustavo was struggling to keep up, worried that the defense behind him could be exposed at any moment.
The night breeze stirred the hems of their white shirts.
The Spatial Awareness model in Li Luo's mind worked at full throttle.
Everything was under control.
As he ran, De Bruyne could not help casting him a surprised glance. Could it be? Has Li found another way to break through? I knew it...
"Watch Li's hand signals!"
"Huh? He's saying we don't need to break through. We can just drop back and park the bus!"
"..."
At that moment, the Belgian prodigy felt as though he had been discussing a difficult problem with a classmate, only for that classmate to say they did not need to solve it.
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