Chapter 257 - 250: This Kid Has Changed

On the evening of January 23rd, in Utrecht’s Koegenwaard Stadium.

In the home team’s locker room, the Utrecht players, having just returned from their pre-match warm-up on the pitch, sat upright on the benches in front of their lockers. They all looked up at the forty-two-year-old Dutch manager before them.

Foeke Booy looked at his players with a relaxed smile.

"Don’t be so tense, guys. This is our home turf tonight, okay?"

The head coach’s relaxed demeanor quickly spread to the Utrecht players, and many of them broke into knowing smiles.

Their stunning home record was a major reason why Utrecht was currently ranked fifth in the Eredivisie. They were also one of only two teams in the league to remain undefeated at home this season.

The other was Alkmaar, sitting high atop the league table.

In the past seventeen league rounds, Utrecht had played eight home games, with six wins and two draws—just as impressive as Alkmaar’s seven wins and two draws. Moreover, they had only conceded four goals, just one more than Alkmaar and Eindhoven.

"Everyone relax. Ajax is strong, that’s true, but they’re definitely not so strong that we should be afraid."

Hearing this, many players nodded in agreement.

This season’s Ajax was indeed a far cry from last season. Although they were currently third in the Eredivisie, everyone knew their dominance had waned considerably.

"In the past seventeen rounds, our record against the traditional ’Big Three’ is one win and two draws in three matches. We drew one-one with Ajax away, drew zero-zero with Eindhoven at home, and beat Feyenoord three-zero away."

Foeke Booy recited the pre-match speech he had long prepared, speaking with confident familiarity.

"In our stadium, we beat Rosendal five to one. We’ve won two consecutive home games, and I believe that tonight, we’ll match Alkmaar’s undefeated home streak and secure our third straight win."

More and more players began to feel inspired by Foeke Booy’s words, nodding in agreement.

This confidence was built on Utrecht’s excellent home record this season and their strong performances against top teams.

In the Eredivisie, who didn’t want to take down the traditional ’Big Three’?

Foeke Booy had a mediocre playing career, drifting between the Eredivisie and the Belgian First Division A. After retiring, he became a youth coach at Utrecht. He spent a few years gaining experience, and in 2000, when Utrecht legend Frans Adelaar was appointed head coach, Booy was promoted to the first team as an assistant coach.

Frans Adelaar managed for two years with little improvement in results before he was let go, and Foeke Booy took over.

Under Foeke Booy’s guidance, while Utrecht’s league performance didn’t see much of a jump, their cup results were excellent. They won a Dutch Cup and also developed Dutch internationals like Kuyt.

This season was Utrecht’s best in years, and both Foeke Booy and the management had high hopes for the team.

They weren’t asking for much; a spot in the UEFA Cup would be enough.

Facing Ajax in the first round after the winter break was crucial for the start of the second half of the season. They couldn’t afford to be careless.

"Ajax’s most dangerous player is their right-winger, Yang Yang. He’s an incredibly well-rounded player. He can score himself and also assist his teammates. In the first half of the season, he only played in thirteen league games, yet he contributed eleven goals and eight assists. We have to be extremely careful."

At this point, Foeke Booy turned to the team’s left-back, Etienne Xu.

"Etienne, I need you to man-mark Yang Yang. That is your only job in this match."

Etienne Xu was of Chinese descent, but he never considered himself Chinese and thus felt no affinity for Yang Yang.

"Yang Yang is only eighteen, after all. He’s weak in physical confrontations. Target that weakness. Stick to him like glue and don’t let him get the ball easily, understand?"

Etienne Xu nodded heavily. "Don’t worry, I’ll shut him down."

His previous two encounters with Yang Yang had both occurred after Yang Yang came on as a substitute, by which time Etienne’s stamina was already waning. But things were different now. They were both starting, and Etienne Xu, who had just turned thirty, didn’t believe for a second he would lose to some wet-behind-the-ears kid who was just starting out.

Besides, the last time they faced off, Yang Yang had deliberately avoided physical contact with him.

That slender kid was clearly resistant to physical contact, a common weakness for all speed- and technique-based players.

"The midfielders and center-backs need to support Etienne’s defense on the left. No matter what, I want you to completely freeze out Yang Yang in this match. Don’t give him a single chance on that flank."

"Trust me, guys. If we shut down Yang Yang, we’ll neutralize the vast majority of Ajax’s attacking threat!"

...

...

Just as expected, Ajax focused their attack on the right flank from the start of the match.

For this match, Ronald Koeman once again deployed his signature 4-3-3 formation, but with a few adjustments.

Galasek and De Jong formed a double pivot in defensive midfield, while Pinaar was pushed up to left-winger, forming an attacking trident up front with Charisteas and Yang Yang.

Yang Yang was very active and energetic on the right wing.

Etienne Xu was focused on marking Yang Yang, not daring to be careless or give him any opportunities. He was also constantly, whether intentionally or not, getting close to Yang Yang, trying to leverage his advantage in physical confrontations.

In his mind, Yang Yang was still that frail, slender kid.

But in the fourth minute, during a challenge for the ball, they had their first physical clash, and Etienne Xu realized something was wrong. He desperately tried to muscle Yang Yang aside, but found it wasn’t as easy as he had anticipated.

Yang Yang was knocked off balance, and his dribbling faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered without losing the ball.

Instead, it was Etienne Xu, the one who initiated the contact, who lost his position, allowing Yang Yang to find an opening for a cross.

Unfortunately, Charisteas failed to get to the ball first.

Watching Yang Yang shake his head in disappointment as he jogged back, Etienne Xu couldn’t help but feel a flicker of surprise.

’This kid’s gotten stronger!’

Realizing this, the Utrecht left-back took a closer look at Yang Yang’s arms, visible outside his loose-fitting jersey. He could clearly see defined deltoids, which further confirmed his suspicion.

But the match was changing in an instant, giving Etienne Xu no time to dwell on it.

Yang Yang soon received another pass from a teammate and charged forward again with the ball.

This time, he received the ball on a counter-attack and stormed all the way to Utrecht’s penalty area.

All by himself, he faced Etienne Xu, who had fallen back into the box, and the two defenders behind him.

Just as Etienne Xu thought Yang Yang would slow down and wait for his teammates to catch up, he was surprised to see that Yang Yang didn’t reduce his speed at all after entering the box.

He went straight into a Pendulum Move!

Etienne Xu felt the opponent was just too fast. He saw a blur, and just as he reacted, Yang Yang zipped past him. Then, before the covering center-back could get there, he suddenly unleashed a furious shot with his right foot.

The shot was fast and powerful, but the angle was a little too high; he didn’t keep it down.

The ball flew straight over the end line and into the lower stands behind the goal.

Everyone in the stadium broke out in a cold sweat.

Not just Etienne Xu, but even Foeke Booy on the sidelines was startled, his heart still pounding.

’This kid has changed! He’s not the same as before!’

...

...

Yang Yang shook his head, walking back with a frustrated look on his face.

He hadn’t struck that last shot well. It was such a shame.

The main reason was that when the opponent’s center-back came over to help, he had rushed it. As a result, he didn’t connect with the ball cleanly, causing it to rise. Otherwise, it would have been a spectacular shot.

’Calm down! Calm down!! Calm down!!!’

Yang Yang kept reminding himself in his head.

This was what Ronald Koeman had told him before the match: he absolutely could not rush things.

Impatience is a goalscorer’s worst enemy.

Scoring a single goal isn’t hard. But to maintain a consistent scoring record over the long term, you not only need outstanding individual skill but also a strong mentality. The most important thing is your mindset.

Only by maintaining a level head can your movements be fluid and your judgment be sound.

"Nice one!" Sneijder ran over to congratulate him.

"Didn’t go in, or it would’ve been nicer," Yang Yang chuckled.

"Looks like you’re in good form today."

Yang Yang nodded. His form was indeed okay, but not what he would call great.

According to the training plan Winston Bogard and Jan Kruitenberg had arranged for him, he wouldn’t hit his peak form until mid-to-late February at the earliest.

As for how high his form could peak and how long he could maintain it, that was all up to Yang Yang himself.

"Douglas, you need to be more aggressive. I can hold the ball, trust me."

Yang Yang said as he returned to his own half, looking toward Maicon.

The Brazilian had been a bit too conservative at the start of the match.

"If I cut outside, you take the inside lane. If I cut inside, you make the overlapping run. I’ll cover for you if necessary."

Maicon gave Yang Yang a thumbs-up, signaling that he understood.

Although he was older than Yang Yang, in reality, whether in terms of status within the team or performance on the pitch, he was inferior. Plus, having trained against each other daily, he was completely convinced of Yang Yang’s ability.

With Wesley Sonck unable to play, Yang Yang was the core of the team’s offense.

And it was obvious that he was beginning to grow into that role.

Soon, Ajax organized another wave of attack, once again a swift counter-attack after winning back possession.

After Charisteas won the ball, he passed it to Yang Yang on the right.

This time, just as Yang Yang had instructed, when Maicon saw him dribbling diagonally toward the box, the Brazilian right-back didn’t hesitate and quickly made an overlapping run up the flank.

Yang Yang dribbled straight at Etienne Xu. Despite facing two defenders at once, he continued to drive toward the box, forcing all of Utrecht’s players to focus their attention on him.

But then, he suddenly passed the ball out wide toward the end line.

Maicon, on his overlapping run, received the ball, quickly cut into the penalty area, and before the defenders could get in position, he sent a diagonal pass to the far post.

Sneijder, making a late run from the midfield, calmly tapped the ball into Utrecht’s goal.

One-nil!

And it was only the sixteenth minute of the match!