Chapitre 149: Chapter 149 The British Coach Wants Su Luo To Join The Three Lions?
Pellegrini's position is at stake!
Originally, the team started the new season with 5 consecutive victories, and Pellegrini even got a contract extension, renewing his deal with the club until June 2017. Manchester City's high wages were quite comfortable, coupled with the luxury of spending money on whoever they wanted to buy. Pellegrini didn't want to leave easily.
Unfortunately, they encountered Union Berlin. The away game was a disaster, with Union Berlin reversing the score to win 4-3. Manchester City's chances of qualifying for the Champions League group stage became quite precarious.
This failure triggered a chain reaction. The team was held to a 0-0 draw by rivals Manchester United in the league, and then Klopp's Liverpool defeated them 4-1! Manchester City fell directly to 4th place. They urgently needed a victory to regain morale, and Pellegrini also needed a victory to save his job.
Rumor had it that the club's contract with Guardiola was almost finalized. If Pellegrini couldn't get results, he might not make it to the second half of the season. Facing Union Berlin again, Pellegrini was desperate.
"This is our home stadium, the Etihad!" he roared. "We will not allow what happened in the last round to happen again! This time, the players will work together to completely defeat the Germans!"
At the press conference, Pellegrini, usually restrained and quiet, was as passionate as Mourinho. The English journalists were delighted by this display.
Manchester City must defend their pride and the Premier League's reputation. All of England was looking forward to a convincing victory for Manchester City at home! Despite Chelsea's 1-2 loss to Porto, Manchester United's defeat by Wolfsburg, and Arsenal's beating by Bayern, there was still hope for Manchester City.
England claims to be the birthplace of modern football and the Premier League is self-proclaimed as the world's number one league. Manchester City remained the nation's last hope.
"May I ask what strategy will be used to defend against the opponent's sharp counterattacks this time?" asked a reporter from the "Daily Mail."
Pellegrini thought for a moment and replied seriously, "Offensive! We are the stronger team! We will never back down on defense. Attack is in Manchester City's blood; we will attack no matter what!"
Pellegrini's voice echoed through the press conference hall.
Neuhaus, Union Berlin's coach, heard about this later.
"I guess it's a smokescreen. Who would dare to reveal their tactical plans so boldly? Maybe this old fox wants to mislead us," Hofstede suggested cautiously.
Neuhaus shook his head. "No, I feel like they really want to fight."
"Really?"
"Yes, Manchester City probably gained confidence from the Dortmund game. They might press us all the way up."
In Neuhaus's vision, if Manchester City pressed high with the creativity of De Bruyne, Grealish, and David Silva, along with Aguero's finishing ability, their scoring efficiency could be quite high. They might indeed pose a significant threat.
Hofstede quickly realized this and couldn't help but worry. "Yes, what if they really attack aggressively?"
"Then we counterattack," Neuhaus replied confidently. He had great faith in his team, especially Su Luo. With sufficient space in the frontcourt, Su Luo's ability to seize opportunities was second to none. Playing as a frontcourt libero, he was always on the offensive.
"Jack, as you said, treat yourself to the best nightclub in Manchester after the game," Yin Luo teased his former teammate before the match.
"Of course, I mean what I say. As long as we win, we'll definitely take you there," Grealish responded.
"Oh? What if you lose?"
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Grealish's reply was all in capital letters, but it seemed he wasn't fully confident.
Given the circumstances, Su Luo wouldn't show mercy. It was time for a good fight!
On match day at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City fans in blue jerseys filled the stands. Nearly 60,000 people sang the Manchester City anthem in unison, and a huge tifo of Manchester City's crest appeared in the stands. At this time, the team logo featured a giant eagle with its wings spread out, exuding a sense of majesty.
Accompanied by the thrilling melody of the Champions League theme song, players from both sides led the caddies out of the player tunnel. Su Luo was at the front as the captain, while Manchester City's De Bruyne and Grealish could only see his back. Wearing the captain's armband, Su Luo appeared more mature and stable. Each meeting with him was more challenging than the last, casting a deeper shadow in Grealish's heart.
In the commentary booth of Sky Sports, the gold medal commentator Andy Gray sat with a serious expression.
"This is live on Sky Sports, I'm Andy Gray. Sitting next to me are our old friends Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher."
"Pellegrini said before the game that Manchester City will use offense to suppress their opponents. What do you think about this?"
Gary Neville, a Manchester United legend, and Jamie Carragher, a Liverpool icon, were sworn enemies throughout their careers, often clashing on the pitch. In the commentary booth, they still didn't see eye to eye, frequently sparring with each other. This unexpected dynamic became a major attraction, drawing many fans to subscribe to Sky Sports. The pair became regular guests.
Carragher, with some disdain, said, "Union Berlin looks strong, but they're actually just tough on the outside. The pressure will make them crack. This is Manchester City's home turf; they won't let themselves be overturned."
Old Red Devils captain Gary Neville disagreed. "You're underestimating them. Berlin isn't afraid of confrontation. As long as there's space, Su Luo can play. Manchester City's aggressive approach could backfire."
"We have so many world-class stars. Are you saying our scoring efficiency is lower than a Chinese player's?" Carragher questioned.
Gary Neville snorted. "Yes, it is indeed not as high as his rate."
Sensing the rising tension, Andy Gray intervened. "Alright, the teams are ready, and the game is about to start."
"The starting lineups for both teams remain unchanged from the previous game. No personnel changes. With the referee's whistle, the fifth round of the Champions League group match has kicked off."
As the game started, the scene unfolded as Neuhaus predicted, but not exactly. Manchester City was indeed attacking, but their approach seemed somewhat conservative.
When it comes to Manchester City's possession game, people often think of Guardiola. However, Pellegrini also favored a passing and controlling style. With Yaya Toure, Fernandinho, and David Silva, the midfield was stable. Grealish and De Bruyne were excellent passers, but Manchester City played cautiously, wary of Union Berlin's counterattacks. They maintained possession without creating clear chances against Berlin's solid defense.
England's young goalkeeper Pickford appeared as the No. 1 goalkeeper but didn't face much testing. Manchester City dominated possession but rarely took shots. Union Berlin patiently held their positions, allowing City to play their game without much urgency.
It wasn't until 10 minutes later that Manchester City completed their first shot on target.
"Manchester City held possession for a long time. De Bruyne broke through to the penalty area and sent a cross..."
"Aguero, closely defended by Rudiger, couldn't exert his strength and Pickford easily collected the ball."
Commentator Zhan Jun, who was almost falling asleep, finally perked up. Director Zhang beside him, who hadn't spoken for a while, almost dozed off.
To keep things lively, Jun introduced the situation in the stands. "Now on screen is Hodgson, the England manager. With the European Cup next year, Hodgson hopes to select elite players. There are many England internationals in this game, such as Grealish of Manchester City, Joe Hart, Sterling on the bench, and the young goalkeeper Pickford in Union Berlin..."
Zhan Jun paused, realizing there were only three Englishmen playing, two of whom were goalkeepers. As a Premier League team, was it okay for Manchester City to have only two Englishmen in the starting lineup?
Hodgson was indeed scouting players for the European Cup, but his focus wasn't on Grealish, Pickford, or Joe Hart. He was watching Su Luo.
"You say he has never played for China. Do we have a chance to recruit him?"
"He is said to be unwilling to change his nationality."
"What? He doesn't want to move to Great Britain?" Hodgson was curious. British nationality offers many benefits, including the chance to play for the Three Lions in the European Cup and World Cup. Yet, Su Luo refused?
Southgate, sitting next to him, sighed. "Yes, the German and Spanish Football Associations have invited Su Luo, but he rejected them. China doesn't recognize dual citizenship, so there's no way."
"That's a pity," Hodgson sighed. With Su Luo, the Three Lions would be unstoppable. Imagine Su Luo playing as a second striker with Harry Kane and Rooney up front, Sterling, Rashford, and Sturridge on the wings, and Ali, Wilshere, and Lallana providing support from the midfield. England's attack would be unstoppable!
As Hodgson mused, Union Berlin seized a counterattack opportunity, proving his point.
"Beautiful! Kimmich's sudden tackle on Silva! Quick counterattack!"
"The ball goes directly to Su Luo!"
"A 4-on-3 situation in the frontcourt!"
"Su Luo passes to Forsberg... they run a cross!"
"Forsberg sends a through ball to Su Luo!"
"Su Luo accelerates! Breaking through Otamendi!"
The 60,000 spectators at the Etihad Stadium gasped simultaneously.
Su Luo, who seemed harmless for 10 minutes, suddenly turned into a sharp knife, piercing Manchester City's defense!
At the edge of the penalty area, Otamendi tried to block the inside line, but Su Luo defied expectations. With a swift left-footed shot, he chipped the ball over Hart, who watched helplessly as the ball soared into the net.
"Su Luo! A brilliant chip from outside the penalty area!"
"It's a textbook quick counterattack!"
"He maximized efficiency!"
Union Berlin, with less than 20% ball possession, scored on their first attack and first shot!
Hodgson slapped his thigh. "Is this real? It's strange that the Chinese Football Association isn't utilizing such a talent. What a waste!"
Southgate nodded in agreement. "Yes, I can't figure it out either."
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État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
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Power Stone 
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