I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Chapter 191: Chapter 67: Luck Is Also a Kind of Strength

Spalletti, upon seeing the team fall behind, did not panic too much and just called out players’ names from the sideline, signaling everyone to focus.

This is when the difference in personality between the two coaches became apparent.

Schuster signaled the team to intensify their offense, wanting to knock Roma down once and for all, while Roma, under Spalletti’s instructions, dug into the fence waiting to counterattack.

Soon, they got a decent chance to counterattack.

If it weren’t for Casillas’ miraculous save, Roma would have equalized the score.

”Roma’s actions are very wild.”

”At the same time, their counterattack is also very swift.”

”With just a few touches, the ball was brought to the frontcourt.”

The transition between attack and defense for both teams was extremely fast, Roma was like a spring, the tighter Real Madrid pressed, the greater the force when they bounced back.

In the first twenty minutes, both teams had quite a few opportunities.

For Real Madrid, undoubtedly the most dazzling was Robben, who repeatedly broke through on the flanks creating a lot of difficulties for Roma and also providing quite a few scoring chances for the team.

Unfortunately, Raul and Van Nistelrooy failed to grasp the opportunity, the only goal during this time was ruled out because Van Nistelrooy was offside.

As the game grew intense, the actions of both teams also began to increase, and the constant back and forth running consumed quite a bit of Real Madrid’s stamina.

”Real Madrid’s attack.”

”Van Nistelrooy has the ball in the penalty area.”

”Directly intercepted by Max.”

”Continuous passing.”

”Little Mancini on the left side.”

”Going inward.”

”A low pass to the front of the goal.”

”Totti!”

The wolf king Totti leaped out from the pack, his eyes were fixed only on the ball.

Rome’s fans in the stands were full of anticipation, but the black-haired, yellow-skinned kid running out from the side left their expectations dashed.

Chen Zhong had been watching Totti, all the way following him back to the defense into the penalty area, seeing Totti about to get the ball, quickly slid from the side, clearing the ball.

The penalty area fell into chaos, players from both teams were trying to seize the second point of the ball, in the chaos, Pizarro instinctively lifted his foot, the ball hit the post, bounced off Casillas’ back, and rolled into the net.

”1:1”

”That goal.”

”Just like we said before.”

”Luck is also a kind of strength.”

Standing in front of the goal, Casillas’ expression appeared both helpless and frustrated, Chen Zhong also stood with his hands on his hips, looking a bit gloomy.

Schuster stood on the sideline shaking his head saying, ”So, this guy shouldn’t stay in the center-back position often.”

”His tackle was beautiful.”

”But he could have just poked the ball away with his foot.”

Francisco glanced at Schuster but said nothing; even if Chen Zhong poked the ball away with his foot, they still could not avoid the contest for the second point, still depending on the players’ reactions in the penalty area.

The biggest fault here should be Heinze playing as a center-back; if it was Pepe or Ramos, the second point likely wouldn’t have been seized by Roma’s players.

This conceded goal obviously spurred Real Madrid, who quickly surrounded Roma, starting a frenzied assault.

Realizing Roma’s ”reinforcements” in the middle, Real Madrid also adopted more wing crossing tactics.

Van Nistelrooy in this match seemed to be in good form, in the just happened two rounds of attack, he even tried a backheel volley at the near post, but unfortunately, his luck was a bit off, and two decent chances either went over the bar or directly landed in the goalkeeper’s arms.

Guti and Raul, one sending crosses, one sending through passes, Van Nistelrooy just wasn’t consuming any of them.

This point left Schuster equally annoyed, where did his ”King of the Penalty Area” from the start of the season go?

The game quickly reached the 42nd minute, Chen Zhong holding the ball, did not pass to the flank but suddenly sprinted forward, this sudden change caught Real Madrid off guard as they had adapted to working on the flanks.

De Rossi came from the side trying to tag along, but in the bodily confrontation, he was completely at a disadvantage.

Seeing Chen Zhong about to run into the box, he heartlessly kicked Chen Zhong down right outside the penalty area.

”A chance for a free kick.”

”The referee showed De Rossi a yellow card.”

”The referee’s standards in this match have been somewhat too loose.”

”Especially recently, Roma’s fouls have been somewhat too severe.”

Roma’s fans tried to disrupt Guti, standing at the ball, with boos from the stands, Guti smoothened his hair and, after a brief pause, opted for shooting straight.

However, his long shot didn’t even clear the Rome wall.

”Why choose to shoot directly!”

”He could easily make a tactical combination, passing!”

This batch complaining about Guti choosing to shoot directly is the same batch that used to complain about his tendency to like passing.

No matter the situation, they can always find an angle to criticize.

”As the referee blew the whistle.”

”The first half comes to an end.”

”Spalletti’s strategy had a good effect.”

”At least facing Real Madrid, they haven’t fallen behind yet.”

The online discussions about Roma and Spalletti were also incessant, with the biggest controversy being the strategy for this match.

Supporters believed ”Roma’s recent form hasn’t been great; what’s the harm in occasionally playing a defensive counterattack? Must they follow Real Madrid’s preferences at home and engage in offensive battles getting thrashed instead?”

Opponents argued, ”Roma has always played attacking football, other teams playing defensive counterattacks is fine, but they have always played attacking football!”

Both sides argued incessantly, and occasional inputs from neutral fans made the controversy even louder.

The second half began; Roma still maintained their previous strategy, encircling Real Madrid in their half, relying on a few players’ personal abilities in the front court, trying to breach Real Madrid’s goal.

In the 49th minute of the match, Totti made a cross pass before the penalty area, and former Barça player Giuly on the corner of the penalty area faked Heinze, causing the crowd to exclaim from the stands.

However, facing Casillas directly, Giuly perhaps overly sought the angle, sending a left-footed shot straight toward the corner area.

A minute later, Real Madrid responded with color.

Chen Zhong holding De Rossi off delivered the ball to Van Nistelrooy, Van Nistelrooy outside the big penalty area, attempting a long shot, only to see it hit the center-back rebounding out over the baseline.

Van Nistelrooy’s performance left Schuster muttering under his breath.

Such low efficiency and frequent wastefulness are something he couldn’t accept!

Subsequently, in the 53rd minute, Chen Zhong repeated his maneuver, still holding off De Rossi heading inward, after creating an opening, he delivered a through pass to Van Nistelrooy’s feet.

Van Nistelrooy inside the penalty area turned to shoot.

Unfortunately, this time his movement was a bit slow and got directly seized by Roma’s goalkeeper.

”Him.”

Schuster pointing at Van Nistelrooy didn’t know what to say for a moment.

Van Nistelrooy, holding his head, looked extremely frustrated.

”Real Madrid can’t waste chances like this!”

”If they continue like this, they will be punished!”

”Here’s Roma’s counterattack.”

”Heinze steps up for the tackle.”

”Totti!”

”That error!”

”Oh my God!!”

This was a counterattack by Roma, as Totti carried the ball, Heinze pointed to the other side signaling Chen Zhong to cover, then he went up attempting to tackle Totti.

Unexpectedly, he touched the ball but didn’t cleanly intercept it.

Totti directly carried the ball into Real Madrid’s big penalty area!