Chapter 112: Chapter 27: Battle in the Spotlight, Who Is Chen?

Santiago Bernabeu Stadium

The Merengues are loudly singing “Hala Madrid,” the robust chorus showcasing the team’s heritage. This match is crucial for both teams.

Although Barcelona unexpectedly lost to Getafe in the last game, preventing a narrowing of the point gap, the difference between the Yellow Submarine Villarreal and Real Madrid is only 1 point now, posing a significant threat to Real Madrid.

Prior to the match, Schuster also expressed his focus on this game because counting from last season’s home winning streak, Real Madrid has now reached the crucial point of a 12-game consecutive win. If they defeat Mallorca in this match, the team will achieve a “12+1” winning streak.

Why say “12+1” instead of directly saying 13? Because for Spanish people, 13 is not considered a lucky number.

Mallorca’s head coach is Gregorio Manzano. This silver-haired old coach, wearing black-framed glasses, has no professional player experience, but possesses a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a psychologist’s license.

Perhaps it’s because doctors cannot heal themselves!

Despite Manzano’s remarkable achievements in psychology, he consistently struggles with managing relationships in the team’s dressing room. He knows what players want in their hearts, but he deliberately does not give it.

ε=(´ο｀*))) Sigh, just playing around.

In 1989, Manzano became a professional coach. In 1999, he was appointed as the head coach of the La Liga team Valladolid. This marks the 8th year of Manzano’s coaching career in La Liga, earning him the nickname “Professor” due to his bachelor’s degree background.

Manzano holds a deep affection for Mallorca, as the only championship in his coaching career was won with Mallorca. Back then, Mallorca had players like Eto’o, allowing Manzano, who excels in defense and counterattack tactics, to utilize his skills to their fullest potential.

Manzano does not fear Real Madrid, as his “grassroots team” loves creating upsets. During the matches against Real Madrid, there was even a glorious achievement of a 5:1 victory, leading to the dismissal of Real Madrid’s head coach.

While passing through the interview area before the match, Manzano and Chen Zhong unexpectedly crossed paths. Upon seeing Chen Zhong, the journalists called him over, eager for a joint interview, which triggered Manzano’s reaction.

This coach, who is not skillful in handling player relationships, first shook his head and turned away, intending to leave. However, when pulled by the reporters, he sneered: “If you are going to discuss Chen’s matters, I can wait for you to interview him first and then talk about the match with me.”

“Honestly, I don’t mind. You can talk with the 16-year-old kid first.”

Chen Zhong did not confront Manzano; he just glanced deeply at him before turning and entering the tunnel. Manzano was not targeting Chen Zhong personally; he felt it was a personal insult to be interviewed alongside a 16-year-old player.

The journalists keenly sensed the subtle atmosphere between the two. In the final stage of the interview, they asked Manzano: “Will you be worried about Chen in this match?”

“I’m sorry,” Manzano directly interrupted the reporter’s question, somewhat displeased, “Who is Chen? Is he Real Madrid’s head coach?”

He then turned and exited the interview area outright.

“Hello to all viewers!”

“You are watching live coverage of La Liga’s 12th round match.”

“Real Madrid faces off against Mallorca.”

“After a spectacular performance, both teams’ players are gradually entering the field.”

“Mallorca is a team that always gives Real Madrid trouble.”

“Especially when Eto’o was with Mallorca, some fans even regarded Mallorca as Real Madrid’s nemesis.”

“Even after Eto’o left, Mallorca delivered a decisive victory, forcing Florentino to resign and marking the end of Real Madrid’s Galaxy Battleship era.”

“At the end of last season, Mallorca also posed considerable challenges to Real Madrid. They scored first in the final league match, and if Reyes hadn’t equalized the score in the second half, successfully overturning the score, Real Madrid’s championship win could have been questioned.”

“Now, Reyes has left Real Madrid. Although still in Madrid City, Reyes is seen as a distant name by the Merengues.”

“In this match, Robben, who replaced Reyes, is still watching from the stands due to injury.”

“Players from both teams have taken to the field, and we can clearly hear the cheers from the fans.”

“Real Madrid players are in white jerseys, while Mallorca players are donning red jerseys with black stripes.”

“Both teams are employing the 4-4-2 formation in this match.”

“In this game, the much-anticipated genius player, Chen, will continue to play the midfield position, partnering with Diara.”

“Alright! With the referee’s whistle, the match has begun!”

The most dazzling player of Real Madrid recently is none other than the Chinese prodigy Chen Zhong. Although he is only 16 years old, he is deeply loved by the Merengue fans for his outstanding physical fitness and iron-blooded defensive style.

Especially with his brace against Valencia, he was once regarded as a genius who could compete with Messi.

As the whistle blew, Mallorca, with the kick-off, launched the first attack. They initially used short passes in the middle to pull the defense. Noticing no opportunity for a through ball, they swiftly shifted the ball to the flank.

This match featured Torres at the right back position due to Ramos’s red card. Seemingly out of form, he quickly got beaten by a through ball played by Mallorca’s winger.

The Mallorca winger, after breaking through, delivered a precise long pass from outside the penalty area. As people focused on the ball’s landing point, they unexpectedly found Guisa left unmarked.

Casillas quickly adjusted his position, while Guisa leapt high, performing a diving header to send the ball into Real Madrid’s goal.

0:1

Some fans were still finding their seats, and when they saw the score change to 0:1, they even found it hard to believe their eyes.

“Beep!”

The referee blew the whistle and pointed to the center circle, indicating there were no issues with the goal.

Mallorca’s fans burst into cheers, while the Merengue fans pulled out their white handkerchiefs and waved them, booing and drowning the entire stadium.

“Damn it!” Schuster stood on the sidelines with a grim face. For this match, his defense used the combination of Cannavaro and Metzelder, but who would have thought it would be an opening strike: “How could they miss the big guy?”

“If Chen was in the center-back position, this would never have happened.”

On the field, Cannavaro and Metzelder looked at each other, both appearing a bit dumbfounded. Guisa’s position was between them, with Cannavaro thinking Metzelder would cover, and Metzelder thinking Cannavaro would step up.

“Well done!” Mansano clapped calmly amidst the boos and loudly shouted: “Just like we did in training.”

For this match, Mansano was well-prepared, including marking Chen Zhong in certain areas.

“The match is less than 3 minutes in.”

“Mallorca seized the lead at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium with a cross.”

“Without Chen, the defense line is as fragile as a thin sheet of paper. I’m not saying Chen is bad in midfield, but I think the defense line of Real Madrid is more problematic.”

“This is Real Madrid’s attack. Without Guti and Ramos in this match, the attack from Real Madrid is more often initiated by Marcelo and Sneijder.”

“Chen played a connecting and lubricating role, but Mallorca’s tracking of Chen Zhong is very tight.”

Whenever Chen Zhong received the ball, Mallorca’s players would pounce on him as if their backs were on fire. Fortunately, in this period of training, Chen Zhong’s long and short passing had both surpassed 70, which meant his passing ability had significantly improved.

“That’s it!” A smile flashed in Mansano’s eyes: “I’ve studied this guy. His passing skills are not great; they all say he’s a genius.”

“But in my eyes, he is our breakthrough point for victory in this match.”

Mansano had studied Chen Zhong. He used to make long passes from the back, but after moving up to midfield, apart from safe balls, headers, and one-twos, there were no notable passes.

Moreover, when facing pressing, he often used physical shielding strategies.

Mansano wanted Chen Zhong to shield the ball.

Can you withstand one? How about two or three?

Even if you pass it out, Chen Zhong’s passing path is basically limited to the playmaker, Guti or Sneijder. In that case, with the path anticipated, can you still pass it out?

If we win the ball back, make an interception, then the subsequent counterattack would be almost certain!

As Mansano watched his players close in with anticipation, they saw Chen Zhong surrounded by three Mallorca players, yet he showed no signs of panic. He dribbled the ball and only passed it when the nearest player was two body lengths away.

And this pass was not to Sneijder, but a direct through ball, delivering it to Robinho, who was cutting in. This unexpected pass surprised even Robinho.

What? I was just running casually, and you really managed to pass it to me?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep