SWR: Chapter 944/945

Chapter 944: The Fate of Defensive Players

On the evening of November 6th, at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.

When the game reached the 88th minute, the score was still 1-1.

Despite being away, Real Madrid boldly chose to attack from the start. In the 10th minute, Benzema combined with Modric and Di Maria on the right and scored from close range, opening the scoring for Real Madrid.

But in the 52nd minute of the second half, David Silva provided an assist. Suarez made a brilliant move to escape Ramos, shook him off, and shot into the goal, equalizing for Manchester City.

1-1!

After that, neither side was able to score again.

Until the end of the game.

David Silva once again made a long pass, sending the ball to the feet of Van Persie, who had come on as a substitute.

The Dutch striker leaned into Ramos, controlled the ball steadily with his foot, and before Pepe and Ramos could close in to double-team him, he passed the ball with his left foot toward the left side of the penalty area.

Gareth Bale made a diagonal run into the penalty area from the left wing at an extremely high speed.

From the moment the Welshman made his move, Arbeloa had already lost the best defensive position and was forced to chase from behind. When Gareth Bale burst into the box and controlled Van Persie's pass, Arbeloa, chasing from the side and slightly behind, had no choice but to stretch his leg out. But it was too late.

He tripped Gareth Bale directly.

The Welshman fell inside Real Madrid's penalty area and the referee's whistle sounded immediately.

Penalty!

At the same time, the referee raised the yellow card in his hand.

The entire stadium suddenly erupted into thunderous cheers.

Because after showing the yellow card, the referee immediately took out a red card.

Two yellows equal one red!

Arbeloa did not argue. He just lowered his head and walked off the field.

In tonight's game, his performance had actually been very good, but when defending Gareth Bale, the pressure was too great. He had already received a yellow card in the first half for a foul.

This was the second one!

…

On the sidelines, Gao Shen opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but nothing came out.

In fact, he had originally planned to let Ramos play on the right, but later changed his mind.

This was mainly because Arbeloa had performed very well and looked sharp after returning to training.

In fact, in tonight's match, Arbeloa's performance had been very good, including several defensive interventions that were solid.

But just before the end of the match, Gareth Bale's burst of speed wiped away all his previous efforts.

This is also why Gareth Bale is so terrifying.

This kid not only has outstanding skill, but also amazing physical fitness. Even at the final stage of the match, he can still sprint at top speed. Who can stop him?

The first substitution was a tactical adjustment. Of the remaining two substitutions, one was made because Di Maria had expended too much energy and his performance on the pitch was not ideal.

Especially after Pellegrini brought on Leighton Baines on the left to strengthen Manchester City's attack, Di Maria failed to suppress Baines effectively. So Gao Shen used Higuain to closely mark Baines.

Gao Shen had always kept one substitution in reserve, but after the 80th minute, Benzema collided with Kompany while dribbling and sprained his ankle. After the team doctor came on to check, he recommended substituting him off.

It was already the 83rd minute. Gao Shen thought about it and agreed.

At that time, Manchester City's attacks were fierce. After careful consideration, Gao Shen replaced Benzema with Vasquez to reinforce the right flank and pushed Higuain into the center forward position.

The effect of this adjustment was very good, but he did not expect such a problem to arise at a critical moment.

A yellow card and a penalty kick. The referee delivered a fatal blow.

Judging from the way Gareth Bale fell, there was really no argument.

Gao Shen saw Arbeloa leave without even protesting to the referee, head bowed, so he walked over to him.

"It's okay, Alvaro, it's okay." Gao Shen hugged Arbeloa and tried to comfort his right-back.

"I'm sorry, boss," Arbeloa said painfully. "I was a bit confused at that moment, I couldn't catch up with him…"

"It's okay, it's okay. I'm here." Gao Shen comforted him. "Go take a shower and rest."

Arbeloa nodded and walked into the tunnel.

Sometimes, defensive players really have it tough.

They may play very well for the entire game, but all their efforts are undone by one mistake.

This is the biggest difference between defense and attack.

For attacking players, they can miss and waste opportunities all game long, but if they seize just one chance, they become heroes.

But not for defensive players.

No matter how well a defensive player performs, in the end, they often become the backdrop for attacking players.

This is the fate of defensive players!

Arbeloa was in good form and had performed well, but because of a slower initial reaction, he could not keep up with the start and was overtaken by Gareth Bale at a crucial position.

The consequences of entering Bale's zone were predictable, so Arbeloa panicked and made a desperate challenge.

Sometimes, things happen in an instant.

…

Italian referee Rocchi blew the whistle to end the game.

2-1.

According to international convention, the home team is listed first, and the away team second.

The fans at the Etihad Stadium clapped and cheered wildly to celebrate the team's victory.

This match was crucial for Manchester City, even a key match that could determine their qualification.

Real Madrid suffered a devastating blow.

After the match, Pellegrini immediately walked to the visiting technical area and shook hands with Gao Shen.

Regarding this match, the Chilean engineer highly praised Real Madrid's performance and progress.

He knew very well that, from a tactical perspective, he had even been outplayed by Gao Shen. But his players were strong enough to help Manchester City secure the victory.

In a way, he was able to win thanks to Gao Shen.

At least Gao Shen had left him with an extremely strong squad.

Gao Shen was in a low mood. After exchanging a few words with Pellegrini, he left.

The Real Madrid players also walked off the pitch one by one with their heads down.

Gao Shen went to them, shaking hands and hugging them one by one.

"It's okay, cheer up."

But after a defeat like this, how could the players keep their spirits up?

Everyone could see that losing this game had forced Real Madrid into a desperate situation.

This damn group of death is terrifying!

Every opponent is so strong that if you are not careful, you will be crushed.

This is completely different from the league.

In La Liga, when facing a team like Zaragoza, Real Madrid could still beat them even if they lost focus during the match.

But in the Champions League's group of death, even a moment of carelessness can lead to irreversible disaster.

Even now, although Gao Shen had left Manchester City, many Manchester City players still respect him.

On the pitch they are opponents, but off the pitch, they maintain their connection.

After Gao Shen finished speaking with his players, the Manchester City players came over one after another to greet him.

Many of them performed well in this match, and Gareth Bale is clearly stronger than last season.

There was also De Bruyne. After Rakitic got injured, Yaya Toure became the main starter, but De Bruyne also became an important midfielder for Manchester City and his performance improved rapidly.

Gao Shen also set aside his disappointment over Real Madrid's loss for a moment and exchanged a few words with the Manchester City players.

The Manchester City fans at the scene also gave Gao Shen a warm round of applause.

Obviously, even now, they have not forgotten Gao Shen's contributions to Manchester City.

Gao Shen also interacted with the Manchester City fans, thanking them for their support.

On the pitch, they were rivals. Off the pitch, they were not.

…

Whether in the locker room or at the post-match press conference, Gao Shen emphasized one point: it was not the time for Real Madrid to give up. Even during the post-match press conference, Gao Shen made another point.

"Perhaps, when I say this, many people will think that I am trying to find something to be happy about in a tough situation, or trying to celebrate at a funeral, but I truly believe that this situation may not be a bad thing for us."

"As a newly reorganized team, we have gathered many top players from different countries. Many of them were the core players in their previous leagues and teams, which has made it difficult for them to adapt after coming to Real Madrid."

This is actually very normal. Almost everyone goes through this and faces the problem of integration.

"But now, we have no choice. We must let go of all our prejudices, all our persistence, all our burdens…"

"There is only one way forward, and that is for everyone to be of one mind!"

Gao Shen emphasized to the media that Real Madrid's performance was not bad. The key issue was that the team still lacked that final bit of sharpness.

"We always make mistakes at critical moments."

It was a statement that went straight to the heart of the matter.

"It could be a player's mistake, it could be for other reasons, but those are just surface-level issues. The real problem is that we have not fully unleashed our full potential."

"Just now, in the locker room, I asked my players to think carefully about what comes next."

"Will we continue to be eliminated in the group stage like in the past? Or will we break through?"

When asked by the reporters, Gao Shen once again stood by his previous statement.

"I've said before that if I don't win La Liga or the Champions League, I will be fired. It was like that before, and it's still like that now."

"But I believe in my players. I trust them!"

Gao Shen did not think there was anything wrong with losing to the team he had built for three years.

"This is different."

"The two teams are in different phases, different stages. There is no comparison."

"On the contrary, if Real Madrid could beat Manchester City, I would see it as a failure on my part, a failure of the past three years!"

Gao Shen's comments were recognized by many reporters present.

Manchester City was the team he spent three years building, and Real Madrid is a team he has just taken over. Now, if Real Madrid were expected to beat Manchester City, would that not mean all of Manchester City's efforts over the past three years were meaningless?

Do you really think Manchester City's squad is weak?

In fact, it is already very good that Real Madrid was able to fight to this level.

Especially considering that Real Madrid is still plagued by injuries, and Arbeloa had only just returned from injury two days ago.

But recognition is one thing, the indisputable fact is that Real Madrid is now in a desperate situation.

Especially after the result of Dortmund's home match against Porto came out.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 945: Hero, or Bear?

Dortmund won!

With goals from Reus in the 28th minute and Lewandowski in the 77th minute, Dortmund defeated Porto 2-0 and claimed a crucial victory.

After this win, the entire situation in Group D changed dramatically.

Dortmund sits at the top of the group with 9 points, with three wins and one loss from four games.

Manchester City has two wins, one draw, and one loss from four games, earning 7 points and placing second.

Real Madrid has one win, one draw, and two losses from four games, with only 4 points, ranking third.

Porto, with one win and three losses from four games, has just 3 points and is at the bottom of the group.

Judging from the current situation, it is hard to say who will ultimately progress, but it is obvious that Real Madrid and Porto are in a very dangerous position.

Dortmund is in the most favorable position.

In the remaining two rounds, Dortmund only needs a draw to advance safely.

If Manchester City wants to qualify, they must win at least one of their last two group matches.

Real Madrid's situation is very dangerous. To advance, they must not only win both of their remaining group matches but also depend on the results of Manchester City and Dortmund.

This kind of situation is very rare for Gao Shen.

He hates the feeling of having to rely on others for his own fate.

He especially dislikes this type of situation where you have to calculate how to qualify or rely on various conditions to secure qualification.

But now, the reality is right in front of him.

…

On the team's flight back to Madrid from Manchester Airport, Gao Shen looked at the data Carlos Vargas had organized for him before departure, his mind filled with thoughts of analyzing the current group situation and predicting the next two rounds of group matches.

Real Madrid's position is indeed very dangerous, almost pushed to the edge of a cliff.

But as Gao Shen had just said at the post-match press conference, this could also be an opportunity for Real Madrid.

It is a chance to let everyone put aside their prejudices, burdens, and barriers, and fight together for group qualification!

This is Real Madrid's only way forward now.

After the plane climbed into the stratosphere and stabilized, Gao Shen unbuckled his seat belt and stood up.

This was Real Madrid's charter flight.

Apart from the flight attendants, everyone on the plane was from Real Madrid.

Everyone was clearly surprised to see Gao Shen stand up, and they all looked up at him.

Several players who were dozing with eye masks, resting with eyes closed, or listening to music were nudged awake by their teammates.

Everyone guessed that the head coach had something to say.

Gao Shen carefully considered his words, looked at the players in front of him, and asked a question.

"Do you miss the taste of the Champions League knockout stage?"

The sudden question made the cabin fall silent.

Do you miss the feeling of the knockout stage?

Of course!

Every player who can come to Real Madrid comes from a strong background.

Even a young talent like Casemiro had played for a top team in Brazil.

Everyone here had either come from major powerhouse clubs, been a core player at a top-tier club, or grown up through Real Madrid's youth system.

Regardless of whether they had achieved results in the Champions League before or played in its knockout stages, at this moment, facing their coach's question, they all fell silent.

They all missed it, or longed for, the Champions League knockout stage!

Real Madrid's consecutive eliminations in the group stage had dealt a heavy blow to their ambitions and even dampened the fighting spirit of many.

"Do you still remember the goals or dreams you set for yourself when you joined Real Madrid?"

The only sound in the cabin was Gao Shen's firm voice.

The flight attendants stood far away, not daring to move or speak.

When had they ever seen these Real Madrid superstars at a loss for words in front of the head coach?

Gao Shen did not even raise his voice. With just two questions, he completely took control of the entire atmosphere.

"When you came to Real Madrid, you must have had great ambitions. You must have wanted to make a name for yourself here, to prove yourself, and even to leave your mark in the history of European football, not just here at Real Madrid, right?"

"Have you ever thought that things would end up like this?"

The words struck every Real Madrid player with clarity.

"I just reviewed the current situation of the group, and our situation is not optimistic."

There was no need for details. After learning Dortmund's result, the players already understood the group standings.

"We must win our last two group matches. One is against Borussia Dortmund, who are currently top of the group, and the other is away at Porto. Both matches are extremely tough."

Porto's Estádio do Dragão is where Manchester City failed.

The Real Madrid players are very clear about Manchester City's strength. If Manchester City failed there, how difficult would that away match be?

"I don't know what you are thinking right now. I don't know if you are scared, regretful, complaining, or…"

"But none of that matters anymore."

"Now, there is only one path ahead of us, and that is to win these last two group matches."

Even though everyone knew this already, when Gao Shen said it, it felt even more certain and clear.

"I know we still have many problems to fix, many shortcomings to address, and even conflicts to resolve, but none of that matters right now."

"What matters now, the only thing that matters for us and for Real Madrid, is qualifying from this damn group!"

"If we fail to qualify, next season we will still be a third-seeded team and will face another group of death."

"If we fail to qualify, we will be mocked by countless people."

"If we fail to qualify, everyone here will suffer a huge loss and be left with regrets that will be hard to erase."

For any Real Madrid player, missing out on the Champions League means losing a huge amount of income.

It's not just about the appearance fee, but also the Champions League bonuses.

For any club, the Champions League is the most lucrative competition and also the one that provides the greatest rewards and motivation for players.

There is no reason, whether for public or personal reasons, to accept being eliminated in the group stage again.

"What I want to tell you is that it's not too late. We still have a chance."

Gao Shen stood in front of the players. He was not agitated. Instead, he spoke calmly, as if he was simply stating a fact, his words carrying his confidence.

Everyone who heard him naturally began to feel trust in him.

Real Madrid still has a chance!

"In 2006, that was my first time as a head coach. The first team I managed was Real Madrid, a team with a terrible record. My first match as a coach was the Madrid derby, a very brutal game. My first Champions League match as a coach was at Highbury, against an Arsenal team that was arguably at its strongest in history."

"I was just as confused back then. The Real Madrid players were completely overwhelmed by their opponents. They were far behind Barcelona in the league and had lost to Arsenal in the first leg of the Champions League at the Bernabeu. How were they supposed to play?"

"Everyone had lost confidence: the media, the fans, the management, even the players in the locker room had lost faith."

"I told them at that time that when we are uncertain about the future, we shouldn't overthink things. Instead, we should focus on every training session, focus on every single match, and treat every match as if it were the last."

"Many people have asked me how Real Madrid managed to do it back then."

"Juanito spirit?"

"You must remember that it is you who create and embody the Juanito spirit!"

"Real Madrid clawed their way out of the mud by winning one game after another, victory after victory!"

"Later, whether in Naples or Manchester City, I told my players that we should never take chances and never expect anyone else to help us."

"Remember, the only ones who can help us, who can save us, and who we can rely on are always ourselves!"

The players were clearly moved by Gao Shen's words.

"Now, we are once again standing on the edge of a cliff, just like when I took over Real Madrid in 2006, or even worse than back then. That Real Madrid team had players who might have been your idols, predecessors you looked up to, and even your coach."

Zidane's expression was serious as he nodded firmly.

"But now, what I want to ask you is this: Are you going to be like that Real Madrid team, struggling and clawing your way out of the mire to create a world of your own? Or are you going to continue sinking?"

"It doesn't depend on the opponent. It doesn't depend on the schedule. It doesn't even depend on me. It depends on you!"

"Hero, or bear?"

Gao Shen's words clearly touched the Real Madrid players.

This situation is indeed similar to what happened in 2006, or perhaps even worse.

At least, Real Madrid didn't stop at the group stage back then.

If Real Madrid is eliminated in the group stage again this season, all of them will become laughingstocks.

The term "Royal Circus" is a mockery and humiliation to them.

"I am not going to give up!" Gao Shen said firmly. "Giving up does not exist in my vocabulary, and it has never existed in the teams I coach."

"There was none in the past, there is none now, and there will be none in the future!"

"What I want to tell you is that no matter what you choose, I will keep going!"

"I will prove with facts that what I was able to do in 2006, I can do again now, and even better!"

"I will once again prove to you and to everyone that Real Madrid is still the strongest team in the world!"

"And in this strongest team, we only accept and welcome players who share our ideals!"

"I hope you all think about this carefully, and I sincerely hope that you will stand with me!"

(To be continued.)