章 437: Chapter 437: Wenger is Old and Should Retire
Chapter 437: Wenger is Old and Should Retire
Just as Lin Quan had predicted, De Bruyne's gaze towards him had completely changed. De Bruyne's expression oddly reminded Lin Quan of a line from a Stephen Chow movie: "Chang Wei, you said you don't know kung fu!" It was so unbelievable that Lin Quan could even see admiration in his eyes.
It wasn't just De Bruyne; both teams' players were looking at Lin Quan differently. They had seen direct free-kick goals before, but hitting two in a row with such precision was something else entirely. Both free kicks were so perfectly placed that the goalkeeper had no chance to save them. This level of skill was extraordinary, even more intimidating than Juninho's renowned free kicks.
Lin Quan's two free-kick goals had a massive impact on Gladbach's morale. In the remaining match time, their players were cautious, worried about giving away another free kick. The score remained 2-0 until the final whistle. In the end, Manchester City secured a 2-0 victory away from home, achieving two consecutive wins in the group stage.
On the other hand, in the match between Juventus and Sevilla, Morata continued his excellent form from the previous game, scoring another goal to help his team win 2-0. This put Manchester City at the top of Group D with two wins, in a strong position to advance. Gladbach, having suffered two consecutive defeats, faced slim hopes of progressing. Juventus and Sevilla, with one win each, had equal points, but Juventus had a more favorable schedule. If Sevilla couldn't beat Juventus in their next encounter, Juventus would likely secure the second spot in the group.
Morata's consecutive goals caught the attention of major clubs, especially his former club Real Madrid, which sent scouts to evaluate his performance. Morata seemed to be getting closer to a return to Bernabéu.
Speaking of Real Madrid, in this round of matches, their star player Cristiano Ronaldo set a new record. By scoring twice against Malmö, he reached a total of 323 goals for Real Madrid, surpassing the legendary Raúl and becoming the club's all-time leading scorer. Compared to Raúl, Ronaldo's scoring efficiency was much higher. He achieved 323 goals in just 308 games, whereas Raúl took 741 games.
This season, Ronaldo's form was outstanding. Possibly fueled by the summer transfer rumors, he started the season with a bang, excelling in both La Liga and the Champions League. In a La Liga match against Espanyol, Ronaldo scored five goals in one game, leaving everyone in awe. In the Champions League group stage, he first scored a hat-trick in the opening match and followed it up with a brace in the second match, leading the Champions League scoring chart with five goals.
Ronaldo seemed to be sending a clear message to his critics: he was undoubtedly a superstar whose status and position were unquestionable. With Messi injured and unable to play, Ronaldo was currently the standout player in La Liga. However, considering all the top five European leagues, Lin Quan from Manchester City was equally impressive. His stunning free-kick brace drew even more media attention than Ronaldo. For superstars like them, scoring goals was common, but Lin Quan's ability to constantly introduce new surprises made his performances more captivating. Additionally, being in the Premier League, English media's extensive coverage gave Lin Quan an edge in visibility.
Despite Ronaldo's brilliant performances and impressive stats, there was considerable anticipation for a potential showdown between Manchester City and Real Madrid in the Champions League. Based on their current form, the two teams wouldn't meet in the early knockout rounds, but a quarter-final clash could be possible if the draw favored it.
While Manchester City celebrated their victory, other Premier League teams had mixed fortunes in the Champions League. Manchester United managed a hard-fought comeback at home against Wolfsburg, thanks to goals from Mata and Smalling. However, Arsenal and Chelsea both suffered surprising defeats. Chelsea's 1-2 loss to Porto in an away match was somewhat expected, but Arsenal's 2-3 home loss to Olympiacos was shocking. Arsenal had already lost to the weakest team in their group, Dinamo Zagreb, and now another defeat to a relatively weak team put them in a tough spot.
Arsenal's next group match was against Bayern Munich, the strongest team in their group, raising the possibility of three consecutive defeats. Following that, they would face Bayern again, this time away, potentially leading to four straight losses. Three losses would already be a record for Arsenal, and four would be a monumental disgrace.
After this latest defeat, criticism of Wenger intensified. Some media and fan groups argued that the French manager's tactics were outdated and conservative, unable to keep up with modern football. They also pointed to his poor in-game management and lack of significant signings in the summer transfer window as reasons for Arsenal's simultaneous struggles in both the Premier League and Champions League.
"I think it's time for Wenger to retire. Staying at Arsenal may no longer be good for him or the club," some suggested. At 66, Wenger was certainly not young. If he had been achieving good results, he might have continued for a few more years, but under his leadership, Arsenal seemed to be spiraling downward, causing great concern among the club's fans.
"If only they hadn't been so stingy during the summer transfer window and had bought a few more star players to strengthen the squad, they wouldn't be in this mess now!" people lamented. Whether it was due to Wenger's own reluctance to spend or, as rumored, Arsenal's owner being a penny-pincher unwilling to provide funds, the result was the same: Arsenal was now in a dire situation.
During the summer transfer window, Arsenal didn't buy a single player, and that's a fact. Now, with the team suffering consecutive losses, the fans are focusing on their failed transfer policy. They kept pretending that the best players were already in the squad, deluding themselves and not making any signings to strengthen the team. How can the team progress like this?
Moreover, Wenger's tactics are indeed outdated. Any team familiar with Arsenal knows exactly how to counter them. Wenger isn't great at in-game management or making timely adjustments. His decisions are always a step behind, and his changes are ineffective, which further amplifies Arsenal's weaknesses.
Although being knocked out of the Champions League group stage isn't unacceptable for Arsenal, given their current strength, even if they made it through the group stage, they'd likely lose to the top teams in the knockout rounds. What frustrates and even depresses Arsenal fans is that they see no hope in the current team. Other big clubs are actively making moves, regardless of their effectiveness, but at least they're trying. Arsenal, on the other hand, does nothing. It's truly disheartening.
Similarly, Manchester United fans are also feeling a bit lost. They thought bringing in a renowned manager like Mourinho would put the team back on track. Early in the season, when they won their first two games, the Red Devils' fans were optimistic. But now, with the team struggling in the Champions League against relatively weaker teams, their confidence is waning. It seems like the legendary Manchester United is still far from returning to its former glory. Compared to their neighbors, Manchester City, United is lagging behind.
Manchester United is a club with a rich history. If it weren't for their poor form in the past two years, their fans would have much higher expectations. Even with lowered expectations, the team still falls short, leaving fans feeling frustrated and lost.
As for Chelsea fans, they've given up hope. Given Chelsea's current league performance, they've resigned themselves to their fate. To match their fans' despair, Chelsea recently lost 1-3 at home to Southampton after returning from an away match.
After this defeat, Chelsea had only 2 wins, 2 draws, and 4 losses in their first eight games, totaling just 8 points. They dropped to 16th place in the standings, just above the relegation zone. No one could have predicted that last season's league leaders, who fought for the title until the last moment, would fall so quickly. If Hiddink doesn't turn things around soon, Chelsea's relegation to the Championship might become a reality.
Seeing the team's poor performance, Chelsea fans are becoming restless. At Stamford Bridge, voices called for Abramovich to fire Hiddink and bring in a top-tier manager. Some demanded the club spend big in the winter transfer window to bring in superstars and revive the team. Others believed there were traitors in the squad, claiming that high-paid, underperforming stars should be kicked out and replaced with young, energetic players.
Amidst all the various opinions, there was no clear solution. Abramovich was also at his wit's end. He initially thought that with Chelsea's solid foundation, any coach could achieve decent results, which is why he confidently parted ways with Mourinho. But reality proved him wrong, showing him that the situation was far from what he had imagined.
Chelsea now seemed like a critically ill patient, beyond medical help. The players were collectively lost, showing no fighting spirit on the pitch and causing chaos in the locker room. Hiddink was struggling to manage the players and control the locker room.
Under normal circumstances, given Mourinho's personality, he would have surely taken the opportunity to mock his former club's plight. However, in this round, Manchester United was thrashed 3-0 by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal's victory broke their streak of two consecutive defeats in the Champions League, while United and Mourinho were left frustrated again.
What's up with Arsenal? They were incredibly fierce. Despite Manchester United's solid defense and lack of significant errors, Arsenal's aggressive start stunned United. Arsenal scored three goals in the first 20 minutes, effectively killing the game.
It turns out that Arsenal is like a double-edged sword. When they're out of form, they can lose to anyone, even weak Eastern European teams. But when they hit their stride, they become unstoppable, displaying a godlike form that no one can withstand.
In this match, Sanchez's goal in the 6th minute not only gave Arsenal the lead but also boosted the entire team's confidence. Without any pressure, the players unleashed their full potential. Arsenal's play was already impressive, but when the players are in top form, they become even more dazzling and unstoppable.
Such an Arsenal, even peak Barcelona, wouldn't dare claim an easy win against them. Losing to this Arsenal was not a disgrace for Manchester United.
After swallowing the bitter pill of defeat, Mourinho naturally had no mood to mock his former club. Instead, he noticed someone in Arsenal's lineup he wanted: Arsenal's winger, Alexis Sanchez.
Sanchez was in phenomenal form in this match, almost unstoppable on the wing. He scored twice and produced several brilliant performances and dribbles. United's full-backs were nearly turned into sieves.
Seeing Sanchez's unstoppable dribbles and scoring ability, Mourinho was practically drooling. Why hadn't he noticed Sanchez's immense talent back in La Liga? Was it because Sanchez's attacking potential was further unleashed in the Premier League, or was he overshadowed by Messi back then, not getting enough opportunities?
Whatever the reason, Manchester United needed such talent. At that moment, Mourinho decided he wanted to poach Sanchez from Wenger!
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