I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Chapter 93: Chapter 12: Truly a Monster! (Part 2)

[In less than ten minutes, Casillas has already conceded two goals!]

[I heard Real Madrid is not satisfied with the nickname of Round of 16 underachievers in the Champions League, are they aiming to be the Round of 32 underachievers now?]

[To be honest, I think they should let Chen Zhong play center-back! It’s not that Chen Zhong isn’t capable as a defensive midfielder, but clearly, if he’s not at center-back, even Casillas can’t save the defense...]

...

Lemonis felt a significant relief in pressure after seeing his team score.

When he saw Chen Zhong’s sliding tackle, he truly felt that if Real Madrid’s defense was at this intensity, they might be finished. But with two goals secured, Lemonis felt more assured.

Real Madrid restarted play from the center circle, with Ramos and Marcelo being extra cautious. Since Lord Ferguson at Manchester United had C. Ronaldo develop the inward-cutting style from the wings, wingers in recent years have evolved from mere tools to ”terminators”.

Both times Olympiacos attacked, they initiated from the wings.

Chen Zhong’s positioning in midfield was quite deep, forming a triangle with the two center-backs behind him and the players in front, appearing like an inverted triangle.

He needed to support his teammates’ passing, while also guarding against Olympiacos’ through balls. During the period when the opponent focused on wing play, he seemed somewhat ”locked” in his defensive midfielder role.

Real Madrid developed a few attacking plays consecutively, but Olympiacos’ defense was extremely solid, and every time they intercepted the ball, they went for a long pass to the wings.

At the 27th minute, Sneijder delivered a direct pass in front of the box aiming for Van Nistelrooy, but it was intercepted by the densely packed Olympiacos defense inside the penalty area.

Following the interception, a long pass went straight to the wing.

At this time, Marcelo and Ramos were positioned quite forward.

On the wing, Galletti was already half-turned, looking up to stop the ball, while Schuster on the sidelines seemed ready to run onto the pitch to intercept, if Francisco didn’t step in.

The Merengue fans in the stands were hissing to try and disrupt Galletti, but just then, a dark-haired, yellow-skinned man wearing the number 22 jersey closed in from the side.

Then a sudden sliding tackle!

”A clean and decisive sliding tackle.”

”A very beautiful tackle!”

”Galletti fell to the ground, and Chen Zhong quickly got up from beyond the sideline.”

After sliding out of bounds, Chen Zhong didn’t glance at the fallen Galletti but quickly got up to chase the ball. Yet during this process, he felt a ”smack”.

Schuster dashed up to Chen Zhong who had gotten up, raising a big hand and smacking his butt hard, loudly yelling: ”Well done! Go! Kid...”

Chen Zhong was filled with a burning fire, and at this moment, Kovacevic was rapidly charging towards him from the side. A ferocious glint flashed through Chen Zhong’s mind, actively seeking physical confrontation with him.

Kovacevic sensed Chen Zhong’s intention, but the veteran had equal confidence in his own physical stature.

”Kid!” Kovacevic adjusted his posture, fiercely thinking: ”Size doesn’t matter, technique does.”

In the collision, Kovacevic felt like hitting a wall, losing balance and falling, even sliding a bit to the side.

”My goodness!”

”What remarkable physical prowess.”

”Chen Zhong just knocked Kovacevic flying.”

”Just like the Hulk in movies.”

”He is truly a monster.”

”Doesn’t appear to have an Asian physique.”

Chen Zhong brutally barged forward with the ball through the middle, as if slashing open Olympiacos’ heart. Initially, Olympiacos was wary of a possible long pass.

After all, they had studied Real Madrid.

Chen Zhong preferred executing long passes to shift play from the back, but this time, it was as if he had no such intention.

He kept advancing with the ball, crossing the center circle. When confronted by defensive players ahead, he passed the ball to Guti on the side. After taking the ball, Guti slightly squinted, noticing Chen Zhong still advancing.

With Guti’s neatly tied golden hair unmoved, his mouth slightly upturned, seemingly smiling with his eyes, he gently pushed the ball into the middle, clearly looking to play a one-two.

Former Real Madrid player Cesar sought to disrupt this through pass, yet Chen Zhong’s long leg reached the ball first, and he imposed his body, engaging in a struggle with Sassel, who was not entirely overwhelmed but found no way to resist, being forcibly squeezed aside by Chen Zhong.

The crowd on the stands gasped in astonishment.

Some fans even started chanting ”Chen’s” name.

Though squeezed off, Sassel hadn’t completely lost Chen Zhong, almost appearing dragged forward by him.

Initially, Olympiacos players thought Sassel might manage, but seeing his state, they quickly realized one thing.

No, he couldn’t manage.

Stolitis sidled in from the side, seemingly to shield and assist Sassel in keeping Chen Zhong outside the penalty area.

This scene raised countless fans’ nerves, Schuster frowned, questioning, ”Why doesn’t he pass?”

Stolitis collided with Chen Zhong, yet appeared like glass fractured with a poke.

He lost balance, turned halfway around, watching Chen Zhong about to burst into the penalty area; a taut string in his mind snapped with a ”pop”.

He extended his hands, grabbed Chen Zhong’s lifted leg, pulling hard...

”Beep~”

The shrill whistle brought Stolitis back to reason; his mind cleared as he realized the referee ran towards him showing a red card, while teammates surrounded the referee in protest, and Real Madrid players were busy setting the ball on the penalty spot.

He instantly understood everything that happened.

”Penalty!”

”A penalty, without a doubt.”

”Stolitis extended a hand, bringing Chen Zhong down inside the penalty area.”

”It was entirely unnecessary for him to do so.”

”Now, Olympiacos’ match just got tough.”

”Van Nistelrooy stands on the penalty spot.”

”Takes the run-up, shoots!”

”Goal!”

”2:2”

”Real Madrid equalizes.”

”Van Nistelrooy runs towards the corner flag, placing a hand to his ear as if to hear fans cheering.”

”However, the fans seem to be chanting...”

”Chen?”

Van Nistelrooy’s initially excited expression slowly faded, even some fans close by waving fists, shouting: ”Get back on the pitch, you fool, we haven’t taken the lead yet!”

”Chen understands better than you.”

Certainly, there were cheers for him, but these words struck Van Nistelrooy’s heart particularly hard.

After losing a player, Olympiacos barely resisted in the first half, but after Real Madrid scored a third goal in the 54th minute of the second half, Olympiacos collapsed, soon conceding a fourth and fifth goal.

The final score settled at 5:2.

Real Madrid secured the top spot in Champions League Group C.

At the post-match press conference, when asked which player left the deepest impression, Lemonis mentioned Chen’s name, exclaiming: ”He is truly a monster!”

Thus, Chen Zhong’s monster reputation began to spread in the professional league.