I Am Scouted by Real Madrid-Chapter 464 - 82: Headlong Charge (Part 2)

Chen Zhong watched Pellegrini gesticulating in front of the tactics board. He said seriously, "We need to do a good job defending in front of the penalty area, and also pay attention to our actions, don’t make them too big to avoid unnecessary fouls."

When Pellegrini mentioned not making actions too big to avoid unnecessary fouls, he especially glanced at Albiol, given that in the first half, Albiol had several actions that could have warranted a card.

"And also, Chen." Pellegrini looked at Chen Zhong and said, "I need you to keep an eye on Messi, we can’t let him easily get the ball in our half and then charge all the way to our penalty area."

"Can you do it?"

Pellegrini looked at Chen Zhong, and the other players also turned their eyes to Chen Zhong.

Pellegrini’s tactical intention was obvious: first stabilize the defense, then completely restrict Messi, and finally seek the opportunity to break through Barcelona’s goal.

From a certain perspective, his tactic wasn’t wrong.

Chen Zhong took a deep breath. As the team’s captain, highest-paid player, leader in the locker room, spiritual leader of Real Madrid, idol of the Youth Training City...

Are you kidding me!

Chen Zhong stood up abruptly from his seat, stared directly at Pellegrini, and said, "Do you know what kind of player Messi is?"

The originally quiet locker room erupted into chaos.

With Real Madrid’s impressive performances across various competitions this season, Pellegrini’s coaching position gradually stabilized. If Pellegrini could secure the Triple Crown, or even just the Double Crown.

Then his retention seemed inevitable.

And although Chen Zhong had some disputes with Pellegrini, overall, their relationship was relatively "harmonious", at least on the surface, they were still in a "common understanding" phase.

But at the end of the season, or rather the sprinting stage.

Chen Zhong speaking in this tone to Pellegrini during such a crucial El Clásico match...

"He just won the Ballon d’Or." Chen Zhong continued to speak, ignoring Pellegrini’s gaze: "He’s best at dribbling breakthroughs. Under some specific conditions, I can’t guarantee to stop him without fouling or making big actions."

At this point, Chen Zhong paused and continued, "If I can’t do it, then no one else can either."

Chen Zhong straightened his back and continued, "I don’t intend to challenge your authority, but boss, I hope you understand one thing, this is the Bernabeu, we are Real Madrid, they are Barcelona, and we are playing El Clásico."

Pellegrini’s expression had a trace of emotion.

He was a "famous coach", and had done well in La Liga for years, which is why he made it onto Real Madrid’s shortlist, but he lacked the grandeur of a manager for a major team.

This grandeur is not just the "championships" he dreams of at times; championships aren’t even as important as a victory in an El Clásico against Barcelona.

Especially at a time when Barcelona has just achieved the "Six Crowns" triumph, directly defeating Barcelona in the league is the best gift, and also the best "gift" for Real Madrid fans to triumph over Barcelona fans in verbal disputes.

We beat you twice in El Clásico in the league and won the league championship!

Pellegrini undoubtedly is a capable manager, but his experiences give him a feeling of pettiness.

Simply put, he’s "too small-minded" and "low-class".

But no matter what, Pellegrini is still the team’s manager, and although he’s known for being "mild-mannered" and "without temper", Chen Zhong talking to him this way in such a scenario was still hard to accept for him.

However, Chen Zhong’s anger was understandable. This is equivalent to the players fighting tooth and nail against an opponent while the coach behind them is saying, "We might not win, and you’re playing too intensely, tone it down a bit, being not beaten by the opponent is enough."

Although Pellegrini’s intention was still to be "stable", it still angered the players when they heard it.

As the two were at an impasse, Francisco stepped up to mediate. He looked at Pellegrini and said, "Chen made a good point. We played very well in the first half."

"Whether in ball control or pass success rate, we were not much worse than Barcelona."

"We can still maintain the playing style of the first half."

Francisco looked at Pellegrini, Pellegrini looked at Chen Zhong, and Chen Zhong turned to look at Francisco.

The three formed a subtle balance.

Pellegrini nodded in agreement with Francisco’s suggestion, and the atmosphere within the team improved. Francisco breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself: Without me, this "family" would fall apart sooner or later.

The halftime quickly ended, and players from both teams left one after another.

Pellegrini, however, held Francisco back, which surprised Francisco. He looked at Pellegrini as if he sensed something, thinking to himself: Don’t you know I’m on Chen Zhong’s side? If you talk bad about him now, should I tell him, tell him again, or tell him again?

"Chen’s personality won’t work."

"For the championship, there are games we don’t necessarily have to win, some games we can choose to give up."

"He’s too strong and too reckless." Francisco watched Pellegrini, sensing that Pellegrini was using him to convey this to Chen Zhong.

"No manager can tolerate a player dictating his tactics."

"Right now, I am the team’s manager. Maybe my fame isn’t large enough, but if it was another champion coach?"

"I hope Chen is right, but using what the opponent is best at against them is clearly wrong. Our passing and control may seem on par with the opponent, but that’s not the way to victory."

Pellegrini is not a mediocrity and even has some understanding of passing control, as evidenced by his later role as the founder of Manchester City’s ball control style.

And when Chen Zhong walked out of the player’s tunnel, hearing the cheers from the stands, his eyes flashed with a determination reaching deep into his eyes, they were never going to "surrender and concede."

"After a brief halftime break."

"Both teams returned to the field."

"During halftime, neither side chose to make substitutions."

"Previously in the tactical analysis room, it was analyzed that Yaya Toure might be brought on to cope with Chen Zhong."

"But obviously, Guardiola valued more the smoothness of the team’s passing and control."

The Yaya Toure on the bench was feeling a little emo, and Guardiola had no communication with him, instead talking with Iniesta for a few words.

This almost meant that Barcelona gave up on "enhanced defense" and chose "enhanced attack."

At this moment, Yaya Toure hoped more than anyone else that Chen Zhong would perform outstandingly, so he could have the chance to play.

The second half started, and Real Madrid quickly launched two decent attacks, once when Chen Zhong passed the ball to Cristiano Ronaldo, who then coordinated with Marcelo to get past Barcelona’s defense, ending with Marcelo’s shot being saved by the goalkeeper.

Another was a foul by Maxwell on Ramos, which earned Maxwell a yellow card.

Then, Real Madrid took advantage of a free-kick opportunity to get the ball to Chen Zhong in the penalty area. Chen Zhong headed the ball to C. Ronaldo, who wanted to pass to Negredo coming in, but his good friend Pique saw through his move and intercepted the ball in advance.

From the sidelines, Guardiola watched the scenes unfolding on the pitch and couldn’t help but touch his head, looking at Pellegrini.

As if saying, listen, brother, what’s going on, if you’re not going to make any changes, I won’t be polite anymore.