Chapter 563 - 37: Positioning, Positioning
"Is it Chen Zhong or Cristiano Ronaldo!"
"Before the match, several media outlets posed this question."
"Before the game against Milan, Real Madrid had already scored 699 goals in the Champions League. Whoever scores the 700th goal will have their name etched into the history of Real Madrid Club."
"It is worth mentioning that Real Madrid is not only the team with the most Champions League titles but also the team with the most goals and most wins (327 matches) in Champions League history."
"Bayern Munich with 459 goals and Manchester United with 416 goals are far behind Real Madrid."
"Legendary Miguel Munoz scored the first goal for Real Madrid in the Champions League. The 100th was scored by Stefano, the 200th by Puskás, the 300th by Danish Heiningen Jensen, and the 400th by Rosado."
"Entering the new century, Real Madrid’s goal-scoring pace in the Champions League has accelerated. From 500 to 700 goals, it only took 10 years."
"In 2000, Guti scored the 500th Champions League goal for Real Madrid against Sporting Lisbon, and in 2003, Beckham scored the 600th goal against Marseille."
"This year, Real Madrid will score their 700th goal in the Champions League."
The commentary was not rigorous in a certain sense, as Real Madrid hadn’t scored in this match yet, but no one doubted if they could score.
In this game, Real Madrid continued to use the 4-2-3-1 formation:
Higuain
Cristiano Ronaldo, Chen Zhong, Di Maria
Khedira, Alonso
Marcelo, Cavaleiro, Pepe, Ramos
Casillas
Mourinho made some adjustments in this match, selecting Gonzalo Higuain as the center forward, and Di Maria replaced Kaka.
In the previous match against Atletico Madrid, both Kaka and Negredo were nursing hidden injuries.
Originally, Mourinho wanted Cristiano Ronaldo to sit on the bench, but the Portuguese refused this suggestion; he longed to score the 700th goal for Real Madrid in such a game.
Standing on the sidelines, Mourinho attracted media cameras and the green laser from Milan fans. When Mourinho and Chen Zhong simultaneously arrived in Milan City, at the San Siro Stadium, Mourinho was clearly more like the main character.
This Portuguese man drew attention as soon as he arrived in Milan. Many Inter Milan fans went to the airport to welcome him when he landed.
Before the game, seemingly aware of what Milan fans might do to Mourinho, Inter Milan fans arrived early outside the stadium with various slogans to welcome him.
For instance: "Forever grateful, Jose," "Mourinho, Inter legend," "Wish you were still at Inter," and so on.
These all expressed Inter Milan fans’ feelings for Mourinho, and the most special banner was "ORGASMOU," embedding Mourinho’s name in the word "orgasm." Marca used this banner as the cover photo with the caption "Mourinho sparks ’climax.’
Of course, such beautiful enjoyment only existed outside the San Siro stadium.
Once inside the San Siro stadium, Mourinho no longer enjoyed the hero’s treatment.
Before the match began, when Mourinho entered the San Siro stadium, he was met with the deafening boos of the Milan fans. It was evident that the fans of the Red-Black Army could not forget Mourinho’s success with their city rivals, Inter.
Mourinho is equally clear-cut in love and hate. On the sidelines, he saluted those fans who applauded him, but proudly held up three fingers towards those who booed him, flaunting his Triple Crown honors won at Inter Milan.
And after the match started, Milan fans began their revenge on Mourinho by attacking him with green laser beams from the first minute.
This green laser could potentially cause blindness. Mourinho was helpless about it and could only turn to Francisco beside him and say: "They don’t like me, but it’s only on a competitive level."
"I have a healthy rivalry with Milan. There has never been an issue between us, and there won’t be today."
"It’s just that they don’t like the team I lead winning against them."
Francisco looked at Mourinho, his chubby face somewhat contorted. He wished Mourinho would not talk to him because that damned green laser was targeting him too.
"The match officially begins."
"Real Madrid seems a bit off their game."
"Perhaps it’s the Milan fans’ noise affecting them."
"In this match, we can clearly feel Milan’s passion."
"Whether it’s the fans in the stands or the players on the field, everyone is very enthusiastic."
Cristiano Ronaldo seemed to fall back into old habits; he desperately wanted to score. Early in the game, he hurriedly wasted a scoring opportunity. Just outside the penalty area, he took a powerful shot attempting to break Milan’s goal but did not challenge the goalkeeper at all.
And Milan’s quick counterattack almost led to a goal for Real Madrid.
It was Ibrahimovic with a header pass in the front field.
