In terms of data, Lu Yang is the strongest in the entire team, bar none.
Positionally, he plays as a defensive midfielder.
As everyone knows, defensive positions typically yield captains.
This is because team defense requires direction, and the captain’s prestige aids in providing such direction. The same applies to midfield captains.
Conversely, offensive positions rarely produce captains. This is because offensive roles naturally involve seizing opportunities and often require self-reflection and self-discipline.
If an offensive player becomes the captain, they might unknowingly drift into a domineering playstyle.
After all, a captain carries extra prestige. When an offensive player requests the ball, it has a different impact than when a captain requests the ball.
The former does not affect a midfielder’s judgment on opportunities, but the latter does.
Lastly, let’s discuss on-field performance.
Lu Yang’s movement on the field is unmatched.
His commitment to defense on the field is greatly appreciated by all his teammates.
Because Lu Yang shoulders much of the defensive responsibility for everyone.
Everyone enjoyed the "benefits" from Lu Yang, so naturally, no one spoke against his election as captain.
Thus, Lu Yang smoothly became the team’s second captain.
Meanwhile, the new recruit Latu Yidi was made the team’s third captain as a sign of respect.
Considering Lu Yang’s durability, Latu Yidi might never get the chance to wear the captain’s armband.
...
When San Remo announced the captain lineup, the media had a lot to discuss.
Latu Yidi’s captaincy was anticipated by some.
But Lu Yang, to be honest, was unexpected to everyone.
After all, he is only seventeen!
And San Remo is not an entirely young team; it has many veteran players.
How then did the captaincy fall to Lu Yang?
However, unlike the media’s confusion, San Remo’s fans were ecstatic, dancing around as if they had long awaited this day.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Lu Yang completely won them over last season.
Furthermore, his performance at the Star of Italy event over the summer made him a recognized idol among young Italian fans.
San Remo is merely a small team.
But the Star of Italy is like an alternative Italian Under-19 team, with fans from all over Italy.
Thus, Lu Yang and Morici’s popularity may have already surpassed that of the San Remo team.
But the world is balanced; good things happen alongside bad ones.
San Remo’s summer signings were excellent, but there is still a weak point.
They have yet to find a suitable candidate for the left-back position.
Their left-back remains the veteran from last season.
And this veteran during pre-season training... pulled a muscle!
It’s not a severe injury, but recovery will take at least two to three months.
This introduces uncertainties for San Remo’s upcoming first-round match in the Italian Cup.
Under these circumstances, the team currently has only one person with the experience and ability to take on the left-back role.
Although the experience is just two matches.
That person is... Lu Yang!
Hence, San Remo’s lineup for this season’s Italian Third Division campaign underwent a last-minute change.
The main lineup is roughly as follows.
Forwards: Bai Zhami, Sogel, young Fernandez.
Bai Zhami is unquestionably the left winger.
Sogel is the main central forward, with San Remo’s original central forward as his substitute.
Young Jorson Ferreira from Benevento competes for the right winger position with San Remo’s original right winger.
Midfield: Latu Yidi, Morici, Versachi.
Latu Yidi is responsible for sweeping duties and acts as a midfield barrier.
Morici, as the tactical core of the team, stays centrally, allowing him more room to play.
Versachi plays the right midfield, serving as an all-purpose midfielder, capable of anything and sometimes swapping positions with Fernandez.
Defenders: Lu Yang, Rondo, Palacios, Matias.
Lu Yang temporarily assumes the role of the main left-back.
Rondo seems to start but actually shares match time with Naji. Rondo and Naji are transitioning this season; if Naji can hold steady, he will become San Remo’s main center-back next season.
If he doesn’t deliver, then San Remo will surely reinforce the center-back position next season, as Rondo is truly past his prime.
New recruits Palacios and Matias have quickly secured their starting positions, demonstrating solid ability.
The starting goalkeeper is Jalard from the Serie B team, Perugia.
Overall, this lineup can be considered luxurious in the Italian Third Division.
The only drawback might be the lack of cohesion due to the limited time.
...
August 10.
The first round of the Italian Cup kicks off.
San Remo plays away against Bisceglie.
According to the Italian Cup rules, when teams of different levels meet, the match is held at the lower-tier club’s home ground.
The atmosphere on-site is extremely intense.
Even though the first-round match at this time is often considered a warm-up by many teams.
Winning it is just the first round, with many challenging matches ahead.
Losing it... is just the first round, ending the dual duties early for relief.
But not every team is like San Remo, considering competing in both the league and cup this season.
However, the home fans of Bisceglie don’t see it the same way.
Last season, they suffered under San Remo, their great nemesis.
If Lu Yang hadn’t outplayed Arnold, Bisceglie wouldn’t have dropped from first in the league to sixth.
So the fans utterly despise San Remo.
They yelled wildly, with some low-mannered fans shouting, "Kill them! Kill Lu Yang! Kill Morici! Kill San Remo!" and the like.
If this were in Serie A or Serie B, the Italian Football Association might pursue accountability post-match.
But this is just the first round of an Italian Cup match.
Whistle!
With a whistle blast, the match officially begins.
Morici performs the central kickoff, and Latu Yidi receives the ball and passes it back to left-back Lu Yang.
But the next moment, the entire stadium stands up.
Lu Yang, upon receiving the ball, directly advances along the flank, kicks the ball ahead, surpassing Bisceglie’s defenders.
Bisceglie’s player turns to chase the ball.
Yet Lu Yang astonishingly speeds past him from behind, overtaking him by a margin!
This speed!
If not for the distinct skin color between Asians and Africans, Bisceglie’s players might even suspect that the one who just played was Bai Zhami.
When Lu Yang reached the ball again, he had already crossed the halfway line, bypassing the opponent’s midfield.
Their right-back now finds himself in a tricky situation.
He was preparing to retreat in defense, but Lu Yang surged forward.
Should he continue retreating to follow Bai Zhami to the flank?
Or step forward to block Lu Yang?
Quickly, this player made the correct decision.
He didn’t rush in but chose to retreat and follow Bai Zhami.
This left Lu Yang a clear path ahead.
Lu Yang decisively cut inside, and the threat level surged.
Bisceglie’s defensive midfielder wanted to cover Lu Yang, but when Morici saw Lu Yang suddenly accelerate and create an opportunity, he aggressively charged into the middle to play an attacking midfielder role instead of dropping back.
The opponent’s defensive midfielder was put in a tough situation with two options.
Compared to Lu Yang, who had now moved to the inside space, Morici’s central charge posed a more significant threat.
By this time, Sogel had also rushed to the edge of the penalty area, and the opposing center-back didn’t dare to make a rash move.
But Lu Yang had now reached the left side outside the penalty area, about twenty-six meters from the goal.
At this distance, with no one blocking him, it was well within Lu Yang’s shooting range.
Suddenly, Lu Yang didn’t hesitate.
Bam!
A powerful shot from his foot, boasting a rating of seventy for both power and shooting, shot out.
The ball went in!
In a mere thirty-eight seconds of the game’s start, San Remo had struck swiftly.
Setting a record for the fastest goal in an Italian Cup first-round match!
And until the moment the ball went in, not just spectators and Bisceglie players, even many San Remo players were puzzled.
Even Latu Yidi was a bit taken aback, wondering if his simple return pass, his first touch, could really have been such a brilliant assist. Could this be what people refer to as the legendary golden left foot?
Is this what it feels like to rely on a great player?
This feels way too amazing, doesn’t it?
Latu Yidi found that he might just have fallen in love with San Remo.
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