Starting from playing as a defensive midfielder for Real Madrid

Chapter 99: After the storm subsided, the winning streak ended, taking off the baggage and heading i

CSKA Moscow is also a regular participant in the Champions League.

Although their best result in the Champions League is only the quarterfinals, there is no doubt that no matter which giant club they are, they will not want to meet them in the first round of the knockout rounds.

Without him, teams from wealthy teams playing in other second-tier leagues would only have DEBUFF from tired travels at best.

But the teams in the Russian Super League and the Ukrainian Super League are different. They are both ruthless characters with their own "magic attacks".

If you go to compete in their territory in February, you have to spend half of your energy fighting the harsh wind and snow, and the remaining half of your energy can be used to compete with them.

Therefore, the strong local teams in these two leagues can often achieve good results at home.

This year, there are two teams in the Russian Super League that have reached the top 16 of the Champions League, CSKA Moscow and Zenit St. Petersburg.

Real Madrid and Benfica, who were drawn in the first round of the knockout round, naturally became the unlucky ones among the fans.

However, compared to Benfica, who is generally looked down upon by fans, Real Madrid is at best teased that there may be attrition in the first round.

To say that CSKA Moscow can cause a lot of trouble to the current Real Madrid on the field, most fans and media do not believe it.

Real Madrid has just won its 20th consecutive league victory. The game is in extremely good shape, and its bench is the thickest in Europe.

Defeating CSKA Moscow is completely easy.

The media are more interested in seeing how much Real Madrid can perform in the first round amid the snowstorm in Moscow.

Let’s see if Cristiano Ronaldo can continue to score goals and continue to compete anxiously with Messi on the Champions League scorer list.

Well, the current atmosphere within the Real Madrid team is as confident and optimistic as the media described.

Especially after the main players defeated Espanyol 5-0 in the night of January 31st, almost declaring their entry into the Copa del Rey final.

An inflated atmosphere inevitably filled the training ground and locker room.

After Mourinho noticed something was wrong, he went directly to Casillas and asked him to help calm the players' impetuous emotions in the locker room.

Casillas naturally agreed, but after he held a players meeting, the effect was not significant.

At least it didn't meet Psy's expectations.

Li Ang sees all this in his eyes, but he is now a man of few words. Let him replace Casillas to make a more severe warning speech?

There is really no need for Mourinho to think of a solution, because the Real Madrid locker room will explode immediately.

It is actually normal for this phenomenon to occur.

There are too many stars in the Real Madrid team, and it’s no problem for everyone to communicate and chat happily together and train hard.

But when it comes to serious management within the locker room, Real Madrid lacks a boss to hold the line.

This is not to say that Casillas is not qualified enough.

Cassie's qualifications and reputation are actually sufficient, but his own temperament destined him to be more suitable to be a "friendly" team deputy rather than the captain.

If Raul or Hierro were to be replaced in the team, now with a shout, all Real Madrid stars, including Ronaldo, have to curb their arrogance.

No matter whether you are convinced or not, no one dares to jump in. If you are asked to reflect on your own thoughts, then you must reflect on it.

For example, Puyol in Barcelona and Gennaro Gattuso in Milan are all true bosses of this type.

With big guys like them supporting the coach, the coach can save a lot of worry in locker room management.

It's a pity that Real Madrid currently lacks such a person.

Casillas held a players meeting and mentioned this matter. Seeing that his teammates all promised to reflect on it, he ignored it.

Leon likes Casillas and respects him, but he really doesn't agree with his way of handling things.

At least we have to find a few of the most "confident" players in the team to have a private conversation and open up their hearts and give some advice, right?

If this is the case, the other players in the team won't take it seriously.

And what Li Ang is most worried about now is that Mourinho will end the game himself.

The team has been winning before, and Mourinho has also proven his ability to lead Real Madrid to defeat Barcelona, ​​so Mourinho currently has a high prestige within the Real Madrid team.

But using one's own prestige to forcefully control the big-name players in the team and keep them low-key and calm is really not a good job.

How many coaches have failed at this? There have been too many cases in football before.

However, the scene that Li Ang was most worried about happened to be played out in reality.

After the training session on the afternoon of February 2, Mourinho did not directly disband the team as usual, allowing the players to choose to practice extra or drive home.

He gathered the entire coaching staff and all the players on the first team.

On the training ground, Mourinho issued a stern warning to everyone, including members of the coaching staff.

"Before we win the final championship, I ask you to forget all the previous records! If we fail and fall at the last step, then all the previous victories are meaningless! You know? It's meaningless! significance!

We were second only to Barcelona in the league last season and reached the semi-finals in the Champions League, but tell me, do you feel good? !

The outside media and fans all say we are losers! Have you forgotten? Do you think Barcelona relied on pride and arrogance to win the double title last season? !

Block out the flattery from the outside world! Be clear-headed. You can be as arrogant and celebrate as you want when you win the championship, but before you win the championship, remember your identity.

loser!

We must have this kind of consciousness, climb up the Champions League and the league again with the consciousness of a loser, and take every step we take steadily."

Mourinho's speech still has a strong personal flavor, Li Ang can listen to it, and he also understands what Mourinho means.

But obviously some players in the team have been stimulated by the phrase "loser".

It's just that they didn't speak out now and endured listening to Mourinho's "preaching".

At the moment when they finally disbanded, Li Ang saw the ugly faces of several teammates.

For example, Casillas, who may feel that his captain's dignity has been offended, and Ramos, who does not like Mourinho's "loser" statement.

The only thing that makes Li Ang happy is that Ronaldo was not stubborn.

Cristiano Ronaldo is a little unhappy, but he is now in the upper hand in the competition with Messi. He also wants to see the team's progress in the Champions League go more smoothly.

So he still listened to Mourinho's advice.

Of course, Li Ang guessed that the more important point is that the current Uncle Psy has not suppressed Pepe and Kaká.

Without touching the friends around Ronaldo, Ronaldo would not be incompatible with Uncle Psy.

But with Casillas and Ramos, the leaders of the Spanish-speaking gang, feeling dissatisfied, how long can the superficial calm situation in the Real Madrid locker room be maintained?

Li Ang feels that this is hard to say, but one thing he knows is that if Pepe, Alonso, and Ronaldo don't react, then this Mourinho-style Real Madrid will not have big problems.

If the victory on the field continues, the players who were already a little dissatisfied will continue to tolerate it.

Even if they are dissatisfied with Mourinho's management style, as long as Lafayette can see the hope of successfully winning the club's tenth Champions League trophy, then he will never allow anyone to interfere with it.

This is considered a safety rope.

Li Ang, who has the memory of later generations, fully understands the current problems within the Real Madrid locker room.

To say it is easy to solve, it is actually easy to solve.

As long as Casillas' loud-mouthed girlfriend doesn't blow up what's going on inside the Real Madrid locker room.

If this woman doesn't behave like a monster, Casillas and Mourinho will not break up, and the small problems within Real Madrid will gradually be healed by the attraction of the championship.

Therefore, to solve the problem from the root, or to delay the explosion in the Real Madrid locker room, how to persuade Casillas to be more strict with his mouth is the top priority.

Last season, Li Ang still had the idea of ​​"staying out of the matter", but now he is completely unable to let the explosion in the Real Madrid locker room happen.

Because he already has feelings for this team, he is a member of Real Madrid's youth training, and he also likes the current Mourinho-style Real Madrid.

He didn't want all the regrets from his previous life to happen again.

So he took action.

When he found Uncle Psy in private, Li Ang was very candid.

Liang didn't need to beat around the bush with Mourinho. He spoke directly about his concerns and his solutions.

"I will find time to chat with my teammates. Boss, if there are any rumors that spread to the outside world, I hope you can give me a chance to communicate with them first."

"What are the rumors? Have you heard some rumors? Also, if there is anything, I will tell them personally, so you don't have to worry about it."

Mourinho didn't care much at first and wanted to get rid of Li Ang so that he could go to practice more without worries.

But seeing Li Ang's serious look, Mourinho also felt that something was wrong.

"Are they dissatisfied with my speech today?"

"A little bit, so I'll come find you now."

"Who is there?"

"You should have been able to tell when the disbandment was announced."

Mourinho's heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously held the pen in his hand hard.

"Do you believe me? Do you believe that I will be 100% on your side?"

Li Ang asked again without waiting for Mourinho to speak.

Of course, he got a positive answer from Uncle Psy.

"Of course I believe you understand me, little lion."

"Then, let the problems within the locker room be resolved internally. Boss, I will try to bridge the relationship between the players and the coaching staff in the way that is most satisfactory to you. Do you believe me?"

"Of course I believe you, but"

"Then let me make this attempt. If I fail, no matter what your subsequent decision is, I will stand firmly by your side!"

Li Ang temporarily stabilized Mourinho with proactive communication, and his sincerity became the key point in convincing Mourinho.

After all, facing a player who firmly said "No matter what, I am on your side", the head coach really has no reason to refuse his reasonable request.

When it comes to communicating with Casillas and Ramos, Li Ang is not so straightforward.

He first invited a few big guys from the Spanish-speaking gang, and then a group of youth training brothers from Castilla, and went to a private restaurant for dinner together after the training on February 3.

First of all, it creates an atmosphere of "all those who come to eat today are real people".

Then Li Ang turned the topic to their excellent record this season.

Twenty consecutive wins in the league, six consecutive wins in the Champions League group stage, and the Copa del Rey is about to reach the final, defeating Barcelona.

After a passionate exchange, the atmosphere at the scene was extremely warm, and Casillas and Ramos felt extremely comfortable listening.

They have always regarded Li Ang as one of their own, and now they are even more open-minded about Li Ang.

They said that Real Madrid will achieve more success this season than Barcelona before, and Li Ang echoed loudly!

They said they wanted to revitalize and restore Real Madrid's reputation and glory in Europe, and Li Ang said yes!

They complained about Mourinho's rhetoric. They firmly disagreed that they had failed in the past few seasons. Li Ang even shouted, "That's right, brothers! I think so too!"

Well, the brothers chatted until their faces turned red. They obviously didn’t drink, but the atmosphere was already here and they were all a little excited.

But Li Ang then changed the topic and denounced that there are always reporters outside who have evil intentions and are unwilling to see Real Madrid's revival.

When Ramos heard this, he couldn't bear it. He immediately slammed the table and asked Li Ang to tell him which reporters were so mean.

Li Ang also slapped the table and directly told the story he made up.

"Isn't this just a few days ago when you won 5-0 at Espanyol's home court?

When I went to the base for extra training the next morning, I was stopped by a group of reporters. One of them handed me a note and asked me to reveal the "interesting" things happening in our locker room and help us promote it.

At that time, I tore up the note in front of him. Wasn't this going to harm me and our team?

He said that he wanted to help us with publicity, but when I told him something, he would definitely have to add more fuel to the external publicity.

Then the boss will definitely scold me and say that I leaked the privacy of the locker room, then I will be in trouble! "

As soon as Li Ang finished speaking, Nacho was the first to wave his hands and speak with determination:

"That must be a reporter from Mundo Deportivo! Seeing that we are going to overwhelm Barcelona this season, we deliberately came to cause trouble!"

"I think so too!"

"Damn it, don't let me catch these reporters. If I do, I will definitely smash his camera!"

"Well done, little lion, you have a clear mind! None of us can make such a mistake!"

Amid the echoes of the crowd, Li Ang felt relieved when he heard Casillas' praise of him.

"Captain, don't blame me for setting a trap for you. You love-minded person. If I don't set a trap for you now, your girlfriend will have to set a trap for Real Madrid later. I can only strike first."

After complaining in his heart, Li Ang finally thought about the bright prospect of winning the Triple Crown this season with his "people".

Everyone was satisfied with their chat, and finally they left the restaurant and went home to rest, patting each other on the back.

The reporters who were stationed at the scene watched the Real Madrid generals happily hugging each other and saying goodbye, and they repeatedly lamented the good atmosphere and unity within the Real Madrid team.

The next morning, the news that Real Madrid players had a dinner was widely publicized by various media.

Mourinho couldn't help but think for a while when he got the morning newspaper.

In the last practice before the game that morning, the atmosphere in the Real Madrid team was obviously high again, which also made Karanka and other members of the coaching staff heave a sigh of relief.

Mourinho glanced at Li Ang thoughtfully during training, but Li Ang was still happily following Alonso as if nothing had happened.

But Mourinho knew that Li Ang must have done something at last night's dinner.

He felt a little itchy and always wanted to know the truth of the matter, but when he thought of Li Ang's frankness when he came to him the day before yesterday, he stopped asking.

In any case, the team's atmosphere was restored, and Mourinho was too lazy to delve into the changes in the locker room.

He knew that Li Ang was thinking about him, and Li Ang also proved with practical actions that he was capable of helping him stabilize the situation in the locker room, and that was enough.

After the turmoil in the locker room came to an end, Real Madrid continued to surge forward in the two-line arena.

On February 4th and February 8th, Real Madrid's main players won the La Liga and Copa del Rey competitions.

In the 22nd round of the league, Real Madrid defeated Getafe 2-0, and in the second round of the Copa del Rey semi-finals, they defeated Espanyol 3-1 in a very gracious manner.

After this round of the King's Cup competition ended and reached the final, Real Madrid no longer need to worry about the tight King's Cup competition for the time being.

On February 12, Mourinho once again activated the rotation lineup, bringing in Cristiano Ronaldo and Li Ang who were in good form to sit on the bench to face Levante, their opponent in the 23rd round of the league, at home.

The current Levante is not a soft persimmon. It is quite a black-and-white situation. It ranks fourth in La Liga, beating Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao.

Mourinho ultimately chose to use a rotating lineup to compete with Levante, which was a helpless move.

Regardless of whether the main players take a rest in the Copa del Rey match on February 8, the tough battle with Levante on February 12 will not be easy.

Although the possibility of Real Madrid winning in the end is still very high, the physical exertion will also increase accordingly.

At the juncture of the Champions League knockout round against CSKA Moscow on February 14, Mourinho was unwilling to let the main lineup play two tough games in a row.

Therefore, it is most appropriate to send a rotating lineup to play this round of league with Levante. Bringing a Cristiano Ronaldo is actually a bit risky.

But Mourinho couldn't resist Ronaldo's strong desire to play, and finally agreed to let him get a chance to play in the second half.

That night, Levante fought on a single line and struggled with Real Madrid's unscrupulous fight for physical fitness.

Li Ang and Ronaldo sat on the bench and watched their team fall behind 0-1 in the first half to 0-2 in the 51st minute of the second half.

To be honest, they were both a little anxious, but Mourinho didn't speak, so they could only continue to sit on the bench.

At the 60th minute of the second half, Mourinho finally signaled them to warm up.

In the 64th minute, Real Madrid made a substitution, replacing Vazquez and Shaheen.

As soon as the two came on the court, they took over the rhythm of the game and led the Real Madrid team to launch a fierce offensive against Levante.

And Li Ang's presence has also stabilized the midfield defense, which has been penetrated by Levante many times before.

In the 82nd minute, under siege, Callejon broke into Levante's penalty area and scored a penalty kick.

Ronaldo did not waste the opportunity created by Callejon. He scored a penalty kick and tied the score to 1-2.

But in the end, there was still too little time left for him and Li Ang to perform.

Real Madrid failed to create another miracle to equalize the score at the last moment, and also stopped the league winning streak this season at 21 games.

This is a pity, for all Real Madrid players.

But Mourinho and the members of the coaching staff had expected this result.

Faced with realistic choices, Mourinho had no choice but to prioritize ensuring the team's smooth progress in the Champions League knockout rounds.

From another perspective, the Real Madrid players, who had been burdened with the pressure of winning streak in the league, were also "relieved" at this moment.

This is a kind of psychological relaxation.

Without the psychological baggage, Real Madrid's main players went into battle lightly.

After being disappointed, the Western media and Real Madrid fans also set their sights on the night of February 14th.

Placed in Moscow in the snow and wind.

Ah, the pit of the locker room explosion this season has finally been filled.

The protagonist is still a low-key person in the locker room. This is a relatively good way I can think of to fill the gap.

Then, today I'm short of word count again and it's hard to keep up.

I’ll make it up tomorrow, I’ll definitely do it tomorrow~

Tap the screen to use advanced tools Tip: You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.

You'll Also Like