I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Chapter 67: Chapter 38: Rigidity

”The first half is over.”

”Real Madrid enters the locker room with a 2-0 lead.”

”Shaf clearly didn’t do his homework, as Werder Bremen’s offense nearly stalled after Chen Zhong came on.”

”Let’s see how Shaf uses this time to make adjustments!”

”In this match, Chen Zhong set the record for the youngest player to appear in a Champions League game.”

”Additionally, he is our country’s second player to appear on the Champions League stage.”

”The first was Sun Xiang, who played for Eindhoven last year.”

”In February 2007, he substituted on in the 66th minute, creating a historic moment.”

”At the time, many fans believed the second to appear in the Champions League would be the Manchester United Director, but it turns out this young man surpassed expectations.”

”However, the Manchester United Director still has the chance to set a record as the first Chinese player to score in the Champions League.”

”It’s worth mentioning that the first assist in the Champions League by a Chinese player was by Sun Xiang, and the second by Chen Zhong.”

”Ladies and gentlemen, the halftime break is over, and the players from both teams have returned to the field.”

”Let’s continue watching this exciting match.”

The powerful singing echoed through the stadium, and as the rendition of ”Hala Madrid” ended, the Merengues on the stands shouted slogans, raised their hands high, expressing their support for the team. The overwhelming atmosphere made countless fans long for it, with some even exclaiming, ”I must visit Bernabeu once in my lifetime.”

When the referee’s whistle blew, all eyes focused on the pitch. In the second half, neither team made any substitutions, clearly showing Werder Bremen’s unwillingness to lose.

They launched the first offense, attempting three shots just outside the penalty box within five minutes. Except for one high shot, the other two were blocked by Chen Zhong, prompting Shaf on the sideline to squint his eyes.

Shaf had planned to use long shots to target the top corners of the goal at the start of the second half, hoping to exploit Casillas’s height disadvantage and sneak a goal, but clearly, that pesky youngster always showed up when his players took a shot.

”Did he really not lie about his age?”

”His sense of positioning is truly superb.”

”In the center-back position, he seems to have a natural knack for positioning.”

Chen Zhong’s defensive awareness and robust build make him like a moving ”human wall,” constantly obstructing attacking players, and if offensive players are reluctant to pass or shoot, this wall transforms into a ”rampaging truck” crashing towards them.

German football has always emphasized holistic tactics; their soccer reflects their methodical behavior, embracing meticulousness.

For Werder Bremen, they possess fighting spirit, resilience, and structured play.

But this also means ”stiff, rigid, mechanical.”

At least from Chen Zhong’s perspective, Bremen now seems like a game BOSS; once you read its ”pre-move,” you know what its next move will be.

When Sanogo runs diagonally, Bremen will soon deliver a vertical pass; when he runs straight, Bremen attempts crosses; when Sanogo stands still, Bremen initiates short passes.

Perhaps, in Shaf’s original tactical plan, there were more variations, but because of the dispute between Sanogo and Alberto, there was minimal cooperation between them.

This monotonous, repetitive offense can only succeed if the opponent becomes lax.

In response, Chen Zhong only wants to say...

I can play all day with you, or should I say, tackle you until you cry?

”O(∩_∩)O haha~” Marcelo chuckled awkwardly, standing beside Chen Zhong, having just been covered by him. A lateral slide tackle took both Alberto and the ball out of bounds: ”Chen, with you behind me, I feel super secure.”

”I think you should be more mindful of your positioning; if you lose your place too often, I doubt the coach will tolerate such a weak point on the flank.”

”Don’t scare me,” Marcelo said with wide eyes, looking at Chen Zhong: ”What if he appreciates my offensive performance and my prowess in attack completely covers up my weaknesses?”

”Besides, don’t I have you?”

”In this match, you’re like that pillar, oh oh oh, the Needle of Sea Calming.”

”You cheeky monkey,” Chen Zhong rolled his eyes at Marcelo and said, ”Get back to your position quickly.”

Cannavaro, watching Chen Zhong and Marcelo finish their exchange, called out to Chen Zhong: ”Chen, pay attention.”

Chen Zhong looked in the direction Cannavaro was pointing, where Sanogo was stealthily positioning himself.

”That guy,” Chen Zhong frowned. Initially, he seemed spirited and arrogant, but now he looks a bit sneaky, like how I was in the youth team. What did I do?

Didn’t I just tackle him to the ground five or six times?

And it was all clean and proper tackles, fair and square.

This made Chen Zhong wonder if his [Butcher’s Aura] was taking effect.

Werder Bremen threw in the ball from the sidelines, interrupting Chen Zhong’s thoughts as Alberto carried the ball on the flank, followed awkwardly by Marcelo.

Knowing Marcelo’s dribbling skills, Chen Zhong felt that maybe even ten Marcelos couldn’t defend against one Marcelo.

Continuously observing his surroundings, Chen Zhong watched as Alberto, firmly blocked from cutting inside, seemed poised to end this attack with a long shot.

Yet, for some reason, Chen Zhong felt slightly uneasy.

”He won’t pass, will he?” Chen Zhong pondered. The two barely interacted in this match, but as his peripheral vision brushed across Van Nistelrooy, a bolt of lightning seemed to strike his brain.

The entire movement of the players on the field unfolded like a mini-map in his mind. If things went as expected, Sanogo was currently running diagonally behind defenders; without a pass, it was a futile move, but if Alberto passed...

”Werder Bremen’s offense.”

”Why is Alberto still dribbling!”

”I heard there’s some tension between them on the training ground, but...”

”Wait, Alberto!”

”He chooses to pass.”

”He passes to Sanogo!”

Fans in the stands were stunned by this scene as they’d fallen into ”habits of thought,” like the conflict between Rooney and C. Ronaldo; when everyone thought Rooney wouldn’t pass to C. Ronaldo, he did.

And now, when everyone assumed Alberto wouldn’t pass to Sanogo, he did!!!

The destructive power of this pass is undoubtedly immense.

”Damn it!” Schuster seemed to foresee the result and had a premonition as soon as he saw Alberto’s foot ready to strike.

However, as all eyes followed the ball, in the passing lane that could rebuild the bridge of friendship between Alberto and Sanogo—

A White Knight forcefully inserted himself.

It’s number 22!

It’s Chen Zhong!

Chen Zhong ”slid” himself into the path just in time to intercept the pass.

This high-risk pass, which could very well have led to a goal.