Chapter 308 Prove It to Them

When Chen Hero ran to the front of the Everton coaching bench specifically to show off his tattoo, the Chinese reporters in the media section couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Moyes, you've seen Chen Hero's personality, haven't you? You've also seen the power of Chen Hero's headers, haven't you?

From today on, let's see if you still dare to underestimate him!

Also laughing was the Russian commentator Yuri Petrov. In Russia, everyone had gradually become accustomed to and accepted Chen Hero's personality. He always did unexpected things, but upon careful consideration, they were quite reasonable.

He knew that Chen Hero was responding to Moyes' pre-match disdain for him.

"Hahahaha! Remember, Moyes, he's called Hero, Chen Hero!"

※※※

Lombaerts had already wiped away his tears, but his eyes were still a little red. He was standing in the center of the locker room, looking up at the TV, which was showing a slow-motion replay of Chen Hero heading the ball into Everton's goal.

He remembered what Chen Hero had said to him when he was being substituted off the field.

"Don't waste any time, Nicolas! Hurry back to the locker room, wash your face, and wipe away your tears! Then sit in front of the TV and watch me avenge you!"

He really did it!

Although he had spent a season with him, he knew a little about this person's character, knew that he was habitually arrogant and conceited, but he always had the capital to be arrogant and conceited—like this time.

But he was still surprised. He didn't expect Chen Hero to fulfill his promise so quickly.

He helped the team equalize the score and also got revenge.

Thinking of this, his eyes couldn't help but well up again…

If I hadn't been sent off… we would have equalized the score, and the numbers would have been equal, maybe we could have really won this game!

But now…

※※※

Seeing his lead vanish, Moyes was a little annoyed. To be equalized by a team with one less player didn't mean the opponent was too strong; it meant his own team was too weak!

But the things that bothered him weren't over yet…

After celebrating wantonly, Chen Hero actually trotted all the way to his front, and then struck a pose at him. Even a fool could see that he was targeting him…

Moyes knew in his heart that he was protesting against him not listing him as a dangerous person before the game.

This kid!

He shook his head helplessly.

Okay, he admitted that he had misjudged him. This kid seemed to have some skill, at least in terms of headers…

Lesleycott was a little strained. Fortunately, Yobo was able to help him. If Kerzhakov hadn't been sent off, his defense would have been a real problem.

It seemed that he had to readjust during the halftime break…

※※※

Chen Hero received a yellow card for taking off his shirt to celebrate after scoring, which he was already used to. He ignored the referee who showed him the card, and ran past the referee with his head held high and eyes straight ahead.

He put his jersey back on, returned to the field, and waited for Everton to kick off.

Or rather, Everton was waiting for Chen Hero and his teammates to come back quickly so they could kick off.

Actually, there was nothing to argue about. There was little time left in the first half. Even if the ball was kicked out, it wouldn't be long before the referee blew the whistle to end the first half.

And so it was. Everton kicked the ball out and hastily organized an attack, which didn't even threaten Zenit's goalkeeper Malafeev, and the first half ended.

※※※

Chen Hero was very happy when he returned to the locker room. He saw Lombaerts and pounced on him.

"How was it, Nicolas! Did you see me avenge you?" He affectionately put his arm around Lombaerts' shoulder.

Lombaerts shook his head and murmured, "I didn't expect… I really didn't expect…"

"Ha! What's so unexpected about that?" Chen Hero had a matter-of-fact expression.

When he jumped up for the first time in the game and defeated Lesleycott, he felt that he would definitely score a header in the game, because that Lesleycott was simply vulnerable!

The facts proved him right. If Yobo hadn't come to help, he might have scored long ago.

Compared to Lesleycott, Yobo was more experienced and capable, and brought him more trouble.

But Chen Hero was still confident.

Wasn't he double-teamed just now?

So there was nothing to worry about at all!

Whoever dares to stop me, I'll fuck his mother!

After Advocaat came in, the lively locker room gradually quieted down. Everyone looked at the coach, expecting him to say something. Was the first half good? Or bad? What should we do in the second half to win the game?

These were all questions that the coach should think about. The players were only responsible for executing the coach's tactical requirements.

"You did a great job in the first half!" Advocaat's words were met with applause and cheers.

"But!" He raised his hand, and the sound gradually subsided.

"But after all, we have one less player, so the second half is very critical for us. Our physical fitness will face a very severe test! For this reason, we have to shrink our defense in the second half, play defensive counterattacks, and avoid pressing out and pressing the opponent's entire court. If we fly around the court, we will be dragged down. The method of attack is the same as what we did in the first half: long passes to Hero."

Chen Hero pointed to his head, signaling everyone to pass it here.

※※※

On the other side, Moyes was frowning and arranging the tactical adjustments for the second half.

"Carsley, pay attention to their number 99 in the second half."

"Hero?"

"Yes, interfere with him when he's fighting for a header, entangle him."

Irish international Lee Carsley nodded to show that he knew.

Lesleycott lowered his head, his face full of unwillingness, but no one could see it.

Originally, that number 99 was supposed to be dealt with by him and Yobo together, but in the actual game, it became his job alone. Now the coach arranged for Carsley to defend Chen Hero, which obviously meant that he thought his defense was a failure.

Lesleycott admitted that the big guy scored a goal under his defense, but after all, he only scored one goal in the entire first half. Although he defended with some difficulty, he always defended him. He had so many offensive opportunities, but he only scored one goal. Isn't this his defensive credit?

Lesleycott was unwilling to admit it, but he couldn't question the coach's arrangement.

Almost the entire halftime break was spent discussing how to contain Chen Hero.

Moyes didn't mind his team getting a draw at home in the end. He felt that there was no problem playing AZ Alkmaar away in the last round, and qualifying for the group was a foregone conclusion. So the task goal of this game was not to lose.

A draw was also acceptable.

The team had done a good job in terms of how to score goals. Yakubu and Andy Johnson, as well as Arteta, who was responsible for passing the ball, performed impeccably, and he had nothing to say. The only thing he could say was the defense.

They were not prepared enough to deal with Chen Hero.

Because they never expected that the big guy, who had performed mediocrely in the previous group stage, actually contained such terrifying power!

※※※

After the second half, Chen Hero was under tight defense. This time, it wasn't just Lesleycott and Yobo, but also a defensive midfielder.

Although the opponent was far shorter than Chen Hero, he was strong and also good at headers. As long as two of these three people jumped up and competed with Chen Hero at the same time, it would be enough to keep him busy for a while.

But Chen Hero was not afraid to compete with these people.

He still jumped up and competed with them.

He couldn't give in, because he was Zenit's only effective means of attack now. Everton's pressing intensity in the frontcourt had not decreased, so Tymoshchuk and Dominguez's connection was not so smooth. Most of the time, they had to kick the ball forward directly… In addition, Advocaat specifically arranged such a defensive counterattack tactic during the halftime break.

When the long passes came from the backcourt, Chen Hero often didn't directly flick the ball back, because there wasn't a single teammate behind him, and Kerzhakov wasn't on the field. He would head the ball to Dominguez or Hils, Arshavin, depending on where his position was. If it was in the center, it would be given to Dominguez, and if it was on the two wings, it would be given to the two wingers.

Then he would turn around and move forward, so that when the ball was crossed from the wing, he could appear in front of the goal to compete for the header.

This set of tactics was very simple. The key was whether to contain Chen Hero from grabbing the first point.

Facing the double-teaming of Lexter, Yobo, and Carsley, Chen Hero bravely fought for the header, and was able to grab the first point almost every time.

The English commentators also had to admit that Chen Hero's strength in headers was very outstanding.

Of course it was outstanding, he had maxed out almost all the talents that affected headers…

For a center back of Lesleycott's level, he would have to practice for a few more years if he wanted to grab the ball from his head…

This first point was like an offensive rebound. Chen Hero could always control the first point and then pass the ball to his teammates, thereby launching an attack. Relying on his header skills alone, Zenit, with one less player, was not at a disadvantage at all at Goodison Park, but instead gave Everton a headache.

As long as Zenit had a long pass from the backcourt, Everton's defenders would feel nervous, because they knew that the number 99 player was going to head the ball away again…

When competing with Everton's players for the header, Chen Hero would use all his strength every time, which would drive the Everton players defending him to also use all their strength, but because they were following his rhythm, they were very embarrassed and tired quickly.

Chen Hero was a bit petty. If others looked down on him before the game, he would desperately prove himself in the game and tell the other party that they were wrong.

So now, every time he contested for a header, it was like saying to Moyes off the field: "I told you to look down on me! I told you to look down on me!"