บท 244: Manchester City’s Title Hopes Soar!
"Destined Duel or UEFA Conspiracy? Ronaldo vs. Ibrahimović, Lin vs. Messi!"
"The Showdown Between the Newcomers and the Giants: Can Manchester City Overcome the Mountain That Is Barcelona?"
"Facing His Old Club? Lin's First Return to Camp Nou Since Leaving Barcelona!"
"Spanish Giants Could Meet in the Semifinals!"
"Manchester United Faces a Tough Opponent, Likely to Fall in the Quarterfinals!"
...
As soon as the quarterfinal draw was announced, it sparked widespread attention and debate.
With two Premier League teams already knocked out and the draw not looking favorable for the Manchester clubs, the British media began to lament.
They believed that against Bayern Munich, who had just eliminated Chelsea with a big scoreline, Manchester United, who were the weaker team, had very slim chances of advancing.
As for Manchester City, who were facing the powerful Barcelona, their lack of experience in the Champions League could see them stop at the quarterfinals.
If both Manchester clubs were eliminated, it was feared that the Champions League semifinals would once again be devoid of Premier League teams.
Being repeatedly outclassed by Spanish teams in the Champions League was a blow to the British, who prided themselves on having the best league in the world.
This led to discussions about how to improve the performance of Premier League teams in international competitions.
Unlike the gloom in the British media, there was near jubilation in Spain.
In their view, Real Madrid had a favorable draw. While Paris Saint-Germain was the dominant force in Ligue 1, they, like Manchester City, lacked the heritage and were seen as a team built on wealth.
Moreover, they didn't have a superstar like Lin, and given the lower competitiveness of Ligue 1 compared to the Premier League, the Spanish media tended to underestimate Paris Saint-Germain's strength.
They were confident that Real Madrid could achieve a home-and-away victory over PSG. After all, with Ronaldo in top form and Gareth Bale as another superstar, this would be a great opportunity to showcase Real Madrid's "two billion euro" attack in Europe.
As for Atlético Madrid versus Borussia Dortmund, the two teams were seen as evenly matched. Both Jürgen Klopp and Diego Simeone were among the best mid-generation coaches. Simeone's team was known for its iron-clad discipline, while Klopp's team was full of passion. Whether Simeone's defense would prevail or Klopp's attacking prowess would triumph would depend on each team's performance.
As for Barcelona, drawing Manchester City was neither good nor bad. After all, Manchester City had strong players on paper, including a superstar like Lin. Such a player, if he exploded in form, would be difficult to contain.
Fortunately for Barcelona, they also had Messi, along with other top players like Iniesta and Neymar. As long as Barcelona used their rich Champions League experience and exploited Manchester City's lack of European experience, they had a good chance of advancing.
Fans also engaged in heated discussions after the draw results.
"UEFA really knows how to play it. Didn't Real Madrid and PSG fans have beef about which of their stars is better? Now UEFA has given both sets of fans exactly what they wanted!"
"Haha, what right does Ibrahimović have to compare himself to Ronaldo? Ronaldo already has 13 goals in the Champions League this season, leading the scorer's chart. What can Ibrahimović do?"
Ibrahimović had briefly tied with Ronaldo on the scorer's chart, but after the two rounds of knockout matches, Ronaldo had pulled ahead.
Currently, Ronaldo had 13 goals, leading the scorer's chart, with Ibrahimović in third place with 10 goals.
In second place was Lin, with 12 goals.
Last year, Ibrahimović might have been able to compete with Ronaldo, but since the World Cup qualifiers, where Portugal eliminated Sweden, Ibrahimović had fallen behind.
Now, Ronaldo's fans didn't see Ibrahimović as a threat. Instead, they saw Lin as Ronaldo's biggest challenger.
"By the way, why didn't Lin play in the last match? With his form of scoring in every game, he could have easily added another goal, tying him with Ronaldo at the top of the scorer's chart!"
"It must be because Manchester City's schedule is too packed. But even if Lin had scored, it would be tough for him to surpass Ronaldo. After all, Manchester City is up against Barcelona, and it's going to be hard for them to get past that hurdle. Lin's team might stop at the quarterfinals."
"Manchester City isn't without a chance. Playing the first leg away and the second leg at home is advantageous for them. If they can get a draw or enough away goals at Camp Nou, they have a shot at advancing at home."
"Conquering Camp Nou? Come on, that's a huge challenge in itself!"
Even the most optimistic fans weren't betting on Manchester City eliminating Barcelona.
It wasn't just the fans who were doubtful. After the draw, the mood at Manchester City was also grim.
"Sigh, if only we had drawn Manchester United. We've beaten them so many times this season that drawing them would've been like getting a free pass to the semifinals!"
An assistant coach shook his head with a bitter smile.
Among the eight teams, Manchester City considered their cross-town rivals Manchester United to be the easiest target. While other leagues might still be intimidated by Manchester United's reputation, Manchester City knew exactly how far the Red Devils had fallen this season.
If they had drawn Manchester United, Manchester City's chances of advancing wouldn't be 100%, but at least 80%.
"Drawing Atlético Madrid, Dortmund, or even PSG would have been fine. But we got one of the two worst possible outcomes: Real Madrid or Barcelona."
"It feels like a UEFA conspiracy. They love creating these matchups for the drama and headlines."
"All we can do is give it our best. Reaching the quarterfinals is already an achievement."
Having coached in La Liga for many years, Pellegrini was more aware than anyone of Barcelona's strength. Not wanting to reach the semifinals would be a lie, but overcoming the mountain that was Barcelona would be incredibly difficult.
All they could do was fight for that slim chance of success.
The Champions League quarterfinals would kick off on April 2, with the second leg on April 10.
Compared to the month-long gap between the round of 16 and the quarterfinals, this shorter interval would be a huge test for all the teams aiming for the title.
...
On March 15, the 30th round of the Premier League kicked off.
Manchester City played away against Hull City.
Hull City was 15th in the league with 30 points, just 2 points above the relegation zone.
On paper, the league leaders facing a relegation-threatened team should be a one-sided affair. However, in reality, Premier League giants dreaded facing teams battling to avoid relegation as the season neared its end.
The match started off tough. In the 10th minute, Manchester City captain Kompany was sent off with a straight red card for a foul.
This decision was very un-Premier League-like!
Kompany had committed a pulling foul, but the opponent had fouled first. The referee ignored the initial foul and sent Kompany off when he retaliated, leaving him furious.
Pellegrini was also enraged. In a league known for encouraging physical play, even giving a yellow card for Kompany's foul would have been harsh, but the referee gave a red!
With just 10 minutes gone and down to 10 men against a desperate relegation battler, how could Manchester City cope?
Referee Lee Mason, seeing Pellegrini's protests, approached the sideline to issue a verbal warning.
"Sir, watch your language!"
Pellegrini sarcastically gave him a thumbs up, mocking his decision.
Lee Mason didn't hold back, promptly showing Pellegrini a red card and sending him to the stands.
Manchester City's assistant coaches and substitutes were outraged. They surrounded the referee, demanding an explanation.
Sending off a player was one thing, but sending off the coach as well was clearly targeting Manchester City.
However, despite the protests, the referee didn't back down, issuing more red cards and sending off the most vocal protesters.
This only further enraged Manchester City. Instead of backing down, they seemed ready to fight the referee.
The match had to be stopped due to the chaos on the sidelines, and by the time it resumed, 30 minutes had already passed.
In total, five Manchester City staff members were sent off, including one substitute and two assistant coaches.
Losing a player had already significantly impacted Manchester City. Losing their coach and two assistants only added to the confusion. Kompany's absence left a gap in defense, and City was slow to reorganize.
However, the referee's decisions only fueled the players' determination.
When play resumed, the 10 men of Manchester City took control, launching wave after wave of attacks on Hull City.
In the 14th minute, Kroos drove forward and spotted Agüero in space. But Lin suddenly cut in from the side, intercepting the pass.
This move completely caught Hull City off guard, leaving them no time to react.
Lin, seeing the goalkeeper slightly out of position, took a quick shot without any adjustments.
The shot was so unexpected that the goalkeeper couldn't react in time, failing to save Lin's strike.
Manchester City took a 1-0 lead over Hull City.
Hull City was determined not to lose and ramped up their attacks, hoping to equalize.
But Manchester City's defense held firm, thwarting attack after attack.
In the 34th minute, City won the ball back in defense and launched a quick counterattack. Lin drew two defenders before passing the ball back to De Bruyne, who was just outside the penalty area.
De Bruyne's powerful shot hit
the crossbar and bounced into the net.
Manchester City was now up 2-0!
After scoring, neither Lin nor De Bruyne celebrated. Instead, they rushed to retrieve the ball from the net, eager to resume play.
It was as if they were the ones trailing and two goals weren't nearly enough!
"Manchester City has found their rhythm. Hull City is in trouble now!"
From the commentary box, Martin Tyler had already sentenced Hull City.
"Manchester City feels like a completely different team today. They're playing with more unity and coordination, as if the whole team is pulling together as one!"
Andy Gray, sitting beside Tyler, nodded in agreement.
Without Kompany in defense, Manchester City's backline was incomplete. However, during defensive plays, Kroos dropped back into the center-back position to help out.
Meanwhile, Lin, De Bruyne, and others frequently dropped back to defend the area in front of the penalty box. Despite being a man down, Manchester City's defense looked as solid as ever.
And when they attacked, their formation spread out, with each player sprinting with determination, showing no signs of fatigue despite their recent Champions League match.
This version of Manchester City felt unfamiliar. They weren't playing like Manchester City but rather like their neighbors, Manchester United—a Manchester United from several years ago.
Hull City was bewildered. What was going on?
Weren't they the ones with a numerical advantage?
Why did it feel like they were the ones playing with fewer players?
Whether in attack or defense, Manchester City players seemed to be everywhere.
With tireless running, City made up for being a man down, even gaining the numerical advantage in certain areas.
This was something Hull City's players had never expected!
In the 43rd minute, Hull City finally mounted a threatening attack.
They exploited Manchester City's focus on central defense and played a through ball down the wing, slicing through City's backline.
At the crucial moment, City's goalkeeper Joe Hart stepped up.
Risking injury, Hart threw himself at the feet of the onrushing forward to block the shot.
He got the ball, but the forward's studs caught his forehead, causing blood to stream down his face.
Hart, showing incredible toughness, stood on the field while the medical team treated his wound, not even flinching.
Afterward, Manchester City's assistant coach asked Hart if he wanted to be substituted to rest.
Hart refused, changing his bloodstained jersey and choosing to stay on the field.
Seeing Hart with his forehead wrapped in white bandages, Hull City's players couldn't help but feel a mix of respect and fear.
Meanwhile, Hart's bravery only further inspired his teammates, who became even more determined.
In the second half, Manchester City played even more ferociously.
Lin scored twice more, in the 56th and 69th minutes, completing his hat trick early on.
David Silva added a goal in the 84th minute, extending the lead to 5-0.
But that wasn't the end. In the 90th minute, Agüero scored on a rebound, meaning all three of Manchester City's forwards had found the net.
The match ended with Manchester City securing a 6-0 victory away at Hull City.
Before the match, this scoreline wouldn't have surprised many. After all, Manchester City's attacking firepower was well-known throughout the Premier League.
But to achieve this score after being reduced to 10 men and having their captain and coach sent off was truly astonishing.
This round of Premier League matches saw referees come under intense scrutiny.
Not only did Manchester City suffer from questionable decisions, but Chelsea and Manchester United were also hit by controversial calls.
Playing away against Aston Villa, the team that had received the most cards in the league, Chelsea saw their opponents receive four yellow cards in the first half alone.
With that rate of card collection, Chelsea's players expected Aston Villa to have at least one player sent off in the second half.
However, while the referee did issue red cards, they were to Chelsea players, not Aston Villa.
In the 67th and 90th minutes, Chelsea received two red cards, with Willian and Ramires being sent off.
With two men down, Chelsea lost 1-0 away at Aston Villa.
In their crucial battle with Manchester City for the title, Chelsea stumbled!
If Chelsea's two red cards, both second yellows, weren't too extreme, then Manchester United, who were awarded three penalties and lost 3-0 at home to Liverpool, certainly had reason to complain.
This match, held at Old Trafford, was crucial for both United and Liverpool.
If United wanted to qualify for European competitions next season, they needed to win this match.
However, during the match, United conceded three penalties, and their captain, Nemanja Vidić, was sent off with a red card.
Playing at home, United not only failed to gain any home advantage but also found themselves in a nightmare due to the referee's decisions.
The deafening boos at Old Trafford and Moyes' helpless figure in the dugout perfectly captured the state of Manchester United this season.
After the match, several clubs quickly lodged protests with the FA, expressing their outrage over the series of controversial decisions by referees during this round.
The sheer number of contentious decisions, all concentrated in one round, led to suspicions of match manipulation, with conspiracy theories about the FA controlling the results.
Given the number of clubs protesting and the widespread impact of the conspiracy theories, the FA had no choice but to step in, announcing an investigation into the refereeing decisions in the previous round.
During the investigation, Lee Mason and the other referees involved in the controversies would be temporarily suspended from officiating Premier League matches.
For Manchester City, this outcome was acceptable. As the season approached its end, their biggest fear was encountering biased referees in their crucial title-deciding matches.
Among the so-called "Big Four Blind Mice" of Premier League referees—Mark Clattenburg, Mike Dean, Martin Atkinson, and Michael Oliver—their decisions often seemed bizarre in the Premier League.
Yet, on the European and international stages, their refereeing quality improved significantly, even earning them the title of world-class referees.
This discrepancy highlighted that it wasn't a lack of skill but rather the murky waters of Premier League officiating.
But it wasn't all bad news for Manchester City.
With Chelsea's unexpected loss, City, having played one game fewer, extended their lead to eight points.
With eight matches remaining, an eight-point lead was already significant, and Manchester City still had a game in hand.
If they won their rescheduled match against Aston Villa, their lead would increase to 11 points.
As a result, after round 30, the Premier League title race seemed all but over.
The general consensus was that Manchester City would win this season's Premier League title, with the only remaining question being how many games in advance they would secure the championship.
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