25: Chapter 25 Walker outmaneuveres Trippier in a one-on-one duel; Barnett: I'll finalize the contract for you tomorrow!

What is a true Dribbling player?

It is when he receives the ball on the left wing, not even needing to look up, while the full-back partner behind him—Ben Davies, the Welsh international capable of playing both left and center—has his body move before his brain. Without a second thought, he charges diagonally into the opponent's penalty area!

This is a trust etched into muscle memory: Once the ball reaches him, he can turn everything upside down; there will definitely be an opportunity!

Ben Davies was specifically arranged by Mauricio Pochettino to be paired with Yu Bai on the wing, and the intention was self-evident.

The first head-to-head showdown has arrived!

Dele Alli delivers a stylish long cross from the right, the ball arcing across the sky and dropping precisely into the open space on the left flank.

Yu Bai controls it steadily and turns to face the attacking direction.

In front of him is Kyle Walker.

Behind him, Mousa Dembélé is approaching at high speed from the half-space, preparing to block the cut-in route.

No teammates to support him, a pure one-on-one, or even a "caged duel" of one versus one-and-a-half.

Yu Bai moves.

He doesn't hesitate for a second. His upper body feints a cut inside to the left, while his right foot pushes off the ground, appearing as if he's about to accelerate!

This is the first step of the rhythm trap!

Kyle Walker's pupils constrict. "This is it!" He bets on Yu Bai cutting inside. His right leg extends like a predatory viper, lightning-fast, stabbing directly at the ball under Yu Bai's feet! This is his trademark decisive tackle!

But Yu Bai is faster!

Or rather, his rhythm deception is superior! The cut-in feint was so realistic that Kyle Walker committed his center of gravity. But at the very moment his toe was about to touch the ball, Yu Bai's supporting ankle twisted at an incredible angle, pulling his center of gravity back in an unbelievable way. With the outside of his right foot, he gently nudges the ball—going for the byline!

Kyle Walker is shocked! His extended right leg is spent. He desperately tries to recover his balance and twist his body to chase, but the result of exerting force in an extremely awkward posture is—

"Damn!"

"Rip—!"

His studs make a piercing, mournful sound on the turf. Everyone watches as the England international right-back slides onto the grass in an extremely pathetic, near-split posture!

And Mousa Dembélé arrives just in time, only to be firmly blocked by the sitting Kyle Walker. He can only watch helplessly as that blue figure sweeps past him like the wind and charges into the penalty area!

Kyle Walker: "Referee! Isn't it a foul to shake me down like that?!"

Mousa Dembélé: "Is this the legendary 'pig teammate'?"

Charging into the penalty area, Yu Bai faces the covering center-back and calmly chips the ball toward the back post!

Unfortunately, Dele Alli is a beat late in starting his run and misses the golden opportunity.

"Oh My God!"

On the sidelines, John McDermott and Coach McKenna curse almost simultaneously. They lock eyes, both seeing the shock in the other's gaze.

Ugo Ehiogu mutters to himself: "This kid... seems to have gotten even stronger than in the U21s? His rhythm is even more bizarre..."

As Yu Bai tracks back, he passes Kyle Walker, who is climbing up from the ground, grimacing and rubbing his inner thigh. He asks with concern: "Kyle, are you okay? Did you pull something?"

"Thanks to you, almost!"

Kyle Walker says, looking depressed and fearful. That move could really have caused a strain. "You brat, do you have springs under your feet?"

"Glad you're not hurt."

Yu Bai grins, revealing a bright and "punchable" smile. He holds up an index finger to Kyle Walker and wiggles it. "Once. Still need one more."

"In your dreams! I was just careless just now!"

Kyle Walker is stubborn, but his heart is starting to thump. He still hasn't fully figured out Yu Bai's rhythm patterns. He clearly saw the habit of cutting inside, so how did... The frequency of his feet and the deception of his center of gravity are simply terrifying!

The intra-squad practice match enters the white-hot stage.

The substitutes are giving their all to fight for that slim chance of playing time, and the starters are finding their best form for the upcoming League matches.

And Yu Bai, the "most handsome guy" on the pitch, naturally becomes the "key focus" of the assistant coaches on the sidelines. The shouting barely stops:

"Yu! Track back! Get back to the defensive zone! Help Ben!"

"Yu! Press up! Don't let him pass easily!"

"Yu! Pass the ball! Hurry up! Don't hog it!"

"Yu! Dribble less! Pass more!"

Yu Bai feels like his ears are going to develop calluses, and a flare of anger rises in his heart.

At Arsenal, Henry! Even he didn't teach me how to play football every single second like this!

In Yu Bai's football philosophy, the head coach and tactical coaches should set the framework, and things on the pitch should be left to the players to judge for themselves!

Is it because I'm young and a newcomer that you have the right to nitpick every technical choice I make?

Since he was eight, he has been struggling for his football dream alone in a foreign land. The hardships he has endured, the sweat he has shed, and the grievances he has swallowed have shaped his tough core and almost paranoid persistence.

The way he plays football is the sharpest weapon he has honed through countless days and nights, and it is also a part of his football soul.

Want him to compromise? Want him to give up his characteristics? Impossible!

Suppressing his energy, Yu Bai decides to respond in the most "Yu Bai" way possible.

On the left, near the halfway line, he receives a pass again. He doesn't look at anyone, doesn't wait for any instructions.

Start!

He cuts inside with the ball directly! Without any warning, yet absolutely resolute!

This completely catches Mousa Dembélé off guard. He is still hesitating whether to press or block the route, but Yu Bai has already slipped past him like a slippery fish, getting past him clean and neat!

"Here it comes!"

Coach McKenna shouts subconsciously from the sidelines, leaning forward.

John McDermott widens his eyes, holding his breath, fearing he might miss a single frame.

Yu Bai drives forward with the ball!

Eric Dier and Ryan Mason, the two defensive midfielders, quickly close in, like two closing gates, blocking his path forward.

Behind him, Harry Winks in a blue vest is already raising his hand in the open space, shouting: "Pass! Here!"

Yu Bai doesn't even look up, not even slowing down.

Just in the split-second gap where Eric Dier and Ryan Mason are about to "close the door," Yu Bai gently nudges the ball to the right with his left foot, follows up with his right to receive it—a simple, yet exquisite left-foot-hook-right-foot-nudge. He squeezes through the almost non-existent gap between the two like an eel!

La Croqueta x2!

Kyle Walker: "I've seen this move!"

Yu Bai charges into the arc of the penalty area! Facing the Belgian golden center-back duo—Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen!

The two world-class center-backs are experienced and don't rush to tackle, instead maintaining their distance, blocking the Shooting and Passing lanes.

Yu Bai doesn't do any more fancy moves. Just before they form a double-team, his right leg swings slightly while running. With the inside of his foot facing the bottom of the ball, he chips it with extreme subtlety and a tiny range of motion!

It's not a blast, not a push, but a light, curling chip with inward spin!

The ball speed isn't fast, but the arc is bizarre, heading straight for the bottom right corner of the goal!

Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has his vision blocked, and by the time he sees the ball, it has already traced a tricky trajectory, crossing the toe of the sliding Jan Vertonghen, grazing the turf, and diving into the corner of the goal under the keeper's desperate gaze!

Goal!

"Damn!!!"

Coach McKenna jumps up directly, punching the air and roaring, "Yu! You kid are awesome! Too awesome!!!"

John McDermott rubs his eyes desperately, his voice slightly distorted: "Is... is this real? Eric, Ryan, Toby, Jan... four first-team defensive mainstays, were all... dribbled past by him alone? And he scored?"

Ugo Ehiogu shakes his head with a wry smile, confirming his judgment once again: "Patrick Vieira was right... This kid, Yu Bai, really shouldn't be in the youth team anymore. This goal is purely star-level individual ability."

But Mauricio Pochettino's face is darker than the bottom of a pot. He is pulling the defensive coach, pointing at the pitch, speaking rapidly, his expression angry.

Obviously, he is extremely dissatisfied with this defense.

Letting a 17-year-old kid run through the middle as if there were no one there is simply unacceptable!

The defensive coach looks helpless, wanting to defend himself but having no way to start, so he can only silently take the scolding, feeling more wronged than Dou E.

Who knew this kid wouldn't play by the rules at all, starting his unreasonable cut-in from midfield. Even more outrageous is that he isn't very fast, but that rhythm—sometimes fast, sometimes slow, completely unpredictable—makes all defenders feel like they are a beat slow.

He doesn't seem to have completely dribbled past anyone, yet he always finds that one and only fatal gap.

This kind of "X-factor" that exists outside the tactical system is exactly the nightmare that gives the defensive coach the biggest headache.

What can he do? He can only stand at attention and take the scolding.

On the pitch, Eric Dier, Ryan Mason, Jan Vertonghen, and Toby Alderweireld look at each other, their faces very ugly. There are already quiet arguments and complaints among them, all blaming each other for not fouling at the first opportunity, not using their bodies early enough...

In this intra-squad practice match, Yu Bai has become the only undisputed MVP.

Toward the end of the match, Mauricio Pochettino even moves him to the red team, which symbolizes the starters.

The result? The substitute blue team's right-back, Kieran Trippier, suffers what might be the most painful "military training" of his career.

Yu Bai does whatever he wants on his side, Passing him whenever he wants, crossing whenever he wants. In the final stages, someone had to help Kieran Trippier defend, otherwise, he would be a background prop.

"Yu Bai—Kieran Trippier's Strictest Father"

"Kieran Trippier: Listen to me, thank you, because of you, the four seasons are warm..."