Chapter 245: Chapter 245: Advancing to the Next Round of the Champions League, the Opponent is Barcelona!
Chapter 245: Advancing to the Next Round of the Champions League, the Opponent is Barcelona!
Although the League Cup is less prestigious than the league championship and the FA Cup, winning the team's first trophy of the season made everyone at Manchester City very happy.
At Wembley Stadium, they stood on the podium for the first time.
Many of the League Cup matches were played by substitute players, so they deserved much credit for winning this trophy.
Lin Quan suggested that they should lift the cup, and his teammates supported the idea.
The substitute players were thrilled and, surrounded by the main players, excitedly lifted Manchester City's first trophy of the season!
...
After winning the League Cup, Manchester City did not linger in London and hurried back to Manchester.
They had two home games coming up: the FA Cup match against Stoke City and the Champions League match against Werder Bremen.
These two matches being so close together caused some differences of opinion within the club.
Some believed they should strategically abandon the FA Cup to fully focus on the league and the Champions League.
Compared to the FA Cup, the league title and the Champions League are obviously more valuable.
Moreover, the FA Cup, unlike the League Cup, wouldn't end immediately.
Including the match in two days, they would need to play at least three more games to win the FA Cup.
These three games would be interspersed between league and Champions League matches, putting them in a tough spot.
However, not everyone thought they should give up on the FA Cup. After all, they had already reached the quarter-finals, just three matches away from the title.
Wouldn't giving up now make all their previous efforts go to waste?
"Stoke City is not very strong; even if we don't play with our full main squad, we may not lose to them."
"That's right, we have a huge lead in the league and the Champions League, giving us a lot of room for error. If we can win the FA Cup, we have a chance to achieve a small treble this season!"
This so-called small treble obviously included the League Cup.
Usually, the treble in the five major leagues refers to winning the league, the domestic cup, and the Champions League. Winning these three prestigious titles simultaneously is very challenging, so there aren't many treble-winning teams in the five major leagues.
Faced with the assistant coaches' differing opinions, Pellegrini thought seriously about it.
In the last round, they had beaten Werder Bremen 4-1 away, holding a three-goal advantage and four away goals.
So in the upcoming match against Werder Bremen, as long as they didn't lose by more than four goals, they would certainly advance to the next round.
Should they consider the FA Cup first and play conservatively against Werder Bremen?
Pellegrini was undecided and decided to seek the players' opinions in the next day's training session.
After all, the players themselves know best if they are too tired from the matches.
Faced with Pellegrini's question, the substitute players' opinions were firm: they wanted to go for it.
Among the main players, veterans like Kompany and Yaya Touré believed they should focus on the league.
They were struggling with the intensive schedule and worried about getting injured, which could affect their participation in this year's World Cup.
Pellegrini roughly understood the players' opinions, then looked at Lin Quan, who hadn't voiced his opinion:
"Lin, what do you think?"
Lin Quan didn't have the same concerns as the other veteran players. He had an injury immunity talent, so he didn't have to worry about getting injured.
As for physical exhaustion, he felt it was still manageable, despite a slight mental fatigue from the continuous matches.
As the substitute players said, giving up now would make all previous efforts go to waste.
So he said, "I think we should go for the FA Cup!"
De Bruyne immediately stood up to support Lin Quan:
"I support that too!"
The Spanish players, who always followed Lin Quan's lead, also expressed their support for pursuing the FA Cup title.
Agüero, who had a good relationship with Lin Quan, also stood up to support him.
The young players in the team were thrilled by Lin Quan's support and gathered around him like he was their big brother, strongly supporting his decision.
Kroos silently observed the reactions of Manchester City players, noting everything.
Lin's influence and voice at Manchester City were even greater than he had anticipated.
Seeing Lin Quan's words, the veteran players showed disappointed expressions.
Cup matches become more challenging as they progress since only the strong teams remain.
Although it was just three more matches, these would all be tough battles, and winning all would be grueling.
If they fell short midway, it would be a significant loss.
But since most supported Lin Quan, there was nothing the dissenters could do, so they stayed silent.
"While I support going for the FA Cup, I think the main players are too exhausted. Until we reach the final, let's use substitutes as much as possible."
Just when everyone thought the matter was settled, Lin Quan spoke again, attracting everyone's attention.
"Lin, doesn't that mean giving up on the FA Cup?"
Kompany questioned, doubting his ears.
Using all substitutes was no different from giving up, right?
They couldn't realistically expect to win with a bunch of substitutes, could they?
"No, because I'll be playing!"
Lin Quan explained his plan: until they reached the final, Manchester City would use a substitute lineup, but he would start, providing the backbone for the team.
This way, the main players could rest enough, and they wouldn't be easily overwhelmed by opponents with all substitutes.
If necessary, a few main players could be on the bench and substituted in the second half if the team struggled.
With this approach, Manchester City could handle most opponents.
"This might work, but won't it be too exhausting for you, Lin? Are you sure you want to do this?"
Pellegrini wasn't entirely convinced of Lin Quan's plan, worried about the potential for injuries.
"No problem. If it becomes too much, I'll speak up!"
Pellegrini nodded, respecting Lin Quan's determination.
So, when the starting lineup for the next day was decided, Pellegrini included Lin Quan.
The commentators were puzzled upon seeing Manchester City's starting lineup.
"Honestly, I don't quite understand Manchester City's starting lineup."
He Wei shook his head. Most were substitutes, yet Lin Quan was starting. What did this mean?
If they used all substitutes, it would suggest giving up the FA Cup.
But starting Lin Quan didn't seem like giving up.
This lineup was confusing; were they giving up or not?
"Maybe Pellegrini has his own understanding. As for how effective this lineup is, we'll have to see when the match starts."
Xu Yang didn't understand Manchester City's intention but chose to wait and see.
Even as a substitute lineup, Manchester City's strength was formidable.
Apart from Lin Quan, they had Negredo, Jovetić, Nasri, Javi García, Demichelis, and Milner.
If Fernandinho hadn't been suspended, they would have had a strong Brazilian midfielder too.
In this match, Lin Quan was partnered with his Spanish teammate Negredo up front.
Negredo, usually Agüero's backup, was a different style of striker.
Tall and capable of holding up the ball, he was the go-to when Manchester City needed a front-line pivot.
But usually, the attacking duo was the small, quick combination of Lin Quan and Agüero.
Lin Quan and Negredo's high-speed combination rarely started together.
Although Negredo didn't start often, he played a lot.
This season, he had appeared in 32 matches for Manchester City: 22 in the league, 4 in the League Cup, 3 in the FA Cup, and 3 in the Champions League.
Without so many appearances, he wouldn't have been selected for Del Bosque's Spanish national team.
Negredo was excited to partner with Lin Quan.
"Lin, watch out. I'll perfectly fulfill my role as a front-line pivot and set you up!"
Before the match, Negredo confidently declared.
However, once the match started, Negredo lost his first confrontation with the opponent's defender.
"Pah, this doesn't count. I wasn't ready!"
Lin Quan helped Negredo up from the ground. The latter spat out grass and protested indignantly.
Lin Quan glanced at the opponent's tall, strong black central defender, then at Negredo.
He was pessimistic about Negredo's chances of single-handedly overcoming the defender.
Sure enough, Negredo was completely outmatched in his physical confrontations, failing to play his pivot role and becoming a liability instead.
Fortunately, the opponents' attacking strategy was crude. Their ground penetration couldn't break through Manchester City's midfield, and their long-ball tactics weren't effective against Manchester City either. The match soon fell into a stalemate.
Seeing the team struggling in the center, Lin Quan decisively moved to the flanks.
The wings were manned by strong players like Milner and Nasri, making it easier to create effective plays through their cooperation.
Stoke City's players were very wary of Lin Quan, recognizing his greater threat compared to his teammates.
So for Stoke City, stopping Lin Quan means they've already succeeded halfway.
In the 23rd minute, Manchester City completed a combination on the left, Lin Quan received Nasri's pass and dribbled inside but was brought down by a defender.
Given the chance for a free kick, Lin Quan was delighted.
However, the position wasn't ideal, and his free kick missed slightly high over the crossbar.
Even so, Stoke City's goalkeeper was still startled by the erratic trajectory of the ball, nearly surrendering.
"Watch your fouls, don't give them good free kick opportunities!"
Hearing the goalkeeper's shout, Stoke City's players felt very conflicted.
Stopping Lin Quan was already difficult, let alone avoiding fouls.
But they also knew the consequences, if they continued to give him free kick chances, they might concede a goal.
So, they assigned a defensive midfielder specifically to mark Lin Quan, limiting his receiving passes and denying him space to operate.
Lin Quan had faced such targeted marking from opponents many times before and had become accustomed to it.
Since the opposition assigned someone to mark him, he voluntarily withdrew, pulling their defensive midfielder out and creating space for his teammates.
Seeing Lin Quan leave the front line and take on the role of Manchester City's midfield commander, Stoke City's defensive midfielder looked helplessly towards their coach:
Coach, do we continue like this?
Stoke City's coach gritted his teeth and said: Keep at it!
Even if he goes to play midfield, even if he goes to be a goalkeeper, you stick to him!
Seeing the opposition's defensive midfielder still following him, Lin Quan chuckled.
He passed the ball to Garcia and pretended to run forward.
Here it comes, this guy withdrawing to midfield was indeed a deception!
Stoke City's defensive midfielder became alert, retreating as Lin Quan did, maintaining distance, and preparing to intercept his passes.
However, Lin Quan's forward run was just a feint; after taking a couple of steps, he suddenly retreated.
At the same time, Garcia's pass arrived at his feet.
Seizing the opportunity before the opposition closed in, Lin Quan played a through ball.
Instead of passing it to the forward Negredo, he passed it to the midfielder Jovetic.
Jovetic, who was in a good position, took the pass and attempted a long-range shot.
While the shot was of high quality, it unfortunately sailed just over the crossbar.
Stoke City narrowly escaped!
"Watch your marks, don't leave gaps!"
Stoke City's coach was very displeased with this play, feeling it was due to the players' lack of concentration that Jovetic got the chance to advance.
Moreover, the defensive midfielder McEachran didn't mark Lin Quan properly, giving the opposition a chance to pass.
In short, this defensive lapse exposed many issues. If these mistakes weren't corrected promptly, Manchester City's ability to seize opportunities would sooner or later lead to disaster.
However, it's easier said than done.
McEachran further closed the distance with Lin Quan, almost sticking to him!
However, being too close might not be a good thing, especially for a dribbling king like Lin Quan.
In the 42nd minute of the first half, Lin Quan voluntarily withdrew to receive a pass from Demichelis.
The moment the ball reached his feet, he executed a Cruyff turn, effortlessly evading the close-marking McEachran, dribbling towards Stoke City's half with the ball.
With one less defensive midfielder, Stoke City's central defense showed a gap, providing an opportunity for Manchester City.
After a one-two dribbling combination with Jovetic, Lin Quan entered the penalty area with the ball and delicately chipped it into the goal.
Manchester City took the lead, temporarily leading Stoke City 1-0.
After scoring, Manchester City's substitutes breathed a sigh of relief.
They proudly puffed up their chests: We're so good, even the substitutes can defeat the opponent's starters!
They played more and more relaxed, and their performance improved.
On the other hand, Stoke City, eager to equalize, launched frenzied attacks, but it exposed even greater vulnerabilities, allowing Manchester City to counterattack several times.
In the 55th minute of the second half, Milner's goal secured victory for Manchester City.
Ultimately, Manchester City eliminated Stoke City with a 2-0 scoreline at home, advancing to the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
However, their luck seemed not too good, as in the semi-finals, Manchester City drew Arsenal as their opponents.
With Arsenal's thirst for the championship, this match would likely be very difficult.
But making it to the semi-finals, the substitute players of Manchester City were already very happy.
Whether they could pass Arsenal or not, they had proved themselves this season.
Even if they couldn't stay at Manchester City next season, they should be able to find a good place to go.
After the match ended, Pellegrini gave the team a day off.
Three days later, they continued to play at home, facing the challenge from Werder Bremen.
For this match, Lin Quan was placed on the substitutes' bench.
Although he assured Pellegrini that he was in good condition, Pellegrini felt that Manchester City had a significant advantage in this game and it was not absolutely necessary for Lin Quan to play unless required.
The opponent's strategy was also sensible, so Lin Quan did not insist any further and watched the game peacefully from the bench. Despite the team's slim hopes of advancing, Werder Bremen did not play conservatively after arriving at the away venue.
They chose to engage Manchester City in a head-to-head attack, and Manchester City naturally welcomed this approach with open arms.
Thus, after the game started, both teams played very openly, and the number of goals scored was quite exaggerated.
In the 13th minute, Kompany scored with a header, helping Manchester City to a 1:0 lead.
In the 20th minute, Werder Bremen scored through Petersen on a counterattack, making it 1:1. Just two minutes later, Manchester City scored another goal, with De Bruyne scoring from a free kick.
Like Lin Quan, De Bruyne pressed his hands down after scoring and chose not to celebrate, even though this was Manchester City's home ground.
The first half was not yet over, and in the 38th minute, Manchester City committed a foul in the penalty area, granting Werder Bremen a penalty.
Captain Fritz took the shot himself and successfully changed the score to 2:2. At this point, the aggregate score was 6:3, with Manchester City still leading by three goals.
Given the current state of both teams, it was clearly difficult for Werder Bremen to turn the game around.
However, the Parrot Army did not give up and chose to continue attacking! In the 67th minute, Werder Bremen scored again, Arnautovic using his powerful jumping ability to outjump Kompany and head the ball into Manchester City's net.
However, before this, Manchester City had already scored two goals in the 48th and 55th minutes.
At this time, the score on the field had become 4:3, and Manchester City's net goal lead had increased by one.
Afterward, the offensive fire of both teams gradually died down, and the exhausted Parrot Army, towards the end of the game, even had some players experiencing cramps.
Facing a significant disparity in strength, the Parrot Army, with their tenacious fighting spirit and indomitable spirit, scored three goals away from home, almost holding their own against Manchester City, earning the respect of Manchester City fans.
After the game ended, Manchester City's fans stood up and applauded, expressing their respect for the opponents.
Although they did not manage to achieve the miracle of a comeback, they proved the strength of the Parrot Army with their actions!
This is a respectable team!
After defeating Werder Bremen, Manchester City broke a club record and advanced into the Champions League quarterfinals.
In other matches, Bayern Munich drew 1:1 away at Chelsea, advancing to the quarterfinals with a 4:1 aggregate score.
Manchester United won 1:0 at home against Galatasaray, advancing with a 2:1 total score.
Arsenal lost 0:3 away at Barcelona, being eliminated from both legs without advancing to the quarterfinals.
Atletico Madrid swept AC Milan 4:1, also advancing by winning both home and away legs.
Real Madrid easily advanced to the quarterfinals with a 3:0 home win over Olympiacos.
Borussia Dortmund lost 1:2 at home in a surprising outcome, but still narrowly advanced to the quarterfinals with a 5:4 total score.
Paris Saint-Germain won 2:1 over Bayer Leverkusen, grabbing the last quarterfinal slot.
Thus, the quarterfinalists are Manchester City, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain.
La Liga leads with three teams, rightfully earning the title of the number one league.
The Bundesliga and the Premier League each retained two spots, performing as expected.
Serie A was completely knocked out, while Ligue 1 still managed to keep one team in the competition.
After the list of quarterfinalists was confirmed, the Champions League quarterfinal draw ceremony was soon held at UEFA headquarters.
Real Madrid was the first team drawn and their opponent turned out to be Paris Saint-Germain.
Manchester United was drawn second and will face Bayern Munich.
Atletico Madrid, drawn third, will face Borussia Dortmund.
With only two teams left, the outcome was clear.
Manchester City will face Barcelona in the quarterfinals! (End of chapter)
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