I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Chapter 99: Chapter 16: Unacceptable

Santiago Bernabeu Stadium

The white handkerchiefs waved one after another in the stands, and the Merengues’ boos surged toward the field like a tide.

They still remember Deportivo La Coruña’s ”disruption” during their centennial celebration!

This time they came prepared, eager to see how Schuster’s team would exact revenge, only to end up with a slap in the face. Can you believe it?

”The match has just begun, not even two minutes in.”

”Deportivo La Coruña has already broken through Real Madrid’s defense.”

”Sisco managed to nutmeg Casillas.”

”This is truly unexpected.”

”I think Schuster needs to consider whether Chen Zhong should stay in midfield or on defense.”

The issue with Real Madrid’s defense has always existed, but when Chen Zhong was there, they would organize their defense around him, and Chen Zhong was decisive and capable in defense.

But now it’s different. Chen Zhong is playing in midfield, and Real Madrid’s defense has reverted to each handling their own areas.

On the field, Real Madrid quickly launched an attack, and Deportivo La Coruña swiftly organized their defense, increasing midfield density to weather this period.

A dedicated defender was assigned to Guti, but unlike before, he now has a ”wingman” beside him.

When Deportivo La Coruña attempted to follow their predecessors’ footsteps by employing foul tactics to disrupt Guti’s play, the blond ”wolf” managed to pass the ball to the side to Chen Zhong just before hitting the ground.

”Everyone knows!”

”To defeat Real Madrid, you must suppress Guti.”

”If you cut off Guti’s passing lanes, no matter how strong Van Nistelrooy is, he’ll be like a tank without fuel and ammunition.”

”But now, Schuster seems to have found a way to break the deadlock.”

As Deportivo La Coruña’s players were drawn to Guti, a path opened up in front of Chen Zhong, and he started forward like a battering ram, raising to the highest point before letting go.

Julian De Guzman was the nearest player to Chen Zhong. By defensive strategy, he should be the first to confront the opponent from the side.

But!!!

I, Julian De Guzman, a 1.69-meter guy, using my body to interfere with a 1.9-meter burly man, are you sure?

His dark face was full of reluctance, but despite the reluctance, Julian De Guzman, this ”old-head joy,” could only attempt to ”topple” the heavy tank in front of him from the side.

The result was predictable. When De Guzman’s hand reached him, Chen Zhong simply pushed forcefully to the side, sending the small defensive midfielder tumbling.

However, this brief delay was enough for his teammates to react.

In this match, Deportivo La Coruña employed a 4-2-3-1 formation, and the other defensive midfielder, Sergio, quickly moved in on Chen Zhong. Facing this 1.82-meter burly opponent, Chen Zhong turned aside to withstand the impact and then pushed the ball back.

With a white headband and golden hair, eyes glimmering, Guti quickly moved forward, receiving the ball and instantly delivering a precise through ball to find Van Nistelrooy ”in the crowd.” Van Nistelrooy deftly controlled the ball before turning around and unleashing a powerful shot despite the central defender’s interference!

”Bang!”

The ball rocketed toward the goal like a cannonball.

All the Merengues in the stands couldn’t help but rise to their feet, yet the goalkeeper punched the ball out with both hands.

”A brilliant save!”

”The ball is blocked away.”

”Let’s see who takes the second chance.”

The camera focused on Deportivo La Coruña’s penalty area, where the 1.83-meter Argentine center-back Fabricio Coloccini stood with arms out, legs bent, and long hair cascading over his shoulders, awaiting the ball’s descent.

But at this moment, Chen Zhong, with black hair and yellow skin, appeared on screen. The two initially vied for position in the penalty area, and then Coloccini was forcefully pushed aside by Chen Zhong.

Everyone saw Chen Zhong spread his arms wide, executing a beautiful chest trap, and from there, whether he chose to pass or shoot, he remained a significant threat.

At that moment, Sergio appeared, like a madman, using both hands and feet in an attempt to dispossess the ball from Chen Zhong, even resorting to irrational actions. Chen Zhong stumbled and lost possession, while the goalkeeper quickly seized the opportunity to gather the ball into his arms.

”Beep~”

The referee blew the whistle, pointed to the penalty spot, and showed a yellow card to Sergio.

”Oh, oh, oh, oh!”

”The referee was lenient.”

”Such a move would deserve a red card.”

”A penalty, without a doubt, Sergio didn’t touch the ball at all.”

”Tripping, hitting, kicking,”

”It’s just that Chen Zhong is really too burly.”

”What can you say about Sergio’s series of actions!”

”Completely unnecessary! Why not let Chen Zhong take a shot?”

During the replay, many domestic fans also expressed their opinions.

[Wow, can I praise his ball control like Henry’s?]

[No, this is so desperate, first crash straight into him, then push, kick, pull.]

[This only made him stagger a bit, I can only say, his physique doesn’t seem like an Asian at all.]

Inside the penalty box, kicking or attempting to kick an opposing player, tripping or attempting to trip an opposing player, jumping at an opposing player, crashing into an opposing player, hitting or attempting to hit an opposing player, pushing an opposing player, tackling an opposing player before touching the ball to gain control of a 50-50 ball, pulling an opposing player, spitting at an opposing player, deliberately handling the ball... A range of free kick penalties outside the box result in penalties inside the box.

Marcelo was the first to run up and pull Chen Zhong off the ground. Sergio was clearly not satisfied with the penalty, he wanted to argue, but his teammates pulled him away.

”Chen.” Marcelo glared at Chen Zhong and said, ”Honestly, I’ve been wanting to say, how did you become so buff as if inflated after not seeing you for a while?”

”Stop talking nonsense.” Chen Zhong cast a sidelong glance at Marcelo, then looked at Van Nistelrooy, who as the team’s number one penalty taker, inevitably stood next to the ball, ready to take the penalty.

Run-up, kick, goal!

Van Nistelrooy directly aimed for the bottom left corner, deceiving the goalkeeper.

1:1

Real Madrid equalized the score.

”Good, good, good!” Schuster nodded repeatedly at the sidelines, but soon frowned and said to Francisco beside him, ”During this period, pay more attention to Chen’s training, let him practice passing more.”

”I’ve always known his ball control skills.”

”But if his passing could be more accurate, he could fully integrate into our current tactical system.”

Recently, Schuster has reformed the team’s tactical system, with more use of short passes in midfield, as if he is fulfilling his promise to fans.

Schuster is satisfied with Chen Zhong’s defense, interception, and physique, as well as his tank-like pushing ability and pivot skills.

But his short and long passes have not shown the level of play Schuster expects in recent games.

After conceding this goal, Lodina scratched a few more hairs off his already limited Mediterranean hair, he had heard of Chen Zhong before the match but didn’t pay much attention.

After all, Deportivo La Coruña’s attack mostly goes on the flanks and rarely lingers in the midfield, they prefer quick transition through midfield and during defense, as long as Guti is restricted, there basically won’t be any big errors.

But who would have thought Real Madrid had such a slow but deadly trick!

Especially when Deportivo La Coruña has low altitude both in midfield and defense, Real Madrid clearly started ”playing”, which made Lodina feel somewhat resentful, wishing there was a height limit rule in soccer.

”Watch Guti!”

”Get back, get back!”

”Don’t mind him! Stay in position, keep your distance.”

Lodina shouted loudly from the sidelines, now Real Madrid treats Chen Zhong as a relay point in midfield, tough balls are handed to Chen Zhong to protect, he’s like a nail in Deportivo La Coruña’s heart, or a lighthouse illuminating Real Madrid’s path.

In the closing moments of the first half, Guti without stopping the ball directly chipped it over to the side for Chen Zhong, simultaneously pointing to Chen Zhong’s flank, Chen Zhong chest-trapped the ball and sent it to the open space, allowing Robinho to drive straight in and complete a short pass from the left side of the box.

Van Nistelrooy outside the small box tried to curl a shot with the outside of his foot to create an angle, but pursuing too much angle, it landed right into the goalkeeper’s hands.

”Phew~” Schuster let out a sigh, his eyes seemed to have flames burning, in the first half Real Madrid had plenty of chances, ammunition was provided to the front line, but Van Nistelrooy and Saviola showed little, especially Saviola, who seemed invisible in the first half.

”Our ball possession rate is very high.” Francisco closed his notebook and spoke up beside him, ”In the first half our possession rate exceeded sixty percent at one point, we even had 9 shots on target.”

”We’ve completely dominated the situation, completely suppressed Deportivo La Coruña.”

”Fans seem quite satisfied with this performance.”

”Shut your mouth!” Schuster said irritably, ”The performance may look good, but what about our goals? Where’s the goal?”

”I really wish we had someone like Ronaldo at this moment.”

”I can’t believe we only scored a penalty in the first half!”