Chapter 197: Creating a Goal from Kickoff—Little Lion, Are You Actually Going All-In?!
As the sweltering summer heat rose across the globe, so did the excitement among football fans awaiting the new season.
For the past three years, La Liga had dominated the spotlight, drawing the most viewership and attention.
But this summer, their old rival was making a thunderous return.
The Premier League was on the rise again.
After a few years of rebuilding, driven by the decline of aging stars, the top English clubs were beginning to wake from their slumber.
Chelsea led the charge.
They brought back their beloved manager José Mourinho and snatched up Leon, Real Madrid's midfield star of the future.
Then came Pep Guardiola, who stunned everyone by taking the helm at Manchester City.
Suddenly, the Premier League was packed with fresh narratives and elite coaches.
But just three days before the new season began, Arsenal and Manchester City lit the transfer window on fire.
City made the first move, announcing the signing of Cesc Fàbregas from Barcelona for around £30 million.
Then Arsenal went big—really big—by signing Edinson Cavani, last season's Serie A top scorer.
Cavani's transfer from Napoli to Arsenal cost a whopping €50 million, plus 15% of any future sale.
Wenger, having failed to land Mata and been ghosted by Suárez, decided to break the bank on a striker who had scored 102 goals in three seasons.
Cavani was top-tier.
This was Arsenal's first true blockbuster signing in years.
And suddenly, Arsenal became the hottest topic in England.
Wenger had always managed to guide them into the top four with a patchwork squad.
Now, with a legitimate world-class forward?
Fans couldn't help but dream.
Could Cavani or Zlatan dethrone Van Persie as the Premier League's top scorer?
The buzz leading up to August 17, the Premier League's opening day, was electric.
Twelve teams took to the pitch.
Liverpool played first.
With Suárez suspended for biting last season, they still managed a 1–0 win over Stoke, thanks to Sturridge's sharp left foot.
But Arsenal and Everton stumbled to frustrating draws.
Still, all eyes were on Cavani, who watched from the executive box at the Emirates.
That photo alone made headlines.
Most matches on day one ended 1–0.
Players were rusty. Tempo was slow. Nothing memorable.
So, on August 18, fans turned their hopes to Chelsea.
Maybe they could deliver the fireworks everyone had been waiting for.
Millions tuned in, eager to see Leon and Zlatan's Premier League debut.
Back in China, it was nearly midnight.
Commentator Zhan Jun, feeling the weight of the moment, reviewed his notes one last time.
This season, he was the envy of all Chinese broadcasters.
No other platform had Premier League rights.
If fans in China wanted to watch Leon, they had to come to Sina Sports and hear Zhan Jun call the game.
Excitement? Yes.
But also pressure—millions would be tuning in tonight.
Zhan Jun wasn't used to this level of online viewership.
Still, once the broadcast started, professionalism took over.
Seeing Leon in Chelsea blue, exchanging words with his teammates before kickoff, gave Zhan Jun a strange, emotional pang.
He pushed aside his worries and looked at the lineups.
"Alright! The players are taking the field.
Chelsea are at home at Stamford Bridge, hosting Hull City, and they've lined up in a 4-2-3-1.
Čech in goal.
Ashley Cole at left back, Terry and Gary Cahill in central defense, Ivanović at right back.
Lampard and Ramires form the double pivot. New signing Matić is on the bench.
Leon plays as the No. 10, flanked by young talents Hazard and De Bruyne.
Zlatan leads the line."
"Hull, meanwhile, are starting in a 4-3-3. Their keeper today is McGregor…"
As the graphic showed the formations, Zhan Jun quickly wrapped up his pre-match commentary.
The teams shook hands. The coin toss finished.
The camera panned to Leon.
His face was serious, focused—but calm, as always.
Then the whistle blew.
Zlatan tapped the ball to Hazard.
The 2013–2014 Premier League season was officially underway.
Leon took possession and quickly shifted the ball right.
De Bruyne launched a long ball forward.
Zlatan, using his size and strength, easily held off midfielder Meyler and won the aerial battle.
Hazard and De Bruyne both had space out wide.
But Zlatan didn't pass.
Instead, he laid the ball back.
Leon, having anticipated it, burst forward and broke through Hull's midfield block.
Hull's No. 11, Brady, sprinted back to engage Leon physically.
A classic Premier League Irish midfielder.
Not tall, not bulky—but tough, combative, fearless.
He wanted to show Leon what the English top flight was all about.
Too bad for him.
Leon slammed into him with a side-body charge—and Brady bounced off like a springboard toy, losing his balance entirely.
By the time Leon reached Hull's back line, he was in full control.
He faked a through ball to Hazard, pulling center-back Curtis Davies out of position.
Then he cut inside, dribbled into the box, and...
Cut it back.
Right into Zlatan's stride.
No extra touch. No wasted movement.
Zlatan lashed it low and hard into the near corner.
McGregor never saw it.
The net rippled.
The ball had crossed the line in under a minute.
The crowd at Stamford Bridge was so shocked, their celebration was delayed.
And there was Leon, smiling, pointing to Zlatan.
Millions watching had the same thought:
This kid's not kidding around.
Leon really came to Chelsea to become the centerpiece.
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