CHAPTER 53: CHAPTER 24: RIDICULOUS

[Season Task: Rookie]

[Official Matches 3/10]

[Reward: 1 Free Attribute Point upon completion.]

[Season Task: Offensive]

[Goal Completion 1/5.]

[Receive a random attribute point based on the method of scoring.]

[Season Task: Organization]

[Assist Completion 1/5.]

[Receive a random attribute point based on the method of assisting.]

[Season Task: Defense]

[Complete 40 tackles/interceptions/aerial duels.]

[Receive a random attribute point upon completion.]

[Season Task: Training]

[Anticipation Badge: Start 1/10 matches as a center back.]

[After 10 matches, the quality of the Anticipation Badge will upgrade to gold.]

In the match against Villarreal, Chen Zhong completed three season tasks: offensive, organization, and defense.

The attribute allocated to offensive was penalty, bringing Chen Zhong’s penalty attribute to 63 points. The organization attribute allocated was short passing, bringing it to 68 points. The best was defense, which was allocated to defensive awareness, bringing this stat to 88 points.

The Anticipation Badge, combined with high defensive awareness, allowed Chen Zhong to always be in the right place, giving attacking players a sense of "love at first sight."

Upon task completion, the task resets, and the difficulty increases. For example, to increase the shooting attribute next time, one needs to score 5 goals, and for passing attributes, one needs 5 assists. However, previously accumulated points will remain.

But the defense task is genuinely exhausting, directly doubling from 20 times to 40 times, and does not accumulate, meaning there may be overflow.

In the previous match, Chen Zhong’s tackles/interceptions/aerial duels definitely exceeded 20 times, but the excess did not carry over to the next; everything begins anew.

"Free attribute points are indeed the hardest to obtain. There is no reward for a single match MVP. I wonder if there will be extra rewards if one is selected for the best squad or wins the championship at the end of the season."

Chen Zhong closed the attribute panel and called his family to share the joy of winning the MVP before sleeping.

...

Spain, Madrid

Schuster sat in the office, doodling on the drawing board as if studying something.

He only stopped writing when Francisco came in and said, "What’s wrong, my friend? You don’t look very happy."

"By the way, what do you think of what I said in the post-match interview today?"

"Three passes and two touches scored against Villarreal. I didn’t expect it to be so easy to score."

Francisco looked at Schuster’s proud expression and rolled his eyes, saying, "Is this your reason for making me work overtime with you?"

"Oh my god! I must be crazy. I should be having a beer and a hearty dinner at home right now."

"Instead of being here with you, even after a 7:0 win, I have to work overtime!"

Francisco grumbled, but there was no impatience in his eyes. These two victories filled the Merengue with excitement and enthusiasm.

He handed Schuster the materials and said, "This is the match data from Barcelona that just ended."

"It includes text, video, and other details, just as you instructed."

When Capello was still the head coach of Real Madrid, Schuster publicly criticized the Italian master in a program, gaining the love of Real Madrid fans with his remarks.

In the interview, Schuster beamed with confidence, his blonde hair swaying with his words: "Two defensive midfielders? I don’t think it’s better than our possession play. Capello thinks our traditional possession play at Real Madrid is outdated. I think he’s the one who’s outdated."

"Capello says he doesn’t like the winger tactic. Listen to him; his rigid football lacks creativity and technical skill, and that’s what’s truly unappealing."

"He said he wasn’t optimistic about Casillas. Ha, I actually think Casillas is my ideal choice for the best goalkeeper at Real Madrid."

It’s through such words that Schuster gradually won the support of the fans, slowly stealing Calderon’s heart, and finally reversing against Barcelona in the cup match, eliminating them and delivering a "fatal blow."

Although he wasn’t the direct "culprit" behind Capello’s dismissal, Schuster certainly contributed to it.

Schuster’s appointment as the coach of Real Madrid was met with much controversy and skepticism, but he firmly believed that if he could achieve a double victory over Barcelona this season, his position as coach would be invincible.

Therefore, Schuster specifically instructed that after each match, the analysis and details of Barcelona’s match should be brought to him immediately.

He opened the video, watching both the analysis report and the match.

"3:1"

"That score is not bad."

"It’s just a pity it’s far worse than ours, he..."

Schuster’s words came to an abrupt halt as the scene on the video showed Ronaldinho’s replay of the free kick goal.

It was an incredibly beautiful free kick goal, drawing a bizarre arc in mid-air, with the key being the rapid speed of its descent. Schuster thought even if the goalkeeper were replaced by Casillas, the result wouldn’t be any better.

"We can’t let them get free kicks in these dangerous areas."

"Damn, we should have signed him back then."

"Then he would be my player now."

Of course, Schuster was just saying that. Even if Real Madrid knew in advance about Ronaldinho’s excellence, between choosing Beckham and Ronaldinho, they would still choose Beckham.

After all, there’s a huge difference in appearance and commercial value between the two.

"Eto’o didn’t play?"

"Is it Henry?"

In this match, Eto’o didn’t even make the squad due to injury, and Rijkaard directly replaced Eto’o with Henry, while also replacing the slow, lacking forward pressure awareness Frenchman Tulam with Max.

"He can’t replace Eto’o." Schuster commented: "If he’s playing as a center forward, Chen can completely mark Henry."

Francisco glanced at Schuster in surprise, feeling that Schuster might have overestimated Chen Zhong. However, the ongoing match proved Schuster right; Henry, in the center forward position, did not perform up to par, and Rijkaard soon adjusted him to the flanks, with Ronaldinho moving to the center forward position.

"That’s correct; Henry can showcase his advantages on the left flank."

"Putting Ronaldinho as a supporting forward?"

"Is this the Bergkamp tactic learned from Cruyff?"

Schuster paused the video and rewound it a bit to focus on the chemistry between Max and Deco.

"Trying to get Max and Deco to provide defensive support for Barcelona’s pressuring attack?"

"They sure know when to use tactical fouls so the opponent can’t successfully counterattack, but what’s the price?"

Schuster started to fast forward the video, with Francisco watching from the side. As expected, Max received two yellow cards during the match and was sent off, and Deco, after receiving one yellow card, was also substituted early.

"Barcelona has the same problem as us." Schuster concluded: "They lack a powerful defensive midfielder."

In the first half, even though Barcelona pressed Athletic Bilbao into their own half, they struggled to score, ultimately relying on a penalty kick "deceived" by Henry in the penalty area to gain an opportunity.

"This penalty kick."

Schuster turned his head to look at Francisco.

The replay clearly showed Henry’s fall in Athletic Bilbao’s penalty area was an obvious dive, and while the replay proved Bilbao’s innocence, the unfair judgment couldn’t be undone.

"A misjudgment." Francisco thought for a moment and then added: "The referee’s vision might have been poor at that moment."

If in the first half, Barcelona’s performance had some redeemable aspects, then by the second half, Barcelona’s "conservative," "fearful," and "timid" play left Schuster somewhat surprised.

"What are they doing?"

"Isn’t there too much passing around in the backfield?"

"Wouldn’t Cruyff be scolding them knowing this?"

"Actually," Francisco held back his laughter and said, "Cruyff harshly criticized the team’s current situation on his just-ended program, even claiming he’ll write another detailed critique in his column."

"Get me a copy of his column."

Amidst boos, Athletic Bilbao launched an attack, and a blunder by Barcelona’s goalkeeper Valverde in the chaos changed the score to 1:2.

Instantly, Barcelona found themselves under pressure from Athletic Bilbao’s attacks.

Schuster watched, dumbfounded, and couldn’t help but say, "I knew the Copa America would have an impact."

"But if Rijkaard continues to manage the team like this, he’s not far from being dismissed."

"I heard he has conflicts with the higher-ups; this season’s Barcelona seems to be in big trouble."

"Wait, what’s that?"

Just as Barcelona was about to be equalized by Athletic Bilbao, Yaya Toure’s long shot changed the situation.

Schuster knew in advance that this match would end 3:1.

But he didn’t expect it to end this way.

"Did his shot cross the goal line?"

"The main referee certified it just like that?"

Schuster paused the game footage and moved closer to inspect, but the blurry images made it impossible to see if the ball had fully crossed the line. However, the main referee directly confirmed that the ball was over the line, which sealed the match’s outcome.

Athletic Bilbao’s fighting spirit was instantly extinguished.

Barcelona no longer had to endure the last twenty minutes in a "state of alarm," with participating in the Copa America during a supposed rest period having greatly affected the players’ stamina, notably Messi and Ronaldinho, who visibly struggled to keep running. And with one man down, Barcelona only managed a "compromised victory."

"We can’t be certain it didn’t cross the line."

"No, Francisco, I’m just amazed at why the referee was so decisive in his judgment."