NOVEL NEXT chapter 137
137 – Conquistador
137
Real Madrid’s tactics in this game were to pretend to be weak on the flanks, then suddenly press with three players to steal the ball and counterattack. However, this tactic also had a weakness: if they couldn’t control the opponent’s flank attack, they would be left with a huge gap.
Of course, this was just in theory, and it wasn’t easy to execute. It’s like saying that three players can easily break through – but what about the world-class players of Real Madrid, who are known for their speed and skill? Even Juzitae wouldn’t find it easy to break through their defense head-on.
But that’s not to say it’s impossible. One-on-one is much easier than one-on-three, and Juzitae was confident in his ability to exploit Real Madrid’s tactics.
The key to success lay in speed alone. Juzitae’s incredible speed allowed him to outmaneuver Real Madrid’s midfielder, Federico Munoz, and their speedy winger, Michel Zuk, as well as their fullback, Andrejinho.
Of course, if they had started at the same time, the outcome might have been different. Juzitae wasn’t a protagonist from a martial arts novel or a fantasy novel who could suddenly burst into action with incredible speed.
In the end, Juzitae was still human, and he couldn’t possibly keep up with the speed of Real Madrid’s players.
But that didn’t mean his incredible speed was something to be taken lightly.
The game resumed.
Real Madrid, determined to score an equalizer, launched an all-out attack, but their formation soon fell apart.
* * *
Real Madrid, having been struck by Juzitae’s lightning-fast attack, returned to their usual formation.
It was understandable that they would switch back to their usual tactics, as their extreme counterattack strategy hadn’t worked. But this meant that Barcelona had been well-prepared for their tactics.
No, they were even more unprepared than usual.
Changing tactics mid-game, especially in a desperate situation, was something even Real Madrid’s players couldn’t do smoothly.
And this gave Barcelona a golden opportunity.
“…Change it back.”
After two narrow escapes in just 10 minutes, Raul Harke was forced to revert to their original tactics.
“The players’ minds are too anxious.”
Their hastily changed tactics, driven by desperation, couldn’t contain Juzitae’s surging attack, which was fueled by Barcelona’s buildup from the back, led by Madu Murcia.
If it were usual, they wouldn’t have been so pressed, but their broken momentum had the power to make them commit mistakes they wouldn’t normally make.
It was an intangible force that couldn’t be measured objectively, but it had a huge impact on the game.
The biggest problem was Juzitae.
Could they really change their tactics just to stop one center-back? No, they couldn’t, but if they didn’t, he would run wild, and even moderate pressure and control wouldn’t work.
If only their opponent were 1860 Munich, Juzitae’s former team, they could focus all their energy on stopping him. But against Barcelona, other players would take advantage of the gap.
They couldn’t afford to let Juzitae dictate the game.
Raul Harke, deep in thought, decided to take a gamble.
“It’s pointless to hesitate. Attack!”
Raul Harke, who couldn’t just sit back and wait for defeat, ordered an aggressive offense, which soon turned into a disaster.
Joo Ji-tae, who had been quietly focused on defense and build-up, suddenly burst out and blocked Real Madrid’s pass, then sprinted forward, leaving the chasing players behind with a long pass.
“Andre! Hold your position! Buy some time!!”
Andrej, who had carelessly rushed out and created a huge opening for the opponent, this time held his ground and waited for his teammates’ backup, but Joo Ji-tae broke through with an incredible speed and direction change, connecting with a quick shot.
The clever shot, which aimed at the gap between the center-back Bernt Schuster and the goalkeeper’s vision, crossed the goal line without any obstruction.
[Joo Ji-tae scores multiple goals in El Clasico!!]
[Today’s hero is undoubtedly this player! The scorer of the second goal! The treasure from the East, Barcelona’s gem!]
[What an incredible sprint! It’s like watching Gareth Bale in the 10/11 Champions League season against Inter Milan!!]
21 minutes into the second half.
At the moment Joo Ji-tae scored his multiple goals, the commentator for the local broadcast of Real Madrid’s match couldn’t help but let out a sigh.
[Oh… Madrid is collapsing. The conqueror from the East, the Korean Conquistador, has taken down Madrid.]
The words the commentator let out in a sigh became Joo Ji-tae’s new nickname.
Conquistador.
The next day.
The headline of Spain’s largest daily newspaper, MARCA, read: “The Conqueror of Madrid!!”
The photo showed Joo Ji-tae, wearing a Morion helmet, roaring at Fernando Alvarez.
* * *
[Joo Ji-tae leads the team to victory with multiple goals in his first El Clasico!]
[Is Joo Ji-tae the world’s best player? He dominates Real Madrid!]
[Revenge in the World Cup! Joo Ji-tae defeats Fernando Alvarez!]
[Joo Ji-tae, selected as the best player of the match, scores his 5th goal as a center-back!]
[The Conqueror of Madrid! The Korean Conquistador!]
—Wow, this is crazy… Is Joo Ji-tae’s performance real?
—Haha, where are those guys who said Fernando Alvarez wouldn’t be able to handle him? Joo Ji-tae destroyed him!
—The class difference is ridiculous.
—You guys only have Fernando Alvarez, so how many goals did he score? Joo Ji-tae scored 2 goals, haha.
—(Joo Ji-tae roaring at Fernando Alvarez) Whoa, look at that swag.
—Do you guys know Joo Ji-tae’s nickname in the local scene?
—The Conqueror of Madrid, the Korean Conquistador… What am I looking at right now? My heart is swelling with pride…
Barcelona, who won El Clasico, gained momentum.
The team’s atmosphere, which cannot be seen but is an essential factor, was directly connected to their performance, and this led to Barcelona’s stormy start to the season.
Unlike their shaky start to the season, Barcelona continued their winning streak, losing only one game in August and September.
At the center of this momentum is a 20-year-old young player in his first season after transferring.
The new ace, who is not only a center-back but also the core of the team’s build-up, has already recorded over 10 attacking points in just three months, and more importantly, has defeated Fernando Alvarez head-on, bringing him one step closer to the title of “world’s best.”
The Korean Conquistador, Joo Ji-tae, is welcoming October—
[Joo Ji-tae is selected as a candidate for the Ballon d’Or 23!]
“Will Joo Ji-tae, who shone at the World Cup, stand on the Ballon d’Or podium?”
“Joo Ji-tae boards a flight to France to attend the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony.”
“Joo Ji-tae arrives in Paris! What are the experts predicting about his chances of winning?”
“(photo) A reunion at the Théâtre du Châtelet! Joo Ji-tae and Jo Jae-sin embracing!”
He was attending the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony.
“(photo) Joo Ji-tae enters the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris! Who is the beautiful woman accompanying him?”
“Joo Ji-tae’s girlfriend, revealed to the public.”
“Joo Ji-tae’s childhood friend and girlfriend, Jo Jae-sin’s younger sister!”
“Jo Yeo-sin, a famous influencer, arrives at the Théâtre du Châtelet with Joo Ji-tae.”
Jo Jae-sin, and Jo Yeo-sin, were together.