As for what kind of regulation was preventing Itoshi Sae from playing in the first-division league, Tendou had no idea.
If you were to say that the Galácticos were so star-studded that there was no place for Sae, that would be understandable. But the anime said it was because of a "regulation" that he couldn't play for the first team. The only possible explanation was that Real Madrid's 25-man roster was already full, and Sae couldn't win the competition for a spot. But as for the specifics, Tendou didn't know.
The players from both sides once again came to the center circle, waiting for Tendou's team to kick off. Karasu still entrusted the ball to Tendou's control. On their team now, only Tendou could compete with the opponents; the others couldn't even hold onto the ball.
Tendou received the ball and wanted to continue passing it around in his own half to lure the snake out of its hole. But he saw that the opponent's formation had changed again. Adam Blake and Cavasoz had dropped back, while the other three pressed forward, their target being Tendou. Their objective was clear: don't let Tendou get the ball. Once he gets it, force him to pass it.
Tendou suddenly felt like he was playing against five members of the Generation of Miracles by himself. This feeling was simply something else. At this moment, he felt the pressure of summer. The success probability calculated by his Big Data Statistics dropped sharply. He was a man, not a god. Facing three feet coming at him at the same time, how could he get past?
Left with no choice, Tendou could only pass the ball to Reo. The young master's job in this match was to link up with Tendou in the midfield and then freely send the ball to the two wings.
Seeing that Tendou had passed the ball, the opponents immediately split up to continue their press. Under the pressure from the opponents, Reo could only pass as soon as he touched the ball, without any hesitation. The ball went to Chigiri's feet on the left wing.
Luna saw through their intention and rushed up at the first moment. The "young lady" had intended to delay until Tendou arrived, but in a single face-off, the ball was stolen by Luna.
The opponent immediately launched a counter-attack.
Tendou turned and tracked back. But limited by the space on the field, and with the World All-Star Team intentionally targeting him, he couldn't cover the entire defensive line.
Luna made a long pass to Dada Silva. The Brazilian, like bullying a child, knocked Reo aside. After attracting Tendou, he made a diagonal pass to the trailing Adam Blake in the center. The latter received the ball and advanced. Tendou was still behind him. Then, Blake made another diagonal pass, sending the ball to Loki's feet on the left wing. Finally, the European prodigy completed the finish.
4:3!
They had been overtaken.
Tendou stood with his hands on his hips, his expression somewhat helpless. A football pitch is too big. Even a shrunken one is not comparable to a basketball court. He alone couldn't cover such a large area. Especially in a defensive counter-attack, if his teammates couldn't delay for enough time, no matter how fast he was, he would only be led around.
"We have to at least get the ball near the penalty area."
"That's not an easy task," Karasu said, spreading his hands, his expression also very grim. It was very difficult to get the ball near the penalty area through ground play; their overall level was just not as good as theirs.
That only left corner kicks and free kicks. This way, maybe they would have a chance to replicate the first goal.
Tendou, Karasu, and Reo discussed for a bit and then kicked the ball out again.
This time, Tendou did not take the initiative to receive the ball, but roamed around the midfield.
Luring the snake out of its hole, part two.
This move had a certain effect. The opponents didn't dare to easily let go of Tendou because there was a certain risk in having only two people mark him.
Seeing that the opponents still didn't move, Reo and Karasu could only add more fuel to the fire, coordinating to press forward. Tendou, on the flank, also coordinated with them and rushed forward, attracting the opponents' attention.
The Brazilian, seeing this, had no choice but to close in. This was the opportunity Reo was waiting for. He decisively copied Hiori and sent out a precise long pass.
Tendou immediately started, and with lightning under his feet, he crackled and rushed towards the ball's landing spot. Beside him, Loki was sticking close, not letting him receive the ball easily.
Tendou once again used his superior strength and physique to bully Loki, knocking him aside and steadily controlling the ball. But the next second, Cavasoz came at him with a flying tackle.
Tendou had foreseen this scene in advance and bravely used his body to shield the ball.
And then!
"Ah~"
He let out a miserable cry, then his body jumped forward, and after landing, he rolled twice on the ground.
Cavasoz was dumbfounded. He didn't think he had such divine power to send the strong Tendou flying. However, what he admired the most was Tendou's courage, to actually risk injury to shield the ball with his body. His dynamic vision was outstanding, and he had clearly seen Tendou's action. This free-kick opportunity... he deserved it.
"BEEP~"
The electronic referee quickly blew the whistle, giving Tendou's team a free kick. But between a yellow and a red card, it hesitated for a short while. Cavasoz had fouled; that was a fact. But there was also a suspicion that Tendou had dived. At least in its data, this tackle was not enough to send Tendou flying that far.
In the end, the electronic referee only showed Cavasoz a yellow card.
Seeing this, Tendou could only endure the pain and get up from the ground. Although his injury resistance was 99%, being tackled like this still hurt; it wouldn't be one bit less painful. What was even more regrettable was that the referee didn't give Cavasoz a red card. If they could have gotten this freckle-faced guy sent off, they might have really had a chance.
"Tendou!"
"Are you okay!"
His teammates walked over with concern. Tendou shook his head to indicate that he was fine.
...
A free kick from a full 38 meters from the goal. The success rate of scoring directly was very low. Tendou knew he didn't have that kind of footwork. He and Karasu looked at each other and already understood the other's meaning.
Karasu personally took this free kick. The World All-Star Team nervously set up a wall, focusing heavily on Tendou. His nearly 3-meter "slam dunk" at the start of the game had left a deep impression on them.
Karasu stood in front of the ball, his mood inevitably becoming tense. After the opponents began to target Tendou, this free kick was their best opportunity.
The referee blew the whistle.
Karasu took a deep breath, ran up a few steps, and kicked the ball hard, aiming for the opponent's penalty area.
In that instant, the penalty area became a chaotic mess. 9 players stared at the incoming ball, constantly pulling and shoving to fight for position. Tendou received the most attention. Dada Silva and Adam Blake were sandwiching him from the left and right.
"F*ck you!" Tendou roared in his heart, transforming into a wild beast and forcefully pushing the two apart. He turned, quickly ran up, and jumped.
The two old geezers, Adam Blake and Dada Silva, had long been wary of him. They used their bodies to viciously block Tendou's jersey.
However.
RIP!
The sound of fabric tearing suddenly rang out. The Premier League's top scorer looked at the piece of cloth torn off in his hand with a look of astonishment.
This is a real fight!
When he looked up, he saw Tendou's body in the air. He was gritting his teeth hard, his face contorted and ferocious. When the ball arrived in front of his forehead, he met it with a "Lion's Head Shake."
"ROAR!!"
...
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