Chapter 123: Facing Cristiano Ronaldo, Mocking the Monk, An Arrow Like a Meteor
Xia Qi hadn't even had time to redeem a celebration animation after his goal.
Kevin De Bruyne, overcome with excitement, pinned him down on the turf. Don't be fooled by De Bruyne's shy, demure demeanor off the pitch—on the field his face is thick-skinned. He even had the nerve to ask Xia Qi:
"Was my assist not brilliant? Full of imagination and deception!"
"Shit! If I hadn't seen you pounding the turf I might have believed you."
When Xia Qi was in Al-mode he didn't answer; Mario Balotelli, who was on top of De Bruyne, answered for him.
"Mario, do you know why Xia Qi always scores Puskás Award–type goals?"
"Why?"
"Because he never hurts the babysitter."
"..."
Online…
"Mighty Xia Qi! He's become the first player of Chinese descent to score at the Bernabéu."
"Dude above, you really know how to praise. Xia Qi's greatness lies in the imagination in every single goal. Marcelo control plus a double-kick, and now this scorpion kick — whether he's the first player of Chinese descent to score at the Bernabéu really isn't the point."
"That double-kick was a pity it didn't go in; otherwise it would've been the best Champions League goal in the last decade."
"Damn you, Ramos!"
"Damn you, Ramos +1!"
"The scorpion kick was also brilliant — that lateral karate-style kick is so flashy! I just want to write a poem: Wo cao! Wo cao! Wo wo cao!!!"
"Yeah it's flashy! A goal that made the Bernabéu go quiet — there's no better adjective than flashy."
"Watching Xia Qi score, I run out of words to praise him. I'll praise him again after the next goal."
After Xia Qi's goal, Arsène Wenger clenched his fists and stormed to the touchline: "Keep going, don't stop, crush them."
"Justice may be late but it will not fail!"
Wenger rarely showed such fury in his career; clearly Mourinho had provoked him just now.
José Mourinho rolled his eyes innocently… he wasn't taking Wenger's angry words seriously at that moment.
Play continued.
Down a man and leading, Real naturally didn't attack wildly after the restart; they passed conservatively, controlling the game.
Unexpectedly, when Xabi Alonso completed his twelfth pass back, disapproving boos erupted around the Bernabéu.
Real Madrid fans are among the most demanding in the world: they want their team to win and to win beautifully.
But right now, the team was a man down!
Mourinho was furious; he shouted toward the stands and made a quiet-your-mouth gesture.
The response was even louder boos.
"There are rumors Mourinho isn't popular with Real fans; looks like it's true."
"Real fans like attacking football. Mourinho's style is conservative, but he's actually changed a lot to accommodate them: on counter-attacks he's added long balls from a WM-like backline to make Alonso shine, and added front pressing and high pressure. I don't get why Real fans are still unhappy."
"Raúl moved to Germany, Beckham went to Paris — 'Galáctico I' was dissolved, and for six years Real was suppressed domestically by the second and third dream teams, exiting the Champions League at the last 16 repeatedly.
In Mourinho's second year at Real — last season — Mourinho brought them the La Liga title with near perfection and reached the Champions League semi-finals. Revival is slow; Real fans should be more patient."
"Real fans dislike Mourinho for reasons beyond style; he sidelined peak-era Iker Casillas.
In the 2011 Supercopa second leg Real and Barça had the biggest clash in history.
Mourinho produced the infamous 'poke-the-eye' moment; afterward, Spain's national team fractured, and Iker Casillas, prioritizing the big picture, privately spoke with Xavi and Puyol.
Mourinho saw this as betrayal and froze Iker out for a few matches. As Real did very well in 2011–12, the conflict was covered up.
This season Mourinho's WM tactics were targeted and the start faltered. Internal doubts grew and rumors spread; Mourinho suspected Iker of plotting behind the scenes.
So Diego López completely replaced Iker Casillas, which only made fans more displeased."
"Mourinho's locker-room management is terrible; to bench Iker he needed the backing of non-Spanish players like Cristiano. Doing that without locker-room support is low emotional intelligence."
"Yeah, if players had supported him publicly, then when fans turned he would have someone to speak up for him and his situation would be better…"
…
On the pitch,
Real passed and controlled possession; Arsenal didn't instantly press. The two commentators, bored, started telling "stories."
While they reminisced, Real began an attack. 272 chest-controlled the ball and pushed it sideways to Cristiano Ronaldo.
Cristiano was obviously a key defensive target for Arsenal. The instant the ball reached him he found himself surrounded and pressed.
Santi Cazorla intercepted and passed it to Xia Qi.
Arsenal broke forward.
As soon as Xia Qi received the ball Cristiano closed him down.
Normally their positions wouldn't match up; in regular circumstances they wouldn't meet like this.
But Cristiano's fierce competitive spirit wouldn't allow losing the ball; he had to get it back.
Xia Qi saw it was Cristiano and didn't slack off; he nudged the ball forward and burst away.
But he underestimated "Golden-edged Ronaldo" — Cristiano switched into predatory mode and chased him down.
A heated sprint race started along the wing.
Xia Qi carried the ball along the touchline like a bank robber fleeing with the loot.
Cristiano cut inside and chased from behind.
The distance between them shrank.
Golden-edged Ronaldo is really formidable!
Even without the ball he outran the ball-carrier, but the opponent was Al!
Still very impressive!
Human Xia Qi conceded defeat!
Seeing Cristiano's speed exceed Xia Qi's, the Real fans screamed hoarsely.
"Xia Qi's ball-carrying speed is very high, but today he's met an opponent — Cristiano off the ball is faster; he's about to catch up."
"This scene is rare. Friends watching on a computer, take a screenshot now."
Cristiano quickly caught up and grabbed at Xia Qi's shoulder.
Using that touch he drew level with Xia Qi.
A victory cheer rose over the Bernabéu.
But the outcome was still undecided!
At high speed, when Cristiano grabbed his shoulder, Xia Qi suddenly used the sole of his right foot to trap the ball.
Cristiano's defensive experience was insufficient and he charged past.
Xia Qi then turned and cut inside.
Twenty thousand Arsenal fans erupted in triumphant cries, but they were still prematurely joyous.
Cristiano in his prime had exceptional physical attributes.
He braked hard and turned, following Xia Qi's cut.
Because the ball was at Xia Qi's feet, Cristiano could not get in front again.
Now the Real fans toned it down; clearly this duel had just begun.
Xia Qi didn't try to break forward but dribbled laterally, so Cristiano could only block sideways.
At that moment Arsenal right-back Serge Aurier surged in from the far post at speed, attacking the wing space Cristiano had vacated.
The reason Al hadn't drained Xia Qi's stamina chasing down Cristiano was for this moment.
Aurier arrived right on cue.
The ball rolled perfectly into his path — the kind of pass that's "turn up and move in."
Cristiano glanced disdainfully at Xia Qi and lunged toward Aurier.
"Cristiano's obsession is too deep. He lost the ball and insists on retrieving it — unnecessary. The correct move would have been to keep defending Xia Qi," Zhang Lu said knowingly.
As soon as he spoke, the ball rolled toward Xia Qi.
At that moment Pepe was marking Xia Qi.
Xia Qi didn't immediately receive the ball; instead he feinted a run to the right to create an opening to go that way.
Pepe didn't expect Xia Qi to feint; he thought Xia Qi would power through with strength alone and shifted his weight left without a second thought.
But Xia Qi didn't take the ball with his right foot; he let it roll forward to his left side.
Pepe realized he'd been fooled, forced his weight change and lunged in again.
Unknown to him,
a trap within a trap!
Deception upon deception!
Xia Qi had been waiting for this moment.
He used the inside of his left foot to shift the ball lightly to the right, bringing it to his right foot.
If he pushed it forward with his right, and moved with the ball, he would complete the dribble and beat him.
But the "monk" Pepe not only fights — he's also a monk, versed in Buddhist defenses; relying only on brute force won't let one survive.
Pepe spun like lightning and lunged back.
If Xia Qi had pushed forward with his right at this moment, he'd have crashed right into Pepe.
But Pepe didn't spin and chase in the expected way; he turned clockwise and blocked Xia Qi's path.
Indeed Pepe's defensive "dharma" (tactics) was quite profound.
However,
Xia Qi didn't push forward with his right; he pulled the ball back to the left again, meaning Pepe himself had opened a space.
The two brushed past each other!
Pepe furious and desperate tried to change his balance again; his body refused and gave way — with a slap he fell over himself.
In the stands,
a roar,
a chaotic market-like din.
Many shouted: "What happened?" "Why did Pepe fall?"
More craned their necks to watch the big screens.
After watching the slow-motion replay, a Chinese student's comment was perfectly apt:
"Xia Qi's deceits are like the Chinese stock market: under the floor is a basement, under the basement is hell, hell has eighteen layers — how does Pepe cope?"
What looked like simple exchanges between feet was actually Al calculating human nature to the last detail.
Pepe's defense cannot be called a total failure.
At least he bought time for Sergio Ramos.
Xia Qi had just taken the ball into the box when Ramos stood in front of him.
Xia Qi made a right-break feint that was actually a shot.
His right leg muscles tightened, veins bulging, and before 80,000 eyes he struck the ball.
Boom!
A thunderous sound!
Fans recognized that sound.
This is a Batti-goal — that kind of explosion the stadium hears.
But Xia Qi's Batti-goal was even more explosive!
The speed was explosive as well!
The ball flew like a meteor, a white streak heading toward the Real goal.
Diego López Rodríguez — who had pushed Iker Casillas to the bench — was no slouch.
He didn't clearly see the ball at first but heard the sound; by instinct and from Xia Qi's shooting motion he dove toward the top-right corner.
In the air he stretched like a giant bird, extending every muscle and finally he saw the ball — exactly where he'd dived.
A momentary hope turned to horror.
He'd extended to the utmost, hands reaching and reaching, yet it still wasn't enough.
Before Diego López's terrified eyes, the ball slipped past his fingertips and into the net behind him.
This is the most soul-crushing way for a keeper to concede.
In midair Diego López cursed Xia Qi's ancestors for eighteen generations.
Damn, just put in a bit more power!
Do a Roberto Carlos thunderbolt, make the ball a white streak…
Don't mess with our psychology!
The Bernabéu fell into brief stunned silence again.
In the 26th minute, Real Madrid were down 0–2. Though advantage nominally remained with them, Real fans were on edge.
"Beautiful!"
"From the strike alone this goal's spectacle is not as great as the first, but from the whole build-up it's still brilliant."
"Facing Cristiano, teasing the monk Pepe, an arrow like a meteor."
"And this goal was so timely — only 26 minutes in, averaging a goal every 13 minutes. Real still have the aggregate edge, but they're no longer comfortable."
"Xia Qi doubles up and shows his muscle to Real — by scoring he tells the opponent that Arsenal with him must not be underestimated!"
Online:
"Amazing, Mourinho's face has gone pale."
"If he'd dribbled past Ramos too and finished a full solo, that would've been even more spectacular."
"It's not that he couldn't dribble past Ramos — the Batti-goal is just more cost-effective."
"If you can score but don't shoot? Who do you think Xia Qi is, Xia-not-shoot?"
"Actually the goal is very pretty."
After scoring, Xia Qi redeemed a Jude Bellingham celebration animation. Though the move costs a lot of regional legend points, Xia Qi felt warmed by it.
He ran to the Arsenal fans' stand, arms wide as if to embrace — thanking the Chinese students who cheered for him.
On the touchline Wenger was calm now; he pointed at his watch and signaled Mikel Arteta to end the celebrations and get back to the match.
After all, Arsenal were still three goals behind on aggregate.
The Arsenal players quickly regrouped.
Real were in a dilemma: attack or not attack?
Cameras turned to José Mourinho…
(END CHAPTER)
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