I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Chapter 822: Chapter 64: Final: Facing Barcelona Again (2)

Pepe switched to playing defensive midfielder, forming a barrier with Khedira and Alonso in midfield, which proved highly effective. Whether it was Messi, Xavi, or Iniesta, their impact on the pitch was greatly reduced.

The question now is whether the three-defensive-midfielder system can be equally effective at the Mestalla Stadium.

At Valencia’s stadium, Real Madrid cannot alter the thickness of the grass.

On February 11, the Spanish Football Association announced that the Mestalla Stadium would be the venue for this year’s King’s Cup final. At that time, no one paid attention to the length of the grass on the pitch.

However, after last Saturday, everything changed.

It is reported that the grass at the Mestalla Stadium will be cut to a height of 2.5 centimeters. At this height, the ball can rotate quickly, and according to the weather forecast, it will rain on the night of the match, so the turf’s moisture will not be a problem.

All of this greatly favors Barcelona.

In terms of team personnel, Albiol is suspended due to being sent off in the last La Liga match, and Ras’s injury has not healed in time.

Moreover, Canales and Pedro León still cannot gain Mourinho’s trust and are left out of the squad list.

Everyone believes that Mourinho will still field a lineup similar to the one in the last match against Barcelona. With Albiol absent, Ramos will play as a central defender, and Alvaro will serve as right-back.

Besides, on the offensive front, Mourinho is likely not to field any forwards. Adebayor, Benzema, and Higuain will not play; only Chen Zhong will act as an "invisible forward."

The suspense on Barcelona’s side will be retained until the last moment.

In fact, this has become the norm since Guardiola became Barcelona’s head coach.

The biggest question now is whether Puyol can play.

Barcelona’s captain made a return in the last match, but had to leave the field due to thigh muscle injury.

Whether Puyol can play also determines whether Mascherano gets an opportunity to play.

If Puyol cannot play, the Argentina captain will partner with Pique as the central defender. Of course, it’s also possible that Busquets will play as central defender, and Mascherano will play his old role as defensive midfielder.

The left-back position is also unclear; during last Saturday’s game, Adriano got injured, so Maxwell is likely to replace him.

Furthermore, Pedro’s recent poor form raises questions about whether he will start.

In recent seasons, Pinto has been Barcelona’s "King’s Cup goalkeeper." Many believe that since the King’s Cup belongs to Pinto, he should enjoy the entire tournament, but many also believe that using Valdes in such games would be reassuring. However, Guardiola clearly stated at the pre-match press conference that it will be "Pinto plus ten others" for Barcelona.

Those familiar with the history of the Spanish King’s Cup know that this will be the sixth time these two teams meet in the King’s Cup final. In the previous five encounters, Barcelona has won three times, and Real Madrid has won twice.

Regardless, in Wednesday’s match, both sides will go all out, and a result that pleases both is impossible. At the Mestalla Stadium, one will be a winner, and the other will be a loser.

One will lift the championship trophy, while the other can only leave crestfallen. For the fans, the most important thing is that the Mestalla Stadium showcases a pure football match.

Whether Mourinho can help Real Madrid win a much-needed club title is still uncertain, but the fact is, the Portuguese’s defensive football has divided Real Madrid loyalists into two camps.

On Monday, a highly authoritative figure for Real Madrid, the honorary president of the club, Di Stefano, criticized Mourinho in his column in Marca. He praised Barcelona for being as brave as eagles and criticized Real Madrid for being as timid as chickens, lacking any personality. Here is Di Stefano’s column translated:

Barcelona’s performance at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium was excellent.

Their advantage was very obvious, and fans around the world who watched the match witnessed this.

Barcelona possesses a quality that Real Madrid does not have.

During the 90-minute match, Barcelona consistently controlled the midfield, forcing Real Madrid to focus heavily on defense.

In a word, Barcelona was playing the game and dancing, while Real Madrid was struggling to keep up.

After Xavi, Iniesta, or Busquets lost the ball, Real Madrid attempted to launch attacks, but their offensive method was to make long passes to the front for the forwards to fight for possession.

Most of the time, Barcelona’s three midfielders controlled the ball at will, using precise short ground passes to cooperate, maximizing the avoidance of opponents’ interceptions.

Barcelona’s midfield control over the ball was so thorough that it seemed they wanted to take the ball home with them.

Meanwhile, the midfielders also created timely opportunities for the forwards, providing good shooting time and space for the attacking players.

Aside from maintaining a fast pace of passing, the Barcelona players also fought for every ball like true warriors.

Without possession, Barcelona’s players actively ran and fought for the ball.

Although the match result was a draw, in reality, Barcelona left little room for Real Madrid to perform during the game. Their positioning was excellent, and they were attentive to support and coordination among themselves. Every player demonstrated unparalleled tactical awareness, further displaying versatility in roles.

With Barcelona fully controlling the situation, Real Madrid could only struggle like a chick facing an eagle.

Lacking a player, Real Madrid didn’t press tightly in the midfield, which was the primary reason for being on the defensive.

But facing Barcelona, regaining midfield control might be easier said than done. Any team finds it challenging to stop Barcelona from launching attacks.

As such, Barcelona’s beautiful midfield coordination and attack often bring visual enjoyment to the audience.

Within Real Madrid, Chen Zhong and Pepe performed the best.

The former created significant attacking opportunities for Real Madrid with limited chances, while the latter played an excellent role in restricting Messi.

Messi is the best player in the world, playing brilliantly, he is a model professional player whose abilities and qualities are unmatched.

In Saturday’s game, Messi performed outstandingly; witnessing him play in Wednesday’s King’s Cup final will be a true delight.

Barcelona’s success comes from a persistent attacking philosophy, maturing throughout their matches, and becoming increasingly powerful. Keep in mind that excellent attacking not only requires perfect control of time and rhythm but also the ability to manage emotions.

In conclusion, Barcelona’s strength is above Real Madrid’s. Attacking Barcelona with a defensive counter-strategy is not the best choice because Barcelona’s players are not only technically skilled but also possess excellent tactical awareness. They maintain reasonable and balanced positioning, making it difficult for opponents to find opportunities and space for counterattacks.

Guardiola’s team always controls the game’s situation.

Indeed, their strength allows them to control the game because they always do what needs to be done at the right time.

They remain proactive and revel in the joy of playing the game.

It’s also worth noting that Real Madrid fans have always supported the team unconditionally, but Real Madrid has not brought them the happiness they deserve. Real Madrid largely plays with passion, lacking organized structure, ultimately falling into a situation where they "have the will but not the power."

Di Stefano said what he liked: Barcelona’s absolute control over the game.

I like and admire Barcelona’s absolute control over the game. Watching them play is more than just a visual pleasure; it demands appreciation from the depths of the soul. They cherish ball possession as if they are doting on it. Watching this team play is a delight for everyone.

What he didn’t like: Real Madrid is a team with no distinct character.

Real Madrid shows no characteristics in the match. Last Saturday’s game should have set the tone for the subsequent confrontation, but that game showed that defensive counter-playing cannot deal with Barcelona.

At least it won’t be able to win against Barcelona.

As the match day quickly arrives, it remains to be seen whether Di Stefano’s view is right or wrong, as it will be proven in this match.

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