I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Chapter 524: Chapter 17: This Is Chen

His shooting speed was very fast, and the angle was good too.

But Casillas reacted even faster.

A side dive pushed the ball out of the baseline.

”Casillas!”

”Saint Casillas!”

”A perfect save!”

”Casillas denied Malaga’s attempt to equalize!”

”Denied Abeye’s goal!”

Sighs and boos came from the stands, and Pellegrini’s previously hopeful eyes gradually dimmed, while Abeye showed a frustrated expression.

Not far away, Baptista, who had run to an open spot, originally wanted to complain that he had already created a chance, but looking at Chen Zhong nearby, he swallowed his words.

If Abeye had passed the ball to me back then,

the result would probably have just been intercepted midway, or I would have been blocked, right?

”Malaga’s corner kick!”

”Here comes a short one.”

”Passed outside the penalty area.”

”Rondon!”

As a former coach of Real Madrid, Pellegrini naturally understood Real Madrid’s defensive capabilities at corner kicks.

Especially Chen Zhong, who always appeared wherever the team needed him most.

In this situation, Pellegrini naturally chose a short pass approach. In fact, if Malaga’s conditions weren’t limiting, with the midfield players’ skills being a bit rough, he would even want the team to play pass-and-control football like Barcelona.

Pellegrini’s attention returned to the pitch, and when the entire field was buzzing for Rondon getting the ball, his gaze began to search for Chen Zhong’s figure.

”Receiving the ball outside the penalty area!”

”Attempting a shot!”

”Chen Zhong!”

”A very decisive tackle!”

”Whoa!”

Pellegrini was gratified to see Chen Zhong, as he emerged from the crowd, executed a sliding tackle that brought Rondon down, then quickly got up.

Pellegrini wanted to reminisce, but he quickly reacted.

He rushed to the edge of the pitch, yelling as if sounding an air raid alarm: ”Fall back!”

”Defend!”

Mourinho’s Real Madrid had a stronger defensive awareness than Pellegrini’s era. When Chen Zhong started sprinting, the other counterattacking players began to speed up as well.

Like Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka!

They both charged towards Malaga’s backfield at an incredible speed from the sides.

Real Madrid’s counterattack was also simple and efficient, with the ball quickly reaching a teammate’s feet in just a few passes.

”Real Madrid’s sharp counterattack!”

”Their counterattack speed is incredibly fast.”

”C. Ronaldo got the ball!”

”He only needed a few seconds to rush from his own half to Malaga’s half.”

”His speed is too fast!”

C. Ronaldo’s explosiveness might be lacking, but when he picks up speed, he’s truly fast, getting from Real Madrid’s half to Malaga’s backfield in under 10 seconds.

Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t the patient type.

After getting the ball, he did a stepover and directly dribbled into Malaga’s penalty area. His unique dribbling posture at that moment drew the attention of Real Madrid fans.

When he reached his familiar area, Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t waste time and took a powerful low shot, sending the ball swiftly towards the goal.

Even the goalkeeper had given up resisting.

However, the Portuguese’s luck seemed a bit off, as the ball hit the post and was bounced back, only to be caught by the opposing goalkeeper with a smile.

This scene relaxed the originally despairing expressions of the Malaga fans.

”A very decisive shot.”

”Just a bit of bad luck.”

”We can feel that this season’s C. Ronaldo is working really hard.”

”He really wants to score and contribute to the team.”

”But he always falls just short.”

Lately, Cristiano Ronaldo’s reputation hasn’t been great, with photos emerging of him not looking happy even when the team is leading, while others were celebrating.

The captions read: ”The team won, but someone isn’t happy because he didn’t score.”

Such remarks sparked discussions among many people.

Especially after Casillas’ girlfriend came out and said something about C. Ronaldo being a bit ”selfish,” leading fans to imagine a drama unfolding in the locker room.

With Mourinho’s support, Cristiano Ronaldo is allegedly creating divisions in the locker room.

C. Ronaldo’s missed opportunity also drew some boos from Real Madrid fans. These weren’t just for his missed shot but carried a hint of grudges about him allegedly trying to create divisions in the ”dressing room.”

Cristiano Ronaldo bared his teeth, giving a thumbs-up to Chen Zhong for the excellent pass.

Then wore a somewhat lost expression.

Chen Zhong looked at Kaka not far away, Kaka glanced at Cristiano Ronaldo, then at Chen Zhong, Chen Zhong raised an eyebrow, then nodded.

Quickly, Real Madrid came surging back again.

With Chen Zhong, they had absolute control in the middle. If they didn’t pass back or sideways, it was rare for their forward passes to exceed three touches.

This time, it was Chen Zhong’s long leg, intercepting the ball easily.

Then he quickly poked the ball to the advancing Kaka.

”Chen Zhong’s interception!”

”His sense of positioning is impeccable.”

”Did you see? It’s like he foresaw the opponent’s passing route.”

”He deliberately waited along the passing route.”

”Beautiful interception.”

”Decisive pass.”

”Rapid counterattack.”

Real Madrid is currently in a nuanced state, with tough and assertive defense, while maintaining a subtle balance in organization and attack.

Thanks to Chen Zhong, when they want to control the ball, they can keep it perfectly at their feet.

When they want to counterattack, Chen Zhong can smoothly find the attacking players, while quickly moving forward himself, ready to support his teammates in the center.

Kaka’s escape abilities are still top-notch, and when Kaka starts running, Malaga players could only eat dust behind him.

Cristiano Ronaldo also quickly pushed forward.

Malaga’s defense in the center was very tight, even Chen Zhong felt a bit annoyed by the entanglement.

”Kaka’s speed is incredible.”

”They simply can’t catch up.”

”Can’t even pull him back!”

”He’s gone to the baseline!”

”What’s next?”

”A straightforward low cross.”

”It’s going to Chen Zhong!”

”That posture!”

”Malaga’s defenders are closely watching!”

Pellegrini placed great importance on Chen Zhong, and at this moment, Chen Zhong was sandwiched between two defenders, who made it their main task to disrupt him, at least preventing him from breaking free.

In such a situation, Chen Zhong chose not to force a shot; instead, at the moment the ball arrived, he created some space and used the outside of his foot to flick!

A top-level attacker was already prepared for a shot the moment he made his run.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s move was rewarded, and as the slightly spinning ball approached him, he decisively took a powerful low shot!

However, at that moment, Malaga’s goalkeeper was like a god incarnate.

A beautiful lotus position stopped the ball in its tracks.

But before he could celebrate, another figure had already broken through, rushing out.

Pellegrini never truly relaxed. As soon as he saw that the goalkeeper didn’t keep control of the ball, his eyes locked onto Chen Zhong.

And at this moment, Chen Zhong had just shaken off his ”shackles,” pushing forward.

He appeared right where he was needed the most!

Then lifted his foot!