I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Chapter 772: Chapter 40: The Elite 8

"The Light of Asia," "Monster," "Captain"...

Chen Zhong has the most nicknames. Different people have different names for him, like "Brother," "Idol," "Big Brother," etc. These less formal titles are also among Chen Zhong’s many names.

The match against Lyon attracted a lot of attention from fans.

Since joining Real Madrid, Mourinho has constantly made various controversial remarks, which have caused some problems and been used by his critics as excuses to attack him.

But now, as the team’s performance steadily improves and excels across all fronts, Real Madrid’s higher-ups say Mourinho’s "transparency" allows for seamless communication with him.

This undoubtedly surprises many onlookers, especially the Barcelona media, which is particularly amazed.

It’s worth noting that, during the times when Mourinho spoke unchecked, Barcelona frequently recounted their decision to choose Guardiola over Mourinho, citing Mourinho’s outspoken personality as a significant reason for his rejection.

Santiago Segurola, the chief reporter for Marca, stated that Mourinho’s personality is too strong. He possesses immense intelligence, aiming not only to control Real Madrid but also to control opponents, football, and journalists.

Florentino is a man with a deep desire for power, yet he’s unusually allotted much of it to Mourinho because Real Madrid needs success. Florentino trusts Mourinho because the Portuguese’s experience proves he’s a guarantee of success.

Mourinho at Real Madrid has gained power that previous coaches didn’t have, altering the coach-club relationship. Now, it seems like Real Madrid works for Mourinho.

Of course, similar statements apply to Chen Zhong, especially when Real Madrid lost a match in his absence; many believed the club developed a dependency on Chen Zhong, and he’s influencing the team.

Just as the club quickly responded to support Chen Zhong.

Real Madrid swiftly adapted to Mourinho and his remarks.

Rather than adhering to media speculation that Mourinho should adapt to Real Madrid and tone down his statements—particularly after publicly exposing his conflict with Valdano—Florentino was the first to call for everyone to bury the hatchet and unite.

At Real Madrid’s traditional Christmas banquet, the club president acted as the mediator between Mourinho and Valdano. No one can doubt Florentino’s determination to heal the club’s divisions.

When Mourinho complained about the schedule and was not understood, Florentino claimed Mourinho was defending the club’s interests, a silence-is-golden tradition at Real Madrid.

Now Casillas firmly stands in support of Mourinho. After his relationship with Chen Zhong fractured, he began to curry favor with Mourinho, repeatedly stating publicly, "The coach is the ultimate authority of this team."

"The club’s ultimate authority is the president, but the team’s ultimate authority is Mourinho."

"He can feel assured because all of us players are with him in the same boat; he is our captain, the commander of the dressing room."

This statement didn’t resonate well. Initially, other Spanish players like Ramos, Cavaleiro, Di Maria, Mendes’ players, and those unaware supported Casillas.

However, after observing most players’ indifferent reactions, waiting for someone else’s statement, they suddenly realized Casillas couldn’t represent the entire dressing room.

Before Chen Zhong spoke, no other player supported Mourinho, but after his remarks, the club’s overall support for Mourinho significantly increased.

Some even considered Chen Zhong’s statement as "The King’s Speech."

In front of the media, Chen Zhong expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance this season and voiced his support for Mourinho. Subsequently, Florentino also made statements.

"After ’The King’s Speech,’ we now have the king Florentino’s speech; this is very important for the future of Real Madrid," a phrase endlessly repeated by many.

The match against Lyon was initially seen by many as the second major test for Mourinho at Real Madrid; the first test took place at Camp Nou against Barcelona, where the Camp Nou’s restrictions were useless.

But this time, because of Chen Zhong’s explosive performance in the first leg, Lyon’s major test was directly canceled.

Lyon alone remained immersed in its past glory days.

Since 2004, Juventus, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Rome, Liverpool, and Lyon have each become executioners for Real Madrid, severely questioning the club’s historical traditions and business philosophy.

Mourinho’s ability to prove himself as a top-tier manager is largely due to his tactical command in home games and two-leg knockout matches.

With the strong support of a "new leader" like Chen Zhong, Real Madrid is no longer the underachiever it once was.