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Starting as a Defensive Midfielder at Real Madrid

Chapter 41: The Final Piece of the Championship Puzzle · Nov 11, 2026

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Chapter List (360)

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1 Chapter 1: The Real Madrid Youth Product Set on Being Loaned Out 2026-11-11
2 Chapter 2: What Do You Mean I’m Unlucky? 2026-11-11
3 Chapter 3: Just an Ordinary Defensive Midfielder 2026-11-11
4 Chapter 4: Valerón’s Short Passing Talent Fragment 2026-11-11
5 Chapter 5: That Kid Might Really Start for Real Madrid 2026-11-11
6 Chapter 6: Facing the Future 2026-11-11
7 Chapter 7: A Decade’s Cycle — The Budget Makélélé 2026-11-11
8 Chapter 8: Mourinho’s “Dream Midfield Anchor” 2026-11-11
9 Chapter 9: Rich Rewards from La Liga – System Upgrade 2026-11-11
10 Chapter 10: Grinding and Pay-to-Win—Not the Strongest, Just the Most Durable 2026-11-11
11 Chapter 11: The Rapidly Improving Defensive Grind King 2026-11-11
12 Chapter 12 - 12 2026-11-11
13 Chapter 13: At First, I Refused—But He Spoke So Well 2026-11-11
14 Chapter 14: Don’t Charge Forward, Be the Defensive Grind King 2026-11-11
15 Chapter 15: A Completely Different Second Half—Li Ang’s Impact 2026-11-11
16 Chapter 16: How Could He Not Be Considered a Promising Young Talent? 2026-11-11
17 Chapter 17: If He’s Not a Freak, Then He’s a Prodigy 2026-11-11
18 Chapter 18: From Foe to Friend, Little Lion – The Low-Key, Versatile Prince 2026-11-11
19 Chapter 19: A Tragedy from the Start 2026-11-11
20 Chapter 20: The Ironclad Midfield Trio 2026-11-11
21 Chapter 21: Mourinho’s Real Madrid Sets Sail 2026-11-11
22 Chapter 22: Double Rewards! The Champions League Is the True Path to Wealth 2026-11-11
23 Chapter 23: Boss, Can You Guarantee Me a Starting Spot?【Double-Length Chapter】 2026-11-11
24 Chapter 24: Make the Most of This Time—Time to Grind! 2026-11-11
25 Chapter 25: If I Give Everything in My Prime, I’ll Never Regret It 2026-11-11
26 Chapter 26: As Long As He Hasn’t Left, He’ll Start in the Champions League for Real Madrid 2026-11-11
27 Chapter 27: His Path—The Loneliest, The Most Glorious 2026-11-11
28 Chapter 28: A Breakthrough in Growth 2026-11-11
29 Chapter 29: Li Ang’s “Lucky Record” 2026-11-11
30 Chapter 30: Germany or Italy? 2026-11-11
31 Chapter 31: Alonso’s Displeasure 2026-11-11
32 Chapter 32 - 32 2026-11-11
33 Chapter 33: The Twilight of a Dynasty 2026-11-11
34 Chapter 34: Allegri, Do You Want a Defensive Midfielder or Not? 2026-11-11
35 Chapter 35: Mourinho’s Decision Before Departure 2026-11-11
36 Chapter 36: Allegri’s “Accomplice” Arrives in Milan 2026-11-11
37 Chapter 37: First Day in Milan – Reviewing the First Half of the Season 2026-11-11
38 Chapter 38: Who Says He’s Just a Defensive Midfielder? 2026-11-11
39 Chapter 39: Everybody Loves the Little Lion 2026-11-11
40 Chapter 40: The Superstitious Kid 2026-11-11
41 Chapter 41: The Final Piece of the Championship Puzzle 2026-11-11
42 Chapter 42: We Want the Winter Title 2026-11-11
43 Chapter 43: The Butcher Version of Kaká 2026-11-11
44 Chapter 44: You Can’t Get Past Li Ang, You Can’t Break Milan 2026-11-11
45 Chapter 45: Let Me Show You What “Surprise” Really Means 2026-11-11
46 Chapter 46: If You’ve Got Questions, You Can Ask Me 2026-11-11
47 Chapter 47: Longing from Spain 2026-11-11
48 Chapter 48: Mourinho Was Right 2026-11-11
49 Chapter 49: From Now On, We Won’t Lose Again—Until We Lift the Trophy 2026-11-11
50 Chapter 50: You—Start Practicing Forward Runs 2026-11-11

When you first arrive at a brand-new team, what’s the quickest way to integrate?

Being low-key and friendly? Outgoing and sociable? Saying all the right things?

Sure, those traits can help win over colleagues off the field.

But when it comes to professional settings, there’s only one sure way to earn real respect: showing that you’re good at your job, that you pull your weight, and even help lighten the load for others.

That’s how you earn recognition.

And right now, Li Ang had earned it.

Within just a day or two of arriving in Milan, he’d already built rapport with Ibrahimović, and used his sharp defensive instincts to win the initial approval of his teammates during training.

But it wasn’t until just now—during his first official match—that Li Ang had truly ”joined” AC Milan.

A coach’s approval is one thing, but in the locker room, players have their own code.

Ibrahimović liked how easy it was to talk to Li Ang, and enjoyed hearing the young man praise him. So he didn’t mind putting in a few good words for him around the team.

But if Li Ang wanted full buy-in from Milan’s stars, he had to do one thing: prove he was good enough to start.

He did that in training yesterday. And tonight, he did it in the game.

Now, on the pitch, nobody hesitated to treat him with warmth—or even camaraderie.

Li Ang could finally breathe a little easier.

He had taken that all-important first step. Now he needed to hold onto his spot.

At Real Madrid, he had to battle a slightly superior Diarra, deal with That Guy, and contend with Khedira’s late defensive awakening.

But at AC Milan?

With Ambrosini practically ruled out for the season, Li Ang’s only real competition was an aging Seedorf or Gattuso.

When Pirlo needed rest, he was the first choice at holding mid.

It was the kind of situation he couldn’t afford to let slip away.

”So we’re tightening up the defense now, captain?”

As Cagliari prepared to restart play, Li Ang glanced toward the sideline, trying to interpret Allegri’s tactical signals. Then he turned to Gattuso.

The bearded veteran nodded, serious.

”You’re gonna have to work extra hard from here on. I’ll try to cover Andrea’s right side, but I won’t always get there in time.

If they break past him, the area in front of the box? That’s on you.”

Li Ang nodded firmly, then smiled.

”I’ll shut it down. You can count on me, captain.”

Gattuso grinned and gave his shoulder a hearty slap.

”Good. Now get into position.”

After the kickoff, Cagliari’s press ramped up. Milan shifted instantly into a more compact, defensive shape.

This was now a trademark Allegri move.

When Pirlo was struggling, and Ronaldinho’s productivity dropped, Allegri simply handed everything to Ibrahimović.

Zlatan became the hub for both goals and assists. Tiring? Yes. But it worked.

Surrounding him were a few serviceable attackers, and the formula became:

”Give the ball to Ibra. If he delivers, the attack flows.”

Call it what you want—it worked. In Serie A, Milan had one of the best scoring rates, even if they didn’t hit 2 goals per game.

Defensively, Allegri relied on veterans: Ambrosini, Gattuso, Seedorf. He built a tough midfield wall.

Score early, then lock down the midfield.

Three iron men pressing high, cutting off passing lanes, shielding the backline.

It worked so well, Allegri had grown less and less inclined to use Ronaldinho or Pirlo.

Neither of them could run. They couldn’t sweep up or cover ground. They simply didn’t fit his fast, direct style.

But now?

Li Ang had arrived. A midfield runner who could pair with Gattuso and build that wall.

With the defense secure, Allegri could afford to bring Pirlo back in.

Because, say what you want about Allegri—he still understood that having a true deep-lying playmaker could ease the burden on Zlatan.

When the ”give it to Ibra” plan stalled, Pirlo’s long passes offered another solution.

Allegri, watching calmly from the bench, looked unbothered by critics calling his football primitive.

Every time Li Ang or Gattuso made a big defensive play, he’d cheer and clap, roaring encouragement.

If the game stayed like this—a clean, narrow 1-0—he’d be thrilled.

But his players?

They weren’t satisfied with just defending. Especially Li Ang and Pirlo.

In the 29th minute, with Cagliari’s attack stalling, Antonini stole the ball from Nené deep in Milan’s half.

He was about to pass it back to Thiago Silva when Li Ang sprinted over, hand raised.

Seeing that Matri was still a few steps away, Antonini switched the pass to Li Ang instead.

”You can pass to me!”

Thiago Silva repositioned, ready to support if needed.

But Li Ang didn’t need it.

He turned, shielded, and charged forward.

Matri was shocked.

Li Ang had been so composed until now. Why this sudden aggression?

He got burned clean.

Li Ang didn’t pass immediately. He cut inside, dribbling into the central midfield channel.

Cagliari’s lines scrambled to close him down—Nainggolan and Cossu charged in, wide players tucked inside.

That’s when Li Ang dropped the bomb.

He didn’t go forward, didn’t go wide—he rolled the ball straight back to Pirlo, who had crept up to the center circle.

Pirlo glanced up.

Then, with his signature elegance, he delivered a majestic, first-time long pass to the right flank.

No touches. No hesitation.

Zlatan was already making his run. Eyes locked on goal.

And ahead of him, Pato, lightning-fast, effortlessly brought down Pirlo’s pass and blazed into Cagliari’s box.

”Li Ang passes it back?

Oh! Pirlo’s long ball!

Pato’s speed—he’s left the fullback in the dust!

Pato cuts in—low cross—

Zlatan—!!”

The Sky Italia commentator’s voice climbed from confusion to explosive excitement.

AC Milan’s counterattack was 99% complete.

The final 1%?

That was for Zlatan.

The Swede saw Pato’s delivery, inhaled deeply, and squared his feet.

Then—BANG.

A rocket from the edge of the box.

Goalkeeper Agazzi dove, stretched—too slow.

The ball screamed into the back of the net like a cannon blast.

”GOAL—!! ZLATAN!!

Milan’s second!

2–0 in just 30 minutes!

Napoli are trailing Inter—could this be Milan’s half-season title?

The Scudetto beckons!”

Zlatan spun, arms wide, swaggering into his signature celebration.

And back at midfield, Pirlo and Li Ang turned to each other, smiling in disbelief.

They hugged.

The away fans in the stands—and countless others watching at home—erupted.

Any lingering doubts vanished.

Everyone embraced Li Ang, just as Allegri had said during a recent interview:

”We believe we’ve found the final, perfect piece of Milan’s championship puzzle.”

Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.

Read 20 Chapters In Advance: /johanssen10

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