The bus back to Madrid was silent.
Lu Chuan sat by the window, watching the scenery flash by, his mood heavier than the overcast sky.
This draw was more frustrating for the players than a loss. They realized that the team's "undefeated aura" had vanished.
Trejo sat in the front row, frowning AS he scrolled through the news on his phone.
A headline from AS jumped out at him: "Lu Chuan's worldie saved Rayo Vallecano, but it also masked their tactical rigidity. When Lu Chuan is contained, this team is like a tiger with its teeth pulled."
"Damn media," Trejo cursed under his breath, but he knew there was truth to the words.
Paco Jémez locked himself in his office, repeatedly watching the match replay.
On the screen, Alcorcón's defensive strategy was replayed over and over.
He realized that he had unconsciously shifted the tactical core entirely to Lu Chuan, weakening other attacking points.
"When did we become a one-man team?" Paco muttered to himself, a hint of regret flashing in his eyes.
The training whistle blew the next day, but the atmosphere on the field was different from usual.
Passing between players became formulaic, lacking spontaneous cooperation and showing a subtle, almost imperceptible distance.
"Just pass to Lu Chuan," the young midfielder José Pozo said to a teammate during training, his tone conveying a blind reliance.
The team had developed a severe "Lu Chuan dependency."
Lu Chuan also felt this change; he found the pressure on him growing heavier.
With every touch of the ball, his teammates' eyes were full of expectation; with every mistake, he could feel the disappointment radiating from around him.
"This isn't right," Lu Chuan said to Trejo after training. "We can't play like this."
"What do you mean?" Trejo asked, wiping sweat from his brow, looking at him confused.
"Football is a game of eleven players, not a one-man show."
Lu Chuan's voice was serious. "If everyone expects me to solve the problems, then we can never become a truly strong team."
Trejo was silent for a few seconds, then nodded. AS captain, he knew better than anyone the team's current problems.
"You're right," Trejo said, patting Lu Chuan's shoulder. "But changing this situation will take time."
"We don't have time," Lu Chuan said, looking at his teammates packing up their gear in the distance.
"The next match is Málaga. If we don't change soon, the season will truly be over."
That evening, Lu Chuan returned to his apartment, where Esther was already busy in the kitchen. She sensed Lu Chuan's troubles and, without asking, quietly prepared dinner for him.
"How was training today?" Esther asked, bringing over a plate of spaghetti, her tone light.
"Not so good," Lu Chuan said, sitting at the dining table, rubbing his temples. "The team has some problems."
Esther sat opposite him, listening intently AS Lu Chuan described the team's predicament.
Although she wasn't a football expert, her intuition told her that the problem was more serious than it seemed.
"My dear, you're not a savior," Esther gently comforted him.
"Football is a game of eleven players; you can't win every match. Learning to accept defeat is also part of growing up."
"I know," Lu Chuan nodded. "But I can't watch the team become fragile because of me."
"So what are you going to do?"
Lu Chuan took a deep breath, his tone unwavering: "I have to do something to remind them how great they are. This team can play without anyone."
During training the next day, Lu Chuan consciously began to change his playing style.
He focused more on setting up teammates, providing cover, and defending, rather than constantly seeking individual breakthroughs.
When Álvaro García failed a breakthrough, Lu Chuan was the first to run up and encourage him, instead of complaining.
"It's okay, try again next time," Lu Chuan said, patting García's back. "Your speed is our biggest weapon."
This change surprised his teammates, but it also made them start to re-evaluate their own roles in the team.
The system's prompt sounded in Lu Chuan's mind:
"Ding! Detected host demonstrating excellent leadership and team awareness in adversity!"
"Match Rating: 8.5"
"LP gained: 50 (Draw) + 200 (Worldie Equalizer) + 100 (Talent Trigger Reward) = 350 LP!"
"Current LP Balance: 5200 + 350 = 5550 LP"
Although he received a good LP reward, Lu Chuan's attention was entirely focused on how to help the team overcome its difficulties.
He opened the system panel, checking the skills he could redeem.
The 5550 LP gave him more options, but he knew that simply improving individual ability wouldn't solve the team's fundamental problems.
"Maybe what I need isn't stronger offensive skills."
Lu Chuan pondered, his gaze shifting between Iron Body and Aura of Leadership.
The Málaga match was approaching, and it would be a crucial battle to test whether the team could shake off its "Lu Chuan dependency."
Although the opponent wasn't strong, they would fight with all their might to avoid relegation, and such opponents were often the hardest to deal with.
"We must prove ourselves," Lu Chuan murmured to himself. "Not just for promotion, but to prove that we are a real team."
Paco Jémez locked himself in his office; Lu Chuan's name was circled countless times on the tactics board in red pen, like a whirlpool.
He irritably wiped away a magnet; that position should have been for Álvaro García, but now it seemed like an expendable ornament.
"Maybe it's time for others to take on more responsibility," Paco drew a new formation on the tactics board, a determined glint in his eyes.
Málaga coach Sergio Pellicer appeared confident in an interview:
"We watched Alcorcón's match, and they provided us with a very good template. At La Rosaleda, we are confident of getting points."
These words reached the Rayo Vallecano players, making them feel unprecedented pressure.
Every opponent was studying them, looking for ways to limit Lu Chuan.
"It seems we've really become targets," Comesaña said with a bitter smile, shaking his head.
"That means we're strong enough to be treated this way," Lu Chuan's response reignited his teammates' fighting spirit.
On the last day of training, an unexpected event occurred.
Starting left-back Antonio Luna accidentally pulled his thigh muscle during a tackle. After examination by the team doctor, it was confirmed he would miss the upcoming matches.
"Damn it!" Paco kicked the turf fiercely. "Why now, of all times!"
Luna's injury further destabilized an already shaky defense.
Backup left-back Savić was more adept at center-back, and his inclusion would change the entire defensive chemistry.
Even worse, this injury sparked some negative emotions in the locker room.
After training, several reserve players began to complain privately.
"The coach's tactics are too aggressive," young striker Antonin Cortés whispered to a teammate beside him.
"Look at Luna; this is the third starting player injured this month."
"Yeah, and our offense relies too much on Lu Chuan," another reserve midfielder echoed. "We don't get any chances to show what we can do."
"Exactly, every match it's pass to Lu Chuan, then wait for him to create a miracle," Antonin said with clear dissatisfaction. "We came here to play football, not to be props."
These words were unintentionally overheard by Lu Chuan, who was passing by. He stopped, stood outside the locker room door, and quietly listened to the conversation inside.
Anger surged in his heart, but Lu Chuan quickly calmed down. He knew that at this critical moment, any conflict could destroy the team's unity.
Lu Chuan didn't rush in to confront them; instead, he chose a more mature approach. He waited until everyone else had left, then approached Antonin, who had complained the most.
"Antonin, let's talk," Lu Chuan's tone was calm, without any hint of accusation.
Antonin clearly hadn't expected Lu Chuan to approach him and a flicker of awkwardness crossed his face.
"I know you want to play, you want to score goals," Lu Chuan looked directly into Antonin's eyes.
"But now is the team's most difficult time; what we need is unity, not complaints. Trust me, AS long AS you're prepared, your chance will come."
Antonin lowered his head, ashamed of his earlier words.
"I... I just feel it's a bit unfair," Antonin's voice was small. "I also want to contribute to the team."
"You are already contributing," Lu Chuan said, patting his shoulder.
"Every training session, every substitute appearance, is a contribution. Football is not a one-man sport; we need everyone."
This sincere conversation deeply touched Antonin. He realized his thinking had been too narrow and understood the pressure Lu Chuan was under.
Captain Trejo also noticed the subtle atmosphere in the locker room. AS the team's spiritual leader, he decided to call a team meeting.
"gentlemen, I know everyone's spirits have been low lately."
Trejo stood in the center of the locker room, looking around at each teammate. "Any doubts about the coach or teammates can be said here, face-to-face! But acting behind people's backs is the behavior of a coward!"
The captain's words made the atmosphere in the locker room serious.
Several players who had complained earlier lowered their heads, ashamed of their actions.
"We are a team; no matter what difficulties we face, we must face them together."
Trejo's voice was strong and clear. "If we ourselves are not united, how can we expect to win matches?"
With the combined efforts of the captain and Lu Chuan, the negative emotions in the locker room were effectively controlled.
Antonin and others also apologized to the entire team for their immaturity, and this small incident actually strengthened the team's cohesion.
That evening, Lu Chuan told Esther about the incident.
"This is normal; any successful team will encounter such problems," Esther analyzed from an "outsider's" perspective. "The key is how the leader handles it. You did very well; you are transforming from a star player into a true leader."
"I hope so," Lu Chuan nodded. "But I still have a lot to learn."
"Everyone grows through learning," Esther said, holding his hand. "What's important is that you have this awareness and are willing to work for it."
After dealing with internal team matters, Lu Chuan once again reviewed his system panel:
Host: Lu Chuan
Current LP Balance: 5550
Activated Skills: Full Field Vision (Permanent), Big Heart (Permanent), Penalty Box Finisher (Permanent), Direction Change Acceleration Master (Master Level)
Seeing the ample LP, Lu Chuan began to plan his next goal.
Facing increasingly rough defending, he set his sights on Iron Body (2500 LP).
This skill would not only enhance his physical confrontation ability but also reduce the risk of injury.
Meanwhile, Carlos brought the first quarterly report from L&E Capital.
Several projects invested by the company had achieved good early returns, especially the company focused on AI pharmaceutical technology, whose valuation had increased by 25% in a short period.
"Your investment vision is truly accurate," Carlos praised over the phone. "The development prospects for these projects are all excellent."
The Red Bull endorsement contract was also officially signed, and its announcement once again sparked heated discussions among the media and fans.
Lu Chuan's commercial value continued to climb, driven by his continuous goals, even if the ball