I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Chapter 789: Chapter 48: Never Defeated

Maybe Mourinho and Guardiola had old scores to settle, after all, Mourinho once attempted to take control of Barcelona, but they ultimately chose the ”unknown junior” Guardiola.

Now Mourinho is beginning to play the role of the ”Robin Hood” in Spanish football, little knowing that outsiders view him not as a hero standing up for the poor, but as an emblem of the wealthy regaining their prestige.

Mourinho’s approach is not uncommon; he did the same back in Porto and Inter Milan, and in the Premier League, he led the ”nouveau riche” Chelsea to briefly surpass Manchester United Team.

Now, he aims to overthrow Barcelona and crown Florentino’s Real Madrid, desperate for success.

Hence, it isn’t surprising that since he redefined ”gentlemanly conduct,” Florentino has tied his fate to Mourinho’s.

In the eyes of Barcelona, gentlemanly conduct means creating the best conditions for the team to compete.

In this respect, Saporta and Bernabeu were unmatched pioneers. But Real Madrid people don’t see it that way; for them, the balance in Spanish football has tipped towards Barcelona because Lorres controls television broadcasts, the association chairman Villar is an Anti-Real Madridist, and European football no longer needs Real Madrid. In Florentino’s words, gentlemanly conduct also means ”accusing those in violation.”

During the international matches, La Liga’s fervor remains unabated, with Barcelona vs. Real Madrid matches being key.

The Spain National Team’s Derby and the King’s Cup final are about to commence.

Barcelona’s recent performance, along with Messi’s play in both the national team and club, has instilled immense confidence in the Catalans, leading Barcelona president Rosell to even boast they would ”beat Real Madrid 5-0 again.” However, Rosell’s bold prediction also sparked a huge reaction from Spanish media and Real Madrid fans, most of whom thought Rosell’s arrogance was over the top, even some Catalonia media believed Rosell’s remarks did not align with Barcelona’s image.

Now everyone is awaiting a response from the ”number one sharp tongue” in football, Mourinho.

However, within the club, Mourinho has already reacted: he placed Rosell’s disdainful comments on the tactical board in the locker room. The sole purpose is to incite Real Madrid players to respond on the field to Barcelona president’s offensive words.

On Thursday, reporters requested Barcelona president Rosell to make a prediction for the Spanish King’s Cup final between Real Madrid and Barcelona on April 20, and Rosell confidently provided his answer: ”My prediction is Barcelona will have the chance to achieve a 5-0.” The Barcelona president then added, ”That way, we won’t break tradition.”

The Spanish King’s Cup final will kick off on April 20 at Mestalla Stadium, and Rosell started warming up the match, while Catalonia Region’s chairman Arthur Mas also stated: ”I’m not that optimistic; I only predict Barcelona will score 4 goals, just like the stripes on the Catalonia Region flag.”

Rosell’s comments sparked great reactions in the Spanish football world, leaving people puzzled by Rosell’s sudden arrogance, as he has long behaved modestly and humbly, entirely different from predecessor Laporta, but this time, he becomes unrestrained.

Many now compare Rosell to former Real Madrid interim president Boluda, who in the first leg of the 2008-09 Champions League Round of 16 predicted Real Madrid would sweep Liverpool at home, ”The match against Liverpool will be a spectacular performance; I believe Real Madrid could break the opponent’s defense three times, ending the match 3-0. In the second leg, Real Madrid will win 2-1 at Anfield.”

The final outcome is already known; Real Madrid lost 0-1 at home to Liverpool and was swept 0-4 away, turning Boluda into a laughing stock.

The mutual attacks from Real Madrid and Barcelona media have long been routine, Chen Zhong also endured attacks by being caricatured as a baby.

This time Marca also listed examples of boasters claiming pre-match grand victories who ended up being humiliated, like in the South Africa World Cup when Maradona mocked Germany would only run blindly, resulting in Argentina being swept by Germany.

The Madrid media lists such examples merely to demonstrate that those who boast will inevitably end up shooting themselves in the foot. Rosell’s words did indeed leave Real Madrid fans very upset, with a common reaction among White Army supporters being: ”Rosell will pay dearly for his arrogance.”

Real Madrid fans expressed their opinions through various channels, with some ridiculing: ”Rosell made the former Barcelona president Gaspart seem like a good man, Rosell is still young, surpassing Gaspart is not a problem.”

Some fans also remarked: ”Is this really Rosell speaking? This is yet another example of Barcelona’s ’humility’ and ’respecting opponents.’ Rosell paid the price for his immaturity, and he will become someone like Boluda, a subject of mockery.”

Some people also defended Mourinho and Chen Zhong: ”If Mourinho and Chen Zhong made such remarks, they would be targets of media attacks for 15 days, surely labeled ’arrogant’ and ’rude.’

Many Barcelona fans also stated they felt ashamed of Rosell’s comments.

Catalonia football critic Daniel Campos remarked that what Rosell exhibited was not Barcelona’s DNA, for those with Barcelona DNA would never say such things.

Guardiola obviously would not agree with Rosell making such predictions, because Barcelona’s philosophy is more action and less talk.

This is also why they didn’t choose Mourinho but chose Guardiola.

It’s also why Guardiola liked Chen Zhong, and Barcelona as a whole had little issue with Chen Zhong.

Demonstrating value on the pitch rather than with words is Barcelona’s principle; Rosell made a big mistake.

Laporta achieved great results yet still faced criticism, simply because he was too arrogant, and Rosell is repeating the same mistake.

Guardiola definitely won’t say Barcelona will beat Real Madrid 5-0; he’ll only say Real Madrid is a very strong team, with the world’s best coach, and Barcelona faces a very difficult match. According to Spanish Economic TV, Barcelona players also couldn’t agree with Rosell’s statement, worrying about the team’s image being harmed, fearing Real Madrid would become more fierce on the field due to Rosell’s provocation.

On Friday, Mourinho is set to attend a news conference ahead of the match against Sporting Gijon. It’s imaginable that Rosell’s remark would become the focus of reporters’ questions. It’s unknown how Mourinho will respond, but according to Friday’s Marca, Mourinho had immediately reacted in the locker room: he had Rosell’s predicted score written on the tactical board to motivate Real Madrid players to show their grit in the two upcoming matches against Barcelona, proving they will never allow themselves to be humiliated, or underestimated.

Chen Zhong also directly responded this time, compared to his previously ”soft” image, Chen Zhong’s words this time were quite blunt and sharp.

”5:0?”

”I don’t know how he came up with that score.”

”At least in the Derbies I participated in, Real Madrid never lost to Barcelona.”

”I finally understand why Barcelona had such a barren season last year; perhaps it’s due to having such upper management leading to such circumstances.”

”Let me say it again, in the Derbies I competed in, we never lost.”