Santiago Bernabeu Stadium
A landmark in Madrid, the place of glory for the team.
Throughout the long years, it symbolizes not just a stadium, but past legends and future glory.
This stadium, bearing the glorious history of Real Madrid and countless thrilling moments, is currently experiencing yet another historic moment, though it's uncertain if future generations will regard it as good or bad.
At exactly 22:00 local time in Spain, 04:00 Beijing time, this match destined to blow up the internet the next day began amid the clamor of fans.
"This is going to be a night of shame."
"It was a mistake to appoint him as the coach."
"I hope his performance won't be too terrible at least!"
Amid complaints, the Merengue fans settled down to watch the game, though dissatisfied that a 16-year-old center-back was playing, they still harbored some hope deep down that this youth academy player could surprise them.
Of course, while thinking this, they couldn't stop cursing Schuster aloud.
Schuster stood by the sideline, still faintly hearing the curse of some extreme fans against him. Compared to Chen Zhong on the pitch, they clearly had more malice towards Schuster, with some even bringing up Schuster's past service at Barcelona.
Sevilla used a 4-5-1 formation in this match but did not entangle with Real Madrid in the middle, instead, they focused more on breakthroughs and passes on the wings.
"He's past," Schuster suddenly spoke, his eyes fixed on Sevilla's number 12 player.
Frederic Kanoute, standing at 192CM, a top center forward trained at the Lyon academy, also Sevilla's goal machine, was like a towering figure in Sevilla's front line, guiding the wingers to constantly aim passes at his head.
And he never disappoints, often heading the ball into the net directly in the box or shooting after receiving a pass, which is Kanoute's specialty.
"Kanoute is through!"
"Slam it in with your head, Kanoute!"
"Number 12 Kanoute, heads and scores a goal! Hahaha."
Sevilla fans murmured in excitement, they saw the team's flank play and were expecting a cross next.
Van Nistelrooy is known as the "King of the Small Penalty Area," but in their hearts, Kanoute is the true "King of the Small Penalty Area."
Kanoute's sneaky movements immediately caught Chen Zhong's attention, he was searching for the gap between Chen Zhong and Pepe, while his position leaned more towards Chen Zhong's oblique rear.
This familiar scene instantly put Chen Zhong on alert.
The team's entire defensive line was retreating, Sevilla, in possession on the wing, prepared to cross, and Chen Zhong, without any hesitation, quickly used his peripheral vision to locate Kanoute, seeing Kanoute cutting diagonally behind him as expected.
The ball arched beautifully, as if rehearsed countless times, falling towards Real Madrid's penalty area.
Kanoute's gaze was firm, his lips slightly open, after confirming his teammate's kick, he took note of Casillas' position with the corner of his eye, then launched towards the falling ball like a rabbit.
Watching the ball's trajectory, his body slightly bent, ready to leap and complete a header goal at any moment.
And at this moment, a figure number 22 appeared in his vision.
Is it that 16-year-old kid?
This thought popped into Kanoute's head.
He wasn't a tank-like player; though he was 192CM tall, his figure was slender, his movement agile, more like a flexible snake than a clumsy bear.
But now, this flexible snake had its vital point gripped by someone.
Kanoute was extremely uncomfortable, feeling Chen Zhong's hand exploring his body, shoulder continuously applying pressure on his chest, both jumped simultaneously, yet Kanoute clearly didn't beat Chen Zhong.
The ball was cleared far away, and Sevilla fans laughed from the stands...
"Did Kanoute not have enough to eat?"
"Managed to get blocked by a kid from making his signature header?"
"Kanoute, don't hold back just because he's a kid!"
On the Merengue side, they closed their gaping mouths, withdrew their worrisome voices, and lowered their white handkerchiefs a bit.
"Hmph, not bad at all!"
"I thought we were going to concede on the first attack."
"After all, he came from our youth academy, he certainly has some skills."
Kanoute jogged back, communicating with his teammates, hoping they could make more technically proficient crosses, not those obvious passes that even a kid could predict.
At this moment, Kanoute didn't realize the severity of the problem, just thought maybe the teammate's passing was too obvious.
Meanwhile, Casillas was shouting Chen Zhong's name loudly, praising him for this defensive play: "Well done, keep it up, stay focused."
Pepe also communicated actively with Chen Zhong: "Chen, if they break through the middle later, if I step up to intercept, remember to cover my spot."
A single defense doesn't prove much, and Sevilla quickly came back, Ramos watched the Sevilla player in front with concentration, but the opponent, unlike last time, after a feint, passed the ball to the center.
Kanoute received the ball and transferred it to the left, where Renato squeezed past Drenthe along the baseline, Drenthe returned quickly, the two tangled, Drenthe kept trying to dispossess but failed.
"Something's not right." Chen Zhong always maintained observation around him, with high defensive awareness of up to 87, he often could move early to intercept or block opponents, and now Renato's route was basically locked.
Kanoute was behind him, with no worries on Pepe's side, the only open spot was the area between him and Drenthe.
Could it be?
Drenthe moved with crab steps, legs apart, lowered his center of gravity, staring intently at Renato in front, intending to intercept, yet in the penalty area, at Bernabeu, under numerous fans' eyes, he dared not, afraid to make mistakes.
Renato seemed to have seen through Drenthe's mindset, nudging the ball, faking Drenthe's center of gravity, and swiftly passing diagonally into the penalty area.
This was a standard cut-back pass.
Drenthe turned around, indeed seeing Sevilla's number 7, Navas, quickly moving forward.
Oh no, oh no!
Drenthe's face showed surprise, Casillas quickly shifted focus, Navas directly shot.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
Two sounds, one a shot, one a block.
Chen Zhong, wearing white, slid in from the side, sliding obliquely into the shooting path, the ball struck Chen Zhong's thigh, but didn't fly far.
Kanoute quickly moved up, after getting the ball, he passed it back to Navas.
Navas nudged the ball, shot again.
Chen Zhong scrambled sideways, using both hands and feet awkwardly, his gaze firmly on Navas, when Navas kicked, turning his head to avoid facing the ball, directly piling force into his legs and hands, diving bodily to block.
The ball slammed into Chen Zhong's back, he had no time to feel the pain, quickly determining the ball's position, only relaxing seeing Pepe clear it.
"Well done!" Casillas shouted towards Chen Zhong, looking at Chen Zhong crawling with limbs on the ground, he felt as if a soft spot within had been touched, remembering how he, too, once fought relentlessly for the team at the goalpost.
Chen Zhong nodded towards Casillas, calming his inner turmoil while observing teammates' positions, adjusting his own.
The white kit stained green with grass, marred by ball prints, marked by dirt.
Yet in the eyes of the Merengue, Chen Zhong initially possessed the qualification to wear this jersey.
Not for anything else, just because he had a heart, vowing passion for the shirt he wore.