Chapter 362 360: They’re Behind, Yet They’re Still Smiling, Still Smiling!

West Ham United, with a record of four wins, three draws, and two losses, were sitting sixth in the Premier League — an impressive start to the season.

Had they not been cruelly defeated by Leicester City in a key match earlier, they would have been in the top four by now.

But with only ten rounds played, the points gap was still narrow, and they had every chance to climb higher.

Single-front competition meant that if they didn't get bogged down by cup games, they had the ability to fight for a European spot next season.

Chelsea took West Ham very seriously, especially since it was an away game, and Mourinho adopted a more "conservative" tactical approach.

On October 24th, at 3 PM London time, Chelsea and West Ham kicked off their battle at Upton Park.

Both teams coincidentally opted for a solid 4-2-3-1 formation.

West Ham, unaffected by the "FIFA virus" and enjoying a rest during the international break, fielded a full-strength squad brimming with energy.

Chelsea, on the other hand, had to make significant adjustments — Matić and Azpilicueta were rested, Hazard was injured, and Mourinho gave starting opportunities to Van Ginkel, Kalas, and Salah.

Li Ang partnered with Van Ginkel at the back of midfield, aiming first to ensure defensive stability.

From the opening whistle, West Ham used their home advantage to launch aggressive attacks on Chelsea.

This was West Ham's specialty — and they had the firepower to back it up.

By Round 9, West Ham had already scored 22 league goals, more than Arsenal, Spurs, or Everton — only trailing Manchester City and Chelsea.

Interestingly, none of their forwards had scored more than five goals individually, indicating a balanced attacking force.

Their "pack of wolves" approach made it difficult for opponents to focus on any one target.

Li Ang didn't take much of the ball early on; Kroos fully controlled Chelsea's opening organization.

It wasn't because Li Ang was off form — he was closely observing West Ham's attacking patterns.

Li Ang knew the veteran attackers well, but West Ham manager Bilic had fielded an unfamiliar front line today.

Lanzini, Zárate, and Payet — all summer signings — were pressing high into Chelsea's half.

Among them, Li Ang was most familiar with Payet.

Not only because Payet would injure Ronaldo at Euro 2016 in his memory, but also because of the impressive highlights Payet would produce in the Premier League.

According to Li Ang's admittedly blurry memory, Payet earned his place in the France Euro 2016 squad through his performances this very season.

While studying West Ham's key players before the match, Li Ang had been shocked to find Payet's past achievements in Ligue 1.

In 2010–11, Payet scored 13 league goals.

In 2012–13 at Lille, he posted double-digit goals and assists.

Last season at Marseille, he had a staggering 17 assists in Ligue 1!

Clearly, West Ham had been willing to spend €15 million to bring him to England because of that outstanding season.

Though already 28, Payet's immediate impact was exactly what West Ham needed.

Li Ang didn't have a good impression of the "old" Payet, but now he approached him with wariness and curiosity.

This was a smart player, with a high ceiling, vast experience — only lacking youth.

Had he been three or four years younger, he might even have rotated at a European powerhouse.

Facing such an opponent, Li Ang knew he had to be extremely cautious.

And he was right.

Payet quickly became West Ham's attacking conductor, skillfully controlling the ball, shooting from distance, and threading dangerous passes.

Under his orchestration, West Ham's attack was fluid, organized, and sharp — exciting neutral fans watching from home.

Even Mourinho had to revise his pre-match assessment.

He had thought West Ham merely had "potential to fight for a Europa League spot."

After witnessing the first six or seven minutes, he realized they had enough to challenge Arsenal or Spurs for a top-four place.

Maybe squad depth would ultimately hold them back, but their starting eleven could certainly compete with the Premier League's best.

They had structure, a creative core, a reliable midfield duo, and a well-gelled defense.

This was a formidable lineup.

"We can't let them keep pressing into our final third! Push out! We must suppress their midfield — this team is no joke!"

Mourinho quickly ordered a tactical adjustment, recognizing the threat.

He preferred sacrificing some counterattacking opportunities rather than letting West Ham keep pressuring Chelsea's defense.

But just two minutes later, before Chelsea's adjustment could take effect, disaster struck.

In the ninth minute, Payet received a pass from Sakho, suddenly accelerated, and broke past Kroos!

At that moment, Li Ang was on the right side, marking West Ham's advancing midfielder Kouyaté.

He saw Payet get past Kroos but wasn't too worried — Van Ginkel was right behind Payet.

Li Ang figured that even if Payet was on fire, he wouldn't easily get past Van Ginkel too.

But sometimes, attacking decisions are made on pure instinct and self-confidence.

And here, from more than 30 meters away, Payet did the unexpected — he wound up and unleashed a long-range rocket!

From 36 meters out, Payet's strike screamed toward Oblak's goal with incredible speed!

If it was just a powerful shot, Oblak would have handled it.

But something bizarre happened.

No one could tell what part of his foot Payet had used — at first, the ball seemed destined to soar wide into the stands.

Then, in mid-air, it sharply swerved back toward goal!

Oblak was stunned.

How could he dive for a ball that, just a second ago, looked to be flying well wide, only to spin back in toward the post?

It defied the laws of physics!

Chelsea's defenders stood frozen, exchanging bewildered looks.

They could only offer Oblak a sympathetic glance.

At this moment, Upton Park was already a sea of ecstatic cheers!

Over 30,000 fervent Hammers fans seemed ready to blow the roof off their stadium with their roaring voices!

They had scored first at home!

They were leading Chelsea!

The Sky Sports commentators kept shouting, "Unbelievable!"

In the studio, Zhan Jun had no choice but to applaud Payet's brilliant long-range strike.

You could say luck played a part, but world-class goals were always rare and unpredictable.

And what player, after scoring a world-class goal, could claim it was purely under their control?

West Ham's players celebrated wildly at the touchline.

Payet beat his chest and roared, releasing the years of frustration from being underrated.

The broadcast director, seemingly wanting to stir the pot, didn't focus on West Ham's celebrations but quickly switched the camera to Chelsea's bench.

And to everyone's shock, Mourinho wasn't furious or depressed — he was laughing!

He even took two relaxed sips from his water bottle as he smiled!

Was he laughing out of rage?

Unconvinced, the broadcast director quickly switched the camera to Chelsea's biggest on-field figure — Li Ang.

And Li Ang was also laughing!

Hands on his hips, saying something to Kroos — who then also laughed easily alongside him!

This scene made countless West Ham fans watching at home feel their scalps tingle.

They wanted to charge onto the field and grab Li Ang and Kroos by their shirts, roaring:

"YOU are the ones behind! Not us! Why are you laughing?! Aren't you supposed to be frustrated, to be angry?!

Why are you so calm right now?! Stop smiling, damn it!"

Even the director seemed unable to take it, quickly cutting the broadcast back to West Ham's jubilant stands.

But the scene of Chelsea's coach and star player smiling so nonchalantly while behind had already spread wildly across the internet.

No one knew what Li Ang and Kroos had said.

No one knew where Mourinho's serene confidence was coming from.

The match soon resumed, but Chelsea, even trailing by a goal, showed no sign of panic.

They didn't recklessly surge forward but kept their defense steady and organized.

This level of composure had fans everywhere screaming, "Monsters!"

West Ham had wanted to capitalize on Chelsea's supposed "chaos," but when they realized Chelsea wasn't flustered at all, they themselves quickly tightened their formation.

West Ham manager Bilic couldn't figure out what Mourinho was planning.

In the end, he decided: better safe than sorry — let's sit back and defend the lead.

"If you press me, I'll hit you on the counter.

If you don't press, I'll happily carry the lead into halftime. Let's see what you do..."

Bilic was confident.

He didn't think the 1–0 lead guaranteed victory, but he believed they could at least carry it to halftime.

West Ham's players thought the same.

They defended actively, energetically.

Chelsea, meanwhile, calmly took full control of midfield under Li Ang and Kroos's orchestration.

Only then did they start to push forward en masse.

By the 17th minute, Mourinho was still calmly seated, and under Li Ang and Kroos's command, Chelsea unleashed wave after wave of high-pressure offense.

At first, West Ham welcomed this — it would give them counterattack chances.

But after just five minutes of being relentlessly battered, they realized —

they were only getting beaten up!

Counterattack?

Forget it!

Chelsea's players pressed like madmen — even when they lost the ball, they swarmed to recover it immediately!

Poor Payet, the man who had given West Ham the lead, could barely even touch the ball once Li Ang locked onto him!

It was pure hell — being pinned down and pummeled with no way to respond.

Worse yet, Chelsea showed no signs of tiring.

Were they really planning to hammer West Ham like this for the entire half?

The West Ham fans, desperate, resorted to hurling abuse and jeers from the stands, trying to provoke Chelsea's attackers into losing their cool.

Chelsea's players were indeed fired up — but they kept their heads.

They coldly and methodically sapped West Ham's energy and composure.

With Kroos directing the ball with precision, Chelsea constantly shifted the point of attack.

Li Ang kept making runs, creating panic between West Ham's midfield and defense.

Up front, Salah, Suarez, and Li Ang were all major threats.

Even though De Bruyne wasn't breaking into the box much, his threatening passes kept West Ham's defenders on edge.

Defenders' energy was finite — Chelsea had faced the best backlines in Europe in the past two seasons, and they knew exactly how to tear apart even the toughest defenses.

West Ham's defenders were good, but not insurmountable.

By the 31st minute, the relentless ball movement had thoroughly stretched West Ham's backline.

Receiving a cross-field pass from Salah, Li Ang decisively surged forward.

Midfielder Kouyaté scrambled to cover the middle, urgently signaling the fullbacks to tuck in.

But as left-back Cresswell shifted, Li Ang immediately passed wide to the flank.

De Bruyne, sprinting down the wing, picked up the ball without hesitation, accelerated, and delivered a deadly low cross into the box!

It was a surgical, low-driven pass slicing straight through West Ham's exposed heart.

Suarez dove at the near post but couldn't reach it, nor could center-back Tomkins.

Center-back Collins also failed to cut it out at the penalty spot.

At the back post, Salah arrived just ahead of Jenkinson — but the shooting angle was too narrow!

Without hesitation, Salah pulled the ball back into the center with a clever cutback.

And right there, perfectly timed, Li Ang met the pass full stride and unleashed a thunderous shot!

The ball screamed past goalkeeper Adrián's outstretched hand and slammed into the back of the net!

Upton Park, noisy moments ago, fell into a stunned silence —

only for thousands of Chelsea fans to erupt in raucous celebration!

Li Ang spread his arms wide, running toward the corner flag.

But he didn't look overly excited —

his beaming smile was bright and relaxed, as if he had expected this all along.

Mourinho also rose calmly from his seat, strolling to the touchline.

He clapped slowly, smiling, then pumped his fist, encouraging Chelsea's traveling supporters to cheer even louder!

Chelsea's players gathered to celebrate — happy, but not overly emotional — as if equalizing before halftime had always been part of the plan.

Watching from home, countless neutral fans couldn't help but remember twenty minutes earlier:

That strange scene of Mourinho, Li Ang, and Kroos smiling while trailing.

Why were they smiling?

Now they understood.

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