Chapter 184
After Van Nistelrooy was injured, Benzema took his place. As the main striker of Real Madrid, the pressure to score goals immediately increased a lot compared to before.
Perhaps because it was his first time joining Real Madrid, Benzema has not been able to integrate into the team's rhythm this season and has hardly scored any effective goals.
"Benzema volleyed in front of the goal! Ah, the ball went wide of the post!"
"Kaka made a straight pass! Modric made a wonderful pass from the midfield! Benzema shot! The ball was saved by the goalkeeper!"
"Benzema and Ronaldo cooperated to press towards the penalty area! Ronaldo dribbled the ball and feinted! He tricked the goalkeeper out of the goal range! Good opportunity! Ronaldo passed the ball horizontally to Benzema!"
"Benzema fell in front of the goal...? What happened?!"
"It looks like the grass was overwatered and the field was too slippery... but it's such a shame to miss this open goal!"
“…”
Benzema still didn't score a goal in several games in a row. Fortunately, the team won the previous games and the fans' boycott was not so intense. But in the first round of the King's Cup, Real Madrid drew 1:1 with Sevilla. Benzema fell into an empty goal and missed the chance to shoot. The score could not be further expanded. This made Mourinho so angry that he was the first to leave the field after the game.
He hopes that the club can quickly buy another reliable center forward during the winter transfer window. Van Nistelrooy's injury has left a gap in their lineup, and it is obvious that Benzema - at least judging from his performance so far this season - cannot carry the team and cannot meet his requirements.
However, the general manager of Real Madrid Club has been slow to give a definite statement.
"As the head coach of Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals, do you think the current team structure and lineup can help Real Madrid break the curse of being eliminated in the round of 16 every year?"
"We all know that Van Nistelrooy will miss the next Champions League game due to injury, and given the performance of the players in recent games... What I want to ask is, will you make some changes to the main players? For example, Karim Benzema, will you continue to believe in him and choose him as a member of the starting lineup?"
Mourinho was answering questions from reporters in a pre-match interview. He moved his chair forward, glanced at the audience, and pulled the microphone on the table in front of him:
"I can only say that if you have a good hound when you go hunting, it will provide you with more help. If you don't have a good hound, then I have to send a cat, but the effect may be less."①
The reporters below lowered their heads and smiled knowingly. It was obvious who was the cat and who was the dog.
…
In the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, Real Madrid played away against AC Milan.
The highlight of this game is undoubtedly the battle between the old club and the new club. Kaka is back on the San Siro court, but this time, he is fighting for Real Madrid.
The red and black flags flying on the San Siro Stadium made him feel dazed, as if he was still wearing the red and black striped jersey in the middle of time and space, but soon, Cristiano pulled him back to reality.
"Kaka, are you ready?" Cristiano stood beside him and gently pinched the back of his neck.
Cristiano could clearly feel the stiff and tense muscles under his palms. He narrowed his eyes slightly and knew that his lover was not ready.
"I'll be ready, Cris." Kaka took a deep breath, gave a faint smile and looked at Cristiano. He reached behind him, quickly shook Cristiano's hand without leaving any trace, and then quickly let go.
He looked at the other person: "I just still feel that this day has come too fast."
Even though he was mentally prepared and knew they would face AC Milan when they won the first place in the Champions League group stage, when that day really came, he still felt that time seemed to pass too fast and he was not ready.
"It's not an opportunity for everyone to play an evenly matched game with former teammates," said Cristiano. He looked at Kaka and then turned his gaze to the center of the court outside the player tunnel. "Look, they are all here. If it were me, I would go all out and give them a respectful and beautiful game in San Siro, the place where I had the best time."
Kaka paused when he heard this, he understood what Cristiano was referring to - Sheva was still in the team, and this might be his last Champions League with AC Milan; and his former captain, Maldini, had suffered from a thigh muscle injury before he transferred away, and was out for most of the season, but he was the starter in this game, and Kaka knew very well that Maldini would not be long away from retirement, they had talked about this before.
There are also Seedorf, Gattuso, Inzaghi...
He is very familiar with the starting lineup of this matchup, and it is very likely that this will be the last time.
He closed his eyes, stood at the entrance of the player tunnel and took a deep breath, and asked Cristiano in a low voice: "So this is what you thought when you played against Manchester United?"
Cristiano blinked, he was about to forget this, but he didn't expect Kaka to still remember it.
He chuckled softly and nodded.
"That's right. You know, I'm a kid from Old Trafford." He winked at Kaka happily, "but this will not affect my game. On the field, I only want to score goals, I want to win, I want a good, hearty game, I just want to play football. That's it."
"The boss knows me, and Leo, Roy and others know me too, so they will also try their best to stop me. This is respect," said Cristiano.
Kaka nodded slightly. He and Cristiano have many similarities, but also many more differences, like now.
He can't do it like Cristiano.
"But Kaka, this is me, and you are yourself." Cristiano suddenly changed the subject. He gently extended his index finger and tapped his lover's chest. He raised his eyes and looked up at Kaka. His eyes were soft and gentle, with a sense of security that made people relax unconsciously. He whispered, "Just be yourself. You are Kaka. I believe in you."
Kaka was stunned for a moment, slightly dazed. He did not expect Cristiano to say that.
Cristiano raised his eyebrows at him, his thin curved eyebrows slightly raised upwards, making him look proud and cheerful.
Cristiano knew what he was thinking, and Kaka realized that Cristiano could always understand his true thoughts at a glance.
His tense muscles slowly relaxed and he exhaled lightly. He had a sense of being wrapped up in security, because no matter what he was thinking, Cristiano always knew, always understood and accepted him, no matter which side he was on.
"Hey, you two, what are you whispering about?" Casillas suddenly walked between the two, looked at Cristiano and Kaka, and said jokingly, "You two are like two goalposts, go to the back and hold your caddies, it's time to enter the field."
Cristiano responded quickly after hearing this. He grinned at Casillas and said, "I'll go now! There's still time!"
Casillas clicked his tongue and waved his hands, not wanting to pay attention to Chris. This guy just loved sticking with Kaka and always had countless reasons.
"Kaka! Come here!" Cristiano called out again. Kaka nodded slightly to Casillas, then quickly caught up with his lover.
Casillas rolled his eyes to the sky. See, what did he just say?
All the players entered the field one by one, leading their caddies, and stood in the center of the San Siro Stadium.
The broadcast from the radio echoed over the stadium, and the players from the two teams shook hands politely.
"Hello again, my friend." Shevchenko shook Kaka's outstretched hand, smiled and patted his shoulder, "You look good."
Kaka responded, hugged Shevchenko and whispered: "You are not bad either, Sheva, I wish you good luck."
"Then you have to be careful with your goal." Shevchenko smiled and raised his eyebrows.
He let go of his hand and walked behind Kaka, and saw the Portuguese standing closely beside Kaka. He met his gaze and grinned at him brightly: "You have to be careful with your goal too."
Shevchenko: "...Did you hear all this?"
"Hmm." Cristiano nodded.
Shevchenko raised his lips unyieldingly: "Ha, that depends on whether you have better coordination or we have better coordination."
Cristiano held the hand that the other party extended. He smiled and gently bumped the other party's shoulder: "Of course I need to say it? This is me and Kaka."
Seeing the Portuguese's smug expression, Shevchenko couldn't help but roll his eyes in front of the camera. Why did he mention this in front of Cristiano?
"What kind of kindergarten students are you? Arguing here? Please!" Inzaghi walked over quickly, clapped his hands with Kaka and Cristiano, and complained quickly with his hands covering his mouth.
Cristiano shut his mouth, but still gave Shevchenko a look full of fighting spirit, as if to say, "Today, I want to create a goal with Kaka."
"The game has officially begun! Real Madrid attacks from the left side of the screen to the right side, while AC Milan attacks from the right side of the screen to the left side! The two teams' fight and attack are about to break out!"
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