Green Field Eunuch

Chapter 606 Despicable Behavior Is Not the True Essence of Football
Pellegrini was very well prepared for this match.

He fielded Granada's strongest lineup to date.

The backline consists of Blind, Van Dijk, Shawcross, and Nyom.

The midfield consists of J. Romero, Nainggolan, Ziyech, and Oquez.

The forward line consists of Shan Yongzhuo and Harry Kane, which is Granada's most competitive lineup at present. This lineup has proven itself time and time again, achieving many victories in matches against strong teams. It is Pellegrini's strongest lineup.

For Atletico Madrid, Simeone is not taking this match lightly either, fielding his strongest lineup in an effort to snatch 3 points from Granada at home.

Granada currently leads La Liga by a wide margin, but only by 5 points over Barcelona and 7 points over Atletico Madrid.

This point difference is not insurmountable.

If Atletico Madrid can secure all three points at home, the gap between them and Granada will be reduced to four points.

With eight rounds remaining in the league, there's still a chance to catch up with four points.

Simeone is still very ambitious about winning the league title and hopes to prove himself with one.

Therefore, despite the pressure of the Champions League, and the fact that the whole team is gritting their teeth and persevering, Atletico Madrid has fielded its strongest lineup and is ready to fight Granada.

And their performance was also outstanding.

Calderón Stadium.

After 90 minutes, the referee blew the final whistle.

The Calderon Stadium was engulfed in a sea of ​​cheers.

3:2.

Atletico Madrid narrowly defeated Granada at home thanks to a late counter-attack goal from Villa.

The home fans at the Calderón Stadium erupted in celebration, singing the Atlético de Marseille anthem and lingering for a long time.

Inside the stadium, the Mattress Makers players were also excitedly celebrating their victory.

This was an extremely tough match; the entire game was almost entirely hand-to-hand combat.

They still couldn't contain Shan Yongzhuo, who scored two goals.

Even up to the 80th minute of the match, they were still trailing 1-2.

However, Granada experienced a disastrous ten minutes in the match.

First, in the 84th minute of the match, Diego Costa fell in the penalty area. Shawcross argued with the referee, but was sent off after receiving two yellow cards.

Diego Costa converted the penalty to level the score.

This goal directly disrupted the Granada players' composure.

Judging from the broadcast footage, Diego Costa undoubtedly dived. Even when Shawcross was substituted and the referee awarded a penalty, the camera cleverly captured his sinister smile.

Unfortunately, the verdict cannot be changed once it has been made.

Pellegrini was furious and argued loudly with the fourth official on the sidelines, but to no avail.

Granada, already devastated, made another crucial mistake in the final moments of the match.

In the 91st minute, Atletico Madrid launched a sharp counter-attack. David Villa received the ball, skillfully dribbled past Van Dijk, and scored a one-on-one goal.

Thanks to this controversial decision and a last-minute goal, Atletico Madrid won at home.

After the match ended, Granada's players immediately returned to the locker room, each one holding a grudge.

Losing isn't a big deal; they know they can't go a whole season without losing. But losing in this way is still unacceptable to many.

Pellegrini immediately returned to the locker room to comfort his players.

"We don't need to be like this. The league isn't over yet, and we haven't lost the league title."

"Each of us can leave this field with our heads held high. Let them celebrate this dishonorable victory. The final victory will surely belong to us."

Pellegrini's words did have some effect.

At least it comforted the players and gave them tremendous encouragement.

Everyone gritted their teeth and vowed in their hearts to hold onto their top spot in the league until the very end.

Shan Yongzhuo is alright.

He considered misjudgments on the football field to be normal, not even in the World Cup, let alone in the league.

For example, Maradona's famous "Hand of God" was a clear misjudgment.

There was also the 2006 World Cup match between Germany and England, where Lampard's goal was wrongly disallowed.

In short, Shan Yongzhuo believes that misjudgment is nothing serious.

Although Diego Costa's teammates were furious with him, Shan Yongzhuo felt it was alright.

He had always known that this highly efficient striker, who had risen to prominence this season, was someone who was very good at using these little tricks on the field to disrupt his opponents.

It's not fair to call it despicable or anything like that.

Diego Costa, in essence, is not as talented as the top strikers, but the fact that he has achieved such success is what makes him so remarkable.

Regardless of the method he used, he achieved what he wanted to achieve.

His methods may have been despicable, but they brought him victory.

After all, football matches are all about winning; that's the most fundamental aspect of competition.

Diego Costa and Simeone are, in some ways, a perfect match; both are the kind of people who will stop at nothing to win.

In a sense, Shan Yongzhuo admired them quite a bit.

As for the post-match press conference, it turned into a full-blown rant by Pellegrini, who portrayed himself as a victim, hurling insults at Atlético Madrid and the referee, seemingly unconcerned about the punishment he would receive from the Spanish Football Federation.

"I have always believed that there is such a thing as fairness in football, and I still hold this belief to this day. Like a child, I cherish the most sacred green field in my heart."

"But I was wrong. Today I realized that the despicable people on the football field are trampling on the sacred green field with their disgraceful behavior."

"Is the essence of football to stop at nothing to win?"

Pellegrini, usually a gentleman, was now truly indignant, clenching his fists and denouncing the situation.

"A despicable diver, I wouldn't even call him a professional player, because he trampled the green field and his own jersey with his despicable behavior."

"And the referee, he saw the truth, but what was the result?"

"What more can I say about his support for the despicable acts of the despicable?"

"Regardless of whether the outcome can be changed, we will appeal. Granada will not be defeated. We will persevere until the end of the season, and we will lift the league championship trophy in front of the despicable ones."

"We will show them with our results that despicable behavior is not the true essence of football!"

(End of this chapter)