Chapter 531 - 21: Iconic Moment!
On the midfield battleground, Chen Zhong’s successive sliding tackles helped the team gain a fantastic opportunity.
Kaka’s forward run left Milan fans with a lump in their throats.
They once longed for Kaka to be the deciding factor, and now, in this match, they equally hoped for his mistake!
No one understands Kaka better than they do.
No one!
Kaka’s stationary dribbling ability is very strong, and once he’s up to speed, no one can stop this man from doing what he wants to do.
This "windswept boy" is freely galloping on the green field, his gaze sharp and unwavering, locking onto the direction of the goal.
As a professional athlete, giving it your all against your former club is the greatest respect you can show.
During his run, Kaka continuously adjusted his state, confronted the goalkeeper, and with a beautiful push to the far corner, sent the ball into the net.
"The ball is in!"
"Kaka!"
"A calm, composed shot!"
"1:0"
"Real Madrid takes the lead with a goal."
"Kaka’s forward run was very well-timed, and the final shot was extremely calm."
"The angle and power were spot-on."
"The goalkeeper had no chance!"
The Real Madrid fans in the stands erupted with joy, while Milan fans felt a mixed bag of emotions watching their familiar "ex" on the field.
After scoring, Kaka clasped his hands together, expressing his apology.
On the sidelines, Allegri witnessed this scene, showing a "囧" expression on his face. Real Madrid’s luxurious lineup, with Ballon d’Or winners on the wings and a near-Ballon d’Or player anchoring the midfield, left the "unknown coach" who was kicked out by small clubs months ago a bit uneasy.
However, Allegri didn’t dwell on the sidelines for long. He quickly shouted from the sidelines, trying to stabilize the players’ mindset and prevent further conceding.
Mourinho, on the other hand, displayed a satisfied expression on the sidelines, especially after being insulted by Milan fans as "a lump" in his home stadium, which understandably irritated Mourinho.
"Real Madrid broke Milan’s defense in less than 5 minutes after kick-off."
"Chen Zhong won the ball in this midfield battleground."
"Under pressure from Bonera, he successfully passed the ball to Kaka."
"Kaka’s stationary dribbling ability and instant acceleration are still impressive."
"Faced with the goalkeeper, he scored calmly, taking the lead for the team."
"From Milan’s arrangement, it’s evident they focused more on C. Ronaldo’s side."
"But Real Madrid threw a curveball."
"Most importantly, Chen Zhong’s judgment on the field is very accurate."
After Real Madrid’s goal, Milan’s players became noticeably impatient. By the 9th minute, the isolated Ibrahimovic opted to track back, hoping to retrieve the ball.
The Swede pushed Chen Zhong to the ground from behind during his retreat.
The referee blew his whistle, and Real Madrid fans in the stands expressed their anger with shouts, with some even attempting to climb over the barriers to confront Ibrahimovic.
"Get up, kid!" Ibrahimovic looked down at Chen Zhong, speaking in a not-so-polite tone but with a smile, "Don’t act like a woman, be a man."
Chen Zhong glanced up at Ibrahimovic, grasping his hand firmly with a slap.
Both players were signed under Raiola’s company, so they had some interaction over the past three years, and their relationship was quite harmonious.
"You’re too rough! Dumbass!"
After Chen Zhong said that, he realized it wasn’t right and covered his mouth, whispering, "That’s not how you defend!"
"Also!"
"Tomorrow’s news headline will probably say I called you a dumbass!"
"Who cares?" Ibrahimovic raised an eyebrow, sneering, "Don’t be like Barcelona’s good boys. Be more like me, have some personality."
The two had a brief exchange.
Seeing there was no real conflict, the referee hesitated but only gave Ibrahimovic a verbal warning and awarded Real Madrid a free kick.
Chen Zhong was originally laughing, but when he saw the referee only warning Ibrahimovic, he couldn’t help but slap his thigh in frustration.
"That cunning Swede!"
"I was tricked!"
In a football match, when two players have an altercation and their relationship is relatively harmonious, it doesn’t guarantee no cards but can influence the referee’s judgment to some extent.
If you take down a player and help them up, then have a pleasant chat.
If you take down a player and provoke them, leading to an argument.
The outcome can vary, as in the latter case, referees might show a yellow card to calm fans, players’ emotions, and control the match’s rhythm, indicating their stance and attitude.
In retrospect, Ibrahimovic recalled this game during a Champions League match where he was surrounded by Chelsea’s "ball boys" and got a straight red, saying, "They were like kids asking adults for candy, only Chen was a real man."