Chapter 318: I’ve been watching you

Chapter 318: I've been watching you

After scoring, Dong Fangzhuo ran along the sidelines, fists clenched, shouting out to release the pressure in his heart. He finally scored again! But this time was different from before. There was no feeling of forced shooting, only immense satisfaction.

So, playing football could be this simple! It didn't necessarily involve facing layers of defense or feeling panicked. All you needed to do was pass the ball to where it needed to go, run to where you needed to be, and everything would fall into place.

Watching Dong Fangzhuo celebrate on the sidelines, Avilaze couldn't believe it for a moment. Was this still the clumsy Chinese youngster?

But he quickly dismissed the thought. He and Dong Fangzhuo weren't in competition, and he didn't harbor much resentment towards him. If Dong Fangzhuo could become stronger, it would only benefit the team.

So the Georgian caught up with Dong Fangzhuo and embraced him, congratulating him on scoring again. Dong Fangzhuo, in turn, expressed his gratitude to Avilaze, thanking him for his trust. Without that pass, the cooperation wouldn't have been possible.

The boos from the stands diminished significantly, and Van Gaal's eyes lit up. He saw clearly that Dong Fangzhuo had planned and executed that goal.

This was the feeling he wanted! The Chinese youngster's ability and attitude were not in question, but he had always struggled to integrate into the team's tactical system. However, Van Gaal now saw a glimmer of hope. Had Dong Fangzhuo truly improved or was it just a fluke? The Dutchman decided to give him some more time.

In the following match, the Chinese youngster continued his magical performance, repeatedly delivering thoughtful passes and making unpredictable runs, threatening the Ajax goal frequently. For a period, Alkmaar even dominated the field.

At halftime, despite trailing 1-2, the home team's morale remained high, largely thanks to Dong Fangzhuo's contributions!

In the locker room, many players who previously held no grudge against Dong Fangzhuo greeted him. Team captain Maldia came to sit beside him, saying, "Dong, your performance was really impressive just now. It felt completely different from usual."

"80% of the credit for this goal belongs to Dong Fangzhuo's runs and ball control!"

On the sidelines, Van Gaal waved his arms excitedly. This smooth passing and control were exactly what he wanted for the attack. He began to consider seriously nurturing Dong Fangzhuo. If he could maintain this level of performance, he could become the team's attacking core in the future.

After this goal, Dong Fangzhuo and Avilaze formed another partnership in the 63rd minute. The Chinese youngster, facing the goal from a tight angle in the penalty area, shot, hitting the inside of the post and into the net!

A brace! Dong Fangzhuo scored his first brace since joining the Eredivisie!

In previous matches, he wouldn't have dared to attempt such a difficult shot. But today, he was in high spirits, full of confidence!

Ultimately, with Dong Fangzhuo's two goals and one assist, Alkmaar won 3-2 at home against Ajax. He was rightfully awarded the title of the best player of the match.

As the game ended, still in an excited state, Dong Fangzhuo received a call from Wang Feng. "Well done. If you can maintain this level of performance, you will definitely establish yourself in the Eredivisie!"

Dong Fangzhuo hadn't expected Wang Feng to know about the situation here so quickly. "I've been watching you," Wang Feng said. He had long been aware of his compatriot's current predicament and had instructed Balmond to fully support Dong Fangzhuo.

To Wang Feng, Dong Fangzhuo's outstanding performance in this match was entirely due to his previous accumulation. If he hadn't gained experience and understanding of the correct way to play football from previous league matches, he might have only contributed a few brilliant moments and then quickly faded away.

But now it was different. Continuously gaining experience from matches while understanding the right way to play, Wang Feng believed that Dong Fangzhuo's growth would accelerate in the future.

Dong Fangzhuo was moved. He hadn't expected Wang Feng to care so much about him. The two then discussed the process of the game, and Wang Feng helped him analyze the on-field situation and ball-handling methods, offering improvement suggestions.

Previously somewhat confused, Dong Fangzhuo now felt incredibly clear. He realized that there were other ways to play football, not just relying on physicality but also using his brain!