"He's here, Julien!"
Martin slammed the table hard, shouting, "Turn this around!"
The moment Julien entered the game, the fans at Sunset Café Bar, just like the fans at the stadium, saw hope ignite in their eyes.
Julien! Julien!
They chanted this name over and over in their hearts. In the minds of Bastia supporters, this was the name that could save their team.
Watching the match from home, Deschamps saw Julien take the field and couldn't help but criticize Hadzibegic internally.
All those nice words, but when the team faced a crisis, would he dare not use Julien?! Bastia still depended on Julien just the same.
In the Conde de Orgaz district of Madrid, Spain, at Zidane's mansion.
Zidane appeared in front of the television right on time. He hadn't watched much of the first half, but when he saw the score, he knew Julien would definitely enter the game in the second half.
No coach could watch his team fall behind without using his core player.
Zidane had just spoken with Mourinho today about Julien.
Mourinho said, "If you can convince the chairman to buy Julien, I'd be happy to use him as a substitute at wing, but on the condition that he can run back. I don't want to see a winger who doesn't defend."
Mourinho added, "Especially for a young player."
"Mon Dieu!!"
From the television came the surprised voice of the TF1 commentator.
Julien's possession on the wing gave the fans at Cesari Stadium instant hope.
De Bruyne passed the ball to the right wing.
When Julien received the ball with his back to goal, he stepped on it backward, then turned smoothly, getting past Saint-Étienne's left midfielder Gradel.
This Ivorian international, who came through Leicester City's youth system and had played for Leicester City, Bournemouth, and Leeds United, had decent defensive ability.
But this time, after just one encounter with Julien, he was beaten.
Galtier on the sideline immediately felt this could be troublesome.
Despite being two goals ahead, Galtier showed no joy on his face.
After turning and collecting the ball, Julien glanced at the situation in the middle and quickly pushed forward along the touchline.
Saint-Étienne's left-side defense quickly converged on Julien.
Brisson and Lemoine blocked Julien's path forward, with Gradel catching up from behind.
One against three!
Julien didn't panic despite the numerical disadvantage. His ball control gave him absolute confidence with the ball at his feet.
Just as he had told Mbappé, "There are only three players at most on the other side, what's there to fear? Just dribble past them, what a great opportunity."
This was indeed a great opportunity!
Though it seemed like three defenders, they hadn't completely locked down the space.
Burst mode.
Just before meeting Lemoine's defense with small steps, Julien suddenly accelerated sharply.
Cutting inside!
As a defensive midfielder, Lemoine had outstanding defensive awareness. Coming from Rennes' youth academy, he had solid defensive technique.
So, when he realized Julien was cutting inside, his first instinct was to block Julien's path rather than follow the ball.
But he was too slow!
Julien burst past him, and when Lemoine stretched out his foot, Julien was already outside his defensive zone.
Whoosh!
The Bastia fans all stood up at this moment.
The Julien corridor?!
Hadzibegic and his coaching staff locked their eyes on Julien.
Including all the Bastia fans watching the broadcast.
This was the moment they wanted to see.
After Julien's inside cut, Saint-Étienne's left defensive line became almost completely useless.
Lemoine couldn't keep up with Julien, so the other defensive midfielder Clément had to cover.
He had been watching De Bruyne's position but now had to help defend against Julien, leaving De Bruyne for other teammates to mark.
But De Bruyne's movement was very flexible. Seeing Julien drift to the center and the opposing left-side players also moving centrally, De Bruyne quickly pulled out to the right wing.
This reverse run immediately created space for De Bruyne.
Bang!
Julien didn't just dribble blindly. Seeing the huge gap De Bruyne had created, he immediately passed the ball to De Bruyne's feet.
"Wow!"
Wide open!
The Bastia fans cried out in excitement. De Bruyne feinted a powerful shot, and Brisson made a flying tackle.
Goalkeeper Ruffier quickly rushed to the near post.
But De Bruyne didn't shoot. Instead, he cut the ball to his right foot and continued toward the goal line for two more steps.
Brisson and Lemoine both rushed to block De Bruyne.
Cioni had already overlapped at this point.
De Bruyne didn't pass.
At this moment, Cohade and even Aubameyang had tracked back to their own half.
Saint-Étienne's defensive line was gradually getting into position.
Just when the Bastia fans thought this opportunity would turn into positional play again, De Bruyne used the outside of his left foot to play a reverse triangle pass!
The ball flew toward Lukaku at the back post.
That side had the fewest defenders.
In his battle with Perrin, Lukaku's center of gravity wasn't stable, and he had no way to shoot.
Plus, the pass was a bit behind him.
Both players jumped simultaneously. Lukaku, with the bigger head, headed the ball back to the center.
Chaos erupted in the penalty area.
Julien activated fury mode again, managing to control the ball with his chest while facing Clément with his back to goal.
But Julien didn't bring the ball down to his feet; he controlled it in mid-air.
Then—
Whoosh!!
A chorus of screams: "Julien!!"
The Bastia fans roared, their eyes filled with madness.
Julien threw himself completely into the air, an overhead bicycle kick!
The flexibility enhancement allowed his left foot control to be strengthened in this moment.
Bang!
Right in front of Clément, Julien executed an overhead kick!
The ball flew toward the goal.
Ruffier had been pulled back and forth by De Bruyne and Lukaku, his center of gravity was unstable. He didn't immediately spring into action for Julien's shot.
By the time he regained his balance and dove for the save, it was too late.
Swish!
The ball nuzzled firmly in the net.
1-2.
Bastia had pulled one back at home.
Boom! Boom boom!!
Instantly, the entire Cesari Stadium erupted into madness. Just eight minutes into the second half, they had pulled one back.
There was still hope!
"Julien!"
The fans chanted Julien's name wildly, the entire stadium a surging sea of blue.
Like ocean waves, one after another crashing against the shore.
Julien got up after landing. He didn't celebrate.
He quickly rushed into the net, grabbed the ball, and headed toward the center circle, calling out to his teammates, "Quick, there's still plenty of time!"
De Bruyne followed Julien. Lukaku jogged along, laughing, "Julien, that overhead kick was so cool! You'll have to teach me later how to adjust the shooting angle during an overhead kick."
Julien waved his hand again, "Let's talk after we win."
As Julien passed his teammates, he high-fived each one.
Everyone's face showed a smile. It had to be Julien coming on.
Bastia's attack was completely different now!
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