A Nail-Biting Finish

Monaco had narrowly escaped, and the excitement at the Louis II Stadium was palpable. Fans and players alike were energized, with the atmosphere electric and morale soaring to new heights. 

It felt as if the football gods were watching over the team! 

Rudi Garcia, unwilling to concede defeat, clapped encouragingly from the sidelines, urging his Lille players to keep pushing forward and fight for a comeback. On the other side, Situ Yunbing was just as animated, shouting to his Monaco players to stay focused and not let up. 

The final 10 minutes of the match turned into a test of sheer willpower. 

In the 83rd minute, Lille tried to replicate their earlier attacking strategy. Bastos, receiving the ball on the left side of midfield, sent a through pass toward Vittek. This time, however, Modesto reacted quicker, recovering his position, and Ruffier sprinted off his line. Vittek was a step too slow, and Ruffier calmly intercepted the ball before Vittek could reach it, dribbling it out of danger and passing it forward. 

Monaco immediately transitioned into attack. Pérez and Leko organized play from the back, with Leko quickly sending the ball up to Mollo on the left wing. Mollo's constant threat had forced Lille's defense to shift, with Mavuba moving closer to assist Debuchy, leaving a gap in the middle. 

Mollo played the ball centrally to Meriem, who darted into the space. Balmont closed in to challenge, but Meriem, with a clever feint, tricked Balmont into thinking he would pass back. In a flash, Meriem shifted the ball forward with his right foot, spun around, and accelerated past Balmont. 

The Monaco fans erupted in anticipation as Meriem charged toward the middle of the penalty area. 

Béria stuck close to Nimani, while Chedjou prepared to step up and intercept Meriem. Sensing the pressure, Meriem made a quick pass to Nimani, who was now tightly marked by Chedjou. As Chedjou lunged to steal the ball, Meriem executed a stunning move, faking a pass before stepping over the ball and cutting it back to the right side of the box. 

With Chedjou caught off balance, Meriem surged forward into a one-on-one situation with Malicki! 

The Monaco supporters could barely contain their excitement as Meriem set his sights on goal. 

Malicki charged out to close the distance, but Meriem did something extraordinary. Instead of blasting the ball, he delicately chipped it toward the far corner of the net. The ball spun through the air, tracing a graceful arc toward the goal. 

Situ Yunbing stood frozen on the sideline, wide-eyed. 

The ball's elegance in flight was mesmerizing—it was football in its purest form, captivating everyone in the stadium. Meriem, 29 years old, a player who rose to prominence at Bordeaux, was showing his class and flair once again. He had danced past Balmont and outfoxed Chedjou, turning this tense stalemate into an opportunity for brilliance. 

As the ball sailed over Malicki, the Lille goalkeeper could only glance up in defeat. He didn't even attempt a jump—there was no reaching it. 

But then, as the ball descended, it crashed against the center of the crossbar with a thunderous boom! 

The fans, who had been on the verge of erupting into cheers, let out collective gasps of frustration. The chance had slipped away—almost. 

Malicki, seeing the rebound, rushed toward the ball to claim it. But just as he reached out, a towering figure stormed in—Nimani. The big striker lowered his head slightly and, with unstoppable momentum, nodded the ball into the back of the net! 

Malicki quickly threw his hands up, pleading for an offside, but when he glanced toward the linesman, there was no flag raised. The goal stood. 

The Louis II Stadium exploded with earth-shattering cheers! 

Nimani sprinted away in celebration, covering over a dozen meters before Mollo jumped on his back, sending him crashing to the ground. The rest of the Monaco players piled on in a chaotic, joyful celebration. 

On the sidelines, Situ Yunbing, who had been halfway through lowering his raised arms after Meriem's miss, suddenly jumped in the air, screaming in exhilaration. He pumped his fists to the sky, overwhelmed by the emotion of the moment, his joy spilling out in a roar. 

Alonzo and the rest of the coaching staff poured out of the dugout, surrounding Situ Yunbing in jubilant embraces, jumping and shouting. 

"Boss! It's in! The ball is in!" 

"We've turned it around against Lille!" 

Situ Yunbing could barely process the euphoria that surged through him. It was as though he had stepped into another world, a magical place of pure joy and triumph. The energy coursing through him felt limitless, like he might explode with excitement. 

Meanwhile, Rudi Garcia stood frozen on the opposite sideline, his teeth clenched in frustration. There was nothing he could do. Lille's players were left shaking their heads in disbelief, anger mixed with helplessness as they watched Monaco celebrate their dramatic comeback. 

... 

... 

"Nimani scores with a header! Monaco has turned the game around at home against Lille! 

Meriem's brilliant solo effort didn't end with a goal, but it was an electrifying piece of skill. He danced past two Lille defenders with ease, then chipped a shot toward the far corner from the edge of the penalty area. If that ball had found the back of the net, there's no doubt Meriem would be a top contender for the best goal of the round in Ligue 1. But fate had other plans—the ball crashed against the crossbar! 

Just as Malicki was about to claim the rebound, Nimani came charging in at the crucial moment, nodding the ball into the net with a decisive header! 

Monaco's transformation in the second half has been nothing short of astonishing! 

Their attack and defense have overwhelmed Lille, bringing them to the brink. Lille simply couldn't cope with the relentless pressure Monaco applied in both phases of the game! 

Look at Rudi Garcia's expression now—he's visibly frustrated, almost frantic. Compare that to the calm, confident look he had at the end of the first half, and it's clear just how much Monaco has shaken Lille in this second period! 

Situ Yunbing and his coaching staff are celebrating wildly on the sidelines, and rightfully so! 

This is only his fourth game in charge of Monaco, and should they hold on for the win, it will mark three consecutive victories for the young coach, including two straight wins in the league! 

Back-to-back triumphs over such strong teams as Marseille and Lille are incredibly significant for Situ Yunbing. Not only will it boost the team's morale, but it will also solidify his position as Monaco's head coach. 

But the game isn't over yet! It's too early to draw conclusions—Lille still has time to launch a counterattack. Let's see if they can mount a response in these final moments!" 

... 

... 

After the wild celebrations, Situ Yunbing felt parched. He grabbed a bottle of mineral water from the bench, walked back to the sidelines, and took a big gulp. But as he lowered the bottle, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted something that made his eyes widen—Rudi Garcia was at the fourth official, signaling for a substitution. 

Suddenly, Situ Yunbing choked on his water, spitting it out in shock! He coughed several times, drawing puzzled looks from those around him. 

But he didn't care. He tossed the water bottle aside with urgency. 

"Drink water? Are you kidding? Have I forgotten the lesson from the defeat to Lorient? The game's far from over!" he thought to himself. 

With newfound focus, Situ Yunbing quickly turned and marched back to the bench, calling over Mangani and Nkoulou, who had been warming up earlier. 

Now that Monaco had taken the lead, he knew they needed to minimize defensive risks—it was time to shore up the defense. 

Just before the restart, Lille used their second substitution. Balmont was taken off, and in his place came Nicolas Fauvergue, a towering 191 cm striker. 

Lille was clearly shifting to a 4-4-2 formation, and it was obvious what Rudi Garcia had in mind. With the central penetration failing, he was banking on wing play and aerial crosses to create chances for the added striker in the box. 

From the sidelines, Situ Yunbing gestured frantically for his players to retreat slightly, but emphasized that the pressing intensity couldn't drop. The key was to adjust the areas where they applied pressure, pulling back slightly to cover Lille's flanks. 

Lille's desperation was starting to show. They attempted two crosses from the wings, but both failed to create any real danger—the deliveries were poor, and Monaco's defenders dealt with them comfortably. 

The clock was ticking, and Lille's frustration was growing. 

... 

In the 86th minute, Monaco made their final two substitutions. 

Mangani replaced Mollo, and Nkoulou came on for Pino. 

Before they stepped onto the pitch, Situ Yunbing had already given them clear instructions. Knowing that Lille planned to attack down the wings, Monaco needed to reinforce their wing defense to counter that strategy directly. 

Mangani took his position on the left flank, while Nkoulou slotted in on the right. Both were tasked with shutting down Lille's wingers, covering the entire area from the goal line to the midfield on their respective sides. 

As for Monaco's attack, the responsibility was now left to Meriem and Nimani—both of whom had been performing well and were capable of capitalizing on any openings Lille might leave. Lille had already started to weaken their defense by pushing forward, but Monaco, though more defensively focused now, had the advantage of slowing the pace, which suited them perfectly. 

After Monaco's substitutions, Lille's attack became increasingly disorganized. 

The game fell into a scrappy rhythm, with frequent fouls from both sides disrupting any flow. While Monaco struggled to create any clear scoring opportunities, their defense grew more solid with each passing minute. 

As the match entered stoppage time, the statistics told a clear story—since being reversed, Lille hadn't registered a single shot on goal. Their counterattack had completely faltered. 

On the sidelines, Rudi Garcia was visibly frustrated, nearing the edge of collapse. Each time a Lille player made a mistake or conceded a foul, Garcia reacted with exaggerated gestures, expressing his growing dissatisfaction and desperation. 

Situ Yunbing, in contrast, remained composed. His plan was working, and Monaco was holding firm. 

The Monaco fans, packed into the Louis II Stadium, were jubilant, cheering with joy. They had never expected their team to mount such a comeback in the second half! 

When the final whistle blew, sealing Monaco's 2-1 victory, Situ Yunbing raised his fists, closing his eyes as he stood on the touchline. 

Reversal! 

... 

... 

In the Royal Box at the Louis II Stadium, Prince Albert stood up at the final whistle, smiling and applauding in approval. Chairman De Bontin quickly followed, and the two exchanged a satisfied glance. 

"It seems he has fulfilled his promise—Monaco is truly starting to look different," Prince Albert remarked. 

De Bontin smiled cautiously and responded, "I think we still need to observe him further." 

Prince Albert turned his gaze toward the pitch, watching Situ Yunbing walk onto the field, embracing his players one by one. His eyes gleamed with admiration as he smiled. "As the club's chairman, you're right to be cautious, but as a fan, I'm simply enjoying this wonderful transformation in Monaco. I'm already looking forward to the next match." 

De Bontin nodded but refrained from commenting further. His mind was racing with thoughts about Monaco's recent progress. 

Monaco had taken down Marseille in the previous round, and now Lille—a testament to the growing strength and momentum under Situ Yunbing. The impact of Yunbing's leadership was becoming clear, but the agreement between him and the club still hung in the balance. The deal required Yunbing to win at least three out of six league matches. He had now secured two victories, with four more league games remaining. De Bontin had little doubt that Situ Yunbing could clinch at least one more win, but the team would need to avoid a catastrophic slump. 

The upcoming league matches were against teams less formidable than Marseille and Lille—Saint-Étienne, Nice, Toulouse, and Nancy. At the time the agreement was struck, De Bontin hadn't expected that Situ Yunbing would still be in this position after the defeat against Lorient. He had assumed the coach would struggle against both Marseille and Lille, thinking even if Monaco managed a lucky win over Marseille, a loss to Lille would cripple the team's morale. This, in turn, would make the next away game at Saint-Étienne incredibly difficult. 

But things had turned out differently. Situ Yunbing had led Monaco to back-to-back wins against two of the strongest teams in the league. Now, the team had the chance to build on that momentum and push forward in the league and French League Cup, aiming to extend their winning streak to three games. 

As De Bontin prepared to leave the Royal Box, he glanced one last time at Situ Yunbing, who was laughing and celebrating with Mollo on the pitch. He took a deep, contemplative look at the young coach, then quietly turned and followed Prince Albert out of the box. 

... 

... 

Situ Yunbing celebrated the victory on the pitch with his players, soaking in the cheers from the fans at the Louis II Stadium. He wasn't sure how many still doubted him, and frankly, he didn't care. Right now, all that mattered was savoring the joy and excitement of this hard-fought victory. 

After the match, reporters were quick to interview Mollo, one of the heroes of the game. They were particularly curious about what had happened in the locker room during halftime that spurred Monaco's remarkable second-half comeback. 

"What changed at halftime? How did Monaco manage to reverse Lille in such dramatic fashion?" one reporter asked. 

The 19-year-old Mollo, with a hint of pride, responded, "We followed the coach's instructions to the letter in the second half. He made some key adjustments based on what happened in the first half, and we executed his plan perfectly. We were able to shut down Lille's threats and improve our attack. It was a magical game, an exciting game, don't you think?" 

The reporter quickly followed up, "What do you think of Coach Situ?" 

Mollo, more relaxed now, replied, "At first, we didn't know much about him, and sure, some players doubted his ability. But his work ethic and dedication showed us how serious he is about football. The best part? He doesn't give us empty words. He's brought in fresh ideas—things I'd never heard before. He's changing Monaco for the better, and these past few games have proved that." 

The reporter pressed on, "Then why did things go so poorly in his coaching debut?" 

Mollo paused briefly before answering carefully, "Well, maybe not everyone took his instructions seriously… Sorry, I need to get back to the locker room." He realized he had said enough, or perhaps too much, and hurried off before further questions could be asked. 

His comment about players not following instructions during the debut loss raised eyebrows. Although Situ Yunbing had dropped eight players to the reserve squad after that match, veterans like Pérez, Modesto, Ruffier, Simic, and Meriem had still been on the field during the 3-0 loss to Lorient. 

Mollo's words were quickly interpreted as a sign of loyalty to Situ Yunbing. 

No one saw this as an issue. Players like Nimani, Mollo, Pino, Mongongu, and others owed much to Situ Yunbing. He had trusted them with starting roles, and even the players who hadn't been first-choice before now appreciated the opportunities he had given them. 

In many ways, these players were now bound to Situ Yunbing, sharing in both the challenges and the victories. 

With two consecutive league wins, Situ Yunbing had pulled Monaco away from the relegation zone and lifted them to the upper half of the standings. However, they still trailed Lyon, the seven-time champions, by 8 points. Lyon remained undefeated with 6 wins and 1 draw—a testament to their continued dominance. 

As September came to a close, Situ Yunbing guided his team into October, step by step, preparing for their next league match against Saint-Étienne. 

... 

... 

On the afternoon of October 1, Situ Yunbing bid farewell to the coaching staff and headed out for dinner with Alonzo. As they walked, Alonzo was updating him on their upcoming opponent, Saint-Étienne. 

"Saint-Étienne's striker, Bafétimbi Gomis, is their most dangerous player—strong, explosive, and very hard to contain," Alonzo explained. 

Situ Yunbing listened intently, occasionally asking questions to fill in the gaps of information he needed. 

"What about Saint-Étienne's midfield creativity?" Yunbing asked. 

"Geoffrey Dernis on the left wing is small but very agile," Alonzo replied. "He delivers high-quality crosses, and on the right, they've got Ilan Araújo Dall'Igna, another good crosser. Both also have a knack for long-range shots. But they're both reliant on their speed, and honestly, they aren't particularly fast." 

He continued, "In the middle, you've got Loïc Perrin and Blaise Matuidi. Both are more defensive-minded. They cover a lot of ground and do a great job breaking up play. Matuidi's particularly good at sweeping up, while Perrin acts as a shield in front of the defense, but neither of them offers much in terms of offensive creativity." 

Situ Yunbing nodded thoughtfully as they approached the restaurant. Just as they were about to enter, he heard someone call out from behind. 

Turning around, Situ Yunbing saw De Bontin approaching quickly. 

"Mr. Chairman, how are you?" Situ Yunbing greeted him politely. 

De Bontin reached them and handed Situ Yunbing an envelope. Situ Yunbing hesitated, frowning slightly. 

"Mr. Chairman, we had an agreement. I haven't won the three required league victories yet, but I also haven't led the team into a losing streak. It's not fair if you're thinking of—" 

De Bontin interrupted, his voice slightly raised, "This isn't a resignation letter, it's your salary for last month! You never registered your bank details with the club, so you're being paid in cash for now. Make sure you go to the finance office and register your payment information before mid-October, and next month's salary will go directly to your account." 

Situ Yunbing blinked in surprise, his worry turning into delight. He accepted the envelope and asked, somewhat puzzled, "But it hasn't even been a full month since I started. Why am I getting paid already?" 

De Bontin shrugged. "Everyone gets paid at the end of the month. It'd be strange if you didn't get your share." 

Curious, Situ Yunbing opened the envelope and began counting the money right there—5,000 euros. A substantial sum. 

Grinning, he said, "Thank you! Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Not a cent was deducted." He then pulled out 200 euros and handed it to De Bontin. "This is what I borrowed from you, right?" 

De Bontin gave him a strange look, clearly recalling that when he gave Yunbing the money, it hadn't been labeled a loan. But knowing that Situ Yunbing had little money before now—evident from the fact that he dined daily in the club's restaurant—he accepted it with a nod. 

"Remember to register your bank information," De Bontin reminded him. "I'll see you later." 

As the club chairman walked away, Situ Yunbing turned to Alonzo with a beaming smile. He pulled out 2,500 euros from the envelope and offered it to him. 

"Here's your share, just like we agreed," Situ Yunbing said. 

Alonzo looked surprised and tried to refuse. "I've only been with you for half a month. You don't need to give me so much." 

Situ Yunbing insisted, squeezing the money into Alonzo's hands. "Take it! The club didn't deduct my wages for the first week, so I'm giving you your fair share. Now that I've got my salary, what do you think—want to go out for dinner?" 

Alonzo smiled but declined gently. "The food at the club restaurant is good enough for now. Let's save the nice dinner for after our next win!" 

Alonzo watched Situ Yunbing, marveling at how down-to-earth he was. Despite being the head coach of a top-flight club like Monaco, he didn't carry himself with the airs of someone in a high position. In many ways, Situ Yunbing seemed no different from him—just two men trying to rise in the world. 

As for Situ Yunbing, he was thrilled. The 2,300 euros left in his pocket felt like a small fortune—equivalent to nearly 20,000 yuan back in China. For now, he wouldn't think too much about the high cost of living in Monaco. At this moment, he was just happy with his first paycheck.