CHAPTER 29: CHAPTER 28: THE FRENZY

Hiss~

The white spray hit the shoulder, slowly alleviating the pain. It was a sports freeze spray; the ingredients were unknown, but the effect was remarkable.

Schuster was explaining the next tactics on stage, heavily criticizing the team’s timid play in the first half and frankly pointing out the reasons behind it.

Slow start was one aspect; worrying about the defense and not trusting Chen Zhong was another.

Arms crossed, he stood before the players, asking with doubt on his face, "Don’t you want to lift the trophy at Bernabeu?"

"What we need to do now is simple; we still have a second half."

"Chen has already proven his ability, damn it, he even scored a goal, a beautiful goal."

"The opponent wants to lift the trophy at Bernabeu; they’re defending desperately. If we let them succeed, it means our face will be trampled on the ground."

Schuster’s tone rose, and his actions became more animated. With his gestures becoming rich, he looked at the players in the locker room, waving his hands and said, "The outside world is doubting us, questioning my choices, questioning whether we can bear the glory of Real Madrid."

"I trust you, chose you, because I think you are worthy of this jersey."

"Have you heard the news in the media these past few days? I’m angry, are you angry? Go! Win respect through this match, tell them, those news reports are nonsense."

The players’ breaths became heavy, especially the young ones, eager to rush onto the field to battle. Schuster’s blonde hair floated with his actions, his face flushed, voice gradually turning into a roar.

"No one can beat us at Bernabeu and lift the championship trophy here!"

"If any of you are tired, you can tell me; I’ll substitute you right now, without any hesitation."

"If not!" Schuster checked the time, seeing the halftime break was nearly over: "Then get back onto the field and tell them, welcome to Bernabeu!"

The players responded to Schuster’s call, standing up one by one, and Schuster was blocking the doorway, high-fiving and hugging each player who passed by.

"Rude, I need you to score."

"Guti, it’s time to prove yourself."

"Pepe, calm down, use your brain."

"Chen!" Schuster looked at Chen Zhong who walked up to him, a smile spread across his face: "You are already a man, keep fighting like a man."

...

The second half of the match started.

Real Madrid’s offensive surged like a giant wave towards Sevilla.

The Merengues’ emotions began to rise; they looked at Schuster standing on the sidelines, with eyes filled with more appreciation, as if to say, this is more like it.

"Halftime break is over."

"Kanoute scored a penalty in the first half, Chen Zhong took advantage of a free kick opportunity and smashed in a header."

"In the second half, Real Madrid’s offensive is very fierce; Guti’s presence revitalized the midfield, and the current Real Madrid coach Schuster seems to value Guti highly."

"Guti takes the ball, breaking away from the defending players nearby. His movement is swift, and Sevilla tries to block his passing routes. Guti didn’t choose to pass to Van Nistelrooy; instead, he passed to Raul."

"Raul receives the ball and turns around; his movements are very agile."

"Raul falls to the ground; Baulsen used a move similar to a body slam to bring Raul down."

"Will this be a penalty?"

"The referee refuses to award a penalty."

"He thinks this ball hasn’t entered the penalty area."

"This is an excellent position for a free kick."

"Guti and Sneijder stand in front of the ball."

"Both are masters at free kicks."

The boos at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium seemed to drown the referee; however, Real Madrid players remained calm, simply walking to their positions upon seeing the referee refuse to award the penalty.

This silence made Sevilla uneasy and gave Juan de Ramos a sense of foreboding on the sidelines.

Sevilla’s goalkeeper was directing his teammates to form a wall, shouting their names loudly, moving them side to side, making the already tense atmosphere in the air even thicker.

"Guti, let Guti take it!"

"Our golden left foot, our Wolf Arc."

Among the Merengues, Guti’s fans murmured softly; compared to Sneijder, they wanted Guti to take the shot more.

This was a free kick positioned slightly left; the two stood in front of the ball, and Guti first started moving, his gaze profound, the white headband tight, his hair fluttering in the wind with his run.

Accelerate, raise the foot, feint.

Sevilla’s wall and goalkeeper were both deceived.

"Boom!"

Sneijder’s free kick, just at this moment, sliced through the air like a sharp blade.

At first sight, it seemed aimed at the far corner.

Upon closer inspection, it curved nearer.

The ball made a large curve in the air, swiftly descending, directly landing into the inner side of the net.

The Sevilla players were stunned as they watched the goal go into their net, while Sneijder raised his arms high and ran towards the corner flag.

The skill level of this free kick was extremely high, no less impressive than Beckham’s "Beckham’s Arc."

Faced with a free kick like this, even if Guti hadn’t faked it, Sevilla’s wall and goalkeeper would have had no chance.

"Goal!"

"Sneijder’s free kick!"

"Beautiful!"

"Beautiful!"

"Now the two teams are on equal footing."

"The overall score is tied at 2:2."

"This is Sneijder’s first goal for Real Madrid."

"He’s shown his strength."

Juan de Ramos stood on the sidelines, closed his eyes as he watched this scene, with the beautiful arc still lingering in his mind. It seemed there was no point in criticizing the goalkeeper too harshly for this kind of free kick.

Schuster celebrated wildly on the sidelines.

When both of them are on the field, the left is for Sneijder, the right is for Guti. This goal from the free kick certainly owed something to Schuster’s contribution!

"Guti, Guti!" Schuster must have deep feelings for Guti, and couldn’t help but say, "If only you had Sneijder’s confidence."

Both had extremely skilled free kicks, but usually, Sneijder tends to go for direct shots, while Guti likes to pass to a teammate.

It’s not a question of ability, but confidence.

For Schuster, he hoped Guti could be a little more confident.

The Merengues in the stands put away their white handkerchiefs, cheering with surprise as they watched Real Madrid’s tidal wave of attacks.

Yes, it was just surprise.

After seeing Schuster deploy a 4-5-1 formation in the last game, countless people had cursed him as a madman, a second Capello.

But now, Schuster barely met their expectations.

Sevilla appeared to be in grave danger under Real Madrid’s tidal wave of attacks. They tried to resist, but in the face of Real Madrid’s full force, their once-solid defense began to crumble.

Schuster’s tactic was extremely simple—go for a direct pass if possible; otherwise, cross it in.

In the 67th minute of the match, Guti dribbled to the flank and sent a cross into the penalty box to Van Nistelrooy, who controlled it with his chest, shielded the defender with his back, and then turned to shoot.

The small penalty area king was terrifying as ever!

3:1

Overall score 3:2

Real Madrid held the championship in their hands.

The Dutchman, after scoring, spread his arms and ran towards the fan stands.

Schuster repeatedly punched the air on the sidelines, while Juan de Ramos shouted his players’ names, trying to calm them down.

After taking the lead, Real Madrid played more composed and relaxed, completely different from the first half. Guti’s continuous dribbling in the midfield, Ramos’ forward runs down the flanks, Sneijder’s orchestration in midfield, and Raul and Van Nistelrooy’s movements upfront.

Soon, under Real Madrid’s offensive, Sevilla once again surrendered.

Guti, Sneijder, and Ramos all targeted Van Nistelrooy, who this time, after receiving the pass, quickly spotted the open Raul.

With a header assist, Raul scored.

Everything flowed so naturally.

4:1

However, it was far from over. Sevilla’s occasional counterattacks were snuffed out, while Real Madrid tested Sevilla’s goalkeeper at a rate of every 2-3 minutes.

Soon, in the 78th minute, Sneijder’s cross from the left allowed Van Nistelrooy to shake off the defender and head it in, once again breaching Sevilla’s net.

5:1

The Santiago Bernabeu Stadium turned into a sea of joy, the outcome no longer in doubt.

Schuster stood on the sidelines, arms folded, savoring the cheers.

Juan de Ramos stood expressionlessly on the sidelines, watching his disciples on the pitch, his thoughts drifting to distant England.

Perhaps Sevilla was no longer enough to carry his ambitions.

The match ended with the score set at 5:1

As the referee blew the final whistle, the Sevilla players were freed, while Real Madrid’s players seemed unsatiated.

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