Bab 205: Popularity Soars
In the end, thanks to Lin's stunning bicycle kick during injury time, the match ended in a 2:2 draw. Manchester City left Chelsea's home ground unscathed.
Although their winning streak was halted, they still maintained their unbeaten record. Considering the team's incomplete lineup, Manchester City fans were already quite satisfied with the result.
At the post-match press conference, Pellegrini spent a minute praising Lin's performance, calling him the best player he's ever coached, bar none!
"As a coach, I'm thrilled to have a player like Lin. He brings endless surprises, much like Messi at Barcelona and Ronaldo at Real Madrid. I believe Lin is undoubtedly on the same level as these players!"
With the annual Ballon d'Or award coming up, Pellegrini was clearly trying to boost Lin's profile. While Lin's history and accolades may not yet match the top contenders, it's essential to create buzz and keep the conversation going.
Netizens quickly reacted to Pellegrini's comments:
"Pellegrini's not wrong; Lin definitely has that world-class vibe now!"
"Let's not draw too much attention and invite criticism. Lin still needs to win a Champions League title and a Ballon d'Or before being compared to the likes of Messi and Ronaldo. He's still lacking in honors."
"He could take a shortcut by winning the World Cup next year, which would put him ahead of Messi and Ronaldo!"
"That's possible, but the World Cup is even more prestigious than the Champions League. Winning it is incredibly challenging!"
"There are many strong teams next year, not just hosts Brazil but also powerhouses like Argentina, France, England, the Netherlands, Italy, and Germany. Breaking through such a strong lineup is no easy feat!"
"You missed one: Belgium, the European Red Devils, and Croatia, with Modric and Mandzukic, are also strong contenders. Europe has a lot of top teams!"
"Indeed, many European teams have been placed in second or even third tiers. There could be a 'Group of Death' in the group stage. Given Spain's tendency to start slow, they might not even make it past the group stage!"
"No way! Spain is the defending champion and currently ranked number one by FIFA. They can't fail to advance, right?"
"In theory, it's possible, but the likelihood is low."
After the match, the video of Lin's bicycle kick quickly went viral online. Lin topped Twitter's trending list, and his fame and influence soared to new heights. His follower count on Twitter rapidly surpassed 5 million, overtaking many active football stars.
While some celebrated, others did not fare as well. After Pellegrini's interview, Chelsea's coach Mourinho was notably absent, prompting reporters to whisper:
"Is Mourinho going to be a no-show?"
"Quite possible!"
"He boasted about beating Manchester City at home, but now everyone's waiting to see him eat his words. I doubt he has the guts to show up!"
Wherever Mourinho goes, news follows, as his personality often clashes with reporters. These clashes always provide ample material for media coverage.
After a while, Mourinho finally arrived, looking grim, as if he had just argued with someone.
"I bet Mourinho threw a tantrum in the locker room!"
"Maybe he had a 'friendly chat' with Abramovich?"
The reporters speculated, not bothering to lower their voices. Mourinho heard every word and snorted before sitting down.
"I know what you're all going to ask, but my team ended Manchester City's winning streak, which is an acceptable result," he preemptively stated, trying to shut down any questions.
However, the Fleet Street reporters weren't letting him off that easily.
"But Manchester City was missing many key players, effectively making them a weakened team. If you can't beat them now, what are Chelsea's chances when they visit the Etihad Stadium in Round 24?" asked a Times reporter.
Mourinho gave the reporter a glance, recognizing him from The Times, and slightly moderated his tone, "My team is the best. We can beat any opponent!"
An Independent reporter followed up, "After this match, Manchester City still leads Chelsea by seven points, with Arsenal three points ahead. Is Chelsea's goal this season still to win the title?"
Mourinho scoffed, "Of course, our goal is always to win the title. The league has only just started; with 29 games left, there's plenty of time to close the gap!"
A Guardian reporter, dissatisfied with Mourinho's response, countered with statistics: "But in these nine games, Chelsea has lost one and drawn three. The team's scoring issues remain unresolved, with Chelsea scoring fewer goals than any other traditional Premier League giant except for a struggling Manchester United."
Mourinho sneered, "Arsenal often starts strong, giving the illusion of being title contenders, but we've seen how they crumble in the second half of the season."
"I admit Manchester City is doing well, but they lack experience and will make mistakes in multiple competitions. My team won't."
The reporters couldn't help but roll their eyes. Who lost heavily to Basel in the first Champions League game? Manchester City has maintained a perfect record in the Champions League, with a clear path to the knockout stages, while Chelsea is still fighting with Werder Bremen for top spot and may not even qualify. And Mourinho has the nerve to say his team won't make mistakes.
A Sun reporter, refusing to let Mourinho off the hook, asked, "Coach Mourinho, you said before the game that you'd definitely win at home against Manchester City, but you didn't. How do you respond to that boast now?"
This was a direct challenge! Mourinho might have been slightly more polite to The Times and other mainstream media reporters, but he had no such restraint for tabloid journalists like those from The Sun.
"I can stand on the pitch at Stamford Bridge and coach the team, while you hide in the shadows, throwing insults. Chelsea hired me because I'm better than you, better than everyone here. Otherwise, why would they hire me?"
With that, he stormed off, ending the press conference abruptly.
As the focal point of this Premier League round, the match received extensive coverage from Fleet Street's media outlets. Lin's goal was unanimously voted the best goal of the round.
In Manchester City's history, the only goal comparable to Lin's might be Agüero's last-second winner against Queens Park Rangers in the final round of the 2011-2012 season, which secured the title. In terms of sheer brilliance, Lin's goal was superior, but in terms of drama and significance, Agüero's goal was unmatched, as it brought home a championship.
After the game, Agüero, sidelined due to illness, praised Lin's performance on social media.
"Incredible! Lin did what every striker dreams of but few can achieve. I think I'll have to ask him for some tips on bicycle kicks when I return!"
A certain Real Madrid forward, preferring anonymity, liked Agüero's post, knowing firsthand how valuable such skills could be.
Upon seeing Agüero's tweet, Lin jokingly responded, "A bicycle kick is simple! Just jump, lift your leg, and aim for the ball!"
Agüero replied, "??? Is it really that simple? Don't lie to me; I'm not that naive!"
Reus chimed in, "He's joking! His right foot was higher than his head during the shot. To do what he did, you first need to jump that high!"
So, is jumping high enough? A certain Real Madrid winger, purchased for 100 million euros, was eager to try it out. Similarly, a notorious troublemaker from Serie A was intrigued.
In AC Milan's away game against Parma, Balotelli indeed tried to replicate Lin's goal. And then... Balotelli received a yellow card for fouling a defender instead of connecting with the ball...
Chelsea fans were left feeling bitter, despite some solace in Torres' return to form with consecutive goals. With the World Cup draw approaching, reporters asked Torres about his thoughts on the club and national team.
"I feel like I'm getting back to my best, and I'm confident I can help the team continue winning," Torres said, seemingly unaffected by the match's outcome. He certainly seemed more confident than during his lengthy goal drought.
But the reporters weren't satisfied. They wanted a sensational story.
"Fernando, we know you were a key player for Spain during the South African World Cup and the 2012 Euros, but you've lost your starting spot since Lin joined the team. If you maintain your current form in the league and Champions League, do you think Coach Del Bosque will reinstate you as a starter?"
The reporter was clearly trying to stir up trouble between Lin and Torres. As an established star, Torres surely had some resentment about losing his starting position. Any hint of dissatisfaction in the interview could spark a major news story, blowing up into a massive controversy within the Spanish national team.
As the defending champions and FIFA's number one ranked team, the Spanish national team garnered significant media attention. A story about an internal dispute would be widely read, boosting sales for the newspapers.
Furthermore, the English press likely wanted to sow discord within the Spanish national team's locker room, potentially disrupting their World Cup campaign. With the entire world competing, few would want to see Spain successfully defend their title, including the English.
Torres, not a rookie, had been in the Premier League for several years and knew the tricks of Fleet Street's unscrupulous journalists. Carefully choosing his words, he responded, "I'm confident I can maintain this form; I know how hard it is to come by."
Torres' goal drought had lasted not just days but years. Since joining Chelsea, he had struggled to recapture his scoring form from his Liverpool days, so he was particularly keen to sustain his current resurgence.
"As for the national team's starting lineup, that will depend on the coach's decisions and tactical considerations. I'll do my best to impress the coach and demonstrate
my capabilities."
Even though Torres was cautious, he still underestimated the Fleet Street journalists' lack of scruples.
"Saint Niño unhappy with Lin — 'He took my starting spot!'" read the headline in an unscrupulous reporter's article.
Stunned, Torres realized these journalists had no morals or boundaries. They had twisted his words entirely!
But the news quickly spread, causing a stir in the football world. Media outlets worldwide picked up the story, discussing it widely. Many of Torres' fans began to feel sympathy for him.
"Demand Del Bosque starts Torres! Niño deserves a starting spot!"
"With Torres' skills, saying he's Spain's best homegrown forward is no exaggeration. Not starting him is ridiculous!"
"It's not just Torres; even Villa is sitting on the bench. Since Lin joined, these players have seen less and less playing time."
"It's heartbreaking to see these veterans who have contributed so much to the national team being sidelined for a newcomer."
"The Spanish coaching staff's decisions are questionable. They should give more opportunities to the veterans instead of overworking Lin. Even if he's made of iron, he can't start every game!"
Doubt about the Spanish coaching staff began to surface online. Given Spain's immense talent, some believed that any coach could lead them to victory. As a result, the coaching staff's work often went unnoticed. Many saw the team as merely an extension of Barcelona, both in tactics and players.
Realizing the situation was spiraling out of control, Torres knew he needed to clarify things, regardless of whether the journalists had twisted his words. He had to publicly deny the rumors to stop them from spreading further.
However, the public remained skeptical of Torres' clarification, thinking he was pressured by the national team to speak out. As tensions mounted, Del Bosque intervened:
"Torres and Lin are both exceptional players. I won't compare them directly. As for the starting lineup, I'll consider a 4-4-2 formation in upcoming matches, giving both a chance to start."
This decision offered a fair competition between the two. With a dual-striker formation, their scoring abilities would soon become apparent!
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