CHAPTER 54: CHAPTER 23: I’VE SEEN THIS MATCH BEFORE, WE’LL WIN! (PART 2)

"My leg feels a bit uncomfortable," Rondo said softly.

Lu Yang’s expression changed dramatically; if something happened to Rondo, the team’s defensive line...

"You can’t play anymore!" Lu Yang started shaking his head.

"I know, but the team needs me for this match," Rondo was clearly hesitating.

"The team needs you, but not just for this match, for every match from now on!" Lu Yang looked at Rondo.

The latter nodded and then gestured to Head Coach Sotu for a substitution.

The stadium instantly erupted.

"Oh, we see San Remo’s penalty taker Rondo signaling to the head coach for a substitution, judging by his walking posture just now, he is most likely injured," the commentator quickly identified the reason. "It was from that earlier tussle, he and Palermo’s..."

On the sidelines, Naji quickly warmed up.

Meanwhile, Sotu started analyzing with the coaching team.

Who should take this penalty kick!

Rondo handed the captain’s armband to San Remo’s central forward; he is the second captain, but he is not the second penalty taker.

The team’s second penalty taker is the right forward, but that guy is not on the pitch today.

"Morici has the best technique," Tom said.

Having arrived at the sideline, Morici frowned and said, "I’m willing to take on any responsibility the team assigns, but I’ve been involved in too much defense today, and my foot is a bit numb, which caused some of my passes earlier to be off."

Morici was being very professional, speaking from the heart.

If his passing had been better earlier, Vedian would have been able to shoot directly upon receiving the ball without needing to adjust, and there wouldn’t have been this penalty kick.

Today, he had been stepped on and collided with several times by the opponent, which is quite significant at critical moments.

These factors, if not mentioned by players or coaches, are hard for those who don’t play to feel.

Even if a penalty kick is taken a few times later in the match, the players’ condition might become worse due to stamina, numb feet, or mental pressure issues.

Sotu fell into deep thought.

No one on the team was more stable than Morici.

Especially... since Morici had declined to take this penalty.

Morici said he wasn’t suitable to take this penalty.

Although if Sotu insisted, Morici would still take it, but why force it?

That would just waste Morici’s kind-heartedness; he was very selfless.

But Morici didn’t consider that as the player with the best technique on the team, if even he refused to confidently take the penalty, how could anyone else dare?

Can you guarantee a goal?

No!

Is your technique better than Morici’s?

No!

If so, why not let someone more confident take it?

Don’t forget, Sotu had said before that San Remo cannot afford to lose any match!

With Rondo out, this penalty kick is likely to decide the outcome of the entire match.

And this match is likely to determine the season’s direction for San Remo.

With more significance comes more pressure.

With great pressure... apart from those with nerves of steel or those who thrive under pressure, most people will perform worse than usual.

Wait!

Sotu’s eyes lit up, nerves of steel?

He looked at Lu Yang.

Just at that moment, Lu Yang stepped forward and said, "Coach, let me take it, I will definitely score!"

Lu Yang appeared very confident.

Sotu nodded.

Thus, the audience saw San Remo’s group discuss for a moment, and then their left midfielder, Lu Yang, walked to the penalty spot.

"Oh! What’s happening? San Remo’s penalty taker is actually Lu Yang?"

"San Remo’s first and second penalty takers are both absent, so it’s indeed hard for them to find a suitable taker, but..."

"Isn’t Morici’s technique good enough to take that penalty? I remember he has scored several long shots this season, and he has the technique and ability for it."

"Earlier, it seemed like Morici said something and pointed to his foot—I suspect his foot isn’t feeling well either. Palermo’s lockdown on Morici today has given him a hard time, and he likely got injured during the tussles as well."

"San Remo’s central forward has missed two penalties in Rondo’s absence before. This match is too significant, and he probably can’t handle that much pressure."

"But why Lu Yang? Although he has scored multiple long shots, his technique is definitely not considered good."

"Could it be that Sotu gave this as a reward to Lu Yang? But I personally believe this might turn into a punishment! If Lu Yang fails to withstand the pressure and misses the penalty, he’ll become the team’s scapegoat!"

Standing at the penalty spot, Lu Yang had a solemn brow and showed a C Luo-like determined gaze.

Someone once said, if a player had Messi’s rhythm, Xiaoluo’s feel, Bell’s speed, Robben’s cutting, Ronaldo’s shooting, Neymar’s dribbling, Harvey’s vision, Xiaobai’s through passes, Van Dijk’s physique, and C Luo’s gaze, then he would be the strongest player in football.

This statement was clearly a joke about C Luo.

But does the gaze really have no use?

The eyes are the windows to the soul.

Someone previously said that James and C Luo were very similar, but it was really only because they are older players. In fact, fans who know both would realize they aren’t similar at all.

Their gazes are fundamentally different!

And if you’ve seen both C Luo’s and Kobe’s gazes, you’d find their gazes are actually very similar.

That kind of extreme desire for victory and rigorous self-data demands make them seem somewhat out of place in matches.

But that also represents their determination.