Genius - Chapter 558: You Play a Champions League Semifinal and Score Six Goals?! (Part 3) (Patreon)

"What makes me happiest about today's match is that those two guys, Scholes and Rivaldo, aren't here to interrupt my commentary."

"I get to sit here alone in the commentary booth and watch Lin score four goals in a Champions League semifinal!"

"Villarreal have done so well in this season's Champions League because their defensive structure through midfield and at the back has been excellent."

"If I hadn't watched this semifinal myself, I might even have said Villarreal were the best team in this season's Champions League at organizing their midfield and defensive lines."

"From Parejo, Capoue, and Coquelin in midfield to Pau Torres and Albiol at the back, there's always a clever connection between them."

"Parejo and Pau Torres, for example, constantly provide coordinated protection between midfield and defense, while Albiol is excellent at stepping in and winning direct challenges. His timing is always spot on, and he repeatedly helps Villarreal shut down opposing attacks!"

Gullit had always liked Villarreal's defensive style because it reminded him of the Dutch national team from his own playing days.

Their players, especially the midfielders, constantly shifted positions. That kind of movement was common in more sophisticated defensive systems.

But so far tonight, Parejo hadn't dared to switch positions nearly as often as he had in previous matches.

The pressure Leo was putting on him was simply too great.

"Lo Celso's ability to hold the ball on the right has always been an important part of Villarreal's transitions. Once Villarreal win the ball back, they play it to Lo Celso. He keeps possession on the right, waits for his teammates to move forward, then releases it."

"It's like Villarreal's submarine needs Lo Celso as a refueling station before it can head back out to sea."

"But Robertson has found that refueling station tonight and shut it down. That's taken away most of Villarreal's attacking opportunities."

"I wonder how many more Lin will score in the second half. I'm really looking forward to it. Hopefully I get to see a few more, because I haven't even finished using all the commentary lines I prepared for tonight!"

The fans completely lost it when they heard Gullit say that at halftime.

"I knew Gullit had prepared his lines in advance. And of course every single one of them is about Lin."

"Gullit has been ahead of the competition from the start. That's why Scholes and Rivaldo can never get a word in after Lin scores. Gullit just keeps praising him until the match resumes. By the time those two finally get a chance to say anything, it's too late. The fans only remember what Gullit said!"

"See? Even commentators have to compete with each other these days. Rivaldo might be getting more popular, but he's still nowhere near Gullit!"

Gullit alone had the entire audience enjoying themselves, while inside Liverpool's dressing room, all the players seemed determined to keep Leo happy.

Leo looked at everyone sitting around him and, for a moment, had no idea what he was supposed to do.

They had already done practically everything for him.

Salah handed him a bottle of water.

Gakpo patted him on the thigh.

Szoboszlai fixed his hair.

The only thing nobody did was straighten his jersey, something Firmino used to love doing.

"I'm starting to miss Firmino again."

The moment Leo said it, Mac Allister was the first to speak.

"Why?"

"Why do you miss Firmino again?"

"I'm South American too. You can just pretend I'm Firmino. I'll even get the same hairstyle as him tomorrow."

Núñez immediately joined in.

"I'm South American too. I can do Firmino's celebration. Just pretend I'm Firmino and start setting me up for more goals."

"Thanks, Lin."

Gakpo shoved Núñez aside with his backside.

"Get out of here!"

Klopp finally couldn't take it anymore.

"Stop messing with Lin when he's in this kind of form! What are all of you doing? Spread out!"

Meanwhile, Villarreal manager Emery was still trying to figure out how his team could score in the second half.

Two players caught his attention, and Villarreal made two substitutions at halftime.

As both teams returned to the pitch, Gullit looked at Villarreal's changes and addressed the audience.

"Villarreal have made two substitutions. Paco comes on for Danjuma, while Trigueros replaces Capoue."

"Paco will give Villarreal's attack even more power, while Trigueros should strengthen them defensively in midfield."

Emery's thinking behind the substitutions was simple.

They just needed to score.

After all, they were playing at home.

The match resumed, and Villarreal began attacking from different areas.

Lo Celso also changed positions. Instead of playing as the right Wide Midfielder, he moved to the left and swapped places with Coquelin.

Coquelin's role in midfield was very different from Lo Celso's.

He didn't drift wide to play as a Wide Midfielder. Instead, he stayed central and waited for the fullback to push forward.

That meant Foyth could attack Robertson more often, combining with Coquelin to look for openings on Liverpool's left.

Robertson wasn't particularly worried by Lo Celso's style of attack.

But the combination of Coquelin and Foyth was much more troublesome.

56th minute!

"Villarreal are now combining their midfield play with attacks from out wide! Coquelin has the ball centrally, and Foyth is pushing all the way forward!"

Coquelin was carrying the ball through the middle and wanted to find Foyth.

But to keep Mac Allister from reading his intention, he first turned with the ball and pointed toward Lo Celso on the left.

Liverpool still believed Lo Celso was Villarreal's main "refueling station."

So Mac Allister immediately blocked the passing lane toward Lo Celso, while Rodri kept track of Paco's movement.

Gvardiol and the others were occupied with Chukwueze, leaving Robertson alone to deal with Foyth higher up the pitch.

Robertson quickly closed him down, initially looking to prevent Foyth from receiving the ball.

But Coquelin curled a pass through the air and sent it spinning in behind Robertson.

Foyth made a clever run, darting past Robertson's left side before accelerating forward and bringing the ball under control.

As expected, Robertson immediately sprinted after him.

But Foyth hadn't intended to cross.

When Robertson pressed him from the left, Foyth played the ball back inside to Coquelin, who had followed the attack forward.

With a quick exchange of passes, the two worked their way past Robertson.

They also bypassed Mac Allister.

Once Coquelin received the return pass, Mac Allister could no longer make an effective challenge in midfield, while Liverpool's defensive line was already busy dealing with Villarreal's two forwards.

Coquelin saw an opening for a long-range shot.

When a midfielder gets an opportunity like this, he has to be willing to take it.

Watching Alisson shift his weight in preparation for the save, Coquelin immediately struck the ball hard toward Liverpool's near post.

Alisson was already diving toward that side.

He should have saved it.

But while the ball was rolling toward goal, Chukwueze suddenly brought it under control.

With Alisson already committed to his dive, Chukwueze lifted the ball over him and into the net.

"Chukwueze!!!"

"Villarreal finally have their goal!"

"It won't bring them level, but the score is now 4-1!"

"At least Villarreal haven't been completely shut out tonight. Coquelin found the space for the long-range shot, and even though Chukwueze's finish wasn't part of the original attacking move, he still managed to score!"

Gullit applauded Villarreal's goal, and the home supporters finally had something to celebrate.

They had continued cheering even while their team was behind, but the noise was nowhere near as loud as it was now.

"I'm relieved. Villarreal scored. Now the other fans can't make fun of us for getting completely shut out. Plenty of teams can't even score against Liverpool."

"Maybe, but if Liverpool keep scoring, Villarreal need to keep scoring too. At least don't let the scoreline get too ugly."

"I've got a feeling that goal is just going to make Liverpool attack even harder. Villarreal had better settle down defensively after kickoff."

As soon as play resumed, Liverpool did exactly that.

They attacked.

Salah sprinted toward Estupiñán, looking to control Mac Allister's pass, but the ball had been hit too hard and flew beyond Estupiñán.

Salah had no choice but to turn.

That sudden movement caught Estupiñán by surprise.

Estupiñán reacted by reaching out and grabbing Salah's shirt around the waist, trying to stop him from turning past him and reaching the ball behind.

The pull sent Salah to the ground.

"BEEP!!!"

The referee immediately blew for the foul.

Leo had another penalty.

"The chance for five goals is right there!" Gullit shouted excitedly.

Any player given the chance to score five times in a single match would have every reason to be excited.

Leo remained completely calm as he stepped up to take the penalty.

Once the referee gave him permission, Leo struck the ball toward the right side of the goal.

Rulli guessed the correct direction.

But he got the height wrong.

The ball flew higher than he expected, and his outstretched hand fell just short in both angle and reach.

"Lin scores his fifth goal!"

"Five goals in a Champions League semifinal!"

"Liverpool fans must be loving every second of this!"

"Even I'm loving every second of it!"