0025 A Sudden Emergence (Seeking Recommendation Votes and Follow-up Reads)

Inter Milan had clearly shifted their defensive focus to his side of the pitch.

With Matthaus also patrolling that area, even Maradona might have struggled to find a way through. After all, Matthaus had famously marked Maradona out of the game when playing in a deep-lying role.

"Should we make another adjustment?" Pezzotti asked. The assistant coach was concerned for Lu Deyang; the midfield was providing him with far too little support.

"Let's wait and see," Boskov replied, shaking his head. Lu Deyang might just be capable of delivering an even bigger surprise. Furthermore, the match was currently a draw, and whoever blinked first risked upsetting the balance—and not necessarily in a positive way. Facing Inter, he didn't want a point in hand to turn into zero, and a two-point win wasn't enticing enough to gamble away the result.

Inter Milan launched another offensive. Bianchi dribbled past Lombardo on the left flank, but Mannini closed him down rapidly. Unable to find an opening to pass, Bianchi was forced to lay the ball back. Matoli, rushing up to support, immediately knocked it back toward Matthaus. Pari and Cerezo spotted this and charged forward; they had no intention of letting that bastard utilize his exceptional offensive talent.

However, a man can never outrun the ball. By the time the pair were within a few meters, Matthaus had already controlled it. The German’s first touch was heavy, and as he accelerated, he stumbled, his footing momentarily failing him. This awkwardness actually kept Pari and the others from committing to a challenge. But Matthaus was, after all, Matthaus; once he regained his balance, he immediately turned and chipped the ball with his right foot toward the right wing.

Berti didn't hesitate, lofting the ball into the heart of the penalty area. The cross was too high, and Klinsmann, retreating toward the edge of the box, could only manage a weak header under heavy pressure, sending the ball straight into Pagliuca's hands.

"Damn it, can you guys show some effort?" Pagliuca shouted while clutching the ball. "Deyang scored a goal, and now Inter is focusing their defense on him. What are you doing? Damn, I would’ve been better off buying abalone from a seafood restaurant than relying on you lot!"

Vierchowod couldn't help but chuckle. Since Pagliuca was berating the attacking players, it had nothing to do with him. If not for the iron triangle of himself, Mannini, and Pagliuca, Inter would have been leading by a large margin already. The team captain, Pellegrini, had seen his form fluctuate wildly due to injuries, transforming from the highly anticipated "New Baresi" into a player now relegated to a defensive full-back role. Lu Deyang’s lack of support was, in part, due to Pellegrini’s struggles.

In the stands, Rivera pointed toward the front line. "Vialli and Mancini aren't used to playing with their backs to the defenders, which makes it impossible to maximize Deyang's style of play."

"Are you hoping I’ll go down there and fight alongside Deyang?" Riva asked with a laugh. Looking at it this way, he and Lu Deyang would have been quite the pair. As one of the most complete strikers in Italian history, his physical conditioning was superb, and he rarely lost a physical battle inside the box.

"If you were thirty years old and on that pitch, Deyang would be playing much more comfortably," Rivera noted. Ultimately, Mancini wasn't a traditional striker; his game was that of a second striker or a "nine-and-a-half." Vialli wasn't a true center-forward either; his attributes were balanced—neither top-tier in speed, physical contact, shooting, nor technique, but all at a respectable level. Most importantly, his timing was excellent. When playing, he preferred having space to sprint rather than standing still.

If Rivera were in charge, he would have Vialli press Brehme; the moment Brehme left his position, Vialli would charge into the space, keeping an eye on the offside trap. Mancini would continue his duties, running and threading passes, helping link Lu Deyang with his teammates while increasing the tempo. That habitual style of "receive, trap, adjust, pass" was a clear waste of opportunity.

Target men, poachers, second strikers, "nine-and-a-halves"—eventually, all would be replaced by modern strikers because football tactics demanded players possess a wider array of functions. If the team needed high balls and you couldn't deliver, you had to be substituted. If the team needed you to drop deep and you lacked playmaking skills, you had to be substituted. No team could afford to buy that many specialists. The most common reason for substituting a striker nowadays was to prepare for an aerial bombardment. After watching today’s match, Rivera felt he had gained a deeper understanding of "Total Football" and player roles.

In the 77th minute, Giuseppe Baresi stood on the sidelines. His brother Franco was more famous, but Giuseppe was a formidable player in his own right. The brothers' careers were full of drama: Giuseppe’s first choice was Milan, but he wasn't selected, sparking his Inter career. Meanwhile, his younger brother Franco wanted to be on the same team, but was rejected by Inter during a trial for being too thin, leading to the birth of a Milan legend. The brothers were forced to become cross-town rivals.

Rossi asked, somewhat puzzled, "Is this a man-for-man substitution? The Inter defenders have been playing quite well today." Another point was that Giuseppe Baresi’s form had begun to decline since winning the title last year.

Trapattoni draped an arm around Giuseppe Baresi’s shoulder and instructed, "You’ve seen the situation on the pitch. All of Sampdoria’s attacks are originating from that kid's side."

"What do you need me to do, Boss?" Giuseppe Baresi asked directly.

"Excellent. That’s the spirit. You are my captain, after all," Trapattoni said, patting his shoulder. "Once you’re on, swap over and mark that young man. Follow him step for step. Do not leave his side."

"Understood, Boss!" Giuseppe Baresi nodded firmly.

Klinsmann missed another shot, and the fourth official raised the substitution board. "Goodness, the one coming off is Alessandro Bianchi! Is Trapattoni planning to play with five defenders?"

Giuseppe Baresi soon answered with his actions. He ran into the midfield, shifting Berti to the other side. This situation left Rossi completely shocked. With Baresi and Matthaus in midfield, and Brehme and Bergomi in defense, it was overwhelming. "Damn, are they preparing to defend against aliens with this level of intensity?"

Rossi had forgotten he was live on air and couldn't help but vent, "This is a joke. This defensive arrangement is simply ridiculous. I don't know what Trapattoni is thinking, but I want to say to this young man, Deyang: you can be proud. Even in a World Cup final, no team could muster this level of defensive pressure. I am officially a fan of this young man."

To have top defensive players from both the West German and Italian national teams concentrated on one flank...

"Relax, one goal is already quite an achievement," Mancini said to Lu Deyang. He didn't even know how to vent about the Inter coach. Did that old man have a grudge against Deyang?

"I'm not feeling any pressure," Lu Deyang said with a smile. Since Inter was leaning their defense toward this side, he would simply continue to generate pressure and create opportunities for his teammates. Facing the strongest defensive intensity on the planet and stubbornly trying to dribble through them anyway—that would just be stupid.

Mancini nodded. After the restart, Giuseppe Baresi went straight to Lu Deyang. Man-marking! This defensive posture wasn't common in Italian football, where Catenaccio was usually about teamwork. Whenever Pari held the ball, Lu Deyang would start his run. Baresi followed him almost everywhere; although his speed was a bit lacking, Baresi would close the distance as soon as he stopped.

Pari noticed this and chose to pass to the left wing. Lombardo poked the ball forward without a touch, catching Matoli off guard. Having successfully bypassed his marker, Lombardo chose to dribble diagonally. Just as Matthaus prepared to step up, he noticed Lu Deyang running toward him with Baresi in tow. Captain Baresi was strong, but he truly lacked the speed to keep up. Matthaus didn't doubt for a second that if he left his position, Lombardo would feed the ball to Lu Deyang.

Damn! He was pinned. He couldn't move even if he wanted to.

Mancini clearly realized this as well, and he dropped back decisively. By the time Mandorlini charged out of the box, he was a step too slow. Mancini successfully received the ball and played a through pass that rolled right past Mandorlini, heading straight into the penalty area.

Opportunity!!! Some excited fans had already risen from their seats. Vialli was someone they trusted. But they had forgotten about Brehme. The "Wall of West Germany" chose to slide in an instant, stretching his leg to the limit. It was incredibly decisive. He managed to touch the ball with his toe, changing its trajectory. Vialli, sprinting in a straight line, was forced to adjust toward the left side of the box. By the time he regained control, Riccardo Ferri was already glued to him. The two tangled as they ran toward the byline, and Vialli couldn't find an opening to shoot before Ferri shoved him—and the ball—out of bounds.

Boskov threw his arms out on the sidelines, expressing his disappointment. Lombardo, who had orchestrated the attack, walked back looking equally dejected. He had been bullied by the Inter players all day, which served as a reminder that Serie A wasn't as simple as it looked, even after seven years in the lower divisions.

Lombardo subconsciously turned his head. Lu Deyang, who had also transferred from a lower division, seemed like his polar opposite. He had integrated with the team the moment he arrived. He hadn't gotten an early chance, but upon his debut, he scored immediately and had been subjected to Inter’s frantic targeting ever since. Yet, even so, he still managed to tie up several Inter players. Lombardo couldn't help but shake his head with a bitter smile. The distance between a genius and a mortal was truly vast. If it were him facing that kind of defense, never mind the technique—his mentality would have crumbled.

"Time is running out. Should we make more substitutions to bolster the attack?" Pezzotti asked, walking to the sidelines.

"Get Salsano warming up. We must make a change," Boskov nodded. It was time to gamble with a substitution; Inter was also bringing on subs.

Matthaus found a teammate with a through ball in midfield. Berti, receiving it at the edge of the box, saw no opening and chose to pass back. Matthaus, charging up, swung his right foot at the ball. It deflected off Katanec’s leg and went out for a corner. Both coaches took the opportunity to make changes. Salsano high-fived Vialli and walked onto the pitch, while Inter replaced Matoli with Dario Morello.

"The coach said seize the opportunity if it’s there, but whatever you do, don't lose the ball if it isn't," Salsano said upon entering. The match had entered stoppage time; they absolutely could not let the points in hand slip away.

Inter’s corner was cleared by Vierchowod. Pari recovered the ball and immediately kicked it forward. The teams swapped from defense to offense, and players flooded from the Sampdoria box toward Inter's half.

"Press him! Don't give him a chance!" Trapattoni yelled upon seeing Lu Deyang on the ball. Two Inter players lunged at him, but Lu Deyang didn't think twice and chipped the ball with his left foot. The accuracy was slightly off, but fortunately, the Inter backline was vacant, and the ball traveled from the right side of the backfield to the left, slightly toward the center.

The fresh Salsano sprinted forward, but nearly tripped over his own feet, allowing Morello to close him down. Salsano hurriedly laid it back to Lombardo. Lombardo was immediately swarmed by Klinsmann and had to dribble toward the center. The counter-attack stalled, and Inter players returned to the box, causing some excited Sampdoria fans to sit back down. Though the score remained low, the match was a rollercoaster of intensity, with both sides displaying top-tier technical and tactical prowess.

Reaching the edge of the box, Lombardo turned and played a diagonal ball to the right. Lu Deyang suddenly dropped back to receive it, while Pari continued his charge into the box. *Snap*—almost the moment he received the ball, Lu Deyang pushed it with the inside of his left foot, and the ball rolled neatly to the right side of the box. Pari, running onto it, adjusted and played a low cross. Although Brehme slid in immediately to intercept, he was a split second late. However, the ball was too close to the goal, and Zenga rushed out to smother it, forcing Salsano to leap to avoid a collision with the goalkeeper.

Boskov stood on the sidelines, licking his lips repeatedly. The veteran Yugoslavian coach felt the job was a bit too stimulating. The rush of adrenaline followed by the crushing disappointment of a missed chance was more than he could handle. Zenga quickly threw the ball out, and Boskov tensed up again. He wouldn't be able to rest until the final whistle blew.

Even after 90 minutes, Matthaus moved like a beast in heat, carrying the ball with long, powerful strides and unstoppable momentum. Sampdoria had pushed too high, and Cerezo was forced to retreat. Morello, who had just come on, surged forward as well, and with Klinsmann not tracking back, it became a four-on-three in the half. Inter was outnumbered but held the offensive advantage; Mannini, who had joined the attack, hadn't yet returned to the box. Even if he ran for his life, he wouldn't make it back in time to defend this play.

Vierchowod drifted wide to cover for Mannini, shouting, "Take the middle! Luca, move to the middle!" Katanec charged out fearlessly, but was shoved aside by Matthaus in a single collision. Fortunately, Pari had tracked back and slid in, blocking Matthaus’s path. Matthaus was forced to pass to the charging Baresi. The Inter captain had joined the attack.

Lu Deyang, however, didn't track back. His teammates had returned to their half, and staying near the midfield to wait for a counter-attack was more important. Baresi attempted a cross, but it was blocked by Cerezo’s leg, and the ball returned to the Inter captain. This time, Baresi fed the overlapping Ferri, who chipped the ball into the box from the flank.

"I've got it!" Pagliuca roared, rushing out of his goal and punching the ball away. The deflection hit Klinsmann’s head and went to the right, where Pellegrini, seeing the opportunity, didn't hesitate to carry the ball forward.

Boskov’s eyes widened. *There!* There was someone in the front court. Salsano was sprinting on the left, and Lu Deyang was charging like a madman on the right. Almost instinctively, Boskov shouted what was in his heart: "Pass to the right! Give it to Deyang!!!"

*Bang*—Pellegrini, who possessed decent passing ability, finally produced the best moment of his match, sending a precise, low-driven pass from the backfield to the right flank. Boskov didn't even dare to breathe; the spot was so close to the touchline—would it go out?

Bergomi stopped retreating and charged at Lu Deyang. He wanted to apply pressure; even if he couldn't steal the ball, forcing an error would be enough.

*Click.* Lu Deyang trapped the ball with the outside of his left foot. Bergomi lunged, but Lu Deyang didn't adjust; he simply tapped the ball with the outside of his left foot again, and the ball rolled neatly past Bergomi’s feet into the space behind him.

Another nutmeg! The trap and the nutmeg were executed in one fluid motion. This single move ignited the entire Luigi Ferraris Stadium. Except for the visiting section, everyone stood up.

With his characteristic balanced running style, the young number seven had the ball again. Brehme chased frantically, keeping everyone on the edge of their seats. Zenga, thinking briefly in the box, chose not to charge out; with teammates covering, it was better to hold his position. Brehme used his body to shove Lu Deyang, pinning him as they ran toward the right side of the penalty area. Even with defenders closing in, Lu Deyang’s cut inside was resolute.

Brehme, locked in the duel, finally realized the problem: cadence! Lu Deyang’s stride frequency was faster than his, leaving him no opportunity to stick a foot in. He couldn't wait any longer. The West German iron man lowered his head, preparing to tackle. But in that split second of distraction, Lu Deyang surged past, going from stride-for-stride to half a body length ahead.

Damn! Brehme scrambled to recover, but his remaining reason stopped him from reaching out. Zenga realized the danger and finally chose to charge. Fortunately, Brehme’s position blocked some of the shooting angle, and teammates were tracking back to deny Lu Deyang time to adjust. Zenga dove sideways, hands reaching for the ball.

But at that moment, Lu Deyang chipped the ball with his left foot.

*Bang*—accompanied by a crisp sound, the ball lifted into the air. Zenga watched in despair as the ball sailed over him and nestled into the back of the net.

"Goal!!!"
"Goal!!!"
"Goal!!!"
"Deyang, Deyang!!!!"

Paolo Rossi screamed until his lungs gave out. "Deyang makes another 40-meter run and seals the victory over Inter Milan! This 18-year-old only just left the C2 division, and in his very first Serie A appearance, he faces the defending champions, Inter Milan. Standing in his way were Inter captain Baresi, the world’s best midfielder Matthaus, and the defensive pillars of Italy and West Germany, Bergomi and Brehme. But this young man has shown us with his actions that you cannot defend a genius just by piling on numbers, even if those numbers are the best players in the world!"

"Rivera was right to be the best midfielder in Italy; Deyang’s performance proves his eye for talent. Galliani is in trouble. Everything he said in the papers before, he’ll have to swallow now. After seeing this, I doubt Milan’s three Dutch stars would dare claim they are more deserving of an import spot than Deyang."

"I have a suggestion for Galliani: leave Italy and go to Ethiopia!!!"

*Tweet, tweet, tweet—*

The referee, Luigi Agnolin, who had been largely invisible all match, blew the final whistle. The Ferraris Stadium, which had been tense for 90 minutes, instantly erupted into an ocean of joy. Boskov showed agility belying his age, rushing onto the pitch first. The old man and his "sons" began their song of victory.

Mancini excitedly wrapped his arms around Lu Deyang’s neck, running everywhere. He was looking for Matthaus, wanting to mock that bastard again, but it turned out Matthaus could run quite fast.

Bergomi noticed the scene, walked over with his jersey, and asked, "Swap jerseys? You're strong."

Lu Deyang pushed Mancini’s hand away, took off his jersey, and handed it over. Bergomi draped it over his shoulder, staring at Lu Deyang. "I will watch every one of your matches from now on. I won't give you another chance like today."

Lu Deyang smiled and shook his head. He wished he could use a "Robben Experience Card" every time he faced Inter, but that wasn't realistic. Before Lu Deyang could speak, Bergomi turned and walked straight into the tunnel. Today was a major setback in his career. If the cameras had followed him, they would have seen the defensive pillar of Italy biting his lip until it bled. His resilience meant he wouldn't be disheartened by this failure, but the talent Lu Deyang had displayed made him realize that the landscape of Italian football might be about to change.