Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Weighing on the Mind

The Spanish Super Cup, also known as the “Spanish Super Cup”.

This is a traditional event before the start of the La Liga season, featuring the previous season’s cup winner against the league champion, using a two-legged home and away format.

In the first leg, Real Madrid will go to the Pizjuan Stadium to challenge Sevilla away. If they win, they will have the upper hand in the Super Cup.

“There’s one thing I want to know right now.” Schuster looked at Francisco and asked, “Can Ruud van Nistelrooy play in the first leg?”

“I’m afraid not.”

“I’ve already asked the team doctor.”

In fact, not only is Van Nistelrooy’s old injury from the end of last season acting up again, but even Gonzalo Higuain and Arjen Robben felt unwell after the game against Eindhoven.

Schuster appeared a bit annoyed. According to Francisco’s statement, they could only pair Raul and Saviola as the forward duo, but Schuster felt uneasy just thinking about Saviola’s performance against Eindhoven.

“We need to change the formation.” After thinking for a moment, Schuster suddenly looked up at Francisco and said, “What do you think about the 4-5-1 formation?”

“Huh?” Francisco looked at Schuster with some shock, possibly because Capello left a deep impression on him, so whenever he heard about a 4-5-1 formation, he couldn’t help but think of that coach who was fired while on vacation.

However, Schuster didn’t care about Francisco’s gaze at all and continued to say, “Raul as the sole forward, Guti as the midfield core, Robinho and Balboa on the wings, Gago and Diara supporting Guti.”

“On defense, Drenthe as left-back, Ramos as right-back, and Pepe teaming up with Cannavaro as center-backs.”

“We’ll settle the battle completely in the second leg at the Bernabeu.”

Schuster quickly set the team’s tactics in just a few words, and Francisco felt it was a bit inappropriate. He looked at the confident Schuster, feeling that Schuster was taking things too much for granted and underestimating Sevilla.

However, Schuster misunderstood and explained, “I know some might say I’m following Capello’s old path, and the media will criticize me, but I don’t care. I’ll prove myself at the Bernabeu.”

When Francisco heard Schuster say this, it was as if something flashed in his mind.

Was this eccentric coach trying to create some contrast?

Play it safe in the first leg, create some disappointment among the fans, let the media criticize him, and then in the second leg, during his first appearance at the Bernabeu, prove himself with a resounding victory?

On one hand, it could make a deep impression on the fans, and on the other hand, slap those media outlets in the face?

No way! Could it really be?

But apart from this, there was no other explanation for why he would use a 4-5-1 in the first leg.

Feeling somewhat burdened with thoughts, Francisco returned home and lay on his comfortable bed, as if traveling through time and space, arriving at another timeline.

He dreamed of the team losing the first match, dreamed of Pepe committing a foul in the box in the second leg, turning two yellow cards into a red, being sent off, and Sevilla scored five times, with fans waving white handkerchiefs from the stands at the Bernabeu, expressing their dissatisfaction.

Francisco woke from the dream, his forehead covered in beads of sweat. He took out his phone, wanting to call Schuster, but looking at the time, he felt that if he made the call, he might lose his job.

“Phew~” Francisco let out a long breath. After the initial urge, he calmed down slowly and muttered to himself, “It’s just a dream, how could we lose.”

“I must care too much about the team. My father and grandfather were both Real Madrid fans…”

“Pepe, that’s right, Pepe, he’s indeed a bit reckless, with a big temper. Maybe I… phew~”

Snoring sounds emerged, and the muttering Francisco fell asleep again.

The next day, at the training ground, Francisco was particularly harsh with Pepe, especially during group exercises, criticizing Pepe’s actions several times.

“Your movements are too aggressive.” Francisco looked into Pepe’s eyes and said seriously, “You need to make sure you can win the ball before making a move, you know?”

Pepe wasn’t affected at all. He’s had his style for a long time, not swayed by others’ words, but Schuster couldn’t bear it anymore. He pulled Francisco aside, feeling that there was something off about his assistant coach he had picked up.

“Of course, it’s a matter of instincted reaction in the first moment…”

Schuster’s surprised voice could still be heard faintly.

After training, Marcelo, Pepe, and Chen Zhong gathered together, and Pepe complained, “I only found out today that Francisco pays so much attention to me. It’s been over a month, and he never had so many opinions before.”

“Is he interested in you?” Marcelo laughed, patting Pepe’s firm chest muscle, “Even though you look fierce, but your chest muscle is quite exaggerated.”

Pepe grimaced, Marcelo covered his mouth, and finally, both of them looked at Chen Zhong.

“Ah, I think maybe Francisco isn’t in a good mind. You see how deep his dark circles were today.”

“Who asked you that? I was asking if you think Pepe’s chest muscle is exaggerated.”

The three laughed and walked together towards the team’s restaurant for a meal.

…

August 11, 2007

Spain, Sevilla

Pizjuan Stadium

Spanish Super Cup First Leg

The media mostly favored Real Madrid to win away, and even the fans traveling with the team kept a relatively relaxed attitude.

However, after the game started, Sevilla got into form earlier than Real Madrid. The team’s previously criticized slow start issue was particularly evident in front of Sevilla’s “quick start.”

Less than a minute in, Sevilla earned a free kick opportunity just outside the penalty box. When Francisco saw Pepe rushing aggressively, he almost couldn’t hold his nerves.

Luckily, it was just a well-placed free kick, not a penalty.

Sevilla’s player Duda, who took the free kick, delivered a high-quality shot that soared over the wall towards the top right corner of the goal.

Casillas made a heroic save, barely managing to tip the ball out with his fingertips.

Casillas, breaking into a cold sweat, shouted loudly to his teammates, hoping they’d stay alert and stop giving the opponents such opportunities, seemingly to exercise Casillas or perhaps to let him relive the “Galaxy era.”

A minute later, Real Madrid’s defense line made another mistake. Fabiano made a sudden stop, dodged Cannavaro’s side tackle, accelerated to shake off Pepe’s disobedient right hand, and went one-on-one towards the penalty area.

Thankfully, Casillas performed bravely. Even though Fabiano’s shot was of high quality, Casillas still managed to deflect the ball with a millisecond reaction, then swiftly lunged forward to cover the ball before the opponent could follow up.

This series of brilliant operations elicited cheers from the fans in the stands.

Schuster breathed a sigh of relief, signaling from the sidelines for the team to keep control of the ball, disrupting Sevilla’s rhythm first. However, this drew some dissatisfaction from Real Madrid fans.

Schuster had once declared he’d break the team’s “Capello” style, but now, in the eyes of the fans, the team still seemed lackluster in attack, akin to the Capello era.

Although Real Madrid’s ball possession had exceeded 50%, even approaching 60% at times, this wasn’t what the fans wanted.

Sevilla quickly realized that Real Madrid’s threatening attacks were initiated by Guti from the midfield.

Upon realizing this, they heavily deployed players in midfield to “cut down” Guti, which to a certain extent limited his performance and laid the theoretical foundation for the future popular “cut down the wolf” tactic in La Liga, establishing a strong practical basis for its creation.

The peaceful situation of the match broke in the 27th minute. Real Madrid made a passing mistake in the midfield, and Sevilla seized the ball to execute a fast counterattack. Duda stepped up, cutting through from behind Cannavaro.

Just as he formed an effective solo attack, stepping into the penalty area wanting to complete his shooting action, Ramos came from the side and knocked him to the ground from behind.

Francisco’s heart skipped a beat.

He had always thought that the fouls in the first leg match from Real Madrid were from Pepe, but it turned out to be from Ramos.

Fabiano took the penalty shot, deceiving Casillas and pushing the ball into the right corner to score.

1:0

Sevilla, by virtue of the penalty, took the lead against Real Madrid.

Voices of dissatisfaction rose from Real Madrid fans in the stands, but they still believed the team would win in the end. Meanwhile, Sevilla, after scoring this goal, started to fully withdraw and adopt a defensive counterattack stance in response to Real Madrid’s aggressive push forward.

Engaged in defensive counterattacks, Sevilla players showcased great coordination, while Raul, as the lone forward, appeared somewhat isolated.

Opportunities emerged more for the defense line rather than the front players.

In the final moments of the match, Pepe got a shooting chance. He stretched out his body, shot fiercely, deceiving the goalkeeper, yet the ball also veered wide off the post.

Ultimately, the match concluded with Sevilla securing a 1:0 victory over Real Madrid at home, gaining the upper hand.

Schuster’s expression was subtle, Francisco’s face showed bewilderment, and amidst the showcase of life’s varied expressions, Casillas’s urgent voice reached the field.

“Medic! Medic!”

Casillas, half-crouching beside Cannavaro, observed as the Italian iron defender clutched his thigh with a painful expression while collapsed on the ground.

From the bench, Metzelder, Torres, and Chen Zhong simultaneously rose.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep