I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Chapter 940: Chapter 29: Slot Succeeds Again

Champions League Semi-finals

Santiago Bernabeu Stadium

Real Madrid vs. Liverpool

In this match, although Liverpool came with great momentum, people were more optimistic about Real Madrid. After all, Real Madrid had repeatedly survived on the edge of elimination. But this time, it seems people’s perception was off.

0:2

The scoreboard in the stands said it all; Slot won again.

Last season, he led Liverpool to win against Real Madrid, accomplishing what his predecessor Klopp never could—defeating Real Madrid.

This guy, who was considered a team equipment manager by Atletico Madrid’s coach Simeone a few years ago, now stands proudly at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Chen Zhong stood on the field with his hands on his hips, his eyes full of confusion. In this match, Real Madrid was lost throughout, and Chen Zhong’s three long shots and two headers didn’t help the team score.

Shuttling between the national team and the club had undoubtedly affected his form, and after this game, the club even sent a notice to Chen Zhong specifically, hoping he could focus on the club schedule.

The national team had already successfully qualified for the World Cup, and he needed to help the club with the final sprint of the season.

The "obstacle" for Asian players in Europe is the national team matches, and traveling back and forth can easily affect their form. In this match, as Real Madrid’s key player, Chen Zhong was somewhat powerless.

In the confrontation with Van Dijk, and in facing Liverpool players in midfield assassination, he was always a little bit short.

Alonso had a look of confusion; he didn’t know if they could go further in the next match in England, at Liverpool’s home. Meanwhile, Slot was in high spirits.

This Dutchman was undoubtedly flashy in the European football arena this season, leading the Reds to dominate both the Premier League and the Champions League. With 19 games and 17 wins, this was the best start for a new coach in the history of this legendary club.

Despite everyone thinking that Liverpool might collapse after Klopp left, as Manchester United did when Sir Alex Ferguson left, the opposite was true.

Last season, the Liverpool team won the Premier League championship, and this season Slot might become a legend in record time.

Mikos Gouka is a reporter for the famous Dutch media AD, covering news about Slot and Feyenoord for the past three years.

He recently published a new book titled "Slot Tactics," detailing how this 46-year-old coach went from a relatively obscure pawn to the top of the football world—an extraordinary journey.

Slot was born in the small Dutch village of Bergentheim; his parents were both teachers, but his father was also an amateur football coach who would invite his two sons to join games, teaching them the importance of football, especially communication and tactics.

Slot’s playing career began with his local team Zwolle, hovering between the Eredivisie and Eerste Divisie, nearly receiving a call-up from the Dutch national team but ultimately failing to achieve it.

Recalling this former midfielder’s playing style, Gouka said: "He was quite a good player but not top-tier. He always tried to convince people he was a good player, but when they lost, he’d be the first to be substituted because he didn’t work hard enough, his jersey wasn’t dirty. He wasn’t a Roy Keane, more like Matt Le Tissier."

"At the end of his career, he told us, ’I’m not fast; some say I’m like a snail,’ but he said, ’So I must do everything right on the field; I’m in midfield, so the players around me must be in the right position,’ he’s like a coach on the field."

At some point, Slot did become a coach on the field and produced excellent results.

Facing the Ajax Team led by possibly the greatest athlete in the country’s history, Van Basten, Slot had a plan.

"Sparta Rotterdam originally had a tactical plan, but Slot changed it," Gouka explained. "He spoke to coach Frank Booy and told him, ’If we do this and let me play right winger, it might be the best solution.’ Booy thought for an hour and said, ’We’ll do it,’ and Sparta Rotterdam ended up winning 4-0."

"It was a miracle; after the match, Van Basten resigned. All the Sparta Rotterdam players said his tactical adjustment won the game, so I thought, ’Maybe he’ll go far.’"

However, not all of Slot’s creative ideas worked, and a notorious embarrassment from his playing days was once a national joke.

Gouka recalled: "While playing for Zwolle, he wanted to try something new at kick-off, attempting to kick the ball high over the opponent’s defense."

"He succeeded a few times, but during one attempt, the ball went off in the wrong direction due to a lack of skill."

"The footage was picked out by several shows to poke fun at him. He was somewhat frustrated by this, but when he arrived at Feyenoord, the players were unaware of it. However, upon seeing it on television, they started imitating him in training, saying, ’Arne, can we try this in the next match?’"

"He always laughed at this. I asked if he was annoyed, and he said, ’They can make fun of me, but as long as it’s not excessive.’"

"He knows when to stop and when to laugh. The players say the coach is always with them but remains a coach; he has a very approachable manner."

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