65: Crushing the Young Modrić! Silence at White Hart Lane!

Under the night sky of North London, the away fans of Crystal Palace erupted in wild celebration!

Tottenham's fans at White Hart Lane sat in stunned silence.

They watched the jubilant Palace players celebrating—unable to accept the widening score gap before their eyes.

This was something Spurs fans could never have imagined!

On the sidelines, André Villas-Boas paced like an ant on a hot pan. How was this even possible?

Tottenham's greatest weapon—its explosive wing attacks—had been completely neutralized.

In both direct matchups, Gareth Bale, the famed speedster of European football, was thoroughly outplayed by a 16-year-old Crystal Palace youngster!

It was ridiculous!

Villas-Boas was bewildered.

Could it be that the maximum ceiling of an ordinary player is merely the starting point of a true genius?

Ever since that super prodigy from Crystal Palace emerged on the scene, whether in the Championship or the Premier League, everyone had tried every trick to stop him.

But the brutal truth was clear:

Kai had never been shut down in a single match.

Whether faced with targeted marking or meticulous tactical traps, he always found a way to shine through.

Whenever his team was in trouble, he was the one to spark a miracle—an indispensable savior!

The atmosphere at White Hart Lane grew heavier.

Tottenham's players looked demoralized, especially Gareth Bale—he had been outrun and beaten twice in direct sprints by Kai.

For a winger who prided himself on speed, this was a devastating psychological blow.

The Spurs fans couldn't sit still.

This couldn't go on!

They had already lost the chance at the Premier League title, were knocked out of the League Cup early, and eliminated by Real Madrid in the Champions League.

If they fell in the FA Cup too, Tottenham would end the season empty-handed—just like Manchester City.

Fans began shouting from the stands.

Bale's confidence had clearly been shaken.

Eyes now turned to Luka Modrić, the man wearing the No. 14 jersey.

He stood hands on hips, eyes filled with emotion as he looked at the celebrating Palace players.

"Luka! Step up and show that kid who the real midfield maestro in England is!"

"Tottenham needs you now!"

Modrić crouched and tightened his boots, glancing toward Crystal Palace's No. 10.

This version of Modrić was still considered a "young player" at the time.

But in that moment, he felt like an old man compared to the teenage genius across from him.

Tottenham was down 0–2.

Morale was low.

His teammate Bale had caught the attention of Real Madrid recently… and truthfully, so had he.

Modrić had always felt the English game didn't suit his style.

He dreamed of Spain, of playing at the Bernabéu.

He wanted to prove himself.

The match resumed at midfield.

Pavlyuchenko solemnly took the kickoff, and eventually the ball found its way to Modrić's feet.

Spurs began to build from the middle.

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace, sensing they had the lead, dropped into a solid 4-4-2 to protect it.

Kai took up the No. 4 role again.

Tottenham failed to change the scoreline before halftime.

Palace stayed steady, calm with their two-goal cushion.

Though Kai didn't have a "legendary interception card" this time, his god's-eye view allowed him to read every Tottenham move in advance.

His awareness, positioning, and vocal leadership helped Palace seal off every channel.

Tottenham's offense stalled. Bale's eyes grew increasingly confused and hesitant.

He began drifting more toward the center—but this only nullified his greatest weapon: speed.

Bale's confidence was shattered, just like the aging winger McGee who he once dominated in the same way.

Every time Bale took the ball on the wing, Kai would close him down immediately.

Seeing that familiar black-haired figure approach, Bale would instinctively pass the ball backward.

Boos erupted from the Spurs stands.

What the hell was going on?

Their beloved speedster had lost his confidence… to a 16-year-old kid?

Tottenham's attacks ground to a halt.

The stadium buzzed with anxious murmurs.

No further goals were scored before halftime.

Players walked off the pitch with very different expressions.

Villas-Boas quickly moved to speak with Bale. This was a crucial moment.

If they couldn't recover in the second half, the coach's debut season would be a complete disaster.

During halftime, the London media went wild.

"Tottenham's superstar flanker has had his confidence crushed by Palace's teen captain!"

"No one saw this coming!"

In the locker room, Villas-Boas calmed Bale and then called Modrić over.

The responsibility for a turnaround in the second half rested on the Croatian maestro.

Meanwhile—

In Palace's dressing room, things were relaxed.

Coach Holloway gave no added pressure.

Kai stepped up to the tactics board, calmly outlining the second-half adjustments.

"In the second half, we'll switch from attacking to counter-attacking. Spurs will be more cautious now. As long as they avoid wing attacks, we can handle them easily."

"Remember: low block defense. It's the key to counter-attacks. This is our specialty."

The Palace players walked out with high spirits.

With Kai leading the charge, their cohesion and fighting spirit were unrivaled—even against a Premier League team.

And so, with chants rising again from the crowd, the players returned to the pitch.

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