"You are still hasty."

  Iands of Camp Nou, Bara vice-chairman Alfonso Goal smiled at Butragueno, the vice-president of Real Madrid who led the team to Bara, with a somewhat desding tone.

  He was referring to Real Madrid's decision to appoint Gao Shen as head coach. After all, using a twenty-five-year-old rookie as the head coach seemed like an absolutely ridiculous sdal.

  President Laporta was also sitting beside Butragueno, "watg" the game with a smile. After hearing Goal's words, the smile on his face grew even wider.

  In the past few years, Real Madrid had been pressing Bara, and Florentino erson with influen both political and business circles. Even when Laporta met him, he would iably feel inferior. But now, they could hold their heads high and criticize Real Madrid face to face, and Real Madrid couldn't refute it.

  Butragueno was very depressed, but he really couldn't argue back.

  On the field, Bara was stronger, and Real Madrid was forced to passively defend. Off the field, in the past two or three seasons, Bara had risen strongly, while the superstar-studded Real Madrid had begun to dee.

  Especially this season, Bara superstar Ronaldinho led the team at the Bernabeu and received warm appuse from the Bernabeu fans after beating Real Madrid 3-0. This was a shame for the Real Madrid ma.

  The situation was against them, and Butrague helpless about it.

  "Speaking of which, we really have to thank you." Echebarria, sitting oher side of Laporta, ughed.

  "Ronaldinho and Deco were both given up by you, otherwise it would have been difficult for us to grab them, not to mentioo'o, who was sold to us by you."

  Echebarria is not only a member of the Bara presidium but also Laporta's brother-in-w. He was the person in charge of Bara's iation with Real Madrid about the transfer of Eto'o. He is a powerful figure in the Bara.

  Eto'o was in Real Madrid's youth training but didn't get a the star-studded Real Madrid, so he was sent to Real Mallorca. Uhe training ones, he made great progress and was favored by Bara.

  Acc to the tract, Mallord Real Madrid each held half the ownership of Eto'o. If Bara wao buy Eto'o, they had to get the half owned by Real Madrid, which was sidered an almost impossible transa at the time.

  But who would have thought that Real Madrid finally agreed?

  The reason was simple: Real Madrid wanted Michael Owen.

  Sometimes things in the world are truly amazing.

  Real Madrid had Zidane, so they didn't need Deco, and Deco's straightforying style didn't fit Real Madrid's definition of a star; between Beckham and Ronaldinho, Real Madrid chose the higher ercial value, at that time, the more promi Beckham, not the less attractive Ronaldinho, which was uandable.

  Going back to the Michael Owen ao'o deal, the same logic applied.

  And who would have thought that these three pyers would create Bara's glory in the past two or three years?

  Butragueno always kept a smile on his fad maintained his demeanor, but internally, he was already cursing, though there was nothing he could do.

  Who made the two teams mortal enemies?

  "The score is still zero to zero. It's hard to say who will win or lose," Butragueno said lightly.

  "That's right," Laporta nodded in agreement, but then added, "I have a hunch that Eto'o will score tonight."

  Goal and Echebarria agreed, because Eto'o had a niame: Real Madrid killer.

  What did that mean?

  He had scored in all of the st three games against Real Madrid.

  Not only that, but since leaving Real Madrid in 2000, he had scored a total of ten goals against them, including seven league goals, two Copa del Rey goals, and one Super Cup goal.

  Seven of those goals were scored for Mallorca, and three for Bara.

  This showed how deep Eto'o's reseowards Real Madrid ran.

  Butragueno was sitting iands at Camp Nou, surrounded by Bara's ma and guests. Hearing them all talk as if they had already won, the Real Madrid vice-chairma full of shame, but he couldn't do anything about it.

  Gao, you must fight for us!

  ...

  ...

  Ronaldinho once again dribbled the ball ihe left side of the penalty area and took a long shot before Dered could block it.

  But this shot was very hasty, and the timing and angle were not well-adjusted, so it flew high.

  This was his sed shot in three minutes.

  Just before that, Gravesson had pulled Deco down 25 meters from the outside of the penalty area, giving Bara a free kick. Ronaldinho took the penalty, but it was slightly higher than the goal.

  Both shots failed tet the goal and failed to pose a threat.

  And now, the first half had reached the 42-minute mark.

  Rijkaard had specially put on his bck suit and a red tie tonight. This was his lucky outfit, but Bara's luck didn't seem particurly good.

  The best the entire first half was Eto'o's single-handed shot at the start, but he didn't score.

  After that, it was difficult for Bara to get a better ce.

  They had a lot of momentum but few real threats, mostly relying on le shots.

  "This guy is still quite strong. No wonder he mao reverse Arsenal and draw Juventus away," Ten Cate said, mainly praising Real Madrid's defense.

  "This kind of overall pact defense is very characteristic, but it is also a great test for the pyers. To be ho, I really did not expect him to get Beckham and Raul to both return to the penalty area and for Zidao chase back to the goal!"

  Ten Cate had also been a head coa the Eredivisie before being an assistant for Rijkaard, so he khat even the best tactieeded to be executed by the pyers to be effective. The real test was often how to deal with the pyers, not the tactics themselves.

  In this respect, Gao Shen really excelled.

  On the field, after Real Madrid stole the ball in midfield, Zida the ball he midline and made a long pass to Negredo.

  Real Madrid's ter took on Oleguer and quickly moved forward towards the right side of the penalty area. He used his body to hold off Oleguer and stopped the ball, nudging it forward.

  This se had occurred many times throughout the first half, but Real Madrid tio enjoy it.

  "He is trying to wear out our two tral defenders now. We must be ready t on Thiago Motta during the half-time break, and he must be avaible at any time in the sed half," Rijkaard said, frowning.

  This was what he and Ten Cate had specially prepared for Ronaldo.

  Thiago Motta was taller than Oleguer and had simir physical ditions, but as a Brazilian pyer, he was more flexible, pyed well in the midfield, and was good with his feet. Plus, he was a left-footed pyer.

  Both Rijkaard and Ten Cate believed that the partnership of Thiago Motta and Puyol could tain Ronaldo.

  As soon as Real Madrid made a substitution, Bara would follow suit.

  ...

  ...

  The first half ended with two long shots from Bara.

  First, Van Bronckhorst made a shot from the left nearly 30 meters away, then Ronaldinho's cross found Van Bommel, who took a long shot, but both attempts went high.

  The referee Brewer blew the whistle for the end of the first half, but no one had mao score.

  However, whether it was the match itself or the statistics, Bara had an overwhelming advantage.

  Just talking about the number of passes, Deco alone had 54 passes, including 6 key passes, 5 tackles, and 2 interceptions. These stats were enough to make him the standout pyer on the field.

  On Real Madrid's side, Zidane had the most passes, only 18 times, and Negredo had a mere 5 passes.

  In other words, Real Madrid was basically on the defensive for the entire first half.

  The data might not reflect everything, but it was enough to show Real Madrid's absolute disadvantage on the field.

  Generally speaking, such statistics usually indicated a big defeat or even a professional team thrashing an amateur team.

  But when Gao Shen saw the data, he didn't react at all.

  Because he felt that he was too weak.

  In 2006, this was a very on phenomenon. The passing statistics of Bara were already very high, especially those of Deco, Ia, and Ronaldinho.

  For example, Eto'o had only 16 passes, Larsson had 15, and Van Bommel had only 10.

  It should be said that this was the mainstream of football at that time.

  However, after Guardio led the rise of the third Bara Dream Team, the phenomenon of more than 100 passes in a single game, and the proliferation of passing lihroughout the game really came into people's view. From then on, more and more teams attached great importao passing, and passing data improved by leaps and bounds.

  To a certaient, Bara's style of py was really a dimensional redu attack against the current mainstream style of py.

  The number of passes in a single game skyrocketed so much that it was ceivable that the subversion of the football game was absolutely revolutionary.

  It ity that the current Real Madrid couldn't py that kind of football.

  Even, apart from Bara, it was very difficult for ao py such football.

  Even if Gao Shen thought about it, he couldn't put together such a lineup now.

  Modric, Xavi Alonso, Toni Kroos, David Silva... This batch of outstanding passers is still too young.

  Or it should be said that their ter career peaks were also affected by the subversion of the Dream Team, and even cultivated by Guardio himself.

  So, after seeing the football of the Dream 3 team and looking at the current Bara Dream 2 team, how could Gao Shen be surprised?

  ...

  "How is it? you hold on any longer?"

  This was one of the most frequently asked questions after Gao Sheered the locker room.

  The general answer given by pyers was: yes.

  Including Raul, Negredo, and Zidane.

  Beckham, known for being a good runner, was even more alright.

  Later, Gao Shen praised Ramos by name and enced Elguera.

  Although there was a fatal error in the opening more than two minutes, Elguera did a good job for most of the time.

  In su important battle, Gao Shen could only give encement, not disce the enthusiasm of the pyers.

  And Gravessen, De La Red, Felipe, and Abeloa were all doing well.

  Real Madrid's defense was getting stronger and stronger, but there was little iment on the offensive end.

  "In the sed half, we still have to tio be on the defensive. We must guard oal and wait for the opportunity."

  Gao Shen ched his hands tightly and said through gritted teeth.

  The time has not e, we have to wait!