I Am Scouted by Real Madrid-Chapter 353 - 31: This Is What Connections Are! (Part 2)

Moreover, at that time, because Benfica was only ranked third in the league, they parted ways with the club peacefully, and signing him didn’t cost much.

But in the final competition for candidates, he still lost to Pellegrini who had extensive experience in La Liga and had achieved better results in the Champions League.

When Real Madrid’s scouts evaluated him, they said: "Flores lacks the necessary obsession and passion, but he is the kind of coach who can lead the team to stable performances."

And such an evaluation was similarly given by the media shortly after the new season began when Atletico Madrid changed coaches.

In the predicament, Atletico Madrid teamed up with Flores, and many people were optimistic that this early trailing team could perform miracles.

Flores also cherished this opportunity greatly, after all, he was a Madrid native. Although his father and he himself had once played for Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid was also considered his hometown team.

This time returning to his "hometown," he was determined to accomplish something remarkable.

Everyone said Atletico Madrid’s primary task was relegation, but he insisted on securing some championships for Atletico Madrid, especially when his opponent was Pellegrini.

Although Flores never publicly talked about Real Madrid’s coach selection issue. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

But he still felt somewhat unwilling in his heart.

After all, he didn’t think he was any worse than Pellegrini.

Flores had already prepared a surprise for his old employers. Almost a month after joining Atletico Madrid, Fernando gradually regained his form at the season’s start, and the formidable forward line consisting of Fernando, Aguero, and Reyes showed unexpected sharpness during this "newcomer" period.

Not to mention players like Raul Garcia, Peria, and Camacho within the team.

Atletico Madrid was like a treasure waiting for him to explore, and young goalkeeper David De Gea especially caught Flores’s attention.

This young Spanish goalkeeper performed well in the Champions League match against Porto, stepping in after the main goalkeeper left due to injury. Although the team ultimately lost to Porto, his talent was evidently visible.

In Flores’s first coached match, he decisively chose De Gea, the third goalkeeper, to start, helping the team defeat the opponents with a final 2-1 victory.

Note that in this match, the opponents were awarded a penalty.

Yet the young De Gea saved this penalty, ensuring Flores’s first victory.

In the national derby against Real Madrid, although the main goalkeeper had recovered, Flores decided to start De Gea.

This decision indeed stirred some controversy, but at that moment, Chen Zhong was exploding in various competitions, giving Flores confidence and words.

The national derby atmosphere was already hyped up by the media before the match, and fans and players from both teams were exchanging "harsh words."

Atletico Madrid fans declared they wanted to break records and beat Real Madrid, while Real Madrid fans used a 10-year unbeaten streak as their confidence.

At this time, Aguero’s remarks made Atletico Madrid fans happy but also expectant for their new coach to say something.

At the pre-match press conference, facing unavoidable cameras, Flores did not follow Aguero’s words. Instead, he said, "Atletico Madrid has prepared thoroughly for this match."

"Although I’ve only been Atletico Madrid’s manager for a short time, I am very familiar with Real Madrid."

"What we must defend is firstly the soul, and secondly resistance."

"And we should not be entangled in personal grievances."

"In fact, if possible, I truly hope to have a player like Chen in my squad."

This was the second manager this season who expressed the desire to acquire Chen; the previous one was Barcelona’s manager Guardiola, who led the team to the "five crowns" miracle.

If we extend the timeline further, counting Wenger, who once expressed almost signing Chen Zhong, Ferguson, who praised Chen Zhong, and now Chelsea’s manager Ancelotti, who occasionally talks about last season’s events and key players.

Chen Zhong unexpectedly had a feeling of being like a mystical fruit.

Flores’s remarks infuriated Atletico Madrid fans, yet they didn’t know how to vent their inner anger, considering Flores once played for Real Madrid and his father was a legendary figure at Real Madrid.

Thus, in some private discussions, Atletico Madrid fans’ language became somewhat intense.

Some extreme fans even spoke about bringing some dangerous items into the stadium to harm others.

Time quickly reached match day, both inside and outside Estadio Vicente Calderón, Atletico Madrid fans’ fervor could be felt. They chanted slogans and even greeted Real Madrid’s bus with insults and debris.

Ten years!

A full ten years!

They hadn’t won against Real Madrid even once!

Do you know how they’ve spent these ten years?

And now, Real Madrid was suffering from the devil’s schedule, and one of the team’s two Ballon d’Or winners, C. Ronaldo, couldn’t play due to injury.