I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Chapter 874: Chapter 87: Super Midfielder (Part 2)

”Real Madrid’s attack!”

”Chen Zhong.”

”He’s been leading the team’s offensive.”

”His team has completely suppressed Manchester United’s midfield!”

During this period, Real Madrid suppressed Manchester United’s midfield, forcing Manchester United into passive defense, and Chen Zhong once again dominated the offense, causing Manchester United’s defensive line to be in disarray.

This time, Chen Zhong repeated his old trick. First, he drew three defensive players to the center before suddenly switching sides. Kaka received the ball on the right side of the penalty area, with only the goal in front of him.

At that moment, Manchester United fans felt heartbroken.

No one expected Chen Zhong to suddenly switch sides.

This sudden move caught Manchester United’s defense off guard.

After Kaka took the ball, he made some adjustments at the 18-yard line and shot towards the far corner with his signature ”Kaka-style” arc.

This shot made supporters of both teams break into a cold sweat, while Manchester United’s goalkeeper Van der Sar finally showcased the prowess of a world-class goalkeeper.

He made a flying dive and pushed the ball over the crossbar.

Real Madrid fans sat down in disappointment, while Manchester United fans wiped the sweat from their foreheads, clearly scared by the scare.

The match continued, and Real Madrid was still relentlessly bombarding Manchester United. In the 22nd minute, amid the exclamations from fans on the stands, Chen Zhong delivered his sixth key pass of the match.

”Real Madrid’s attack!”

”Chen Zhong, it’s Chen Zhong again!”

”Carrick can’t keep an eye on him at all!”

Carrick had built himself up psychologically, and upon seeing Chen Zhong take the ball, he decisively went forward, trying to disrupt the ball at Chen Zhong’s feet. However, Chen Zhong deceived him with a feint and then delivered a ground pass that pierced through Manchester United’s defense once again.

Who could have imagined that a player with such explosive physical prowess, like a monster, would have such delicate thinking, such broad vision, and such precise ground passes!

Kaka and Chen Zhong were teammates in Milan, and they needed no verbal communication. As Chen Zhong sent the ball forward, Kaka instinctively surged forward.

And this forward thrust directly led to a one-on-one.

”Kaka!”

”The two have impeccable coordination!”

”One-on-one!”

”No!”

”Vidic!!!”

At the crucial moment, Vidic turned into a savior, executing a precise slide to send the ball out of bounds.

This defensive move caused Mourinho to furiously slap the railing and curse, and Real Madrid fans were deeply regretful.

Manchester United fans breathed a sigh of relief on the stands, and Ferguson gazed intensely at Chen Zhong.

The problem for both teams was in the midfield. If Chen Zhong were a Manchester United player, then...

The electronic board at Wembley Stadium showed the match had reached the 23rd minute, the scoreboard still displaying a 0-0 score, but the tension on the field was so thick you could cut it with a knife.

Manchester United had gradually regained composure in the past minutes, mainly fueled by Ferguson’s shouts on the sidelines, making them realize they couldn’t continue to falter.

This increased the midfield battles between the two teams.

They couldn’t overpower Chen Zhong, so why not pick on someone else?

”We see Real Madrid has completely controlled the match’s tempo!”

”Within the past seven minutes, they’ve completed four threatening shots, with Manchester United’s defensive line on the verge of collapse!”

”However, Manchester United is now stabilizing, starting to attempt counterattacks.”

Ferguson stood on the sidelines, chewing gum vigorously, his eyes locked on Chen Zhong, who was dominating the midfield like he owned it.

This Chinese midfielder was like a precise offensive engine, each touch supporting Real Madrid, each pass tearing open Manchester United’s defense.

Now Chen Zhong had the ball in midfield again.

Seeing this, Ferguson’s hand started shaking uncontrollably.

As Chen Zhong took the ball, Ferdinand and Vidic immediately tightened the defense, already intimidated by Chen Zhong’s surgical-precision ground passes.

Yet this time, Chen Zhong didn’t opt for a ground pass. Instead, he suddenly back-heeled the ball to the advancing Marcelo.

”Beautiful coordination!”

”Chen Zhong!”

”Passes to Marcelo!”

”Marcelo’s cross from the baseline!”

Their coordination pointed Marcelo in the right direction, Marcelo’s cross from the baseline led the ball to arc perfectly, and Cristiano Ronaldo leaped high near the penalty spot. The entire Wembley Stadium held its breath—

And even some Barcelona fans secretly watching the match were startled.

What?

Jumping this high, besides Chen Zhong, there’s another Cristiano Ronaldo?

”Bang!”

The ball slammed against the crossbar and bounced out of bounds! Manchester United fans collectively sighed in relief.

”Unbelievable! It’s the second time Real Madrid hit the post this match!” The commentator exclaimed, ”Van der Sar was completely out of position, but the crossbar rescued Manchester United!”

Seeing this, Ferguson broke into a cold sweat, immediately signaling for tactical adjustments. Manchester United players began contracting their defense consciously, with Park Ji-sung and Carrick forming a double defensive midfielder, aiming to cut off Chen Zhong’s link with the front.

But such adjustments only gave Real Madrid more room for ball control.

In the 27th minute, Chen Zhong suddenly took a long shot from 30 meters out, the ball rocketing towards the goal’s bottom right corner!

”Van der Sar! A world-class save!” The commentator’s voice almost cracked, ”The Netherlands’ Door God parried the ball away with one hand!”

After the corner was taken, Chen Zhong’s header was also brilliantly saved by Van der Sar.

The broadcast captured Chen Zhong shaking his head, showing disbelief, while Van der Sar roared to motivate his teammates.

In the 30th minute, a dramatic scene unfolded: Chen Zhong and Carrick fought for possession in midfield, both falling simultaneously. The referee signaled for play to continue, and Manchester United swiftly launched a counterattack!

”Rooney advancing with the ball! It’s Manchester United’s perfect opportunity!”

Rooney, like a bulldozer, crushed Alonso’s defense, exchanging passes with Hernandez at the edge of the box. When everyone thought he would shoot, Rooney unexpectedly passed to Park Ji-sung on the right flank!

”Park Ji-sung! Shoots!”

Casillas dove for the save, but the ball had already evaded his fingertips! But once again, the crossbar saved Real Madrid!

”Unbelievable!” The commentator shouted, ”The crossbar saved Real Madrid!”

This thrilling moment completely ignited the match. The physical confrontations between players became increasingly intense, with the referee’s whistle sounding frequently.

Towards the end of the first half, the pace of the match slightly slowed.

In the 43rd minute, Chen Zhong delivered a precise ground pass from midfield, enabling Cristiano Ronaldo to break through the offside trap and set up a one-on-one!

”CR7! This is a chance—”

The long-dormant Cristiano Ronaldo received another opportunity to shoot. He had missed quite a few opportunities this match, and hopes were he wouldn’t miss this one.

The crowd stood up, all eyes were on Cristiano Ronaldo as both sides’ fans awaited either a goal or a save.

However, Real Madrid fans were disappointed once more.

Van der Sar displayed his magic again, blocking the Portuguese’s low shot with his leg!

In stoppage time, Manchester United also had an opportunity, with Rooney’s free kick aiming for the corner but Casillas made a diving save!

As the referee blew the whistle to end the first half, the scoreboard still read 0-0, but everyone knew the match’s excitement had far exceeded expectations.

Seeing this, Mourinho headed to the locker room to make some arrangements, as Manchester United had gradually begun to dominate the match’s tempo, leaving Real Madrid unable to suppress them as they initially did.

Meanwhile, Ferguson used the hairdryer treatment during halftime to motivate his players.