I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Chapter 868: Chapter 84: Asia Derby (2)

Midfield: Chen Zhong (Real Madrid)

Chen Zhong excellently fulfilled the role of a midfield organizer, often lurking behind the forwards to provide ammunition, supporting Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, or Higuain.

Chen Zhong had enough freedom to organize attacks and streamline the team’s offensive system. His six assists this season remain the highest record in the Champions League. Additionally, when needed, Chen Zhong can unleash a heavy cannon strike from outside the penalty area to break open the opponent’s goal. He is also capable of entering the box to contest headers, contributing significantly on both offense and defense.

Iniesta (Barcelona)

Although he only scored one goal in this season’s Champions League, Iniesta was still an absolute contributor to Barcelona’s journey to the semifinals. Iniesta and Xavi’s organization in midfield always left fans and even opponents in awe, and his four assists proved the value of a midfield playmaker once again.

Giggs (Manchester United)

In Manchester United’s quarter-final matches against Chelsea, Giggs put on two dominating performances. All three of Manchester United’s goals were closely linked to him. During the semi-final against Schalke 04, Giggs’s goal opened the door to victory for the Red Devils.

Bale (Tottenham)

Bale was the standout star during the group stage; his hat-trick against Inter made him a phenomenon overnight. At 21, Bale caused a lot of trouble for Inter’s Brazilian right-back Maicon, and the long-distance assist he provided at home became an unforgettable nightmare for Maicon.

Forward: Messi (Barcelona)

How can one evaluate Barcelona’s number 10? Messi continues to set new records. In the semi-final against Real Madrid, Messi shocked the Bernabeu with a breathtaking goal, and he was only a step away from breaking Van Nistelrooy’s record of 12 goals in the Champions League. Perhaps the final would be when he breaks the record.

Raul (Schalke 04)

Despite joining a new club, everything in the Champions League was familiar to Raul. After leaving Real Madrid to join Schalke 04, Raul maintained his scoring record in the Champions League, helping the team reach the semifinals with five goals.

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This match has many points of interest, as no Asian player has ever appeared in a Champions League final and then lifted the trophy.

In this match, Chen Zhong from China will represent Real Madrid, while Park Ji-sung from South Korea will represent Manchester United.

At the pre-match press conference.

Park Ji-sung said emotionally, ”If I can play and help the team win the championship, it would be truly perfect for me. This is my dream, and I must give 100% effort to achieve it.”

”Not being able to play once and encountering failure once makes me more eager for the match and more desperate to win.”

For today’s Champions League final, Park Ji-sung has a different yearning compared to others in the team. In 2008, he was left out of Manchester United’s 18-man squad when they reached the top of Europe, and Sir Alex Ferguson apologized to him after their victory. In 2009, he made it to the starting lineup but was defeated by Barcelona. This former number one in Asia has never truly won the Champions League on the field, which remains his biggest regret.

Park Ji-sung, Rooney, Van der Sar, Vidic, and others were regarded by the media as certain starters in the Champions League final. Although the South Korean’s fame doesn’t match other Manchester United stars, his tactical role in the game is significant.

In the Champions League quarter-final, the tireless Park Ji-sung posed a significant threat in both attack and defense against the Blues, completely disrupting the opponent’s tactical arrangements and becoming Manchester United’s surprise weapon.

Now, Ferguson hopes Park Ji-sung can continue to be the surprise weapon, using him to disrupt Barcelona’s formidable midfield and mark Cristiano Ronaldo.

Pre-match, Manchester United left-back Evra said, ”I think Park Ji-sung is one of the most important players on the team. He can run all day without getting tired. Some fans jokingly say, ’Great, we will surely beat Real Madrid because we have Park Ji-sung, who can run alongside Cristiano Ronaldo all day long!’”

In this much-anticipated Champions League final, many believe Manchester United will bring a surprise to the world, and they are curious about the outcome of the clash between the tireless Park Ji-sung and Real Madrid’s captain Chen Zhong.

English football legend Venables wrote in a column for The Sun, ”Football is not a one-man game, but to defeat Real Madrid, you must stop and defeat Chen Zhong. If you can freeze this Chinese star, you have a very good chance of defeating Real Madrid.”

Venables’s answer for Manchester United to freeze Chen Zhong is also Park Ji-sung. He believes, ”Park will be tasked with defeating Chen Zhong. He can tightly keep up with this world-class player for 90 or even 120 minutes.”

However, Ferguson clearly does not think so, considering Chen Zhong’s physical ability is something Park Ji-sung may not withstand.

At the start of the season, Park Ji-sung’s form was not ideal due to the impact of the World Cup, coupled with injuries following the Asian Cup in December, which made his future at Manchester United uncertain. Rumors of his departure from Old Trafford emerged in the media.

However, in the latter half of the season, Park Ji-sung recovered from injury and quickly regained his best form. The tireless ’three-lungs Park’ and the ’big-game player’ returned. In the second leg of the Champions League semi-final, Park Ji-sung’s decisive goal helped Manchester United eliminate Chelsea, clearing the biggest obstacle on their path to the final.

During the final sprint stage of the league, Manchester United defeated Chelsea 2-1 in the third-to-last round, with Park Ji-sung providing a key assist to virtually secure the championship for the Red Devils. In the last league match against Blackpool, he also displayed outstanding performances, with both an assist and a goal. The Red Devils’ triumphant progress in both the Premier League and Champions League owed much to the South Korean.

On the field, Park Ji-sung has consistently been industrious, giving his all without reservation, and he is adored by fans. It’s hard to imagine that he is more popular among fans than stars like Rooney, Giggs, and Ferdinand.

According to The Sun, Park Ji-sung receives the most fan mail among Manchester United players, with a large portion coming from Asia. As the only Asian player to have participated in a Champions League final and the only Asian player to have been a regular starter for a top European club, he indeed holds a significant portion of fans’ dreams and bears a lot of responsibility.

One of the major responsibilities, as Park Ji-sung mentioned, is to truly stand on the field and win the Champions League as an Asian representative, hoping this dream can be quickly realized.

In South Korea, many media outlets are also hyping, equating Park Ji-sung with Asia.

It seems that in this Champions League final, there is only Park Ji-sung as an Asian person.

The Chinese fans are not having it.

Are you blind?

The captain of Real Madrid, a midfielder in the Champions League Best XI, the latest Ballon d’Or winner Chen Zhong, don’t you see him?

Your Park Ji-sung has to see others’ expressions to play, but Chen Zhong is a definite starter!

Moreover, Asia’s number one person.

Is Park Ji-sung really?

Previously, you said he was Asia’s number one, we did not argue, but now?

Looking at Chen Zhong, tell me, who is really Asia’s number one?

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In any case, this Asian derby has significantly increased the excitement of the Champions League final, making it seem like Barcelona’s absence in the final might feel like the right choice.