Starting as a Defensive Midfielder at Real Madrid

Chapter 22: Double Rewards! The Champions League Is the True Path to Wealth

After breaking the deadlock, Real Madrid firmly took control of the match's rhythm and flow.

They didn't insist on monopolizing possession—in fact, they casually handed Ajax the initiative to attack.

Which, to Ajax's players and coaching staff, was deeply awkward.

Take up the invitation and attack? That was like grabbing a dagger handed to you—Real Madrid's counterattacks were too sharp, too deadly. Terrifying, even.

But refuse? They were already down a goal. What, just sit back and lose honorably?

If they dared do that, the Dutch media and fans would tear them apart when they got back to Amsterdam.

Fortunately, there wasn't much time left in the first half. After some hesitation, Ajax manager Frank de Boer chose to push forward.

Real Madrid might be lethal on the counter, but surely, in these final minutes, they wouldn't get many opportunities to win the ball cleanly and launch a long pass... right?

At the very least, Ajax could try to exploit the midfield space that Real had left open and get a few more attacking sequences in before the half.

That was the logic de Boer convinced himself with.

Under his orders, Ajax resumed play and committed numbers forward.

Li Ang and Alonso exchanged a glance, then widened their spacing subtly, allowing Khedira to drop deeper and begin sweeping through the center.

Credit where it's due—Khedira's stamina was ridiculous. After a first half filled with box-to-box runs and interceptions, he still didn't look the slightest bit tired.

But Ajax's players, upon carrying the ball into the midfield and seeing Khedira charging in like a bull to disrupt them again, looked downright annoyed.

Khedira might not have the highest success rate with tackles, but man could he make you miserable.

No matter where you went, he'd be in your face. For any ball handler, that was exhausting.

Meanwhile, Li Ang and Alonso didn't step up aggressively. They simply locked down the flanks just outside the 30-meter zone.

Ajax spent several possessions probing but couldn't find a way in.

Try the middle? You'd have to get past Khedira first—then face the jaws of Alonso and Li Ang.

Go wide? Even if you managed to get past Madrid's full-backs, Li Ang and Alonso were right there again, covering the wings.

Mourinho looked on with growing satisfaction. De Boer, on the other hand, looked more and more pained.

Madrid's midfield defense was far stronger than he'd anticipated.

Was this really the elegant, attacking Real Madrid? Or did Chelsea switch kits and sneak onto the field?

De Boer was already contemplating adjustments for the second half when—

Boom! The game flipped again!

Ajax's fruitless attacks finally gave Madrid their chance.

Li Ang saw Ajax midfielder de Zeeuw just wriggle free of Khedira's pestering and went in hard—intercepting the ball with perfect timing from the side.

De Zeeuw hit the ground.

No whistle.

"Beautiful, clean challenge! Li Ang wins it! He's back on his feet and lays it off to Xabi Alonso!"

The Movistar commentator was already rising in tone.

Alonso, ever the conductor, trapped the ball, scanned forward, and unleashed a fast, driven diagonal ball to the right wing.

Fast and precise.

His guided missile dropped three meters ahead of Di María, landing perfectly in the clear.

The Angel of Madrid spread his wings and flew.

Meanwhile, in the center and left, Higuaín and Cristiano Ronaldo surged forward, pulling defenders with them and opening up passing lanes.

Oh—and let's not forget someone else.

Our ever-eager forward-runner Khedira wasn't going to be left behind.

Four-pronged counterattack, launched in seconds.

The 8,000 Ajax supporters at the Bernabéu felt their scalps go numb.

De Boer screamed on the sidelines, urging his midfield to track back.

But it was already too late.

They couldn't outrun Alonso's pass.

They couldn't outrun Madrid's attackers.

They just couldn't.

Di María flew past Ajax's aging fullback Oijer, then delivered a low cross across the face of goal.

Higuaín was a step too late. Couldn't get there.

But at the far post?

Cristiano Ronaldo was waiting.

One easy push.

The net rippled again.

44th minute. Just before stoppage time.

Real Madrid 2–0 Ajax.

De Boer and his assistant froze.

The Ajax bench fell silent.

In stark contrast, the Real Madrid side erupted with joy.

Halftime: 2–0.

With their current grip on the match, all they had to do was stay disciplined in the second half, and Ajax wouldn't stand a chance.

The opening win of this season's Champions League campaign was already halfway secured.

The Bernabéu roared in satisfaction.

It wasn't flashy, but it was effective.

With the team poised for a third consecutive win across competitions—even the pickiest Madrid fans were starting to buy in to Mourinho's Real Madrid.

When the halftime whistle blew, the crowd broke into thunderous applause.

To the players, this was the clearest affirmation of their hard work.

In the studio, Movistar's analyst boldly declared:

"Mourinho has already won over the most critical fans in the world."

In high spirits, the players laughed and joked as they made their way down the tunnel.

Even Mourinho didn't hold back his praise this time.

Of course, after the compliments came a stern reminder of discipline.

The warm, humorous Mourinho only appeared after the final whistle.

Right now?

He was still the iron-fisted general who demanded everything for the win.

With the players refocused, the second half began with no substitutions and no tactical shifts.

Madrid sat back and lured Ajax into their trap.

Ajax didn't have a choice. They had to push.

It was like watching a master fisherman: Alonso slowed the pace, inviting pressure, baiting the opponent.

Li Ang was his rod.

Whenever Ajax tried to slip through midfield, BAM—Li Ang clobbered them with another precise interception.

After several failed attempts, Ajax got desperate.

They launched a full-scale attack.

Madrid responded immediately.

Khedira dropped right. Alonso played from the left. Li Ang anchored the center.

Triple pivot deployed.

Attack all you want. We won't budge.

By the 73rd minute, Ajax was gassed.

Madrid? Not even sweating.

Another turnover. Another long ball forward.

Higuaín held up play and squared the ball to a rampaging Khedira, who now had space to run.

He bulldozed through the midfield, stumbled past a fullback, then fed the ball to Ronaldo on the left.

It wasn't that he didn't want to shoot—it was that Mourinho's glare from the sideline said don't you dare.

So, Khedira played the smart ball.

Cristiano took it. A stepover. An inside cut.

Then—from nearly 26 meters out—he ripped a low drive toward the far post.

Li Ang, hands on hips at midfield, expected a pass.

Nope. Ronaldo shot.

And it went in.

Li Ang scratched his head.

"That counts as an assist for Khedira? Seriously? I could've done that…"

But with that goal, the match was over.

Mourinho began making changes, bringing on his rotation players to give them a taste of Champions League action.

Li Ang stayed on the pitch till the end.

He didn't get the standing ovation he might've deserved—but he didn't mind.

Because when the final whistle blew, the system spoke:

"2010–2011 Champions League victory achieved.

Top-tier European win: +1

Base points: +10

Win bonus: +20"

His eyes widened.

Double the La Liga rewards.

Double base. Double bonus.

"I knew it. Champions League is the real path to fortune…"

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