My Football Legends Chat Group-Chapter 29: Why do you love football?

Despite the chaotic scene of the goalkeeper sprinting up the pitch, Real Madrid’s manager, Carlo Ancelotti, did not seem agitated.

His expression seemed as if he had expected such a circus in the final seconds. He didn’t yell out any additional orders, nor complaints, he just chewed his gum with a raised eyebrow.

The Real Madrid players also didn’t seem fazed, like elite soldiers they moved into their defensive zones without a word.

Rüdiger, who was marking the near post, had already been briefed by experience on what to expect, yet that didn’t stop him from shoving Gazzaniga, the Girona keeper, to assert dominance.

"Last play! Box it!"

The Girona players made their way into the danger zone and took their positions.

Aleix Garcia was standing at the corner flag and raising his arm, signaling the delivery to the penalty spot.

The first sensation that came up to Rio’s body was surprisingly... nothing.

He had to be the most exhausted person in the stadium; even his breathing was shallow and painful.

[SYSTEM WARNING: MUSCLE FAILURE IMMINENT. AGILITY REDUCED BY 80%]

Rio watched Aleix whip the ball to the near post to test the resolve of the defense, only to be stunned when the ball dipped sharply.

The ball went straight between Rüdiger and Nacho..

"Damn it." Rio quickly reacted to the flight of the ball and pounced on the space, shifting his heavy body and swinging his leg at the loose ball that had bounced off a knee.

"Shoot!"

The crowd screamed the order and Rio breathed a prayer of desperation.

As long as he could make contact with the ball, there shouldn’t be any issues.

He still hadn’t regained his feeling in his feet, likely due to the System’s penalty.

If he were to have tried a power shot, his hamstring probably would have snapped.

"Go in, you fucker." Rio whispered, scuffing the shot.

Hand_Of_King: It is ugly! It is bouncing! It is beautiful!

The_Phenomenon_9: ...GOAL!

The ball bobbled through a forest of legs, took a deflection off Vinicius’s shin, and rolled agonizingly slow past Courtois’s outstretched glove.

THUD

It hit the back of the net.

"GOAL!"

The referee blew the final whistle instantly, and Rio collapsed to his knees. He breathed a sigh of relief. The stadium erupted into a sound that felt like a jet engine taking off.

"Nice finish." Mateo crawled over to him, giving him a weak thumbs up from the ground.

Thankfully, Mateo knew exactly what to do when Rio had no energy left.

It could have been disastrous if no one was there to drag him into the celebratory pile-up.

"Just doing my job." Rio winked before letting his head hit the grass.

Ever since he had taken the ’Ferrari Engine’, his performance had improved by leaps and bounds.

He was able to get into positions that were impossible for a rookie, and his clutch factor had become his trademark.

This in turn increased his reputation, giving him the aura of a true local hero.

Although Rio had not checked his ’Reputation’ stats on the System, he hoped that he would continue playing and reach a level where he didn’t need to almost die to score a tap-in.

The next couple of minutes went by without any order, just pure chaos.

Girona’s fans invaded the pitch, hugging players and crying..

The 2-2 draw felt like a World Cup victory!

However, as Rio looked up from the grass, he noticed something strange. The Real Madrid players.

Despite losing the win in the last second, the players did not have any outward emotions of frustration or even disappointment from the outside.

Seeming more like employees clocking out of a shift than actual athletes.

He had not noticed this before in his previous life as a fan, but now that he was on the pitch with them, it was hard to miss.

Was it possible that their constant winning had undermined the players’ love of the struggle?

If he was in their shoes and won the Champions League every year, would he also turn out the same as these giants?

If he was honest, he would rather quit playing football if the only alternative was losing the thrill of a last-minute equalizer. This was saying a lot considering he already knew what it was like to be a nobody.

But to Rio, losing the adrenaline of the game and losing the ability to feel were one and the same thing.

As he walked back towards the tunnel, his gaze landed on Carlo Ancelotti. A wave of confusion rose in the pit of his stomach as the old Italian looked back at him with a calm, almost bored smile.

There was not much that he could do to an opposing legend. The only thing that made it feel right was that his team had made them stumble, rejecting their perfection and proving that heart still mattered. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Rio placed his hand on Mateo’s shoulder as they walked through the tunnel, exhaustion oozing from his pores.

"Let’s get a beer. Or ten." He said through gritted teeth.

"Huh? Ah, okay. I’m underage though." Mateo seemed a little confused, but he still agreed.

Coach Michel could sense how drained Rio was as he stared curiously at the retreating Madrid bus from his position near the locker room.

"Is everything okay Rio?"

"Oh, yeah sorry Coach." He replied, originally intending to keep his thoughts to himself. However, perhaps it was because he had the mind of a gamer who had just beaten a boss, Rio spoke his mind.

"It feels like all of the Madrid players are emotionless robots. They didn’t even care that we equalized." He stated, casting his glance over the empty away dressing room.

"Hmm, I guess you could say that." Coach Michel nodded, loosening his tie. "Can you guess why that is?" He asked.

Rio didn’t have to think for long before naming the prestige and the trophies as the sole reason for the stars’ behavior. It was clear as day that success was their drug, and a draw in the league was just a minor withdrawal symptom.

"The winning is definitely one of the reasons for this, it may even be the cause. However, it’s not that these guys are emotionless robots..."

The coach paused as his sympathetic gaze roamed over the celebrating Girona staff.

"Let me put it this way. Why do you play football, Rio?" He asked, turning his gaze back to the winger.

Rio was a little taken aback. It was such an easy question, yet he couldn’t answer immediately.

His mind returned to one of the many nights that he spent alone in his room, watching Messi highlights and dreaming of touching the grass.

After a long pause, Rio finally answered the question. "Because I love football."

"And why do you love football?" The coach asked, his face turning up in a small smile.

"Because..." Rio looked at his dirty pink boots. "Because it makes me feel alive. The pain, the fear, the noise. I love it all."

"Exactly," Michel said, patting him on the back. "Madrid plays for history. We play for life. That is why we hurt more, but that is also why we feel more."

Rio smiled. The pain in his legs was still there, sharp and throbbing. But for the first time in ninety minutes, it didn’t bother him.

"Now go," Michel laughed, pushing him toward the showers. "Your brother is waiting. And I think he actually smiled today."

Rio grinned.

[Match Complete]

[Result: Girona 2 - 2 Real Madrid]

[Mission Accomplished: Survival Secured]

[Reward Calculation in Progress...]