Weird Defender Joo Ji-Tae

167 – Like a Magic Trick

Real Madrid is a prestigious team, and it’s also a strong team. You can tell just by looking at their Champions League title count.

16 times. Yes, 16 times.

With the World Cup, the Champions League title count is the highest honor in football, and Real Madrid has won it 16 times. This is twice as many as Bayern Munich and AC Milan, who have eight titles each.

Of course, this alone doesn’t necessarily make them a strong team.

Ajax has four Champions League titles, but it’s debatable whether they’re a strong team. Are they really a strong team compared to the top four leagues? In reality, Ajax’s Champions League titles were all won decades ago, in the 20th century.

But Real Madrid is different.

From the 20th century to the 21st century, and even recently, they have consistently lifted the Champions League trophy, making them a true prestigious team. They’re on a different level from Barcelona, who have only won six Champions League titles.

“The previous loss was my fault. We could have beaten Barcelona, but I made a mistake in my judgment. You guys didn’t do anything wrong. Today, we won’t back down. Let’s crush them head-on.”

So, Real Madrid’s coach, Raul Harke, took responsibility for the previous loss and encouraged his players. It wasn’t just empty words. Raul Harke truly believed it.

Coach Jose is not the type to change tactics based on the opponent, and Barcelona is a team that consistently executes their tactics.

They’re a team that believes if they do their job well, victory will follow.

Even if they score first, they’ll apply aggressive pressure from the high line, and even if they concede first, they won’t give up their build-up from the back. Their pursuit isn’t just about possession rate; it’s about implementing Barcelona’s philosophy, which naturally leads to a high possession rate.

In the end, Barcelona is a team that’s always aggressive, always applies high-pressure, and always has a high possession rate.

Trying to use a two-line defense against such a team was a clear mistake. It wasn’t a tactic that suited Real Madrid’s players.

Each of Real Madrid’s players is a world-class talent, so what kind of defensive tactic is that? It’s like a herbivore trying to intimidate a predator.

A predator like a lion needs a tactic that suits them.

That means a free, attacking football that showcases each player’s individual skills. That’s the kind of football Real Madrid is showing right now.

After the loss to Barcelona in the first half, Raul Harke gave his players more tactical freedom. It was a risky move that could have led to a disorganized and inefficient game, but Real Madrid’s world-class players were able to digest it.

Being a world-class player isn’t just about physical ability or technique.

In modern football, a player’s tactical understanding and football intelligence are crucial.

After the humiliating loss, Real Madrid exploded.

With Fernando Alvarez leading the attack, scoring over 50 goals this season, and a nearly impenetrable defense…

So, in the home game, with confidence, they sought revenge in El Clasico—

Madrid, Madrid, Madrid! Hala Madrid!

Y nada más, Y nada más, ¡Hala Madrid!

In the 17th minute of the first half, they led the enthusiastic chant.

Fernando Alvarez’s fantastic bicycle kick created the opening goal.

[Fantastic, really cool bicycle kick! The scorer is Fernando Alvarez!! The Ballon d’Or winner has landed a decisive blow in the most important rivalry game of the season!!]

[Fernando Alvarez is running to celebrate! Oh, oh… oh!?]

Right after the ball hit the back of Barcelona’s net, Fernando Alvarez jumped up from the ground and started running towards somewhere, then leaped into the air, spreading his arms wide like a hero in a manga—

“Siuuu~~!!!!”

He let out a fiery roar.

Right in front of Joo Ji-tae’s face, towards his face.

Joo Ji-tae wiped his face.

“What the… you son of a… you’re really dirty. You stink. Your mouth stinks…

…Is this intentional? Is this some kind of psychological warfare? You’re scary.”

It’s been a while since I’ve felt this refreshing feeling, and Joo Ji-tae beamed with joy, his face lighting up.

“Ah, this cool and heavy sensation. It’s been a long time. It’s been a long time since I’ve endured and restrained myself. Thank you, you stinker. It’s time for me to return to being the ‘God’ Joo Ji-tae.”

This was the forbidden Joo Ji-tae from his first season, who couldn’t be stopped even if he knew it.

It’s time for him to return to being the man they called ‘God’ for a short while.

By the way, during this time, Fernandinho Alvarez received a yellow card for his provocative actions.

b*stard.

* * *

After the game started, Joo Ji-tae realized that the opposing coach was no fool.

He had learned a lesson from the previous game, where they had been thoroughly beaten with a compact 4-4-2 formation, reminiscent of Simeone’s tactics.

Well.

Isn’t it human nature to learn from failure? In that sense, Raul Harke was definitely someone who had learned a lot from his failures.

“Opposite! Look at the opposite side!”

“Cover him! There’s an opening in the middle!”

Although both teams had similar starting formations, 4-3-3, their interpretation of the midfielder’s role was different.

Barcelona’s defensive midfielder was responsible for building up the team’s defense and would often dribble the ball to create opportunities, while Joo Ji-tae’s cover was positioned lower to accommodate this.

On the other hand, Real Madrid’s Carlos Sanchez would form a low defensive line to protect the defense during set pieces, but would take on a more liberated role during attacks, even venturing into the half-space like a Mezalla.

Of course, this was not a direct comparison, but rather a distinct concept.

In modern football, where tactical flexibility is key, players can take on different roles at any time.

So, Joo Ji-tae wasn’t surprised when Carlos Sanchez, who would normally be classified as a defensive midfielder, suddenly appeared in front of him.

However, when Carlos Sanchez suddenly infiltrated their defense, Joo Ji-tae momentarily lost track of Fernandinho Alvarez, who was supposed to be marked.

“Arnaud! Don’t lose your mark and follow him!!”

It was only a matter of 2-3 seconds.

But that was enough time for Real Madrid’s deadly counterattack to unfold.

While Joo Ji-tae was busy with Carlos Sanchez, Fernandinho Alvarez, who had been freed, used his unique ‘goal-sniffing’ instinct to seize the open space, and Real Madrid’s fullback, Andrei, didn’t miss the small gap. It was an early cross from the penalty line to the half-line.

Barcelona wasn’t just watching idly.

Alexis Olmedo had stuck close to Fernandinho Alvarez to disrupt his trapping, but no one expected Fernandinho Alvarez to attempt a bicycle kick instead. And it was a precise shot that would find the net.

So— it was a kind of accident.

A forward scoring a goal like that was difficult for defenders to react to.

[Barcelona is slowly gaining momentum.]

[Good. We’ve conceded the first goal, but there’s still plenty of time. No need to rush. Let’s find our rhythm and tempo… Whoa! Barcelona is suddenly sprinting! Mark Guigu and Jose Marquez are pushing forward on the flanks, but Real Madrid’s response is quick!]

[The switching movement of Pablo Lopez and Arnaud Pradas, exploiting the half-space! Miguel Gomez receives the pass, and Francisco Gento blocks the way—]

On the other hand, a defender scoring a goal like that was also difficult for the opposing team to react to.

Like now.

[Miguel Gomez! You’ve done it!! The high-flying ball— Joo Ji-tae! How did you get here?! Joo Ji-tae is trapping the ball with his chest and sprinting!! Joo Ji-tae, Joo Ji-tae!!]

[But Real Madrid’s response is quick as well! Carlos Sanchez and Luciano Castel are closing in from both sides! Whoa! Joo Ji-tae suddenly stops and starts again, using tempo changes to shake off two defenders!]

[Jose Antonio’s tackle! Joo Ji-tae falls over!!]

Barcelona, which had been building up their attack gradually, suddenly shifted into high gear, with their wingers and midfielders making dazzling movements.

But Real Madrid didn’t get flustered.

When the game wasn’t going their way, they anticipated the pattern Joo Ji-tae would show and prepared thoroughly, and even though they faced a crisis near the penalty box, they defended magnificently.

At least, until center-back Jose Antonio’s tackle succeeded.

[Ah, unbelievable— Joo Ji-tae, what is this!! He’s got the ground on one hand and is getting up!!]

The tackle that came from the side precisely touched the ball and passed by, and Joo Ji-tae’s body, which was tangled in his legs, fell to the side.

Joo Ji-tae, as if performing a magic trick, used the rebound to rotate his body 180 degrees and sprinted forward, using the same momentum.

The stunned goalkeeper, Georges Montbert, reflexively jumped, but Joo Ji-tae lightly tapped the ball, which flew into the air and landed in the goal net.

It was a tie-breaking goal.

As soon as the goal was confirmed, Joo Ji-tae immediately started celebrating. Far away, he was shouting at Fernando Alvarez, who had a sullen expression.

“Wowwwwwwwww—!!!”

He received a yellow card.