Lin Feng deeply regretted his failure to defend against Cristiano Ronaldo's goal.
He stood on the field, his gaze fixed blankly on the ball that had already flown into the net, his heart filled with self-reproach.
He knew that his mistake had put the team in a passive position, which caused him immense pain.
However, just then, Ruiz, the veteran on the team's defensive line, walked over.
He patted Lin Feng's shoulder and said in his calm yet powerful voice, "Lin Feng, don't blame yourself too much.
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best players in the world, and his heading ability is unmatched.
You did very well, but sometimes, against such a top player, we are indeed powerless."
Ruiz continued, "Football matches are like this; sometimes we encounter opponents stronger than ourselves, but we cannot give up because of it.
We must learn from failure, constantly improve ourselves, and strive to do better in the upcoming matches."
Amidst the deafening cheers at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Lin Feng stood quietly on the sidelines, letting the cheers of Real Madrid fans wash over him like a tide.
His gaze pierced through the crowd, landing on the green pitch, his heart replaying the recently concluded match.
Real Madrid's BBC Trio, every attack was like an exquisite work of art, breathtaking.
He knew that relying on individual strength alone would make it difficult to completely curb such offensive firepower.
However, just then, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck Lin Feng's mind.
He recalled the team defense training he had conducted in the virtual training module a few days prior.
At that moment, he seemed to have found the key to breaking the BBC Trio's offense.
He understood that against such a powerful opponent, mere individual defense was far from enough.
He needed to rely on the strength of the entire team, through exquisite coordination and tacit communication, to collectively respond to Real Madrid's attacks.
He began to replay those training scenarios in his mind, thinking about how to apply these tactics to actual matches.
He knew that the upcoming matches would be even more difficult, but he also believed that as long as the team could work together, they would surely find a way to counter the BBC Trio's offense.
"Trust the team."
This was the last thing Nesta had told him when he left the virtual training module.
The moment the referee blew the whistle for the restart, Lin Feng seemed like a changed man.
He no longer simply relied on individual skill to try and block Real Madrid's attacks but began to shift his defensive mindset, actively directing his teammates around him to jointly build a solid defensive line.
"Mind the space, maintain a tight formation!" Lin Feng shouted loudly, his voice filled with confidence and decisiveness.
He keenly observed the situation on the field, constantly reminding his teammates to adjust their positions and defensive strategies.
In the 30th minute of the match, the atmosphere on the field grew even more tense.
J-Rod's exquisite through ball, like a bolt of lightning, pierced through Villarreal's midfield defense, accurately finding Benzema near the byline.
Benzema received the ball and showcased his excellent dribbling skills, effortlessly getting past Pau Torres with a single touch and push.
His movements were fluid and natural, as if he were dancing.
Facing such an attack, Lin Feng reacted quickly; he keenly observed Benzema's movements and immediately directed Ruiz beside him to defend.
Facing Lin Feng's tight defense, Benzema displayed his cunning and wit as a world-class striker.
He deliberately faked a shot, making Lin Feng and Villarreal's entire backline tense.
Just when everyone thought he was about to shoot, he cleverly passed the ball to Cristiano Ronaldo inside the box.
However, Lin Feng's anticipation and command played a crucial role.
He had already sensed Benzema's passing intention earlier and immediately directed Ruiz to stand in the passing lane.
Ruiz, as a veteran on the team's defensive line, was experienced and reacted quickly.
He accurately judged the ball's landing spot and timely stretched out his leg to clear the ball away.
This successful defense was the result of the tacit cooperation between Lin Feng and Ruiz, and also a successful application of Villarreal's overall defensive tactics.
Although Real Madrid's BBC Trio was powerful, Villarreal did not give up because of it but countered the opponent's offense through team strength and exquisite defensive strategies.
On the football field, every glance, every movement, can convey a wealth of information.
When Benzema saw Lin Feng accurately anticipate and neutralize his passing intention, a feeling of frustration inevitably surged within him.
He knew that his carefully planned attack had been easily defused by the opponent, which was undoubtedly a blow to him as a top striker.
However, just then, Cristiano Ronaldo walked over.
He didn't say much, just gently patted the back of Benzema's head, an action that seemed to tell him, "Don't be discouraged, there's still a chance."
For the remainder of the first half, Lin Feng seemed to transform into the team's conductor; he constantly issued commands, forming an unbreakable defensive line with Ruiz and Pau Torres beside him.
Their tacit cooperation and precise communication led to Real Madrid's attacks repeatedly failing.
In the final moments of first-half stoppage time, the cheers of Real Madrid fans surged like a tide, as they anticipated Cristiano Ronaldo creating another miracle.
Cristiano Ronaldo received the ball, his eyes gleaming with determination, as if he had already seen the moment of scoring.
He quickly dribbled and broke through along the wing, every touch making hearts pound faster.
Lin Feng stood on the sidelines, intently watching Cristiano Ronaldo's movements.
He clearly knew that Cristiano Ronaldo was Real Madrid's attacking core and that his offense had to be stopped at all costs.
He quickly directed Pau Torres, who was closer to Cristiano Ronaldo, to intercept, while also preparing himself for defense.
Cristiano Ronaldo put on a solo show on the wing, performing several flashy step-overs in a row, faking out Pau Torres's defense.
Just then, Cristiano Ronaldo suddenly cut inside, shaking off Pau Torres, who was trying to mark him.
He carried the ball into the box and, facing an open goal, opted for a powerful long-range shot.
This shot was like a cannonball, heading straight for the goal.
Lin Feng saw this scene and felt a strong sense of crisis surge within him.
He knew that if this shot went in, it would be a huge blow to the team.
He leaped without hesitation, blocking Cristiano Ronaldo's shot with his body.
"Bang!" The ball fiercely struck Lin Feng's chest, and he felt a sharp pain spread throughout his body, as if he had been hit by a speeding car.
--+--
T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
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