In the Locker Room at Halftime—
Crystal Palace players sat dejectedly, heads hanging low and eyes lifeless.
Outside, waves of angry shouts from the fans could still be heard.
Holloway, his face flushed with frustration, paced furiously back and forth.
"Damn it... is there really nothing we can do?"
Vaughan, seated on the bench, punched the wall in frustration.
Norwich's defense had him completely suffocated!
Under their high-pressure marking, the Crystal Palace striker's runs had become aimless—like a headless chicken.
Crystal Palace had only 30% possession in the first half compared to Norwich's 70%.
They didn't even have the ball!
"Kai gave us a great start, but our defense ruined the midfield control he worked so hard to establish in the first twenty minutes!"
Holloway roared at his defenders.
Coach Millen pointed at the tactics board, highlighting their problems to the defenders.
Captain McCarthy said nothing, his expression dark.
At 0–2 down at halftime, the team saw almost no hope.
Their opponent's strength was simply on another level.
"Let's try adding more defenders!"
A voice rang out!
Holloway froze.
So did Millen.
They looked up—
Who was standing next to the tactics board at this moment?
It was Kai!
Every player in the locker room stared at Kai, stunned.
He stood at the tactics board and tapped it, signaling everyone to look over.
The scene felt surreal.
Holloway was shocked, but he didn't stop Kai from speaking.
Everyone's eyes were now on Kai.
"Our defense is constantly leaving people unmarked—but it's okay. We can increase the number of defenders and form a steel wall."
"Up front, Vaughan stays as the lone striker."
"I'll be stationed in midfield. On either side of me, two holding midfielders will cover the flanks. I'll be the one delivering the artillery!"
"Our main problem is our fragile defense, which gets broken by a single counter. So we increase the number of defenders and play Mourinho's defensive counterattack system!"
Kai's words echoed through the locker room.
"Mourinho's counterattack?"
The players looked at each other in confusion.
Vaughan suddenly understood.
He jumped up, recalling Kai's performance during his trial match.
Those two assists Kai had delivered that day were unforgettable.
"Kai! You mean, the whole team retreats except me? And as soon as there's an opportunity, you launch a long ball up front to find me?"
Kai nodded.
Holloway's eyes lit up as well.
He forgot his role as head coach for a moment and instinctively agreed with Kai's proposed tactical change.
But Millen hesitated.
"Wait, if we do that, the attacking pressure will be enormous. A lone striker can't break through Norwich's defense..."
Kaifirmly shook his head:
"Trust me! Our problem is the defense. We won't have any issue with offense! If we can plug the holes in our backline, the attack will take care of itself. I'll seize every fleeting opportunity to smash that damn ball into Norwich's net!!"
His words once again echoed through the entire locker room.
Everyone fell into a brief silence—
But soon, after exchanging glances...
Every player jumped up from their seat!
A blazing fire rekindled in their eyes!
"Smash that damn ball into Norwich's net!"
"Let's do it!"
Kai's words reignited the confidence they'd lost.
McCarthy saw Kai walking toward him.
Kai's gaze was steady.
"You're the captain! No matter what, you must always show complete confidence! Never look defeated! So what if we conceded two goals?"
"In the second half, our backline still depends on you to lead! Hold the fort! As for everything else—leave it to me."
Hearing that, McCarthy was invigorated.
He nodded forcefully and slapped his face hard to pump himself up.
Holloway was fired up too:
"Alright! We'll do exactly as Kai says! Second half—6-3-1 formation! Bring back the six-man defense and scare the hell out of those Norwich bastards!"
"Parking the bus isn't shameful! Losing is!"
"To defend this damn home turf honor, we absolutely cannot concede again—we must score!"
The team was ablaze with fighting spirit!
"Score!"
"Score!"
In that short halftime break, everyone had found new strength.
And the source of that strength—
Was none other than the 16-year-old midfield prodigy, Kai!
The players surged out of the locker room.
Millen stood by the door, his face filled with awe.
"Kai was born to be a captain!"
Holloway nodded firmly.
"Yeah. Hard to believe, but at 16, he's a natural-born leader!"
---
"Welcome back to the match! The jeers at Selhurst Park haven't stopped for even a second!"
"The angry Crystal Palace fans are venting their rage! A 0–2 home deficit in the first half—could there be anything more humiliating?"
"If Palace loses this one, they're basically relegated! Their upcoming opponents are even tougher—what do they have left to win with?"
The commentary was full of pessimism.
And it reflected the sentiment of most Palace fans.
Crystal Palace players emerged from the tunnel—
Only to be met with deafening boos from the stands!
"Screw you, Holloway! Screw you, McCarthy!"
"Go to hell! That Chinese brat too!"
"Go back to your mother's womb! You bunch of trash!"
But in the face of those insults—
The Crystal Palace players lined up on the pitch, unfazed.
At midfield, Kai stood tall.
His heart thudded with the hunger to win!
"Tweet!"
The referee's whistle blew.
The second half had begun!