Chapter 666: Chapter 85: The Traits Chen Brings to the Team! (Part 2)
The players of Villarreal formed a human Great Wall, determined to intercept Chen Zhong outside the penalty area. Under Villarreal’s "pressure," Chen Zhong tilted towards the right side of the penalty area.
Quite a few Villarreal players sighed in relief.
But they ignored Cristiano Ronaldo cutting inside.
Mourinho had a peculiar smile on his face. In this match, he aimed for Marcelo to cross from the left, Chen Zhong to tackle the opposition’s center-back, Benzema roaming for support as a wingman, then Cristiano Ronaldo sneaking into the penalty area, with Kaka watching hungrily, ready to pounce.
Villarreal’s defense was actually doing quite well.
They even spotted the unmarked Cristiano Ronaldo in position.
But...
Can a person pass the ball faster than light?
Obviously not.
"Continuous passing coordination!"
"Villarreal’s defense is very good."
"Chen Zhong has been forced towards the sideline."
"Wait, a lob pass?"
"C. Ronaldo!"
"Unmarked."
"He takes a shot!"
"It’s in!"
"He definitely won’t miss such an opportunity!"
"1:1"
"Real Madrid has equalized the score!"
"Villarreal made a mistake!"
"They shouldn’t over-focus on or neglect Chen Zhong."
"Keep in mind, besides Chen Zhong, who’s a potential Ballon d’Or winner, Real Madrid also has C. Ronaldo and Kaka, both Ballon d’Or recipients!"
Unmarked, Cristiano Ronaldo demonstrated solid basic skills with a beautiful ball control and a striking volley, sending the ball into the goal.
After scoring, Cristiano Ronaldo turned around eager to celebrate, but Chen Zhong ran over, grabbed him around the waist, and headed towards Villarreal’s goal.
"It’s just a tie, not a lead yet!"
Upon hearing this, Cristiano Ronaldo also calmed down. Led by Chen Zhong, the team had developed a habit of not celebrating unless leading.
A meme emerged online: "Real Madrid only celebrates victories."
Meaning only goals that secure a lead are worth celebrating for Real Madrid. If a goal doesn’t lead, quickly pick up the ball and strive for victory.
This habit of Real Madrid puts psychological pressure on many teams.
After the team’s goal, Mourinho celebrated passionately on the sidelines - punched the air, roared, jumped, spun, waved to the fans, and then listened with his ear, drawing lots of attention.
This left some Villarreal fans and players dissatisfied.
"Villarreal kicks off the ball."
"Driven to the wing."
"Capdevila takes the ball!"
Joaquin Capdevila, many fans thought he could become a legend or hero in the FIFA game after retirement. He was the starting left-back during Spain’s championship triumph in the 2008 European Cup, sharing equal playtime with Casillas.
And in the 2010 World Cup, he was the only player in the champion Spain Team not from Real Madrid or Barcelona.
Capdevila was once a midfielder who was turned into a full-back. He’s fast, has good dribbling skills, and excels in crossing. These attributes made his flank assists a crucial offensive method for the team.
When he received the ball on the wing, Mourinho’s expression grew several degrees more serious.
Ramos shadowed the national teammate, but he wasn’t in a rush to close him down because he knew what Capdevila intended to do. Sure enough, before Ramos got close, Capdevila made a long pass to move the ball away.
"Ramos is pressing."
"Capdevila!"
"Wide range transfer!"
"Marco Ruvin!"
Capdevila’s pass drew a C in the sky, such a peculiar technique made it hard for Real Madrid’s players to judge where the ball would land.
The ball passed over the heavily guarded central area of Real Madrid and flew towards the edge of the penalty area.
Marcelo saw an opening again but quickly responded, sticking close to Marco Ruvin, both waiting for that pass to arrive.
Marco Ruvin didn’t opt to trap the ball, since at that moment was likely when Marcelo could disrupt the ball, so he chose to stretch his left leg, copying Cristiano Ronaldo’s style, attempting a volley.
The difference between ordinary and top players was clear at this moment.
The ball missed the goal completely, with Casillas watching it sail past.
If that moment had Chen Zhong, Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo receiving the ball...
Even if not a goal, they would at least hit within the goal’s range.
Villarreal’s fans barely had time to lament before Casillas was already calling for the ball from the ball boys.
The trait of Real Madrid is: when trailing or tied, they’ll quickly modify the score.
This "unwritten rule" was gradually accepted by Real Madrid’s players after Chen Zhong’s return, spending two seasons. At Real Madrid’s home, the ball boys are mostly young players from the Youth Team, naturally they know "everything" about the first team.
So Casillas soon got the ball, as Villarreal’s fans regretted and their players remained rueful, he had already thrown the ball, signaling the start of a counterattack.
"Missed within the frame."
"Villarreal’s players and fans look very regretful."
"Casillas quickly threw the ball."
"Real Madrid launched a counterattack."
"Alonso takes possession!"
"A long pass!"
"Towards Cristiano Ronaldo!"
Real Madrid’s attack was like a tide, some Villarreal players were even slow to react.
Cristiano Ronaldo, running sideways, estimated the ball’s distance. When the ball bounced ahead, he didn’t opt to trap it but mimicked Kaka’s trick against Manchester United’s defense, heading the ball forward, then upping the speed to sprint.
Villarreal clearly put in earnest work on defense.
They did not rush to reclaim the ball from Cristiano Ronaldo’s feet but steadied their positions, blocking the cutting lanes, making it impossible for the Portuguese to cut inside.
Cristiano Ronaldo feinted twice, attempting a breakthrough, but the defender had hands behind his back, unfazed.
The Portuguese swung his right foot over the ball, faked a dribble, then passed it towards the middle.
There, Chen Zhong was sprinting forward, with Villarreal’s former Real Madrid Youth Team player Balero practically hanging on him in a desperate attempt.
This "mediocre" talent who joined Real Madrid Youth in 2005 and had no connection with Chen Zhong finally witnessed the "monster’s" renown.
In 2007, Chen Zhong made the first team while Balero left free in 2007.
"C. Ronaldo takes the ball on the flank!"
"Attempting to breakthrough opponent!"
"But failed and returned to original position, feints to mislead opponent!"
"Passed towards the center!"
"Chen Zhong advances!"
"Shoots!"
"Directly opts for a shot!"
