I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Chapter 587: Chapter 48: Chen and Messi (Part 2)

He takes the ball, immediately turns, creates distance, then passes back, a safe pass.

For Xavi to withdraw, it’s likely a waste of energy.

But Iniesta is different; he has more ideas than Xavi.

Iniesta noticed Chen Zhong, moved the ball slightly forward, and then attempted to pass it to Villa in the front field. At that moment, Villa also quickly started towards Real Madrid’s penalty area.

”Iniesta has the ball.”

”Barcelona’s opportunity.”

”Chen Zhong retracts.”

”He’s commanding the defense.”

”Iniesta’s direct pass.”

”Pepe!”

Real Madrid’s defensive system started revolving around Chen Zhong once he appeared.

They were like an invisible spider web, trying to trap the prey on their net.

Pepe noticed Villa’s run, saw Chen Zhong’s gestures; he moved early and successfully intercepted Iniesta’s direct pass to Villa.

This caused the Barcelona fans in the stands to exclaim in surprise.

It also made Guardiola frown and glance at the other coaching zone where Mourinho stood.

Is it you?

Mourinho seemed to sense Guardiola’s gaze, turned back, and gave Guardiola a provocative look.

Before the match, in the locker room, Mourinho stood in front of the tactical board.

Facing the players, he confidently spoke: ”I can imagine.”

”If Iniesta is on the field.”

”And he gets the ball in this position, with Chen retracting blocking some of his passing lanes.”

”He could pass the ball from here to here.”

”If at that moment, we can intercept the opponent’s ball.”

”Then it would be a beautiful counterattack opportunity.”

Pepe’s successful interception made Real Madrid’s players recall Mourinho’s pre-match words.

Everything seemed to happen as the madman said.

Real Madrid’s players immediately felt their morale soar.

Guardiola, on the other hand, was stroking his chin, wide-eyed, pondering something.

He hated the feeling of being seen through, but luckily, they had Messi.

A person who couldn’t be stopped, even if seen through.

”Beautiful interception.”

”Pepe moved early.”

”Intercepted the ball.”

”Real Madrid’s opportunity.”

”Ball to Alonso.”

”Alonso’s lob pass!”

”Chen!”

Once Barcelona lost possession, their entire formation accelerated.

They would try to retrieve the ball within 7 seconds after losing it.

This was a pre-match strategy, similar to a past game in which Real Madrid lost possession under pressure from Milan, leading to goals against them.

Mourinho evidently found the safest method to handle this.

After Pepe got the ball, he passed it to Alonso, and Alonso directly lobbed it to Chen Zhong.

Barcelona’s ”anti-air” capabilities were evidently lacking; although they sensed Real Madrid’s intentions, due to their lacking ability to confront, compete for headers, and their height disadvantage, they could only helplessly watch Chen Zhong easily chest the ball down smoothly.

Busquets, Pique, and Iniesta formed a triangle around Chen Zhong, with Busquets stepping forward first, attempting to snatch the ball from Chen’s feet, Chen Zhong turned clumsily while shielding the ball, getting past him.

Just as Chen Zhong set his sights on the distance, a small leg extended directly, poking the ball away from beneath his feet.

Chen Zhong quickly fixed his gaze on this Barcelona No. 10.

Messi!

This little flea!

Like a little thief.

Chen Zhong cursed in his heart; he really didn’t notice Messi. And Messi’s ball-snatching technique was impressive, his quick footwork made his poke almost impossible to anticipate.

Pushing Messi away, who was blocking him, Chen Zhong quickly chased after the ball.

Pique went ahead and poked the ball again, whether intentionally or not,.

He raised his hands and collided with Chen Zhong.

Pique lost balance and fell to the ground, Chen Zhong staggered, while Messi grabbed the ball and simultaneously completed a turn.

He didn’t hesitate at all, pushed the ball forward, and pushed quickly.

The Barcelona fans in the stands let out joyful noises.

Their confidence in Messi’s sprint was unshakable, and Messi didn’t disappoint their expectations. Once he accelerated, he playfully bypassed Khedira and Alonso.

Even Pepe and Cavaleiro seemed like fictional characters before him.

”Pique!”

”Passed the ball to Messi.”

”Chen Zhong is so sturdy! Didn’t fall down at all.”

”Messi holds the ball.”

”Continuous dribbling.”

Messi’s dribbling doesn’t require much technique.

No need for bicycle kicks or anything.

Not that he couldn’t, but doing those moves would slow him down.

It’s like playing hand-slapping games; when your reaction speed is faster than your opponent’s, there’s no need for trickery.

Because no matter how they dodge, you can hit them, no matter how they hit, you can dodge them.

Guardiola on the sidelines was bright-eyed, watching all of this, while Mourinho muttered under his breath.

Casillas, seeing Messi squeeze through the closing gate of Cavaleiro and Pepe, could no longer remain passive.

He chose to abandon the goal and attack.

But at the moment he charged, Messi’s small leg flickered like a shadow and chipped the ball.

The ball curved beautifully, flying past Casillas’s side.

”Goal!”

”Messi!”

”He’s opened the scoring for Barcelona!”

”1:0”

”It’s his first time scoring against Mourinho’s team.”

”Unbelievable, simply unbelievable.”

”Real Madrid’s defense seemed non-existent before him.”

”He stormed the field from his half to the opponent’s penalty area.”

”Then lightly chipped the ball, scoring the goal.”

The Barcelona fans on the stands raised their arms, cheering, shouting, celebrating.

The entire Camp Nou seemed to shake like a small earthquake.

Guardiola also touched his bald head, eyes wide, a face filled with disbelief.

His lips curled slightly, looking at Mourinho with a somewhat playful expression.

So, how about that, this is Messi!

The best Messi in the world.

Mourinho, on the sidelines, was momentarily lost in expressing his emotions.

To others, this might not have been considered a chance, but Messi?

Receiving the ball from this position.

Using rhythm changes and foot pacing.

Storming the penalty area, completing a goal.

It left Mourinho speechless.

Most importantly, Barcelona’s Messi, like Real Madrid’s Chen Zhong, had the whole team willing to play around him.

Just now, Pique’s poke pass and his deliberate clash with Chen Zhong.

It simply was a tacit understanding.

After scoring, Messi showed a bright smile, ran towards the fan area, celebrating wildly, hugging his teammates who ran over.

He looked at Chen Zhong in the distance, his eyes sparkling brightly.

As if saying, ”Surprised, aren’t you! I came prepared this time.”

Chen Zhong looked at Messi’s cunning expression, gritted his teeth.

Good kid.

I got careless and didn’t dodge.

Now I’ve remembered you.

Although the two didn’t have formal verbal communication, the spark of competition naturally ignited between them.

”Messi, Messi, Messi!”

In the stands, Barcelona fans kept chanting Messi’s name, while Real Madrid fans were not far behind, starting to chant, ”Chen, Chen, Chen.”

Fans of both teams were calling out the name of their favorite star.

Chen Zhong stood at midfield, kicked off the ball again.