I Am Scouted by Real Madrid-Chapter 314 - 13: In Full Swing

Because Milan has Real Madrid’s former players Guti, Raul, and Diara, while Marseille has Real Madrid’s former players Morientes and Heinze.

Real Madrid’s sports director Padesa recently accepted an interview as the club’s representative.

Padesa said, "This is a very difficult group, but we must give it our all and play at our highest level."

"This year’s Champions League final is being held at the Bernabeu, if Real Madrid can reach the final, it would be a very nice gift."

These remarks were Padesa’s way of trying to indirectly put pressure on Pellegrini; however, in private conversations with Francisco, Pellegrini expressed that he preferred to focus on the league.

La Liga, Round 2.

Real Madrid faced the Spanish on the road.

The team secured a 0:1 victory away from home.

In the stands, Real Madrid fans who traveled with the team expressed their discontent with boos, but Pellegrini was very satisfied because the team finally played the way he wanted.

In Pellegrini’s Real Madrid, the players’ duties are very clear. In this match, although the counter-attacking advance and clear one-two combinations from the last game were less apparent,

Pellegrini also made the team’s attacking front like a "kaleidoscope."

C. Ronaldo, Negredo, Pirlo, and Kaka continually switched positions and moved around, making the team very flexible in attack.

But the problem was that with Chen Zhong being restricted in position and reducing forward runs, although the team’s backbone was strengthened and performed more steadily in defense,

the overall pace of passing and control began to slow down.

Many fans could see that Pellegrini’s team aimed to "attack," with C. Ronaldo as a highlight on the flank, occasionally showing brilliance during the match.

However, Pellegrini wanted C. Ronaldo to improve his crossing accuracy on the wing, and C. Ronaldo also preferred to cut inside and try to shoot himself.

All of this put Negredo in the middle in an awkward position.

Many have not yet noticed what Pellegrini’s tactical shortcoming is; they just feel that Real Madrid’s attacks are fierce, wave after wave, but there’s only one goal to show for it.

Some might say it’s C. Ronaldo’s wayward shooting, or the strikers’ lack of ability to seize chances.

However, some astute coaches have already realized Pellegrini’s tactical flaw.

That is his pursuit of passing control and wanting to diversify the play to increase its unpredictability and variety.

And the solution to this problem is quite simple: let Chen Zhong make forward runs and act as the team’s playmaker, becoming Real Madrid’s nucleus.

But herein lies a conflict with "bookworm" Pellegrini’s philosophy.

For Pellegrini, who wants to create a "miracle" in the league and strip Barcelona of their defense, stability is more important than anything else.

He placed the original solution, what Chen Zhong had to do, onto C. Ronaldo, but C. Ronaldo is not the team-type player like Chen Zhong; he prefers to solve problems individually.

As a result, Real Madrid’s tactics were exposed in the second half against the Spanish.

The Spanish started parking the bus and man-marking C. Ronaldo.

If it weren’t for C. Ronaldo winning a penalty in the box, this game might have ended in a draw.

After the game, Chen Zhong returned to the locker room a bit sullen; he was frustrated because he didn’t want to play this way, although considering the bigger picture, Pellegrini was correct.

Previously, when he was with other teams, the key was "stability"; his team was very stable in the league, allowing even some second-tier teams to unleash powerful energy.

But with a team like Real Madrid,

if you can’t suppress the stars, big problems arise.

Chen Zhong realized that he had become a key figure.

Because as long as he’s willing, he can help Pellegrini suppress the dressing room, and it’s easy to do, as he’s the only one who has to make sacrifices.

"Chen."

Chen Zhong turned his head and saw Pellegrini, this "competent" but flawed manager, walking in. He looked sincere and straightforward, which made Chen Zhong feel like punching him.

"I don’t like your tactics!"

Chen Zhong walked over, closed the door, and frankly expressed his view to Pellegrini.

He didn’t say Pellegrini’s tactics were bad because such tactics could stabilize points for the club in the league, and no one else could fill his role.

Chen Zhong remained the team’s core, but a "static" one.

"I know, but I think you can do it."

"If we want to defeat Barcelona and take the championship from them."

"Then we need stability." Pellegrini looked sincerely at Chen Zhong and said, "We need to concede fewer goals and score more, aim to gather as many points as possible."

Chen Zhong understood Pellegrini’s meaning instantly; in this private conversation, Chen Zhong didn’t mention directly hitting Barcelona in the league.

Because with the current Cosmic Team, no one dare to say they’re sure to defeat them.

Pellegrini, being a "rational" person, might have calculated the possibility of losing both matches against Barcelona and even predicted a scenario where both teams had the same points, deciding the championship by goal difference.

"You’re right."

Chen Zhong agreed with Pellegrini’s view because league stability was indeed necessary, but...

"What about the Champions League?"

"What about the Spanish King’s Cup?" Chen Zhong seriously looked at Pellegrini and said, "The league’s tactics might be okay for the King’s Cup."

"But in the Champions League."

"I don’t think it’s feasible."

The league and the Champions League are two different tournaments; many teams dominate the league but crumble in the Champions League.

Pellegrini looked at Chen Zhong and smiled, once again seriously saying, "Then like in the first game, you keep moving forward."

Seeing Pellegrini’s relaxed demeanor, a shadow crossed Chen Zhong’s eyes.

Pellegrini is a competent manager, but he lacks dominance.

He agreed to Chen Zhong so easily, not because he firmly believed in Chen Zhong, but because from the start, he never thought the team could break through in the Champions League or the King’s Cup.

From the beginning, he placed all his bets on the league.

What Florentino said, what the higher-ups said, he never took to heart because he’s an idealist and a stubborn one.

"I will support you."

Chen Zhong closed his eyes, recalling the team’s roster, suddenly understanding Pellegrini’s predicament.

Currently, Real Madrid has a total of 8 midfielders.

Number 10 Chen Zhong, number 8 Kaka, number 23 Granero, number 5 Dani Parejo, number 15 Rafael van der Vaart, number 22 Xabi Alonso, number 21 Pirlo, number 6 Baptista

Among them, 6 are not defensive specialists.

Only Chen Zhong and Alonso are relatively reliable in the Defensive Midfielder position.

If blame is to be placed, it should fall on Florentino.

Because he wanted to return his "treasure" to glory but sold both Diaras and the two "budget Makeleles."

The brought-in Alonso, Pirlo, and Baptista, even Alonso’s defense, isn’t "professional."

Watching Pellegrini’s departing figure, Chen Zhong took a deep breath.

This is probably the price of earning a 12 million Euro annual salary!

Aside from me, who else could organize Real Madrid’s "defensive black hole"?

It seems I still need to practice heavy cannon shots!

Well then... let’s practice in the next match!

Luckily, it’s a Champions League group stage match, against...

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Zurich.