I Am Scouted by Real Madrid-Chapter 498 - 4: Night Meeting with the Madman (Part 2)
What’s even more interesting...
Florentino’s gaze turned towards Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe.
As Mendes’ vanguard, they seem to have already become part of the "Chen faction."
In previous communications with Mourinho, this "madman" still had a "goodwill" attitude towards Chen Zhong.
After Mourinho joined Real Madrid, many people felt Mourinho would clash with Chen Zhong, but in reality, Mourinho is a coach skilled at handling player relationships, especially with useful players.
If Chen Zhong were a player with strong control desires and liked to point fingers at the coach, then undoubtedly, the two would clash intensely. But Chen Zhong isn’t that kind of person.
Moreover, Chen Zhong can sometimes stand alone and transcend external influences.
The "Chen faction" in the locker room rallies around Chen Zhong, and then there’s Mourinho and his appointed players and those newly arrived from Mendes.
Conflicts between these two sides won’t affect Chen Zhong unless one side can’t handle it and seeks Chen Zhong for intervention or negotiation.
Simply put, Chen Zhong’s "status" and "position" ensure he remains undefeated.
Because he’s not eager for power, he sometimes acts more like a "referee."
Just like what he did with Pellegrini last season.
If Chen Zhong doesn’t speak up, Pellegrini can do as he pleases, but when Chen Zhong does speak up, Pellegrini better be smart.
Because everyone.
Including Francisco, who Pellegrini considers close, is part of the "Chen faction."
Florentino ultimately chose Mourinho because he knew Mourinho was a smart man, and Mourinho agreed to keep the presence of this anomaly Chen Zhong because he knew this "kid" wouldn’t be an issue.
The outside world thought the Real Madrid locker room would experience turmoil.
However, in reality, whether it’s Mourinho’s strict requirements or anything else, it has no impact on Chen Zhong whatsoever, because he’s always been doing it this way.
For example, if you already eat on time and sleep on time, then one day, someone asks you to eat on time and sleep on time; does that affect you? It only affects those who don’t already eat and sleep on time.
As for Mourinho’s suggestion that players should see Barcelona players as "enemies," stirring up both sides’ determination and emotions, it has even less impact on Chen Zhong.
He’s from Real Madrid’s youth academy.
During youth training, they were always competing with Barcelona. The best compliment during youth training was how his team never lost, or won, against Barcelona’s youth team.
This kind of sentiment is akin to invading places with a good life, then singularly creating a clan record kind of sentiment.
Just not as strong.
So what Mourinho mentioned doesn’t trouble Chen Zhong.
What troubles him more is Cristiano Ronaldo, whose friend Pique is a Barcelona player.
Casillas and Ramos are troubled because, after all, they have national team teammates on the opposite side, and they might have decent private relationships.
Moreover, Chen Zhong has always been active and hardworking on the field.
This is one reason why Mourinho has no "malice" towards Chen Zhong, because Chen Zhong can fulfill all his "expectations."
Finally, concerning the relationship with Mendes.
The two are not in a superior-subordinate relationship; it’s more of a collaboration.
Mourinho indeed tends to bring in players from Mendes, but this is a normal "interaction," and the players Mendes provides are indeed suitable.
Though the prices might be slightly high, not so cost-effective.
But looking after "one’s own people" and with the "company" not short on money, this isn’t really something to criticize.
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Sports City
After a period of intensive training, the team has become mutually familiar.
The team played 6 friendly matches during this time, and Real Madrid sparked quite a bit of controversy during this string of friendlies.
In the first two matches against LA Galaxy, Mexico America didn’t achieve the big wins fans wanted, both matches won by narrow one-goal victories.
Facing Bayern Munich and Standard Liege in the third and fourth games, it ended in draws.
Real Madrid’s surging offense last season appears to have vanished this season.
If it weren’t for the subsequent matches against Hercules and Penarol, where Real Madrid scored two-goal victories, the team from players to coaches would have faced immense pressure.
Yet even so, many have begun discussing whether Mourinho might not be suitable for Real Madrid.
They think Mourinho is just another Capello, only good at defense.
While under Pellegrini, Real Madrid, though "strange" without Chen Zhong, was very stable in performing against weaker opponents and commendable facing strong teams.
But under Mourinho, Real Madrid seems to have forgotten how to attack.
Even Catalonia Region’s media produced a cartoon to mock Real Madrid.
Mourinho is seen picking up a hammer from the ground, eyeing the iron ball with Real Madrid’s badge and showing a satisfied smile, with dismantled spikes all around.
Implying Real Madrid has lost its edge.
Mourinho doesn’t care about these discussions, as nobody realizes the danger, but he already knows.
Last season, Real Madrid managed to keep Barcelona in check because Barcelona had their issues, but this season Guardiola has completely solidified his conviction.
He knows how to deal with Barcelona!
Among these discussions, Sevilla, previously in despair, has found a glimmer of hope.
Speaking of which, Sevilla is quite miserable too, last season they managed to reach the King’s Cup final, only to be crushed by Real Madrid.
And this season, the first available trophy, the Spanish Super Cup.
Since Real Madrid is the La Liga champion and the King’s Cup winner, if the league and King’s Cup titles are won by the same team, the opponent team is taken from the King’s Cup runner-up, so Sevilla becomes Real Madrid’s opponent in the Super Cup.
That alone is enough.
The Super Cup is still a two-legged affair.
This means Sevilla will get beaten by Real Madrid twice.
That’s right, Sevilla is already scared of Real Madrid, even the most optimistic fans don’t think they can create a miracle in this two-legged format, especially when Real Madrid hasn’t suffered any major setbacks.
However, Real Madrid’s performance in the friendlies has given Sevilla a glimmer of hope.
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Mourinho obviously didn’t take Sevilla too seriously either. At least for the first leg, he didn’t plan to use the full main lineup against the unsettled Sevilla.
He started trying some new combinations for his 4-2-3-1 setup.
In this setup, he chose Ozil to act as the team’s attacking midfielder, with Alonso and Khedira pairing as the team’s defensive midfielders.
At night, Mourinho and Chen Zhong discussed some thoughts on this matter.
"Chen."
"I think you can do more for the team."
"I hope you can stay in this position." Mourinho got out his notebook and said, "I hope you appear more in this zone."
It’s the area outside the penalty box.
Under Mourinho, the team does take long shots.
Evidently, Mourinho has seen the advantages of Pellegrini’s "false center forward" tactic last season, and wants to employ a move "a soft knife under the cotton," except this time the "knife" is a bit thicker and somewhat stiff.
Mourinho likes the strong and tough.
Earlier, he originally planned to borrow Adebayor to be the new Drogba.
But now, he realizes that Chen Zhong might not be unable to be Drogba.
