Capítulo 354: Chapter 354: Guardiola and Mourinho's Feud, the Grueling Schedule Ahead
Chapter 354: Guardiola and Mourinho's Feud, the Grueling Schedule Ahead
Seeing the right side of their defense increasingly vulnerable, West Bromwich Albion had to divert resources to patch up this hole. However, this left them stretched thin in other areas. In the 34th minute of the first half, Lin Quan found an opportunity, broke through the defense, received a pass from De Bruyne, and scored Manchester City's third goal of the match. This goal effectively killed any suspense in the game.
Seeing this goal, both Guardiola and the Manchester City fans at the stadium felt relieved. Unless a miracle happened, West Bromwich Albion could call it a night.
After scoring, Lin Quan walked to the sideline to hug Guardiola. This was their first match together in the same team, and scoring in such a game was a memorable moment for Lin Quan. The cameras focused on the father and son hugging on the sideline, and the commentators joked:
"These two might be the most powerful father-son duo in football history!"
"Yes, one is the youngest and most promising superstar, and the other is the most famous young coach. It's hard to find a stronger combination!"
"I wonder what kind of legendary stories this father-son duo will leave in football history."
"Let's wait and see!"
The first half ended quickly, and during the halftime break, Guardiola praised each of the players, especially the young ones making their debut. Being promoted and trusted by Guardiola boosted their confidence, and they were determined to repay his faith with their best performances.
In the home team's locker room, West Bromwich Albion's coach Pepe Mel was furious. Losing to Manchester City's main squad would have been less frustrating, but they were facing a mix of main players, substitutes, and young talents. Being humiliated by such a lineup made Mel feel ashamed. This was their home ground, and they couldn't accept such disgrace. So, he scolded the players harshly and urged them to fight back with pride in the second half.
In the second half, West Bromwich Albion indeed intensified their attacks. Mel watched the field intently, hoping to see a chance for a comeback. He planned to exploit the inexperience of City's young players, believing they would reveal weaknesses under pressure.
However, the young City players didn't crumble under Mel's tactics. Their fighting spirit was strong, and they showed resilience like unyielding fighters. While their skills might not yet match the demands of the Premier League, their determination and attitude compensated for it. The experienced main players supported them, using their experience and skills to protect and assist the youngsters, helping them overcome numerous crises.
With this backup, the young players felt secure and performed better. West Bromwich Albion, not being a top-tier team, couldn't exploit these players' weaknesses effectively. When facing City's main or even substitute players, they couldn't gain any advantage. As a result, the game remained tense, but West Bromwich Albion struggled to make breakthroughs or score.
Seeing his team's attack faltering, Mel decided to go all out. In the 66th minute, he made three substitutions, bringing on three attacking players at once. This move clearly showed their intent to fight desperately.
Guardiola saw this and laughed. "You can make substitutions, but so can we." He glanced at the bench and called up Lampard, Kolarov, and Yaya Touré, bringing them on one by one. With these three on the field, City's defense became more solid, and their midfield much stronger. West Bromwich Albion's attacks were effectively thwarted outside City's goal.
Ultimately, the score was set at 3-0, and with many substitutes playing, City secured a big away win. Guardiola's debut was a complete success. After the match, he was swarmed by reporters.
"Coach Guardiola, how do you feel about this match?"
"Coach Guardiola, why did you field this starting lineup? Were you underestimating the opponent?"
"Coach Guardiola, who do you think was the best player in this match? Was it Lin Quan?"
The reporters nearly shoved their microphones into Guardiola's face, making him realize just how relentless the British media could be.
"My players performed excellently today. I'm very proud of them. If I had to pick the standout player, without a doubt, it would be Lin Quan," Guardiola said, unabashedly giving the honor to Lin Quan. This wasn't surprising to the reporters.
"As for my thoughts on the match, it made me feel the passion of the Premier League fans and the intensity of the league."
Guardiola's answers were standard and uncontroversial. However, a reporter suddenly interjected, "Coach Guardiola, what do you think about Mourinho's comments before the match?"
Earlier, at a press conference for another match, when asked about Guardiola joining Manchester City, Mourinho said, "Pep is an excellent coach. I have no personal issues with him, but I don't see a bright future for him at City. This is the Premier League, not La Liga."
Mourinho added that his judgment was based on facts, not personal grudges. "The Premier League is much more intense than La Liga, with more strong teams, a tighter schedule, and a more robust playing style. Only the truly strong can adapt here," he implied that Guardiola wasn't strong enough.
The differences between La Liga and the Premier League were indeed significant, but to claim Guardiola couldn't adapt was an exaggeration. Unsurprisingly, Mourinho's comments sparked huge debates. With the media fanning the flames, the interview went viral online.
The feud between Mourinho and Guardiola dates back to the 2009-2010 season. They faced off four times in the Champions League that season, with Guardiola holding a 2-1-1 advantage, but it was Mourinho who had the last laugh.
Guardiola led Inter Milan to a 3-2 aggregate victory over the formidable Barcelona in the semifinals, advancing to the final and eventually lifting the Champions League trophy, completing a treble. The defeat that season left many Barcelona fans feeling regretful and disappointed. If they hadn't been eliminated by Inter, Barcelona might have achieved the incredible feat of winning three consecutive Champions League titles.
Barcelona's fans were particularly frustrated with the away game against Inter. Due to the Icelandic volcanic eruption, Barcelona couldn't fly to the match and had to take a bus, enduring a long journey that severely impacted their physical condition. Consequently, in the first leg at San Siro, Barcelona lost 3-1 to Inter.
Had the volcanic ash affected both teams equally, the loss might have been more acceptable. However, by the time Inter visited Camp Nou, the volcanic ash's impact had lessened, allowing Inter to fly. In better condition, Inter withstood Barcelona's intense attacks at Camp Nou. Despite winning 1-0 at home, Barcelona was eliminated on aggregate, missing their chance to defend their Champions League title.
This was a significant regret for both Barcelona and Guardiola. Additionally, Mourinho's comments during the matches deepened the rift between the two coaches. After leading Inter to victory, Mourinho was immediately brought to Real Madrid to counter Barcelona. The fierce rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid further intensified the animosity between Mourinho and Guardiola.
Even after both left La Liga, their rivalry should have eased. However, last season, Guardiola defeated Mourinho in the European Super Cup and eliminated Mourinho's Chelsea in the Champions League knockout stage, further deepening their conflict. Now, with Guardiola in the Premier League, their encounters in the league and domestic cups would increase, likely reigniting and intensifying their feud.
When asked about Mourinho's comments, Guardiola paused. He generally avoided criticizing other coaches, but Mourinho's words irked him. He couldn't stay silent. Accepting the challenge, he sternly said, "The Premier League is indeed not La Liga, but true champions can win anywhere."
Reporters quickly noted Guardiola's response. Learning of this, Mourinho, who had just led Chelsea to victory over West Ham, responded casually, "I look forward to welcoming Mr. Guardiola and his team to Stamford Bridge. I'll make sure to give them a proper welcome."
The next clash between Manchester City and Chelsea would be in the 23rd round of the Premier League, where City would visit Chelsea. The outcome of this match would likely determine the winner of their renewed rivalry. For now, with Chelsea leading the league, Mourinho remained composed. Having spent more time in the Premier League, he believed Guardiola was yet to experience the league's challenges fully.
After defeating West Bromwich Albion away, Manchester City returned to Manchester. Two days later, they would face Burnley at home. The hectic Christmas schedule left little time for rest. Fortunately, without Champions League fixtures and having exited the League Cup early, they had fewer distractions. However, the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup required their attention.
Upon returning to the training base, Guardiola wasted no time. He immediately called an internal meeting to discuss the upcoming fixtures and match plans. "From now until January 10, we have six games: two in the Club World Cup, three in the Premier League, and one in the FA Cup. The Premier League match on December 28 and the Club World Cup match on December 29 are too close. We'll have to strategically forfeit one."
The schedule showed red circles marking each match date, highlighting the grueling pace. "We can't give up the Club World Cup. We've already won five trophies and are one step away from achieving the sextuple. Giving up now would waste all our efforts. Achieving a sextuple isn't an opportunity that comes often."
"Nor can we easily forfeit Premier League matches. We're trailing Chelsea in points. Giving up now could widen the gap, making it hard to catch up."
"Moreover, if we win the Club World Cup semifinal, the final will clash with another Premier League match."
Everyone was speechless. Playing six matches in 12 days was brutal. Even without the two Club World Cup matches, the schedule was overwhelming. The World Cup's timing, delayed by 10 days to accommodate players who had little rest post-World Cup, had unintended consequences for City. Unlike other major leagues, the Premier League's lack of a winter break, coupled with its intense schedule, put English teams at a disadvantage in the Club World Cup.
For Manchester City, the pressing question was whether to prioritize the league or go all out for the sextuple.
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