I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Chapter 847: Chapter 76: Investigation, Accusation, Outcome

”I need you to see them as your enemies!”

”I need you to speak out through every channel possible!”

This was Mourinho’s statement in the dressing room after the match. He even specifically told an Argentine like Di Maria that if he were to be on the field and the team needed it, he hoped Di Maria could bring down Messi.

He also told Ramos, Casillas, and others to forget about their national team friendship with Xavi and Iniesta.

He even wanted Chen Zhong to speak out publicly, which was unimaginable in the past, but Mourinho was already in a state of ”persecution delusion,” insisting that to reach the final, Real Madrid had to use some extraordinary means.

The turmoil of the Champions League semi-final between Real Madrid and Barcelona had not subsided, and controversy over the referee’s decisions persisted. Real Madrid captain Chen Zhong unusually accepted an interview recently, and his words in front of the media shocked many.

Facing the camera, Chen Zhong stated that Barcelona was far from embodying the spirit of fair play. Their players acted like crying women and babies upon physical contact.

In the first leg of the match, Busquets exaggeratedly clutched his face and fell, while the focus was on Pepe’s red card. Real Madrid believed that the foul by the Portuguese defender did not warrant a straight red card. As Chen Zhong looked at the camera, when asked about Alves’ fall, he bluntly said that Alves’ exaggerated fall misled the referee.

”Maybe Pepe committed a foul, but I don’t think it was a red card.”

”Football is a man’s sport, but whenever you face Barcelona, whenever you touch them, they roll on the ground, crying like women and babies.”

”Everyone talks about Barcelona and their fair competition, but I think they are far from the spirit of fair play. Whenever you have physical contact with them, whether it’s a one-on-one or a 50-50 challenge, they roll on the ground, clutching their faces.”

”Personally, every time I’ve played against Barcelona, in most matches, we end up having a player sent off.”

”Barcelona’s coach, fans, and players on the bench are always complaining, protesting, and crying. Barcelona is an exceptional club with exceptional players, but they must stop this acting.”

Chen Zhong’s speech caused a huge stir, but before the media could react, others drew their attention.

Real Madrid’s top star Cristiano Ronaldo also expressed his anger at the referee’s red card after the epic showdown. He believed that the red card decided the match, and it was very difficult for Real Madrid to come back in the knockout stage.

Cristiano Ronaldo clearly believed that there was a hidden hand at work behind all of this: ”Everybody saw it when it was 11 vs. 11, we didn’t concede a goal, everything was under control. Real Madrid didn’t play well, but we controlled everything. Then, we were down to 10 men, and our goal was breached.”

”Is this just a coincidence? I honestly don’t understand why so many teams can only play against Barcelona with 10 men in the Champions League knockout stage.”

”Every year it’s the same situation, and I can’t understand it. Honestly, playing like this is difficult.”

”You might say that with 10 men we didn’t shoot, had no chances, but that’s football; after all, the knockout stage has two legs, and a 1-1 at home isn’t a bad result.” Cristiano Ronaldo also mentioned that during the match, he dared not talk much to the referee: ”I can’t say much. If I say anything, I’d definitely get booked. The dressing room is very sad right now, and the coach is also sad; every time, he encounters the same situation.”

Cristiano Ronaldo also showed disdain for Messi’s performance in the match: ”He played well, but playing against 10 men is certainly easy. I really wish to have a chance to play against 10 men. Winning an away game will be very difficult, but anything is possible in football.” Real Madrid’s general manager Valdano also stated that Pepe’s action was a bit rough but not malicious, and the referee’s judgment decided the match, ”The referee’s decision had more impact than Messi’s goal.”

People in the Spanish football community were long used to Mourinho’s outspokenness. Criticizing referees and opposing coaches had become child’s play. But after the ”national derby” in the Champions League semi-final, his earth-shattering remarks might still bring significant trouble for him and the Real Madrid Club.

A 1:1 draw at home, Pepe was shown a red card, Ramos suspended, even Mourinho himself was sent to the stands; for Real Madrid, this was undoubtedly an unbearable pain.

And the referee issue once again became the focus of everyone’s controversy. Of course, this was another sensitive topic, perhaps explaining why at the post-match press conference, as soon as he sat down, Mourinho, with a stern face, tossed out a statement: ”If I honestly speak out my feelings today, my career could end.”

But he couldn’t help himself and in a sarcastic tone, without any reservation, started his ”outcry”: ”I just have one question, why? Why are people like Overbo, Debruyne, Busacca, and Stark officiating? Why couldn’t Chelsea reach the final two years ago? Why did Inter have to hold on with ten men for so long to create a miracle?... I don’t know if it’s because of Villa’s (President of the Spanish Football Association) power or because they advertise for the United Nations Children’s Fund or because they’re really lovely. I want to congratulate their team, but more importantly, congratulate them for the enormous power they hold...”