Chapter 514: Ceremonial Midfield (Everyday Transition)

Player tunnel.

Several bullfighter members from Real Madrid's lineup shook hands and hugged Li Kang.

The tense atmosphere spread quickly through the vast tunnel.

No matter how many times a player has stood on the UEFA Champions League final stage, the immense pressure can make him feel suffocated.

For example, Marcelo.

These two days he was so nervous he bit his nails down to the quick, and before media interviews he said he felt a bit short of breath, always wanting to go to the bathroom.

But there are still exceptions.

Isco pulled up the zipper on Li Kang's jacket.

Diego Costa slapped Casemiro's butt.

Cristiano Ronaldo ruffled the little ball boy's head, then suddenly turned and gazed at Li Kang with a sharp look.

"Goalkeeper: Buffon."

"The Galactic Battleship accelerates at this moment! The space for advancement suddenly opens up."

"Real Madrid's lateral ball transfer speed is fast! They completed the shift from right to left in an instant!"

Real Madrid possession.

The first two can, through technical connection, individually accomplish 'one vs. many with back to goal', seeking the optimal solution for advancement and attack routes.

"Isco!"

"Next, we will introduce the starting lineups of both sides."

Even playing against oneself, does one still have such a strong desire to win?

For example:

Benzema kicked off and passed back to Varane.

The characteristic of German midfielders is: when the opponent's defensive line is set, I want to break through in the simplest way.

"The Chelsea side in blue jerseys lines up in a 4-3-3 formation!"

"According to the newly introduced 20-zone division concept, Modrić's pass penetrated from zone 4 through zones 5, 6, 13, and 14!"

One will notice that the space Isco tries to make a forward run into is always at risk of being blocked by Cahill and Rüdiger.

"Goalkeeper: Navas."

"Chelsea's intercepting network also tilts at high speed!"

"Today's ceremonial midfield sees a large extent of position rotation."

Brainstorming.

"A perfect combination of penetration and concealment."

The moment Kroos receives the ball.

Cahill and Benzema maintain distance, their bodies facing the end of Isco's forward run path.

Why?

Because in this era, the five midfielders with the strongest physical abilities in Europe are Kanté, Kroos, Modrić, Li Kang, and Pogba, respectively.

"Outside of the foot, a long arcing pass along the ground!"

"The intention is really too obvious."

"Kroos!"

"Like a kitchen knife, it precisely sliced through the middle of that cake."

"Beautiful!"

Accompanied by the referee's whistle.

"An unfathomable passing route!"

Live broadcast room.

【Galactic Battleship!】

【Europe's strongest lineup!】

【Ceremonial Midfield!】

【I know with my eyes closed that Zidane's adjustment is: before 70 minutes, a diamond-shaped four midfield; after 70 minutes, take off Isco and bring on Bale, changing to a 4-3-3.】

【Hope Real Madrid can win their twelfth Champions League title in club history this year!】

【Recalling Pepe from last year's final, who elbowed Li Kang in the face, stepped on the back of his hand with his foot, and even made a crippled motion.】

【Bale once said his childhood dream was to join Munich 1860, but ended up getting slapped in the face by a player from that club.】

"Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema."

"Defenders: Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill, Rüdiger."

"Then give the ball to Kroos."

"Modrić is very smart; he brought the ball back a few steps, making small steps and arcing circles."

Ordinary midfielders need teammates' support to make a reasonable pass when their back is to goal.

David Luiz tightly marked Benzema.

Only these four top midfielders in all of Europe possess this superb ability.

"They swapped positions with Modrić."

"Kroos did not pass immediately!"

From bottom to top.

The answer to the pass, yet unchanged.

The spectators at the Olympic Stadium have not yet reacted.

【Mission Briefing: The brilliant stars atop Europe will dim tonight!】

The Olympic Stadium erupted once again with a cheer like a landslide and tsunami.

"Midfield: Isco, Modrić, Casemiro, Kroos."

In a sideways position, only one player is in a class of his own: Juventus's Pjanić.

【Ding! Mission triggered: Creation and Destruction.】

The system notification sounded softly.

The blinding lights on both sides of the walls seemed to separate the passage and the stadium into two worlds.

Cruyff showed no expression, did not respond.

Kante timely headed toward the Croatian midfield's backside.

Chelsea's front line quickly launched a press.

The latter two simply rely on body balance, control radius, and explosive power to solve the problem.

This historical period.

But they found an extraordinarily unconventional passing route.

"Can pass now!"

Chelsea's defense had already made a response.

"This retreat makes Kante dare not continue chasing; if he chased, he'd expose the space behind him."

"No head-on clash with Kante."

"Easily shook off Fabregas!"

An unexpected event occurred.

"The distance between David Luiz and Cahill is shrinking!"

If the image freezes.

"Great vision, quickly passed to the advancing Carvajal on the right flank, who was in an open space."

Small-step adjustments, always ready to step in, gather power, and intercept.

Modrić did not forcibly turn for a technical burst, nor did he use a feint of weight shift.

A midfield player receiving the ball with his back to goal, after breaking a press, must grasp the spacing and timing of passes and runs with teammates, thereby influencing the team's overall progression framework.

It disturbed Cahill and Rüdiger's coordinated double-team on the space left by Isco's forward run.

Cristiano Ronaldo immediately turned his head that way.

The director's camera promptly captured this moment, and fans in front of their TVs instantly laughed.

Chelsea's front-line interception was activated at this moment.

Kante didn't expect the opponent to handle it this way.

"Modrić moves to the left flank, creating space."

But players like Modrić, Busquets, Pogba, and Li Kang are different.

White with gold trim.

"This is the awareness and decision-making of a top-tier midfielder."

"Real Madrid, dressed in white jerseys, has set out in a 4-4-2 formation!"

"Keep driving toward the center!"

"Forwards: Hazard, Diego Costa, William."

The match officially began.

"Casemiro steps up."

In Li Kang's vision, a phantom gradually coalesced, maintaining the "SIU" pose.

In an instant.

Pa!

"Beautiful!"

The cheers and applause at the Olympic Stadium, like a mighty avalanche, rolled down wildly from all sides of the stands, instantly engulfing the players on the field.

Shortly after, the referee team led both sides' players up the steps of the passage exit.

"'Death Gaze.'"

"'Full of desire for victory!'"

Here, it is not referring to the traditional center forward's pivot with back to goal.

【Mission Reward: Champions League Champion Treasure Chest.】

Li Kang smiled.

A few steps of dribbling.

The characteristic of Latin-system midfielders is: when the opponent's defense is set, I will break it with an unexpected method.

"In the ceremony, midfield breaks the press without needing forward teammates to drop back and support."

Beckenbauer couldn't help but applaud, gazing at Cruyff, exclaiming: "This Real Madrid kid doesn't just look like you!"

"Marcelo makes a forward run!"

Modrić neither passed the ball forward nor passed it back to the defenders.

The formation's center of gravity continued to tilt to one side.

"Midfield: Li Kang, Kante, Fabregas."

The live broadcast room.

【Another peak-period blue army.】

【Last time's championship journey was a fairy tale for the old boys; this time it's the youngster's unstoppable momentum!】

【This midfield configuration is utterly unstoppable in the game.】

【Li Mingdeng and Kanté, this historically legendary midfield duo, is utterly overpowered when placed in the game.】

【Rumor has it Hazard is joining Real Madrid?】

【This season Hazard scored two goals in the Champions League knockout stage—more than the total of the past five years combined! Real Madrid won't sign him unless they fork over 200 million euros! His weekly wage is at least £400,000!】

【Whether they spend the 200 million or not, Real Madrid will watch Isco's performance next season; there are still plenty of candidates for the new Bernabeu king.】

【Isco is no good; this season he secretly went vegan, his form has plummeted badly, led astray by that girlfriend.】

Modrić's ability to hold the ball with his back to goal is world-class.

「Defenders: Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo. 」

VIP box.

「Kroos's scalpel-like through ball, find Isco! 」

「Two passes. 」

Changed the straight-ahead passing angle.

Li Kang missed the big-eared cup by a whisker.

Kroos is the perfect German midfielder.

The little black egg turned left and right, anticipating Real Madrid's next advancing route.

「One-on-one! 」

「My foot slipped! 」

Isco was practically treading on the edge of the penalty area, falling onto the grass.

Rüdiger cleared the ball with a big kick!