The difference between the youth team and the adult team was vividly evident at this moment.
Chen Zhong wanted to focus on waiting for the pass, but PSV Eindhoven players kept harassing him with "salty pig hands," using indecent tricks ranging from touching his butt, tickling, to muttering dirty talk, with some perverts even attempting to grope or perform a wedgie.
The strong smell of sweat mixed with some people's breath made Chen Zhong feel somewhat uncomfortable, and for a moment, he even longed for the days outside the penalty area.
The corner kick was taken, and several hands instantly appeared on Chen Zhong's body. His thighs were bent and full of strength, just waiting for an opportunity to soar and overpower like Mount Tai.
However, this corner kick wasn't directed at Chen Zhong at all.
Instead, it was targeted at the far end towards Saviola!
The surrounding Eindhoven players retracted their "salty pig hands" and left Chen Zhong, who was like a troublemaker, while Chen Zhong spread his wings like a great peng and blocked the surrounding PSV players, his eyes fixed on where the ball would land.
Saviola, living up to his reputation as a rabbit, sprang out and lifted his right foot, intending to volley the ball into the goal.
Amidst everyone's gaze, Saviola's expression was serious as his foot changed from a volley attempt to a toe-poke attempt, yet the ball just barely slipped past his toe.
It was just 2 inches short!
"I should have substituted him!" Schuster seemed a bit irritable on the sidelines, clearly frustrated that Saviola from Barcelona was not adapting to his tactics, repeatedly wasting the team's opportunities, and squeezing Raul's space. This mistake completely exhausted Schuster's patience.
Schuster's anger could not stall Eindhoven's counterattack. PSV's wing offense was in full swing, with Afelay making deep advancements on the wing, rendering Cicinho's defense ineffective.
Dudek tried to turn the tide, but Afelay had long observed his teammate's movement and transferred the ball to the other side, where the far-side right winger Simmons easily netted the ball, putting Eindhoven two goals ahead of Real Madrid in the first half.
The PSV fans in the stands were ecstatic, with Simmons pointing towards Afelay to express thanks before running towards the fan stands to celebrate.
Real Madrid fans were internally furious, yet they still held onto a sliver of hope. The team had come back from three goals down against Hanover before winning five goals, but even so, the anger among them grew like wild grass.
With little time remaining in the first half, Schuster had the warming-up players return to the bench, decisively substituting Ramos for the ineffective Cicinho, Pepe for the yellow-carded Cannavaro, Van Nistelrooy for the headless chicken Saviola, and Guti for the lackluster De La Red during halftime.
As the Russian Railways Cup was a warm-up match and allowed for six substitutions, Schuster's eyes turned to Robinho. The Brazilian stood tall and determinedly looked at Schuster, who shifted his gaze to Robben.
"Arjen, you replace Gonzalo." Schuster ignored Robinho's gaze and emphasized to the players: "Find a breakthrough on the wing and get the ball to our forward players, seize the opportunity."
Looking mature, with a slick, rounded hairstyle like an old man, Robben nodded repeatedly to indicate that he understood.
Having joined Real Madrid for €35 million, and potentially being the marquee signing of the summer, Robben was clearly not brought in to sit on the bench. Even before his signing, many media outlets had predicted Robben's impact on the team.
His opportunity to play over Robinho proved his importance in the coach's eyes.
After distributing the tactics, Schuster gave an impassioned speech, his voice was full of vigor, quickly stirring up emotions among the young players.
"You must fight for the jersey you wear!" Schuster's face flushed, he clenched his right fist, saying: "Remember, we are Real Madrid, and today, I will not accept any result other than victory!"
At this moment, even players like Raul, Ramos, Casillas, and Van Nistelrooy felt the difference between Schuster and Capello; Schuster was clearly the more passionate one, also more willing to give young players a chance.
Halftime ended, and Real Madrid players poured out onto the field. Marcelo suddenly pulled Chen Zhong and pointed to a handsome player not far away, saying: "Chen, he's been looking at you, do you know him?"
"I don't know him." Chen Zhong turned back for a glance and said, "Maybe a player from Japan or South Korea!"
Meanwhile, on the other side, PSV's Lazovic also inquired: "Sun, have you seen that person?"
Sun Xiang, a player whom PSV's coach Koman rather admired, was believed by Koman to have the potential to become a good midfielder. He was loaned to PSV this season, and trained diligently, which made some who believed Sun Xiang's joining was just a commercial act reconsider their views.
"I don't know him." Sun Xiang shook his head, saying similar words to Chen Zhong's: "Maybe a player from Japan or South Korea!"
Sun Xiang's explanation was reasonable; he considered himself somewhat famous in his homeland. If Chen Zhong was a Chinese player, he wouldn't be unknown, not to mention that he didn't react when he concentrated on him.
Yet reality was cruel; Chen Zhong never paid attention to the domestic football scene. His football world was mainly in Europe, having previously competed against young talents like Bojan and Morata, and now training and playing with Europe's top stars, while some local stars he might have heard of, Sun Xiang wasn't one of them at this point.
The two teams returned to the pitch, and Eindhoven adopted a defensive counterattack strategy for the second half, clearly intending to maintain their two-goal lead.
First-half goal hero Simmons was substituted, replaced by Sun Xiang from China.
At the start of the match, Real Madrid changed their lethargic style from the first half and launched a ferocious offensive, no longer lingering in midfield battles with PSV but seeking breakthrough opportunities from the wings.
With a white headband tied around his hair, Guti approached the wing to support, and upon receiving the ball, his eyes seemed to instantly decipher the complex on-field situation, finding the best route.
In the backfield, Chen Zhong's heart skipped a beat, a sudden sense of familiarity washed over him, unsurprisingly so.
Holding the ball, Guti faced PSV's pressure with composure, delivering a majestic through pass to Van Nistelrooy, slipping through two players' gaps, shredding the defense.
Van Nistelrooy charged the penalty area; as the PSV goalkeeper decisively advanced for an intercept, Van Nistelrooy expertly chipped the ball, demonstrating sublime control, and the ball elegantly soared over goalkeeper Gomez's head, leaving his flailing hands grasping at thin air.
Eindhoven's defender Addo hadn't given up yet. He looked at the ball about to fall into the goal, making a desperate attempt to clear it through a diving tackle,
but ultimately it was all futile!
The ball is in the net!
2:1
Van Nistelrooy dashed towards the goal, scooping up the ball from the net. He cradled the ball in his left hand, pointing to Guti with his right to thank him for the brilliant pass.
"Great shot!" Schuster swung his big palm to the side, and the prepared Francisco quickly stayed away from the dangerous Schuster, who didn't mind. At this moment, he felt utterly satisfied: "If that rabbit was still on the field, we definitely wouldn't have gotten that goal."
Schuster muttered under his breath, evidently displeased with Saviola's first-half performance.
In the backfield, Chen Zhong watched Van Nistelrooy's display, eyes widened, mouth agape, wearing a look of awe.
PSV's defenders seemed non-existent before him, and this penalty box king also had substantial threat capabilities outside the box.
In the stands, Real Madrid fans regained their vigor.
Their voices soared again, wiping away the original gloominess.
After all, we are Real Madrid; PSV or any others dare to snatch the championship from us?
Just over my dead body!