Starting With Real Madrid

"You shall fight like a hungry lion, like a raging beast!"

Before the game, in the locker room, Mourinho roared at Zlatan Ibrahimovic with a ferocious expression, kicking the tactical board in front of him for emphasis.

The Swedish striker felt his entire body ignite with fire.

However, he hadn't anticipated that, right at the start of the game, his team's defense would commit such a blunder, allowing Napoli to score within the first minute. What just happened?

But…

As Ibrahimovic prepared to kick off again, a confident smirk curled at the corner of his mouth.

Good. The more dire the situation, the better the stage for Zlatan Ibrahimovic to showcase his strength and value.

"Do you see? They're attacking us!"

"Alright then, just give me the ball. I'll take care of the goals and lead the reversal!"

He shouted, exuding confidence. This was both his personality and part of Mourinho's pre-match strategy. Inter Milan needed Ibrahimovic to step up, especially in attack.

---

The match resumed.

Inter Milan passed the ball back to their defenders, while Napoli maintained their tactical discipline. They refrained from a full-on press, focusing on controlling the midfield and allowing Cambiasso and Burdisso to keep possession at the back.

But what use was possession?

If the ball couldn't progress forward, it was just being passed back and forth between the center-backs, achieving nothing. And possession was never Inter Milan's forte, nor was Mourinho a coach who prioritized it.

At the front, Ibrahimovic waited for a pass, shadowed closely by Napoli's center-back, Mehdi Benatia.

"Looks like you're stuck on me tonight," Ibrahimovic said with a sly grin.

Benatia glanced at him but remained silent, focusing on the game unfolding ahead of him.

"Hey, I heard you broke your leg and didn't play for a whole year. Is that true?" Ibrahimovic asked casually.

Benatia looked at him again but still didn't answer, his eyes scanning the field.

Ibrahimovic clicked his tongue. "Seriously? Your coach must be desperate if he's using someone like you to mark me. Does he think so little of me?" He laughed mockingly, intentionally baiting Benatia.

When the Moroccan defender heard his head coach mentioned, he turned his head slightly. In broken Italian, he replied, "Before the game, I didn't expect you to talk this much nonsense."

Ibrahimovic was taken aback. He had expected to get into his opponent's head, but instead, he was the one left speechless.

What kind of response was that?

Who does this guy think he is? Does he even know who I am?

"I thought you were mute," Ibrahimovic muttered.

Benatia threw him a sidelong glance but didn't respond again.

"Alright, fine. Tell me, which leg did you break? I'll make sure to go easy on it. I'm not heartless, you know."

Still, Benatia ignored him, staying focused on the field and tracking Ibrahimovic's movements.

"Not talking? Fine. Don't blame me if I don't hold back later," Ibrahimovic added.

As the ball cycled back to Inter Milan's defense, Benatia exhaled lightly. Hearing Ibrahimovic's words, he finally sneered, "Our coach has a saying."

"What's that?"

"Dogs that bark too loudly usually belong in retirement homes. They waste all their energy barking and can't bite."

Ibrahimovic's expression darkened instantly.

"You know why you don't score in big games?" Benatia continued, his tone calm but cutting. "It's because you talk too much. All it proves is that you're nervous. You panic in important matches, and it shows in your feet. So tell me, after all this time, have you scored on Napoli yet?"

Benatia's words struck a nerve. One of the Swedish striker's biggest criticisms was his underperformance in high-stakes matches.

Ibrahimovic snorted and jogged back to his position without another word.

---

As Ibrahimovic moved deeper into midfield, Inter Milan finally found a passing option. The ball was played from the back line to him.

Receiving the pass, Ibrahimovic controlled it and laid it off to Stankovic, who had found space.

Stankovic quickly shifted the ball left to Mancini.

Facing Lichtsteiner on the left wing, Mancini performed several feints, but the Swiss full-back wasn't fooled. When Mancini tried to cut inside, Lichtsteiner stuck close, forcing the Brazilian to pass.

Mancini managed to release the ball, but Lichtsteiner deflected it slightly, causing it to bounce high into the air.

The ball dropped at the edge of the penalty area.

Benatia and Ibrahimovic moved simultaneously, vying to intercept. Ibrahimovic launched himself at the ball, but Benatia reacted quicker, cushioning it skillfully with the outside of his right foot.

Ibrahimovic swung a leg, but Benatia had already secured possession.

With his second touch, the Moroccan defender brought the ball firmly under control.

Mancini, unwilling to give up, lunged forward to challenge, but Benatia skillfully sidestepped the Brazilian's press, taking a couple of strides forward before delivering a pinpoint pass to Vidal, who was unmarked in midfield.

Napoli initiated a swift counterattack.

---

Benatia turned briefly to glance at Ibrahimovic before jogging back into position, his expression calm and composed.

But Ibrahimovic looked at him differently now.

"That was a nice touch," the Swede admitted.

Benatia smirked briefly but said nothing, resuming his focus on the game.

By now, he was genuinely disappointed. Was this really the world's top striker? Why did he talk so much?

Ibrahimovic, meanwhile, couldn't seem to leave Benatia alone. Every time he drifted near the Moroccan defender, he threw out a comment, hoping to get under his skin.

But Benatia wasn't taking the bait.

Eventually, perhaps out of frustration, Benatia shot back, "Your mouth is far better than your football skills."

"You should've gone into stand-up comedy instead of football."

Ibrahimovic's face turned red with anger.

On Inter Milan's next attack down the left, Maxwell made an overlapping run toward the penalty area, drawing Lichtsteiner's attention. Mancini received the ball on the edge of the area, but as Benatia and the other defenders closed in, he struggled to make a decisive play.

When Mancini tried to cut inside, Benatia moved swiftly to intercept. Despite nearly slipping, the Moroccan managed to hook the ball away with his long legs.

The Brazilian winger tried to recover, but Benatia shielded the ball with his imposing 1.9-meter frame, forcing Mancini out of the play.

Benatia then executed a perfectly timed long pass, launching another Napoli counterattack.

---

"A brilliant defensive display!"

"Napoli's center-back, Mehdi Benatia."

"It's his debut for Napoli, and his first competitive appearance in over a year."

"Incredible. His defense has been outstanding, and his composure on the ball is remarkable."

"Once again, Gao Shen has unearthed a hidden gem!"

---

On the sidelines, Mourinho seethed. Watching Benatia disrupt Inter's attack yet again, he furiously shouted for Maxwell to fall back and tighten the defense, venting his frustration with a series of curses.

Though Inter's Montari performed admirably in midfield, helping to contain Napoli's counterattacks, Mourinho knew they were in trouble.

"This Moroccan kid is something else," Baresi, Mourinho's assistant and a former defender, muttered. "So far, he hasn't put a single foot wrong."

"Did you see that interception and long pass? No wonder Gao Shen started him tonight."

As Inter Milan regained possession and pushed forward, little Mancini attempted a cross into the box, but Lichtsteiner deflected it. The ball dropped near the penalty area, and once again, Benatia was there to sweep it up with ease.

His calm, precise defending left little Mancini looking helpless.

"Nobody can get past this guy," Baresi marveled.

---

Mourinho paced the sideline, his earlier premonition proving true.

This Moroccan center-back wasn't a backup or a stopgap. He was here to take a starting role.

But how had Gao Shen known?

Was he some kind of prophet?

After seeing Benatia's performance, Mourinho realized this match would be anything but easy.

Gao Shen had lived up to his reputation once again.

***

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