I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Chapter 913: Chapter 16: Passing Through the Midfield

And Real Madrid, when attacking, completely opened up the situation with just a few passes.

Guardiola was also watching this match, and when he saw Chen Zhong finish a set of attacks, he saw the essence of Barcelona’s possession football advancing in Real Madrid’s midfield.

In fact, earlier Real Madrid also played possession football.

The essence of possession football is: finding space, quick continuous passing, moving the opponent’s defensive focus to find opportunities to break through.

Only Real Madrid can compete like this with Barcelona, because they have enough margin for error.

Chen Zhong’s ball-protection ability has always been coveted by Guardiola.

When there were issues between Chen Zhong and Real Madrid, Guardiola expressed more than once his desire to bring Chen Zhong to Manchester City.

Compared to Messi’s departure then, whenever Chen Zhong hinted at leaving, Guardiola would always express himself subtly.

Although he now has Rodri as a defensive midfielder, he still can’t forget the apple of his eye.

To do possession football well, it’s not just about one-touch passing and continuous acceleration, but also about ground work.

As passing speeds up, the situation of risky balls is bound to occur.

If midfield teammates are not good at handling ”dirty balls”, then the topic of possession football is moot.

Chen Zhong has always been the best at handling ”dirty balls” in Real Madrid’s team, and his teammates are long used to giving him the ball in difficult times and waiting for him to redistribute.

Throughout a match, Chen Zhong’s running distance, number of passes, and body tackles are astonishing.

This is also why Chen Zhong, not yet 35, has declined so quickly.

Just like when Barcelona crazily used Pedri, every time there’s a new coach, they would use Chen Zhong to stabilize their position.

Just like Barcelona would field Messi whenever he was injury-free, Real Madrid does the same.

When Chen Zhong was young, he basically didn’t miss any of Real Madrid’s matches, likely due to this, now it’s hard for him to be as omnipotent and healthy as he was when he was young.

”Atletico Madrid’s pressing.”

”Chen Zhong in the rear court.”

”Beautiful left foot.”

This time, Atletico Madrid’s pressing was very fast and decisive, but Chen Zhong taking the ball in the backfield was not flustered at all.

Chen Zhong’s balanced footwork makes it difficult to defend against such a player.

The moment after Chen Zhong received the ball, he sent it first-time with his left foot to a teammate in open space.

And after the teammate took the ball, faced with Atletico Madrid’s pressing, hesitated slightly, losing the chance to move forward.

Helplessly, they could only choose to return the ball, but this return was a textbook risky ball.

Chen Zhong has a unique way of dealing with risky balls, one is using his long legs to complete the rescue as he did now.

Another is with strong ball-protection, first positioning then taking the ball with experience.

Only a point with dirty ball cleaning ability can possess football have higher fault tolerance.

After Chen Zhong protected the ball, under De Paul’s pressing, again passed it to other open teammates. This round after round of passing is an important reason why Real Madrid can hold the midfield initiative in their hands.

Why Guardiola covets Chen Zhong even having Busquets.

Because Chen Zhong possesses something Busquets doesn’t.

Busquets’ football intelligence is his ability to find the most reasonable foul timing.

This god-view perspective makes the foul cost low and referees generally don’t consider it very serious, allowing Busquets rarely to get red-yellow cards.

After all, Busquets’ foul movements are very restrained, appropriately interrupting the opponent’s attack, seemingly without much malice or harm.

Though slow in movement, Busquets is a defensive textbook.

Busquets’ strengths are his super high football IQ, good body flexibility, and a pair of beautiful long legs.

Even when necessary, Busquets has various ways to gain the referee’s support.

Many fans always ridicule Busquets for turning slow, tracking slow, but he’s still Barcelona’s number one in defensive statistics.

Because in retreating defense, Busquets’ positioning is really too good. Every movement is a vivid teaching case, worth learning and research.

But if it’s Chen Zhong, it’s different.

He not only has Busquets’ strengths but lacks Busquets’ weaknesses, even stronger in many areas than Busquets.

”Atletico Madrid’s foul!”

”Vinicius was brought down outside the penalty area!”

”Chen Zhong’s through ball is very accurate!”

”Just a bit close!”

If it had entered the penalty area, this would certainly have been a penalty!

Atletico Madrid’s players were very unhappy with this ruling, in fact, unless they tackle the opponent dead on the field, they always feel their team does nothing wrong.

Even if they tackle dead.

It must be the opponent’s fault, their players definitely didn’t have a problem.

This is a free kick in the front field, several Real Madrid players were there discussing, seemingly wanting to take this kick.

Chen Zhong watched for a while, walked up, and as he walked over, whether it was Mbappe, Bellingham or Vinicius, they all shut up.

”Chen Zhong is going to take this free kick!”

”His heavy cannon strike is very distinctive.”

”But hasn’t been seen much in recent seasons.”

No one argued with Chen Zhong, even the top few stars inside Real Madrid Team were helping Chen Zhong set the ball, protecting, positioning.

The free kicks Chen Zhong didn’t want, they could fight for, but the ones Chen Zhong wanted, they better hurry and let go.

This is their philosophy for survival.

At Real Madrid, you can privately talk bad about Florentino, but you must never speak ill of Chen Zhong because countless eyes are watching you, countless ears listening.

In the stands, Real Madrid’s fans are cheering for Chen Zhong, while Atletico Madrid’s fans and players are a little nervous.

Although the current goalkeeper isn’t De Gea, but the shadow Chen Zhong cast on them keenly remains.

”Beep——” The main referee’s whistle sounded, the entire Metropolitan Stadium instantly quieted down.

Chen Zhong took a deep breath, stepped back five paces, staring intensely at the top right corner of the goal through the crack in the wall.

Run-up! Swing leg! Shoot!

The ball shot out like a cannonball, cutting through the air in a sinister arc.

Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Oblak judged the direction correctly, but the shot dipped suddenly after clearing the wall, so quick he couldn’t even attempt a save.

This ball was not just about power, but also had curve and technique.

Making Oblak suffer.

”GOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!” The commentator shouted hoarsely, ”In the 67th minute, Chen Zhong’s signature falling leaf shot! This free kick at 132 km/h directly blasted open Atletico Madrid’s goal!”

As the net trembled violently, Real Madrid’s fans in the stands erupted instantly.

Alonso unintentionally stood up to applaud, while Simeone on the sidelines fiercely smashed his water bottle onto the ground, the splashed water like his shattered obsession.

After the goal, Chen Zhong didn’t celebrate exaggeratedly, just pointed calmly at the badge on his left chest. This gesture made Atletico Madrid fans angrier, a few lighters flew down from the stands.

De Paul rushed up wanting to dispute, but was pinned in place by a single look from Chen Zhong.

This midfield warrior suddenly remembered the tone when Messi used to mention Chen Zhong, and she haven’t gained any advantage in this match competition.

”1-0! Chen Zhong’s career has already breached Atletico Madrid’s goal more than 30 times!”