Chapter 20 A One-Man Show

Enrique and old man Toppmöller did not shake hands.

Each led their coaching staff into the tunnel.

The Barcelona stars looked somewhat dejected.

No one expected that Bayer Leverkusen, a seemingly weak team, would suddenly become a tough nut to crack.

For Barcelona, was there any difference between a draw and a loss in a match against a minnow?

Busquets said helplessly, "Did the youth academy train Li Kang as a number four position player from the start? I don't remember him playing many games in the youth teams!"

Iniesta sighed, "I asked Lura about it. Li's positioning and vision are excellent, but his physical condition was very poor back then... Could it be that Asians develop later?"

Neymar looked displeased.

Suarez had a smile on his face.

Messi stood with his hands on his hips, watching Li Kang's back from afar.

..........

Barcelona's locker room.

Enrique stood to the side, looking worried.

Unzué tapped the tactical board and said loudly:

"Leverkusen's overall strength hasn't changed qualitatively. If they continue to maintain the same high-intensity pressing in the frontcourt as Atletico Madrid, then the game after 70 minutes will belong to us!"

"We must patiently wait for counter-attack opportunities."

Counter-attack.

The appearance of this word in Barcelona's locker room was a bit ridiculous.

After Xavi retired.

In tough matches, Barcelona would abandon their passing control in certain phases of the game and switch to defensive counter-attacks.

"When the opponent controls the ball, Rakitić, you don't need to participate in pressing, just stick close to Li Kang! As long as we limit him, Leverkusen won't be able to threaten our thirty-meter zone!"

.............

Leverkusen's locker room.

Old man Toppmöller didn't talk about tactics.

He clenched his fist, his face flushed.

His short stature trembled slightly.

"Lads, you did a great job! Especially Li!"

"The current Barcelona is nothing!"

"Overthrow them!"

"Tonight! We will avenge our shame at the Camp Nou!"

Dino echoed, "We'll focus on defense in the second half! We'll definitely be able to escape from the Camp Nou unscathed!"

"Defend my ass! Keep attacking!"

...........

The fifteen-minute half-time break passed in a flash.

The players from both sides returned to the field.

The stands of the Camp Nou gradually became noisy.

"Good evening, viewers, welcome back."

"We are now broadcasting the second round of the 2015/16 Champions League group stage, Group E."

"The second half of the match between Barcelona and Bayer Leverkusen!"

"After 45 minutes of fierce battle in the first half, the score remains at 1:1!"

"Leverkusen has made their first substitution, Brandt replaces Bellarabi!"

"This is a like-for-like substitution!"

....

Beep!

The referee blew his whistle!

The second half of the match officially begins!

Leverkusen has possession.

Kießling passes the ball back to Li Kang!

There's no unnecessary organizing.

Li Kang takes the ball in stride.

Leading his teammates in the midfield and frontcourt, he begins a fierce attack!

Barcelona's formation retreats rapidly, contrary to their usual style.

"A very rare sight."

"Barcelona wants to engage in close combat in the thirty-meter zone."

"Enrique has brought many changes to the Camp Nou."

....

Forty-meter zone.

After a few quick passes.

The ball returns to Li Kang's feet.

Barcelona begins to counter-press.

Regarding the coaching staff's restrictions on Li Kang, they drew experience from the Bundesliga match against Borussia Mönchengladbach:

Send a player with strong physical confrontation ability to trade blows with Li Kang!

Rakitić is the most suitable candidate!

Other Barcelona players are responsible for limiting the passing routes of Leverkusen's number 10.

Preventing him from having space to organize.

Rakitić quickly closes in.

Pressing without tackling!

He is also observing Li Kang's touch rhythm and stride frequency.

He feels suspicious: Why is this kid's ball feel worse than in the first half? There are too many flaws! No feints at all? My grandma could intercept his ball!

He can't help but imagine the counter-attack route!

Rakitić can't help but extend his right foot and poke at the ball.

Li Kang pushes the ball forward.

His body rushes forward.

The close-range sound equipment transmits a sound of hand-to-hand combat!

An amazing scene happens again!

Rakitić's feet are off the ground!

His whole body is sent flying!

The stands of the Camp Nou erupt in exclamations.

Knocking over what small fry, Zaka, Herrera, that's one thing!

Today, he even knocked over Rakitić?

"What's going on!"

"The strong Eastern European star was actually sent flying by Li Kang's acceleration!"

"Caught off guard!"

"Barcelona's midfield defense has been broken through like this!"

.......

Suarez and Neymar look dumbfounded!

Iniesta wants to curse.

The three of them are each staring at their respective Leverkusen players.

There's no way to chase back and form a double-team for the moment!

No!

That kid Li Kang's speed is getting faster and faster... even faster than in the first half!

.....

At the edge of the field.

Enrique looks a little flustered: "What did Rakitić do! His tactical task is to press without tackling! Wait for Leverkusen to make a mistake in their attacking organization in the frontcourt! What is he even doing!"

Unzué remains silent: Enrique was willing to ruthlessly put Xavi on the bench in order to help Rakitić get into the starting lineup...

On the other side.

Dino says excitedly: "Boss, this must be another tactic you tailored for Li! Look! Brandt and Son Heung-min have already opened up the width of the attack in the frontcourt! A perfect fan shape! Barcelona's defense has been flattened!!"

Old man Toppmöller coughs heavily twice: "Yes... Li has many passing options now!"

.......

On the field.

All of Leverkusen's forwards are serving Li Kang.

Busquets is very calm.

Analyzing the situation carefully.

In a short moment, he makes a prediction about the direction of the attack!

'With the traditional fan-shaped attack, Leverkusen can't play too many tricks.'

'It must be the flanks!'

'Li Kang will definitely pass the ball to the flanks in the half-spaces, and then bombard Barcelona's penalty area through the wings.'

The Barcelona defensive midfielder turns to make gestures to Mascherano and Piqué.

He himself faces Li Kang.

Pressing.

Using his top-notch front defending ability.

To make Li Kang pass the ball in advance.

'Everything is under my control, simplifying the complex!'

.....

From God's perspective.

Brandt, Son Heung-min, Borges, and Hilbert are attracting a lot of defense on both flanks.

Barcelona's defense is stretched into a line.

Piqué and Mascherano have shrunk into the penalty area, they are waiting for Kießling...

Li Kang doesn't continue to think about it.

Busquets blocks his path.

"Precise positioning! The most reasonable interception position!"

"Busquets, the ball blind filter!"

"He is the most important connecting point for Barcelona in the transition between attack and defense... Oh no!"

Another suffocating scene.

Li Kang doesn't change direction, doesn't pass the ball.

Accelerates again!

Like a beast.

Madly crashing into the Barcelona defensive midfielder.

Busquets is dumbfounded.

I didn't stick out my foot!

I'm pressing you!

You don't pass the ball and you crash into me?

...

Bang!

Intense physical contact.

Busquets has just bent his knees when he is pulled by Li Kang's shoulder.

His whole body leans back and sits on the grass!

Barcelona fans fall silent.

Is he playing football?

Rugby?

......

VIP box.

Cruyff opens his mouth in surprise: "The perfect template... too perfect..."

Robert looks bitter.

Even though he has been away from the green field for many years.

He also realizes at this time.

Barcelona's defense is crumbling.

The beast-like Leverkusen number 10.

Will tear through the defense from the weakest middle.

......

Barcelona's two center-backs curse Busquets ten thousand times in their hearts.

Piqué can't let Kießling go.

He has to rely on Mascherano!

"One step later! Li Kang is going to complete a long shot!"

"Mascherano is very timely! Very fast! He sprints back out of the penalty area!"

"He should be able to defend against Li Kang!"

"Yes! He has a low center of gravity! His one-on-one defending ability is world-class!"

....

Li Kang has no confidence in being able to beat Mascherano one-on-one.

Even with the cheat, he has no confidence.

The Barcelona dwarf's physical quality and center of gravity control are terrifying, and he also has the bloody fighting experience from the South American leagues...

Even if he doesn't lose the ball, his attacking rhythm will be slowed down, and other Barcelona players will be able to chase back immediately!

This cheat is not perverted enough.

From God's perspective.

Brandt gets rid of Alves and cuts into Barcelona's penalty area.

Mascherano is very short.

After mastering these two pieces of information.

Li Kang slows down.

He is about to chip the ball over.

In his sight.

The Barcelona dwarf uses his unique skill!

Sliding tackle!

The murderous intent comes head-on.

Slender legs.

Before Li Kang completes the pass.

Stabbed the ball!

.......

Mascherano is T0 level in the defensive midfielder position.

Relying on his sliding tackle skill, he switches to playing as a center-back, and he is also T0 level.

Modern football has developed to this day.

Tackling has developed into a discipline.

After Maldini.

Mascherano is the person who has reached the summit.

.....

At the edge of the field.

Enrique is going crazy, he doesn't like his own defenders making sliding tackles the most!

Unzué quickly raises his hand to appease his coach!

In his opinion, Mascherano has completed a precise interception, resolving Barcelona's crisis!

That Leverkusen kid is too terrifying, he almost single-handedly overturned Barcelona's defense!

Dino and old man Toppmöller are so anxious that they are about to jump up!

The Barcelona defender's foot!

Will definitely tackle Li Kang's supporting leg!

....

Bang!

The ball is not poked far away.

But hits Li Kang's supporting leg.

Bouncing high.

Mascherano's sliding tackle catches Li Kang.

At this time, everyone thinks that Barcelona's crisis has been resolved.

Busquets is about to give Mascherano a thumbs up!

His hand is halfway up.

His gaze is sluggish!

Li Kang staggers, his knee kneels on the grass, and quickly gets up!

Using his chest to push the ball forward a little.

Charging towards Barcelona's penalty area!

The whole stadium is in an uproar!

"Too terrifying!"

"What kind of physical quality is this!"

"He single-handedly challenged Barcelona's defense!"

"He's going to shoot!"

"Here it comes!"

....

Barcelona's penalty area.

The atmosphere is tense.

Bravo looks at Li Kang as if he is facing a formidable enemy.

Piqué sticks to the Bundesliga header monster!

Leverkusen's little blondie suddenly kills his way in again, his positioning is too cunning!

Two defending three!

How to play?

....

Li Kang steps into the penalty area.

The action of swinging his leg.

Makes all Barcelona fans tremble.

The terrifying leg strength turns the football into a cannonball!

Once again, it smashes open Barcelona's goal!

1:2!!!