I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

"Stupid mistakes."

"Stupid arguments and yellow cards."

"What’s going on? Just because we’re already first in the group, does that mean we can treat this match like a boxing contest to kill time?"

Mourinho stood by the whiteboard, speaking in a strange tone while pacing back and forth. It was obvious he was very dissatisfied with the team’s first-half performance.

"Blah blah blah, blah blah blah, blah blah."

"As I came in, I heard you guys discussing the recent match, discussing very intensely."

"But the first half is over; what were you doing during the match?"

Mourinho originally thought that Real Madrid Team was already a cohesive unit, but in today’s game, he found that the whole team only worked together when serving Chen Zhong.

And when Chen didn’t need something, they turned into a scattered mess. Mourinho looked towards Higuain, watched for a while, then turned his gaze to Benzema, sitting there quietly with his head down.

"Karim."

"In the second half, you’ll replace Gonzalo."

In the locker room, Di Maria hurriedly tugged on Higuain beside him, while Higuain looked up, appearing like he wanted to say something.

Benzema seemed a bit at a loss, clearly not expecting to play so soon.

In football, locker room scenes are rarely shown because most of the time they’re accompanied by arguments, just like in LOL matches. You might think others are having orderly, professional conversations, but actually, it’s a cacophony of voices.

"Bang."

Higuain slammed his boots on the ground hard, with Di Maria pulling him down and under Chen Zhong’s gaze. Although he didn’t say anything, his body language conveyed his dissatisfaction.

"The ’child’ has grown; he is no longer satisfied with his current position."

He hopes for a higher position in the team and in the locker room.

And this match was seen by Higuain as a crucial opportunity to change his "destiny."

Mourinho saw Higuain’s actions and couldn’t help but glance at Chen Zhong. In all the teams he coached, he had never seen a locker room situation like Real Madrid’s.

No mutual blame, no fighting, though there would be talking but with restraint.

This was all due to Chen Zhong’s suppression in the locker room, after all, before Mendes’ players arrived, the Real Madrid locker room was basically filled with Chen’s "buddies."

In the ensuing time, Mourinho talked about the second-half tactics, then the players rolled out of the locker room chanting ’Madrid, go!’."

When Chen Zhong stood up, Mourinho approached him. The other players wisely left, and Francisco led the other coaching staff out first.

"Chen."

"Coach."

Mourinho looked at Chen Zhong and suddenly smiled.

He patted Chen Zhong’s shoulder, then pulled him over and asked cheerfully, "What should I do with you?"

"Hmm?"

"Chen."

Chen Zhong turned his head to look at Mourinho, seeming somewhat confused.

Not sure what the Portuguese was saying.

"I don’t understand what you mean."

"Hahaha." Mourinho patted Chen Zhong’s shoulder and released his arm, laughing as he said, "Let me see, this is the team’s captain armband, right?"

"Number 10 jersey, yes."

"How many goals did you score last season?"

"Tell me, Chen."

"Do you want to be the team’s core or a fringe player?"

Mourinho restrained his smile, and his expression became somewhat serious. The league had already been going on for over a month, and Real Madrid’s momentum was good.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Higuain have started "scoring."

Recently, the media has been hyping the Portuguese’s quadruple goals, marveling at Higuain’s improved goal efficiency, as if everything has gotten better.

But has it really improved?

All this is based on the decline in Chen Zhong’s scoring data.

The problem is, after some bumps at the start of the season, Mourinho had already started establishing Chen Zhong as the team’s core player.

Just like Pellegrini did last season.

But in terms of data, Chen Zhong had dropped significantly.

Where is the problem?

Players not accepting Chen Zhong?

No.

The coach giving Chen Zhong a hard time?

No, either.

The problem lies in Chen Zhong’s mindset.

He still steps up in some important matches, but most of the time has become a "fringe player," a "role player."

And his motives, Mourinho gradually figured it out.

And also felt it.

It’s like when he first started coaching; he was young, played attacking football for the dream, played beautiful football, but didn’t win championships.

Later, for the championship, he started solidifying defense, parking the bus, playing counterattacks, and began provocatively challenging opponents in the media, hoping the opponents would come out to play.

This is the common problem of young people.

Self-indulgence, simplicity.

To maintain balance in the locker room and care for certain players’ psyches, Chen Zhong chose to sacrifice himself, giving others hope and expectations.

But Mourinho knows very well.

In this Real Madrid.

Unless Chen Zhong has a cliff-like decline or does something irreparable, the core of the team can only be Chen Zhong.