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Starting as a Defensive Midfielder at Real Madrid

Chapter 144: Come On—Show Us What You’ve Got, Challenge the Defending Champions! · Nov 11, 2026

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Chapter List (401)

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101 Chapter 101: Formation Core Leon — Bringing the XJBT Tactic to Real Madrid 2026-11-11
102 Chapter 102: You Can Be Better Looking Than Me, But Dirtier? Never—Because I’m the True Defensive Midfielder! 2026-11-11
103 Chapter 103: Don’t Panic, Xiao Ping—Barça Will Deliver 2026-11-11
104 Chapter 104: Breaking Through the Long Pass Barrier, Filling the Shortcomings 2026-11-11
105 Chapter 105: A Gift for Everyone—So No One Gets to Laugh at Anyone Else 2026-11-11
106 Chapter 106: When It’s a Friend, You Hit Even Harder 2026-11-11
107 Chapter 107: The Meaning of Real Madrid Is Victory—It Is Championship 2026-11-11
108 Chapter 108: They Came to Madrid Saying They Were Here to Win—And Got Beaten 3–0 Again 2026-11-11
109 Chapter 109: This Is Mourinho’s Trump Card—The Midfield Beast Trio PLUS Edition! 2026-11-11
110 Chapter 110: Barcelona, Salute This Season’s La Liga Champions! 2026-11-11
111 Chapter 111: A World Apart—You Can’t Turtle Up Against Bayern, Turtling Won’t Save You 2026-11-11
112 Chapter 112: I Told You—Leon Would Be the Key to Breaking Bayern Down! 2026-11-11
113 Chapter 113: On the Battle for Possession—Mourinho Says, “You’re All Trash Compared to Me” 2026-11-11
114 Chapter 114: Real Madrid’s Championship Aura Can’t Be Hidden Anymore—So They Won’t Hide It! 2026-11-11
115 Chapter 115: Barcelona’s Dynasty Has Ended—And Real Madrid Is Climbing to the Summit! 2026-11-11
116 Chapter 116: There’s No Shortcut to This Championship—Only Unity, Only Sacrifice 2026-11-11
117 Chapter 117: Equalized by a Header? We’re Not Bayern Munich! 2026-11-11
118 Chapter 118: Few Teams Are as Resilient as You—But I Just Want to Win 2026-11-11
119 Chapter 119: Let the Whole World Remember Our Names—We Are the Greatest Mourinho-Era Madrid! 2026-11-11
120 Chapter 120: When You Gaze Upon the Crown, Bow Your Head—And Salute the Treble Winners 2026-11-11
121 Chapter 121: In a Summer Window of an Arms Race, Madrid’s Selling Strategy Feels Out of Place 2026-11-11
122 Chapter 122: A New Era Begins—When the Young Replace the Old, Football Marches On 2026-11-11
123 Chapter 123: The New Generation Replaces the Old—A New Era in Football Has Arrived 2026-11-11
124 Chapter 124: We’re Still Growing—Real Madrid Is Still Growing! 2026-11-11
125 Chapter 125: If Anyone Forces Me to Pick a Side—I’ll Flip the Damn Table (Part 1) 2026-11-11
126 Chapter 126: There’s No Need to Overcomplicate Things Against Barça – Just Stick to Counterattacks and Aerial Balls 2026-11-11
127 Chapter 127: Watch Out—Here Comes Real Madrid’s Aerial Attack Squad! 2026-11-11
128 Chapter 128: Why Does That Number Ten Keep Charging Into Our Box?! 2026-11-11
129 Chapter 129: Luka, You’re My Natural-Born Midfield Partner 2026-11-11
130 Chapter 130: Winning a Trophy as Soon as You Arrive—So This Is What It Feels Like to Be at a Big Club? 2026-11-11
131 Chapter 131: The Fifth Trophy of the Year — Kings of Europe 2026-11-11
132 Chapter 132: The Birth of a New Midfield Duo — Twin Turbo Engines Engage! 2026-11-11
133 Chapter 133: So You Guys Are the So-Called New Kings of the Premier League? 2026-11-11
134 Chapter 134: You’re Not Vieira, and You’re Not Even Close 2026-11-11
135 Chapter 135: Li Ang Isn’t in the Top Five Defensive Midfielders—He Just Beat Two of Them 2026-11-11
136 Chapter 136: This Season’s ”Father-Son Match” Came Awfully Early 2026-11-11
137 Chapter 137: Sometimes, Charging Forward Is the Best Way to Break the Game 2026-11-11
138 Chapter 138: I Can Choose Not to Shoot—But You Don’t Dare Not to Defend 2026-11-11
139 Chapter 139: Farewell to the Jia Mansion—Same Atmosphere, Same Opening 2026-11-11
140 Chapter 140: Messi Drops Deep Early—A Smarter Barça 2026-11-11
141 Chapter 141: Wait, What? You Both Chickened Out? Just Fight Already! 2026-11-11
142 Chapter 142: Header Equalizer! Li Ang Only Scores in Clutch Moments! 2026-11-11
143 Chapter 143: Götze’s Hunger to Compete—The Battle of the ’90s Generation Stars 2026-11-11
144 Chapter 144: Come On—Show Us What You’ve Got, Challenge the Defending Champions! 2026-11-11
145 Chapter 145: Don’t Break Down—It’s Just That I’m Better Than You 2026-11-11
146 Chapter 146: We Are Here—Real Madrid Is Right Here! 2026-11-11
147 Chapter 147: Chaos Unleashed—Atlético Charges In Swinging a Giant Blade 2026-11-11
148 Chapter 148: Want to Advance? Now You Have to Look at Real Madrid’s Face 2026-11-11
149 Chapter 149: The Madman’s Temper—Public Opinion Erupts! 2026-11-11
150 Chapter 150: If You Can’t Get Past Li Ang, You Don’t Deserve to Face Pepe and Ramos 2026-11-11

Borussia Dortmund’s loss to Schalke 04 in the Ruhr Derby just days before their Champions League clash had been a real blow to morale.

Many of the Real Madrid players were already talking about it in the dressing room.

Li Ang wasn’t sure if Mourinho and his staff had factored that defeat into their psychological preparation. But if they had, he feared it could become a serious miscalculation.

Dortmund had yet to truly prove themselves in Europe, and the broader football world still tended to underrate Jürgen Klopp.

Yes, he’d already defended his Bundesliga title. Yes, he’d won the domestic double last season. And yes, he was gaining recognition across Europe as one of the sport’s top coaches.

But even so, Li Ang felt that Klopp was still undervalued.

This was a tactical innovator. A pioneer.

From his early days in Germany to the refined pressing systems he perfected in England, Klopp had consistently developed frameworks that changed the tactical landscape.

His high-intensity pressing system broke down possession-based giants. Later, his controlled build-up model at Liverpool reshaped how teams approached transitions.

In that way, Klopp was not unlike Guardiola.

Li Ang knew one thing for sure: this man was dangerous.

He wasn’t as reactive as Mourinho during matches. But in terms of pre-game planning, motivation, and preparing tactical traps, Klopp was elite.

Only Li Ang seemed to fully understand that. Most others still didn’t give Klopp enough credit.

Fortunately, in the final few days of prep, Li Ang noticed Mourinho had done his homework as usual. Despite Dortmund’s recent stumble, there was no sign of complacency.

Mourinho, after all, never let his guard down against unfamiliar opponents. It was one of his biggest strengths—and it put Li Ang’s mind at ease.

The joking among Madrid’s players about Dortmund’s loss to Schalke vanished quickly. They all knew who they were about to face:

The team that had crushed Bayern 5–2 in the German Cup Final.

Everyone in Madrid knew what level last season’s Bayern had played at. And if Dortmund could do that to them, no one was taking this match lightly.

On the afternoon of October 23, under the watchful eye of global media and eager fans, the Real Madrid squad and coaching staff boarded their flight to Germany.

By that evening, they stepped onto the turf at Signal Iduna Park.

A proper European fortress.

Big. Loud. Majestic. And as Li Ang gazed up, he saw them—the eight massive yellow pylons looming above the stadium, thrusting into the sky like giant swords.

Perfectly arranged. Structured. Brimming with power.

Much like this youthful Dortmund side under Klopp.

If everything continued on its current trajectory, this team might very well rock all of Europe.

”Beautiful stadium,” Marcelo said, rubbing the grass approvingly. ”But the thought of getting booed here tomorrow makes me a little sad.”

Everyone chuckled. But inside, Li Ang shared the concern.

Could Madrid withstand the pressure at what many claimed was the loudest home stadium in Europe?

There were no answers yet.

Even Mourinho and Karanka looked slightly uneasy—but neither addressed it. No sense in stirring up anxiety the night before battle.

And in truth, most of Madrid’s players had been on stages like this before. They’d seen the pressure. Felt the roar.

Newcomers like Matuidi and Modrić would start on the bench.

This team could handle it.

They spent a quiet, composed night in Dortmund.

But by midday the next day, the city was buzzing.

This match was the most anticipated fixture of the week—a clash of two titans.

And in the shadow of their spotlight, the other big match in Group D: Ajax vs. Manchester City.

It couldn’t be helped. Group D was the true group of death. Every fixture felt like a quarterfinal.

If Madrid beat Dortmund and City defeated Ajax, the group standings would become very interesting.

Madrid would sit atop with nine points.

City and Dortmund would be tied on four.

Ajax, with one point after three games, would be hanging on by a thread.

Tensions would rise. The matches would only get better.

Among fans, only Madrid’s were calm. Dortmund fans? Nervous, but hopeful. Ajax fans were… well, resigned. Watching with pillows tucked behind their heads, ready to do sit-ups if they pulled off an upset.

But City fans? They were sweating.

They had to watch both matches. Pray their team beat Ajax. Pray Madrid buried Dortmund.

For now, they were cheering for Madrid. No shame in it—progress over pride.

While fans crunched numbers, the players had only one mission:

Win.

Dortmund weren’t counting on Ajax to do them any favors. They wanted to beat Madrid and take top spot themselves.

Madrid, undefeated, had no interest in slipping now. They wanted three straight wins.

This wasn’t the league. There were no second chances. No ”draws are fine” scenarios.

The group stage is a war. Retreat once, and you’ll have to retreat again and again.

As both teams emerged from the tunnel, warmups complete, tactical briefs delivered, there was no turning back.

This was it.

A battle of strength. Of will. Of dominance.

The Champions League is not a place for the timid.

You win? You move on.

You lose? You might not come back.

And when the players stepped onto the pitch, facing the legendary Yellow Wall, they felt it.

The pressure. The weight. The roar of 80,000.

But Madrid stood tall.

Because they weren’t just Real Madrid tonight.

They were the defending champions.

As the camera swept across their lineup, every player looked calm. Focused.

No arrogance. But no fear.

They were ready.

Ready to defend their crown.

And if Dortmund wanted it, they’d have to earn it.

The game began. And from the first second, Madrid showed intent.

They pressed hard.

Essien. Li Ang. Benzema. Ronaldo.

They chased. Hounded. Swarmed every Dortmund pass.

It was a shock.

Because this was Dortmund’s usual tactic.

Now, they were on the receiving end.

They adapted fast—this was Klopp’s team, after all—but they couldn’t match Madrid’s muscle.

Li Ang and Essien manned the middle like a fortress. One pressing high, the other dropping to cover.

Götze and Reus? Stifled.

The physicality shook them.

The Dortmund crowd booed every hard challenge. But Li Ang and Essien didn’t care.

After a foul call, Li Ang even smiled down at a fallen Götze. The cameras caught it. The Yellow Wall erupted in rage.

Li Ang was provoking them.

The booing only grew louder. It didn’t stop—even after the restart.

Dortmund finally fought their way into Madrid’s half.

Reus slipped away from Essien. Smartly played the ball to Lewandowski, who dropped deep to connect.

But he didn’t see it coming.

Li Ang and Alonso closed in like a pincer. Boom. Ball gone.

Lewandowski fell. No whistle.

Li Ang had already played it wide.

Then he glanced back, shaking his head with a smirk.

”That’s all you’ve got?”

His expression said it all.

”Come on then. Show us what you’ve got.”

”Let’s see what you’ve really got, Dortmund.”

”Come and challenge the defending champions.”

Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.

Read 20 Chapters In Advance: /johanssen10

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