Rise of a Football God-Chapter 302: Debut as a false 9

72 minutes, 2-0…

FC Barcelona was trailing by 2 goals in the Reale Arena.

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BOOM!

The energy of the home fans in this stadium was extremely exuberant even as they celebrated the fortunate circumstances of their team.

Against a high-flying Barca side, to be leading 2-0 at home, this was a big cause of celebration and they did not hold back in their celebrations.

And when Lewandowski trudged out of the field after being substituted, instead of booing like they’ve been doing for majority of this game, they rather cheered, applauding loudly around the stadium.

They didn’t applaud out of respect; their applause was their way of taunting the Catalan giants for collapsing in their home stadium.

These reactions made the atmosphere in this stadium even more hostile.

After dominating for most of this game, 2 incredible counter-attacks was what did Barca in, making them trail by 2 goals.

They were truly unfortunate this game, luck was not just on their side.

Having tried their best for almost 80 minutes of this game, giving their all to attack and score a goal, despite dominating for the majority of the game, FC Barcelona finally collapsed in Real Sociedad’s home.

From the reaction of the away supporters, it was clear that they already gave up in their team getting a reward from this game.

In the touchline, Hansi Flick was also calm.

Clearly, he already gave up in getting a result from this game but since he already gave up, why not switch things up?

Why not try a strategy that he’s been thinking of for some time?

Yes, Hansi Flick have been thinking up a new and extremely radical strategy since the very first day that he watched Sam train in an FC Barcelona jersey.

Robert Lewandowski was a lethal striker, one of the best of his generation but like every great player, he was dancing to the tune of the omniscient influence of father time. Even he could not fight the depreciation that comes due to age.

This was why wearing the lens of a radical scientist rather than that of just a coach, Hansi Flick observed his new signing in training.

’A tall 1.84 frame…, powerful in the air, a good header of the ball, a great mastery over his center of gravity, good at scoring goals, a literal perfect ball technique, and natural talent…’

’…what else is needed to create a natural striker?’

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’He’s the perfect striker!’

’A perfect false 9!’

FC Barcelona was broke! That was the reality of the Catalan club.

They were still caught in a debt in the figures of billions of Euros, all they were doing at this point was trying to keep the club afloat.

This was why Hansi Flick did not expect the club to buy any of the hot striker prospects in the market at the moment, and this was also what forced the German coach to become a scientist to seek another alternative for his aging striker.

All his life, Sam had played as an attacking midfielder but even at the highest stage of football, it was not totally strange for an elite player to change his position.

Even here in Barcelona, the Spanish fullback, Alejandro Balde once started in the Spanish club as a winger and not a defender.

Xavi Hernandez, Hansi Flick’s predecessor was the coach who converted the young Spaniard into the proper left back that he was today.

All this while though, it had only been an idea in the German coach’s head.

He had never told his assistants, nor did he ever tell Sam but since this game already spiraled out of his control and his club’s inability to seize the game was largely due to Lewandowski’s lethargic play due to his age, Hansi Flick took the radical decision to switch things up.

’No risk, no reward!’

With that mentality, the German Coach made the crazy change.

He turned Sam into a false 9!

After that decision by the German coach, all hell broke loose, even the commentators were confused.

"What the hell is going on here?"

"Am I seeing well? Is Sam going to play the reminder of this game as Barca’s striker? What a weird change!"

"Did Hansi Flick hit his head or something?"

"I think this decision is motivated by desperation more than anything," the commentator’s commentary partner chuckled. "Sam has played as an attacking midfielder all his life, despite his height, I don’t think he has the experience to play as a striker, even as a false 9".

"If it was so easy to convert players to new positions for them to thrive, a lot more players would do it at the highest stage".

"Will this decision pay dividends for the German coach? I doubt but we can only watch the result of Hansi Flick’s radical decision".

That decision from the German coach was like dust, and fueled by the current embarrassing scoreline, it spread, ruffling feathers, creating chaos and turning the battlefield in Reale Arena muddled.

The game changed…

Having held their cool against the tight low block of the Real Sociedad defense for over 70 minutes, the Barca players finally started losing their nerves and their opponents were fanning the flames.

Having received instructions from their coach, even as the Real Sociedad fans kept on trying to enter the heads of the visiting Barcelona players, the Real Sociedad players on the pitch also started engaging in the dark arts.

They employed annoying time-wasting tactics, playing dirty football, trying everything in their repertoire just to run the clock down.

The Barca players could only be patient for so long.

"Bastardo!" Gavi erupted first, cursing angrily.

"Bastardo, callate!"

FWEEE!

The referee did not hesitate, brandishing a yellow card to the young Spanish midfielder immediately. Gavi was lucky to not receive a straight red card.

For the moment, Hansi Flick’s tactic was not working.

Playing in an unfamiliar position that he was not used to and never thought of playing in before, Sam felt like a fish out of water.

He struggled to adapt, limiting his impact in this game even more.

He constantly drifted back into midfield before remembering that he was supposed to play as a striker. And by the time he got back, the Real Sociedad low block already disrupted the Barca attack.

’F*ck!’ Like the rest of his teammates, Sam was frustrated.

But he didn’t give up yet…

…in the midst of adversity, the Black Mamba in him reared its head.

’Win!’

The demon in him slowly awakened.

’Win!’ ’Win!’

The voice roared in his head.

’Win!’ ’Win!’ ’Win!’

Before Sam knew it, he entered the state of flow!