I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Chapter 597: Chapter 53: Switch Me for Chen, Chen for Me? (Part 2)

For example, when the match had just begun, Iniesta’s through ball, he had already talked about it in the locker room beforehand, if Iniesta got the ball in this area, we could imagine how he would pass it.

However, the expression of individual player skills is something he couldn’t predict.

Players from both teams, under the current team framework and tactics, displayed exceptional strength, which was something Mourinho could not decide.

In other words, he tried to influence it before the match, but it was not successful.

After scoring, Pedro celebrated with his teammates, and the Barcelona fans also cooperated sensibly in celebrating, putting pressure on the Real Madrid players.

On Real Madrid’s defense line, although there was no open quarrel, there was a bit of discontent inside.

After all, if it weren’t for Casillas’ rash charge just now, Pepe and Cavaleiro would have had the chance to clear the ball.

”Focus!”

”Relax!”

”Don’t feel pressured.” Chen Zhong shouted loudly on the field: ”Hold your positions! Mark your man.”

After Real Madrid players heard Chen Zhong’s call, they also rallied around Chen Zhong, hoping to regain the lead after the kick-off.

Real Madrid indeed, under Chen Zhong’s leadership, penetrated Barcelona’s penalty area.

Kaka created a shooting opportunity with a lob pass at the edge of the penalty area.

Although Chen Zhong was double-teamed by Busquets and Pique, he still leaped high and hit the ball.

Unfortunately, this header was slightly off, hitting the crossbar.

”Real Madrid’s attack.”

”Kaka’s cross.”

”Chen Zhong!”

”Leaping high, header shot.”

”The crossbar is still shaking!”

”Barcelona narrowly escaped.”

”In the upcoming matches, they might want to think about how to deal with Chen Zhong in this regard.”

”Neither Busquets nor Pique could beat Chen Zhong.”

Guardiola exhaled a sigh of relief from the sideline, at this moment, he began to miss Yaya Toure, initially, he wanted to keep Yaya Toure, but Toure demanded a main position.

Busquets mostly fit Guardiola’s tactics better and made his strategies more fluid, and Busquets was also a La Masia product.

So Guardiola couldn’t fulfill Toure’s requirement, and eventually, Toure had to leave.

Before encountering Real Madrid, Guardiola felt no regrets about Toure’s departure, but in this match, he really started missing him.

If Yaya Toure were on the field, although he couldn’t suppress Chen Zhong in a one-on-one situation, at least he would trouble Chen Zhong, making Chen Zhong wary.

Whether it was Busquets or Pique, facing Chen Zhong was like bending grass in the wind, only Yaya Toure had some resistance to make Chen Zhong somewhat ”serious”.

After Real Madrid’s attack, Barcelona retaliated in kind.

Although Mourinho had already reminded of some things before the match, like Iniesta’s through ball.

However, as the match progressed, players inevitably exhibited some ”flaws”.

Iniesta’s through ball pierced through Real Madrid’s defense, Villa broke in between Pepe and Cavaleiro, and upon receiving the ball, shot once, directly breaching Real Madrid’s goal.

At that moment, the Camp Nou stadium erupted completely, and the Barcelona fans on the stands raised their hands high in celebration for this goal.

”Save your energy!”

”Villa!”

”The linesman has already raised the flag!”

Slow-motion replay shows Villa was slightly offside, receiving Iniesta’s pass in an offside position.

Mourinho let out a long sigh of relief, Barcelona’s passing was very taxing on the players’ concentration, but Casillas’ problem was also evident.

Mourinho glanced at Francisco, hesitated for a moment, then spoke: ”Do you think, when he’s goalkeeping, the opponents seem to score more easily?”

Francisco looked at Mourinho with a face full of horror.

Although Casillas wasn’t the team’s captain, just the vice-captain, he was also a product of Real Madrid’s youth academy, beloved by the fans.

Of course, because of his personality, he wasn’t as well-liked as Chen Zhong, but he was still an important player for the team.

What does Mourinho mean by this, is he considering changing the goalkeeper?

Seeing Francisco’s expression, Mourinho stopped his train of thought, it was just a passing idea he suddenly had.

Barcelona continued to attack.

Their passing at Real Madrid’s half was very smooth.

If Barcelona didn’t have Messi, Chen Zhong might have an opportunity to intercept in their passing lanes, because Chen Zhong’s positioning was extraordinary.

But because of Messi’s presence, Chen Zhong could only stick close to Messi.

This somewhat made Messi invisible, yet in another sense, Messi also ”watched” Chen Zhong closely.

Even without Messi, the coordination between Villa, Iniesta, Pedro, and Xavi at the front made Real Madrid very headache-inducing.

And on Real Madrid’s defense, there was a ”bomb”.

”Barcelona’s continuous passing.”

”Pepe steps up.”

”Pass again.”

”Tries to intercept.”

”Lost your balance.”

Barcelona’s passing in the defenders’ vision probably felt like flies buzzing around their ears.

Pepe seized a moment to attempt an interception, but Barcelona’s quick passing caused him to miss the chance, and as Pepe tried to reposition, spotting another passing lane, he lost his footing.

Just when Pepe thought it was over.

Cavaleiro timely filled Pepe’s spot.

But is it safe now?

No!

No!

”Barcelona’s opportunity!”

”Pepe lost his balance, exposed a gap.”

”Cavaleiro filled in.”

”But still!”

Cavaleiro indeed filled Pepe’s position, but left his position uncovered.

Xavi received the ball, delivered a through ball.

In this through ball’s line, the nearest was Messi, followed by Pedro.

”Xavi!”

”A through ball kick!”

”Ball reached the open space.”

”Pedro successfully broke the offside trap.”

”Messi is advancing!”

Messi’s smart run forward, if Chen Zhong were not there, he would likely get the ball and, as he often does in other matches, face the goalkeeper and score.

But there’s Chen Zhong.

Under Chen Zhong’s pressure, Messi staggered, left foot caught the right, fell to the ground and slid forward a bit.

Messi raised his head, looking at that cold Real Madrid No. 10, just about to say something.

He saw that Real Madrid No. 10, seeing Chen Zhong, facing Pedro in the distance, executed a fierce sliding tackle.

This sliding tackle could only be described with three words.

Fast, precise, ruthless.

Chen Zhong performed a tactical foul, Pedro watched helplessly as the ball was nudged forward by Chen Zhong’s slide, towards the rushing-out Casillas.

He himself couldn’t brake in time, directly tripped over by Chen Zhong’s side body in the penalty area.

At that instant, the entire Camp Nou stadium was filled with boos, followed by Barcelona fans, unorganized but clearly demanding.

”Red card!”

”Penalty!”

”This is definitely a foul, a foul in the penalty area.”

They tried to pressure the referee, trying to send Chen Zhong off with a card.

But...