Chapter 1540 1539

People's Hospital, ICU ward, in front of the TV.

Seeing the Hang City Team score, Wu Da and Li Yi both fell briefly silent; they were clearly analyzing that last goal.

"As for the Yun City Team, they didn't let me down either—they really are playing like crap! Faced with the Hang City Team's attack, their back line is like it's made of paper!"

On the TV, Lu Dong was commenting on the Yun City Team.

"Bullshit! How did this guy get into the live booth, just spouting nonsense?" Wu Da was a bit angry at what Lu Dong said.

Li Yi said, "This guy's famous for his toxic tongue; he seems to have it in for our Yun City Team in particular."

Wu Da said, "Even a trash talker has to make sense. That goal just now really was us being careless. After all, we're still getting used to this formation, we need some time to adapt. But that doesn't mean our defense is weak. On the contrary, the formation Mr. Lin is using today is exactly the same as what I had in mind!"

Li Yi grunted in acknowledgment; seemed the head coach really did idolize the boss.

Wu Da couldn't stand Lu Dong because Lu Dong was kicking them when they were down and being unreasonable.

People like Lu Dong are just petty.

Instead of objectively analyzing the result, they just exploit the result to make a fuss. People like that aren't stupid; they're simply rotten to the core.

It's like with a novel—if it flops, there are obviously reasons for it. But just because it flopped, they seize on that outcome to make a fuss and smear the author, saying it flopped because the author is ugly. Does that make any sense!

It makes no sense at all!

Of course those people know it doesn't make sense, but they still slander anyway—that's pure malice!

However, the netizens seemed to eat up what Lu Dong said.

"Hahaha, classic Teacher Lu quote!"

"Looks like the Yun City Team really isn't in form tonight. I feel like I'm seeing the old Yun City Team again!"

"Guess the Yun City Team really is trash after all!"

"Didn't expect it—the impact of that incident on the Yun City Team is even bigger than I thought."

The netizens were dishing out a lot of negative comments.

The host said, "I see some viewers in the live chat saying it's the incident from the other day affecting the Yun City Team. That's actually true—today the Yun City Team's condition doesn't look great. Since kickoff they've barely had any possession and have been pinned in their own half by the Hang City Team. Tonight will be a very tough test for the Yun City Team…"

Lu Dong sneered, "I don't agree with that. Stop bringing up what happened two days ago. That's just playing the victim, and in my opinion, playing the victim is the most pathetic thing you can do! Is that all the Yun City Team amounts to! Even without what happened two days ago, the Yun City Team would still lose today. I've said for a long time this Hang City Team has the look of a champion!"

This almost made Wu Da jump up in anger: "When did our Yun City Team ever play the victim? You people say whatever you want, you 'sell misery' on our behalf and then turn around and mock us!"

Li Yi clenched his fists. "I really want to be on the pitch right now!"

Victory!

Only victory can slap these people in the face!

Can the current Yun City Team really win?

The match had already resumed.

In the next ten-plus minutes, players from both sides fought for the ball on the green pitch; basically, possession was controlled by the Hang City Team.

The Hang City Team was practically pinning the Yun City Team back, and it was very hard for the Yun City Team to get past the halfway line.

The Yun City Team wasn't completely without chances—they got the ball a few times and even organized one attack, but before they crossed midfield, the ball was taken back by the Hang City Team.

The Hang City Team strung together several waves of attacks and twice broke into the penalty area, but though it was dangerous, they still failed to score.

Even though the Hang City Team was very threatening, fortunately the Yun City Team's defense was gradually tightening up; earlier they had just been trying to find their rhythm, and the players' form was getting better and better.

As the Yun City Team's defense gradually solidified, their forwards were also constantly searching for their rhythm.

For the forwards, adapting was clearly even tougher than for the defense. On one hand, the Hang City Team's foreign striker was very strong and put enormous pressure on the Yun City Team. On the other hand, the Yun City Team's main striker Li Yi was absent, and the rookie Wu Lei had to step up in his place—this alone made things very hard.

In the first ten-plus minutes of the first half, Wu Lei had barely even touched the ball; he seemed totally lost out there. His teammates didn't seem to trust him much either—no one was willing to pass to him.

For Wu Lei to use this match to prove himself was without a doubt a hell-level difficulty.

Lu Dong seized the chance to stomp on Wu Lei again.

"The Yun City Team's striker is really free today—he can just stroll around on the pitch. After all, he doesn't even get the chance to touch the ball; it's all on the defense right now," Lu Dong chuckled. "I get it now. This is why the Yun City Team sent a high schooler on as a striker—there aren't going to be any chances anyway. Even if they put an elementary school kid out there, it wouldn't make much difference."

At those words, the live chat filled with another wave of "hahaha."

In the thirty-fifth minute of the first half.

Under the Hang City Team's overwhelming pressure, their striker Abaka, off a pass from midfield, once again carried the ball, broke through the Yun City Team's back line, and scored on a one-on-one.

The second goal!

Still for the Hang City Team!

"It's in! And it's Abaka again!" the host said excitedly. "This thirty-year-old Brazilian foreign player has scored a brace in just the first half!"

"Hahahaha…"

In the stands, Jin Jiufu stood up, clapping his hands and laughing loudly.

"Mr. Lin, how about this fierce general of mine? How does he compare to your high schooler?" Jin Jiufu laughed.

Lin Fan didn't answer.

Jin Jiufu said, "Mr. Lin, are you still sticking to your idea now? Haven't you wavered even a little? You can't seriously believe that a professional player, a foreign signing I spent big money on, is worse than a high schooler who's never even been on the pitch before!"

Lin Fan finally said, "Has Mr. Jin never heard the story of King of Football Pelé?"

Jin Jiufu said, "How could I not have heard it? But Mr. Lin, where do you get the nerve to compare yourself to King of Football Pelé?"

King of Football Pelé, a genius-type player—his first World Cup appearance was as a teenager, and he stunned the world and shot to the top.

Back then, King of Football Pelé seemed even younger than Wu Lei is now.

Lin Fan said, "Why can't I compare them? When young Pelé was first selected, people didn't understand, they doubted, they mocked. You're just speaking with hindsight. Think about it: at that time, those people had no idea how great Pelé would be, so of course they didn't understand and questioned the decision. It's exactly like how you see Wu Lei now."

Jin Jiufu burst out laughing. "Mr. Lin, you are way too confident. When I get interviewed later, I'm definitely going to repeat what you just said. I can't be the only one laughing; I've got to let everyone enjoy the joke—this is hilarious!"

Lin Fan didn't reply. Just like King of Football Pelé back then, no amount of talking would help—only success on the pitch could shut the gossips up.

Lin Fan picked up his phone and made a call—to the assistant coach leading the team on the sidelines.

"We've almost found our rhythm, and we've more or less figured out the opponent's patterns. Adjust the tactics and start the counterattack," Lin Fan said calmly.