Soccer: I have the attributes of Messi in his Prime
Author: Johanssen10
Date: 2024-09-27T13:18:33.510000+00:00

Chapter 257: Champions League Draw, Facing Real Madrid in the Semifinals!

As the whistle blew, the Etihad Stadium erupted with Manchester City fans.

"We won!"

"We're going to the semifinals!"

Manchester City fans were ecstatic, witnessing history at their home ground.

But the Barcelona fans, who had traveled a long way, were shedding tears of regret.

If we had beaten Manchester City at home, we might have been the ones advancing!

On the field, Messi stood with his hands on his hips, staring at the bright red numbers on the scoreboard, unmoving for a long time.

Barcelona had lost, once again falling in the Champions League.

Last time it was in the semifinals, this time in the quarterfinals.

Their performance was getting worse each year.

Thinking about this, Messi sighed and looked towards the other half of the field.

Over there, the excited Manchester City players were tossing their hero, Lin Quan, into the air, celebrating wildly.

Iniesta walked up to Messi, patted his shoulder, and comforted him:

"Leo, don't be sad, we'll come back next year!"

Messi nodded but couldn't help doubting in his heart.

Barcelona's squad was aging year by year, and with Xavi likely retiring next season, the team's strength would decline further.

Will we really come back next year?

For the first time, Messi doubted the future.

Last game, Xavi had pre-ordered Lin Quan's jersey early, but this time, after the match, Fabregas was the first to find him, asking to swap jerseys.

"Lin, congratulations!"

Fabregas took off his jersey, handing it to Lin Quan while chatting with him.

To be honest, Fabregas felt a bit envious of Lin Quan.

During the winter break, there were rumors linking him to Manchester City.

But the transfer didn't happen, and Manchester City brought in De Bruyne and Kroos instead.

If the deal had gone through, Fabregas might have been part of Manchester City's celebration team now!

Unfortunately, there's no "if"!

"Thank you, and I hope you win the league!"

Lin Quan quickly took off his jersey and exchanged it with Fabregas, also sending his best wishes.

"Heh, thanks!"

Fabregas forced a smile at Lin Quan's good wishes.

With Barcelona's current form, he was pessimistic about winning the league.

In the last round, they would face Atletico Madrid at home, and with Atletico's form this season, Barcelona had no guarantee of beating them.

Simeone's team's high pressing and iron defense were a tough match for Barcelona. Under the pressure of falling behind, they would have to go all out on the attack at home.

But their attack might play right into Atletico's hands.

So, if they couldn't reverse the score before the final round, from trailing Atletico to leading them, then in the last round, Barcelona would lose the title if they didn't win.

Fabregas had experienced such pressure several times at Arsenal.

...

Manchester City's owner, Mansour, also attended the match.

Watching his team eliminate Barcelona and make history by reaching the semifinals, Mansour felt very happy.

Having invested so much money in the team, he finally saw some returns today.

On such a happy day, he decided to share his joy.

So, he had his assistant bring over several pre-prepared suitcases.

These suitcases were filled with cash, totaling 5 million pounds!

He planned to give this money as a bonus to the team for reaching the semifinals!

When Manchester City's players finished celebrating and returned to the locker room, they saw the pile of cash stacked like a small mountain.

"Wow! So much money!"

"Did someone rob a bank? Where did all this money come from?"

"Hey, if I sneak some, no one will notice, right?"

Negredo pretended to sneak some money, facing the crowd while trying to take some behind his back.

"There are no cameras here, so as long as you can fool these dozen pairs of eyes, take as much as you want!"

Kolarov and others stared at him, making Negredo feel uneasy.

"Just kidding, just kidding, I'm such an honest and friendly person, how could I do such a thing?"

Negredo awkwardly put the money back, annoyed that he was wearing a jersey.

Who designed these damn jerseys with no pockets to hide money in?

Seeing Negredo's antics, vice-captain Zabaleta tapped his head and laughed:

"With our owner's style, this should be our bonus, right?"

Zabaleta had been with Manchester City for six years, joining when the Middle Eastern consortium took over.

So he was familiar with the generous ways of their owner.

Bringing out so much money at once could only be the boss.

"Bonus? Hehe, does that mean we can split it now?"

Hearing it was a bonus, the players' eyes lit up.

"You say that, I'm not sleepy anymore, ha!"

Just then, Pellegrini walked in.

"How about we distribute the bonus based on the contributions each player made in these two games?" he suggested.

Everyone looked at him and noticed the club chairman, Fahim, standing beside him. Clearly, this arrangement was his idea.

Everyone nodded in agreement. More work, more reward—everyone understood this simple principle.

So, Pellegrini distributed the money based on playing time, goals, assists, and performances in attack and defense. The main players like Lin Quan got the first tier, which was 300,000 pounds. Those who played but didn't start received the second tier, 100,000 pounds. Finally, those who didn't play at all each got 50,000 pounds. The coaching staff shared the remaining 1 million pounds. This way, the 5 million pounds were evenly distributed.

After receiving their shares, everyone was in high spirits. They wished for such good fortune in every match, thinking that just the bonuses could almost match their annual salaries! Of course, for someone like Lin Quan, whose annual salary was 20 million pounds, these bonuses were still relatively small.

"Alright, now that you've got your money, go home and rest. We have a match at Anfield the day after tomorrow. I don't want to see any scandals about you in tomorrow's headlines!" Pellegrini advised before leaving the locker room.

The Manchester City players were obedient; they hadn't won the league title yet, so they couldn't relax. At least not until they defeated Liverpool away.

After quickly showering and changing in the locker room, Lin Quan drove home. On the way, he checked the score of another match. Manchester United had been beaten 3-1 by Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena, losing 4-2 on aggregate and being knocked out.

Bayern had shown strong dominance in that game, taking a 2-0 lead in the first half and extending it with another goal from Robben in the second half. Guardiola then substituted key players like Robben and Ribery after the 75th minute, seemingly underestimating Manchester United. United, feeling insulted, launched a counterattack and scored in the 85th minute but couldn't turn the game around.

This defeat marked another failure for United this season. They were out of the Champions League at the quarterfinals, ranked 7th in the league, seven points behind 4th place Arsenal, and unlikely to qualify for next season's Champions League. They had also been eliminated early in both the League Cup and FA Cup, leaving them with nothing to show for the season.

The dismal results frustrated both fans and the club, with rumors suggesting that Moyes' departure from Old Trafford was imminent. But who would replace him? Whether they admitted it or not, Ferguson's departure marked the end of an era for United. Could any coach lead them to success? Lin Quan doubted it, knowing that, in another timeline, United struggled for a decade without clear improvement...

After Manchester City's home and away wins against Barcelona, the football world was stunned! The internet, TV stations, and newspapers were buzzing.

"Did the mighty Barca just fall?"

"City is amazing, defeating Barcelona twice! Incredible!"

"Before the game, everyone was praising Barca's pedigree and dismissing City, but look who's laughing now?"

"Who would have thought a team that had never reached the Champions League knockout stage could beat Barca, with Messi no less!"

"But City has Lin Quan, who scored three goals in the two matches, more than Messi!"

"To be fair, Lin Quan outperformed Messi in these games!"

"Messi seemed off. He only ran 6000 meters in the whole match—too little, right?"

"Yes, modern players usually cover at least 9000 meters if they play the full game."

"Maybe Messi doesn't have defensive duties, so he runs less?"

"Or maybe his stamina is lacking? He seemed to walk a lot on the field."

"How much did Lin Quan run? He was sprinting all over!"

"13,000 meters, I think!"

"13,000 meters? That's insane! Almost double Messi's!"

"He's even more tireless than Park Ji-sung!"

Before the matches, everyone favored the traditional powerhouse Barca, but City proved them wrong by defeating Barca convincingly. The media, initially dismissive, now praised City.

The Guardian: "City's win over Barca wasn't an upset. They seized their opportunities and won the game. We are witnessing the birth of a great team!"

The Times: "Full of ambition, courage, and hunger, City deserved their victory. Congratulations to them!"

BBC: "Barca played painfully. Without the help of the post, they would've been demolished in the first half. City's win is a triumph of strength and tactics. They might have shown a way to counter Barca's tiki-taka style."

Mundo Deportivo: "Defeat is always bitter, but Barca's season isn't over yet. They have five more league matches. Hopefully, they can recover from this and defend their title!"

Sport: "Barca wasted too many chances at the Etihad. If they had a super striker to support Messi, the result might have been different!"

Before the match, Martino had publicly stated that if Barca lost, he would resign. So after the game, many journalists pressed him on this. Martino had hoped to silence critics with a victory but ended up being their target. Embarrassed and frustrated, he left the press conference early. The next day, the media criticized him harshly, calling him conservative, arrogant, and incompetent.

The media had a point; Martino's tactics, player choices, and in-game adjustments were subpar. Although his contract with Barca hadn't expired, it seemed likely he would leave if Barca lost the league title. The only question was whether he would resign or be fired with compensation.

After City's match against Barca, the other Champions League quarterfinal matches were played. Real Madrid comfortably beat Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 at home, advancing to the semifinals.

In that game, Real Madrid showcased the power of their expensive signings. Bale, in particular, was unstoppable, causing PSG players much distress with his speed. Bale scored in the third minute, putting PSG on the back foot immediately. PSG needed at least two goals to advance!

Under Ibrahimović's leadership, Paris Saint-Germain launched a strong counterattack, attempting to defy fate.

However, Cristiano Ronaldo's goal in the 57th minute completely dashed their hopes of advancing!

In the end, at the Bernabéu, PSG, despite their efforts, fell short in the journey to the semifinals against the mighty Real Madrid.

In another match, Atlético Madrid, playing at home, displayed an extremely tenacious style.

They used stubborn defense and aggressive pressing to limit Borussia Dortmund's attacks. In the second half, they seized an opportunity on the counterattack, with Diego Costa scoring a goal.

This was the only goal in the two-legged tie between the two teams.

But with this priceless goal, Atlético Madrid successfully advanced to the semifinals.

After the match, Simeone's ironclad defense shook all of Europe.

Across Europe, there are few teams capable of stopping Dortmund's attacks, and even top teams like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona may not be able to do so.

Yet Atlético Madrid managed to keep their opponents scoreless over two legs, astonishing everyone with their defensive ability.

No wonder Atlético Madrid can lead La Liga and seize the opportunity to win against the two top giants, Real Madrid and Barcelona. Their strength is indeed remarkable!

After this match, Simeone and his coaching at Atlético Madrid gained a huge reputation in Europe, propelling Atlético into the ranks of top teams.

Of course, compared to Manchester City eliminating Barcelona, Simeone and Atlético's popularity is still somewhat less.

After the match on April 11, the draw for the UEFA Champions League semifinals quickly commenced.

After finishing their training that day, Manchester City manager Pellegrini gathered the players at the club to watch the draw ceremony together.

The first team drawn was Bayern Munich, who would face Atlético Madrid.

Bayern's manager Hoeness, present at the scene, breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the draw, apparently satisfied with the result.

It's not surprising he felt this way; the current strength shown by Real Madrid has amazed all of Europe, and no one wants to face them prematurely.

Naturally, Bayern didn't want to stir up this hornet's nest either!

As for Manchester City, they had previously encountered Bayern in the group stage.

Bayern had a draw and a loss in the two-legged contest, gaining no advantage at all.

Although Bayern's strength may not necessarily be inferior to Manchester City's, they didn't want to meet them again.

Therefore, among the three opponents, Atlético Madrid was the most suitable opponent for them.

After Atlético Madrid and Bayern Munich were drawn to face each other, the remaining two teams were naturally paired together.

Manchester City would face the powerful Real Madrid in the semifinals, with the disadvantage of playing away in the first leg, making the schedule very unfavorable for them.

Seeing this draw result, Manchester City chairman Al Mubarak's smile at the scene froze somewhat.

On the other hand, Real Madrid president Florentino's expression also didn't look too good.

What's UEFA playing at?

They've drawn us against Manchester City just because of some rumors that circulated?

But this result isn't bad. Among the three opponents, Manchester City might be the most suitable for Real Madrid.

They least wanted to encounter Atlético Madrid, followed by Bayern Munich.

This season, Real Madrid faced Atlético Madrid twice, with one draw and one loss, the loss being at their own home ground.

Simeone's Atlético Madrid is like a tough stone in a dung heap, tough and difficult to beat!

Happy Children's Day everyone, wishing you all stay forever young!

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Chapter 258: This is Anfield, but it's despair for Liverpool! (Please vote for this chapter!)

"The draw makes me feel like Bayern will make it to the final again!"

"Three consecutive years in the final, who else can do that?"

"Are they underestimating Atletico Madrid?"

"I have a feeling Bayern might stumble!"

"Heh, well, I think Real Madrid might lose to Manchester City!"

Upon seeing the draw result, fans were in lively discussion.

The mainstream view is that this draw favors Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, giving them a strong chance to reach the final.

Of course, there are differing opinions; some believe Atletico Madrid and Manchester City could cause trouble for Bayern and Real Madrid.

Marca, the voice of Real Madrid, believes Real Madrid must take Manchester City seriously, especially the first leg away match.

"This season, Manchester City's home record is outstanding. They have only lost one game at home so far. It won't be easy to conquer the Etihad Stadium."

AS also acknowledges that with superstars like Sterling at Manchester City, Real Madrid must go all out; any complacency could result in heavy consequences.

However, whether it's AS or Marca, they both believe Real Madrid has a greater chance of winning if they give their all!

"As Real Madrid marches towards their 10th Champions League trophy, they will overcome all difficulties. Whoever stands in their way will be crushed by Real Madrid!"

"Never underestimate the heart of a champion!"

The UEFA Champions League semifinals will kick off on April 24th, with Manchester City hosting Real Madrid in the first leg.

This match is crucial; if they can't win at home against Real Madrid, their chances in the away leg will be bleak.

However, defeating a team with players like Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo is no small task for Manchester City.

Manchester City's club seems aware of the difficulty of reaching the final, so Al Mubarak personally stepped forward to relieve the pressure on the players and coaching staff, urging them to focus on league matches.

"This season, our established goal has already been achieved. Now, every step is about creating history. Regardless of success or failure, you are all heroes of the team."

Of course, words are just words, but dreams must still be cherished. What if they succeed?

Al Mubarak then mentioned that if Manchester City can eliminate Real Madrid and reach the final, the club will award a one-time £10 million bonus.

Upon hearing this amount, the players couldn't help but feel their breath quicken.

£10 million, more than the annual salary of most players in the team!

Forget about honor and all that; even for the money alone, they want to overturn Real Madrid!

Seeing the players' morale suddenly soar, Pellegrini couldn't help but laugh wryly.

Indeed, money moves the heart!

Not just the players, even this coach is tempted.

...

On April 12th, three days after the UEFA Champions League match, the entire Manchester City team boarded a bus and traveled dozens of kilometers to Liverpool, preparing to challenge the fallen giants - Liverpool, at Anfield!

As one of the four giants of the Premier League, Liverpool has not won the Premier League title for over 20 years.

Liverpool's last top-tier English league title was in 1989-1990, before the Premier League was restructured.

Since the restructuring of the Premier League, Liverpool has not won the title again.

Coincidentally, the period when the legendary manager Ferguson arrived at Old Trafford coincided with Liverpool's decline.

Before Ferguson came to Manchester United, Manchester United had only won 7 league titles, while Liverpool had 19.

By the time Ferguson left, Manchester United's league title count had soared to 20, surpassing Liverpool, becoming the most successful team in the history of the English top league, without question.

Ferguson fulfilled his promise, not only winning 13 Premier League titles for Manchester United but also personally kicking Liverpool off their throne.

Now, after finally forcing this old guy to retire, the Reds are showing signs of revival.

This season, their performance has been outstanding. After 33 rounds of the league, they have accumulated 74 points, 13 points higher than their final total last season!

With these points, after a four-year absence from the Champions League stage, Liverpool will finally return to the European Champions League competition next season.

Not only that, there are still 5 rounds left in the Premier League. Theoretically, Liverpool still holds hope of winning the title, although it's not very high.

But for the Reds who once created the miracle of Istanbul, how can they give up easily before the last moment?

Currently, Liverpool is 7 points behind the league leaders Manchester City. If they can win against them at home, this gap will narrow to 4 points.

After this match, with 4 rounds left to play, whether they can win the title depends on whether Manchester City continues to make mistakes or not.

Under any circumstances, they must win against Manchester City at home to keep their hopes of winning alive. Otherwise, if Manchester City wins the next match at their home ground, they will secure the title three rounds early.

Even the theoretical hope is enough to drive Liverpool fans crazy, who have been waiting for over 20 years for a league title.

Besides, even if they ultimately can't win the title, they must defeat Manchester City. After all, watching others make money is more painful than losing money oneself.

Liverpool fans are extremely "passionate". Manchester City's team bus was intercepted by them on the way to the stadium.

"Go die, Manchester people!"

"Get out of Liverpool!"

"We will make you cry at Anfield!"

If it were just verbal abuse, it wouldn't be a big deal; Manchester City has faced similar situations when playing away games elsewhere.

There are quite a few football hooligans in England; some crazy fans not only surround the visiting team's bus but also create disturbances outside their training grounds and hotels.

If it's just verbal abuse without physical confrontation, it's still manageable, but if they resort to both, it could become troublesome!

With a loud bang, someone threw something at the bus.

A half-empty bottle of mineral water hit the bus window, startling Harvey García sitting by the window.

It seems their worst fears have come true!

Seeing the faces of the Liverpool fans outside matching the color of their shirts, the Manchester City players inside the bus became serious.

These guys must have had too much fake alcohol. When these drunk fans get hot-headed, they tend to behave irrationally.

To ensure the players' safety, Manchester City's team leader immediately called the police, waiting for them to disperse these passionate fans.

Upon receiving the news, mounted police patrolling outside the stadium quickly arrived at the scene.

In every round of the Premier League matches, a large number of police officers are stationed outside the venue to maintain order.

They are very experienced in dealing with such passionate fans. With the help of mounted police, Manchester City's bus slowly moved forward and finally arrived at Anfield an hour later than scheduled.

Due to the delay, Pelligrini had no time to explain tactics. He instructed all players to warm up and get used to the pitch.

Time was tight; the players had to warm up their bodies before the match started.

As soon as Manchester City's players stepped onto the field, they were greeted with loud boos from Liverpool fans.

"To be honest, I feel irritated hearing their boos. I feel an impulse to teach them a lesson!"

The Manchester City players were overwhelmed by the Liverpool fans and were starting to get angry.

This could be both a good thing and a bad thing.

When playing away, the last thing you want is to be intimidated by the opponent's home atmosphere, leading to nervousness and poor performance.

Judging by the state of the Manchester City players, these concerns seemed unnecessary.

Of course, anger also has its downsides; it can easily cause players to lose their composure and make rash decisions.

For instance, committing unnecessary fouls in the wrong place and time, resulting in yellow or even red cards.

On the pitch, some players specialize in such tactics, using small actions in defense and trash talk to provoke opponents, making them angry and prone to mistakes.

The most serious example is Zinedine Zidane's shocking headbutt during the 2006 World Cup final, costing the French team the championship!

Provoked by Materazzi's trash talk, Zidane's irrational behavior on the field ended his career prematurely!

At Anfield, Manchester City seemed to show signs of this.

As the players completed their warm-up and returned to the locker room.

There were only about ten minutes left before the match, and Pelligrini didn't talk about tactics or anything like that.

He asked the players, "Did you see the sign on the wall facing the player's tunnel?"

The players didn't know what the head coach was going to say, but they nodded obediently.

"Good, can anyone tell me what's written on it?"

"This is Anfield!"

Someone reminded quietly, as if they really treated their coach as an old man who was tired and easily forgetful.

This sign at Anfield was left by the legendary coach Shankly and has been here for fifty years!

In the entire Premier League, and even across Europe, no player who has visited Anfield has been unaware of the existence of this sign.

"Say what, I didn't hear you!"

"This is Anfield!"

The player asked repeated loudly the previous words.

"Yes, this is Anfield!"

Pellegrini waited until the opponent repeated his words loudly and then spoke in a narrative tone:

"This is Anfield, a great stadium and the toughest fortress in the Premier League!

The owners of this stadium—Liverpool, hold 19 league titles and 5 Champions League trophies. Compared to them, we are nothing!"

Pellegrini's words left the Manchester City players feeling frustrated. Why was their coach singing praises for the opponents before the match even began?

Wasn't this undermining their own morale?

Glancing at Pellegrini, Lin Quan knew the Chilean coach wasn't trying to dampen the players' spirits with his pre-match speech.

Sure enough, seeing the players' bewildered and puzzled expressions,
the Chilean engineer smiled faintly and continued:

"But, so what? Liverpool's glory belongs to the past, while we are on the path to creating our own legend.

One day, Manchester City will also be as glorious as Liverpool, or even more!"

"Now, go out there, step onto the pitch from here, snatch victory and the championship from Liverpool. Tell them, you old guys, continue to wallow in your pride while we, Manchester City, dominate this new era!"

Pellegrini's speech greatly excited the players.

What Manchester City fans and players were most concerned about was others discussing history and heritage in front of them.

Because Manchester City lacks these things.

They are nouveau riche, or rather newly risen nouveau riche.

And what they face at Anfield is the team with the deepest history and most honors in Premier League history!

Such a huge gap would normally easily make the Manchester City players feel inferior.

But now, there's no sense of inferiority; all there is, is a strong desire to defeat Liverpool, a desire to trample this football powerhouse underfoot!

...

Entering the player tunnel, Liverpool's players curiously sized up their opponents, seemingly expecting to see signs of fear and unease typical of rural bumpkins arriving at Anfield.

However, they did not see what they expected.

Manchester City's players showed no signs of fear or nervousness; each one looked eager and ready to go.

It seemed they couldn't wait to start the match!

Hmph, just putting on airs!

Wait until the match starts at Anfield, and then you'll see the true strength of Liverpool!

At exactly 7:00, with the referee's whistle, the match between Liverpool at home and Manchester City officially began.

Even before the match started, the Red Army fans in the stands had already started singing loudly.

They were singing the famous "You'll Never Walk Alone."

Fueled by tens of thousands of fans at the scene, Liverpool launched a fierce attack on Manchester City, trying to swiftly overwhelm their opponents with offense.

Coutinho, Sterling, Suarez, Skrtel, and other Liverpool players were extremely active in attack, drawing applause and cheers from the home fans.

However, their opponents did not seem intimidated by their onslaught.

Since the beginning of the game, Manchester City had shown a proactive approach.

Boldly, they engaged Liverpool in attack even at their home ground. Lin Quan, Aguero, David Silva, Navas, and others repeatedly threatened Liverpool's goal.

Both teams engaged in a back-and-forth battle at Anfield!

Seeing their opponents so bold, Liverpool fans were stunned.

Teams visiting Anfield rarely dare to attack Liverpool head-on.

Manchester City is indeed too arrogant!

They sang even louder, eager to lend all their strength to the players on the field, hoping to crush the opposing team mercilessly!

The pace of the game was very fast; in the first 15 minutes of the first half, both teams had already taken a total of 10 shots, averaging one shot every ninety seconds.

Such intense attacks meant that goals in this match were sure to come.

Sure enough, in the 16th minute of the first half, the first goal arrived.

Liverpool's forward Sterling received Suarez's pass, dribbled past Demichelis in the penalty area, and shot into the near corner, opening the scoring.

Liverpool 1-0 temporarily took the lead!

Sterling's goal ignited the atmosphere at Anfield; Liverpool fans began celebrating wildly, as if they had already won the match.

However, just a minute later, Manchester City equalized.

After a wall pass between David Silva and Lin Quan, the latter dribbled into the right side of the penalty area, crossed the ball in front of the onrushing goalkeeper, assisting Aguero's tap-in goal. Manchester City quickly leveled the score!

The score became 1-1!

"Damn it, these damn people from Manchester, why can't they just die quietly?"

Liverpool fans were very angry; they had just started celebrating, and many hadn't even finished when the opponent scored.

This made them feel as uncomfortable as if they had swallowed a fly!

However, what made them even more uncomfortable was yet to come.

In the 27th minute, Kroos took a corner kick. Yaya Touré at the near post headed the ball, hitting the post. In the ensuing scramble in front of the goal, Lin Quan alertly followed up and kicked the ball into Liverpool's net once again.

Manchester City completed a turnaround away from home, temporarily leading Liverpool 2-1.

Lin Quan's goal silenced the singing at Anfield temporarily; Liverpool fans seemed to forget to sing, each of them staring blankly at their own goal.

Are they behind?

Not only did they withstand Liverpool's attacks, but they also took the lead in the counterattack?

This instantly gave Liverpool's fans an uneasy feeling!

After finally wearing down Manchester United, Liverpool's performance this season had seen significant improvement. Many Reds fans felt this was a sign that their team was about to rise again.

However, these two goals by Manchester City within ten minutes were like buckets of cold water pouring over them, instantly waking them up!

Now they were facing the Premier League leaders, not some pushover!

After a brief silence, the Reds fans once again sang their anthem in unison:

"Through the wind! Through the rain! Let the world mock your dreams! Keep moving forward! You'll never walk alone!"

...

Under the singing of the fans at the scene, Liverpool's players were all fired up, launching attack after attack on Manchester City's goal like madmen.

Finally, in the 37th minute, Liverpool scored another goal.

Skrtel received Gerrard's cross and, at the near post, shook off Lescott to head the ball into the net.

2-2!

Liverpool stubbornly equalized!

The Reds' fans were excited once again, celebrating wildly.

It seemed that equalizing the score was also something worth celebrating!

However, Manchester City was like an indomitable cockroach, relentlessly chilling.

In the 43rd minute, De Bruyne delivered a deadly through pass. Lin Quan successfully beat the offside trap, faced the onrushing goalkeeper, easily dribbled past him, and shot into the empty net, completing his brace.

3-2, Manchester City once again took the lead.

Liverpool's fans were despairing!

Why was the opponent so tenacious!

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Chapter 259: Hat-trick, Kingly Celebration—Who is the Real King of Anfield?

Liverpool fans sighed, and Manchester City fans also felt emotional.

Anfield is indeed impressive, as expected from a prestigious club.

There is probably no other team in the entire Premier League that can compete so closely with Manchester City in an attacking match like Liverpool!

At the end of the first half, with a one-goal lead, Manchester City returned to the locker room.

Before leaving, Lin Quan specially glanced at the Liverpool fans at Anfield.

After singing for half an hour, the Reds fans seemed tired.

Compared to the beginning of the game, Anfield had quieted down a lot! Yes! This is good! In the home team's locker room, Liverpool's coach Rodgers was passionately motivating his players.

In fact, there was no need for many words; just saying "This is Anfield" could instantly ignite the fighting spirit of Liverpool players.

Especially for Liverpool captain Gerrard, who valued Liverpool's honor and dignity above all else.

Meanwhile, in the away team's locker room, Pellegrini was also giving his final pep talk.

"Lin, how does it feel to play at Anfield?"

"Awesome!"

"Want to score another to complete a hat-trick?"

"Of course!"

Pellegrini was very satisfied with Lin Quan's answer, then turned to Aguero.

"Aguero, how does it feel to silence Liverpool fans with a goal?"

Aguero straightened his chest and proudly said, "Very good!"

"Haha, then score another one to shut them up forever!"

"Hehe, with pleasure!"

Pellegrini talked to each player individually, boosting their morale in different ways.

When they came out of the locker room, the fighting spirit of the Manchester City players was like the blazing sun, too dazzling to look at.

On the other side, the Liverpool players seemed to be burning with the flames of revenge, boiling hot.

Clearly, both teams would continue their offensive tactics in the second half; neither would retreat a step!

In the stands, Arsenal's coach Wenger was present to closely watch this top-of-the-table clash.

His team was about to face Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final, the third encounter of the season between the two teams.

Arsenal had one draw and one loss in the previous two matches, and their draw was against Manchester City's reserve lineup, which was not very telling.

Therefore, Wenger planned to observe Manchester City's current form in person, to see if they had any signs of decline due to the intense schedule.

It wouldn't make sense if only Arsenal crumbled at the end of every season while other teams didn't!

This season, Manchester City had no fewer matches than Arsenal, and their schedule had been more packed recently, which gave Wenger some hope.

The league title was out of Arsenal's reach this season, but winning the FA Cup would still be nice.

The FA Cup was not as prestigious as the league, but it was much more important than the League Cup.

Arsenal hadn't won a trophy in ten years!

Unlike Liverpool's twenty-year league drought, Arsenal's ten-year drought was a complete trophy drought.

Liverpool hadn't won the league, but they had a Champions League trophy, four League Cups, and three FA Cups.

In contrast, Arsenal had no titles in the league, Champions League, FA Cup, or even the League Cup.

Arsenal couldn't remain titleless forever; if this continued, the team spirit would disintegrate.

So, no matter what, they had to win this season's FA Cup.

"Fight, fight Liverpool to the death!"

Arsenal couldn't compete for the title, so the outcome of this match didn't matter to them.

Wenger's only hope was that Manchester City would exhaust themselves against Liverpool, increasing Arsenal's chances in the FA Cup semi-final in a few days.

As if hearing Wenger's wish, Manchester City and Liverpool played a thrilling second half.

In the 55th minute, Liverpool took advantage of a Manchester City defensive error, with Coutinho scoring again to level the score.

The score was now 3-3!

Manchester City quickly responded!

In the 61st minute, De Bruyne scored directly from a free kick, changing the score to 4-3!

In the 67th minute, Lin Quan's long-range shot succeeded, completing his hat-trick and changing the score to 5-3, extending Manchester City's lead to two goals.

After the goal, Lin Quan repeated the gesture he made at Old Trafford—raising his collar and looking around the stadium, asking Anfield, "Who is the real king?"

This arrogant gesture made the Reds fans boo him loudly! This guy was too arrogant, trying to claim kingship at Anfield! But their boos were powerless in the face of Lin Quan's hat-trick.

Booing couldn't kill an opponent, but goals could!

Compared to the angry Liverpool fans, Manchester City fans were ecstatic.

"King Lin is so domineering!"

"Haha, I love King Lin's hat-trick celebration!"

"Let's name King Lin's celebration move!"

"How about 'King Celebration'?"

"Doesn't sound good, Ronaldo's is called 'SIU', King Lin's should just be 'King'!"

"Why is it called 'King Celebration'? What's the story behind it?"

"Because Cantona used this celebration, and Cantona's nickname was 'The King'!"

"Haha, Cantona probably never imagined that King Lin would not only use his celebration but also do it against Manchester United!"

"Cantona mentioned this in an interview; he said he wanted to have a good talk with King Lin!"

"Haha, talk about what? Royalties?"

"By the way, did you notice? King Lin seems to use this celebration only after a hat-trick against top teams!"

"It seems so. King Lin has several hat-tricks in the Premier League this season, but apart from the one against Manchester United and this one, he hasn't used such a flamboyant celebration!"

"So, this celebration is reserved for top teams?"

"Counting this Liverpool match, King Lin has now completed hat-tricks at the home grounds of two top teams!"

"Manchester United (get√), Liverpool (get√), next is Chelsea or Arsenal?"

"Gunners fans trembling!"

"Chelsea fans shaking!"

"King Lin, don't come near us!"

As a top-of-the-table clash at the end of the season, many people watched this match.

Besides the 50,000 fans at the stadium, hundreds of millions watched the game on TV and online.

Although this number wasn't as high as the 1 billion viewers for the Manchester United vs. Arsenal match in the 07-08 season, it was still a very good rating in recent Premier League seasons.

Especially for a club like Manchester City, with little history and a small global fan base, it was a rare achievement.

Of course, many of these fans were there for Lin Quan.

This included some German fans, some Spanish fans, and a large number of Chinese fans.

If Manchester City didn't have Lin Quan, this viewership would likely be cut in half.

After all, all the major leagues were nearing their end, and in terms of title race excitement, La Liga was more intense and exciting.

In the final rounds, the top three teams in La Liga were closely matched, all with a chance to win the title.

So, for fans, this season's La Liga title race was very exciting! In comparison, the Premier League lacked some excitement, as Manchester City's lead was too big.

However, for those who chose to watch this match, it was worth every penny!

In just over sixty minutes, the two teams had already scored eight goals, averaging one goal every eight minutes.

This goal-fest thrilled neutral fans!

But Liverpool and Manchester City fans watched in suspense, their emotions like a roller coaster ride.

It wasn't until Manchester City extended their lead that the Blue Moon fans felt relieved.

The 5:3 score has nearly shattered the hopes of the Liverpool fans at Anfield.

They finally managed to score a goal, only for Manchester City to respond with two goals in quick succession.

Every glimpse of hope Liverpool got was quickly extinguished by City.

Why is Manchester City so tough?

Even though their players wear blue jerseys, all the Liverpool fans can see is the shadow of the Red Devils.

The teams from Manchester just won't give up. After dealing with Manchester United, now Manchester City has risen!

It's so hard being a Liverpool fan!

Liverpool, the team known for creating miracles in Istanbul, truly has strong resilience.

Most teams, when faced with such a back-and-forth game, would probably lose their spirit and fighting will after repeatedly falling behind.

But not Liverpool!

Under Gerrard's leadership, even when they were two goals behind, they kept attacking Manchester City fiercely.

Suárez, who hadn't scored yet, was very active at this moment.

In the 72nd minute, during a clash with Manchester City defender Zabaleta, tensions exploded.

Suárez had long been annoyed with Manchester City's defenders, and in his anger, he bit Zabaleta's shoulder.

Zabaleta, who was about to return to his defensive position, suddenly felt sharp pain in his right shoulder and screamed.

The referee quickly stopped the game, showed Suárez a red card, and sent him off.

Suárez had a history of biting. Last season, he bit Chelsea's defender Ivanović and was banned for 10 matches by the FA.

The referee hadn't noticed his foul in that game, causing much controversy afterward.

Since then, referees officiating Liverpool games had an extra task: keeping an eye on Suárez to prevent him from biting anyone!

Suárez had behaved fairly well after his suspension was lifted this season, without any more serious incidents.

The referees thought he had reformed.

But now, he did it again!

This time, the referee wouldn't miss the foul or go easy on him.

Suárez was unhappy with the decision, arguing and refusing to leave the field.

Gerrard didn't know what had triggered the clash between Suárez and Zabaleta, but seeing Suárez getting a red card, he quickly ran over to calm him down.

"Luis, let it go. Forget today's unpleasantness and go rest!"

That was all he could say.

Suárez was banned for 10 games last time he bit someone; this time, the punishment would likely be heavier.

Suárez already had thoughts of leaving, and another ban would only make him more likely to go.

Gerrard had worked with many players and knew Suárez's talent. He was one of the best forwards in the world!

For Liverpool, Suárez's attacking power was irreplaceable.

If Suárez left, Liverpool's attacking power would inevitably decrease.

This meant that if they couldn't make targeted signings to strengthen the team in the summer, Liverpool's performance could decline next season.

Thinking of this, Gerrard sighed.

Liverpool's performance had finally improved this season, with hopes of winning the championship.

But then, they faced the sudden rise of Manchester City!

Even if they didn't win this season, keeping the current lineup could give them another chance next season.

However, Suárez was about to leave, making it difficult for Liverpool to win the championship again.

As Liverpool's captain for many years, Gerrard felt deep guilt and frustration for not being able to bring even one league trophy to the team.

At 34 years old, Gerrard knew he couldn't continue playing for Liverpool much longer.

Before he retired, his biggest wish was to see Liverpool lift the league trophy again.

But looking at the young faces of Manchester City's players, Gerrard shook his head.

This wish seemed impossible to fulfill.

Without Suárez, Liverpool's attacks weakened significantly, unable to change the score.

Manchester City was satisfied with the result, having scored 5 goals at Anfield, breaking Liverpool's record for the most goals conceded at home in nearly 20 years.

Since Liverpool had previously lost 0-8 to Huddersfield and 1-9 to Birmingham City at home, Manchester City couldn't set a new record for them.

Otherwise, they might have been tempted to try.

In the end, thanks to Lin Quan's hat-trick, Manchester City won the top-of-the-table clash, beating Liverpool 5-3 away.

After this game, Manchester City's lead over Liverpool extended to 10 points. But since Chelsea won their away game this round, they overtook Liverpool to reach second place.

Now, Manchester City leads second place by 9 points. With only four rounds left in the league, they just need one more home victory to basically secure the championship early.

Manchester City is getting closer to their second league title!

While Manchester City was defeating Liverpool and extending their league lead, an interesting event happened in La Liga.

After Manchester City used long-ball tactics to eliminate Barcelona in the Champions League, the BBC praised this tactic and believed it could counter Barcelona.

A La Liga team, believing the BBC's hype, decided to try Manchester City's long-ball tactic in their next match against Barcelona.

Surprisingly, they succeeded. Barcelona's players, having just been beaten by this tactic, panicked when their league opponent used the same strategy.

Their defenders and midfielders, remembering the fear of being dominated by Manchester City, played very hesitantly, neither daring to push forward nor retreat.

As a result, they were defeated 1-0 by the much weaker Granada!

In this final sprint for the title, Barcelona unexpectedly stumbled.

If everyone had lost, it wouldn't be so bad. But Real Madrid won 4-0 at home against Almería, and Atlético Madrid won 2-0 away against Getafe, both gaining crucial points.

Thus, after this round, Barcelona, originally just one point behind Atlético, found themselves 4 points behind.

Even Real Madrid, whom they had beaten in direct encounters before, surpassed them in points to reach second place.

If this point difference remains until the last game, Barcelona will face a very awkward situation:

If they draw or lose at home to Atlético, they will watch their opponent win the championship at their stadium.

But if they beat Atlético, they will hand the league title to Real Madrid, who have a significant goal difference advantage!

Either outcome is unacceptable for Barcelona.

But they had no control over the situation, as they brought it upon themselves by stumbling!

After the match, Barcelona fans, already unhappy with Martino for losing in the Champions League, completely lost patience with him.

In one year, Martino broke several of Barcelona's records:

First time in six years to drop out of the top two in the league, first time in six years to miss the Champions League semi-finals!

The foundation of the Dream Team era was almost squandered by this guy!

Thus, calls for the club to replace the coach grew louder.

After losing the fans' support, Martino's days at Barcelona were numbered.

At the end of this season, even if Martino clings to his position, Barcelona will likely fire him.

But after firing Martino, who will coach Barcelona?

Youth team coach Enrique left, should they bring him back?

Rather than bringing back Enrique, it would be better to bring back the legendary coach Guardiola.

Guardiola had been gone for only two years, and Barcelona fans already missed the glorious four seasons under him.

But Guardiola was doing well at Bayern, leading them to the Champions League semi-finals and soon the final.

Would he come back if asked at this moment?

Chapter 260: Rematch with Arsenal, Wenger's Madness!

On April 13th, at Wembley Stadium in London, the FA Cup semi-final match between Manchester City and Arsenal was taking place.

Having just played a crucial match against Liverpool the day before, Manchester City hadn't fully recovered. They were clearly at a disadvantage in this game.

Right after the quarter-finals, Manchester City requested the FA to postpone the semi-final match. However, Arsenal did not agree. They were determined to win the trophy and didn't want to give Manchester City a chance to recover.

Since Arsenal refused to postpone the FA Cup match, Manchester City then asked to postpone their league match. But the FA rejected this request as well, citing difficulties in scheduling since Manchester City's 29th-round game had already been postponed.

With negotiations failing, Manchester City had no choice but to accept the arrangement of playing two games in two days.

As a result, Pellegrini placed most of the starters from the previous match on the bench and fielded a team made up mostly of substitutes and a few main players to face Arsenal's challenge.

Although Lin Quan insisted he was fine physically, Pellegrini still put him on the bench. He didn't want to use up Lin Quan's energy too early. It would be better to let him rest a bit more and bring him on in the second half when Arsenal was tired. The impact might be even better then!

Besides, in the last match at the Emirates Stadium, Manchester City's substitutes almost defeated Arsenal. With some main players added this time, they might not need Lin Quan to win.

Playing two games in such a short period is tough, but Manchester City managed it during the Christmas fast-track league matches and succeeded.

As the league season comes to an end, Manchester City's remaining games will be fewer. They just need to endure this toughest period, and then they can rest well.

"Arsenal is determined to win this match!" said assistant coach Cousillas, worriedly looking at Arsenal's starting lineup.

Compared to Manchester City's starting lineup, Arsenal's was almost all first-team players. They had postponed their league match by three days, having prepared for at least a week for this FA Cup match.

"Wenger hasn't won a trophy in ten years, so he won't want to miss this chance!" replied Pellegrini.

The other two teams in the FA Cup semi-finals were not strong. Besides Manchester City and Arsenal, the other two were Hull City and Sheffield United.

Hull City is a mid-table Premier League team with average strength.

Sheffield United is from England's third tier—the League One.

This year, the FA Cup has seen quite a few upsets, with a League One team reaching the semi-finals. It's a rare occurrence, even for the FA Cup, which is known for its surprises.

Of course, this happened partly because the big teams faced each other early.

Manchester United was knocked out by Swansea in the first round. Chelsea was eliminated by Manchester City in February. Liverpool was ousted by Arsenal.

Thus, in the end, only Manchester City and Arsenal were the strong teams left in the semi-finals.

Now, these two teams were drawn to face each other, giving the other teams a chance.

In knockout cup competitions, a single goal can often decide the winner. So Manchester City's strategy was to defend well and look for counter-attack opportunities, aiming to score a decisive goal and send Arsenal packing.

Arsenal understood this too. Wenger chose not to start Özil but went with a combination of Cazorla and Arteta.

Arteta was strong defensively and could effectively support Cazorla, allowing the Spaniard to focus on his attacking strengths.

In this match, Wenger's tactics focused on the offense.

Arsenal's passing and movement were always dazzling, and if they could execute their plan well, scoring shouldn't be a problem.

The key issue was whether they could limit Manchester City's counter-attacks.

Wenger's gaze involuntarily fell on Manchester City's winger, Nasri, who had frightened Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last time.

Fortunately for Arsenal, Manchester City was not in top physical condition, and Lin Quan, who played the full match last time, was not starting today. Otherwise, Arsenal's defense would have had a harder time.

If they could beat Manchester City and reach the final, Arsenal would have an over 80% chance of winning against either Hull City or Sheffield United.

So, as long as they overcame Manchester City, Wenger could secure his first trophy in ten years.

"Come on, kids, step over Manchester City's bodies and take the glory that belongs to us!" Wenger silently cheered his players on.

Arsenal's players clearly understood this too. Knowing they were very close to the FA Cup trophy, they attacked Manchester City's goal repeatedly with fervor.

Ramsey, Podolski, and Cazorla had several shooting opportunities.

However, Manchester City managed to fend off their attacks repeatedly. They were playing defensively, but their defense was not weak and wouldn't be easily broken.

After consolidating their defense, Arsenal's famous passing and movement became less effective.

With too many players packed inside and outside the penalty area, it was hard for Arsenal to find enough space for their passing game.

And when it came to dealing with packed defenses, Arsenal's long-range shots and set-pieces failed to capitalize on their opportunities.

Throughout the first half, they had six long-range shots, but none were threatening.

After overcoming Barcelona, Manchester City's defense had significantly improved.

Arsenal's passing and movement were impressive but not on the same level as Barcelona's.

Barcelona excels at exploiting opponents' mistakes, whereas Arsenal is good at creating their own chances.

However, both strategies require space for passing and receiving.

Thus, parking the bus effectively limits such tactics.

Manchester City's strategy was to park the bus in this match. It might look scrappy, but no one could criticize them.

Playing two games in two days, even iron men wouldn't be able to withstand that.

Asking them to go out and attack Arsenal would leave Manchester City exhausted after half a game.

Moreover, Manchester City wasn't just sitting back. They were actively seeking opportunities.

In the first half, they launched several dangerous counter-attacks. If not for Arsenal's defenders committing fouls and taking yellow cards to stop them, Arsenal might have already conceded.

After forty-five minutes, the score remained 0-0, with neither team able to break the deadlock.

Arsenal made the first personnel change in the second half, with Wenger bringing on French striker Giroud for Podolski.

Giroud is a target man type of striker. He's tall and strong, able to hold up the ball and play it to his teammates. He's also good technically and excels at heading the ball.

Bringing him on was a good move, whether as a target man up front or for aerial duels in the box.

Since Manchester City was parking the bus, it was crucial to make the most of set-pieces.

This adjustment quickly had an effect. In the 55th minute, Arsenal won another set-piece.

Cazorla's free-kick into the box found Giroud, who outjumped Manchester City's defenders but his header lacked power, and Joe Hart easily saved it.

Giroud touched his head, dissatisfied with his effort.

But seeing he could win the aerial duels boosted his teammates' confidence, and the following free-kicks and corners targeted him.

This alerted Manchester City, but unfortunately, they had only one tall defender, Lescott, while Arsenal had two tall players: 6'6" Mertesacker and 6'4" Giroud.

During the game, both players rushed into Manchester City's penalty area, leaving Lescott with no choice but to mark the most threatening player.

A few minutes later, Arsenal won another corner.

Cazorla took the corner kick, and Giroud made a great header. Seeing the header, Joe Hart instinctively raised his arm and managed to block the ball during its flight.

Both Joe Hart and Giroud were stunned. Headers are hard to save due to their close distance and high speed, leaving little reaction time for the goalkeeper.

Giroud was amazed by Joe Hart's timely reaction and his ability to save the shot. Hart, on the other hand, felt lucky since he merely raised his arm out of instinct, relying entirely on luck this time.

Seeing Giroud's active performance, Lescott abandoned marking Mertesacker and focused on Giroud. Manchester City's defenders also used some sneaky moves to disrupt Giroud's shots.

This strategy temporarily alleviated the crisis, but Arsenal struggled to find the net again.

Giroud, however, adapted quickly. In the 76th minute, Arsenal had another corner. Giroud once again outjumped Lescott and headed the ball.

Lescott discreetly pulled him during the jump, preventing a strong header. In mid-air, Giroud spotted Ramsey in an open area near the penalty box and passed the ball to him without hesitation.

This unexpected pass caught Manchester City's players off guard. The nearest Manchester City player rushed towards Ramsey, but Ramsey acted faster. He looked at the goalkeeper's position and immediately took a shot.

The ball aimed at the top left corner, and Joe Hart, who had been drawn towards the right side by Giroud, couldn't reach it in time.

With a swish, the ball flew into Manchester City's net, witnessed by tens of thousands of fans at Wembley Stadium.

Arsenal finally scored after a relentless attack!

A massive cheer erupted from the Arsenal fans at Wembley, who were now in a state of excitement and frenzy.

Arsenal was in the lead!

Well done, Ramsey!

On the field, Ramsey ecstatically removed his shirt and ran wildly around the pitch. His teammates chased him down, tackled him to the ground, and celebrated intensely.

This goal was crucial, as Arsenal's players were growing anxious from their prolonged inability to score. If they hadn't scored, their mindset might have deteriorated, potentially leading to a last-minute collapse.

At this critical moment, Ramsey stepped up, stabilizing the team and pulling Arsenal back from the brink of collapse with his goal.

"Well done, Aaron!" Arteta said excitedly, ruffling Ramsey's hair.

"It was Giroud's pass that made it possible!" Ramsey didn't forget his teammate who assisted him. Without Giroud spotting his run, Ramsey wouldn't have had the chance to shoot.

"Hehe, I saw your run, so I passed it. I didn't expect you to score! I should have passed to you earlier!" Giroud was also thrilled. Although he didn't score, providing an assist and helping the team win was just as rewarding.

On the sidelines, Wenger went wild after seeing Ramsey's goal. He clenched his fists, shaking with excitement, his face contorted with joy. The typically composed professor had lost his calm demeanor.

Wenger had waited for this moment for ten long years, understanding more than anyone what this goal meant.

Just then, out of the corner of his eye, Wenger noticed Manchester City's number ten preparing to enter the game.

Lin Quan quietly walked to his goal, patted Joe Hart on the shoulder to console him, retrieved the ball from the net, and carried it to the center circle.

Placing the ball on the kick-off point, Lin Quan looked at the jubilant Arsenal fans with a calm expression, showing no signs of frustration or impatience.

Lin Quan's appearance made Wenger's heart skip a beat. No, the match wasn't over yet. They couldn't afford to be careless!

Arsenal had failed at crucial moments too many times, making even Wenger a bit nervous.

Wenger quickly adjusted his tactics, instructing his players to fall back and defend.

Continuing to attack was too risky at this point. With Lin Quan on the field, Manchester City would undoubtedly intensify their offense.

If Arsenal kept pressing forward, their defense would be too vulnerable, giving Manchester City opportunities.

But if they focused on defense, with Arsenal's strength, holding out for the final ten minutes shouldn't be difficult.

However, could they really stop Lin Quan when he went all out?

With this in mind, Wenger called Gibbs from the bench to warm up, preparing to add another defender to strengthen the defense.

If quality wasn't enough, they would rely on quantity. Five defenders should suffice, right?

Chapter 261: Scoring from an Impossible Angle, Helping Arsenal Break a Ten-Year Trophy Drought!

Wenger's guess was right—Manchester City's counterattack was quick and fierce!

In the 78th minute, Lin Quan and Nasri played a one-two on the wing, bypassing the defender. Nasri carried the ball to the byline, but his cross to the front of the goal was a bit too close to the goalkeeper, who came out and cleared it.

Two minutes later, Manchester City attacked again. Lin Quan's long shot from the edge of the penalty area was barely tipped out for a corner by the goalkeeper. Lin Quan took the corner himself.

He ran to the corner flag, surveyed the positioning of both teams' players and the goalkeeper, and signaled to his teammates to aim for the far post. Seeing this, Manchester City's players rushed to the far post, and Arsenal's players followed suit.

However, unexpectedly, it was a tactical corner. Lin Quan saw the players crowding the far post and immediately passed the ball to Javi García on the right side of the penalty area. García then sent a straight pass to Lin Quan, who had rushed over from the corner flag.

Lin Quan took the ball into the box. Arsenal's goalkeeper, Fabiański, immediately charged out, arms spread and body low, trying to block Lin Quan's shooting angle. Most of the players had moved to the far post, leaving the right side of the box relatively open. If Fabiański didn't charge out, Lin Quan would have had time to adjust and shoot.

Fabiański's decision was quick and decisive. If he had been a moment slower, Lin Quan would have already shot. As it was, Lin Quan's shooting angle was very tight. Rather than forcing a shot, Lin Quan calmly passed to a teammate.

Unfortunately, Javi García reacted a split second too late. By the time he received the ball, Arsenal's defenders had recovered and blocked his shooting angle. When García's shot hit a defender's leg and bounced out for another corner, Lin Quan sighed. If De Bruyne or David Silva had been there, this would have been a goal.

On the sideline, Pellegrini noticed the issue and quickly called over De Bruyne, who had finished warming up. After giving him some instructions, he sent him onto the field.

Lin Quan returned to the corner flag with the ball. He waited for De Bruyne to come on before signaling for a tactical play again. Seeing the signal to aim for the far post, Manchester City's players rushed to the far post once more. Having been fooled once, Arsenal's players didn't move this time, except for Mertesacker, who kept marking Lescott.

Unexpectedly, Lin Quan did send the ball to the far post. Lescott jumped first, using his position to head the ball before Mertesacker could. Despite being seven centimeters shorter, Lescott's positioning allowed him to reach the ball first.

With a loud bang, the ball flew towards the goal. Fabiański leaped, but it was too late. He could only watch as the ball hit the net. Manchester City equalized in the 83rd minute!

Lescott ran to the sideline, raising his arms and seeking applause from the Manchester City fans, who went wild with excitement. Arsenal's goal in the 76th minute had filled them with dread, but now the game was level again!

"Looks like you don't need me after all," said De Bruyne, who had just come on and hadn't even touched the ball yet. The team had equalized, lightening his mood considerably.

"But we still need another goal to win!" Lin Quan glanced at Arsenal's goal, clearly dissatisfied with the 1-1 score.

"Have you got an idea?" De Bruyne asked, knowing Lin Quan well enough to recognize that he had something planned.

"Yes, here's what I think…" Lin Quan explained his plan.

"Will it really work?" De Bruyne asked doubtfully.

"We'll find out. Just cover me!" Lin Quan replied.

"Alright, I'll go along with you," De Bruyne agreed, trusting Lin Quan's instincts.

Manchester City, knowing the importance of time, quickly ended their celebration and prepared to strengthen their attack, hoping to finish the match before extra time or a penalty shootout.

Arsenal's morale took a hit with Manchester City's equalizer, and the players began to doubt themselves. Despite deploying five defenders, they still couldn't stop the opponent's attack. They had worked hard for most of the game to score just one goal, only to have Manchester City equalize easily from a corner.

On the bench, Wenger felt dejected. Was a trophyless fate really his destiny? But there was still hope. Drag the game into extra time, where Manchester City's stamina issues might become apparent, and Arsenal would have another chance.

With this in mind, Wenger instructed his players to stick to the defensive strategy and hold the 1-1 scoreline until the end of regular time. This tactic was somewhat conservative, and had Arsenal decided to go all out and attack, the game could have gone either way, given Manchester City's midfield fatigue.

However, at this critical moment, Arsenal hesitated, ceding midfield control and allowing Manchester City to organize their attacks from the center. Pellegrini shook his head at Wenger's conservative substitution strategy. If Wenger had substituted a defensive midfielder instead of a defender, Manchester City might have been in trouble.

But looking at Arsenal's bench, Pellegrini understood Wenger's dilemma. Özil, Eisfeld, and Källström were not suited for defensive duties. Adding them might have worsened the situation.

With De Bruyne on the field, Manchester City's attacks became more threatening. De Bruyne's creative passes were hard for Arsenal to defend against. His understanding with Lin Quan allowed them to connect seamlessly, always finding each other in the right places. Arsenal's defenders were always a step behind, often resorting to fouls.

In the 84th minute, Monreal received a yellow card for pulling Lin Quan. Two minutes later, Arteta was booked for tripping De Bruyne. In the 89th minute, Sagna also received a yellow card during a defensive play.

As time ticked away, Arsenal defended against wave after wave of Manchester City's attacks with a heroic effort. Their persistence paid off as the regular time ended, and the match entered injury time.

The referee added three minutes of injury time. If Arsenal could hold on for these last three minutes, the match would go into extra time. Maybe then, the coach could make a miraculous substitution and lead the team to victory! With this hope in mind, the players hung on tenaciously.

However, Manchester City had no intention of letting them drag the match out any further.

In the 91st minute, De Bruyne delivered a precise through pass that pierced Arsenal's defense. Lin Quan made a reverse run to shake off his marker and received De Bruyne's pass on the right side of the penalty area. The pass from De Bruyne was perfect, and Lin Quan's shot was high-quality as well.

But Fabiański, as if inspired, made a miraculous save, barely deflecting Lin Quan's powerful shot. After making the save, Fabiański stood up excitedly and roared at Lin Quan.

Lin Quan, however, wasn't angry. Instead, he gave Fabiański a thumbs up. The goalkeeper's save was indeed impressive, and Lin Quan acknowledged it. Still, he thought, such miraculous saves were rare and hard to replicate.

"Give me ten more chances, and I can make ten shots like that. Can you make ten saves like that?" Lin Quan wondered.

Fabiański, surprised by Lin Quan's good-natured response, returned the thumbs up, praising Lin Quan for his good shot. His attempt to intimidate Lin Quan had backfired, making him feel a bit guilty for acting so arrogant.

Arsenal's players, meanwhile, rushed to embrace Fabiański, thanking him for his brilliant save. If not for him, they would have lost for sure!

"Stay focused! Only a minute left! Hang in there!" Captain Arteta shouted, clapping his hands and encouraging his teammates.

Lin Quan, holding the ball, walked back to the corner flag. Arsenal's players felt a pang of anxiety seeing him there again. This was his third corner kick of the match, and the previous two had been dangerous. What would he do this time?

Just like before, Lin Quan surveyed the positioning of both teams and Fabiański, then stepped back and made the same hand signal as the first and second times.

Again? Arsenal's players recognized the signal—they had seen it twice already! But even if they recognized it, they couldn't be sure. Would he really aim for the far post again?

They noticed De Bruyne standing where Javi García had been for the previous corner. What if Lin Quan did another tactical corner? Arsenal's defenders split their attention, some marking Lescott to prevent a header, others closing in on De Bruyne to stop any passes.

It seemed Arsenal had covered all of Lin Quan's options, leaving him with no tricks left to play. But they underestimated him again.

Lin Quan made the signal, and Manchester City's players rushed to the far post, unsure if Lin Quan would send the ball there. This movement disrupted Arsenal's defense, making them shift slightly toward the far post.

But Lin Quan didn't send the ball to the far post or to De Bruyne. Instead, he went for a direct shot!

This choice surprised nearly everyone on the field, except De Bruyne. From the corner flag, it's hard to see the goal, let alone score from such a sharp angle. Scoring from there required an incredible curve on the ball, which was extremely difficult to achieve.

Few players even attempted a direct corner kick shot, and even fewer succeeded. This is why Arsenal's players were so shocked by Lin Quan's decision.

Fabiański watched as the ball curved beautifully through the air towards the goal. Realizing he was positioned too close to the near post and the ball was heading for the far post, he scrambled to the left, but it was too late.

With a swift sound, the ball hit the net. Fabiański was two meters away from where the ball went in, unable to reach it. Wembley Stadium fell silent for a moment before erupting into cheers from the Manchester City fans. They had clinched victory over Arsenal at the last moment, turning the match around!

Arsenal fans were heartbroken: "Again, we've been defeated in the final moments." "Are we cursed? Are we destined never to win a trophy?"

Missing out on the FA Cup meant Arsenal completed a decade without a trophy. Since their last win in 2003-04, they had gone ten years without a single championship. This ten-year drought was finally complete today.

But none of the Gunners' fans were happy about this record. Instead, they felt a deep sadness.

Chapter 262: Lifting the Trophy at Home, We Are the Champions!

After defeating Arsenal, everyone at Manchester City could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Playing three games in four days is exhausting, and saying otherwise would be a lie. Thankfully, they managed to hold on!

The FA Cup final would be held on May 17th, a month from now. This meant they didn't have to worry about the FA Cup for the next month.

Now, Manchester City could focus entirely on the Premier League and the Champions League matches ahead.

On April 19th, after six days of rest, Manchester City hosted West Bromwich Albion.

This match could very well decide the Premier League champion for the season, so the FA brought the Premier League trophy to the Etihad Stadium.

Before the match, countless Manchester City fans flooded into the stadium, filling every seat. Even outside the stadium, tens of thousands of fans who couldn't get tickets gathered.

For Manchester City fans, today was like a festival. They were on the verge of lifting their second Premier League trophy in history!

To ensure fairness and create tension in the title race, the FA scheduled Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea's matches to start at the same time.

Currently, Manchester City led Chelsea by 9 points and Liverpool by 10 points. If Manchester City won this match, they would practically secure the championship, leaving Chelsea only a theoretical chance of winning.

For Chelsea to win the title, they would need to:

Win this match and their last three matches, while Manchester City lost their next three matches.Close the 38-goal difference between them and Manchester City in these four matches.

The likelihood of either of these conditions happening was close to zero, let alone both.

In the pre-match locker room talk, Pellegrini emphasized to the players that this was just an ordinary game, and they shouldn't feel too pressured.

The opponent wasn't very strong. As long as Manchester City played to their usual level without arrogance or impatience, they would be fine.

At 6:30 PM, all three matches started simultaneously.

West Bromwich Albion clearly didn't want to be the backdrop for Manchester City's championship celebration, so they defended with everything they had from the start.

Manchester City had seen this tactic many times in the league and knew exactly how to deal with it.

From the beginning, Lin Quan frequently used his dribbling skills to attack West Bromwich Albion's goal. To stop him, the opponents had to double-team or even foul him, giving Manchester City many set-piece opportunities.

In the 15th minute of the first half, De Bruyne scored directly from a free kick, making it 1-0!

This goal sent Manchester City fans into a frenzy. They were now very close to the championship trophy!

"Quick, check the scores of Chelsea and Liverpool's matches!"

Fans pulled out their phones to check the other two matches.

"Chelsea is 0-0 with Sunderland at home, and Liverpool is leading Norwich 2-0 away!"

"Damn, how is Norwich so bad? They've conceded two goals in just fifteen minutes?"

"Yeah, do they even want to stay in the league? If they lose this game, they'll be caught by Sunderland!"

The opponents of Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea were all teams fighting relegation.

West Bromwich Albion had 33 points, only 4 points above the relegation zone. Norwich had 32 points, in a worse position. The worst off was Sunderland, with 29 points, sitting third from the bottom and already in the relegation zone.

So, all six teams wanted to win; none wanted to lose.

Liverpool leading by two goals meant they would likely win their match. Now it was down to Chelsea. If they drew or lost to Sunderland, Manchester City would secure the title by winning this match, with four games to spare!

However, bad news soon came from the other match: "Damn, Chelsea has taken the lead!"

"Really? Who scored?"

"Eto'o. Chelsea's quick counterattack, Eto'o used his speed to break free from the defenders and scored."

"Sigh, Eto'o is already 33, but he's still so strong?"

"Well, he's the only player to win back-to-back trebles. He must be good to achieve such great results!"

"Come on, Sunderland, hold on! Just one goal, that's all it takes!"

Manchester City fans started praying for Sunderland. "For the sake of staying up, show some courage and fight! If you beat Chelsea, you'll get out of the relegation zone!"

It seemed Sunderland heard the fans' prayers, as they quickly equalized.

In the 18th minute, Alonso took a corner kick, and Wickham scored from close range after the Chelsea goalkeeper fumbled the save.

The Black Cats had bravely equalized!

"Well done, Sunderland!"

"Great job, Wickham!"

"Keep it up! Don't let Chelsea score again!"

The sudden cheers at the Etihad puzzled the players on the pitch. The score was still 1-0; what were the fans celebrating?

Shaking their heads, the Manchester City players refocused on the game.

Scoring the first goal against a packed defense is the hardest part. Once in the lead, the opponents can't keep defending and have to attack, opening up the game.

After falling behind, West Bromwich Albion had to come out and attack to avoid relegation.

In the 22nd minute, after defending a West Bromwich Albion attack, Manchester City quickly countered.

De Bruyne saw Lin Quan's position and sent a precise through ball. Lin Quan broke through the defense, calmly scored past the goalkeeper, making it 2-0!

Manchester City had secured the victory!

The Blue Moon fans at the stadium were overjoyed, celebrating wildly.

Now, with a two-goal lead, they could relax and focus on the other two matches.

Unfortunately, until the end of the first half, there were no changes in the scores of the other two matches.

In the second half, West Bromwich Albion tried to attack early but was immediately overpowered by Manchester City.

The game turned into a one-sided training session.

In the 50th minute, Lin Quan assisted Agüero, who made it 3-0.

West Bromwich Albion had no hope left.

Manchester City fans were singing and dancing, already celebrating the victory.

As long as Sunderland held on for another 40 minutes and the other match ended in a draw, Manchester City would win the title with four games to spare!

So, although they were in their home stadium, their minds were on Chelsea's Stamford Bridge.

At Stamford Bridge, the score was still 1-1, a very unfavorable result for Chelsea.

Mourinho's face was grim as he stood on the sidelines.

Since halftime, when he learned Manchester City was leading West Bromwich Albion 2-0, Mourinho had been restless.

Manchester City's lead meant Chelsea had to win to keep their slim title hopes alive.

If they lost, they would have to watch their rivals lift the trophy!

In the coaching area, a few assistant coaches whispered to each other.

"How's the match at Manchester City?"

"No need to check, Agüero scored again, it's 3-0 now!"

"Damn, West Bromwich Albion is supposed to be a relegation-threatened team. Aren't they supposed to be strong at the end of the season? How could they be so easily thrashed by Manchester City?"

"There's no way. The gap between the two teams' strength is too big. West Bromwich Albion tried to defend but couldn't hold on. The game was actually over when De Bruyne scored the first goal!"

Talking about De Bruyne, the assistant coaches couldn't help but sigh.

This player was discarded by Mourinho at Chelsea, not even making the bench.

But at Manchester City, Pellegrini gave him an important role, making him the engine of Manchester City's attack.

With his precise passes, De Bruyne repeatedly opened up the game for Manchester City, contributing greatly to their victories.

What puzzled them was why De Bruyne, who didn't meet Chelsea's standards, performed so brilliantly at Manchester City?

In the Stamford Bridge VIP box, Chelsea's owner, Abramovich, watched the match with a grim face. Learning that Manchester City was leading 3-0 only made his mood worse.

Although it was already clear that Chelsea had almost no chance of winning the championship, he still held onto a bit of hope. After all, Mourinho had led Chelsea to great success at Stamford Bridge before.

Abramovich still had a little bit of expectation for him! However, now all those expectations have turned into disappointment. Once again, Abramovich felt a strong dislike for Mourinho, just like when he had fired him years ago.

But this time, Abramovich didn't act impulsively. Firing Mourinho was easy, but finding a suitable replacement was very difficult.

The person he really wanted was not likely to come to Chelsea in the short term.

So, without a better option, he had to tolerate Mourinho for now.

He would give him another year. If Chelsea ended up with nothing again next year, Abramovich might finally run out of patience.

…

After leading 3-0, Manchester City started to ease up.

Pellegrini substituted Lin Quan at the 67th minute and then De Bruyne at the 72nd minute.

These substitutions were clearly to prepare for the Champions League semi-final against the formidable Real Madrid on the weekend. Manchester City had to take advantage of playing at home in the first leg to beat them.

If they couldn't win at home, their Champions League journey this year would basically come to an end!

Real Madrid had also sent scouts to watch the game. Seeing Manchester City's powerful attack, their expressions were very serious.

Manchester City was indeed tough to deal with!

Shortly after Manchester City made their substitutions, news came in from another match.

Norwich had scored two goals in the 67th and 72nd minutes to miraculously equalize the score! "What? What's going on with Liverpool?"

Manchester City fans were surprised to hear this news.

Could Liverpool really blow a 2-0 lead?

"Never underestimate the determination of a relegation-threatened team!"

With that in mind, Manchester City fans couldn't help but feel a bit worried.

Could their team be overturned too? Just as this thought occurred, West Brom scored.

In the 76th minute, West Brom took advantage of a corner kick to pull one back.

This made Manchester City fans even more anxious, thinking of the other match's result.

But Manchester City didn't give their opponents any more chances. They started to control the pace of the game, limiting the opponent's attacks and curbing West Brom's counterattacks.

The game fell back under Manchester City's control, and their fans breathed a sigh of relief.

In the 81st minute, news came again from the Liverpool match.

Sterling had exploded with another goal, completing a hat-trick and putting Liverpool back in the lead.

After Suarez was suspended, Sterling's performance ensured that Liverpool's attacking firepower wasn't greatly affected.

Sterling's outstanding performances in these matches had also attracted attention from several big clubs.

As Manchester City fans were amazed by Liverpool's comeback, another update came from Chelsea's match – Chelsea was behind!

In the 82nd minute, Sunderland's substitute Altidore broke into the right side of the penalty area and went down under Azpilicueta's challenge. Referee Mike Dean awarded a penalty, but the replay on the big screen showed that the decision was controversial.

Thousands of Chelsea fans at Stamford Bridge booed the referee, accusing him of bias.

On the sidelines, Mourinho was furious, wanting to argue with the referee. Giving the opponent a penalty at this time was almost like killing the game!

Indeed, Borini converted the penalty, changing the score to 2-1!

This penalty dealt a huge blow to the Chelsea players' morale. In the final stages, Torres nearly got into a fight while trying to win the ball and received a yellow card.

In the end, Chelsea, playing at home, suffered a comeback defeat despite leading at the start.

Losing this match meant Chelsea not only lost their hopes of winning the championship but also fell to third place in the standings, overtaken by Liverpool.

When this news reached the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City fans erupted in cheers!

"We won!"

"We are the champions!"

At that moment, the game was still ongoing, with only a few seconds left in stoppage time.

Seeing West Brom's lack of fighting spirit, the referee blew the final whistle early.

As the whistle blew, tens of thousands of fans in the stadium went crazy.

On the sidelines, coaching staff and players on the bench rushed onto the field to celebrate with their teammates.

Lin Quan and De Bruyne exchanged happy smiles.

This was Lin Quan's first league championship trophy. The regret of not winning the title with Werder Bremen last season was finally made up at Manchester City.

When Pellegrini came onto the field, the players immediately lifted him up and threw him into the air!

As the main architect of Manchester City's championship this season, Pellegrini deserved such a treatment.

The Chilean had a very successful first season at the Etihad, winning the league and the League Cup, reaching the FA Cup final, and making it to the Champions League semi-finals…

These achievements were the best in Manchester City's history, reaching heights that were previously unthinkable.

"Alright, alright, that's enough, kids, put me down, I'm getting dizzy!"

After being thrown a few times, Pellegrini, who was in his sixties, couldn't take it anymore and had to ask for mercy.

"Haha!"

The players burst into laughter at their coach's plea and finally put him down.

Then, they set their sights on Lin Quan! Seeing his teammates looking at him, Lin Quan knew something was up.

But before he could start running away, his teammates had already caught him and lifted him up.

As the core of Manchester City, who often stepped up at critical moments to help the team through tough times, Lin Quan was undoubtedly the second biggest contributor to the team's success, perhaps even more important than Pellegrini in some ways.

When he first came to Manchester City with the highest salary in history, many players were skeptical and even resentful of him.

But after a season, no one doubted Lin Quan's abilities anymore.

He had earned the respect and admiration of all his teammates with his consistent outstanding performance.

Without his addition, Manchester City would never have gone so far on so many fronts this season!

"Alright, alright, that's enough, we need to go to the locker room to change and get ready for the award ceremony!"

Seeing the players had had enough fun, Pellegrini quickly reminded them.

The crowd let go of Lin Quan and scattered, leaving him to fall to the ground with a thud.

These heartless guys!

Lin Quan rubbed his butt and was about to get up when he saw a hand extended towards him.

He looked up and saw it was De Bruyne.

"You're a good guy!"

Lin Quan unsuspectingly took De Bruyne's hand, but with a mischievous grin, De Bruyne suddenly let go just as Lin Quan was about to stand up.

So, with another thud, Lin Quan fell back down!

Lin Quan: "???"

Oh no, De Bruyne has turned bad too! Back in the locker room, the players put on the club's special championship celebration jerseys.

When they appeared in the player tunnel, the staff had already set up the award stage.

FA officials had also brought the Premier League trophy to the Etihad Stadium!

Loud applause filled the venue as Manchester City's players entered the field, walking through the blue archway onto the pitch.

Amid the cheers of the fans, Premier League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore awarded medals to Manchester City's players.

When it was Lin Quan's turn, Scudamore patted his shoulder and said: "Lin, congratulations, your performance was impressive. You deserve this medal!"

Lin Quan bowed slightly to let Scudamore put the medal around his neck and then shook his hand: "Thank you for the congratulations, Mr. Scudamore. I hope to see you again at this time next year!"

Scudamore smiled. Lin Quan's words implied he wanted to defend the league title?

That's not easy. The Premier League is always highly competitive. With Manchester City winning this season, they would surely be the target next season.

When Lin Quan reached the podium, his teammates pushed him to the center spot. Lin Quan tried to decline a few times, but seeing their insistence, he reluctantly took the central position.

Just then, Captain Kompany was the last to appear, holding the trophy as he walked to the podium.

Manchester City's players all reached out for the trophy. Kompany turned around, facing the players, and shouted three, two, one, then raised the trophy with a swoosh!

"We are the champions!"

Chapter 263: UEFA Champions League Semi-finals, Galaxy Battles!

The major leagues are nearing their end, with suspense lingering in all but the Bundesliga.

Manchester City's early clinch of the title makes them the second team in the top five leagues to do so after Bayern Munich.

In the remaining three leagues, the La Liga title race remains uncertain.

Barcelona, after a slip-up in the last match, managed a tough comeback at home against Athletic Bilbao, securing a crucial three points, yet they still trail Atletico Madrid by four points.

Real Madrid postponed their match to May 8th to prepare for the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. With one game less played, they currently trail Barcelona by two points, slipping temporarily to third in the standings.

In Serie A, Juventus edged out Bologna 1-0, leading the second-placed team by eight points, firmly in control of the title race.

In Ligue 1, Paris Saint-Germain's situation is similar, as they defeated Evian and lead by 10 points over the second-placed team, poised to clinch the title with just one more win.

While major clubs are still fighting for their league titles, Manchester City's early title win, four rounds in advance, immediately attracted widespread attention.

If in previous seasons people's impression of Manchester City was of a wealthy but mediocre mercenary team, this season, after their outstanding performance in the Champions League, their reputation has grown significantly.

Advancing to the Champions League semi-finals, they stand alone for the Premier League.

Winning one domestic cup and reaching the final in another, they are close to claiming another title.

Such achievements, not just in the Premier League but in any other league, are commendable.

And achieving all this is not one of the traditional powerhouses of the Premier League, but a nouveau riche in football, a team built on money.

Originally, those clubs who previously looked down upon money-driven football due to Manchester City's consecutive failures in the Champions League group stage now find themselves nervous.

Manchester City's success this season is a triumph for money-driven football.

This has made them worried: what if other wealthy tycoons follow suit, wielding their checkbooks to dominate European football?

Consequently, these traditional powerhouses have united to exert pressure on UEFA to investigate Manchester City's financial situation and determine whether they have violated the Financial Fair Play Regulations, which began enforcement just last year.

The best way to curb the behavior of these tycoons waving money around in football is to establish rules that limit their financial investments.

And the Financial Fair Play Regulations are precisely such a product.

According to UEFA's regulations, teams participating in their competitions must balance their finances, with no team allowed to exceed a loss of 5 million euros.

Under these regulations, a nouveau riche team like Manchester City, without deep roots but abundant with money, undoubtedly violates the Financial Fair Play Regulations.

And the cost of violating these regulations includes wage caps, restrictions on transfer spending, and hefty fines.

Clearly, these traditional powerhouses hope to use this method to limit Manchester City's strength, preventing them from continuing to attract stars with high wages and potentially dismantling their current team lineup.

News of this reached Manchester City, and everyone in the club felt under threat.

"UEFA is about to send someone to inspect our financial situation. How are the club's finances right now?" Club chairman Fahim immediately sought out the club's financial head upon hearing the news, inquiring about the situation.

"Our transfer spending this season is 120 million euros, wage expenditures are 290 million euros, we anticipate broadcasting income to reach 117 million euros, and revenues from jerseys, tickets, sponsorships, etc., totaling 180 million euros..."

Fahim rubbed his temples and asked, "So, we are approximately 110 million euros short of UEFA's requirements?"

This figure is no small amount; many teams in the top five leagues do not earn that much in a single season.

"That's right. Lin's commercial value is very high, especially in the Far East market. If we can reclaim part of Lin's image rights, we can significantly offset this deficit..."

"Don't bring up this matter again in the future. Lin was signed personally by the big boss, and full ownership of his image rights was a promise from the big boss himself. Don't entertain such ideas in the future," Fahim interrupted the financial head, speaking seriously.

The club would rather pay fines than upset Lin, which is tantamount to upsetting the big boss. They, as employees, have no reason to play games with their livelihoods.

"Yes, Chairman, I understand. Apart from this method, we can also leverage the rules!" "What rules?"

"UEFA's Financial Fair Play Regulations allow for exemptions in youth training expenditures, which we can allocate to the parent company. This way, we can reduce the club's expenditures and benefit from UEFA's exemptions!"

"Furthermore, since this law came into effect just last year, UEFA has relaxed some restrictions. When clubs receive funding and can fully offset their deficits, the team's maximum losses from 2013 to 2015 can be up to 45 million euros!"

Indeed, matters requiring expertise should be entrusted to professionals. Originally a headache, after hearing the other party's explanation, Fahim suddenly felt more assured.

"Alright, let's proceed with your plans. What's the maximum amount the club could be fined?"

The 100 million euro gap is still too large to completely offset, so it's highly likely Manchester City won't escape without a fine.

"We've done professional calculations, and the fine amount can be kept within 60 million euros!"

Seeing Fahim still furrowing his brows, the responsible person cautiously continued:

"If we renegotiate a sponsorship contract with the parent company, we could even waive this 60 million!"

Moving money from one pocket to another?

It's feasible in theory, but signing a new sponsorship contract with the parent company at this critical juncture would make our intentions too obvious.

This would essentially treat UEFA as fools!

"I'll go back to the UAE and discuss this with the big boss!"

The UAE, Abu Dhabi.

After hearing Fahim's report, Mansour nodded slightly, contemplating.

The Abu Dhabi consortium couldn't directly intervene, but they had numerous business partners.

By engaging in some commercial exchanges and having these partners sign sponsorship contracts with Manchester City, they could effectively circumvent UEFA's investigation without creating an appearance of internal dealings.

With this in mind, he picked up the phone and made a call to an acquaintance.

After hanging up, Mansour nodded to Fahim:

"The issue has been resolved. When you return, don't let this affect the team's preparations. I'll attend the next match against Real Madrid in person."

Upon returning to Manchester, Fahim soon received a new sponsorship call.

Putting down the phone, Fahim couldn't help but marvel: a problem that had been giving him headaches was solved with just one phone call from the big boss.

In terms of exploiting loopholes, those under these consortiums were definitely not to be underestimated!

...

April 23rd, Etihad Stadium.

The first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final was about to begin.

Despite being the top contender for this season's Champions League title, Real Madrid did not underestimate Manchester City.

Not only did they postpone their La Liga matches, but they arrived in Manchester three days early to prepare.

This level of seriousness was even more extreme than their treatment of Barcelona last time!

"Real Madrid is coming in strong!"

At the Etihad Stadium, seeing Real Madrid players warming up on the field, Manchester City fans couldn't help but worry.

In terms of squad luxury, Real Madrid was undoubtedly among the best on the planet.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Angel Di Maria, Luka Modric, Xabi Alonso, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Alvaro Arbeloa, Iker Casillas, and others—all were football superstars.

In the Real Madrid lineup, even a slightly lesser-known player like Isco, this European Golden Boy, currently commanded a market value of 45 million euros!

What a dazzling array of stars!

Just look at this Real Madrid lineup on the field!

The combined value of Real Madrid's starting eleven exceeded 600 million euros, unquestionably the top in football!

While Manchester City was often labeled as spendthrifts in the transfer market, the fact was that Real Madrid's transfer spending last season was even more extravagant!

Real Madrid spent 100 million pounds just on Gareth Bale, although officially it was the transfer fee for Bale and other players combined.

But no one was foolish; it was clear that the other players were merely add-ons from Tottenham, and their values were not worth tens of millions. Their presence was just to help share Bale's transfer fee.

Apart from Bale, the combined cost for Isco, Illarramendi, and Carvajal exceeded 70 million euros.

Overall, their transfer expenditure surpassed 190 million euros, one-third higher than Manchester City!

However, Real Madrid also sold quite a few players: Ozil, Higuain, Albiol, Callejon, etc., bringing in approximately 120 million euros in transfer income.

Taking all this into account, Real Madrid's net spending was not excessively high, only 70 million euros.

With Real Madrid's robust commercial development and operational capabilities, filling the gaps left by transfer expenditures was not difficult.

Therefore, they wouldn't face significant constraints from UEFA's Financial Fair Play Regulations, unlike Manchester City.

This meant that after this summer's World Cup, Real Madrid could continue to strengthen their team!

Facing such formidable opponents, Manchester City fans were understandably anxious.

While Manchester City had cleared the hurdle against Barcelona, their confidence against Real Madrid was uncertain.

Before the match, inside the dressing room, Pellegrini continued to ease the players' tension.

Playing the first leg at home was disadvantageous.

In such a situation, the side burdened with performance pressure could easily become impatient.

And Real Madrid had a strong ability to seize opportunities; being too hasty would just hand them chances on a platter.

After joining Real Madrid, Ancelotti didn't completely reject Mourinho's tactics.

Instead, he absorbed and incorporated Mourinho's tactics, integrating them with his own understanding.

Full participation in attack and a layered defensive setup allowed Real Madrid to possess both speed and impact, while maintaining strong control, significantly enhancing their match dominance.

This was markedly different from the Mourinho era!

Mourinho had a major weakness: his career hadn't been smooth, never managing teams in the top five leagues, not even in leagues like Portugal's Primeira Liga.

His lack of experience in top leagues and limitations in his own abilities meant Mourinho had serious shortcomings compared to coaches like Guardiola and Ancelotti in teaching players how to play.

This was evident in Mourinho's use of midfield players; he wasn't adept at organizing the midfield or refining attacking routes, so his teams mostly relied on counterattacks.

Not that counterattacking was ineffective; Mourinho's records at Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Real Madrid proved that playing defensively could be potent against strong teams.

However, such tactics often faltered after a team's third year.

The reason was simple: players couldn't endure it.

You can't expect a group of superstars to do the dirty work day in and day out. Initially, they might accept it, but over time, it becomes unbearable.

Moreover, neither the official clubs nor the fans of top clubs would accept it. It's like using a Ferrari to do the work of a tractor—wasteful, right?

Fans of top clubs are very demanding; they not only want to see wins but wins that are beautiful.

While Mourinho's teams could bring victories, their attractiveness was often compromised.

Once his teams failed to deliver victories, being dismissed became unavoidable.

However, these issues didn't exist under Ancelotti's management.

Thus, in the 2013-2014 season, Real Madrid showed a significant improvement in strength compared to the previous season.

This improvement wasn't just due to players like Bale joining; it was also due to Ancelotti's tactical understanding combined with Real Madrid's squad, tailored to their strengths!

Pellegrini had coached in La Liga before, so his impression of Real Madrid was still stuck in the Mourinho era.

But after watching the recordings of this season's Real Madrid matches, the Chilean was completely taken aback.

This Real Madrid team truly had the ability to win the Champions League.

Encountering them early was undoubtedly Manchester City's biggest test!

Even in their own home, Pellegrini wasn't confident of defeating this Real Madrid team.

But at their home ground, Manchester City had to attack because if they couldn't win at home, their chances away would be slim.

That's the disadvantage of playing away first!

In the away team's dressing room, Ancelotti was also emphasizing the importance of this match to the players!

"Manchester City managed to beat Barcelona home and away, proving their strength is very strong. In this game, at their home, we must be cautious. In the first half, we will focus on defensive counterattacks, maintaining the 4-2-3-1 formation.

"Bale, you'll start in this match. Use your speed to attack Manchester City's flanks and suppress their full-backs' assists!"

Bale nodded, indicating he understood.

In league and Champions League matches, Real Madrid had often used Bale's individual abilities to overwhelm opponents on the flanks, securing victories for Real Madrid.

"Ronaldo, you're up against Kolarov, whose defensive capabilities aren't strong. You'll have many opportunities in this game; seize them and aim to score multiple goals!

"We can accept losing away, but we must score away goals. That way, back at the Bernabeu, we can take control!

"Of course, if you can completely suppress Manchester City and end the suspense in the first leg, I'll applaud you and feel proud of you!"

Ronaldo nodded emphatically, signaling he understood!

After individually advising each player, Ancelotti spoke:

"It's been 12 years since we last reached the Champions League final. I know you're hungry for the Champions League trophy!

"I'm just as hungry for the Big Ears Cup. But before lifting the trophy, we have three matches to go and two opponents to defeat. Only by defeating them can we stand on the champion's podium!

"Now, I ask you, do you have the determination to win?"

"We do!"

The players responded loudly, with even Ronaldo joining in shouting.

For Ronaldo, it had been five years since he last touched the Champions League trophy; the taste of winning was fading from memory!

"Very well, then go out onto the field and prove it with your actions!"

Chapter 264: Not Swapping Jerseys with Ronaldo, Is Ronaldo Jealous?

During the pre-game handshake, Lin Quan and his national teammates shared some laughs and hugs.

When it was Real Madrid's forwards' turn, Bale was very polite: "Lin, can we swap jerseys after the match?"

Hearing Bale's words, Benzema and Ronaldo perked up their ears.

Lin Quan didn't think much of it and nodded, "Sure!"

After answering, he thought he heard two sighs beside him.

"Lin, can we swap jerseys after the next match at Bernabeu?"

When it was Benzema's turn, he grabbed Lin Quan's hands, looking hopeful.

"Uh, okay!"

Lin Quan nodded again, feeling a bit strange.

Am I that popular with Real Madrid's forwards? Why are they lining up to swap jerseys with me?

Finally, it was Ronaldo's turn. The two looked at each other, but Ronaldo snorted and didn't speak.

Lin Quan was puzzled. He hadn't offended Ronaldo, so why the attitude?

The captains began the coin toss, and Real Madrid's captain Casillas won, choosing to start with the ball.

At 6 PM, the referee's whistle signaled the kickoff of the first leg match between Manchester City and Real Madrid.

Ronaldo passed the ball to Bale, who quickly returned it to Modric and ran down the wing.

Manchester City's players didn't give Modric time to organize the attack. Several players quickly pressed up, charging towards him.

Modric calmly passed the ball back to Alonso.

Alonso, positioned furthest back, faced less pressure from Manchester City's pressing.

However, Manchester City's forward Aguero still charged at Alonso.

Facing Aguero's pressing, Alonso shifted the ball to left-back Marcelo.

Marcelo, a strong attacking full-back, looked up to see Manchester City's defensive setup and quickly advanced with the ball.

Seeing Marcelo advancing, Ronaldo started positioning himself, moving between the middle and the wing to draw the defenders' attention.

This season, Ronaldo had been a scoring machine in the Champions League, making him Real Madrid's top threat.

Seeing Ronaldo move, Manchester City's midfielder Yaya Toure immediately left Isco and rushed towards Ronaldo.

At that moment, Marcelo crossed the halfway line, catching Manchester City's left-back Kolarov's attention.

Marcelo showcased some fancy footwork, attempting a trick, but the Serbian defender wasn't fooled.

Like Marcelo, Kolarov is more attack-minded and knows his defensive limitations, so he cautiously held back.

You can go down the line, but I won't let you cut inside to pass to the middle.

Marcelo feigned going down the line but suddenly paused, creating space from Kolarov, then made a wide pass to the right wing.

A tall figure received the ball and darted down the wing like lightning.

Gareth Bale!

Bale's threat had been repeatedly emphasized by Pellegrini before the match. As soon as he got the ball, Manchester City's players, Zabaleta and Kroos, immediately closed in, planning to double-team him.

But Bale's dribbling was simple and straightforward, relying purely on speed!

Facing Zabaleta's interception, Bale simply knocked the ball past him and sped around him, despite Zabaleta's attempt to pull him back, catching up to his own pass!

Bale's signature move – passing to himself a few seconds ahead!

Zabaleta was completely out of position, and Kroos couldn't catch up, watching helplessly as Bale charged into the penalty area.

In the box, Manchester City's captain Kompany, who had just returned from injury, came up to block Bale at the edge of the penalty area.

Bale couldn't continue his dribble as he wasn't a player with exceptional close-range dribbling skills.

In the tight space of the penalty area, his speed was less effective.

So Bale slowed down, looking for a shot opportunity!

Kompany was on high alert, watching Bale's every move, ready to block any shot.

Here it comes!

Bale didn't hesitate, adjusting his stance and preparing to shoot.

Seeing Bale's shooting posture, Kompany braced himself, hands behind his back, ready to block with his body.

However, Bale had a trick up his sleeve. Instead of shooting, he lightly passed the ball to the side, where a white figure was speeding in!

Who was it?

It was Real Madrid's number 22, the 2012 Golden Boy – Isco!

Isco quickly cut in and shot before the defenders could react.

The shot was heart-stopping for the Manchester City fans at the Etihad Stadium. From their perspective, it seemed their defense had completely overlooked this sudden threat, not marking him at all.

No way, less than three minutes in and Real Madrid was going to score?

Manchester City fans held their breath, barely daring to look at their goal!

At the critical moment, Joe Hart came to the rescue! He stretched out like a deity, making an acrobatic save to deny Isco's dangerous shot!

Phew! Seeing Joe Hart's save, the Manchester City fans collectively breathed a sigh of relief!

Thank goodness for Joe Hart; without him, the team would have fallen behind right at the start!

With that thought, the fans began singing praises for Joe Hart, celebrating his greatness.

Kompany, looking serious, went over to talk to the midfielders, especially Kroos.

The responsibility for Isco's unmarked run fell on Kroos.

He nodded, knowing that Real Madrid's attack was highly threatening today. If he moved, he needed support from teammates; otherwise, he couldn't leave his position lightly.

On the sidelines, Real Madrid's coach Ancelotti held his head in frustration after seeing Isco's shot saved by Joe Hart. But he quickly regained his composure, applauding Isco and the players.

Manchester City will likely play more cautiously after seeing how dangerous Real Madrid's attack can be.

If they do play defensively, they will fall into Real Madrid's trap!

To Ancelotti, Manchester City is a team strong in offense but weak in defense.

If they can be forced to focus on defense and not have many players attacking, it would be the ideal situation for Real Madrid.

However, Pellegrini might not choose this strategy. In his last match against Barcelona, he made substitutions earlier than expected, showing his aggressive nature.

From the home team's bench, Pellegrini frowned as he watched Real Madrid's dangerous attack right at the beginning.

Real Madrid is indeed a tough opponent; their three forwards are highly threatening.

Combined with the two fullbacks and Modric's passing in the middle, Real Madrid has too many ways to attack.

Pure defense alone cannot stop Real Madrid unless Manchester City has Atletico Madrid's defensive prowess.

But Atletico's defensive ability was built over three to four years by Simeone, starting from scratch.

Manchester City can't learn this overnight!

Besides, Manchester City's players are not workers but luxurious sports cars. Asking them to do the hard work of defenders is a waste of their talent.

With this in mind, Pellegrini made a decision.

To win, Manchester City must rely on their offense!

On the field, Real Madrid's corner kick didn't pose a threat as Joe Hart caught the ball.

After catching it, Joe Hart quickly ran out and threw the ball to Lin Quan's feet.

As soon as Lin Quan received the ball, Marcelo intercepted him!

Marcelo is good in attack, but in defense, especially one-on-one, his abilities are not as impressive!

Lin Quan's dribbling is different from Bale's. He used a change in rhythm and a feint to throw Marcelo off balance, smoothly bypassing him.

Damn!

Marcelo cursed and quickly turned to chase back.

This guy has become stronger since the Confederations Cup!

Seeing Marcelo beaten, Real Madrid's center-backs hurried to retreat.

Since Ramos had gone forward for the header, only the warrior Pepe was left to cover the back.

Stopping Lin Quan one-on-one was impossible, so Pepe waited for his teammates to come back and help.

Xabi Alonso was not far from Lin Quan. As Lin Quan advanced down the wing, Alonso chased straight down the middle, likely to meet him near the penalty area.

Additionally, right-back Arbeloa was also quickly retreating. He could cover the center-back position with Pepe, forming a barrier to protect their goal.

Pepe quickly evaluated the situation and felt more confident, no longer panicking.

However, Lin Quan was not alone in his attack.

As he advanced, Manchester City's forwards Aguero, left-winger David Silva, and attacking midfielder De Bruyne also sprinted forward.

Besides De Bruyne, who was a bit behind, the other two were close to Lin Quan, allowing Manchester City to create a three-on-three situation in the front.

On the sidelines, Ancelotti stood up.

Real Madrid had just completed a very threatening attack, and Manchester City immediately countered.

Indeed, underestimating Manchester City would lead to severe consequences!

"Go, Lin!"

"Beat them!"

"Send the Galacticos to hell!!"

Seeing their team's fast counterattack, Manchester City fans cheered excitedly.

So what if it's Real Madrid?

So what if they're a top European team?

We're here to beat the best!

Over 5,000 Real Madrid fans who had come to support looked worried. The opponent's counterattack was too fast, especially number 10. Marcelo seemed like a statue, failing to slow down his advance.

Seeing Manchester City's massive attack, they feared this match might become an offensive battle!

Real Madrid fans usually welcome attacking football, but last year, in the Champions League semi-finals, they faced another offensive team – Klopp's Dortmund!

At Westfalenstadion, Real Madrid had a painful experience, losing 5-1!

This time, at the Etihad Stadium, seeing Lin Quan charging towards their penalty area, they couldn't help but recall last year's match: Will history repeat itself?

As Lin Quan approached the penalty area, Real Madrid's defenders finally moved.

Pepe cautiously approached, maintaining a safe distance, not giving Lin Quan an easy chance to get past him.

He aimed to force Lin Quan to slow down or pass, preventing a direct threat to the goal.

With Arbeloa already defending in the box and Alonso tracking back, Lin Quan had limited options: either get past Pepe immediately or risk being surrounded and losing the ball.

If he forced his way through, Pepe was confident he could let the ball pass but not the man, leaving the ball for his teammates and blocking Lin Quan himself.

However, Lin Quan seemed unfazed by Pepe's trap. As Alonso reached out to intercept, Lin Quan suddenly accelerated into the box!

Pepe's eyes widened! This guy's got guts!

He immediately focused, closing in on Lin Quan, forcing him to make a quick decision!

Get past me and let my teammates or the goalkeeper take the ball.

Fail to get past and let me block and steal the ball.

Faced with Pepe's defense, Lin Quan hesitated, not making a choice immediately.

Pepe was delighted, quickly closing the distance, thinking: Is this the guy touted as being on par with Messi and Ronaldo? Seems a bit overrated!

But at that moment, Lin Quan moved!

Chapter 265: The Show of Lin Quan, Bale, and Ronaldo!

Pepe widened his eyes in astonishment. He didn't expect Lin Quan to have the guts to try and break through as he closed in.

This made Pepe a bit angry!

This guy doesn't take me seriously at all!

Even though Pepe was angry, he didn't lose his composure.

He immediately blocked Lin Quan's path, making it impossible for him to pass easily.

The ball might get past, but Lin Quan won't!

At the same time, Xabi Alonso blocked Lin Quan's route to the left, stretching out his foot to steal the ball.

Along with Arbeloa behind Pepe, Real Madrid formed a layered defense against Lin Quan near the penalty area.

No matter which direction Lin Quan tried to break through, he would be intercepted.

It seemed that Manchester City's counterattack would be stopped in front of Real Madrid's goal.

However, Lin Quan, knowing the risks, charged towards Pepe's left side without hesitation. Pepe raised his arm to block him, pushing him outward to prevent him from shooting or adjusting his dribble.

Pepe was very strong, and Lin Quan seemed to be at a disadvantage in the physical confrontation, getting pushed away.

Seeing his successful defense, Pepe was overjoyed and further underestimated Lin Quan, thinking he wasn't much of a threat.

But then he suddenly realized the ball wasn't at Lin Quan's feet anymore!

Lin Quan had stopped in front of him, but the ball was no longer there!

Looking up, Pepe saw the ball had somehow been passed out of the penalty area by Lin Quan.

From behind, Manchester City's attacking midfielder De Bruyne rushed in at high speed!

Pepe instantly understood. Lin Quan had pretended to be pushed aside in the physical confrontation to create space in the middle for De Bruyne to shoot.

However, realizing this came too late for any corrective action!

De Bruyne struck the ball hard!

With a loud bang, the ball flew towards Real Madrid's goal.

Like Pepe, Casillas had thought the ball was at Lin Quan's feet and was caught off guard by the sudden pass during the duel with Pepe.

Seeing De Bruyne's shot, Casillas had no time to react and could only jump hurriedly.

While still in mid-air, Casillas knew he couldn't reach the ball.

With a swoosh, the ball hit the net.

Manchester City scored with their first attack.

With an earth-shattering roar, the Etihad Stadium erupted in cheers!

Manchester City fans jumped and celebrated wildly.

De Bruyne, who scored, was equally excited, pointing at Lin Quan and rushing towards him.

De Bruyne intended to hug Lin Quan in celebration, but Lin Quan turned around, bent slightly, and let De Bruyne jump onto his back, carrying him around the field in celebration!

De Bruyne's shot was very decisive. Had he hesitated even half a second, Casillas would have reacted in time!

So, while Lin Quan's pass was brilliant, De Bruyne's final touch was also crucial.

Real Madrid's defense was indeed strong. Relying solely on a few forwards to break through their defense was not guaranteed to work.

Like just now, Pepe and others had almost completely restricted Lin Quan, limiting his forward space.

But they failed to prevent De Bruyne from cutting in, giving Manchester City a rare chance.

Real Madrid won't make such a mistake again, so if this opportunity wasn't seized, it wouldn't come again!

Fortunately, De Bruyne seized it!

On the sidelines, Pellegrini was ecstatic after De Bruyne's goal, waving his arms and rushing out from the coach's bench.

Players and coaches on Manchester City's bench were equally excited!

We are leading Real Madrid!

Not even five minutes into the game, and we're ahead!

What a dream start!

In the box at Etihad Stadium, the boss from the UAE, Mansour, who had come to watch the game, stood up and applauded the players after the team scored first.

He felt immense relief and joy, thankful for his decision to invite Lin Quan to Munich!

Before Lin Quan joined, Manchester City had twice failed to advance from the Champions League group stage, struggling even to get through the group, let alone lead against Real Madrid.

But after Lin Quan joined, these problems disappeared!

Though Lin Quan didn't score directly, most of the credit for the goal went to him.

Without him drawing the defenders' attention and creating space for De Bruyne, De Bruyne wouldn't have had the chance to score.

With such an early lead, could Manchester City beat the mighty Real Madrid at home?

On the visitors' bench, Ancelotti, who had been relaxed, frowned and chewed his gum faster after De Bruyne's goal.

Manchester City's play was indeed beautiful, mainly because of Lin Quan's smart handling.

Instead of recklessly clashing with Real Madrid's defense, Lin Quan created a false impression of forcing through, deceiving the defenders, and then covertly passed the ball with his heel.

This clever and calm move ensured any advancing Manchester City player could shoot.

Is this Manchester City's attacking strategy today?

Using Lin Quan as a decoy, with the real threat coming from behind?

Ancelotti glanced at Pellegrini, thinking how the old guy had prepared such a "surprise" for him!

But it's okay; conceding a goal away from home was expected for Real Madrid.

Ancelotti wasn't too worried because he never planned to fully stop Manchester City's attack.

The key to this game wasn't whether Manchester City could score, but whether Real Madrid could score!

Before UEFA restructured the Champions League, away goals were crucial.

Many teams advanced by the away goals rule!

So, the away team could accept a loss but not a goalless game.

As long as they scored an away goal, anything was possible back home!

With this in mind, Ancelotti signaled his team to increase their attack.

Real Madrid's attacking power was no weaker than Manchester City's; if Manchester City could score, so could Real Madrid!

Seeing Lin Quan assist his teammate in scoring, Real Madrid's Ronaldo and others couldn't sit still!

The game's focus was on the direct duel between him and Lin Quan!

After Manchester City's double win over Barcelona, the doubts about Lin Quan standing alongside Messi and Ronaldo had mostly disappeared.

If Lin Quan could lead Manchester City to another victory over Real Madrid, he would not only join the ranks of Messi and Ronaldo but even surpass them.

Ronaldo couldn't accept this!

His competitive nature wouldn't allow such a defeat!

So, Ronaldo became extremely active in the front.

In the 7th minute, Ronaldo took a long shot from outside the penalty area, but it just brushed the crossbar and flew into the stands. The Portuguese player held his head in frustration.

Five minutes later, he received a pass from Modric, bypassed Demichelis, and entered the penalty area, but his final touch was too heavy, allowing Joe Hart to intercept the ball.

Before transforming into a pure striker due to injuries, Ronaldo wasn't just a goal poacher.

At this time, Ronaldo was fast, had strong dribbling skills, could break through defenses, and score goals. He was incredibly powerful and versatile, the pinnacle of what a winger could be!

Because of this, fans called him "Golden Edge Ronaldo!"

In one-on-one defense, Kolarov struggled against him and often needed help from teammates.

Real Madrid's attackers were all very strong. If Manchester City assigned multiple players to defend Ronaldo, it would leave fewer defenders for other positions!

In the 22nd minute, Ronaldo attracted defenders again on the wing, and Modric passed the ball to the other side, reaching Bale.

Unlike Benzema, Bale was ambitious.

He knew Ronaldo was strong but believed he was even stronger.

So, Bale wanted to become Real Madrid's top star and compete with Ronaldo for the team leader position!

After receiving Modric's pass, Bale quickly sped up and charged towards Manchester City's penalty area like a storm.

Having learned from a previous mistake, Zabaleta didn't dare to rush forward this time.

He turned sideways and retreated, preparing to contest the ball and stay ready to turn and chase Bale.

Seeing Zabaleta's stance, Bale chose to pass the ball.

Modric, who came to support, received Bale's pass and quickly sent it forward, behind Zabaleta.

Modric had seen Bale's speed and trusted he could get to the ball before Zabaleta.

Bale didn't disappoint. As soon as he passed the ball to Modric, he sprinted forward and reached the ball before Zabaleta.

This time, Kroos was marking the advancing Isco and didn't help defend Bale.

This gave Bale an opportunity. He took the ball into the penalty area at high speed, dodged Kompany's interception, and shot from a tight angle.

It was a low shot, and Joe Hart dove to save it, trying to block it with his hand.

But the ball was too powerful. It deflected off his hand, hit the crossbar, and bounced into the net!

1:1!

Real Madrid equalized in the 23rd minute of the first half!

After scoring, Bale sprinted to the sideline camera, clenched his fists, and roared into the lens, looking just like the Monkey King from Journey to the West!

Real Madrid's players rushed to Bale, surrounding him and celebrating wildly.

Only Ronaldo, who was farther away, didn't join in. He clapped symbolically but didn't run over.

He was actually quite displeased.

He had clearly signaled for the ball, but Modric passed to Bale instead.

Passing to Bale was one thing, but then Bale scored!

This made Ronaldo a bit jealous. It was one thing for Lin to refuse to exchange jerseys with him, but now even Modric was betraying him?

Ancelotti clapped in satisfaction when the team equalized, looking calm and composed, as if everything was under control.

The 5,000 traveling Real Madrid fans at the Etihad Stadium were far from calm. Seeing Bale's goal, they chanted his name wildly.

This pleased Bale greatly, making him feel very proud. It seemed he was quite popular within Real Madrid!

Bale wanted to compete with Ronaldo for the top position in the team mainly because of his transfer fee.

He joined Real Madrid with the highest transfer fee in football history, even higher than Ronaldo's at the time.

With the highest transfer fee in football, anyone would have ambitions, not just Bale!

Moreover, Bale believed he could do everything Ronaldo could, and he had a speed advantage that Ronaldo didn't. So why couldn't he be the leader?

Pellegrini frowned. Although Bale scored, the key to the goal was Modric's pass.

If they didn't deal with Modric, he would become a huge threat to Manchester City.

So, Pellegrini called Yaya Toure over and gave him some instructions.

From then on, Yaya Toure closely marked Modric.

However, this tactic didn't work well because Real Madrid had more than one playmaker!

With Modric marked, Real Madrid quickly shifted the playmaking duties to Xabi Alonso.

Before Modric joined the team, Xabi Alonso was Real Madrid's midfield brain.

But after continuous injuries last year, his playing time decreased, and his form declined, gradually stepping back and leaving the playmaking duties mostly to Modric.

But that didn't mean Xabi Alonso couldn't handle the role anymore.

Positioned deeper, Xabi Alonso had better physical fitness and stronger body strength.

Manchester City's forwards couldn't pressure and disrupt him as effectively as they did with Modric!

In the 32nd minute of the first half, Xabi Alonso dodged De Bruyne's pressing, looked up to observe the positioning of the players in the front, and quickly delivered a long pass over 40 meters.

Xabi Alonso's long passes were different from others; the ball seemed to have eyes under his feet, always finding a teammate or landing in a weak spot in the opponent's defense.

Ronaldo, having played with Xabi Alonso for four or five years, knew his passing skills very well.

Seeing Xabi Alonso look up, Ronaldo immediately started to move.

He believed that if he found space, his teammate would get the ball to him!

Modric and Bale both came from Tottenham, so it was normal for them to be closer. Modric favoring Bale was expected.

But Xabi Alonso came from Liverpool and joined Real Madrid the same year Ronaldo did.

Their relationship was closer, so Xabi Alonso was more likely to pass to him.

Ronaldo's judgment was accurate. As he ran, the ball landed in front of him. This pass was not only meant for him, but Xabi Alonso had also calculated the lead time. If Ronaldo hadn't started early, he wouldn't have gotten the ball!

Great pass!

Ronaldo praised silently, controlled the ball with a masterful touch, and before the defenders could interfere, he unleashed a powerful shot towards the goal.

Chapter 266: 16 Goals in a Single Season, Breaking the Champions League Record!

"Xabi Alonso, long pass to Ronaldo!"

"Ronaldo shoots, the ball is in! What a beautiful goal!"

"Cristiano Ronaldo scores a crucial goal at the Etihad Stadium, helping Real Madrid turn the game around to 2-1 against Manchester City!"

After scoring, Ronaldo runs excitedly to the away fans, spreading his arms and jumping high to perform his signature celebration. The Real Madrid fans at the scene respond with a loud "siu" cheer, celebrating their star player.

Seeing Ronaldo's goal, Real Madrid players rush to the sidelines, surrounding him like stars around the moon, celebrating together. However, Gareth Bale is notably absent from the group.

From a distance, Bale spits and decides not to join the celebration.

On the Real Madrid bench, Ancelotti pumps his fists in excitement and runs a few steps on the sidelines. Ronaldo's goal has shifted the advantage to Real Madrid. If the game ends with this score, Real Madrid's chances of advancing to the semifinals would exceed 80%!

Ronaldo's goal greatly boosts Real Madrid's morale, and their attacks become even more intense. Manchester City's defense begins to crumble under pressure.

It's undeniable that Bale's arrival has significantly enhanced Real Madrid's offensive capabilities. Although his coordination with Ronaldo isn't very seamless, their presence alone poses a huge threat to Manchester City's defense.

Throughout the first half, Manchester City's two flanks are firmly suppressed by Real Madrid. While Lin Quan is active, he can only dominate one flank. The other wingback frequently assists in attacks, providing substantial support for Real Madrid's offense.

Manchester City has only one Lin Quan, but Real Madrid has two hundred-million-euro players. Numerically, Real Madrid is in the lead!

In the 43rd minute, Real Madrid nearly extends their lead again when Ronaldo's highly threatening shot in the penalty area is barely saved by Joe Hart.

Manchester City fans at the scene begin to worry. Real Madrid's fierce attacks over these past minutes have made them fully aware of the fearsome power of the Galacticos. If the game continues like this, Manchester City is bound to lose!

Realizing this, Lin Quan takes advantage of a dead ball opportunity to discuss with De Bruyne and others. Since their flanks are suppressed and their wingbacks can't assist in attacks, they decide to launch a counterattack from the midfield.

However, to launch a counterattack from the midfield, they must bypass Real Madrid's midfield line. Among Isco, Modric, and Xabi Alonso, the hardest to bypass is clearly Xabi Alonso.

He's the linchpin of Real Madrid's midfield. If they can't get past him, it's hard to threaten Real Madrid's goal. Moreover, if they lose the ball, Xabi Alonso might quickly deliver a precise long pass to launch a Real Madrid counterattack.

Thus, attacking through the middle is very risky. But with Manchester City trailing, if they don't take the risk, they face a slow demise!

De Bruyne and others agree with Lin Quan's idea and plan to change their strategy to try attacking through the middle!

In the 44th minute of the first half, with Yaya Toure's help, De Bruyne successfully intercepts Isco's ball. He quickly passes it to Lin Quan before Real Madrid's players can intercept.

Lin Quan carries the ball along the middle, with Real Madrid's defense line retreating at full speed, leading to a race of speed. Modric rushes towards Lin Quan almost immediately, trying to disrupt his advance.

However, Modric is not a professional defender. Though his defensive abilities are slightly stronger than De Bruyne's, he still can't compete with Lin Quan. Lin Quan easily gets past him with a feint and a sidestep. However, this slight delay allows Xabi Alonso to position himself.

Xabi Alonso is clearly more challenging to deal with than Modric. Lin Quan dares not slow down, knowing that if he gets bogged down, the trailing Real Madrid players will quickly double-team and press him.

Moreover, without speed, Manchester City's quick counterattack would turn into a positional battle, giving Real Madrid's defenders enough time to prepare.

Lin Quan chooses to speed up again!

Xabi Alonso's pupils contract, realizing Lin Quan intends to force his way through. He immediately positions himself to block Lin Quan from easily getting past.

Lin Quan anticipates Alonso's move, changes his strategy, and after a sideways dribble to create some space, charges diagonally towards Real Madrid's penalty area. Alonso is left with no choice but to turn and chase him.

But Alonso's height and build slow his turn compared to a smaller player, giving Lin Quan a one or two-meter lead.

Seeing Lin Quan advancing after bypassing two midfielders, Manchester City fans at the Etihad Stadium stand up excitedly, craning their necks to see the action, afraid to miss any detail of this attack.

Real Madrid's two central defenders, seeing Alonso beaten, realize the danger. Pepe immediately abandons Aguero and rushes towards Lin Quan.

Despite being bested by Lin Quan last time, Pepe believes he can defend against him, which gives him confidence to charge forward and try to stop Lin Quan.

But Lin Quan is pleased with Pepe's decision to come out. If he had stayed in the box, it would have been harder for Lin Quan to get past both him and Ramos.

As Pepe approaches, Lin Quan dribbles along a diagonal line and suddenly changes direction. Pepe is caught off guard by Lin Quan's ability to change direction at high speed, but adjusts and keeps up with Lin Quan.

Lin Quan recognizes Pepe's skill in defending against Messi and raises his estimation of him. Realizing Pepe is prepared, Lin Quan changes direction again, heading towards the penalty area.

Pepe, mid-turn, loses balance and falls in the box, becoming another victim of Lin Quan's dribbling.

Seeing their solid defender fall without contact, Real Madrid fans are shocked, while Manchester City fans laugh, recalling a similar incident with Bayern's Boateng.

Real Madrid fans are confused, but Manchester City fans cheer even louder for Lin Quan, recognizing his exceptional skill.

Ramos was ready to provide backup defense, but he didn't expect Pepe to be beaten so easily. This surprised him and delayed his reaction. For Lin Quan, this delay was enough to score!

Before Ramos could get into position, Lin Quan took the shot. Casillas did his best but couldn't stop the ball from flying into the net. He stood up with his hands on his knees, giving Lin Quan a complex look. This was the first time Lin Quan had scored against him, and the feeling was mixed. Competing against Lin Quan felt terrible; it was much better to be on the same team!

The score was now 2:2, with Manchester City quickly equalizing before the end of the first half. This way, they wouldn't return to the locker room trailing.

Seeing Lin Quan score, the Etihad Stadium erupted in cheers. Moments ago, they were worried as Real Madrid's fierce attacks had them on edge. Now, with the score back to level, they could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Initially, after Bale and Ronaldo scored, Lin Quan was the only one among the three superstars who hadn't scored. Fans of the other two were smug, using this as evidence that Lin Quan wasn't as good.

Especially Ronaldo's fans, who couldn't accept an 18-year-old like Lin Quan being considered on the same level as their idol. They seized the moment to attack Lin Quan online.

"Ha, it's one thing to compare him to Messi, but Lin Quan alongside Ronaldo is a joke!"

"Indeed, this match saw both Ronaldo and Bale scoring, but someone didn't!"

"Embarrassing for someone!"

However, within just a few minutes, Lin Quan scored, leaving those who had belittled him feeling awkward.

"Hey, where are the haters now?"

"Wasn't someone saying Lin Quan isn't as good as Ronaldo? What now?"

"Fun fact: Lin Quan now has 16 goals in this season's Champions League, surpassing Ronaldo by one goal!"

"Ronaldo's fans love to boast about his goals, but they ignore Lin Quan breaking Premier League and Champions League records. In terms of goals, Lin Quan has more. In terms of assists, he outshines Ronaldo. Yet, they still think Lin Quan isn't as good. Do they even understand football?"

While Ronaldo's fans didn't acknowledge Lin Quan, commentators on major TV networks were full of praise for him.

"Incredible performance, Lin Quan has scored his 16th goal of the season in the Champions League, once again breaking his own record for most goals in a single season!"

"In the last match against Barcelona, Lin Quan scored his 15th Champions League goal, breaking the record held by Messi in the 2011-2012 season and Altafini in the 1962-63 season. Now, he has increased the record to 16 goals! Whether Manchester City reaches the final or not, we must applaud Lin Quan!"

Seeing Lin Quan score, Ronaldo felt a bit frustrated. He had worked hard to score and tie with Lin Quan on the scoring chart, only for Lin Quan to pull ahead again. This season, Ronaldo felt his performance in the Champions League was top-notch, with the most goals he had ever scored. In any other season, such record-breaking goals would have made him the center of attention, receiving countless praises.

However, this year, he faced an unexpected rival. Messi, his longtime competitor, had fallen, but Lin Quan emerged. At first, Lin Quan's goals were nowhere near as many as Ronaldo's and Messi's, but his consistency was frighteningly high. He scored in all six group stage matches, and in the knockout stages, except for one rotated match, he scored in every game.

In other words, whenever Lin Quan played in the Champions League, he would score! Such scoring efficiency was something even Ronaldo found hard to match. As a result, despite scoring 15 goals, Ronaldo couldn't top the scoring chart.

In any other season, this would be unimaginable! What's more, Lin Quan not only scored many goals but also had numerous assists. This season, he had six assists in the Champions League, ranking second, just behind Rooney with eight assists. Since Manchester United had been eliminated, Rooney's assist count wouldn't change, but with Manchester City still in the competition, Lin Quan's assists could still increase.

By the end, Lin Quan might top both the scoring and assist charts. Thinking about this, Ronaldo's competitive spirit was ignited. He couldn't let Lin Quan dominate both charts. He needed to keep scoring to reclaim the top scorer spot!

Ronaldo wanted more goals, and Lin Quan wanted to extend his lead. Neither was satisfied with the current score, so after the restart, both sides fiercely contested for possession. Unfortunately, the first half soon ended, and neither could extend the score, entering the locker room with a 2:2.

Chapter 267: Lightning Goal, Reversal of the Reversal!

Although their opponents equalized at the last moment, Ancelotti didn't criticize his players. Instead, he praised their performance in the first half.

"You did great. A 2:2 score is an acceptable result for us. But I believe your performance deserves a victory!"

Hearing Ancelotti's words, the players, who had been worried about criticism, breathed a sigh of relief and even looked at him with gratitude. The attacking players, especially, felt proud after receiving his praise.

Compared to Mourinho's strong personality, Ancelotti was clearly more popular in the locker room. This had a lot to do with his high emotional intelligence and skillful use of language.

Seeing the players' reactions, Ancelotti nodded in satisfaction and continued, "So, keep up the attack in the second half. Beat Manchester City with the attacking prowess they pride themselves on!"

This statement received strong support from attacking players like Ronaldo and Bale. These players excelled in attack but weren't keen on defending. While they would defend if necessary for a win, they certainly preferred not to.

The reason was simple: stars like them could shine brightly in attack, but in defense, they were more likely to make mistakes and look bad. Additionally, wasting too much energy on defense would leave them less capable of performing well in attack.

Ancelotti's plan suited their desires perfectly.

On the home side, Pellegrini couldn't accept a 2:2 result. If they couldn't win at home and allowed two away goals, their chances of advancing in the next round would be less than 30%. If they conceded another goal in the second half and lost at home, they would surely be eliminated.

"We need to strengthen our attack in the second half. Here's the tactical plan..." Pellegrini took out his tactics board and laid out his strategy for the second half.

The players nodded, indicating their understanding. He then explained the defensive strategy for the second half.

"Both Bale and Ronaldo are very strong. If we try to defend both at the same time, we won't be able to. However, they don't seem to coordinate with each other. If they continue to play individually in the second half, whenever one of them has the ball, we can relax our defense on the other and focus on the ball carrier!"

Pellegrini suspected that there might be some friction between Real Madrid's two wingers. Otherwise, why wouldn't they work together? He wasn't sure if Ancelotti was aware of this or could resolve it during the halftime break, but he decided to test this theory.

If Ronaldo and Bale continued to play separately, Manchester City's defensive pressure would be greatly reduced.

The 15-minute halftime break ended quickly, and both teams returned to the field. After switching sides, Manchester City started with the ball.

Lin Quan passed the ball to Aguero and immediately sprinted forward. Aguero made a direct pass back to Lin Quan, who easily got past Benzema and continued charging towards Real Madrid's defense.

Meanwhile, Manchester City players began surging towards Real Madrid's half, clearly aiming for an aggressive start!

"Stop him, don't let him pass the ball!" Ancelotti was startled. He had anticipated that Pellegrini would increase the pressure in the second half but hadn't expected such an aggressive start. Wasn't this a bit too reckless?

In Pellegrini's eyes, Real Madrid's defense was very solid, making it hard to break through. So, he designed this strategy to catch them off guard before they were fully in their rhythm. The risk was high, but the potential reward was very enticing.

Isco and Modric were immediately drawn to Lin Quan, rushing towards him almost simultaneously. Lin Quan faced a wall of Real Madrid players. The defenders assumed he would pass the ball, as challenging their entire defense alone seemed impossible.

Modric blocked Lin Quan's path, while Isco cut off potential passing lanes. But Lin Quan didn't intend to pass. Seeing Isco not coming to double-team him, he chose to force his way past Modric.

Despite Modric's best efforts, he failed to stop Lin Quan. Handling a player as skilled and agile as Lin Quan was beyond Modric's capability. However, Modric wasn't overly worried; he had plenty of teammates behind him. Surely, they could stop Lin Quan!

Real Madrid's players shared this belief. Although they were surprised by Lin Quan dribbling past Benzema and Modric, they didn't think he would actually try to challenge their entire defense.

Normally, no one would do that!

They kept an eye on Lin Quan while being extra cautious of other attacking players like Aguero and De Bruyne. However, not everyone thought this way. Xabi Alonso and Ramos, having been teammates with Lin Quan and having suffered at his hands in the first half, were extremely vigilant.

Both moved towards Lin Quan simultaneously. Ramos blocked Lin Quan's path forward, while Xabi Alonso rushed from the side to try and dispossess him.

Lin Quan didn't abandon his attack. Avoiding both, he continued dribbling towards the right side of the penalty area!

Real Madrid's players initially thought Lin Quan would pass. But seeing him bring the ball into the penalty area without passing, they were shocked. Did he really intend to take on their entire defense alone?

This idea was too crazy to believe. But as Lin Quan charged into the penalty area, they had to accept that it was true!

Now, not only Alonso and Ramos were alarmed; the entire Real Madrid defense was tense. If Lin Quan scored, they would all be ridiculed for failing to stop him.

So, besides Alonso and Ramos, nearly all Real Madrid defenders were drawn to Lin Quan, shifting their defense towards the right side.

With Alonso and Ramos drawn away, Aguero managed to get into Real Madrid's penalty area. This made Pepe very nervous. He urgently called for Arbeloa to help defend.

As Arbeloa moved to help, he sensed something fly over his head. Looking up, he saw it was the football!

Wait a minute!

Football?

Arbeloa broke into a cold sweat. He quickly looked back at Lin Quan, realizing the ball was no longer at his feet!

Did the attack switch to the right side just as he left? According to Murphy's Law, the worst always happens!

At that moment, a short player wearing Manchester City's blue No. 21 jersey was in the open space on the left and received the pass from Lin Quan.

David Silva controlled the ball, took a quick look at Casillas's position, and shot fiercely before Arbeloa could reach him!

The ball was powerful, flying towards the goal instantly. Casillas barely had time to react before the ball hit the net.

3:2!

Manchester City launched a lightning-fast attack, scoring just 14 seconds into the second half, reversing the score and taking the lead again!

The goal happened so quickly that many fans who went to the restroom during halftime missed it. As they returned, they were jolted by the loud cheers.

"What? We're leading? Who scored?"

Regretting that they missed such a fantastic goal, they asked around to find out who scored.

"It was David Silva. He scored from a pass by Lin Quan!"

"Haha, we're leading again!"

"Look at the expressions on those Real Madrid fans' faces. Don't they look like they just ate something nasty?"

It wasn't just the fans; the coaches and substitutes on Real Madrid's bench had similar reactions.

Manchester City was ruthless, starting with an aggressive attack. Most of their players weren't even fully in the game yet and hadn't touched the ball before conceding a goal!

"Damn it, I underestimated how crazy that old man could be!"

Ancelotti muttered a self-reproachful curse under his breath. This was his mistake; he should have anticipated that Manchester City would do this.

"Arbeloa shouldn't have left his position!"

One of the assistant coaches said angrily.

"It wasn't Arbeloa's fault. Our defense was already pulled out of position by Lin Quan."

Ancelotti didn't blame Arbeloa. While he did have some responsibility, the biggest fault wasn't his.

Lin Quan passed when everyone thought he wouldn't and held the ball when everyone thought he would pass. This unexpected play caught Real Madrid's players off guard and led to their mistake.

The second half had just begun, and the players weren't fully in the game yet, so such mistakes were understandable.

But they couldn't afford to make any more errors. Ancelotti could barely accept a 3:2 score, but if Manchester City scored another and made it 4:2, Real Madrid would be in serious trouble!

Ancelotti hesitated. Should he change tactics and switch to a defensive counter-attack strategy instead of continuing to attack?

Ancelotti's team was very good at playing defensive counter-attacks, and with the defensive strength they had under Mourinho and himself, Manchester City would find it hard to score again.

If they switched to a defensive stance, they might be able to hold the score until the end, preventing Manchester City from extending their lead. Additionally, if Manchester City attacked too aggressively and lost the ball in midfield, Real Madrid could exploit their mistakes with a quick, threatening counter-attack.

Maybe they could even equalize the score?

Ancelotti was torn. He had promised his players to attack in the second half, and changing his mind now would leave them confused.

Ancelotti was right. After Manchester City scored, there was a division of opinion among the Real Madrid players.

Ronaldo, Bale, and other forwards wanted to attack immediately and equalize the score. But the defenders, shaken by Manchester City's aggressive play, wanted to stabilize the situation first before making any further moves.

This internal disagreement caused Real Madrid to become disjointed, failing to attack effectively and struggling to defend.

In contrast, after David Silva's goal, Manchester City was full of energy. The players became very active, launching fierce attacks on Real Madrid.

The home fans, seeing their team dominate the star-studded Real Madrid, were ecstatic, cheering louder and louder, creating an overwhelming atmosphere of support.

Buoyed by their fans, Manchester City completely controlled the game. From the start of the second half until the 55th minute, they kept Real Madrid pinned in their own half, unable to push past the midfield.

If not for the heroic efforts of Real Madrid's goalkeeper, Casillas, who made several crucial saves, they might have fallen far behind by now.

Seeing his team in danger, with their defense on the verge of collapse, Ancelotti finally made up his mind.

He started shouting instructions to his players to change tactics and drop back to play a defensive counter-attack.

This decision brought relief to Real Madrid's defenders. They felt they couldn't hold on much longer without this change.

However, stars like Ronaldo and Bale were visibly displeased upon hearing Ancelotti's orders.

Wasn't it supposed to be attacking football?

Why switch to a defensive counter-attack now?

Bale might have been slightly more accepting, but Ronaldo was clearly unhappy. Before Bale arrived, he was the key player in Real Madrid's counter-attacks. But after Bale came, he took on this role, thanks to his speed advantage in quick counter-attacks.

So, Ancelotti's adjustment greatly reduced Ronaldo's scoring chances while increasing opportunities for Bale!

In reality, Ronaldo was overthinking it. As soon as Real Madrid switched to a defensive counter-attack, Manchester City quickly adjusted their strategy too.

They moved from aggressive, wide-open attacks to controlling the tempo, keeping the ball securely at their feet, and denying Real Madrid any chance to counter-attack.

Seeing this, both Real Madrid's players on the field and their coaches on the sidelines couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity.

If Manchester City's players were wearing red and blue jerseys, they might have mistaken them for Barcelona!

(End of chapter)

Chapter 268: 3-2, Real Madrid. See You in Madrid for the Next Round!

The second half of the game was unusual; it felt more like a Spanish El Clásico between Barcelona and Real Madrid than a Champions League semi-final.

Manchester City, with many Spanish internationals, playing a possession-based game wasn't surprising. After Barcelona's rise, many European teams tried to mimic their passing style. However, only Manchester City managed to play like Barcelona. The reason was simple: they had Lin Quan!

Other teams couldn't replicate Barcelona's style without Messi, but Manchester City had Lin Quan, who was almost identical to Messi. With him, Manchester City's possession style was over 50% similar to Barcelona's.

Additionally, having recently played two matches against Barcelona, Manchester City's coaches and players deeply understood the power of the possession game, making it easier for them to emulate Barcelona's tactics.

So, at this moment, Manchester City looked very much like Barcelona.

Seeing their opponent play possession football, Real Madrid became immediately alert. In the league, they had suffered many losses to Barcelona.

With Real Madrid retreating, Manchester City gradually took control using their possession style. Their possession percentage started rising, reaching over 60% for Manchester City while dropping below 40% for Real Madrid.

However, Real Madrid wasn't worried or panicked. Since they had switched to a counter-attack strategy, they naturally gave up possession. For them, the goal was to seize opportunities during Manchester City's attacks, win the ball, and launch successful counter-attacks.

Possession statistics didn't matter to them. If they couldn't win the game, what was the point?

With this in mind, Real Madrid's players patiently organized their defense and pressed Manchester City's ball holders in midfield, looking to exploit their mistakes for counter-attacks.

The midfield battle intensified immediately!

Unlike Barcelona's midfield, Manchester City's midfielders were younger, with the oldest, Yaya Touré, only 31 and in his prime. Players like Kroos and De Bruyne were even younger and should theoretically have the upper hand in midfield battles.

But Real Madrid's Modric, after an initial adjustment period, became increasingly active.

In the 76th minute, Modric made a tackle and delivered a long pass to Bale on the wing. Bale sped down the flank, but his final shot narrowly missed the goal. Otherwise, Real Madrid would have equalized.

This counter-attack scared Manchester City. Pellegrini frowned.

Despite anticipating Modric's threat and assigning Yaya Touré to mark him, the plan didn't seem to work as expected.

Modric, at 29, was in his prime. He was Real Madrid's metronome, with excellent organizing and advancing abilities, abundant stamina, refined skills, and exceptional vision.

Modric possessed all the qualities of a top midfielder. Pellegrini would even rate Modric higher than Ronaldo and Bale in importance.

Despite his short stature of 172 cm, Modric had impressive defensive capabilities, covering a large area with his excellent movement.

Every time Manchester City attacked, Modric appeared in critical areas. Although he was occasionally beaten by Lin Quan, it showcased his defensive awareness. Against anyone else, his defensive intuition would greatly benefit the team.

If Modric only had defensive skills, he wouldn't trouble Pellegrini so much. But he was too well-rounded, excelling in both defense and offense!

Modric was Real Madrid's organizer, crucial in transitions. With him, Real Madrid's attacks became more threatening, especially with his direct passes.

Realizing this, Pellegrini took advantage of a stoppage to instruct Yaya Touré to mark Modric more closely, with De Bruyne assisting.

This adjustment had some effect but also significant consequences. Modric's extensive activity range, attacking deep into Manchester City's box and defending his own, forced Yaya Touré and De Bruyne to expend much energy on defense.

While Yaya Touré managed, De Bruyne, as Manchester City's offensive organizer, couldn't maintain his offensive contribution. This caused Manchester City's attacks to lose their edge in the second half.

Seeing this, Ancelotti breathed a sigh of relief. Even if their counter-attack failed, maintaining the current result was acceptable. Back at Real Madrid's home ground, they'd show their true strength!

But just as Ancelotti thought this, Lin Quan, using his individual skill, broke through two defenders and forcefully shot at goal.

Ancelotti's heart almost stopped when Lin Quan shot. Fortunately, Casillas made a crucial save, preventing Real Madrid from falling two goals behind.

"Damn it, it's already the 85th minute, how does this guy still have so much energy?"

Ancelotti glanced at the clock and cursed under his breath.

Real Madrid's extensive research on Messi led them to believe players like him, due to their frequent dribbling and quick bursts, would tire quickly. Messi often conserved energy by not participating in defense, focusing on attacking.

Applying this to Lin Quan, Real Madrid assumed he'd have stamina issues in the second half, especially near the end of the game.

However, Lin Quan's recent breakthrough, beating two defenders and powering through Ramos for a shot, showed no signs of fatigue.

Ancelotti decided they couldn't falter now and needed to strengthen their defense.

He substituted Isco for a defensive player to bolster their defense. Although Isco was frustrated, he didn't complain and left the field.

Real Madrid's substitution signaled retreat, focusing more on defense than attack. This made Manchester City's offense more difficult, as Lin Quan was closely marked and couldn't find space to initiate attacks.

Five minutes later, Ancelotti made another substitution, replacing Benzema with a defensive midfielder. This further intensified Real Madrid's midfield defense, disrupting Manchester City's offensive rhythm and reducing their threat.

Ultimately, after 90 minutes, Manchester City won 3-2 at home against Real Madrid.

This result was barely acceptable for both teams. For Manchester City, they defended their home ground and won, albeit narrowly.

For Real Madrid, they managed to score an away goal and are only one goal behind.

So, when they return to their home ground, they just need to score once to eliminate Manchester City. For a team as strong in attack as Real Madrid, this should be easy.

Therefore, during the post-match handshake, Ancelotti showed no signs of frustration or disappointment. He shook hands with Pellegrini with a smile and even chatted for a bit.

On the field, though the players from both sides were somewhat dissatisfied, they could accept the result.

At the end of the match, Bale immediately found Lin Quan and asked to swap jerseys. They had agreed on this before the match, so Lin Quan gladly took off his shirt and handed it to Bale.

"See you in Madrid!" Bale said with a smile as he took the jersey and patted Lin Quan on the shoulder.

"Sure, see you in Madrid!" Lin Quan responded with a nod.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who was still on the field drinking water, saw this and snorted before turning and walking down the players' tunnel.

The Manchester City players didn't leave the field immediately. Led by their captain Kompany, they took a lap around the stadium to thank their fans for their support. The fans were enthusiastic, excited about beating the strong Real Madrid at home.

Although a 3-2 scoreline didn't seem ideal, a win is a win, and against Real Madrid, that's something to celebrate!

In the post-match press conference, Ancelotti said he could accept the result and was confident his team would secure a place in the final at the Bernabéu.

"Yes, I'm confident we will make it to the final. We have a perfect home record this season, and I believe this will continue!"

Ancelotti's confidence came not just from Real Madrid's excellent strength but also from their outstanding home performance this season. They had won all five of their Champions League home games, mostly by large margins.

Although Real Madrid also had a good away record, their home ground was where they were truly terrifying.

After interviewing Ancelotti, reporters turned to Manchester City's manager, Pellegrini, asking for his thoughts on the upcoming game at the Bernabéu.

Pellegrini expressed cautious optimism: "We are currently leading, and after this match, we have a better understanding of Real Madrid's strength. They are very strong, but not invincible. Our goal remains to win the next match at the Bernabéu!"

Before the match, Pellegrini's words might not have been taken seriously. But after watching the entire game, many people gained a new respect for Manchester City's strength.

Beating Real Madrid at home was no small feat, showing Manchester City's strong capabilities.

However, not many were optimistic about Manchester City's chances of winning at the Bernabéu. Playing away is a completely different experience, and winning at home doesn't guarantee success away, especially at the Bernabéu!

After the match, betting companies quickly updated their odds. Despite trailing in the scoreline, Real Madrid had lower odds compared to Manchester City, showing that betting companies favored Real Madrid to reach the final.

Given Manchester City's strong home performance, the odds weren't too far apart: about 3.5 for Real Madrid to 6.5 for Manchester City, favoring Real Madrid but not dismissing Manchester City's chances entirely.

Media outlets promptly reported the match:

Marca: Real Madrid couldn't conquer the Etihad Stadium, but two away goals made Ancelotti satisfied. We are just one goal away from the final!

AS: Real Madrid only need to win two more games to lift their tenth Champions League trophy!

The Guardian: Manchester City defended their home honor by beating the powerful Real Madrid, keeping their hopes of reaching the final alive and surprising those who doubted them!

The Times: For Manchester City, this scoreline isn't ideal. The next game at the Bernabéu will be very challenging, and they need to be at their best.

BBC: With one goal and two assists, Lin Quan's explosive performance put him ahead in this star-studded showdown. After this match, no one should doubt Lin Quan's ability to stand alongside the greatest.

The only question now is, when will he win his first Ballon d'Or?

Chapter 269: Semi-finals, Away to Bernabéu!

Manchester City's home victory over Real Madrid could be seen as a small upset.

However, compared to the result of another semi-final match held on April 24th, where Bayern Munich unexpectedly lost 0-1 at home to Atlético Madrid, their upset seems minor.

This scoreline was beyond everyone's expectations before the match!

Although Real Madrid lost, they at least scored two away goals and didn't lose by much, so they can completely accept the result.

But Bayern losing at home is completely unacceptable.

If they lose at home, can they expect to win against Atlético Madrid away?

Therefore, after this match, the outside world is pessimistic about Bayern's chances of advancing, with hardly anyone believing they can reach the final.

At the same time, after defeating the powerful Bayern, Diego Simeone and his Atlético Madrid immediately gained huge fame!

Among these teams that have entered the Champions League semi-finals, if we count which team has the most stars and the highest market value, it would undoubtedly be Real Madrid.

And Atlético Madrid ranks last without any doubt!

Yet, it's this bottom-ranked team that managed to defeat Bayern Munich, who are also glittering with stars and high market value.

This is simply astonishing!

For a moment, the entire football world began to be curious about Simeone and his Atlético.

What magic does this coach have to lead such a relatively modest lineup to achieve such outstanding results?

While the spotlight shone on Simeone and Atlético Madrid, Pep Guardiola and his Bayern faced comprehensive criticism from all sides.

This season, Guardiola's Bayern exposed a serious problem: when facing strong teams, their performance was quite poor.

During the group stage, they had a draw and a loss against Manchester City, gaining no advantage.

Ten days ago, in the Bundesliga, they were defeated 3-0 at home by Borussia Dortmund.

Now they are defeated by Atlético...

Except for defeating a poorly performing Manchester United, Bayern seems to have no noteworthy achievements!

The players at Bayern are still the same, with few changes in the lineup.

But the team's tactical approach has changed a lot, so it's natural for the blame to fall on Guardiola.

And this time, no one from Bayern's club came out to defend him!

...

"Why not just come to Manchester City?"

Upon hearing that Bayern lost and after learning about the relentless criticism Guardiola faced, Lin Quan took the initiative to call and comfort Guardiola.

Guardiola was speechless for a moment, "Are you representing Manchester City to poach me?"

"Not at all, I'm just speaking for myself. You know our big boss; if he wants to poach someone, he'd just throw money at it!"

Guardiola thought of the scene where Mansour came to him with a contract to sign, and couldn't help nodding. That was indeed Mansour's style.

"Let's see how this season ends first. I still have two years left on my contract with Bayern, and I don't want to break it!"

Guardiola values his contract and doesn't want to terminate it prematurely.

And Bayern probably won't push him out either, especially after he just led the team to an unbeaten streak of 53 matches, the second-longest in European football history.

"And this summer, Barcelona is starting its presidential elections. I've used my contract as a reason to reject Laporta. If I go to Manchester City at this time, Laporta would definitely feel like I played him!"

Perhaps worried that Lin Quan might be disappointed or displeased, Guardiola explained.

He has a good relationship with Laporta and doesn't want to deceive him in such matters. Therefore, saying he won't leave this summer means he won't leave Bayern unless Bayern initiates the termination.

"Alright, but you won't have an easy time either. Atlético's home ground is tough to play at. This season, both Barcelona and Real Madrid haven't won at the Calderón!"

Simeone's Atlético is tough!

How tough?

The top two teams in La Liga this season haven't won against Atlético!

Real Madrid is strong?

This season, they were double-defeated by Barcelona!

Barcelona is strong?

They were shut out by Atlético!

So, regarding Bayern losing at home, Lin Quan actually wasn't too surprised.

Although Simeone's team lineup is indeed somewhat modest, his tactics are enough to implement his strategic style. If they were replaced by a group of famous stars, it might not work as well.

"Well, I've noticed that. Let's fight hard in the next match. Fortunately, we're not behind by much!"

Guardiola felt that Bayern's loss was somewhat unjust.

They had just set a record in the Bundesliga with the longest unbeaten streak of 53 matches, and to maintain this record, the players were physically and mentally exhausted, under immense pressure.

This pressure continued to accumulate, eventually overwhelming them, resulting in consecutive losses to Augsburg and Borussia Dortmund.

It could be said that during this period, Bayern Munich's morale was relatively low.

At this time, not to mention Atlético Madrid, they might struggle against any other strong team.

But once they adjust, if both morale and player form bounce back, a comeback is not out of the question!

The key question is whether they can adjust the team's condition before the next round of matches a week later.

Being one goal down is not much.

At least for the peak Bayern Munich, it's definitely not a daunting task!

...

On April 27th, in the 36th round of the English Premier League, the match kicked off.

Since Manchester City had already secured the title four rounds early, manager Pellegrini fielded many substitutes for this match.

Their opponent Crystal Palace is currently 11th in the league, safe from relegation and with no hope of European competition, a team that's quite indifferent.

As a result, the game was played rather peacefully, with Manchester City securing a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Navas and Jovetić.

After the game, the entire Manchester City squad flew directly from London to Madrid to prepare for the second leg against Real Madrid three days later.

Upon arrival in Madrid, Manchester City took over Getafe's training base.

Originally, they intended to rent Atlético Madrid's training base, but Atlético, preparing for their home match against Bayern Munich, refused Manchester City's request due to concerns about tactical leaks.

This was quite normal, as both teams currently had hopes of advancing. If both were to reach the final, having seen each other's tactical preparations ahead of time would leave no secrets for the final.

Moreover, due to Lin Quan and Guardiola's relationship, Atlético Madrid was also worried that Lin Quan might leak information to Guardiola.

Upon learning of Atlético's reason for refusal, Lin Quan was a bit speechless!

What did they take him for?

Would he really spy?

He wasn't that bored yet!

Besides, Guardiola didn't need him to provide intelligence!

As one of the top coaches in football, since Simeone's tactics had already clashed with Guardiola's, Guardiola couldn't possibly be unaware.

Thinking of this, Lin Quan silently cheered for Guardiola:

"Come on, Pep, let's both defeat Atlético and meet in the final!"

...

On April 29th, at the Bernabéu Stadium.

Just 16 minutes into the game, Real Madrid had already equalized!

"Ramos! He scored a priceless header!"

"The aggregate score between the two teams is now 3-3, but Real Madrid holds two away goals. If the game ends like this, Real Madrid will advance to the final!"

"Manchester City's situation is a bit dangerous now. From the start until now, they've completely lost control on the field, succumbing to Real Madrid's strong offense!"

At the moment Ramos scored, the Bernabéu Stadium erupted in thunderous applause.

Many of the Real Madrid fans attending the game were successful individuals from upper-class society. They held their identities with pride, so they didn't shout loudly like typical home fans; they restrained themselves, using applause to encourage the players.

But judging from the volume of the applause at the scene, these "gentlemen" were indeed quite excited.

Finally, finally they were about to storm into the Champions League final!

It had been 12 years!

Real Madrid and their fans had waited too long!

The hero of the goal, Ramos, was also excited, sliding along the sidelines to celebrate.

Although he wasn't a product of Real Madrid's youth academy, he had been with the club for 9 years, making him the player with the longest tenure at Real Madrid besides Casillas!

During his time at Real Madrid, after the initial period following the "Galácticos" era when the club's European performance gradually declined, Ramos and the team experienced failure after failure in the Champions League!

At the most difficult times, Real Madrid even fell in the Round of 16 year after year.

After enduring through that toughest period, Real Madrid finally ushered in a renaissance.

As a veteran of Real Madrid, having weathered so many years of ups and downs with the team, Ramos had deep feelings for Real Madrid.

As long as they could defeat Manchester City, they would return to the final after 12 years, aiming for their historic 10th Champions League trophy.

And this trophy, Real Madrid has waited far too long for it.

On the sidelines, Ancelotti appeared even more excited than the players.

At the moment of the goal, he raised his hands in excitement, running along the sidelines, not even noticing the gum falling out of his mouth.

On the other side, Manchester City's coach Pellegrini wore a deeply troubled expression, with a furrowed brow.

Given Real Madrid's formidable attacking prowess and Manchester City's current lead, Pellegrini opted for a defensive counter-attack strategy in the away game.

This tactical choice was very practical; with Real Madrid trailing, they would inevitably push forward.

As long as Manchester City seized their counter-attacking chances and scored a few successful counter-attacks, they could expand their lead and secure valuable away goals.

His calculations were good, but the game's situation was far from what he expected.

He anticipated that Real Madrid would attack, but he didn't expect their offense to be so fierce.

Playing at home, Real Madrid seemed like an entirely different team; their attacks were even more ferocious and unstoppable compared to the previous match.

What surprised Pellegrini even more was that the lone wolves on Real Madrid's wings in the last match were now cooperating.

Their partnership injected immense power into Real Madrid's attacks.

Ramos' goal from the corner kick was initiated by Bale passing to Ronaldo in the front, who then took the shot.

Defending against Ronaldo and Bale individually was already challenging for Manchester City.

Once they successfully combined their efforts, achieving a synergy where one plus one was greater than two, it became nearly impossible for Manchester City to defend against them!

Moreover, there was also Modric on the field.

In several of Real Madrid's attacks, it was often this diminutive Croatian who delivered the decisive blows!

To limit his impact, a strong defensive midfielder was needed!

However, Manchester City didn't have such a player in their lineup!

Thinking this, Pellegrini glanced at the team's substitutes.

After serving a ten-game ban within the team, Fernandinho was finally eligible to play again.

However, the Brazilian chose not to apologize to Pellegrini, even after serving the ban.

This left Pellegrini somewhat hesitant; should he put him on the field?

...

Seeing the team fall behind from the start, Lin Quan felt somewhat helpless.

During this period, even he had returned outside the penalty area to participate in defense, but Real Madrid's offense was just too intense.

They had too many scoring threats up front: Benzema, Ronaldo, Bale, Isco, Modric, plus two full-backs skilled in assists, one good at long shots like Xabi Alonso, and Ramos, who excelled at headers.

With so many threats to defend against, how could they possibly hold on?

The result of these ten-plus minutes proved that when facing a team like Real Madrid, a defensive counter-attack strategy was ineffective!

They weren't Atlético Madrid; they couldn't produce the same effect.

Therefore, they had to attack to defeat Real Madrid!

Although the aggregate score was the same, Manchester City was already trailing at this point!

So, their defensive counter-attacks naturally couldn't work anymore; after the restart, the players immediately launched a fierce counter-attack against Real Madrid.

However, Real Madrid's defense today was particularly robust. Having learned their lesson from the last encounter, they didn't give Lin Quan a chance to break into the penalty area.

Just as Lin Quan was approaching the penalty area with the ball, Pepe brought him down.

The referee awarded a free kick but didn't show a card, leaving Manchester City's players very dissatisfied.

Lin Quan discussed with De Bruyne; the distance was within shooting range for both of them.

"Go ahead, Kevin. Casillas was my teammate in the national team; he understands my shooting habits better!"

Lin Quan gave the opportunity to De Bruyne, who nodded and slowly stepped back, preparing to take the free kick.

After a run-up of seven or eight steps, De Bruyne struck the ball fiercely with a high-quality lofted shot.

However, true to his nickname "Saint Iker," Casillas not only guessed the direction correctly but also managed to palm away De Bruyne's shot with one hand.

This made Lin Quan furrow his brow!

Casillas had indeed studied the lofted shot!

Was this based on video analysis of his and De Bruyne's free kicks, or was it from sharing experiences with another master of the lofted shot, Ronaldo, within the team?

Regardless, next time he took a free kick, he couldn't use the lofted shot!

Lin Quan thought about the move he had learned from Ronaldo since childhood!

He wondered how effective that move would be?

Chapter 270: Dawn in Adversity

The Bernabéu fans applauded Casillas, thanking him for his spectacular saves that kept the goal intact.

On the sidelines, Ancelotti sensed danger. He called over Xabi Alonso and whispered some instructions into his ear.

He instructed them to focus on protecting the defense and reduce the number of fouls near the penalty area.

Xabi Alonso nodded repeatedly and quickly relayed Ancelotti's advice.

Ancelotti's adjustments quickly stabilized Real Madrid's defense. After thwarting Manchester City's counterattack, they regained control of the game.

Benzema, who had been almost invisible in the previous match, performed exceptionally well this game.

His movements, pulls, and passes in the front created numerous opportunities for his teammates Ronaldo and Bale.

In the 27th minute, Benzema provided a pass to Ronaldo, who shot and hit the goalpost.

The Bernabéu let out a collective sigh, with countless Real Madrid fans clutching their heads in frustration.

Ronaldo was a bit disappointed but still gave Benzema a thumbs-up.

Just two minutes later, Benzema and Bale combined, assisting each other to penetrate the penalty area for a shot.

Bale's shot wasn't as good as Ronaldo's. Perhaps he learned it from Nunes, aiming for the far corner but missing badly, wasting Benzema's quick pass.

Benzema shook his head inwardly. "These two guys, their shooting skills aren't even close to mine?"

"I should just do it myself!"

In the 42nd minute, Modric started controlling the game's tempo. Real Madrid's intense offensive seemed to be slowing down.

However, just as Manchester City players breathed a sigh of relief after withstanding Real Madrid's onslaught, Benzema saw Modric look up and without hesitation, intelligently sprinted forward near the penalty area.

Almost simultaneously, Modric delivered a precise through pass, slipping neatly between two Manchester City defenders.

Great pass!

Benzema silently applauded Modric's pass. After receiving the ball, he adjusted his position and aimed for the corner of the goal, scoring with a high-quality shot.

The shot was of such high quality that Joe Hart was helpless, not even making an attempt to save it before the ball went in.

Benzema felt good after scoring and looked up to see the ball flying into Manchester City's goal.

He raised both hands, ready to celebrate!

However, the linesman's flag was up; the goal was ruled offside.

The slow-motion replay showed Benzema had started his run slightly early, ahead of Manchester City defenders by half a body length.

Benzema and the Real Madrid fans celebrated prematurely!

Although the goal was disallowed, Benzema didn't feel too disheartened. He felt he was in excellent form today.

If he continued playing like this, scoring would only be a matter of time.

This shot startled Manchester City's defenders, who intensified their marking on Benzema for the remainder of the half, denying him further shooting opportunities.

The score remained 1-0 at halftime.

The Real Madrid players seemed very satisfied with this result, chatting and smiling as they left the field.

On the other hand, the faces of Manchester City players became more serious.

Throughout the first half, Manchester City failed to create any significant opportunities.

With the experience from the last match, they thought they understood Real Madrid's strength.

Yet, Real Madrid played like a different team at home compared to away, catching Manchester City off guard. Several players' confidence began to waver.

During halftime, Pellegrini made adjustments to their attacking strategy. Being behind against Real Madrid, the defensive counter-attack tactic was no longer viable.

However, the second half proved that Pellegrini's adjustments had little effect.

Apart from Lin Quan's threatening shot based on individual skill, Manchester City struggled to threaten Real Madrid's goal.

In contrast, Real Madrid's offense became smoother and smoother.

In the 57th minute of the second half, Real Madrid stole the ball in midfield, and Modric once again made a deadly through pass.

This time, instead of seeking Ronaldo or Bale, he found Benzema making a skillful run.

Benzema's excellent performance at the end of the first half earned Modric's trust, believing Benzema could surprise him.

Benzema didn't disappoint Modric. With his back to the goal, he flicked the ball and quickly turned before Kompany could block him, volleying the ball into the far corner of the goal, extending Real Madrid's lead!

The score became 2-0!

The aggregate score was now rewritten to 4-3!

This time, before celebrating, Benzema glanced at the linesman. Seeing no flag raised, he excitedly celebrated!

If Ramos' goal established a certain advantage for Real Madrid, then Benzema's goal now almost secured victory for Real Madrid.

Due to the away goals rule, Manchester City needed to score two goals to advance to the final!

With just over thirty minutes left in the game, scoring two goals at the Bernabéu was a daunting task!

This time, the Bernabéu erupted not only with warm applause but also with cheers echoing incessantly. Under immense joy, even those who considered themselves successful individuals couldn't contain their excitement.

In a certain section of the Bernabéu stands, Pep Guardiola, the Bayern Munich manager in Madrid preparing for tomorrow's match against Atlético, shook his head as he watched Manchester City playing so defensively.

If it were him, he would choose to substitute Yaya Touré with Fernandinho.

For Manchester City to overturn this, they must gain control of the midfield; otherwise, Real Madrid's attacks will continue wave after wave.

Stopping one wave is meaningless because Real Madrid's attacks are endless.

Pellegrini also realized this, although Fernandinho hadn't admitted his mistake to him yet.

But from the current match situation, the team needed him on the field!

Thinking this, Pellegrini looked towards Fernandinho, instructing his assistant coach to go remind him to warm up.

Upon hearing his name, Fernandinho quickly jumped up from the bench and ran along the sideline, warming up around the pitch.

Clearly, he had been ready to come on.

Although he still disagreed with the head coach, he wouldn't refuse Pellegrini's decision to send him onto the field at this time.

Just as Pellegrini was preparing to make the substitution, Ancelotti began adjusting personnel first.

The Manchester City coaching staff had expected their opponents to settle for defending by substituting in defensive players to secure their lead. But seeing the players Ancelotti was bringing on, the entire Manchester City coaching staff was stunned!

Ancelotti didn't strengthen the defense but instead continued to bolster the attack.

He substituted Isco for the Angel of the Wing—Di María!

Di María and Fernandinho came on consecutively. The difference was one was an attacking player, the other defensive.

Based on this substitution alone, it seemed like Real Madrid was trailing Manchester City in the lead. However, the actual result was quite the opposite.

Manchester City didn't replace Yaya Touré but rather Kroos.

Clearly, Pellegrini believed Kroos hadn't performed well in this match, hence the decision to replace him.

Seeing the Chilean's decision, Guardiola was dumbfounded.

Pellegrini substituted Fernandinho in to protect Kroos, right?

Why replace Kroos?

He couldn't understand this decision!

Seeing the substitution board on the sidelines, Kroos was a bit frustrated, walking towards the sidelines with his head down in silence.

He hadn't played well in this match because Real Madrid's attack was too fierce, forcing him to bear a heavy defensive burden.

Kroos's defensive capabilities were not exceptional, and coupled with facing a group of top stars, his defensive performance naturally fell short of expectations.

What's more, after wasting too much energy on defense, his performance on the offensive end was poor, unable to deliver precise long passes like he did in the previous match.

Moreover, due to the fierce pressure from Real Madrid players, Kroos found it difficult to control the tempo of the game several times, ending in failure.

Being substituted early now left Kroos unavoidably feeling somewhat frustrated.

The team was behind in score, and he was taken off early, now sitting on the bench watching the match like a spectator, unable to influence the outcome anymore.

He had a strong feeling that Manchester City would lose away and lose their hope of advancing!

It wasn't just him; Lin Quan also had the same feeling.

After Fernandinho came on, although he successfully froze Modric, Di María became active in the frontcourt again. His cooperation with Ronaldo, Benzema, and others continuously troubled Manchester City's defense.

Time passed by second by second, and the score remained 2-0.

What's worse, Real Madrid still held the advantage on the field.

This convinced Real Madrid fans that their team would definitely win this match and advance to the final.

Thus, the Bernabéu began echoing with chants:

"Come on Madrid! Noble and dignified! Come on Madrid! Fight with all your might! Defend your noble white!"

...

Under the cheers, the Real Madrid players became more and more excited, more and more active.

In the 73rd minute of the second half, Di María dribbled to the sideline and, after two consecutive one-twos with Bale, charged towards the edge of Manchester City's penalty area.

Just as he was about to dribble into Manchester City's penalty area to take a shot, he was suddenly fouled and lost the ball.

The stadium erupted in uproar. Real Madrid fans focused and saw that the one who fouled wasn't a Manchester City defender but their number 10, Lin Quan.

Lin Quan had observed earlier that Di María liked to move to the left side, so he waited specifically here to defend against him.

As it turned out, his judgment was accurate. Di María indeed dribbled in from the left and aimed to shoot.

Lin Quan lunged towards the ball with a clean tackle. He didn't touch Di María at all. Even though Di María exaggeratedly flopped into Manchester City's penalty area, Lin Quan paid no attention. He quickly got up from the ground, passed the ball to De Bruyne, and then sprinted at full speed towards Real Madrid's half.

De Bruyne was similarly unaffected by Di María's dramatic fall in Manchester City's penalty area. After receiving Lin Quan's pass, he quickly delivered a through ball, bypassing Real Madrid's midfield and sending the ball near the center circle.

The pass was exquisite, helping Lin Quan evade the interception of Real Madrid's midfield!

After receiving the ball, Lin Quan rapidly advanced towards Real Madrid's half, getting closer and closer to their goal.

Boos erupted in the stadium. Real Madrid fans were particularly displeased with Manchester City, especially Lin Quan's actions.

They believed it was not only a vicious foul but also lacked sportsmanship, continuing the attack even when a player was injured.

However, the main referee was nearby and saw clearly that Lin Quan did not make contact with anyone. Therefore, he did not call a foul but signaled for the game to continue.

Seeing the referee's decision, the Real Madrid players were instantly in disarray.

Most of them were out of position since the opponents had already dribbled past half the field.

"Quick, quick, defend!"

Vice-captain Ramos roared and rushed towards Lin Quan first.

He was closest to Lin Quan and intended to try and block him.

If he couldn't block him, Ramos was prepared to use tactical fouling to stop Manchester City's counterattack.

Lin Quan understood Ramos's intentions very clearly. He didn't give Ramos a chance to foul.

Seeing Ramos charging aggressively towards him, Lin Quan kicked the ball past Ramos and evaded his tackle!

Seeing Lin Quan evade Ramos in this manner, Bale, who was lazily tracking back on the sideline, was stunned.

Why did this move feel so familiar?

The home fans of Real Madrid sensed the danger of conceding a goal. They desperately booed, trying to disturb Lin Quan.

Casillas decisively chose to rush out when Ramos was pressing Lin Quan. The area inside and outside Real Madrid's penalty area was completely open. If he didn't come out, it would be like waiting for death.

Rather than waiting for death, he chose to take the chance when Lin Quan passed Ramos to compete for the ball!

Casillas judged that he had a chance to get to the ball because Lin Quan had kicked it quite far, almost in between the two players!

As long as he could get a touch on the ball first, he could disrupt it!

Real Madrid fans saw Casillas rushing out and stopped booing Lin Quan. They all nervously stood up, craning their necks to watch the field, waiting for the verdict of fate!

Casillas was already quite fast, but what shocked him was that Lin Quan was even faster.

The match had already gone on for over seventy minutes, yet he still had this kind of speed!

Casillas's pupils contracted suddenly as he realized the danger.

He feared that he wouldn't be able to get to the ball before Lin Quan!

So, gritting his teeth, Casillas chose to slide tackle, trying to disrupt the ball.

Lin, give it up. Even if you score this goal, Manchester City will still be behind by one goal.

And you might get seriously injured from this shot. It's really not worth it, so please give it up!

However, within Casillas's line of sight, Lin Quan resolutely lifted his foot and kicked towards the football.

He didn't dodge!

Chapter 271: Diving and Penalty

With a sudden jolt, Guardiola stood up, his face tense as he watched the field.

Sharing the same feelings was Spain's national team coach, Bosque, who was also present at the scene.

Less than two months remained until the World Cup opening. As Spain's absolute core player, if Lin Quan were injured, how could Spain continue?

On Manchester City's bench, Pellegrini was feeling the same.

Lin Quan was also the core of Manchester City. If he had to leave the field due to injury, their attacking system would collapse, and there would be no chance of a comeback in this game.

"He's really giving it his all!"

On the Real Madrid bench, seeing Lin Quan being tackled and the ball rolling into the Real Madrid goal, Ancelotti couldn't help but sigh.

Players as determined as Lin Quan on the field had been rare for a long time!

The Real Madrid fans who had been booing Lin Quan all along now fell silent.

Though they were opponents, the spirit and effort shown by the opponent moved them, making it impossible to continue booing Lin Quan.

"Ah, this guy, good-looking, talented, and with great skills, yet he's also so determined. It's a pity he's not with our Real Madrid!"

"Yeah, if Lin had joined Real Madrid last year, forget about this year's Champions League, we would have had the capability to chase it for the next ten years!"

In the Manchester City penalty area, after all the shouting from his diving and wailing, Di María got up as if nothing had happened and then witnessed his captain tackle Lin Quan.

Even though it was almost across the entire pitch, seeing that impactful scene still made Di María's heart skip a beat.

If it were him who got tackled like that, he felt his leg would have been broken!

On the field, Manchester City players rushed towards Lin Quan, concerned about his injury.

Manchester City's team doctor quickly came on to examine Lin Quan's condition.

Lin Quan clenched his teeth, sweating profusely from the pain on his forehead.

Casillas had kicked him squarely in the frontal bone with the ball. He felt like he might faint from the pain.

Fortunately, his innate immunity to injury prevented him from being seriously hurt, leaving only intense pain. Otherwise, the consequences wouldn't have been so simple!

Manchester City's medical team initially thought Lin Quan had suffered a serious injury. However, after examining him, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

Lin Quan's injury was much milder than they had imagined.

Thinking back to similar situations Lin Quan had faced in previous matches, they could only attribute it to his extraordinary natural gifts; they couldn't find any other reason.

Just like how some people are naturally injury-prone while others rarely get hurt, this was related to his physique!

Despite making this judgment, they still didn't dare to be careless and planned to carry Lin Quan off on a stretcher for further observation and to administer anti-inflammatory treatment.

On the sideline, Pellegrini called Negredo over, preparing to substitute Lin Quan.

However, at that moment, he saw Lin Quan limping to his feet, rejecting the team doctor's suggestion to rest on the sideline.

He gestured to Pellegrini, indicating he could continue to endure and play.

Pellegrini hesitated for a moment, glanced at the scoreboard, nodded at Lin Quan, and signaled that if he couldn't hold on, they would make a substitution immediately.

Seeing Lin Quan stand up and choose to continue fighting, the Manchester City fans who had come to the away game collectively rose and gave Lin Quan warm applause.

"Lin, you don't have to push yourself so hard. It's okay to lose..."

"Yeah, Lin, take care of your body first!"

"Sigh, so moved. What have we done to deserve such a dedicated player at Manchester City?"

"It's not just about dedication; if Lin Quan continues to play like this, he'll definitely become a spiritual totem for Manchester City!"

Seeing Lin Quan limping towards the center circle to restart the game, sporadic applause also rose from the Real Madrid fans.

Although Lin Quan's goal had brought a sense of danger, their opponent's tenacious fighting spirit and determination still earned their admiration.

"Lin, are you sure your injury is okay?"

Passing by the Real Madrid half, Xavi Alonso asked with concern.

Though they were opponents in this match, they were teammates in the national team.

Xavi Alonso was worried that Lin Quan's insistence on playing with an injury might worsen his own condition, affecting his participation in the World Cup.

"I'm fine, it's just a knock, a bit painful but I'll be fine after a rest!"

Xavi Alonso took a look. From the outside, there didn't seem to be any obvious signs of injury, but he hoped what Lin Quan said was true!

Lin Quan's goal had changed the score to 2:1, leveling the aggregate score at 4:4.

This score still gave Real Madrid a slight advantage because they had one more away goal than Manchester City.

If this score held until the final whistle, Real Madrid would still advance.

However, this was the Bernabéu, and how could Real Madrid settle for just a draw?

There was no reason for that!

Therefore, after the restart, Real Madrid once again launched a fierce attack against Manchester City.

Di María, despite his penchant for diving, is still highly skilled.

With Modrić frozen out, Real Madrid relied on the overlapping runs of their two full-backs to attack forcefully down both wings.

During these moments, Di María frequently collaborated with the wide players, providing them with firepower support, and pulling away central defenders, thereby creating space for teammates to make penetrating runs.

In the 81st minute, Di María dribbled past defenders and forcefully shot on target, only to be intercepted by Joe Hart.

Two minutes later, in nearly the same position, the Argentine again made a move, but this time opted to pass to a teammate.

Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Benzema were signaling for the ball, with Benzema in a slightly better position.

However, Di María chose to pass to Ronaldo, after all, who could argue with the team's leader?

Ronaldo, feeling a bit rushed, blasted the ball into the stands, leaving Di María rolling his eyes.

He thought, "I should have passed to Benzema!"

Seeing Ronaldo's decision, Benzema lowered his hand in resignation.

In a team hierarchy, if you don't assert yourself, you'll never rise to the top, unless you can outlast these big names.

But he's only two years younger than Ronaldo and even older than Bale, so relying on longevity isn't a feasible strategy.

Forget it, with my current level, I'd better just be a supporting player. If I want to lead, I might have to move to a mid-table team.

It's better to stay at Real Madrid than go to a mid-table team; after all, with Real Madrid, you win more and achieving results is easier. With this squad, as long as there are no major changes, we can challenge for the Champions League many times in the next few years!

Seeing Di María so active, Yaya Touré began to increase his defensive focus on him.

But the Argentine slipped away like an eel, having come on only in the second half, his physical condition was better than Yaya Touré's.

So, instead of engaging with Yaya Touré directly, Di María opted for quick passes or quick receptions while on the move, quickly distributing the ball.

This constant movement and positional changes made Yaya Touré's defense very difficult.

If this had been the first half, Yaya Touré could have easily marked Di María, but it was now the 80-plus minutes, and he was really feeling exhausted!

Di María keenly observed this. In the 87th minute, he pretended to retreat, tricking Yaya Touré into following him, then suddenly accelerated, leaving Yaya Touré behind and turned back.

At the same time, the ball came to a teammate.

Yaya Touré was a step slower and couldn't keep up with Di María, who took advantage of the situation to enter the penalty area.

Demichelis rushed over to intercept Di María, but Di María dribbled past him.

Di María's shot was a bit exaggerated, and the ball was slightly out of his control. Just as he felt he had messed up, he felt someone tug at him from behind and immediately screamed and fell to the ground.

Whistle!

The referee pointed to the penalty spot.

Demichelis felt very wronged. He had only turned around and brushed against Di María, who exaggeratedly fell as if hit by a heavy hammer.

This was a dive!

The referee couldn't see it clearly, and coupled with Di María's exaggerated cry, he ignored Demichelis' appeals and insisted on his decision.

Ronaldo didn't care about all that. He came to the penalty spot with the ball, ready to take the penalty.

He was Real Madrid's number one penalty taker, and although Di María had created this penalty, he wasn't qualified to take it.

Di María was pulled up by his teammates and retreated outside the penalty area, looking somewhat resentfully at Ronaldo.

"I created this penalty, why can't I take it? I haven't scored in this game yet!"

Ronaldo didn't care. He hadn't scored either and needed a penalty goal to boost his confidence.

Besides, I'm competing with Lin Quan for the Champions League Golden Boot. What's it to you?

How many goals have you scored?

Ronaldo was already one goal behind Lin Quan. In this game, Lin Quan had scored again, widening the gap to two goals between them.

Seeing that there were only a few games left in the Champions League, if he couldn't close the gap as much as possible in this match, it would be difficult to catch up with Lin Quan in the final.

Throughout history, finals have been conservative affairs, driven by the allure of the trophy. Scorelines tend not to be exaggerated, unlike the Istanbul Miracle, where six goals were scored in a final, a rare event in Champions League history in decades.

If Ronaldo scored this penalty, he could narrow the gap to just one goal.

That way, if I score another goal in the final, I can catch up with Lin Quan.

As for overtaking Lin Quan, it looks difficult at the moment, and hopes are slim!

Joe Hart bounced around in front of the goal, trying to unsettle Ronaldo and apply psychological pressure.

But Ronaldo had a big heart; his penalty success rate was very high.

So, in their duel, poor Joe Hart was completely fooled. After seeing Ronaldo's steps, he judged that Ronaldo would shoot to the top left corner, only to find after diving that Ronaldo had shot straight down the middle.

If he hadn't dived, he could have stood still and still stopped it.

You could say Ronaldo has both skill and nerve!

After scoring this goal, Ronaldo ran to the sideline, leapt high, and struck his iconic celebration pose.

In the previous match at the Etihad Stadium, his celebration was met with a chorus of boos from the Manchester City fans.

But this time, at the Bernabéu, he received enthusiastic applause and cheers from over 80,000 spectators.

Yeah, that's the feeling!

That feeling of being in the spotlight, the center of attention, with everyone cheering for me!

Ronaldo really enjoys this feeling!

Real Madrid's players rushed towards Ronaldo, excitedly embracing him.

Ronaldo's goal changed the score to 3-1. With just a few minutes left in the game, you could say Real Madrid had one foot in the final.

Manchester City's players looked disheartened. Conceding a goal at this point was a heavy blow to their morale.

Everyone's energy levels were severely depleted. At this moment, they were hanging on by a thread, but Real Madrid's goal was like a pin deflating their spirit.

"No worries, we just need one goal!"

Lin Quan retrieved the ball from the goal and walked over, comforting his teammates:

"Even if they don't score again, we still need to score at least one goal. And now that they've scored, we just need one goal!"

Upon hearing Lin Quan's words, Manchester City players' eyes lit up.

Yes!

If they score another goal, they'll equalize on away goals with Real Madrid.

Then it'll be extra time!

Before Real Madrid scored this goal, if Manchester City scores again, they could advance to the final on away goals.

But after Real Madrid scored, if Manchester City scores again, they can only equalize the gap between the two teams, and both sides will have to play extra time or even a penalty shootout!

Thinking of this, Manchester City players instantly regained their morale, each one reigniting their fighting spirit!

Real Madrid has nothing to fear; let's compete with them!

As the game restarted, Real Madrid's players were still immersed in joy, but suddenly they noticed the Manchester City players across from them, eyes red, charging towards them like enraged bulls!

Although Pellegrini's substitutions were criticized by Guardiola, taking off Kroos deprived Manchester City of their midfield organizer and threat from long passes.

Although De Bruyne had good passing ability, he played too high up the field and was easily restricted.

This was why Manchester City's second-half attack lacked threat and had to rely on Lin Quan's individual skills to create opportunities.

But Fernandinho's addition hardened Manchester City's midfield.

Once he adapted to the game's pace, he and Yaya Touré formed a strong defensive duo, shutting down almost all of Real Madrid's attacks from the center.

In the 89th minute, seeing Angel Di María sticking too close to the ball, Fernandinho decisively stepped in and, with his teammates' support, wrested the ball away from Di María.

Nearby, Real Madrid players immediately pressed him, wanting to regain possession and stop Manchester City's counterattack.

Fernandinho only had time to glance in Lin Quan's direction before kicking the ball forward with all his might!

Go, Lin!

This pass was similar to Manchester City's aerial bombardment tactics against Barcelona, kicking the ball from the back to find their forwards in the front.

Real Madrid had obviously watched that game, so seeing Manchester City play this way surprised them all.

If Lin Quan gets the ball, the defense line is in danger!

Absolutely cannot give him the chance to receive the ball!

This was the consensus in the hearts of almost all Real Madrid defenders at that moment!

Chapter 272: S-shaped free kick reappears, 18 goals in a single Champions League season!

"Manchester City intercepted the ball, Fernandinho's long pass!"

"Lin, he's got the ball!"

"Oh no, Lin has been brought down. It's a foul by Xabi Alonso, and the referee shows him a yellow card."

On the CCTV commentary panel, seeing Lin Quan brought down by Real Madrid's player, He Wei and Xu Yang couldn't help but sigh.

"If Lin Quan had gotten that ball, it could have been another goal, but Real Madrid clearly didn't give him the chance."

"Yes, Xabi Alonso wasn't the last defender, but he still committed a tactical foul, showing Real Madrid's decisiveness!"

If Xabi Alonso had been the last defender when he fouled, it would have been a red card instead of a yellow card.

Xabi Alonso reached out and helped Lin Quan up, apologizing sincerely: "Sorry, Lin!"

Lin Quan nodded without saying a word.

Everyone is focused on their own responsibilities. Xabi Alonso showed the professionalism expected of a player; he had nothing to criticize.

Moreover, compared to a harsh tackle, physically pulling someone down causes less harm to the player, at least avoiding easy injuries.

Of course, because the opponent went straight for it, Lin Quan couldn't avoid this foul.

Obviously, Real Madrid had prepared for Manchester City's counterattack. Not only did center-back Pepe stay back to defend, but Xabi Alonso also remained near the midfield line, ready to support at any moment.

Lin Quan placed the ball where Xabi Alonso committed the foul.

This spot was approximately 42 meters away from the goal, a very long distance.

Most free kick techniques are ineffective from this distance, but perhaps one move could work!

"Lin, why don't you let me take it? I've got a strong foot and power!"

Yaya Touré stepped forward and said to Lin Quan upon seeing the distance.

There wasn't much time left until regular time ended. This free kick was crucial for Manchester City; if they didn't convert, they might be eliminated by Real Madrid.

"No, you go into the penalty area to contest for headers!"

Lin Quan shook his head, rejecting Yaya Touré's offer.

He wasn't sure if he could succeed with this shot. If not, there might still be a chance if Yaya Touré and a few other tall players contested for headers in the penalty area.

Yaya Touré nodded and, along with Kompany and other central defenders, charged towards Real Madrid's penalty area, preparing to fight for headers.

This attack saw almost all of Manchester City's forces in action, except for the goalkeeper, with most of them crossing the half-line and many rushing into Real Madrid's penalty area.

Real Madrid were on high alert, deploying many players to mark Manchester City's tall targets one-on-one.

This free kick was too far away, so they judged that Lin Quan was unlikely to shoot directly; most likely, he would cross into the penalty area for a header.

The game was about to end, and Real Madrid didn't want to risk all their previous efforts with a simple set-piece tactic from the opponents.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale stood about ten meters away from Lin Quan, hands covering their groins, looking serious as they stared at Lin Quan not far away.

Sometimes, even Ronaldo couldn't help but admire this guy.

Clearly behind in score, the team was about to be eliminated, yet there seemed to be no nervous or despondent expression on this guy's face, just calm composure.

For some reason, seeing his calm demeanor, Ronaldo suddenly felt a bit uncertain.

He glanced back at the densely packed players in the Real Madrid penalty area, feeling a ridiculous thought arise in his mind:

Could this guy actually shoot directly?

Ronaldo shook his head, shaking off this ridiculous thought.

At this distance, unless it was a top-tier free kick master like Juninho, ordinary people had no chance of threatening the goal.

Lin Quan adjusted the position of the ball, took a step back behind it, then retreated six or seven steps and stopped.

Bernabéu Stadium echoed with boos once again, with Real Madrid fans as nervous as Manchester City fans.

If this shot went in, both teams would be back to the starting line, with the total score tied and away goals equal.

If they couldn't score again during injury time, they might be dragged into extra time.

If after extra time neither side managed to determine a winner, the game would enter the most brutal penalty shootout phase.

This was Bernabéu, Real Madrid's home ground. If dragged into injury time, one goal from Manchester City counted as two, meaning they would need to score two more goals.

Such a result would be highly unfavorable for Real Madrid, so they absolutely had to defend against this shot!

Real Madrid fans couldn't help but pray silently that this shot wouldn't go in.

And Manchester City fans were also praying, but for the opposite outcome—hoping this shot would go in.

At this moment, whether Real Madrid fans, Manchester City fans, or neutral fans, all eyes were focused on Lin Quan.

His shot would determine the fate of these two teams.

Lin Quan took a deep breath, glanced at the goal behind him, and started his run-up.

Step by step, Lin Quan approached the ball.

Within a few meters, Lin Quan leaned back, his power focused on his right leg, swinging fiercely at the football.

Bang! A loud sound echoed as the ball soared high like a fired cannon shell.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale jumped with all their might but failed to touch the ball.

The ball soared over the defensive wall, entering the penalty area, heading straight for the goal.

With a clear curve, Casillas anticipated the ball to the right side of the goal and instinctively moved in that direction.

However, as he completed his movement, the ball suddenly curved.

This...

Casillas widened his eyes, his face full of disbelief.

Juninho's S-shaped free kick?!

As a victim of Lyon against Real Madrid, Casillas had faced Juninho's signature move many times in the Champions League.

Upon seeing the ball, Casillas immediately recognized it as Juninho's renowned skill.

Reacting swiftly, he forcibly twisted his body mid-movement, diving towards the opposite direction of his initial move.

This was already Casillas' limit!

However, the ball fell into the net, a good two to three meters away from him.

Casillas had absolutely no chance to touch it!

The Santiago Bernabéu fell into silence as Real Madrid fans looked on in disbelief at the football falling into their net.

It was a goal!

They couldn't help but rub their eyes, as if the result was just an illusion.

However, no matter how much they rubbed their eyes, they couldn't change the fact that the football lay securely in Real Madrid's net.

The first to react were Manchester City's players. Seeing the referee signal a valid goal, they went wild, rushing towards Lin Quan!

"Lin, that was brilliant!"

"Haha, is this the game-winning goal against Real Madrid?"

"Fantastic, we've leveled the score!"

Players exclaimed, each more excited than the last.

Originally fearing elimination, Lin Quan's free kick had pulled them from the brink.

On social media and in commentary boxes, fans and pundits were even more excited than Manchester City's players!

"Wow, Lin's S-shaped free kick!"

"So powerful, scoring twice at Bernabéu!"

"How many Champions League goals is this for Lin this season?"

"18 goals in a single season, unparalleled!"

"Ronaldo finally equalized with a penalty, and now he's two goals behind again!"

"Ronaldo must be devastated!"

...

On the field, Ronaldo stood with his hands on his hips, watching Lin Quan being surrounded by Manchester City players.

He instinctively glanced at the scoreboard: 3-2, Real Madrid still led by one goal.

But after Lin Quan's goal, both the overall score and away goals were now tied.

All of Real Madrid's advantages had vanished in an instant.

And the goal Ronaldo had fought so hard for now seemed almost ridiculous.

Could this guy really be unbeatable?

At this moment, Ronaldo forgot about Messi, focusing solely on the threat from Lin Quan.

Benzema was also stunned by Lin Quan's goal, but his reaction was one of admiration!

Truly worthy of being his mentor, Lin Quan was still so formidable!

After the celebrations, captain Kompany stepped forward to remind everyone:

"No complacency. The game isn't over yet. We need to hold on for these last few minutes and not let Real Madrid snatch victory from us."

They knew well the attacking prowess of Real Madrid. Any relaxation on their part could give the opponent a chance and result in punishment from Real Madrid.

So, they needed to grit their teeth and endure the remaining time!

After Manchester City's celebrations ended, regular time concluded, and the referee added 5 minutes of stoppage time.

This decision displeased Manchester City fans, who felt the added time was excessive.

Now it was Real Madrid's turn to mount a full-scale assault. They certainly wouldn't accept being dragged into dangerous extra time or penalty shootouts by Manchester City.

Therefore, in these five minutes, they would give everything to attack.

For Manchester City, these final moments would be incredibly challenging.

And indeed, after the kick-off, Real Madrid launched a furious onslaught against Manchester City.

Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale, Di María, and others took turns charging towards Manchester City's goal.

Manchester City's players found themselves pressed into a tiny area just outside their own penalty box, unable to break free. Even when they managed to clear the ball, it quickly fell into the hands of Real Madrid players, restarting their attacks.

At this moment, Real Madrid's fans completely forgot their status as "successful people." They shouted and cheered like those they typically looked down upon, urging their team on with hoarse voices. This fervor injected the Real Madrid players with an almost frantic energy, fueling relentless assaults.

In the final moments, Real Madrid went completely berserk. Manchester City's defense resembled a shaky old house that seemed on the verge of collapse with the slightest nudge.

Yet, despite being this fragile structure, it stubbornly stood firm, thwarting one Real Madrid attack after another.

In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Di María fell again inside the penalty area.

Real Madrid players immediately surrounded the referee, clamoring for a penalty kick.

However, this time, the referee resisted the pressure and did not award the penalty.

"Get up, you actor!"

Demichelis saw Di María attempting to deceive the referee for a penalty kick and was instantly infuriated, rushing over to confront him.

Di María's eyes flickered as he thought of something.

He got up, glanced at the referee's position, then shoved Demichelis: "You committed a foul, yet you have the nerve to accuse me of diving for a penalty!"

"Shut up, actor! I didn't touch you at all!"

Already annoyed, Demichelis, at this moment, instinctively pushed him back.

However, to his surprise, as soon as he made contact with Di María, Di María immediately covered his face and fell to the ground in Manchester City's penalty area, rolling and groaning.

The referee, seeing the two seemingly arguing fiercely, headed their way. Witnessing Demichelis' rather 'rough' push on Di María, he didn't hesitate and promptly showed Demichelis a yellow card.

Demichelis already had one yellow card, so with this second one, he was sent off with a red card!

This outcome greatly surprised everyone associated with Manchester City. Nearby players quickly surrounded the referee, protesting and explaining that Di María had initiated the physical contact and thus Demichelis should not have received a yellow card.

After listening to Manchester City players' appeals, the referee communicated with the linesman via his earpiece, confirmed their account, and proceeded to show Di María a yellow card as well.

Di María clasped his hands together, portraying the image of a well-behaved child admitting his mistake. Yet, a slight smile curling at the corner of his mouth betrayed his inner satisfaction.

Di María had only come on in the second half and hadn't received any prior yellow cards, so one yellow card was inconsequential.

Trading one yellow card for an opponent's key defender being sent off was simply too valuable!

"Di María is quite cunning!"

"It's a shame he didn't go to Barcelona!"

"Heh, La Masia acting academy?"

"Demichelis lost his cool, falling for it!"

"He's probably still bitter about that penalty earlier!"

"Manchester City is in trouble now, about to play extra time with one man down."

On social media, fans debated the red card decision.

The referee's decisions seemed fair to both sides, but in reality, Manchester City was severely disadvantaged by the sending off.

To maintain defensive integrity, Pellegrini had no choice but to substitute an attacking player with a defender.

He brought on a defender, replacing Agüero.

Clearly, this substitution would significantly weaken Manchester City's attacking capability, making it even harder for them to threaten Real Madrid's goal.

But Manchester City had no other option.

The stoppage time soon ended with no change in score.

During the five-minute break before extra time, players couldn't enter the locker rooms, so both sides quickly gathered on the sidelines, sitting on the grass, listening to their respective coaches' tactical instructions.

For Real Madrid, it was all about attacking!

Aside from setting up offensive strategies, Ancelotti also prepared measures to counter Manchester City's counterattacks.

"At this point, Manchester City's only threat is Lin Quan. Mark him tightly, then damn well kick that football into their goal. Victory in this match will be ours!"

After swiftly briefing the tactical arrangements, Ancelotti clenched his fists tightly and said to his players.

With their opponents down to ten men and being at home, if they couldn't secure a win now, and even ended up being dragged into a penalty shootout, they might as well collectively run into a wall of tofu!

On Manchester City's side, Pellegrini spoke up:

"Real Madrid must think we'll just defend to the death, but we only need one goal to reach the final!

Lin, once extra time starts, I need you up front. You don't have to worry about defense, your task is to seize any opportunity and damn well put that ball into their cursed net!"

Lin Quan nodded heavily. As long as his teammates could get the ball to his feet, he would risk everything to score!

"Everyone else, give your all in defense. Once we defend successfully, no matter how, get the ball to Lin and let him attack!"

Chapter 273: Manchester City's Miracle, Advances to Champions League Final!

The five-minute break ended quickly, and extra time officially began.

From the first minute of extra time, Real Madrid launched a fierce attack against Manchester City.

Manchester City strictly adhered to Pellegrini's defensive tactics, fighting tooth and nail against Real Madrid.

The situation was similar to the injury time before, with Real Madrid once again surrounding Manchester City's goal.

But Real Madrid also attacked nervously because Lin Quan was always a huge threat at the front.

However, Manchester City found it difficult to pass the ball to Lin Quan.

Under Real Madrid's siege, even when they managed to regain possession, they were either immediately pressed by the opposition or Lin Quan was tightly marked, preventing the ball from reaching him.

Real Madrid wasn't foolish. Aguero had been substituted, leaving Lin Quan as their only threat, so they naturally tightened their defense around him.

Real Madrid's defender Pepe almost stuck to Lin Quan, wherever he went.

In addition to Pepe, Real Madrid's defensive midfielder and two full-backs also frequently marked Lin Quan, ensuring there were at least two defenders around him at all times.

In this situation, he simply couldn't get the ball.

Even if he did, the opponent would foul him immediately.

With Manchester City unable to launch counterattacks, Real Madrid intensified their siege on their goal.

The first half of extra time quickly approached its end, with both teams' players experiencing significant fatigue, making it difficult to keep up.

Under pressure from Fernando's pressing, Modric managed to pass the ball to his teammate before falling.

"Let's take a look at this play!"

"Modric passes to Di Maria, who passes to Cristiano Ronaldo!"

"Ronaldo accelerates, creates space, and shoots!"

"Goal!"

"Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid's top star, stepped up when the team was in trouble this season, scoring the most crucial goal in this Champions League match!"

"With this goal, Real Madrid expands their lead, with the total score now 6:5 between the two teams!"

"This goal also means there won't be a penalty shootout in this match."

On CCTV's commentary desk, both commentators were shocked by Ronaldo's ruthless goal.

Lin Quan's outstanding performance in this match inadvertently overshadowed another superstar.

After all, Cristiano Ronaldo was on the opposing team!

Counting regular time and injury time, the players had already been on the field for over a hundred minutes.

In such circumstances, Ronaldo's explosive power and accuracy were truly unparalleled!

"Too bad for Manchester City, they've done their best, but playing with one less player has had a huge impact on the team!"

Xu Yang shook his head in regret. After this goal, Manchester City was probably unable to turn things around.

The situation in the first half of extra time was clear. With the balance of players disrupted, Real Madrid had gained a decisive advantage.

With one less threat in the front, Real Madrid had more resources to defend against Lin Quan.

This almost completely stifled Manchester City's offensive threat!

After scoring this crucial goal, Ronaldo once again ran to the sideline with his dominant celebration.

The Bernabeu erupted with cheers of "SIU"!

At this moment, Real Madrid fans were extremely grateful to have Ronaldo in their team. Without him, this game would have been much harder to predict.

Enjoying the cheers from the entire stadium and the embrace of his teammates, Ronaldo glanced towards the front and saw Lin Quan standing alone in the middle of the field.

"Lin, I admit you're strong, but my teammates are stronger!"

"And I've scored two goals now, just one goal behind you in the Champions League record!"

Ronaldo felt he was in excellent form. He was confident he could score another goal to equal Lin Quan's record in the final.

Moreover, if his performance in the final was as good as this match, perhaps he could even score twice, topping the Champions League scoring charts!

After Real Madrid finished celebrating, the first half of extra time ended.

There was no break in between extra time periods, and the second half of the match began immediately.

Trailing again, the score was unfavorable for Manchester City. Pellegrini chose to attack.

Manchester City only needed one goal to advance, so defensive tactics were undoubtedly a death sentence. Only by attacking could they have a chance.

Ancelotti admired the courage of the Chilean engineer, who turned out to be as aggressive as he had guessed.

However, this was the Bernabeu. Fighting tooth and nail against Real Madrid here?

That was seeking death!

Taking advantage of the opportunity when both teams switched sides, Lin Quan spoke with De Bruyne for a moment.

"Kevin, do you still have energy?"

De Bruyne nodded, "A little, but not much!"

"That's enough. When the time comes, watch my position and pass the ball to me!"

"You're going to take on Real Madrid's defense alone?"

De Bruyne looked at Lin Quan in doubt.

Lin Quan nodded, "Is there a better way?"

De Bruyne shook his head. Indeed, there was none.

"Alright, leave it to me. I'll do my best to get the ball to you!"

In the second half of extra time, Real Madrid still firmly held the initiative.

The Bernabeu fans danced and celebrated, seemingly celebrating their hard-won victory.

In the 25th minute of extra time, Manchester City regained possession in their own half. De Bruyne reached out early to ask for the ball.

Fernandinho hesitated for a moment but eventually passed it to him.

His moment of hesitation allowed Real Madrid players to close in.

After receiving the ball, De Bruyne used almost all his strength to turn around and glanced in the direction where Lin Quan was. He then passed the ball out!

"Lin, this is all I can do for you. The rest is up to you!"

Seeing his teammates regain possession, Lin Quan immediately withdrew, trying to shake off the Real Madrid players marking him.

Pepe couldn't let him succeed and immediately followed him.

But because Lin Quan retreated first, he was faster than Pepe, allowing him to receive De Bruyne's pass smoothly.

Pepe decisively moved forward to intercept, trying to stop Lin Quan before he turned around and let his teammates double-team him to defuse his attack.

However, as if Lin Quan had eyes on the back of his head, he flicked the ball between Pepe's legs with his heel.

Then he forcefully broke free from Pepe's pull and slipped past him.

After being tightly marked by the opponent for so long, if Lin Quan still didn't know how to deal with Pepe, then all his efforts would have been in vain!

"Stop him, quick!"

On the sidelines, Ancelotti's face changed abruptly, shouting hoarsely.

Real Madrid's defensive midfielder and full-backs rushed towards Lin Quan, hoping to break his rhythm as they had done before.

However, Lin Quan didn't give them a chance. He kicked the ball away and sprinted with all his might.

With over 120 minutes played, including injury time, the Real Madrid players had already exhausted most of their stamina.

At this point, they couldn't catch up with Lin Quan, only watching helplessly as he ran towards the ball.

Casillas once again abandoned his goal, desperately trying to intercept Lin Quan.

But Lin Quan didn't give him a chance to tackle. He dodged Casillas's tackle with a quick move to the right and headed towards Real Madrid's penalty area with the ball.

Seeing this scene, the 80,000 Real Madrid fans at the Bernabeu almost dared not open their eyes!

Manchester City's number ten dribbled into their own penalty area, where there was no one but an empty goal.

What would happen next was not hard to imagine!

Lin Quan effortlessly kicked the ball into the empty net, scoring a hat-trick at the Bernabeu!

He stood in Real Madrid's penalty area, raised his collar, surveyed the entire stadium like a king!

"Haha, here it comes, Lin Huang's iconic celebration!"

"Patrolling the Bernabeu like a king, mighty and domineering, I love it!"

"So handsome, this is too handsome!"

"Damn it, he got us again!"

Seeing Lin Quan's goal, Real Madrid's players were struck as if by lightning, each frozen in place.

Lin Quan's goal changed the score to 4:3, tying the aggregate score at 6:6, but Manchester City had three away goals.

For Real Madrid to advance to the final, they needed one more goal!

With only five minutes left and Manchester City celebrating, time was running out. Could they still make it?

Watching the figure with the raised collar, many Real Madrid players lost the courage to resist.

In the final moments, Real Madrid launched their fiercest attack, but inspired by Lin Quan's goal, Manchester City players defended their goal fiercely as if injected with adrenaline!

A few minutes later, the referee blew the final whistle.

Despite Lin Quan's hat-trick, Manchester City lost the match but advanced to the Champions League final on away goals against Real Madrid.

This was Manchester City's first-ever entry into the final, bringing them closer than ever to their first Champions League trophy in club history.

Manchester City's opponent would be the winner between Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich. Given Atletico's victory in the first leg away, the outside world favored Atletico Madrid to advance to the final.

At the moment the final whistle blew, Cristiano Ronaldo stood on the field, reluctant to leave.

"Ah, my heart aches for Ronaldo. He played so well in this match!"

"There's nothing he could do. The opponent was stronger, or should we say, Ronaldo's opponent was stronger!"

"I can't imagine how Ronaldo feels right now. He gave it his all, yet victory eluded him!"

"There was actually a gap in strength between the two teams. If it weren't for Lin Quan's explosion, Manchester City might have lost!"

The emotions between people do not always connect. Manchester City staged a comeback against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

However, Guardiola's team lost the game!

In the second leg, Atletico Madrid dominated throughout.

They defended against every attack from Bayern Munich like a disciplined army.

With two goals in both halves, Atletico Madrid defeated Bayern 2-0 at home, sweeping them 3-0 on aggregate and advancing to the final.

Poor Bayern suffered a harsh defeat, completely shut out.

Last season they shut out Barcelona, and this season another La Liga team shut them out, a form of revenge!

After Atletico Madrid defeated Bayern, the two teams to reach the Champions League final were decided.

The Champions League final would be held in 25 days at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal.

However, Manchester City was no longer concerned about this. The Champions League final was far off, and they still had another trophy to win: the FA Cup!

The Premier League season was nearing its end. Including make-up games, Manchester City had three matches left.

On May 3rd, in the 37th round of the Premier League, Manchester City challenged Everton away.

This match meant little to Manchester City, but it was crucial for Everton's ambitions to qualify for the Champions League.

The Toffees seemed to feel tired after their tough battle against Real Madrid at home. They saw an opportunity.

Thus, with the advantage of their home ground, Everton launched a fierce attack against Manchester City.

However, when the final whistle blew, Everton's fans were left devastated.

The scoreboard displayed a bright red number - 0:6!

Home team ahead, away team behind!

Everton suffered a brutal defeat at home against Manchester City. Aguero and Lin Quan both scored twice, while De Bruyne and David Silva each scored a goal.

Manchester City's ruthless victory over Everton moved Professor Wenger to tears.

Before the match, he was most worried that Manchester City, already crowned champions, would go easy on Everton.

If that happened, Arsenal's fourth place would be in jeopardy.

Fortunately, Manchester City didn't hold back and instead handed Everton a crushing defeat.

This defeat not only pushed Everton's goal difference far behind Arsenal's but also shattered their morale.

Wenger's Arsenal secured fourth place!

Whether Arsenal could successfully secure fourth place, Manchester City didn't care.

On May 8th, Manchester City returned to Etihad Stadium to face Aston Villa.

This was a rescheduled match of the 29th round of the Premier League.

Facing the notorious foul-playing Aston Villa, Manchester City played exceptionally aggressively.

Their active pressing and rough fouls turned Aston Villa, who were prone to complaining to the referee, into mere complainers.

At the end of the game, Manchester City easily defeated Aston Villa 4-0.

Mahrez scored twice, while Lin Quan and Kroos each scored a goal.

On May 11th, in the 38th round of the Premier League and the final game of the season, Manchester City hosted West Ham United at home.

In this match, Pellegrini allowed key players like Lin Quan to play only half of the game for warm-up purposes and to maintain their form before substituting them.

Even so, with goals from Lin Quan and Aguero in the first half, Manchester City still won 2-0 comfortably.

Thus, Manchester City completed their Premier League season.

In a total of 38 games, they achieved a record of 31 wins, 6 draws, and 1 loss, accumulating a total of 99 points, breaking Chelsea's record of 95 points set in the 2004-2005 Premier League season.

In addition to breaking the record for the highest points in a league season, Manchester City scored a historic high of 127 goals in these 38 games since the Premier League's reformation, second only to Aston Villa's record of 128 goals in the 1930-1931 season when there were 42 games. If these four additional games were counted, Manchester City's firepower could certainly have broken that record.

In terms of individual statistics, Lin Quan scored 52 goals in 35 appearances, leading the top scorer's list by a wide margin ahead of Suarez, and significantly breaking the single-season goal record in the Premier League.

The previous record holders were Alan Shearer and Andy Cole with 34 goals.

Lin Quan increased this record by 18 goals, achieved under the shortened Premier League season from 42 rounds to 38.

This historical record, except for Lin Quan himself, would likely be difficult for anyone else to surpass!

What makes Lin Quan even more terrifying is not just his goal tally but also his impressive number of assists.

In 35 appearances this season, Lin Quan provided 21 assists, also topping the assist chart!

Of Manchester City's 127 goals, Lin Quan alone created 73 goals, accounting for nearly sixty percent of the team's firepower.

If Barcelona lacks Messi, they struggle to play. Similarly, if Manchester City were without Lin Quan, they would likely drop a level.

Before the Premier League released each team's statistics, people didn't fully realize how terrifying Manchester City was. After the data was announced, in addition to feeling Manchester City's terror, they also felt awe for Lin Quan.

He had quietly grown to such heights!

After reviewing everyone's feedback, I found that many didn't like this section of the plot. I humbly listened to your opinions and have revised the plot accordingly.

Chapter 274: Two Champions, the Different Fates of Manchester City and Barcelona!

As May arrived, the top five leagues were all entering their final stages.

Except for La Liga, the title races in other major leagues had already been settled.

Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, and others had all secured their championships several rounds in advance.

Meanwhile, in La Liga, the title race remained undecided until the final round.

In La Liga's 37th round, Celta Vigo, coached by Enrique, secured a 2-0 victory at home against Real Madrid, shattering Real Madrid's hopes of winning the title and eliminating them from the championship race.

In the same round, Atletico Madrid, playing at home, were held to a draw by 10-man Malaga, causing a major upset.

With Atletico unexpectedly drawing, Barcelona failed to capitalize on the opportunity to catch up; they were held to a 0-0 draw away against relegation-threatened Elche.

Therefore, the suspense for the La Liga title was all set for the final showdown between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in the last round.

The difference in points between the two teams was only 3, with Barcelona leading by 16 in goal difference. As long as they could defeat Atletico Madrid at home, they could overturn Atletico and successfully defend their La Liga title.

But if they were defeated or held to a draw, they would miss out on the championship and watch their opponents lift the trophy at the Camp Nou.

For Barcelona's coach, Martino, this was a battle of life and death.

If he couldn't keep the championship at Camp Nou, then this season would be a total loss for them, with nothing achieved in the Champions League, league, or Copa del Rey.

And this would inevitably lead Barcelona to completely lose patience with him.

Losing the Champions League didn't prompt him to resign immediately because there was still hope for the league title. But if they messed up in the league as well, Barcelona wouldn't find any reason to keep him.

On May 17th, the final of the FA Cup and the last round of La Liga were played simultaneously.

These two matches would decide the fate of the last two champions of the top five leagues, apart from the Champions League.

However, Manchester City's prospects of winning the title were much better than Barcelona's!

This season marked Manchester City's third time stepping onto the Wembley Stadium pitch. Two months ago, they lifted the League Cup trophy here.

And now, they were aiming for their first-ever domestic treble in their club's history.

Manchester City faced Hull City, who were 16th in the Premier League standings. They weren't a traditional strong team, so almost everyone predicted that Manchester City would win the title.

But Hull City clearly didn't intend to give up their hard-won chance to compete for the title easily. This was Hull City's first-ever appearance in the FA Cup final in their club's history.

If they could win, it would be the most prestigious championship trophy in their club's history.

They had been lucky in the FA Cup this season, not encountering any strong teams along the way. Even in the semifinals, their opponent was a League One team.

With excellent luck and the effort of the entire team, they had reached this stage.

And they clearly hoped to continue this good fortune in the final!

Facing the newly crowned Premier League champions Manchester City, Hull City pragmatically chose to adopt a defensive strategy.

Manchester City's attacking firepower was evident, and without a defensive strategy, they risked being completely overrun.

Faced with Hull City's defensive strategy, Manchester City directly employed a possession-based approach to counter it.

The essence of possession-based tactics lies in pressing, and Manchester City executed this tactic very effectively in this match.

Pellegrini didn't choose to start with crosses; instead, he paired Fernandinho and Yaya Toure in midfield.

The sweeping capabilities of these two players made it nearly impossible for Hull City's midfield to retain possession.

In the first fifteen minutes of the game, Manchester City's possession rate reached 80% at one point!

Hull City found themselves repeatedly pressed by Manchester City within their own half, almost as if they were participating in a half-field attacking and defending drill.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in Barcelona, Barcelona were also using possession-based tactics against Simeone's Atletico Madrid.

However, their authentic possession-based tactics seemed ineffective against Atletico.

Despite enjoying possession superiority, Barcelona struggled to threaten Atletico's goal.

Fifteen minutes into the match, their number of shots on goal was even fewer than Atletico's.

At Wembley Stadium, in the 17th minute, the numbers on the scoreboard finally changed.

After a cut inside from the flank by David Silva, Aguero finished first with an assist inside the penalty area, rewriting the score to 1-0.

This goal ignited the atmosphere at Wembley Stadium, and countless Manchester City fans in attendance erupted in cheers.

This goal made them feel that the FA Cup trophy was beckoning to them!

After Aguero scored, he celebrated passionately with a slide, and his teammates followed suit, sliding along the sidelines.

Even Pellegrini, in a restrained manner, clapped his hands, resisting the urge to celebrate in excitement.

It was just the FA Cup; he couldn't afford to get too excited. What would happen in the Champions League final if he did?

At least now he was a champion coach; he had to maintain his image.

The head coach of Hull City didn't have so much on his mind. Seeing his team concede a goal, he sat dejectedly with his head in his hands, leaning against the back of his seat.

The best way for a defensive strategy to win with a parked bus is to steal a goal. After scoring, the opponent's mentality would become increasingly desperate, and the loopholes in their attacks would grow.

However, the worst-case scenario had now occurred:

They were behind!

Being behind meant that parking the bus was useless at this point because the opponent could choose not to attack and simply control the ball in their own half.

As long as they consumed time, they would win in the end; the opponent wasn't in a hurry!

Therefore, they couldn't continue to park the bus in their own half; they had to actively attack.

But the coach of Hull City had some understanding of his team's capabilities.

They could still compete against Manchester City with a parked bus and strict defense. Once they dared to actively attack, they would be courting disaster.

Not attacking meant waiting to die; attacking meant seeking death.

Two dead ends; choose one!

There was no choice but to choose the latter!

After falling behind, Hull City began to attack actively.

At first, they were cautious and didn't invest too many forces, but as they saw Manchester City calmly controlling the ball, their courage gradually grew, and they began to commit more forces in their attacks.

And this choice fell into Manchester City's trap.

In the 23rd minute, Manchester City suddenly accelerated, completely changing their previously slow and relaxed style of play.

Football passed from Manchester City's central defender, after two or three passes between Yaya Toure and De Bruyne, swiftly reached Lin Quan's feet.

After receiving the ball, Lin Quan showcased his specialty on the wing—dribbling past defenders!

With the attack initiated, Hull City's defense in the backline was insufficient in numbers, appearing somewhat disorganized against Manchester City's rapid offense.

By the time Lin Quan dribbled into the penalty area from the wing, the defensive players inside the box hadn't even completely regrouped.

Hull City's defender Chester rushed towards Lin Quan in panic, forgetting his coach's pre-match advice:

"When facing Lin Quan, remember not to rashly challenge, because that only helps him pass you!"

Without any suspense, Lin Quan effortlessly evaded Chester with a change of pace, gaining a one-on-one opportunity with Hull City's goalkeeper.

McGregor widened his eyes, closely watching Lin Quan's every move, preparing for a save.

Lin Quan adjusted his posture, aimed at the right side of the goal, and shot.

McGregor didn't doubt, forcefully diving towards the right side.

However, only after diving did he realize that Lin Quan's previous move was just a feint.

Now was the real shot!

However, by now, the goal in front of Lin Quan was already empty.

Without any suspense, Lin Quan helped Manchester City score again, leading 2-0 against Hull City.

McGregor angrily pounded the turf, feeling deceived!

"Heh, the opponent's goalkeeper got fooled so easily!"

"Probably because facing Lin Quan puts too much pressure, so he made a quick judgment to try to save it!"

"That makes sense, but this misjudgment was way off!"

"This move seems to be called a consecutive feint shot, used less by Lin Quan, but Messi uses it more!"

"Lin Quan's shooting decisions are always very decisive, either aiming at the far corner or dribbling past you to shoot at an empty net, aiming for high success rates!"

"Indeed, Lin Quan's missed opportunities in one-on-one situations are extremely rare, with a very high success rate!"

"This game seems to be without suspense, 2-0 in 23 minutes. What will the final score be after 90 minutes? I can't even imagine!"

"How's the situation with Barcelona? Any goals? Who's leading?"

"Not yet, neither team has been able to breach the other's goal. At this rate, it might end in a draw!"

"Really? If Barcelona gets a draw, they'll hand over the championship. Does Martino still want to continue? Why aren't they aggressively attacking?"

"Barcelona is already pushing hard, but Atletico Madrid's defense is like an impenetrable fortress, hard to break through!"

"Moving Atletico Madrid is harder than moving a mountain!"

...

Seeing Lin Quan score a second goal, Pellegrini applauded from the sidelines once again.

After this goal, his spirit completely relaxed.

His mind wasn't on this match anymore; Pellegrini began contemplating the team's tactics for next season.

Manchester City has been highly successful this season and will undoubtedly face targeted attacks from all Premier League teams next season.

The other five teams in the Premier League's BIG6 will definitely aim to snipe Manchester City.

Whether in the league or cup competitions against them, it will be tough.

Because there are so many strong teams and giants, they will face these five teams more than ten times in a season.

If they lose a few games or draw several, they might have nothing to do with the championship.

Manchester City is strong, but they can't guarantee a win against top teams.

So, when encountering weaker teams, they must firmly secure the points and not easily drop a single point.

And when it comes to the most stable tactics for earning league points, Guardiola's possession play is the most appropriate.

From the current situation of this match, Manchester City's possession play is not as strong as Barcelona's, but with Manchester City's players' abilities, executing this tactic effectively isn't difficult.

Using such half-hearted tactics against strong teams may be caught by the opponent's weaknesses and end up in a disastrous situation.

But if it's only used against some mid-to-lower-tier teams, it seems quite suitable?

Moreover, possession play has one great advantage—it saves the players' physical energy, allowing them to preserve their energy to cope with multi-line operations such as the Champions League and other cups.

This season, Manchester City has suffered too much from multi-line operations. To solve this problem, apart from buying more players during the transfer window to increase squad depth, the main focus will be on improving players' physical endurance next season.

And this will be the key focus of next season's work.

Thousands of miles away at Camp Nou, Barcelona's coach Martino also stood on the sidelines.

However, he was far from as relaxed as his South American compatriot.

Thirty minutes had passed in the game, and the score was still 0-0 on the field.

This result was unfavorable for Barcelona because Atletico Madrid had lost two key players to injury in just 20 minutes into the game.

Diego Costa and midfield core Turan were both substituted due to injury, dealing a devastating blow to Atletico's forward line.

However, Simeone, Atletico Madrid's soul figure, remained calm even under unexpected adversity.

He quickly made adjustments, altering his pre-match tactical strategy, swiftly stabilizing Atletico from a disadvantageous position, making it difficult for Barcelona to gain any advantage in their attacks.

Although Atletico seemed to have lost two absolute key players, it appeared that as long as Simeone, the soul figure of this team, was present, they wouldn't be easily defeated.

On the other hand, Barcelona, since losing to Manchester City, seemed to have developed a mental block.

In this game, he was almost invisible in the frontcourt, completely overwhelmed by Atletico Madrid's defensive steel wall.

There were very few instances of him actively receiving the ball, which raised doubts about Messi's form.

However, in the few times he did receive the ball, Messi's state and competitive level were evident.

The problem seemed to lie in his mentality; Messi seemed to have lost his desire for the championship.

You should be all set now!

Chapter 275: The Last Champion of the Big Five Leagues - Champions League!

Wembley Stadium, the first half has come to an end.

Manchester City leads Hull City 3-0 for now.

The third goal came in the 37th minute of the first half, a long shot by Yaya Toure further expanding their lead.

During halftime, Manchester City's players returned to the locker room with smiles on their faces. Their lead was substantial, and the opponent's strength was far below theirs.

As long as they don't start celebrating prematurely, this game should be in the bag.

"Have you guys received the national team's training camp notice?"

With the World Cup approaching, the players' discussions in the locker room began to revolve more around the upcoming World Cup.

"Yes, we've received it. I don't think anyone in our team hasn't received it?"

"Heh, the main players should all be called up by the national team, but for the substitutes, it's hard to say. For some of the top contenders, their national teams aren't that easy to get into!"

Manchester City has several Spanish players, and Spain boasts numerous top stars.

This makes it extremely difficult to make the final 23-man squad. Players like Harvey Garcia, Negredo, Navas, etc., are likely to miss out.

"Enough about that. Let's talk. Which national team do you think will win?"

Captain Kompany noticed the disappointment of those who didn't make it, so he quickly changed the subject to something everyone would be interested in.

"Heh, I'm rooting for the Three Lions!"

As a British man, Milner naturally supported his homeland without hesitation.

"Forget about the England team. With this lineup, they look average at best!"

Other teammates expressed disdain for Milner's words. The England squad's 23-man roster has already been announced.

Compared to top teams like Spain, many of the players selected for the England national team come from ordinary clubs in the Premier League. Just their market value alone can't be compared to the elite teams.

"What about Germany? I feel Germany is strong this year!"

It wasn't Kroos who spoke; he's generally quieter in the locker room.

"They are strong, and their squad is relatively young. Germany's draw was also good. Barring any surprises, they should reach the semi-finals. As for winning the championship, it's hard to say; it depends on luck!"

"Heh, have you all forgotten about the European Red Devils, Belgium? Belgium is our first-tier team in Europe!"

"Haha, Belgium has a decent squad, but that 'first tier' status, let's not take it seriously!"

In the 2014 World Cup, there were eight seeded teams, four from Europe and four from South America.

The four seeded South American teams were justified—Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Colombia. They were indeed the strongest teams.

But as for the four European teams—whether they deserve the top-tier status is debatable.

No one objected to Spain and Germany being in the top tier naturally. One is the defending champion, and the other reached the semi-finals last time, with recent performances being commendable. They are the favorites to win this World Cup.

However, regarding the other two teams—Belgium and Switzerland—there were strong opinions.

France and Italy were relegated to the third or even fourth tier, which made people scoff at this World Cup's rankings.

Can Belgium and Switzerland really surpass France and Italy?

Belgium has a strong squad with players like Courtois, Kompany, De Bruyne, Fellaini, Dembele, Hazard, and Lukaku.

But most of them are still young, and relying on them to dominate might have to wait for the future.

Moreover, they lack the historical record of winning championships. In the last World Cup in South Africa, they didn't even make it through the qualifiers, so their pedigree is far behind that of Italy and France.

"The South American teams look strong this year, especially since they are playing at home. They might snatch the championship!"

After evaluating the strong European teams, everyone then discussed the South American powerhouses.

Throughout the discussion, one team, which is like the elephant in the room, was deliberately or inadvertently ignored by everyone. It was never mentioned throughout.

Lin Quan listened to everyone's discussion with a sense of amusement.

They're not discussing Spain, huh?

It seems that Spain's dominance in recent years has left a deep impression on everyone, subconsciously causing them to have a fear of Spain.

The fifteen-minute halftime quickly passed, and both sides resumed the battle in the second half.

Pellegrini didn't make any tactical adjustments during halftime but reminded the players to watch their actions on the field to avoid injuries.

In a week, they would compete for the Champions League title against Atletico Madrid at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon. At this moment, they couldn't afford any injuries that might haunt them for a lifetime.

The game's situation was similar to the first half. Manchester City firmly held the initiative on the field, slowly suffocating their opponents like boiling a frog in warm water.

Hull City played extremely passively, unable to create effective attacks and prone to Manchester City's counterattacks.

Their defense was also exhausted, unable to keep up with Manchester City's fast-paced game.

This kind of game made them feel despair and suffocation.

At Camp Nou, Barcelona's fans also felt suffocated.

In the 49th minute, Atletico Madrid tenaciously equalized the score, freezing the smiles that had lasted for just over thirty minutes on Barcelona's faces.

The score being tied meant that the three points and the championship trophy that Barcelona had within their grasp were slipping away!

At the moment of the goal, Camp Nou fell into silence. Barcelona's fans were filled with shock and disbelief, apparently unable to accept such an outcome.

On the sidelines, Martino was completely panicked.

He hurriedly made successive substitutions within a short period, trying to regain their lead.

However, Simeone's Atletico Madrid stood like an impregnable wall, stubbornly blocking their way, causing them to crash and bleed but never getting what they wanted.

Messi also seemed anxious. Rarely taking on defensive duties, he even committed a foul and received a yellow card.

Messi's renewed activity gave Barcelona's fans at Camp Nou hope.

He is a player who has created countless miracles in the past, and they unconditionally believe in Messi, firmly believing that he can lead the team to victory!

"Messi!"

"Messi!"

Barcelona's fans chanted Messi's name loudly, seeming to pour all their hopes into him.

Messi felt immense pressure. He played aggressively, tirelessly passing, receiving, running, and dribbling in the frontcourt.

But Atletico Madrid's defense was too strong. Even Messi, as strong as he is, could only return empty-handed time after time.

The game's time continued to tick away, and the situation on the field still didn't favor Barcelona.

Their desperate attacks couldn't break the deadlock, and instead, they were countered several times by the opponents, creating numerous threatening attacks.

As a result, defensive players like Pique, Busquets, Mascherano, had to resort to tactical fouls to stop them.

And they received the deserved punishment, with the referee showing them yellow cards.

In the 77th minute, Martino glanced at the bench and made the final substitution of the game.

He brought on the 34-year-old veteran Xavi, replacing Fabregas.

Fabregas walked off the field with a dejected expression, seemingly forgetting even to shake hands with Xavi.

He originally chose to heed Barcelona's call, returning to fight for the Blaugrana not only because La Masia ran through his veins but also because that Barcelona team from back then was dominant in Europe.

He captained Arsenal, but Arsenal went trophyless every year, and there were no significant moves in terms of transfers, which made Fabregas feel staying at Arsenal had no future.

When he chose to join Barcelona, they won the Champions League twice in three years, once dubbed as the best team in the universe, his professional prospects leading Arsenal by countless strides!

However, the good times didn't last long; shortly after his arrival, turmoil caused by changes in the upper management led to the departure of the esteemed coach Guardiola.

Guardiola's departure left Vilanova as the perfect successor, but fate had its twists; he had to step down due to illness.

In three years, Barcelona changed three head coaches.

Naturally, the team's performance suffered greatly. In those three years, he only helped the team win a league title and a Copa del Rey, a far cry from before.

This Barcelona team was just as hopeless as the Arsenal he left behind.

Should he continue to stay at Barcelona and fight for the Blaugrana?

The faith in Xavi's heart began to waver; the strong impulse to fight for Barcelona had been worn down by time.

He looked back at his teammates on the field, at the familiar Camp Nou.

At this moment, Fabregas made a decision: he would leave Barcelona after the World Cup!

Xavi and the other Barcelona players were unaware of Fabregas' decision just made. When he came on, he put all his energy into the attack.

As a 34-year-old veteran, Xavi knew well that his days at Barcelona were numbered.

Before leaving, he hoped to win more honors for the team.

And here at Camp Nou, any Barcelona player must swear to defend its dignity to the death!

He absolutely would not allow Atletico Madrid to lift the trophy at Camp Nou!

Xavi's stamina wasn't enough to support him for a full match, but being substituted in the 77th minute meant dealing with less than 30 minutes of play; for Xavi, stamina was not a problem at all.

The return of the old partner eased the burden on Iniesta and Messi.

With Xavi there, they could play more comfortably.

Affected by this, Barcelona gradually improved in their attacks; their offensive threats increasingly troubled Atletico Madrid's goal.

On the sideline, Simeone narrowed his eyes slightly.

As a former defensive midfielder turned coach, he admired Xavi.

To perform like this at his age is truly commendable, and his entire career has been dedicated to one team, a spirit of one man, one city that he greatly admires.

However, this is a professional arena, a decisive battle for the La Liga championship.

He admires Xavi again, but he cannot afford any mercy.

Thinking of this, Simeone quickly made personnel adjustments, specifically assigning someone to mark and limit Xavi.

This adjustment quickly paid off; with Boateng coming on, he didn't need to do much; just stick to Xavi.

As Xavi aged, his physical confrontation and ability to escape defenses declined.

Under Boateng's disruption, Xavi found it increasingly difficult to perform.

And with Xavi, the card dealer, missing, Barcelona's hard-won improvement in their attacks quickly dissipated.

In the end, the match ended with Barcelona, playing at home, sadly losing to Atletico Madrid in a comeback, handing over the championship trophy.

Atletico Madrid's players, at the sound of the final whistle, went wild celebrating at Camp Nou.

This was their first league championship in eighteen years, and coincidentally, the last person to help Atletico Madrid win the trophy after a 19-year gap was standing on the sidelines, Simeone.

Simeone, this young coach who had just started coaching, proved his coaching ability at Atletico Madrid.

And from this moment on, La Liga shifted from the dominance of Real Madrid and Barcelona to a three-way rivalry among Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, and Barcelona.

And his Atletico Madrid, in the top five leagues, gradually rose to become a top team that no one dared to ignore.

Now, in front of them, there is only one final match left—the Champions League final!

If Simeone's Atletico Madrid can win this match, they will become legends of Europe!

...

Almost simultaneously with the whistle at Camp Nou, the halftime whistle at Wembley Stadium also sounded.

The score on the big screen froze at 6-0!

No doubt, this was a massacre, and a massacre in the final.

This is the biggest final score difference in the history of the FA Cup, equaling the record set in the 1902-03 match between Bury and Derby County, which also ended 6-0.

Watching this despairing scoreline, Hull City's players were all crestfallen. They tried almost every effort but all failed.

This scoreline truly reflects the strength of both sides, and they accept their defeat gracefully.

As the halftime whistle blew, Manchester City's players rushed onto the field, celebrating together.

This is their third trophy of the season in the Premier League, second only to the league championship trophy in prestige.

Wembley's stands have turned into a sea of blue, and the Queen's "We Are the Champions" echoed through the skies.

The awards stage was quickly set up, with officials from the FA and Prince William personally coming to present medals and the trophy to the victorious Manchester City players.

"Lin, your performance was fantastic, I'm your fan!"

When awarding Lin Quan, Prince William smiled and said to him.

"Thank you for your praise. Since you're my fan, how about I give you an autograph?"

"Oh? Sure, but I don't have paper and pen!"

Before Prince William could finish, he saw Lin Quan bringing over the match ball with which he had completed his hat-trick, swiftly signing his name on it, and then handing it over.

"I wonder if Your Royal Highness is satisfied with this signature?"

Prince William was stunned for a moment, then laughed, "Of course I am. Thank you, Lin. I'd like to invite you for a meal sometime, I hope you won't refuse!"

Lin Quan had scored a hat-trick in the final, and he could take this football home. However, he gave the ball to Prince William, making him feel the weight of this gift.

Naturally, Lin Quan would not refuse Prince William's gesture of goodwill.

Having already won three trophies, Manchester City's players celebrated in a more restrained manner.

Their thoughts were already focused on the Champions League trophy!

Only by winning that trophy would they truly deserve a grand celebration!

Chapter 276: Before the Final Battle

On May 22, three days before the final match, the entire Manchester City team set off from Manchester to Lisbon to prepare for the last and most important match of the season.

Upon arriving at the hotel, Lin Quan encountered some unexpected guests—his siblings, Maria, Marius, and Valentina.

"Brother!!" Maria exclaimed as she rushed over to give Lin Quan a warm hug, taking a selfie with him using her phone.

Following Maria's lead, Marius and Valentina also ran over, clinging to Lin Quan.

"Maria, Marius, how did you guys get here?" Lin Quan asked as he picked up the youngest, Valentina, playfully touching her forehead with his and tickling her, making her giggle.

"Dad said he wanted to watch the match, and Mom suggested we all come to support you. We all agreed!" Maria proudly uploaded the selfie to her social media, boasting about her superstar brother.

"Are they here too? I didn't see them," Lin Quan said, looking down the hallway for his parents.

"They're checking in at the front desk. We're staying at the same hotel!" Maria explained. They had chosen this hotel specifically to be close to Lin Quan.

"Great, show me your room!" Lin Quan said. Manchester City had reserved the middle two floors of the hotel, so Guardiola's room wouldn't be on these floors. To avoid disturbing his teammates, Lin Quan decided to visit his family.

When he arrived, his parents, Guardiola and Sella, had just finished checking in and were moving their luggage into their room. With a few days left before the match, the family's luggage was quite substantial.

After greeting his parents and setting Valentina down, Lin Quan helped move the luggage. Once inside, Sella took over the unpacking to ensure everything was properly arranged, shooing Lin Quan and his father out of the room.

Guardiola and Lin Quan sat outside, chatting.

"Do you feel confident about the final?" Guardiola asked. His team had been eliminated by Atletico Madrid, so he had in-depth knowledge about them.

"It's fifty-fifty. Atletico's defense is the best in the top five leagues. They even kept you guys scoreless. Claiming we're sure to win would be a lie," Lin Quan replied. The clash between Manchester City and Atletico was seen as an offense-versus-defense showdown. City's attack was the best in the league, while Atletico's defense had brought them to the final.

"Atletico's defense is quite unique. I've learned a lot from it," Guardiola said, admiring Simeone's defensive system. Unlike typical defensive strategies, Atletico's high-press defense was exceptionally disruptive, as Bayern had experienced.

Atletico's players used relentless running, aggressive pressing, and rough fouling to break Bayern's rhythm, making it hard for them to hold the ball or execute Guardiola's desired passing game.

In the final, Atletico would likely employ the same tactics against City. Having just played against Barcelona, they had ample experience in countering players like Lin Quan.

Guardiola believed that Lin Quan might struggle to perform as dominantly as in previous matches due to Atletico's defense.

After listening to Guardiola's analysis, Lin Quan understood the challenges Atletico's defense posed. He recalled how Real Madrid barely won against Atletico in their previous final. Despite losing Diego Costa early, Atletico scored first and defended fiercely. It took a last-minute header from Ramos to save Real Madrid, who then scored three more in extra time to win 4-1, as Atletico's players were exhausted.

Simeone's high-press system demanded relentless running to create local numerical superiority and intercept the ball for counterattacks. But maintaining this for 90 minutes was extremely taxing, making extra time a significant disadvantage for Atletico.

Lin Quan knew this weakness but wasn't sure if City could withstand Atletico's pressure for the full 90 minutes, as City wasn't known for strong defense.

"I suggest you play without a traditional striker and pull your forwards back to reinforce the midfield. Atletico will likely battle you in the midfield," Guardiola advised.

"Without midfield support, you won't get the ball up front and will be completely locked down by their defenders."

Lin Quan pondered Guardiola's words. Guardiola was very familiar with the false nine formation, but Bayern lacked a player like Messi. Thus, his tactical reforms at Bayern had mixed results. They dominated domestically but struggled in the Champions League.

Although they beat Manchester United and Chelsea, being swept by Atletico Madrid, a team not considered a superpower, was hard for many Bayern fans to accept. Just a year ago, Bayern was an unbeatable force in the Champions League, and now they couldn't even score against Atletico?

Blame fell on Guardiola. After all, he inherited a championship team.

"If you play a false nine, you need fast, breakthrough-capable wingers who also defend well. Utilize the width of the pitch..." Guardiola clearly put effort into analyzing tactics against Atletico. However, these tactics hadn't been tested in real matches, so their effectiveness was uncertain.

Before they could finish talking, Sella came out of the room and interrupted Guardiola, "Enough! You're not City's coach. Stop distracting Lin; he needs rest!"

Embarrassed, Guardiola stopped. He was used to discussing tactics whenever he had the chance.

"Lin, you should get some rest. We'll explore Lisbon and won't disturb you. After the match, we can head back to Spain together!" Sella said. Since Lin went to play in England, it had been a while since the family was together. This was a rare opportunity to reunite before Lin joined the Spanish national team training for the World Cup.

"Okay, I'll visit you when I have time!" Lin said. He had been out for a while and needed to get back to avoid worrying the team.

Before leaving, Lin asked, "By the way, did you get tickets for the final?"

"Yes! We got seats close to the pitch!" Marius proudly handed his ticket to his brother. Lin saw the ticket cost 650 euros each, meaning the family spent over 3,000 euros on tickets. If they bought from scalpers, the price could be double. But Guardiola wasn't short on money, so Lin didn't worry.

Before the final, Pellegrini was troubled by the starting lineup. From his research, Atletico would likely battle City in the midfield. To control the midfield, he might need to bench either De Bruyne or Kroos, as having both would weaken City's defense.

Kroos was crucial for controlling the game's tempo, while De Bruyne's ability to create chances was unmatched. Removing either would significantly impact the team.

Pellegrini considered using Fernandinho as a defensive midfielder to cover for Kroos and support De Bruyne, but he hesitated due to the lack of synergy among them. He ultimately decided to bench Kroos for Fernandinho.

Meanwhile, Simeone was also troubled by his starting striker. Diego Costa, his top striker, was injured in the league's final stages and had to leave early in the last game against Barcelona. With only a week since the injury, Costa's recovery was uncertain. However, Atletico needed him for the final.

Despite the risks, Simeone decided to start Diego Costa, trusting his claim of recovery.

Chapter 277: Man City vs Atletico Madrid, the Champions League Final Begins!

"CCTV, CCTV!"

"Dear viewers, welcome to the live broadcast of the 2013-2014 Champions League Final between Manchester City and Atletico Madrid. I am commentator He Wei!"

"And I am Xu Yang!"

"Before the match starts, let's take a look at the starting lineups of both teams!"

"It seems both teams have made some surprising adjustments for this match!"

"Indeed, Diego Costa, who was injured in the last match at Camp Nou, surprisingly starts for Atletico Madrid."

"This raises the question: was the news of Diego Costa's injury just a smokescreen to confuse Manchester City?"

Many people shared the commentators' thoughts. Seeing Diego Costa's name in the starting lineup, they couldn't help but wonder if this was part of Atletico's strategy.

However, Manchester City also had something new up their sleeve. Fernandinho, who had been suspended for several months, not only played but started, replacing the team's main defensive midfielder, Kroos.

People were curious about Pellegrini's decision. What was his plan with this lineup? Was he giving up on a playmaker for a defensive midfielder to engage in a midfield battle with Atletico?

With the referee's whistle, the match officially began. Manchester City, in blue jerseys, attacked from the left side of the pitch, while Atletico Madrid, in red and white striped jerseys and blue shorts, attacked from the right.

Both teams played cautiously at the start. Atletico didn't immediately attack after kickoff. Instead, they passed the ball around, drawing Manchester City's forwards over the halfway line to press them, before moving the ball to the flanks to organize their attack.

However, Manchester City's defense was solid, giving Atletico few opportunities. Contrary to everyone's expectations, the first intense battles occurred on the flanks rather than in the midfield.

Both teams defended decisively, not hesitating to tackle or foul when necessary. This made the game choppy and less enjoyable to watch. However, both coaches, seeing the situation on the field, felt uneasy.

"Strange, Manchester City is not a team known for its defense. Why are they focusing on defense in this match?" wondered Simeone on the Atletico bench. City's luxurious attacking lineup, including Lin Quan, was not heavily involved in attacks but focused more on defense. What was Pellegrini's strategy?

Pellegrini, feeling anxious, had intended to use Fernandinho to solidify midfield defense and then launch attacks. The forwards' aggressive pressing was to tire out Atletico's defenders, a tactic that worked well against Barcelona. But Atletico was known for their stamina, so Pellegrini wasn't sure if this would be effective.

Looking at his bench, he felt reassured. City's attacking lineup was deep, with two wingers and a forward ready to come on if needed.

To the spectators, it seemed less like a football match and more like a race, with players constantly running. Any player holding the ball for more than three seconds was immediately pressed.

With the game at a fast pace, neither team could hold onto the ball or create significant threats. Five minutes into the match, neither team had taken a shot, nor even entered the opponent's 30-meter zone.

In the 7th minute, City had the first shot. David Silva, under pressure from Juan, passed back to De Bruyne, who quickly passed to Lin Quan. Lin Quan, anticipating the defender's move, skillfully received the ball and backheeled it through Miranda's legs, trying to get past him.

However, Miranda fouled him, and City got a free kick. Lin Quan took the free kick himself, but it went over the bar into the stands. Despite the missed shot, Atletico was nervous about Lin Quan's previous play. If he had gotten past Miranda, he would have faced the goalkeeper with many options to score.

"Focus on support, midfielders drop back to compress the opponent's space," Simeone instructed, displeased with the defensive lapse. Escudero didn't put enough pressure on De Bruyne, allowing him to make the crucial pass to Lin Quan.

The spectators applauded Lin Quan after the big screen replayed his skillful move. Although some doubted his young age and ability, his performance on the field showed promise, almost as impressive as an 18-year-old Ronaldo. Portuguese fans, who highly regarded Ronaldo, were impressed by Lin Quan's potential.

If the game continued at this pace, goals would be few and far between. However, in the 9th minute, a significant incident occurred. Diego Costa, running in a duel with City's Kompany, suddenly clutched his leg and fell to the ground in pain.

On the sideline, seeing this, Simeone felt his heart sink. Costa's old injury had flared up again. Looking at the clock, it was only 9 minutes into the match! Reluctantly, Simeone called up Adrian Lopez to replace Costa, who hadn't even had time to warm up.

Costa's injury was a blow to Atletico's morale, and City seized the opportunity to intensify their attacks. In the 11th minute, Fernandinho intercepted the ball and tried to pass to De Bruyne, but Koke intercepted it first, launching an Atletico counterattack.

Koke passed to Gabi, who was immediately pressured by Toure and De Bruyne, forcing a pass to center-back Godin. Lin Quan and Aguero rushed at Godin, who quickly passed to Miranda. Aguero then pressed Miranda, who passed to Juan. Under Silva's pressure, Juan hurriedly passed to Tiago, but Toure intercepted it.

Toure, seeing three Atletico players charging at him, quickly switched the ball to the right wing to Lin Quan. With Atletico's defense focused on the left, the right side was open, offering a chance for a threatening attack if Lin Quan could reach the ball.

However, as the ball was in the air, Atletico's defense shifted swiftly to the right. Aerial shots showed Atletico's defense moving as a unit, maintaining a tight formation without gaps, a testament to Simeone's disciplined training.

From the stands, Guardiola frowned. It was suffocating. Bayern had faced the same defense against Atletico. How did Simeone train his 11 players to act like a disciplined army?

On the pitch, Lin Quan felt the pressure more intensely. Just moments ago, the left side was open, but as the ball flew towards him, Atletico's players were already in position.

As he lifted his foot to stop the ball, Atletico Madrid's fullback Felipe, center-back Godín, and defensive midfielder Gabi were all within five meters of him.

Lin Quan had just enough time to turn around but not to handle the ball before Gabi tackled him.

Despite being the furthest away, Gabi's tackle disrupted Lin Quan's rhythm, forcing him to make adjustments. These adjustments created opportunities for the other two defenders to intervene.

It's clear that Atletico Madrid had a very precise tactical arrangement for their defense in this area.

Lin Quan dodged Gabi's tackle by pulling the ball away.

However, he was then bumped by Godín, causing him to stumble, and Felipe took the opportunity to try to steal the ball.

Lin Quan barely managed to keep possession, but at this point, he had no room to maneuver and no speed advantage. Escaping the triple team was virtually impossible.

So, he had no choice but to pass the ball back to fullback Zabaleta.

As soon as he passed the ball, two of the three defenders immediately left him, either returning to their positions or pressuring the player with the ball.

Faced with Atletico Madrid's spatial control, Manchester City struggled to find effective ways to attack.

Wherever they passed the ball, Atletico's defenders were always first to position themselves, often creating situations where they outnumbered Manchester City players.

As a result, Manchester City players frequently found themselves surrounded by opponents as soon as they received the ball.

In such scenarios, their routes for breaking through, passing, or even dribbling were cut off and severely compressed.

Thus, they quickly lost possession of the ball.

Even Lin Quan, with his exceptional dribbling skills, found it difficult to keep the ball under such circumstances.

He wasn't afraid of one-on-one defense, but Atletico Madrid didn't play fair; they never gave you a one-on-one chance. They habitually used two-on-one or even three-on-one tactics.

Moreover, Atletico's defensive actions were very rough and decisive in committing fouls.

If they couldn't steal the ball, they would foul you. In any case, they wouldn't give you any chance to break through their defense.

Lin Quan realized why top teams like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona found it so tough to play against Atletico Madrid!

Atletico's high pressing was very targeted, limiting the midfielders from making good passes and the forwards from creating effective breakthroughs and attacks.

At first glance, Atletico's defensive strategy seemed very aggressive, pushing their defensive line almost past the halfway line.

There was a lot of space behind their backline, but breaking through this defense was extremely difficult.

No wonder so many experts said Atletico Madrid had the best defense in the five major leagues. Their overall performance in the final truly lived up to their reputation.

However, Lin Quan wasn't in a hurry. They would take their time.

With Atletico's players running so aggressively and defending so intensely now, Lin Quan didn't believe they could maintain this pace and intensity in the second half.

Once their energy was depleted, it would be Manchester City's turn to exert pressure.

But before that, Manchester City needed to ensure they didn't concede a goal first.

If they did, the situation would become very dangerous!

That kind of last-minute equalizer like Real Madrid's header in the third minute of stoppage time couldn't be relied on every time!

After Lin Quan stopped the ball with his foot, Atletico Madrid's defenders Felipe and Godín, along with defensive midfielder Gabi, closed in within five meters of him.

Lin Quan barely had time to turn around before Gabi went for a sliding tackle.

Gabi, being the furthest away, disrupted Lin Quan's rhythm with his slide, forcing him to adjust, which created an opportunity for the other two defenders to close in.

It was evident that Atletico Madrid had a clear defensive strategy in this area.

Lin Quan dodged Gabi's tackle with a quick touch on the ball.

However, Godín bumped into him, causing him to stumble, and Felipe took the chance to try and steal the ball.

Lin Quan managed to protect the ball, but he had no space or speed to escape from the three defenders surrounding him.

So, he was forced to pass the ball back to the full-back, Zabaleta.

As soon as he passed the ball, two of the defenders immediately left him to either return to their positions or continue pressing the ball holder.

Against Atletico's tight spatial control, Manchester City struggled to find effective ways to attack.

Whenever a Manchester City player received the ball, they were immediately surrounded by opponents, often facing a numerical disadvantage.

This situation cut off their passing and dribbling routes, making it difficult to maintain possession.

Even a skilled dribbler like Lin Quan found it hard to keep the ball under such pressure.

He wasn't afraid of one-on-one situations, but Atletico never allowed that, always employing two or three defenders against one.

Additionally, Atletico's defenders were very aggressive, committing fouls decisively.

If they couldn't win the ball cleanly, they would foul, denying any chance to break through their defense.

As soon as he received the ball, before he could gain speed or even turn, all his options were blocked as if he was forced to follow Atletico's script.

Lin Quan finally understood why top teams like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona found it so tough to play against Atletico!

Atletico's high pressing not only restricted midfielders from making good passes but also hindered the forwards from creating effective breakthroughs and attacks.

Although Atletico's defensive strategy seemed aggressive, almost pushing their defense past the midfield, breaking through their line was extremely difficult despite the large space behind.

No wonder so many experts claim Atletico has the best defense in the top five leagues; their performance in this match truly lived up to that reputation.

However, Lin Quan was not in a hurry. They just needed to play patiently.

He didn't believe Atletico could maintain such high defensive intensity and pace throughout the second half.

Once Atletico's stamina waned, it would be Manchester City's turn to dominate.

But before that, Manchester City needed to ensure they didn't concede any goals.

Losing a goal would put them in a very dangerous position!

Not every game could end with a miraculous last-minute equalizer like Real Madrid's header in stoppage time!

Chapter 278: Ronaldo and Mourinho: The Key to Victory Lies in Lin Quan!

"Dad, why hasn't my brother scored yet?"

Maria, not a professional football fan, was getting impatient after seeing her brother Lin Quan fail to score in the first half-hour of the match.

"In a final, scoring isn't easy!"

Guardiola reached out to pat his daughter's head as he used to, but Maria, now 14 and going through her rebellious phase, pushed his hand away in annoyance.

Feeling awkward, Guardiola patted his younger daughter Valentina's head instead.

Five-year-old Valentina was delighted to receive her father's affection, still at an age where she adored her dad.

"Yes, sister, you need to be patient. Atletico's defense is very strong. Even Real Madrid and Barcelona struggle to score against them!"

Eleven-year-old Marius, a die-hard football fan influenced by his father and brother, often watched La Liga matches on TV, even while living in Germany.

Having grown up in Barcelona, he was a big Barça fan. Seeing his team lose the championship at home made him sad and left a deep impression on him regarding Atletico's strong defense.

To Marius, his brother was similar to Messi. If Atletico used the same tactics against his brother as they did against Messi, it would be tough for his brother to perform well.

"Okay then!"

Maria yawned and took a photo of the match, uploading it to her Instagram.

Opening her Instagram account, Maria was shocked to see thousands of comments and over 500,000 likes on a photo she posted with Lin Quan.

She had never experienced such attention before.

Reading through the comments, Maria was puzzled:

"Tell Lin Quan to save his energy and push hard in the second half when Atletico's stamina is low!"

"Tell Pellegrini to use a 4-3-3 formation against Atletico. City needs a sharp attack to break through Atletico's defense!"

"Don't listen to the previous comment! I suggest a 3-5-2 formation, with three central defenders and five midfielders, switching to 5-3-2 in defense to leave no space for Atletico!"

"What kind of suggestions are these? City has never played with three central defenders. Trying something new in a final is risky!"

"Exactly, I suggest a modified 4-3-3, switching to 3-4-3 in defense to double up on the wings and counter Atletico's attacks from the flanks. Then revert to 4-3-3 in attack to free up De Bruyne and Lin Quan, making use of the full width of the pitch."

"Good idea, this formation offers more protection in defense and widens in attack, which could frustrate Atletico!"

It seemed fans were using her page to give tactical advice for Manchester City's match against Atletico.

Maria: "???"

She didn't understand any of it but was thrilled to see her follower count had increased by over 200,000 in just a few days thanks to a photo with Lin Quan.

…

In a box at the Estádio da Luz, Mendes sat with his star clients, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mourinho, watching the match.

Since Mourinho left Real Madrid for Chelsea, his relationship with Ronaldo had cooled.

Mourinho felt Ronaldo didn't support him enough in the locker room, while Ronaldo thought Mourinho's tactics hindered his performance and didn't like his constant demands, especially those he found unreasonable, like defensive duties.

As their common agent, Mendes tried to ease the tension between his most important clients.

He knew Ronaldo's pride, so he started a tactical discussion with Mourinho.

"José, do you think Simeone's defensive strategy at Atletico will become mainstream in football?"

As a master of defensive counter-attacks, Mourinho had always succeeded with such tactics. Mendes wondered if Mourinho could learn anything valuable from Simeone's high pressing at Atletico.

"High pressing is indeed a current trend. Atletico's success shows that even without a star-studded lineup, a well-executed strategy and team unity can topple giants!"

Ronaldo's expression soured, feeling Mourinho's words indirectly criticized him. His face darkened at the mention of team unity, recalling the locker room issues when he left Real Madrid.

Sensing Ronaldo's discomfort, Mendes quickly asked:

"If high pressing is so effective, can top teams use it too?"

Atletico's players were mostly average, with only a few meeting top-tier standards. Yet they outperformed the best teams due to their tactics.

If such tactics worked so well, wouldn't they be even more effective with a team of star players?

"In theory, yes. But in practice, it's challenging. Star players are harder to manage. High pressing demands more running and defensive effort, which many star players might find unreasonable."

Mourinho was weary of managing top-team locker rooms, even struggling with control at Chelsea despite having many loyal players.

Simeone's success at Atletico wasn't just about tactics but also his authority within the club. He built and led the team to this level, commanding absolute respect.

At Atletico, his word was law. Players didn't just follow his orders; they gave their all to execute his strategies.

Such authority was rare among top-team coaches, where too much power was seen as hard to manage.

Mendes, no stranger to football's intricacies, nodded in understanding at Mourinho's explanation.

Turning to Ronaldo, who had been silent, he asked:

"Cristiano, having played against both Atletico and City, which team do you think is stronger?"

Cristiano Ronaldo thought for a moment and then said, "I think Manchester City is stronger!"

Mendes didn't ask for a reason but instead followed up by asking Mourinho, "José, what do you think?"

Mourinho's answer was the same as Ronaldo's; he also believed Manchester City was stronger.

"So, since you both think Manchester City is stronger, does that mean Manchester City will win the championship?"

"Not necessarily!"

"It's hard to say!"

Ronaldo and Mourinho spoke almost simultaneously and then paused for a moment.

Mendes laughed, "It seems you both have the same view, but I still want to ask, why do you both favor Manchester City but think they might not win?"

Ronaldo snorted, "Because football is round!"

Mourinho thought Ronaldo had taken his line, so he put it another way, "In a single match final, anything can happen. A stronger team doesn't always win. Manchester City may look stronger on paper, but that's limited. If Atlético can restrict their tactics, they might not be able to play to their full potential."

"As the world's best player and top coach, I trust your judgment. So, can you tell me who will decide the outcome of this match?"

Unlike the previous questions, Mendes already had an answer in mind for this one.

Ronaldo looked at Mourinho, and for the first time, their eyes met.

"City's number ten!"

"Lin!"

Both gave the same answer once again.

...

On the field, Lin tried to dribble past a defender on the wing.

This attempt wasn't a complete failure, but it wasn't a success either. He got past the opposing full-back but had the ball tackled out of bounds by the covering defender, Godín.

This center-back had such a wide defensive range, even covering the wings.

Lin glanced at Atlético's defense and noticed that after Godín moved up to intercept, the other full-back, Juan, moved centrally to form a new defensive line with Miranda, ensuring the goal was safe.

Atlético's marking was too tight in the front court, and Zabaleta, responsible for the throw-in, couldn't find a good option and had to throw the ball back to a teammate in their half to start the attack again.

This was a snapshot of many of Manchester City's attacking attempts in the first half. They weren't lacking in effort, but their attacks seemed to hit a wall and bounced back.

With Atlético's players still full of energy, breaking through their defense without a swift and efficient counterattack was very difficult.

In such a situation, set-pieces became the real threat.

In the 37th minute of the first half, Atlético defender Miranda fouled Agüero near the left side of the penalty area, giving City a not-so-ideal free kick.

The spot was about 35 meters from the goal, not too far for a direct shot, but the angle made it likely to be saved.

After all, Atlético's goalkeeper, Courtois, was no novice.

"You or me?" De Bruyne and Lin discussed quietly in front of the ball.

"Do you think Courtois can save a direct shot?"

Lin pointed to where he intended to aim and asked De Bruyne.

De Bruyne, being Courtois's national teammate, understood his habits better.

"Hard to say, he probably can. His saves are very stretched out. Unless it's a corner shot, there's a high chance he'll save it."

"Then you do it, let's go with a tactical free kick!"

Lin abandoned the idea of a direct shot due to the tight angle, making it hard to score unless the goalkeeper made a mistake.

Lin whispered something to De Bruyne, pointing to specific areas in and around the penalty box.

Nearby Atlético players could only catch snippets about a tactical free kick and not shooting directly.

Even if they heard the whole conversation, they probably wouldn't understand because Lin and De Bruyne were speaking in German, with only some parts in English.

"Okay!" De Bruyne, puzzled by Lin's cunning ideas, agreed to cooperate fully.

So, Lin moved away from the ball and positioned himself just outside the penalty area, level with Atlético's wall.

Villa, Lin's national teammate, looked at him suspiciously, not knowing what he was up to.

Many Atlético players thought the same, suspecting a tactical free kick due to Lin's perfect position.

With most Atlético players forming a wall and marking other City players in the box, Lin found himself unmarked just outside the area.

If someone could pass the ball to his feet for a comfortable shot, it would be more threatening than a direct free kick.

Villa instinctively moved towards Lin to prevent him from getting an easy shot.

Seeing this, even Courtois had his attention divided.

Then De Bruyne struck the free kick.

Surprisingly, it wasn't aimed at Lin but directly at the goal!

Chapter 279: Unlucky Courtois!

De Bruyne's shot was completely unexpected! If not for the loud "plotting" and Lin's distracting run, Atlético might not have been so surprised by the direct shot.

The position wasn't great, but not impossible for a direct shot.

However, after seeing the "plotting," Atlético expected a tactical play, making the normal choice seem surprising.

Courtois reacted swiftly. Though he initially focused on Lin, he adjusted immediately upon seeing the shot and dove towards it.

Courtois, fully stretched, flew towards the ball, resembling an acrobat.

Fans from both teams watched Courtois intently, knowing this save could decide the match's outcome.

Despite his young age, Courtois had a stellar reputation in the Champions League, making crucial saves against Bayern in the previous match.

He had also consistently performed in La Liga, often making critical saves against top teams like Real Madrid and Barcelona.

This time, Courtois excelled again.

His fingertips slightly altered the ball's path, sending it just past the post!

City fans sighed, realizing they were inches away from a goal.

Atlético fans clutched their hearts, nearly having a heart attack.

Thank God for Courtois, they thought, otherwise, that shot would have gone in!

De Bruyne shook his head, regretting not hitting the corner more precisely.

"It was a great shot. They just got lucky!" Lin comforted De Bruyne, who nodded, shaking off his frustration.

Then he realized Lin, who was younger, was speaking like a senior, which amused him.

De Bruyne playfully tried to grab Lin in retaliation, but Lin, expecting it, dodged with a laugh.

Courtois, surrounded by celebrating teammates, felt relieved. Such an ordinary shot became a huge threat due to their psychological play.

Was this tactic De Bruyne's idea or City's number ten's?

On the sidelines, Simeone pondered the match, concerned that City might use set-pieces to break through Atlético's defense.

A few minutes later, a City corner kick deepened his concern.

Again, Lin and De Bruyne had a loud "plotting" session, with Atlético players watching their show skeptically.

This time, City executed a tactical corner. De Bruyne didn't cross into the box but passed to Lin outside the left.

Lin then lobbed it into the box, precisely finding captain Kompany, who headed it towards the goal

Unfortunately, this header was too straight. Courtois didn't save the ball, but Kompany's header hit his nose and bounced back.

Atletico's defender Godin reacted first, kicking the ball out of bounds to clear it.

Kompany scratched his bald head, feeling a bit unlucky.

With such a big goal frame, how did it end up hitting the goalkeeper's face?

Courtois also felt unlucky!

With such a big goal frame, how did the ball hit his nose?

He smelled blood and touched his nose, seeing his fingers covered in blood.

Great, now he had a nosebleed.

Because Atletico's goalkeeper was injured, the game had to be temporarily stopped.

The medical team rushed in to treat Courtois and gave him a new jersey to replace the bloodstained one.

By the time Courtois was treated, there was little time left in the first half.

The referee soon blew the whistle to end the first half.

In the entire first half, both teams had a total of 11 shots, with Manchester City having 7 and Atletico 4.

In terms of shots, Manchester City had the advantage.

However, except for the last two set pieces that created some threat, the other shots didn't pose much danger.

Atletico's situation was similar, with only one of their four shots on target and the other three missing widely.

On the field, both teams had similar possession rates, with Manchester City leading 55% to Atletico's 45%.

This data shows that Atletico wasn't just sitting back and defending.

Overall, the first half was defensive, and both teams found it hard to create good attacking chances.

But as the game goes on, both teams will likely adjust their tactics in the second half.

Who will break the deadlock first?

...

"Brother, over here, over here!"

During halftime, Lin Quan had just reached the sideline, ready to enter the players' tunnel.

Suddenly, he heard a familiar voice from the stands!

He looked up and saw Guardiola and others sitting near the players' tunnel. His sister Maria was waving her arms, trying to get Lin Quan's attention.

Many fans near the tunnel were also trying to interact with the players.

Some were reaching out for handshakes or high-fives.

Some were loudly applauding and saying encouraging words to the players.

Others had paper and pens, hoping for autographs.

As Manchester City's star player, Lin Quan attracted the most attention.

He wouldn't usually stop, but hearing Maria's voice, he paused and walked up to the stands.

Fans were thrilled to see him come up.

Not only did the nearby fans rush towards him, but even those further back, seeing their star so close, surged forward excitedly.

Realizing it might get out of hand, Lin Quan quickly hugged his family and, escorted by security, hurriedly left.

With Lin Quan gone, Guardiola was now the target.

Being a celebrity himself, fans who couldn't get Lin Quan's autograph settled for Guardiola's.

Maria and the others were startled by the commotion. Seeing so many people rushing towards them was a bit scary.

After the initial fear passed, they were amazed:

Has brother's influence really grown this much?

He's even surpassing Dad!

...

In Manchester City's locker room, Pellegrini told the players to rest while he outlined the second-half tactics.

"At the start of the second half, we stick to our first-half tactics. By the 75th minute, if it's still 0-0, we'll make substitutions.

He pointed to Nasri and Navas, saying, "You two warm up every five minutes after the second half starts, ready to play anytime."

Nasri and Navas were excited. Playing as key substitutes in such a match showed the coach's trust in them.

"Lin, when Navas comes on, we'll play without a striker."

Lin Quan nodded. Atletico's defenders were tough, and playing too far forward would get him marked out of the game, reducing his threat.

But if he dropped back, he could help control the midfield.

If Manchester City dominated the midfield, they could organize more threatening attacks.

Pellegrini kept one substitution for emergencies.

If Diego Costa hadn't been injured in the first half, he might not have saved a substitution, as bringing on three players quickly can have the best tactical effect.

It would boost Manchester City's fighting power and threaten Atletico more.

However, such a change is risky, leaving no room for maneuver if a player gets injured.

Meanwhile, in Atletico's locker room.

Simeone also finished his tactics. Like Manchester City, Atletico would attack in the second half.

Dragging the game on wasn't an option, as their high pressing drained their energy. If Manchester City dragged it into extra time, they would be at a disadvantage.

Manchester City's defensive strategy suggested they wanted to drag the game into extra time.

So, Simeone couldn't let them succeed.

But breaking the deadlock was challenging without Diego Costa.

"Manchester City's defense isn't that strong. There are many gaps. In the second half, our attacks must be more decisive. Speed up, pass forward boldly. If we lose the ball, we'll fight to win it back!"

Losing the ball in the opponent's half is better than in their own half. If they can quickly suppress the opponent's key players and disrupt their counterattack, losing the ball won't threaten their goal too much.

"If our positional play doesn't work, use set pieces more. Manchester City had some good set pieces in the first half; we can learn from them!"

Atletico isn't a high-scoring team. They scored just over 70 goals in La Liga this season, far less than Real Madrid and Barcelona, who both scored over 100.

Defense can be disciplined and tactical, but attack needs talent. A striker's ability directly affects the team's goals.

For Atletico, their top scorer Diego Costa scored 27 goals in the league, over 35% of their total goals!

This percentage is higher than Messi's and Ronaldo's at Barcelona and Real Madrid!

Without Diego Costa, Atletico's attack lost at least a third of its firepower.

Villa's scoring rate is less than half of Costa's, and no other player has scored double digits. Counting on them to finish is unrealistic.

So, set pieces are their best option!

Hearing Simeone's plan, Villa felt a bit sad.

He knew he was getting old. When the team needed him most, he couldn't deliver.

Atletico had some good chances in the first half, but Villa and substitute Lopez missed them.

If they had taken one chance, the game wouldn't be so tense. Atletico might have been leading.

Villa resolved to leave after this World Cup and not renew with Atletico. He'd go to a lower league for a final payday.

He had won almost all the honors: the national team's grand slam, the club's six crowns, and only the Ballon d'Or remained out of reach.

No more regrets!

But before leaving, Villa decided to fight hard with his teammates for the Champions League trophy!

...

The second half began, and the teams switched sides.

At first, their tactics didn't change much.

But Manchester City soon noticed Atletico's more aggressive attack.

Atletico was passing forward more and reducing back and sideways passes.

This led to a lower pass completion rate, giving Manchester City more counterattack opportunities.

In the 47th minute, Zabaleta intercepted the ball and passed to his teammate before Atletico could press.

Fernandinho got the ball, but Atletico's players rushed him like mad dogs.

He quickly passed to De Bruyne.

It was a poor pass, and De Bruyne was fouled from behind by Gabi, stopping Manchester City's counterattack.

Despite missing the counterattack, Pellegrini saw a scoring opportunity!

If Atletico kept making mistakes, Manchester City might score soon!

Chapter 280: The Fatal Strike at the Estadio da Luz, Manchester City 1-0 Atletico Madrid!

Taking advantage of a stoppage in play, Pellegrini called Zabaleta over and gave him some instructions.

Zabaleta nodded repeatedly, and soon Simeone noticed that Manchester City's attacking strategy had changed.

Now, when their two midfielders gained possession, if there wasn't a clear passing opportunity to the forwards, they would pass the ball to the full-backs to handle it.

This choice gave Manchester City better attacking options as Atletico's players found it difficult to press the full-backs immediately, allowing them more space to maneuver.

After this adjustment by Pellegrini, Manchester City's attacking threat began to increase.

In the 52nd minute, after Fernandinho intercepted the ball, he passed to Zabaleta. Zabaleta dribbled a few steps forward and passed back to Fernandinho before the Atletico players could press him.

Fernandinho then passed to Lin Quan, who attracted the opponents' attention before passing to Aguero.

The ball moved in a zigzag pattern down Manchester City's right side, ending up at the forward's feet.

These rapid passes outpaced Atletico's players, even though they were pushing their speed to the limit.

At this moment, Aguero received the ball with only Atletico's defender Godin near him. On his right, Lin Quan was sprinting towards Atletico's penalty area, and on the left, David Silva was doing the same.

Atletico's defenders were rushing back to defend, creating a high-stakes race against Manchester City's attackers.

"This is dangerous! Manchester City's attack from the flank is fast, and Atletico's defense is under tremendous threat!" Commentators around the world raised their voices instinctively.

At first, Manchester City's attack seemed unremarkable, but once they reached the front line, the threat became evident.

With a three-on-three situation up front due to high pressing, most of Atletico's players couldn't return to defend in time.

Though Manchester City didn't have a numerical advantage, their three players were exceptionally skilled.

The fewer players there are, the less impact tactics have, and individual skills become more critical.

Seeing Manchester City's attack, Simeone felt his heart race with a bad premonition.

Godin discreetly bumped into Aguero, trying to push him off balance and steal the ball.

As the last defender, he couldn't risk an obvious foul that would at least earn him a yellow card, or even a red card and expulsion.

Aguero staggered but managed to pass to Lin Quan before losing control of the ball.

As soon as Lin Quan got the ball, he sensed someone rushing from behind. Without looking back, he guessed it was Atletico's full-back, Filipe.

Not giving Filipe a chance to tackle him, Lin Quan quickly cut inside towards Atletico's penalty area.

Filipe had to follow him inside, and Godin, seeing Aguero's pass, left him to another defender, Miranda, and moved to double-team Lin Quan with Filipe.

In a three-on-three situation, the defense is passive but not without hope.

With only one ball in play, forcing the ball handler to pass can give defenders time to double-team the pass recipient.

Especially in a central attack, passing to a wide player limits options: shoot immediately or pass back to the center.

Meanwhile, most of Atletico's players were retreating, so if Manchester City didn't quickly finish this attack, the threat would diminish with every second.

A few seconds later, it would turn into a set-piece battle, which Atletico's defense could handle easily.

By forcing Aguero to pass, the situation started to favor Atletico.

If Godin and Filipe could delay Lin Quan even briefly, their teammates could return, neutralizing the threat.

The pressure was now on Lin Quan. If he got stopped, Manchester City's attack would fail, and Atletico wouldn't give them such an opportunity again.

The game might then revert to a stalemate!

But if he could break through and capitalize on this attack, the game's dynamics could change completely.

At this moment, all eyes in the Estadio da Luz were on Lin Quan.

Everyone waited for his decision!

In the stands, Guardiola's family watched Lin Quan's every move with bated breath.

Though not playing himself, Guardiola felt a shared pressure and concern.

Thinking of the immense challenge and pressure Lin Quan faced, he couldn't help but feel anxious for him.

In the VIP box, Mendes, Ronaldo, and Mourinho also stopped their conversation and looked towards the pitch.

Mendes had high hopes, having heard a lot about Lin Quan's reputation. He was curious and eager to see more from this young rising star.

Regrettably, he hadn't been able to sign Lin Quan last year. Otherwise, he would have two of the world's top three players under his management!

Seeing Lin Quan on the field, Ronaldo recalled watching Spain vs. France in the World Cup qualifiers two years ago when he first noticed Lin Quan.

In just two short years, Lin Quan had grown from an unknown to a top player.

Ronaldo felt immense pressure from this rapid rise.

If Lin Quan could lead his team to victory today, he might even contend for this year's Ballon d'Or!

Mourinho watched with a pure appreciation, observing Lin Quan's every move.

Last year, Mourinho had collected many tapes and analyzed Lin Quan's playing style extensively to try to sign him.

Among the three in the box, Mourinho might know Lin Quan best.

However, after a year in the Premier League and Champions League, Lin Quan's style had evolved.

In Werder Bremen, he was purely an attacker, showing great dribbling and shooting from the wing.

At Manchester City, due to their strong attacking firepower, Lin Quan played less on the wing and more in roles like a second striker or attacking midfielder, focusing more on organizing play.

Now back on the wing, it felt like he had returned to his early days, making Mourinho sure Lin Quan would try to dribble past the defenders.

True enough, seeing Godin approaching, Lin Quan quickly assessed the situation.

He shifted left, seemingly moving towards the center.

Godin and Filipe adjusted accordingly, but then Lin Quan feinted left and moved right to break through.

Godin hurriedly turned and reached to grab Lin Quan, trying to prevent him from getting past.

But Lin Quan's move was a fake, and Godin fell for it!

Seeing his teammate fooled, Filipe panicked and pushed Lin Quan hard from behind, hoping to use a tactical foul to stop the attack.

Though he might get a yellow card, it was better than conceding a goal.

However, Lin Quan had anticipated this move.

As Filipe pushed, Lin Quan had already passed the ball.

Feeling the push, Lin Quan staggered forward.

It all happened in a flash. Aguero had just passed the ball, and less than two seconds later, it was back to him.

However, by the time Aguero received the ball, another Atletico defender, Miranda, had already rushed up.

Aguero still had no space to shoot, but he had developed a strong understanding with Lin Quan.

Instead of shooting, Aguero made a quick through pass, completing a one-two with Lin Quan.

Lin Quan, who had regained his balance after a few stumbling steps, entered the penalty area just as Aguero's pass arrived—perfect timing!

Courtois now knew who would take the final shot. Without hesitation, he rushed out from the goal, arms wide, to confront Lin Quan.

Undoubtedly, this was a one-on-one situation.

Courtois couldn't rely on any teammates; he had to stop the shot on his own.

But could he do it?

He had studied Lin Quan's one-on-one success rate before the match, and the results were discouraging!

Lin Quan's success rate in one-on-ones was over 90%, with less than one mistake in ten attempts.

So, being forced into a one-on-one already indicated a defensive failure for Atletico!

Though Courtois was giving his all, he had little confidence.

However, all the Atletico fans and coaching staff pinned their hopes on him.

They hoped Courtois could perform a miracle and once again help the team guard the goal, resolving this crisis!

But no miracle occurred!

Seeing Courtois rushing out, Lin Quan dribbled past him with ease.

Courtois quickly extended his leg to block, but he was a step too slow. He could only watch helplessly as the ball slid past his side.

After dribbling past Courtois, Lin Quan glanced at the ball.

Once he confirmed it would roll into Atletico's goal, he didn't waste time shooting again but spread his arms and sprinted along the goal line!

Boom!

The roar at the Estadio da Luz exploded like a depth charge, sending the entire stadium into a frenzy.

Countless Manchester City fans cried with joy, hugging each other excitedly!

We're leading!

We finally scored!

On the sidelines, the Manchester City coaching staff went wild after seeing the breakthrough. They ran out, celebrating with hugs and fist pumps.

Pellegrini nearly tripped while running out but didn't care at all, leaping into the arms of his colleagues and assistants in celebration.

In the stands near the pitch, Guardiola's heart clenched as he watched Lin Quan stumble after being fouled by the defender, almost falling.

Like many fans, he thought Lin Quan would lose balance and miss this chance.

However, Lin Quan didn't fall. Instead, he stood firm and, at the critical moment, dribbled past the goalkeeper and scored!

It sounds easy, but it was incredibly difficult!

The defender's shove must have used a lot of force, making it hard for Lin Quan to maintain his balance.

The goalkeeper's timely rush left Lin Quan very little time to react and adjust.

In such a short time, even if most players managed to get the ball, they wouldn't have time to adjust. They'd either shoot hastily and be blocked by the goalkeeper or lose the opportunity entirely.

But none of that happened!

In a split second, Lin Quan balanced himself and shot.

Moreover, the final move was so effortlessly executed.

Courtois surely didn't expect such a skillful dribble leading to the goal!

Seeing this, Guardiola smiled, the frustration from being scoreless in the previous two games against Atletico fading away.

Hey, I might not score, but my boy can!

He avenged me!

In the VIP box, Mendes, Ronaldo, and Mourinho couldn't help but praise the goal inwardly.

Ronaldo sighed, knowing that even he might not have handled the situation better. He might not have scored at all.

Mourinho led the applause, thinking, this kid hasn't let me down and performed even better than expected!

This match is going to be tough for Atletico!

Mendes also applauded, looking at Lin Quan with even more admiration.

Lin Quan is only 18, while Ronaldo is 29. If he could sign Lin Quan, he'd have the top player in football for the next decade!

Chapter 281: New and Old Legacies, The Sky of an Eighteen-Year-Old!

"Manchester City's counterattack, the ball is at Lin Quan's feet!"

"Lin Quan has charged into the penalty area!"

"Courtois is coming out!"

"The ball is in!"

"What an unbelievable goal!"

He Wei exclaimed, "That push from Philippe almost knocked Lin Quan off balance, and Courtois's swift charge left him little time to act. Yet, in such a dire situation, Lin Quan managed to adjust in time and score. This kind of goal deserves every bit of praise!"

"That's right, this 18-year-old Lin Quan, standing on the Champions League final stage for the first time, has scored a crucial goal, pushing Atletico Madrid into a corner. Atletico must score now, or they risk losing the championship trophy because of Lin Quan's goal!"

Compared to foreign commentators, the two CCTV commentators were relatively calm.

In the commentary boxes across Europe, Lin Quan's goal drove the commentators into a frenzy.

The commentators from various TV stations extended the final sound of the word for 'goal' to an extraordinary length, making viewers worry they might pass out from holding their breath too long.

Online, after Lin Quan scored this goal, fans—especially those of Lin Quan and Manchester City—went wild with celebration!

"King Lin is awesome (voice breaking)!"

"Amazing, amazing! I thought King Lin would dive in the penalty area to get a penalty!"

"Haha, King Lin isn't the type to fake a fall. Besides, Philippe's foul was outside the penalty area. Even if it was called a foul, it would only be a free kick, not a penalty!"

"Actually, I feel Philippe's push helped King Lin. Without the push, he might not have gotten to Aguero's pass before Courtois!"

"Haha, if that's true, Philippe deserves some credit!"

"Well, the referee gave him a yellow card. I guess that counts as recognition!"

Compared to the excited Manchester City fans, Atletico Madrid fans were much more pessimistic.

"Diego Costa is injured, and we're behind. This match is too difficult for my Rojiblancos!"

"Yeah, if Diego Costa hadn't been injured, we might have scored in the first half!"

"Sigh, the problem is our squad is too thin. If we had Manchester City's depth, we wouldn't have to rely on the same lineup all the time!"

"Manchester City's players are worth over 500 million euros combined, right? We can't afford that!"

Although Atletico has had good results, their background isn't as strong as traditional powerhouses.

And Manchester City, though not a traditional powerhouse, is backed by a powerful consortium.

The financial gap between the two teams is enormous. Expecting Atletico to have a bench as deep as Manchester City's is unrealistic.

To say nothing of the fact that Atletico's main goalkeeper, Courtois, is on loan from Chelsea.

Although Atletico wants to buy him outright, Courtois is not very interested in staying. He only wants to return to a big club.

So, after this match, Courtois will leave Atletico and return to Stamford Bridge.

On the sidelines, in Atletico's coaching area.

Simeone looked grim, and the substitutes were equally gloomy, contrasting sharply with Manchester City's wildly celebrating coaching staff.

Lin Quan's goal caught Simeone off guard. He had made extensive preparations to limit Lin Quan and stop Manchester City from scoring.

But it seems those preparations were insufficient.

Lin Quan's strength exceeded his expectations. Lin Quan's skills were comparable to Messi's, but his stamina seemed much better. Many strategies effective against Messi didn't work well against Lin Quan.

Moreover, Lin Quan had a strong mental attribute, not wasting time complaining after being fouled.

Almost every time he was knocked down, he got up immediately, as if nothing had happened, and threw himself back into the game.

And he didn't just pretend to contest the ball; he gave it his all every time.

You could see Lin Quan's figure in both offensive and defensive plays.

Such a player seemed even scarier than Messi! Of course, this goal wasn't just due to Lin Quan's skill but also Atletico's second-half tactics.

Before Lin Quan's goal, Manchester City had already tried counterattacking after winning the ball.

Previously, Atletico had successfully defended those attempts, but after Pellegrini adjusted Manchester City's attacking route, it led to this goal.

Simeone felt unlucky; undoubtedly, he should take responsibility for this goal.

But Manchester City had just changed their offensive tactics, and their first attempt led to a goal.

He was caught off guard. He saw Pellegrini instructing Zabaleta, knowing Manchester City was about to adjust.

Simeone had planned to see what changes Manchester City would make before countering them.

But the opponent didn't give him a chance! However, he didn't despair easily.

This match's situation was similar to the last round of La Liga, where they played against Barcelona away.

In that match, their main forward, Diego Costa, also got injured and left the field, and the opponent scored first.

But Atletico smiled last in that game, winning the La Liga title at Camp Nou.

With this successful experience, Simeone believed his team could win in the end.

He stood by the sidelines, shouting to his players. Thanks to his accumulated prestige and the halo from winning the league, Atletico's players trusted Simeone deeply.

Originally anxious after the opponent's goal, Atletico's players calmed down under Simeone's encouragement.

One goal behind, no big deal! The second half had just started; they had plenty of time to equalize! If they could beat top teams like Real Madrid and Bayern, what's Manchester City?

Past victories brought confidence, calming them down, replacing anxiety with a strong fighting spirit! Seeing his players regain their composure and fighting spirit, Simeone finally breathed a sigh of relief.

However, while he had calmed his players, their attacking problem remained unresolved.

Without Diego Costa, Atletico's offensive strength was significantly weakened. Figuring out how to score was their biggest challenge.

Standing in the center circle, Villa placed the ball at his feet, hands on his hips, watching Lin Quan being celebrated by his teammates in the distance.

Although he had no regrets, Villa, like other forwards, envied Lin Quan's incredible skills. As a forward who played with both Messi and Lin Quan, Villa knew better than anyone how extraordinary these two were.

Watching them play football felt like they were playing a different game from everyone else.

They could perform actions most wouldn't dare dream of, let alone try. The ball seemed alive under their control, tamed and perfectly cooperative.

If he had such great abilities, the honors he could achieve would be limitless! However, this was, of course, wishful thinking.

In the entire football world, only two such phenomenal players had ever appeared.

In fact, before Lin Quan, people doubted whether another player like Messi would ever appear. However, Villa didn't sell himself short. He knew he had something they didn't—experience! By using his experience well and combining it with his considerable talent, he could still create miracles!

In the whole football world, only two phenomenal players like this have ever appeared.

In fact, before Lin Quan appeared, people doubted if there would ever be another player like Messi in the future.

However, Villa didn't sell himself short. He knew he had something they didn't—experience! As long as he used it well, combined with his considerable talent, he could still create miracles! …

After celebrating, Pellegrini immediately instructed his players to play conservatively after the kickoff. He wanted them to stabilize the situation and see how Atletico Madrid would react before deciding whether to continue attacking.

This match was so important that he had to be extra cautious.

In a final where one game decides everything, there's little room for error.

As long as they won in the end, playing a bit messily didn't matter. Of course, Pellegrini didn't plan to defend passively forever.

If Manchester City could withstand Atletico's attack, he would make some substitutions.

In short, now that they were leading, the initiative was entirely in Manchester City's hands! Sure enough, after the restart, Atletico's attacks became more ferocious.

However, Manchester City had anticipated this, and almost everyone, regardless of their position, joined the defense.

Even De Bruyne and David Silva, not known for their defensive skills, were contributing.

Atletico's lack of star players became apparent. Without superstars' individual skills, they had to create very good chances to score.

But such chances were hard to come by, especially when Manchester City players were defending with all their might. It was difficult for Atletico to break through using passing and movement.

After all, they were Atletico, not Barcelona, and their coach was Simeone, not Wenger.

As time ticked away, the score remained 1-0. While Atletico's attack hadn't succeeded, their defense was still strong. With targeted efforts to limit Manchester City's wing play, it was almost impossible for Manchester City to score again like before.

In the 73rd minute, Atletico got a great chance.

Using his rich experience, Villa made a sudden run, successfully broke the offside trap under extreme conditions, and received a pass from Koke.

It was a one-on-one with the goalkeeper! Between Villa and the goal stood only Manchester City's goalkeeper, Joe Hart!

Villa ran swiftly, feeling the wind and the stadium's roar.

In that moment, he felt like he was back in the summer of 2005.

That year, he was 24, young and full of vigor, capable of anything on the field, once setting a world record by scoring three goals in five minutes! It all came back to him!

Villa felt like he was at his peak again. He glanced at the terrified Joe Hart, adjusted the ball, and prepared to shoot.

But just as he was about to strike, a figure slid in from the side and took the ball from his feet!

What? How is that possible?

Villa was stunned. He turned around to see Manchester City's number 10, Lin Quan, dribbling the ball toward Atletico's half.

It was Lin who stole the ball from him? Villa was even more shocked!

When he broke the offside trap, he had left almost all Manchester City players behind. How could someone be faster than him?

And wasn't Lin supposed to be up front?

Why was he here?

On the sidelines, Simeone saw everything clearly.

As soon as Atletico's attack began, Lin Quan had retreated from the front line, moving directly to the midfield.

When the ball reached Koke, Lin Quan seemed to predict he would pass to Villa and rushed toward Villa.

Villa indeed broke the offside trap and escaped Manchester City's defenders, but almost at the same time, Lin Quan, already at full speed, also crossed Manchester City's defense line and chased from behind.

Villa had just started, far slower than Lin Quan, and unaware of what was behind him, Lin Quan easily stole the ball!

The noise Villa heard while running was actually Atletico fans desperately trying to warn him.

Unfortunately, the stadium was too noisy, and Villa didn't hear their warnings.

Otherwise, he might have shot earlier, giving him at least a fifty percent chance of scoring!

In fact, Lin Quan had his eye on Villa earlier than Simeone imagined.

In the second half, Lin Quan noticed Villa becoming more active.

After all, despite being 33, with Diego Costa out, Villa was Atletico's biggest threat on the field.

So Atletico players would instinctively pass the ball to him for the final shot.

Thus, seeing Villa might escape Manchester City's offside trap, Lin Quan made a quick decision.

Better to run in vain than give the opponent any chance!

So when he rushed to Villa, he wasn't sure if Villa would get the ball.

In the end, he bet right!

Now, it was Manchester City's turn to counterattack! Atletico's players, seeing their missed chance and the opponent's quick counterattack, became mentally disorganized again.

Having just glimpsed hope of equalizing, only to have it cruelly dashed, left them in despair!

With only about 20 minutes left, they were still behind. Could they really equalize?

Lin Quan didn't care about that. If the opponent's mentality was collapsing, wasn't that perfect? He quickly dribbled past the hastily pressing Koke and passed the ball to De Bruyne.

De Bruyne made a quick pass back to him after a one-two with him, evading Gabi's interception.

The ball was back at Lin Quan's feet, and by now, he had crossed the half-line.

The scene was familiar to the fans.

Wasn't this how they scored 20 minutes ago?

Could it be that Manchester City was going to extend their lead and kill the game suspense completely?

(End of the chapter)

Chapter 282: Champions League Winner—Manchester City!

Atletico Madrid's left-back already had a yellow card, so he didn't dare to foul. He could only try to interfere with Lin Quan, slowing his progress to give his teammates time to help defend.

Godin and Koke were also running over. Atletico's players clearly knew who the biggest threat was.

Because this attack started from a deeper position, Lin Quan was very far from Atletico's goal.

By the time he crossed the halfway line, several Atletico defenders were already in position.

Lin Quan had two choices: he could either dribble past Felipe and cut inside to shoot before Gabi and Godin could intercept, though this would leave him far from the goal, giving Atletico's goalkeeper more time to prepare, making it less likely to score.

The other option was to dribble down the wing and cross to his teammates rushing into the box, hoping they could score.

Lin Quan quickly chose the second option.

Given his previous goal, Atletico's defenders would foul him if they couldn't stop him.

Lin Quan didn't want to waste this chance. Even if he couldn't shoot directly, he would pass the opportunity to a teammate.

With this in mind, Lin Quan pretended to cut inside, tricking Felipe into shifting his weight, then quickly sped down the wing towards the byline.

Felipe hurriedly adjusted and chased him, while center-back Godin also moved over to help.

Against a player of Lin Quan's caliber, giving him space meant he could dribble into the box and shoot from a nearly impossible angle.

Players like him can do things that seem impossible to others.

Atletico saw Lin Quan as their biggest threat, and rightly so. But focusing so much on him made their tactics more passive.

Now, with Lin Quan driving to the byline, both the center-back and left-back had to follow because one-on-one defense was ineffective!

However, the number of defenders on the field is limited. When two defenders are drawn to Lin Quan, other Manchester City players get more opportunities.

Seeing Godin rushing over, Lin Quan judged the distance and, sure that Godin couldn't quickly return, passed the ball.

By this time, Manchester City's striker Aguero was in position, and most Atletico defenders thought Lin Quan would pass to him.

So Miranda preemptively moved towards Aguero, aiming to block his shot and deny him the chance to shoot.

But when he reached Aguero, he realized the ball wasn't passed to him.

De Bruyne, charging in from behind, got the ball first.

At this moment, De Bruyne was unmarked.

Gabi, who should have been marking him, was drawn to the wing by Lin Quan, and Godin was also pulled away by Lin Quan.

With Miranda choosing the wrong player to mark, there was a brief defensive gap around De Bruyne!

Courtois saw De Bruyne get the ball and his eyes widened in alarm.

De Bruyne would definitely shoot, but where?

Courtois knew De Bruyne had a habit of looking at his target before shooting.

Sure enough, De Bruyne glanced at the left side of the goal as he received the ball, seemingly preparing to shoot in that direction.

In a one-on-one situation without support, the goalkeeper is always at a disadvantage.

Courtois couldn't wait for the shot to be taken, as he might be too late to react.

Without thinking, Courtois moved left.

De Bruyne completed his shot, and the ball flew towards the goal.

However, to Courtois's surprise, the ball wasn't going left but was flying to the right side of the goal.

This meant he had guessed wrong!

Courtois tried to stop and change direction, hurriedly stretching out his right hand to save the shot.

Despite his excellent reaction time and physical abilities, De Bruyne's shot was of such high quality that it was hard to save even under normal circumstances, let alone now.

Unsurprisingly, the ball went past Courtois into the net.

In the 74th minute of the second half, Manchester City scored again, making it 2-0.

At this point in the match, the outcome was almost certain!

De Bruyne was ecstatic after scoring, rushing to Lin Quan and hugging him.

"Lin, your plan in the locker room worked perfectly!"

De Bruyne referred to the trick of looking one way but shooting the other, which Lin Quan had suggested to deceive the goalkeeper.

"Hehe, of course, I noticed your shooting habit back at Werder Bremen, and Courtois probably knew it even earlier!"

"So, knowing someone too well can be a disadvantage?"

De Bruyne laughed heartily at Lin Quan's words. Scoring a decisive goal in a final meant the world to him.

Manchester City fans, seeing this goal, were finally relieved.

Leading by one goal always left them worried that Atletico might equalize and ruin their joy.

But now, with De Bruyne's second goal, Manchester City's lead was solid!

Even if Atletico scored, Manchester City would still be ahead.

Given Atletico's current state, Manchester City fans doubted they could break through again!

This sense of relaxation extended to Manchester City's players and coaches.

Seeing De Bruyne score, the entire team, including the goalkeeper, rushed over to celebrate with De Bruyne and Lin Quan.

Manchester City wasn't AC Milan, and with no chance to return to the locker room to pop champagne, this lead felt like they were already touching the trophy!

"This scoreline is very dangerous for Atletico. As long as Manchester City holds on for the last 20 minutes, they will win the most important trophy of the season!"

In Sky Sports' commentary box, Martin Tyler and Andy Gray were excited.

An English Premier League team was about to stand on the Champions League podium again!

"Yes, but there's a saying that a 2-0 lead is the most dangerous scoreline!"

Despite his excitement, Andy Gray maintained some caution.

"Oh? Why is that?"

Martin Tyler had heard the saying before, but he saw his partner was ready for a detailed explanation, so he played along.

"Because this lead is fragile. Compared to a one-goal lead, at 2-0, the leading team might feel too confident and relax, losing their drive.

Meanwhile, the trailing team has nothing to lose and will attack desperately.

This dynamic shift can cause the leading team to concede a goal under relentless pressure.

Once the score becomes a more precarious 2-1, the morale shift can be dramatic.

The leading team's morale takes a hit, fearing an equalizer, making them play more cautiously.

The trailing team, boosted by scoring, plays more aggressively and positively, potentially leading to a quick second goal."

"These events are not my inventions; they actually happened on the field!"

Upon hearing Andy Gray's words, Martin Tyler nodded seriously and said, "Manchester City indeed has a significant lead, but they must not get complacent. They need to stay fully focused and play well for the remaining 20 minutes!"

...

This was exactly what Pellegrini was thinking! After seeing De Bruyne score, he immediately had Milner warm up.

During halftime, Pellegrini had intended to bring on Navas and Nasri to bolster the attack.

But now, with the team leading by two goals, they didn't need to strengthen the attack further. Instead, they needed to enhance their defense or maintain a balance between attack and defense.

Milner was a versatile player who could make significant contributions both offensively and defensively. Bringing him on at this time could add an extra layer of protection to Manchester City's goal.

In the 77th minute, Manchester City made a substitution. David Silva was replaced by Milner.

This substitution sent a clear signal: Manchester City would likely shift from attack to defense.

On Atletico's side, Simeone saw Pellegrini's substitution and quickly made adjustments of his own.

He brought on a winger to strengthen the attack!

Atletico had no other choice at this point. If they couldn't score quickly, they would surely lose as the game progressed.

However, after making their substitution, Atletico found that Manchester City had switched to a 4-5-1 formation. Lin Quan moved back to midfield, playing as a free player in the attack and a central midfielder in defense.

Milner, who was substituted in, did not appear on the wing but joined Lin Quan in the midfield, creating a defensive block.

De Bruyne, who had weaker defensive abilities, was placed slightly forward on the wing.

This formation was unusual, one that Manchester City had never used before, so its effectiveness was unknown.

Atletico quickly felt the power of Manchester City's defensive formation.

Seeing the crowded midfield, they decided to attack from the wings.

De Bruyne, positioned furthest forward, was quickly bypassed, but Lin Quan immediately stepped up from behind him.

At the same time, Manchester City's fullbacks joined in the pressing, creating a triangle around the opposing player and cutting off his space.

The ball was inevitably intercepted, and Manchester City launched a counterattack.

Lin Quan passed the ball to De Bruyne, who quickly passed diagonally to Aguero up front.

Unfortunately, Aguero couldn't get to the ball before it was cleared by the opposing defenders.

Aguero was a bit frustrated; both Lin Quan and De Bruyne had scored, and he wanted to score too.

However, Atletico's defenders weren't giving him any opportunities.

With Lin Quan moving back, Aguero became the lone forward, drawing more attention from the defense.

Though the counterattack failed, the defense showed the effectiveness of Manchester City's new tactic.

"Interesting!"

In the box, Mourinho couldn't help but nod slightly after seeing Manchester City's transition between attack and defense.

Manchester City's formation was 4-5-1 in defense, shifting to 4-2-3-1 in attack. The two defensive midfielders stayed mostly in position, but the three attacking midfielders had a lot of freedom to act.

Crucially, with Lin Quan moving back, it became even harder for Atletico to mark him due to his larger range of movement, making it difficult to man-mark or use zone defense against him.

Failing to contain him meant Manchester City's offensive supply line remained intact, forcing Atletico to take significant risks with each attack. If intercepted, they faced Manchester City's dangerous counterattacks.

In the 82nd minute, Atletico's attack was intercepted again, and Manchester City launched another swift counterattack.

This time, Aguero managed a shot, but Courtois, determined and focused, easily saved it and quickly threw the ball for a counterattack. However, Atletico's attempt was thwarted by Manchester City's solid defense.

As the game neared its end, Atletico's players grew increasingly anxious, and their actions became more aggressive.

In the 82nd minute, Villa received a yellow card for a foul.

In the 85th minute, Raul Garcia received a yellow card for a tackle from behind on De Bruyne.

Seeing De Bruyne injured on the ground, Lin Quan angrily ran over and pushed Garcia: "Are you trying to injure him?"

Lin Quan had seen clearly that Garcia showed his studs during the tackle and didn't pull back even when he knew he wouldn't get the ball, indicating a deliberate foul.

Raul Garcia, already frustrated, snapped when Lin Quan pushed him. He immediately pushed back and raised his fist.

Lin Quan wasn't one to back down either. Seeing Garcia ready to fight, he raised his own fist.

Players from both teams rushed over to separate them, preventing the situation from escalating.

The referee, standing nearby, saw everything clearly.

Without hesitation, he pulled out a yellow card and showed it to Lin Quan, warning him. Then he showed another yellow card to Raul Garcia.

Raul Garcia, already on a yellow card for the tackle, received his second yellow for pushing Lin Quan and was sent off with a red card.

With the team two goals down and the game nearing its end, Atletico now had one less player. Even a miracle wouldn't save them now.

Pellegrini, seeing that De Bruyne couldn't continue, made another substitution, bringing on Nasri for De Bruyne.

With the numerical advantage, Manchester City completely took control. Under Lin Quan's command, they besieged Atletico's goal.

Atletico's players were completely suppressed, unable to even cross the halfway line. The game's outcome was no longer in doubt.

The referee, seeing this situation, only added three minutes of stoppage time.

Before the stoppage time was up, he blew the final whistle early!

The champions of the 2013-2014 UEFA Champions League were—Manchester City!

(The end of the chapter)

Chapter 283: The Impact of Manchester City's Victory and Investment from the East!

At the final whistle, Atletico's players either sat or lay on the pitch in despair, with some even kneeling and covering their faces in tears.

With teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich already eliminated, this was Atletico's best chance at winning the Champions League.

Before the final, Atletico's formidable defense had only conceded 4 goals in 10 matches, the fewest of any team in this season's Champions League.

However, Atletico's proud defense fell apart under Manchester City's fierce attack.

Despite their enormous effort to contain and defend against Lin Quan, he still managed to score a goal and provide an assist.

This left Atletico's players feeling deeply defeated, as if they were battling aliens!

How could they possibly win against such an opponent?

On the sidelines, Simeone's eyes were red.

After trying so hard, they still fell short on the final stage.

He took a deep breath, rubbed his nose, and walked over to Manchester City's bench to hug Pellegrini: "Congratulations, Manuel. Your team performed better today and deserved this trophy!"

"Thank you. Your team was excellent too. If not for some bad luck, the outcome might have been different!"

Pellegrini referred to Atletico's main striker, Diego Costa, being injured and subbed out after just 9 minutes.

If Costa hadn't been injured, the game might have had a different result.

Simeone didn't dwell on this topic. He nodded and walked onto the pitch to console his heartbroken players.

Though his mind went blank right after the match, he soon realized that failure is a part of life.

Maybe this is just life! Failure isn't the end of the world; they will have another chance to come back stronger.

Atletico's squad is still young, and they've achieved significant results on various fronts this year, attracting more sponsorship and commercial revenue.

This will help them recruit better players. Next season, Atletico will be even stronger! Simeone glanced at the jubilant Manchester City players on the other side of the field, silently vowing: One day, we will get our revenge on you!

The Manchester City players were too caught up in their celebration to notice anything else. As soon as the whistle blew, they ran wildly around the pitch.

The staff and substitutes rushed onto the field to join the players in their ecstatic celebration.

This was the first Champions League title in the club's history! By winning this most prestigious trophy, Manchester City achieved an incredible treble this season, becoming the seventh European club to do so.

If the League Cup is included, they won four trophies this season! Considering the Community Shield, UEFA Super Cup, and Club World Cup are still up for grabs, Manchester City even has a chance to achieve a septuple!

Before winning the Champions League, Manchester City might have been seen as upstarts without a rich history.

But now, with two Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy, they seem qualified to become a new powerhouse.

From now on, other fans can no longer mock Manchester City for having no trophies! In fact, the Premier League's "Big Four" might now become the "Big Five."

While Manchester City still lacks the history of teams like Manchester United and Liverpool, they are a rising force with a younger, well-balanced squad and more transfer funds.

With Lin Quan as a core player, Manchester City doesn't need to worry about their squad for a long time.

In the coming years, Manchester City will not only continue to dominate the league but also aim to defend their Champions League title, something no team has done before!

Moreover, on the broader stage of the top five European leagues.

Manchester City's victory signals the Premier League's resurgence after a brief period of decline.

Premier League fans regained their lost honor and pride. As long as Manchester City's squad remains stable, they will be one of the favorites for next season's Champions League.

Therefore, not only was there jubilation at the Champions League final, but the moment Manchester City won, Premier League fans around the world also erupted in celebration! "Manchester City rocks! Another trophy for the Premier League!"

"With this win, the Premier League has now won 12 Champions League titles, tying with Serie A!"

"Which league has the most Champions League titles?"

"La Liga, with 13 titles: 9 for Real Madrid and 4 for Barcelona. We're just one away from catching up!"

Although just one trophy short, it won't be easy to take the title from the strong La Liga teams.

While Premier League fans were excited, Manchester City fans were overwhelmed with joy, almost unable to believe their team had won the Champions League! "Guys, am I dreaming? Did we really win? Champions of Europe?"

"Yes, you're dreaming. I've had this dream for decades, but today it feels incredibly real!"

"Haha, if this is a dream, I hope it happens every year!"

"Long live Lin! Long live Pellegrini! Long live Manchester City!"

After celebrating on the field, the Manchester City players continued their festivities in the locker room.

Some substitutes popped champagne, spraying it on anyone who walked in. Lin Quan and De Bruyne, the heroes of the match, were drenched in champagne by their teammates.

Even coach Pellegrini wasn't spared and had to change into a jersey to accept the trophy.

By the time Manchester City's players had showered and changed, the awards stage was set up on the pitch.

UEFA President Platini personally presented the awards to the Manchester City players.

Platini's rule changes, particularly those reducing fouls, greatly benefited teams like Barcelona with their passing game.

This led to speculation about Platini's close ties with Barcelona and their star player Messi, affecting his reputation. He had both supporters and detractors in the football world.

Lin Quan didn't have strong feelings about Platini, recognizing that limiting fouls and reducing player injuries were necessary for the sport's development.

This trend is evident in basketball too, where the NBA's strict foul rules go even further.

In the age of social media, the negative impact of severe fouls is significant, harming the sport's image and growth.

Superstars also have more influence now, bringing substantial publicity and economic benefits to professional football.

Therefore, UEFA and FIFA's policies to protect star players are an inevitable trend.

Moreover, these reforms enhance the sport's entertainment value and extend players' careers.

In recent years, the number of players over thirty in the top leagues has increased, benefitting from Platini's changes.

In the previous league environment, they would have faced more injuries and wouldn't have maintained such form into their thirties.

Especially for technical players, Barcelona's passing game might not have existed under the old rules.

"Lin, you're an amazing player. I look forward to seeing more of your brilliance on the field!"

Platini had a great fondness for Lin Quan, being a former midfielder himself, he had a special appreciation for technical players.

Based on his playing experience, he could tell at a glance the enormous gap between players like Lin Quan and Messi compared to ordinary players. The difference was as vast as the clouds and the mud!

Therefore, when awarding the medal to Lin Quan, he warmly held his arm and chatted with him for a while.

Since the other person was so friendly, Lin Quan didn't want to be rude, so he chatted back with Platini for a bit.

Seeing this, Mourinho and Ronaldo in the box had serious expressions.

Platini had publicly stated that players like Messi should be protected from injuries.

Now, seeing how close he was to Lin Quan, were they going to give Lin Quan special treatment too?

If that was the case, it wouldn't be good news for Chelsea and Real Madrid.

Mourinho then asked, "What are Platini's chances in the UEFA elections next year?"

Mendes nodded, "Very high, almost certain!"

Hearing this, Mourinho frowned.

The UEFA president's term is four years, and if Platini is re-elected next year, he will serve until at least 2019!

Seeing Mourinho's concern, Mendes added, "But there are some rumors about Platini being involved in financial irregularities. Some people unhappy with him are trying to use this against him. So, even if he gets re-elected, he might not complete his term."

Mourinho nodded, reassured by Mendes' connections in the football world.

...

After the trophy ceremony, Lin Quan walked to the sidelines to hug and celebrate with Guardiola, Serra, and other family members.

"Congratulations! When I was your age, I hadn't even had the chance to play, let alone lead a team to win the Champions League!" Guardiola said with emotion. He debuted at Barcelona almost at 20 and was a substitute for a few years before becoming a regular at 22.

Compared to him, Lin Quan's career had been much smoother.

Lin Quan smiled, "If you hadn't waited at Barcelona and had gone on loan like I did, with your ability, you would have become a regular much sooner."

Guardiola had to agree, nodding while rubbing his bald head, feeling less disappointed.

"Brother, can I take a picture of you with the trophy?" Maria, eager to share her joy with her followers, asked. She knew they were following her because of Lin Quan.

"Sure. Marius, Valentina, do you want to join too?"

"Yes, I'd like a picture with you and an autograph, please!" Marius, like a devoted fan, had stars in his eyes.

Valentina, on the other hand, just wanted to play with the ball on the field.

"Let's go!"

Lin Quan picked up Valentina, placed her on the grass, and got a ball for her to play with.

Maria, acting as the photographer, took several professional-looking pictures of Lin Quan. She even asked a staff member to take a family photo.

Unsurprisingly, once the photo was posted online, it received numerous positive comments.

Man City's big boss, Mansour, was also present and felt ecstatic when the team won.

For Mansour and his Middle Eastern consortium, Man City's Champions League victory was crucial!

Since spending £180 million to buy Man City in September 2008, Mansour had invested over £1 billion in the club.

If they didn't produce results, he would always be labeled as a foolish spender.

Although he didn't mind spending money, he preferred to shed that negative label.

This season, Man City's breakthrough fulfilled his wish, proving the value of his investment.

Mansour felt his money was well spent: in just over five years, £1 billion had bought a Champions League trophy, two Premier League titles, and a powerful team with limitless potential!

Investing in Man City also showcased the strength of the Middle Eastern consortium, significantly boosting their reputation and influence.

The investment was definitely worthwhile, especially compared to Paris Saint-Germain and even Chelsea.

Mansour had established the City Football Group last year to build his football empire. Man City's success was a great encouragement for this ambitious project.

It proved that the commercial logic of investing in football was sound. Though it required substantial spending initially, once Man City's youth system and club operations were on track, spending would become more reasonable, eventually leading to profits.

With this in mind, Mansour planned to expand his investment.

Currently, the City Football Group owned four teams: besides Man City, there were New York City FC in the MLS, Melbourne City FC in the A-League, and Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan's J-League.

Seeing the rapid growth and potential of the Chinese Super League, Mansour was tempted to invest there.

The massive potential of the Eastern market and the rapid development of football presented huge business opportunities.

Should he invest in a club there to expand the City Football Group's footprint?

Just as he was contemplating this, he received a call from his secretary.

"Boss, several investment companies from the East are interested in buying shares in our City Football Group!"

"Oh? Which companies, and how sincere are they?"

Mansour, in a good mood, listened eagerly. The City Football Group was currently wholly owned by the Middle Eastern consortium.

However, to expand their global influence, they needed local investments.

Having many local friends would make things easier.

"Mainly the China Media Capital Fund and CITIC Group. They are willing to invest at least $400 million to buy a 10% stake."

In recent years, Eastern companies had been venturing abroad, expanding their business empires.

Investing in football and buying clubs had become a trend, led by the boss of Wanda.

Compared to Wanda investing in a team like Atletico Madrid, investing in the new Champions League winners seemed much wiser.

"Set up a meeting. We can talk."

Chapter 284: Manchester City's Championship Celebration! World Cup Approaches!

On the night of the championship, Lin Quan, like many other Manchester City players, felt physically exhausted yet mentally too excited to sleep. Next door, teammates were playing games or singing karaoke, making Lin Quan chuckle and shake his head. "These guys will all have panda eyes tomorrow," he thought.

Unable to sleep, he opened his phone to surf the internet. As soon as he unlocked it, he saw a congratulatory message from Lily Collins. Checking the time, it was already half-past ten in the evening. Considering the time difference, it should still be afternoon in the United States.

Thinking of this, Lin Quan messaged Lily Collins: "Are you free?"

Within seconds of sending the message, Lily Collins called him.

...

The day after winning the championship, instead of squeezing onto a commercial flight, the entire Manchester City team took a charter flight back to Manchester with Mansour. As soon as they landed, they were warmly welcomed by tens of thousands of fans outside the airport.

At this moment, Manchester City's players were the heroes of the city. Inside and outside the airport, countless fans held up banners and flags to welcome their heroes back triumphantly!

The players were visibly surprised by the turnout of fans. While they had anticipated some fans to greet them, they hadn't expected such a massive turnout!

Upon seeing the enthusiastic crowd, they decided to bring out the Champions League trophy and raised it high for the fans to see. This sight further excited the fans who shouted "Champions!" and waved their arms, celebrating and singing team songs joyously.

Despite having celebrated multiple times at the Estadio da Luz and at the hotel, the players' enthusiasm was reignited by the warm reception of the fans. Since the season's matches were all over, after the victory parade, the team would have time off, so most players had plenty of time.

Many players began fulfilling fans' requests by taking photos together or signing autographs. Among them, Lin Quan was undoubtedly the most sought-after for autographs.

Soon, Lin Quan was surrounded by a large group of fans wearing sky-blue number 10 jerseys. Since joining Manchester City last year, Lin Quan's jersey sales had consistently outpaced others by a wide margin.

Now, with his leadership in winning the club's first-ever Champions League trophy, his status among Manchester City fans had reached unprecedented heights.

The security staff on site struggled to maintain order as the number of fans was overwhelming. Those at the back were anxious not to miss out on their idol's autograph, causing a bit of a chaotic scene with pushing and shoving.

Seeing this, Lin Quan realized the situation was becoming dangerous. With so many people, there was a risk of a stampede. While signing autographs was meant with good intentions, it could potentially lead to unintended harm!

Realizing this, he quickly obtained a megaphone from the airport staff and addressed the fans, asking them to form a queue and promising to fulfill each of their autograph and photo requests one by one. To prevent scalping, he limited each person to a maximum of two signatures.

After Lin Quan spoke, the fans calmed down and patiently started queuing up.

"Lin, are you really going to sign autographs for all these people?" asked his teammates, who had mostly fulfilled fans' autograph requests by now, upon hearing Lin Quan's plan.

With over ten thousand fans at the scene, even if they weren't all Lin Quan's fans, they wouldn't miss this opportunity.

"Uh-huh, that's my plan!" Lin Quan nodded. Once the words were spoken, there was no turning back.

He arranged for an office desk and chair from the airport staff, paying a few more autographs and photos in return, preparing to sign for hours on end.

Lin Quan sat down and began signing autographs.

Seeing Lin Quan fulfill his promise, fans cooperated eagerly. They queued up orderly, holding their jerseys or memorabilia they wanted signed, chatting briefly with their idol before getting their signature.

Once fans restored order, the pressure on the onsite security personnel significantly eased. They breathed a sigh of relief and admired the 18-year-old player for calming the fans' excitement with just a few words, showing such influence and appeal that's rare for someone so young.

Lin Quan's sincerity in fulfilling his promise added to his appeal, even winning over some who weren't his fans originally, making them curious to learn more about him.

Many fans at the scene took advantage of the wait to snap photos and share them online with captions like: "Waiting for Lin Quan's autograph!" Many fans even live-streamed the event online like frontline reporters, providing real-time updates to countless fans.

Soon, what started as a small event of Manchester City fans greeting the team at the airport quickly became a hot topic on the internet.

"I really want Lin Quan's autograph, but I'm not in Manchester!"

"Anyone in Manchester, can you help me get Lin Quan's autograph? I can reimburse your travel expenses!"

"I'm in London, can I make it to Manchester by car in time?"

"It's over 300 kilometers. If you drive, it'll take more than three hours. With tens of thousands of people at the scene, even if Lin Quan signs for everyone, it'll take at least four to five hours. You should make it in time!"

"Alright, I'm taking a leave to Manchester!"

"Bro, are you serious? Remember to get one for me!"

"Count me in!"

"Me too!"

Despite the large crowd, Lin Quan remained relaxed. He patiently signed autographs for each approaching fan. However, as he signed, Lin Quan felt something was off.

Why weren't the numbers decreasing? Instead, they seemed to be increasing?

What was going on?

In the end, what was planned to take four to five hours for autographs ended up taking a full eight hours.

After signing the last autograph, it was already dark outside. His arms were sore, feeling detached from his body.

Fortunately, the club arranged a special car to take him to the club's victory banquet.

When Lin Quan arrived, most of his teammates were already there.

"Tsk tsk, are you still signing autographs now?" David Silva and others curiously gathered around when they saw Lin Quan.

"Congratulations, you guessed it right. You guys are heartless, leaving me here alone!" Lin Quan said with a mix of resentment and amusement. "After you left, many of your fans showed up. Not seeing you, they all came to me for autographs, indirectly burdening me even more!"

"Haha, thanks on behalf of those fans. But staying wouldn't have helped much anyway. Your fans wouldn't recognize our signatures!" His teammates justified themselves, reasonably.

They couldn't help much by staying, but they genuinely admired Lin Quan.

They had assumed Lin Quan would just brush off the fans, but who would have thought he'd sit there and sign autographs for eight hours!

The celebration banquet ended, and the next day, Manchester City held its most important celebration event—the victory parade!

Manchester City players rode on three floats, with Lin Quan and De Bruyne at the front, holding high the Champions League trophy, the symbol of their victory.

After a series of celebrations, Lin Quan rested in Manchester for a day before flying back to Portugal.

After reuniting with Guardiola and others, Lin Quan spent three relatively quiet days in Portugal.

On May 30th, with the arrival of the Spanish national team training camp, Lin Quan had to temporarily bid farewell to his family and return to Spain ahead of time to participate in the new national team training session.

In preparation for the World Cup, this training session would last for half a month and would be conducted in closed conditions. During this period, aside from friendly matches against a few top opponents, they would not appear in front of the media, and players were not allowed to return home to prevent any tactical information from leaking.

These measures were unprecedented, clearly reflecting the immense pressure that Vicente del Bosque felt due to the World Cup.

As defending champions, Spain carried enormous pressure from their past achievements and the expectations of their nation.

As one of the teams with the best chance to win back-to-back World Cups in recent decades, they were undoubtedly the favorites for this tournament.

However, this top-seed status meant that every move they made would be scrutinized under the spotlight or even a magnifying glass.

Spain couldn't afford to lose. If they were to lose, criticisms would come from all directions!

Unfortunately, the recent Champions League matches had already highlighted serious issues of aging among Spain's players.

Players like Villa, Xavi, Xabi Alonso, and Puyol were already past their prime.

Given their ages, it was undoubtedly their last World Cup.

Replacing players of this caliber would not be an easy task once they retired.

Therefore, if they couldn't capitalize on this opportunity at the end of their careers to make another run for the World Cup, they might not have another chance in four years.

Even though Spain had a wealth of talent, rebuilding the squad and finding the right players and tactics would not be an easy task.

Argentina, with their paper strength not inferior to Spain's, also had top players like Messi, but due to tactical imbalances and squad mismatches, they had never been able to break through in major tournaments.

As for Portugal, heavily reliant on Cristiano Ronaldo to lead the team, their strength might barely be enough to make it out of the group stage.

On the World Cup stage, top stars were crucial, but not the only factor.

Del Bosque couldn't rely solely on having Lin Quan in the team to face the upcoming matches without worry.

After this World Cup, Spain's squad would need to be redefined, and tactics adjusted according to the technical characteristics of new members.

Since lifting the European Cup for the first time in 2008, this Matador Legion had gradually faded from people's view and would gradually become history after this World Cup.

Therefore, this was their last major tournament together!

Del Bosque hoped they could end with no regrets and achieve the best results possible!

Chapter 285: A Legendary End, Spain's 23-Man Roster!

Madrid, Las Rozas Training Base.

When Lin Quan arrived, most of the national team players summoned had already gathered.

Outside the training base, many Spanish fans were cheering for the team.

Since this World Cup is being held in South America, many Spanish fans couldn't travel to support the team in person.

So, they chose to send their blessings before Spain departed!

"Lin, go for it!"

"Bring back the championship trophy!"

"Don't let those guys in South America have the last laugh; Europe is the true home of football!"

Seeing Lin Quan, the fans started shouting his name, cheering him on with various words of encouragement.

In the past, if Lin Quan was in a good mood, he might have taken pictures and signed autographs for the fans.

But after the 'painful' lesson at Manchester Airport, he didn't dare casually sign autographs anymore.

He signed one, then two more would come, then four...

He realized he had underestimated his influence and popularity among fans!

Arriving at the training ground, after greeting a few teammates, Lin Quan quickly changed into his training gear and joined the practice.

He glanced around and noticed some familiar faces were missing, replaced by some new ones.

"Where's the captain?" Lin Quan nudged Fabregas and asked in confusion.

Fabregas clearly knew who Lin Quan was referring to and asked in surprise, "You don't know? The captain announced his retirement yesterday!"

"Uh, didn't he promise to play with us through the World Cup? Why did he retire?"

The captain they were talking about wasn't the on-field captain Casillas, but the former captain Puyol.

During the World Cup qualifiers, Puyol had expressed his desire to push for the Brazil World Cup with his teammates.

Lin Quan had always remembered this, so he was surprised that Puyol announced his retirement early.

"Sigh, the 23-man roster is full. Puyol didn't want to make things difficult for the coach, so he voluntarily left the national team. He was already semi-retired at the club. Since he left the national team, there was nothing much to linger for, so he simply announced his retirement."

Lin Quan recalled that in history, Puyol announced his retirement after the La Liga season ended.

But this time, he didn't retire immediately after the season ended; he waited for a while before announcing it.

Clearly, he had intentions of participating in the World Cup.

Puyol, born in April 1978, is already 36 years old this year.

At this age, it's evident he couldn't be a key player for the team and might not be able to provide substantial help.

With every spot in Spain's 23-man roster being extremely precious, his inclusion could have disrupted Del Bosque's lineup.

Therefore, his decision to retire was clearly a self-sacrifice for the team.

Hearing about Puyol's retirement, Lin Quan felt a bit sad.

He hadn't interacted much with Puyol, but in the limited time they had, this dressing room leader had a significant impact on him.

As the soul of Barcelona, Puyol naturally possessed strong mental attributes and leadership qualities.

Even if he couldn't help on the field due to his age, his presence in the dressing room, calming and encouraging his teammates, was still very important.

With this in mind, Lin Quan had an idea.

He stopped training and went to find Del Bosque to make a suggestion.

"Invite Puyol to temporarily join the coaching staff and go with the team?"

Del Bosque was taken aback by Lin Quan's bold idea. He looked at Lin Quan in confusion and asked, "Lin, didn't you notice the 23-man roster has only 22 players? I left a spot for Puyol, but he refused. Do you think he would agree to join as an assistant coach?"

Del Bosque wasn't someone who forgot old comrades. Puyol had worked with him for six years and was always his most trusted defender.

He also hoped to take Puyol to one more World Cup.

But Puyol himself refused, not wanting to be a burden to the team, and Del Bosque couldn't force him.

Moreover, Puyol's current competitive level had indeed declined, making it hard for him to play.

Taking him just to sit on the bench might hurt his pride.

Just like Manchester United's captain Gary Neville, in his last season, he only played four times, spending most of his time on the bench.

Ferguson valued his influence in the dressing room and hoped he could help the team off the field.

But Gary Neville didn't want to be a mascot, knowing he couldn't contribute on the field.

So, he chose to retire.

Puyol's decision was almost identical to Gary Neville's!

Would Puyol agree to come back as a coach now?

"I think he will. The old captain always wanted to participate in this World Cup with us. Since he can't play as a player, joining as a coach would still fulfill his wish!"

"Besides, the old captain's extensive experience in major tournaments would be beneficial. He can provide substantial help in defensive training and offer valuable match experience to us younger players, which would be good for the team!"

Del Bosque looked at Lin Quan for a long time, thinking that a player as skilled as him needed others to provide experience? Come up with a more believable reason, please, I don't want to expose your fib!

"Alright, the team does lack a defensive coach. If you can convince Carles, then the position is his!"

Unable to resist Lin Quan's persistent persuasion, Del Bosque reluctantly agreed.

With Del Bosque's consent, Lin Quan happily left.

Watching Lin Quan's back, then looking at his assistant, Del Bosque hesitantly asked, "Toni, do you think we're spoiling this kid too much?"

"Spoiling? Who? Lin?"

"Yeah!"

"Hehe, I don't think so!"

Toni rolled his eyes, wanting to tell Del Bosque that there was an interesting saying about Spain.

Basically, it suggested that with Spain's current lineup and setup, even if a dog were tied to the coach's seat, they would still win.

Before Lin Quan joined, Spain was strong but had serious issues in attack.

His addition filled Spain's gap, giving them their own nuclear weapon.

For such a player, spoiling or favoring him was far from excessive.

Just look at Spain's neighbor Portugal. What status does Ronaldo have in their team?

What status does Lin Quan have in Spain's team?

Given his current treatment, Toni felt it wasn't even close to what Del Bosque called 'spoiling'.

In Toni's view, Del Bosque wasn't spoiling Lin Quan enough!

Otherwise, he should at least be given the vice-captain role!

Soon, Xavi and others would retire from the national team, and Spain needed to establish the next generation of core players.

And the only suitable candidate for this role was Lin Quan.

So, even if he wasn't made the national team captain now, the vice-captain role should be considered soon.

But looking at Del Bosque's arrangements, it seemed he had no such plans for the near future, making Toni think he was deliberately holding Lin Quan back, not giving him the treatment he deserved.

The reason for this was probably not wanting to promote him too quickly, which could affect Lin Quan's mindset.

After all, many young players who became famous early often got carried away and ruined themselves.

...

After talking to Del Bosque, Lin Quan immediately called Puyol.

"Lin, what's up?" Puyol was surprised by Lin Quan's sudden call.

"Captain, come back. We need you!"

Lin Quan didn't waste time and directly invited Puyol.

Since the national team still had one spot open in their 23-man roster, there was a chance for Puyol to join at the last minute.

On the other end of the phone, Puyol smiled bitterly at Lin Quan's words:

"I'm too old. I can't contribute to the team anymore. Bringing me along would only make me a burden, and that would be too undignified for someone my age."

Puyol's words were full of sadness, and as Lin Quan listened, the phrase "a hero in twilight" came to mind.

Indeed, Del Bosque had guessed right. A direct invitation wouldn't work. If they brought him but didn't let him play, Puyol might feel even worse.

To protect Puyol's dignity, Lin Quan didn't issue a direct invitation. Instead, he took a different approach:

"Captain, what do you plan to do after retirement?"

Lin Quan's sudden change of topic made Puyol pause. He hadn't really decided what to do next.

When he first decided to leave Barcelona, he thought about playing in lower leagues.

Even though he couldn't keep up in the top five European leagues, he could still play in leagues like the Middle East or the MLS.

With his reputation as a World Cup-winning captain, he could secure a big contract in these leagues, play a few more years, make some money, and keep enjoying the game.

For many players his age, this was very appealing.

But Puyol had only ever played for Barcelona. He didn't want to betray his loyalty to the club.

While playing in a lower league could earn him an extra million or even tens of millions of euros, for Puyol, his loyalty and commitment to Barcelona couldn't be measured in money.

So, after careful consideration, he decided to retire, abandoning the idea of playing in lower leagues.

But what to do after retiring?

For most retired players, continuing in football in some capacity was common.

They might become coaches, TV commentators, or take on administrative roles at their former clubs.

After deciding to retire, considering his contributions to the team, Barcelona planned to offer him a position as assistant sports director, allowing him to continue serving the club.

This job didn't pay much, but it allowed him to stay with Barcelona, which was very attractive to Puyol.

However, the position was susceptible to politics.

The assistant sports director was usually close to the club president, and with each new president, this position often saw changes.

The current sports director, Andoni Zubizarreta, was appointed by President Rosell. As Rosell's confidant, he might not be trusted by a new president and could be replaced.

If Puyol accepted the offer, he would likely have to resign by January.

Barcelona probably knew this but still offered him the position. It was unclear if this was deliberate or an oversight.

Puyol didn't hide this and explained Barcelona's offer to Lin Quan.

Lin Quan thought for a moment and then suggested:

"Captain, have you considered becoming a coach? It allows you to stay in football, and one day, you might return to Camp Nou as a coach, like many legendary players!"

Lin Quan's suggestion tempted Puyol. There was a clear example before him—Guardiola!

Guardiola, who played for Barcelona for many years, returned as a coach and established Barcelona's dream team, winning two Champions League titles and elevating Barcelona to the same level as Real Madrid.

Guardiola's successful transition was a huge motivation and inspiration for many retired players, making them want to emulate him.

Puyol was no exception!

"Alright, I'll consider it!"

"That's the spirit, Captain. Our national team currently lacks an experienced defensive coach. Would you consider it?"

Worried that Puyol might refuse out of modesty, Lin Quan added:

"Didn't you say you wanted to win the World Cup with us? If you can't lift the trophy as a player, why not join as a coach?"

Puyol paused, realizing this might have been Lin Quan's real reason for the call all along.

This guy had gone through all this just to make this suggestion?

Feeling touched, Puyol, sniffing back emotion, didn't hesitate: "No problem, I can report in anytime!"

After Puyol's final refusal, Del Bosque quickly recruited another player.

Thus, the 23-man Spanish squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil was finalized.

Goalkeepers: Casillas (Real Madrid), Reina (Napoli), De Gea (Manchester United)

Defenders: Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Alba (Barcelona), Pique (Barcelona), Ramos (Real Madrid), Javi Martinez (Bayern Munich), Albiol (Napoli), Juanfran (Atletico Madrid)

Midfielders: Busquets (Barcelona), Xavi (Barcelona), Iniesta (Barcelona), Fabregas (Barcelona), Alonso (Real Madrid), Koke (Atletico Madrid), David Silva (Manchester City), Mata (Manchester United)

Forwards: Lin Quan (Manchester City), Pedro (Barcelona), David Villa (Atletico Madrid), Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid), Torres (Chelsea)

It's worth mentioning that Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa, who had dual nationality with Brazil and Spain, ultimately chose to join the Spanish national team.

This move sparked huge controversy, with Brazilian fans calling him a traitor for abandoning his homeland to join Spain.

On the other hand, Spanish fans weren't as welcoming as expected, considering they already had Lin Quan.

As a result, Diego Costa found himself stuck between a rock and a hard place, disliked by fans from both sides!

(End of the chapter)

Chapter 286: The Team Arrives in Brazil, Brazilian Tricks!

As this year's Champions League runner-up, Atletico Madrid has four players selected for the national team, even more than Real Madrid.

To play it safe, Del Bosque has recruited players who performed exceptionally well at their clubs this season, those who are mainstays in their teams and can make an immediate impact.

He left out players like Isco, Cazorla, Morata, Javi Garcia, and Negredo.

This roster announcement did spark some controversy, especially about the forward line.

"Isn't having five forwards too many?"

A few years ago, Spain's biggest headache was the lack of strong forwards.

But now, they no longer worry about that and instead feel their forward line is too crowded!

"Honestly, we don't need that many forwards. Iniesta and David Silva can play as wingers. Lin Quan and Villa can play both central and wide roles. Lin Quan can even play as an attacking midfielder. One out of Torres and Costa would be enough!"

"Exactly, Torres has been performing poorly these past seasons. Last year at Chelsea, he played 32 games but only scored 9 goals, which is quite disappointing!"

Torres has indeed struggled these past seasons. His goal tally is not just behind Lin Quan and Diego Costa, but even behind the 33-year-old veteran Villa.

Many Spanish fans remember the last World Cup.

In the South Africa World Cup, Torres played 7 matches for Spain but didn't score a single goal, which was a huge letdown.

Fans, like military enthusiasts, can be fickle.

With new favorites, they quickly discard the old ones.

Since Torres couldn't score, people naturally didn't want to include him.

"Didn't Diego Costa get injured in the Champions League final? Is he recovered?"

"Not likely! The final was less than a week ago, there's no way he could recover that fast!"

"If his injury isn't healed, why include him in the squad?"

For Diego Costa, who is making his first national team appearance, there were many doubts.

He was injured in the Champions League final, and many questioned if he would be ready for the World Cup.

The time between the final and the World Cup is less than a month. Even if he recovers, there wouldn't be enough time to train and gel with his teammates.

In a situation lacking teamwork and coordination, it's doubtful how effective he would be on the field.

If Spain were still the team lacking forwards, fans might have been desperate enough to include him.

But now, with Lin Quan in the squad, many questioned Del Bosque's decision, and doubts arose.

Regardless, after the final 23-man roster was announced at the end of May, Spain's lineup was set.

Once the team gathered, Del Bosque conducted a week-long closed training session.

Spain's traditional tactics involve possession football, which has brought them numerous honors in various competitions.

Logically, they shouldn't easily change their style of play.

However, Barcelona's failures in both the league and Champions League this season gave Del Bosque a sense of urgency.

Possession football is no longer a mystery. Everyone understands its strengths and weaknesses and knows how to counter it.

In La Liga, Atletico Madrid's high pressing and counter-attacking strategy troubled Barcelona, proving that this method can effectively limit possession football.

In Group B, where Spain is placed, the Netherlands, known for their total football, are a team that likes to press high.

The Dutch, considered the best team never to win a World Cup, have a very strong squad.

A team capable of playing total football is naturally not weak.

They will undoubtedly be Spain's biggest competitors in the group stage. The Dutch, eager for revenge, will be in top form when facing Spain, seeking to avenge their loss in the South Africa World Cup final.

In this context, Spain faces a tough challenge.

The match between Spain and the Netherlands is the first in the group stage, crucial for both teams' chances of advancing.

The winner will have the upper hand in the group, while the loser risks elimination.

Moreover, finishing second in the group means facing the winners from other groups, making the subsequent matches more difficult.

As defending champions, Spain will be under immense scrutiny.

If they lose the first match, the criticism will be overwhelming, placing unprecedented pressure on the players and coaching staff.

If this pressure carries into the next match, they might face two consecutive defeats, leading to elimination.

Defending champions losing the first two matches and failing to advance from the group stage would be a new record, but not a good one—it would be a record remembered and mocked for years.

In the South Africa World Cup, the defending champions, Italy, at least made it to the third group match. Spain must avoid breaking this record.

To ensure this, Del Bosque plans to adjust the team's tactics.

Of course, with limited time, he can't create a new tactical system.

These adjustments are mainly for the first group match against the Netherlands.

Against the total football of the Dutch, launching effective counter-attacks is key to limiting and possibly defeating them.

This is the main reason Del Bosque included Diego Costa in the squad.

He designed a specific tactic and had the team practice it.

The results were decent, and they played two friendly matches against lower-league Spanish teams to test the players' form.

Overall, except for some older players, Spain's form was good.

However, the aging squad was a significant issue.

After a long season without rest, players like Xavi, Villa, and Alonso showed a decline in form.

Moreover, their fitness might not support them playing full matches.

Thus, in the upcoming matches, Del Bosque must minimize the time these players are on the field simultaneously to avoid running out of substitutes if unexpected situations arise.

Fortunately, there are enough players on the bench, so Del Bosque doesn't have to worry about personnel issues for now.

On June 6, just 8 days before the group stage starts, the entire Spanish team boarded a plane in Madrid, heading to the World Cup host country—Brazil!

Spain wasn't the first team to depart; England and Germany had already left earlier.

However, as the top favorite for this World Cup, Spain received much more attention than the other two teams.

The Spanish team first flew to Washington, D.C., and after a short layover, they caught a connecting flight to Curitiba, Brazil.

During their layover at Washington airport, the presence of the Spanish national team caused a huge commotion. Many fans recognized the team and rushed to ask for autographs and photos, leading to a moment of chaos.

The airport had to deploy hundreds of security personnel to maintain order and section off the area around the team, finally stabilizing the situation.

When they arrived at their base in Brazil, they were once again met with enthusiastic support. Over 5,000 local Brazilian fans and some Spanish fans who arrived early came to welcome them at the airport.

There were also countless journalists from various countries present at the scene.

Seeing hundreds of reporters and thousands of fans at the airport, the Spanish players truly felt the World Cup atmosphere.

Although they were seasoned players, the World Cup has a unique vibe that can excite and make even the most experienced players nervous.

Newcomers like Lin Quan felt even more pressure.

"Relax, the game is still a while away!" Puyol noticed the tension among the players and clapped his hands in the bus to calm them down.

"Plus, we're the defending champions. What do we have to be nervous about? It's the other teams that should be nervous!"

This comment made everyone laugh, and the tense atmosphere in the bus eased up significantly.

Lin Quan discreetly gave Puyol a thumbs up. Inviting Puyol to join the team was definitely the right decision!

To welcome the Spanish team, Curitiba airport and the Caju Sports City base deployed 500 security personnel to escort Spain's bus to the training base.

However, even with such measures, fans still managed to hug and ask for autographs from top stars like Lin Quan, coach Del Bosque, captain Casillas, and Iniesta as they left the airport.

The number of fans was simply too overwhelming.

Moreover, the security personnel in Brazil were not very professional. While holding back the fans, they took advantage of their positions to get autographs and photos with the Spanish players themselves.

The Spanish players found this quite amusing: "Guys, you're at work, can't you be a bit more serious?"

However, not everyone was welcomed. Spain's new forward, Diego Costa, was booed by Brazilian fans as soon as he appeared at the airport.

Some fans even made obscene gestures at him. Costa, looking upset, had to pretend not to see them and quickly left the airport with the help of security, boarding the team bus.

Meanwhile, his teammates were still surrounded by fans, unable to get away.

Due to the commotion at the airport, the tournament organizers took the defending champions' security very seriously.

To ensure the Spanish team's safety, at least 200 security personnel were stationed around the Caju Sports City every day to maximize the protection of the champions during their training and daily activities.

After a 16-hour long flight, the entire Spanish team was exhausted.

Upon arriving at the World Cup training base in Curitiba, Del Bosque did not arrange any training sessions but instead let the players rest.

There is a 5-hour time difference between Brazil and Spain, and the players needed to adjust to the local time as quickly as possible to get their bodies ready.

Otherwise, lack of proper rest could severely affect their performance, potentially leaving them out of the opening match!

The players understood this well and obediently went to their rooms to rest.

During the World Cup, to avoid scandals from players going out to party, Del Bosque allowed the players' families, the famous "WAGs," to accompany the team.

Unlike Germany's coach, Joachim Low, who strictly forbade such things, Del Bosque wasn't against players' wives and girlfriends coming to support them, as long as it didn't interfere with the matches.

This open-minded approach was greatly appreciated by the Spanish players.

In the days following Spain's arrival, teams participating in the World Cup started to arrive as well.

The World Cup atmosphere grew stronger, with banners and posters promoting the event everywhere.

Even inside the training base, the Spanish players could feel the rising excitement.

This was because the number of Brazilian fans outside the training grounds started to increase.

Unlike the previous friendly Brazilian fans, these new fans were die-hard supporters of the Brazilian national team.

Waving Brazilian flags and with face paint, they made a lot of noise outside the training grounds, often hurling insults at the Spanish players.

Hosting the World Cup on home soil, Brazil was desperate to lift the trophy in front of their home crowd!

However, based on last year's Confederations Cup final, they knew they needed to overcome the formidable Spanish team to achieve this dream.

Facing this almost invincible Spanish squad, the Brazilians weren't very confident.

So, many Brazilians hoped the Netherlands and Chile could join forces to eliminate Spain in the group stage.

To this end, they didn't hesitate to disrupt Spain's training, hoping to affect their condition and make their matches more challenging.

The Spanish team manager immediately contacted security, asking them to disperse the disruptive fans.

But the security personnel only made a token effort and then left it at that.

Seeing the security's attitude, the fans became bolder, increasing in number and getting closer to the training grounds.

This infuriated Del Bosque, who urgently contacted the hotel to change their accommodation and the Spanish Football Federation to lodge a protest with FIFA.

The Brazilian team's underhanded tactics were disgraceful!

Chapter 287: The World Cup Kicks Off, Spain vs. Netherlands: A Rematch of the Finals!

The protest by the Spanish Football Association had some effect. With FIFA's intervention, the Brazilians had to get serious and disperse the troublesome Brazilian fans outside the training grounds.

However, this incident caused a rift between the fans of the two countries.

"Brazilians are so unsportsmanlike! As hosts, they resort to such underhanded tactics. Are they afraid of losing?"

"Haha, we haven't even faced them yet, and they're already playing dirty tricks. If we meet them in the knockout stage, who knows, they might send gunmen to take out our players!"

"You know, I wouldn't put it past them!"

"Right, considering the crime rate in Brazil's favelas, bribing a few gunmen to create a terror incident is entirely possible!"

"You guys are scaring me! Such outrageous things wouldn't really happen, right?"

"Who knows? This place is chaotic, and anything could happen!"

This topic stirred up a lot of discussion online, casting a negative light on this World Cup.

Brazilians hoped to use this World Cup to improve their country's image and attract tourists, boosting their economy.

If such negative news scared tourists away and damaged the country's reputation, it would be a huge loss.

Thus, the Brazilian police had to step in urgently, promising strict measures to ensure the safety of players attending the World Cup in Brazil.

However, the Spanish team remained skeptical of these assurances.

Del Bosque issued a curfew for the players, telling them not to wander off. Even if they went out, they should not go alone and avoid places with poor security.

Actually, Brazil's security wasn't that bad. In wealthy areas, the police presence was strong, and patrols were frequent, so the situation wasn't too dire.

But in the favelas, it was a different story.

Fortunately, the Spanish players were there for football, not sightseeing. With training and matches, they didn't have much free time.

Given the tough competition ahead, they had no mind for sightseeing.

Time flew by, and soon it was time for the World Cup opening match.

As tradition dictates, the host nation, Brazil, would play the opening game.

Their opponents were the Croatian team from the Balkans.

Brazil, being the host and a top contender for the title, faced Croatia, which was not a traditional powerhouse and was considered a third-tier European team.

Therefore, pre-match predictions heavily favored a home win for Brazil.

Since Group B's matches would start the next day, Del Bosque had the team watch the opening match together.

On June 12, at 5 PM, the 20th World Cup's opening match kicked off at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo.

The match drew massive attention, with the 75,000-capacity stadium packed with over 80,000 people, many of whom were ticketless Brazilian fans.

The scene was a sea of green.

The Brazilian fans were highly enthusiastic. Boosted by the cheers of over 80,000 home fans, Brazil launched a fierce attack on Croatia right from the start.

As a top contender against an obscure team, a Brazilian victory seemed a given.

However, the match's progression surprised everyone.

Croatia played aggressively, threatening Brazil's goal in the 4th and 6th minutes.

Unfortunately, their forwards couldn't capitalize on these chances and failed to score.

But Croatia's efforts paid off.

In the 11th minute of the first half, a cross from Croatia's left side led to an own goal by Brazilian defender Marcelo.

The score was 0:1, and Brazil was trailing early!

This was the first own goal in Brazil's 98 World Cup matches and the first time in World Cup history that the opening goal was an own goal.

Marcelo unintentionally set two records!

Seeing their player score an own goal, the Brazilian fans were in an uproar.

The Croatian players were also stunned. What seemed like a harmless cross turned into a goal, making them wonder if they could upset the powerful hosts.

Buoyed by this turn of events, Croatia played more proactively, putting Brazil on the back foot.

Brazilian fans watched with anxiety. If beating Croatia was this tough, how could they win the World Cup?

Trailing in the score made the Brazilian players anxious, affecting their performance.

In the 14th minute, Brazil launched a quick attack down the right flank. Oscar's cross missed narrowly, with Neymar unable to connect despite his best efforts.

Neymar gave his all, leaping for the ball but landing painfully from over a meter high, a sight that looked excruciating.

In the 26th minute, Neymar elbowed Modric while contesting for the ball, earning a yellow card from the referee.

This clash of the number 10s was tense, with both at fault, but Neymar was quicker and more forceful.

In a crucial moment, Neymar stepped up.

In the 29th minute, Neymar, showcasing his skill, scored with a low shot from the edge of the penalty area, leveling the score for Brazil.

The stadium erupted in cheers, with Neymar's name echoing through the air as Brazilian fans sang his praises.

Neymar celebrated passionately, arms outstretched, embracing the crowd's adulation.

This goal revitalized Brazil's spirits.

They played with more ease, gradually taking control of the match.

In the 69th minute, Brazilian forward Fred fell in the Croatian penalty area, earning a controversial penalty and a yellow card for Croatian defender Lovren.

Replays showed the call was dubious, with Lovren barely making contact, seemingly more like Fred slipping.

Croatian players protested vehemently, surrounding the Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura, pressing him to the edge of the field.

Nishimura remained calm despite the pressure, noting Lovren's yellow card without escalating the situation with more cards.

Neymar took the penalty and scored calmly.

The score was now 2:1, with Brazil taking the lead.

This goal marked Neymar's second of the match, making him the second Brazilian player to score twice in a World Cup opener.

Neymar's performance seemed to justify the high hopes Brazilian fans had for him.

If he could lead the team to a World Cup victory, he would undoubtedly become a national hero.

Brazil continued to dominate, and in the 91st minute, Oscar scored again on a counter-attack, sealing a 3:1 victory for Brazil.

In the end, the Samba team (Brazil) made a comeback against Croatia, starting their World Cup campaign with a victory.

If Neymar was the undeniable MVP of this match, then Oscar, who scored a goal and made an assist while frequently delivering threatening passes in the attack, was undoubtedly the second-best performer for Brazil.

It's surprising that such a talented player would later move to the Chinese Super League (CSL) during the prime of his career. The only explanation is probably that the offer was too good to refuse.

After the opening match, the World Cup group stage began in full swing.

On June 13 at 1 PM, the second match of Group A started.

After 90 minutes of fierce competition, Mexico, a traditional powerhouse from Central America, won 1-0 against Cameroon, an African team.

With the first round of matches in Group A concluded, Brazil temporarily tops the group due to goal difference, with a promising outlook for advancing. Mexico follows closely, while Cameroon and Croatia are at the bottom. Their chances of advancing look grim since, judging by the first match, they are likely to struggle against the top two teams.

Brazil's opening win excited the host country's fans.

Online, Brazilian fans were celebrating, with some even optimistically imagining their team lifting the trophy.

The World Cup's schedule isn't very long; for teams aiming to win, they only need to play up to seven matches.

With Brazil having won one match, they only have six more to go.

This optimism, even arrogance, drew criticism online.

Fans of other teams aiming for the championship didn't believe their teams were weaker than Brazil and wouldn't concede the trophy based on one match.

Some neutral fans, like those from China, also couldn't stand the Brazilians' boasting.

"Isn't this too optimistic? It's just the group stage; you can't tell anything yet."

"Exactly. Croatia isn't a traditional powerhouse. Brazil beating them is no big deal."

"The strongest teams in Group A are Brazil and Mexico. If Brazil beats Mexico in the next match, then we can talk about their strength!"

Mexico is a strong World Cup team, having participated 15 times. In the last five World Cups, they made it past the group stage every time. Currently, they are ranked 25th in the world.

Based on their ranking and past performance, Mexico isn't a top-tier team but is strong among the second tier.

However, the gap between second-tier and top-tier teams isn't huge. If Brazil makes mistakes against Mexico, they could lose.

Moreover, both teams have 3 points. If Brazil wants to advance as the top of the group, they must go all out to win against Mexico.

If Brazil can easily beat Mexico, it will prove they are indeed a top-tier team.

If they lose or draw, their championship prospects will be seriously questioned.

After the Group A matches, it was time for Group B.

The first match in Group B was a highlight: the defending champions versus the previous World Cup's runners-up!

This was a rematch of the South Africa World Cup final four years ago and the first time in World Cup history that the finalists from the previous tournament faced each other in the first round of the group stage.

In their ten previous encounters, Spain had a slight advantage with 5 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw.

Their last meeting was on July 11, 2010, in the South Africa World Cup final.

In that match, the teams were tied in regular time, but Iniesta's goal in extra time secured a 1-0 victory for Spain, earning them the championship.

Four years later, they meet again on the World Cup stage, as if fate had arranged it.

In these four years, much has changed. Compared to their previous lineup, the Netherlands has seen significant personnel changes, with only seven players from the last World Cup participating in this one.

Spain, however, has 16 players who participated in the 2010 World Cup. This makes the Netherlands' lineup younger, while Spain's lineup appears a bit older.

Despite this, Spain was still favored to win.

In pre-match betting, over 60% of fans bet on a Spanish victory, while less than 40% believed the Netherlands would win.

Interestingly, the odds of Spain losing 1-5 to the Netherlands were 700 to 1, offering a massive payoff for anyone willing to take that risk.

Even though it wasn't the opening match, this game attracted as much attention.

Online discussions about the Spain vs. Netherlands match far exceeded those for other games.

At the pre-match press conference, hundreds of journalists from various countries attended.

Faced with such high attention, Dutch coach Van Gaal confidently declared he had found a way to deal with Spain and believed his team would win.

In response, Spanish coach Del Bosque calmly stated:

"In the past four years, countless teams have claimed they found ways to beat us, but in the end, they all failed."

Del Bosque had the confidence to say this, given Spain's remarkable performance in international competitions over the years.

World Cup, Euro Cup, Confederations Cup...

Spain had won trophy after trophy.

Other teams had taken measures against them, but without exception, all had failed.

Van Gaal was not the first to make such claims and certainly wouldn't be the last.

Whether his words would come true depended on how his players performed on the field.

On the afternoon of June 13, the entire Spanish team departed early for the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador.

When their bus arrived, they coincidentally encountered the Dutch team's bus.

Players from both teams noticed each other's arrival, exchanging glances filled with competitive spirit.

Without any encouragement, the players' fighting spirits were already ignited.

During the pre-match warm-up, there was no interaction between the players, not even among those who were or had been club teammates.

There was no room for personal chats in this setting.

During the coin toss, Casillas chose the kick-off right.

The Netherlands chose the right half as their side.

Both teams wore their away kits for this match.

The Spanish players wore white with red stripes, resembling Real Madrid from afar.

The Dutch wore blue, a bit darker than Chelsea's kit.

Maybe it was because of the uniforms, but the Spanish team appeared particularly imposing today, with players looking taller than usual.

In contrast, the Dutch players seemed smaller, the difference quite noticeable.

This scene made Del Bosque frown; it wasn't an illusion. The Dutch players were indeed shorter on average than the Spaniards.

This suggested that Van Gaal had chosen speedier players, likely making their wing attacks very aggressive.

The match referee was Italian Niccolò Rizzoli.

At precisely 4 PM, the referee's whistle signaled the start of the 2014 World Cup Group B first-round match.

Chapter 288: Lin Quan's First World Cup Goal and the Pressure on Ronaldo and Messi!

Spain played with a 4-3-3 formation today, while the Netherlands used a 5-3-2. Just by seeing that the Netherlands had five defenders, it was clear they were planning a counter-attack strategy.

Even though Van Gaal talked big at the pre-match press conference, on the field, he was more cautious, positioning his team defensively. However, this formation was dangerous on the counterattack, with both wing-backs free to join in the attack and assist the forwards or midfielders.

Knowing this, Spain played very steadily from the start. They used their strong midfield to dominate the center of the pitch against the Netherlands. The Dutch had Sneijder focused on attack, De Jong on defense, and De Guzman, who was balanced in both defense and attack.

Spain's formation quickly shifted from 4-3-3 to 4-5-1, allowing them to control the midfield with superior numbers. Despite this, De Jong and De Guzman played well, running tirelessly to prevent their midfield from being overrun. Robben and Van Persie were often isolated up front and had to drop back to help in midfield.

The Dutch full-backs also pushed forward to help defend, showcasing their signature "total football" style. Spain soon gained the upper hand, creating several scoring opportunities.

In the 2nd minute, Lin Quan made a through pass to Costa, but they didn't sync up well, and the chance was lost. In the 6th minute, Lin Quan earned a free kick after being fouled by De Guzman. He took the shot himself, which was well-aimed but saved by the Dutch keeper, Cillessen.

The game was not one-sided. The Dutch also sought counterattack opportunities. In the 8th minute, after a successful high press, Robben cut inside and passed to Sneijder, who broke free but had his shot saved by Casillas.

In the 10th minute, Lin Quan hit the crossbar with a long-range effort, giving the Dutch fans a scare. Both teams' attacks were fast and fierce, and the match was thrilling to watch.

Both Robben and Lin Quan, skilled wingers, frequently bypassed their markers, especially Dutch left-back Janmaat, who was beaten by Lin Quan multiple times within the first 15 minutes.

Fans enjoyed the fast-paced, back-and-forth action. Matches between equally strong teams are always exciting. However, the lack of goals so far was a bit disappointing for the spectators.

Then, in the 15th minute, Spain mounted another attack. Lin Quan received a pass from Xavi, evaded De Jong's challenge, and looked for Costa, who had learned to anticipate his passes better.

Lin Quan feigned a pass to Costa but sent the ball wide to Silva instead. Silva, anticipating this, quickly passed back to Lin Quan, who was now in space, having beaten Janmaat with a one-two.

Lin Quan found himself with room to maneuver as De Jong lagged behind. Dutch defender Vlaar stepped up to challenge Lin Quan but was easily outmaneuvered. Lin Quan entered the box, creating a 2v2 situation with Costa waiting.

Lin Quan faked a pass to Costa, then accelerated past De Vrij and scored before Cillessen could react. The ball rolled into the net, making it 1-0 for Spain. This was Lin Quan's first World Cup goal, putting Spain ahead.

The Spanish fans erupted in cheers, relieved by the goal after the Dutch counterattacks had kept them on edge. In contrast, the Dutch fans were disheartened.

Meanwhile, the Brazilian team, having just finished their first group stage match, arrived at the stadium to watch this clash.

After seeing Lin Quan's goal, Neymar's expression became very serious.

In the Confederations Cup, Brazil was soundly defeated by Spain, and Lin Quan took the Golden Boot right from under Neymar's nose.

Now, on the bigger and more important stage of the World Cup, watching Lin Quan's increasingly unstoppable performance made Neymar quite anxious.

This scene on the field felt eerily familiar to him, as if it was a replay of the Confederations Cup.

Is it possible that Lin Quan will be the one standing in his way again?

Apart from Brazil, several teams aiming for the championship, such as Argentina and Germany, were also paying close attention to this match.

Seeing Spain suppress the Netherlands and take an early lead made the players and coaches of these teams very serious.

"This Spanish team, its strengths and weaknesses have become even more pronounced!"

Germany's coach Low said seriously.

Compared to the coaches who focused on the teams, players like Ronaldo and Messi were more concerned about Lin Quan's personal performance.

From the first 15 minutes of the match, it was clear that Lin Quan was in excellent form.

Perhaps because it was his first World Cup, his enthusiasm and hunger for goals on the field surpassed that of most players.

This put a lot of pressure on both Ronaldo and Messi, as they realized Lin Quan might score many goals in this World Cup.

For Messi, as long as his team won, he didn't mind too much about his individual stats.

Ronaldo, on the other hand, felt differently. Since Portugal had little chance of winning the championship, he was very concerned about his individual performance in this World Cup.

He couldn't let Lin Quan outperform him. Thinking of this, Ronaldo decided to train even harder, aiming to be in peak condition for the upcoming matches!

On the field, after scoring, Lin Quan intended to celebrate with his signature bow and arrow pose.

However, before he could make the pose, his teammates swarmed him and knocked him down.

Diego Costa, who didn't even touch the ball during the attack, was completely like a supporting player.

But he had no complaints and was even more excited than the Spanish players.

For Costa, joining the Spanish national team was a risky move.

It was seen by many as a bandwagon move, and if Spain failed to win or even advance from the group stage, his decision would be ridiculed by fans from Brazil and around the world.

If Brazil, the host, won the championship, the ridicule would be even greater.

Therefore, Diego Costa, although not born and raised in Spain, was more eager than anyone else for Spain to win this World Cup.

This would prove that his choice was right.

Moreover, despite being young, Lin Quan was coach Bosque's trusted player and the tactical core of the team, much more established than Costa, who joined midway.

On the sidelines, after seeing Lin Quan's goal, Bosque felt a huge weight lift off his shoulders.

He excitedly embraced several assistant coaches before returning to the bench, sitting down confidently.

With the lead, Spain could now start implementing their pre-planned tactics.

"Heh, Van Gaal, I'd like to see how you respond to our new tactics?"

In the Dutch dugout, after glancing at the scoreboard, Van Gaal, who had signed with Manchester United, frowned.

Spain's number 30 was even stronger than he appeared on the videos.

Next season, when he faces Manchester City in the Premier League, Manchester United might find it tough.

He suddenly regretted taking over the hot seat at Manchester United, realizing the challenges were greater than he had anticipated.

Van Gaal's worries didn't end there.

When Spain resumed the game after celebrating, he was stunned to see the reigning champions, the world's number one team, pulling back to play counter-attacking football.

Van Gaal rubbed his eyes, doubting what he saw.

"Isn't Spain known for their pressing and attacking possession football? How come they're playing counter-attacking now?"

This felt very unfamiliar, as if he hadn't seen Spain use such tactics in six or seven years!

"Could it be that Bosque is shameless enough to do whatever it takes to preserve the victory?"

Not only was Van Gaal surprised, but also the Dutch players on the field, the fans in the stands, and even the Spanish fans were puzzled by Spain's tactics.

This Spanish team, although with little personnel changes, felt very different.

"Is this really the Spain we know?"

The fact is, counter-attacking is not terrifying, but when the world champions play counter-attacking, it is.

With Spain retreating, the Netherlands were momentarily at a loss.

Their 5-3-2 formation was designed to counter Spain, but now Spain was counter-attacking, giving up space.

This made the Dutch tactics ineffective!

Without space to sprint, their wing attacks lost their threat.

And with five defenders, their midfield was weakened, making it hard to press effectively.

Although their possession rate quickly increased, their front-line attacks gradually lost their threat.

Worse still, the roles had reversed. Previously, Spain was worried about the Netherlands' quick counters.

Now, it was the Netherlands' turn to be wary of Spain's fast counters!

In the 25th minute, Spain intercepted the ball and launched a quick counter.

Lin Quan got the ball in midfield and dribbled past De Guzman, who committed a tactical foul to stop Spain's attack, earning the first yellow card of the match.

Two minutes later, Spain had another good counter-attacking chance.

Casillas threw the ball to David Silva on the wing.

Silva, under defensive pressure, passed the ball forward.

The pass was slightly strong, and Dutch fullback Janmaat thought he had a chance to intercept, so he rushed towards the ball.

At the same time, Lin Quan accelerated towards the ball from behind.

Both were equidistant from the ball, and Janmaat seemed to have a chance to get there before Lin Quan.

However, after a few steps, he realized he started slower and was slower, unlikely to reach the ball before Lin Quan.

Thus, Janmaat quickly slid in, trying to stop Lin Quan from getting the ball.

Seeing this, the Spanish fans showed disappointment.

With Janmaat sliding in, most players would give up to avoid injury.

But to their surprise, Lin Quan didn't slow down; he kept accelerating towards the ball.

"Is he crazy?"

"Lin, stop!"

"This will get you injured!"

The Spanish fans exclaimed!

It was only 20 minutes into the game; if Lin Quan got injured, even winning the match wouldn't be worth it.

However, Lin Quan didn't act recklessly.

He saw Janmaat's slide, so he didn't force the ball.

Instead, he kicked the ball away just before Janmaat could reach it.

Without the ball,

Lin Quan easily jumped to avoid Janmaat's slide, but his speed reduced, so he couldn't chase the ball anymore.

It seemed like Lin Quan's effort was in vain since the ball was rolling towards the end line.

But then, a white figure streaked past both players, heading straight for the ball—David Silva!

It turned out that Lin Quan's kick wasn't just to avoid Janmaat's tackle but also to pass to David Silva.

The two players' chemistry showed again. Without any communication, they played with a remarkable understanding of each other's intentions.

Lin Quan's pass this time was very unexpected. The Dutch defenders didn't react in time. It wasn't until David Silva suddenly accelerated that they realized the danger. They hurriedly retreated, trying to get back to their own penalty area.

David Silva sprinted and finally caught up with the ball near the end line.

He glanced at the goal and sent a low cross into the box.

Diego Costa sprinted a few steps, shook off his defender, and stretched out his leg to shoot.

Unfortunately, as he shot, someone seemed to pull him from behind, causing him to lose balance. His shot went high and flew over the goal.

Thinking quickly, Diego Costa let out a loud scream and fell in the penalty area.

He was sure someone had pulled him, which should be a foul!

According to the rules of football, a foul in the penalty area should result in a penalty kick.

But if the attacking team gets the ball, the referee first ensures the advantage rule, allowing the attack to continue in hopes of a natural goal in the ongoing play.

If the attack doesn't result in a goal, the play that "could have been stopped" becomes void, and the foul is penalized with a penalty kick.

However, this requires the referee to notice the foul.

So, Diego Costa screamed loudly to attract the referee's attention.

Sure enough, as soon as he screamed, the Italian referee Rizzoli blew his whistle and pointed to the penalty spot.

Chapter 289: 5-1? Spain's Big Victory Over the Netherlands!

"Spain's attack!"

"David Silva crosses, Diego Costa!"

"Diego Costa is down in the penalty area, and the referee has awarded a penalty!"

"This penalty is almost fatal for the Netherlands. If they concede another goal while already one down, their chances of winning this match will be very slim!"

The two commentators on CCTV were also very surprised by the referee's decision.

From the slow-motion replay, it looked like Costa might have dived, and he had already completed his shot. In this situation, the penalty decision seemed debatable.

"The Dutch players are very emotional, running to the referee, trying to explain something!"

"The Italian referee insists on his decision, signaling the Dutch players to back off!"

Seeing that the referee was firm in his decision, the Dutch players, despite their frustration, had no choice but to leave the referee.

Continuing to surround him might earn them yellow cards.

The Dutch fans in the stands were furious, shouting accusations of diving and biased refereeing.

They knew this penalty decision could destroy their four-year-long revenge plan.

If Spain scores this penalty, they will be two goals down within the first 30 minutes.

Against a top team like Spain, being two goals behind is almost a death sentence.

It's almost impossible to come back from a two-goal deficit against Spain!

So, they could only hope their goalkeeper could perform a miracle.

They hoped Cillessen could save the penalty. If he did, they would still only be one goal down, keeping the match alive.

On Spain's side, the players were discussing who would take the penalty.

Diego Costa, who won the penalty, was eager to take it, but he was new to the team, and coach Bosque hadn't designated him as the first penalty taker, so he didn't have much say.

During the Confederations Cup, Lin Quan was the primary penalty taker.

But Lin Quan wanted to let vice-captain Xavi take this one, since it was his last World Cup.

In the upcoming matches, Xavi, due to his position, might not have many scoring opportunities.

If he took this penalty, he could have better stats in his last World Cup.

"No need, I'm not a forward. Goal stats don't matter much for midfielders like us. But for you, you're competing with Ronaldo, Messi, and Neymar for the Golden Boot. Every goal is crucial, so you should take it," Xavi declined Lin Quan's offer.

At his age, Xavi was no longer concerned with personal glory.

Being able to participate in one last World Cup was enough for him.

Goals didn't matter.

Seeing Xavi's determination, Lin Quan didn't insist.

He stepped up to the penalty spot, placed the ball, and took a few steps back, looking at the Dutch goalkeeper.

Cillessen was very nervous. He knew the heavy responsibility on his shoulders.

Saving this penalty and not saving it was almost a matter of life and death for the Netherlands.

But even for top goalkeepers, the chance of saving a penalty is less than 30%.

As long as the penalty taker doesn't make a big mistake, the penalty will most likely result in a goal.

Especially when the taker is Lin Quan.

This guy had never missed a penalty before, with a perfect 100% record. Which goalkeeper wouldn't be intimidated?

Lin Quan noticed the goalkeeper's tension and decided to play a psychological game.

He deliberately looked towards the right side of the goal, as if he was going to shoot there.

Cillessen saw this but couldn't help but suspect it was a feint.

Recalling Lin Quan's previous goal, Cillessen trusted his judgment.

It had to be a psychological trick!

However, when Lin Quan finally took the shot, Cillessen was dumbfounded!

He really aimed for the right side of the goal!

Cillessen, who hadn't moved early, reacted too late.

The ball swished into the net.

Cillessen, like a rusty robot, moved a beat too slow!

He dived after the ball was already in the net, making it hard for Dutch and neutral fans to watch.

This Dutch goalkeeper seemed weak!

2-0!

After scoring, Lin Quan rushed to the sidelines, finally completing his bow and arrow celebration that he couldn't do earlier!

The Spanish fans at the stadium erupted in joy, even more relaxed than before.

With a 2-goal lead, their advantage was turning into a victory.

Their worries vanished, and many started thinking not about this game, but the next one against Chile.

If they beat Chile, Spain would advance to the knockout stage with one game to spare.

Australia was weak, and beating them shouldn't be a problem.

If they secured early advancement, they could give some substitutes a chance to experience the World Cup in the last group match and let the main players rest.

In contrast to the jubilant Spanish fans, the Dutch fans were dejected.

Four years of revenge turned into a joke, and Van Gaal's pre-match words became a boomerang, likely to be mocked post-match.

This filled the Dutch fans with bitterness.

Is Spain their natural nemesis?

In the stands, Neymar saw Lin Quan score two goals in just 30 minutes, catching up to him in the top scorers' chart.

His expression turned very serious!

The match wasn't over yet, and Lin Quan might score more.

If he scored another, Lin Quan would overtake him in the scorers' chart!

In a hotel room where Portugal was staying, Ronaldo, seeing Lin Quan's second goal, angrily turned off the TV.

He couldn't watch anymore; it was too infuriating.

In the last World Cup, he had struggled to score even once, and that was in Portugal's 7-0 win over North Korea.

But Lin Quan scored two goals in one match!

It seemed as easy as eating or drinking!

Come on, this is the World Cup, the highest level and hardest stage to score.

How could he make it look so easy, like a regular league match?

It was unbelievable!

In Argentina, although Messi didn't turn off the TV, he couldn't help but frown seeing Lin Quan score again.

Messi often watched Lin Quan's matches when he played in the Bundesliga and sometimes even reviewed them.

In these matches, Messi noticed a phenomenon: once Lin Quan gets into form, it's hard for opponents to defeat his team. Moreover, with Spain's already strong squad, plus a firing Lin Quan, the Netherlands team would likely face an uphill battle!

Argentine coach Sampaoli, German coach Low, and French coach Deschamps, among others, shared similar sentiments upon seeing the scoreline. They had believed that the Netherlands, with their strength, could at least challenge Spain. Even if they couldn't win, they could make it very difficult for Spain to secure a victory, with scores like 1:0 or 2:1 being the most likely outcomes they envisioned.

However, reality turned out to be far from what they had imagined. From the current results, it seemed challenging for the Netherlands to trouble Spain. As long as Spain continued to employ a pragmatic tactic of defending and counterattacking, they were bound to score more goals in this game.

This left these coaches extremely troubled! Spain, for no apparent reason, abandoned their possession-based football and resorted to counterattacks, and they were excelling at it. This left everyone wondering how to counter Spain to avoid a major setback when facing them in the knockout stage.

After the score became 2:0, the morale of the Netherlands team suffered a heavy blow. For over ten minutes, they struggled to recover. Meanwhile, Spain seized this opportunity to launch frequent attacks on the Netherlands, keeping them on edge in their own box.

In the 37th minute, the Netherlands finally countered. Their left-back dribbled forward and delivered a cross from the left. Robben and Van Persie attempted a double-header, but Van Persie's touch was too weak, barely altering the ball's trajectory, grazing the post and flying out of bounds.

After missing this chance, Van Persie knelt on the ground, clutching his head in frustration. If he were just a centimeter taller, the ball might have gone in. It was that close!

In the 39th minute, De Jong attempted a long-range shot from outside the penalty area. Initially harmless, the ball deflected off a defending player's leg in flight. Just then, Casillas reacted almost instantly, as if a deity descending to earth, batting the ball away, averting the danger.

The Dutch fans couldn't help but sigh in unison. If not for the goalkeeper's miraculous save, that ball would likely have gone in. If they could pull one back before the end of the first half, there would still be a chance in the second half.

But alas, the ball didn't go in. Seeing the Netherlands create consecutive threatening attacks, Spain immediately responded in kind.

In the 41st minute, Spain launched another rapid counterattack. Lin Quan's through ball pierced the Netherlands' defense, forcing De Vrij to foul Silva, stopping Spain's advance at the cost of a yellow card.

In the 43rd minute, Iniesta and Lin Quan executed a brilliant combination. After consecutive one-twos, Iniesta played a through ball at the edge of the penalty area, sending Diego Costa through on goal. However, the final step seemed to strain Diego Costa, his shot lacking power, easily parried away by Cillessen.

As expected, Diego Costa made a painful expression and signaled for a substitution, his old injury acting up again. Both the Spanish players on the field and the fans in attendance were speechless! This guy's injury really wasn't healed properly!

Bosque also seemed a bit speechless. He hesitated between Villa and Torres for half the day but ultimately chose to send Torres onto the field.

Torres was quite pleased. Diego Costa's presence posed the biggest threat to him. With Lin Quan falling back, Spain would inevitably have a true center-forward on the field. Originally, this position should have been contested between him, Villa, and Negredo. However, Negredo, having spent too much time on the bench at Manchester City, was left out of the national team. So, it was only him and Villa left!

As a result, there was an unexpected turn with the appearance of Cheng Yaojin, catching Torres off guard.

This guy's current ability indeed surpasses his, and he's more adapted to Spain's tactical system. So Torres can only sit on the bench, waiting for his chance!

However, he didn't expect the opportunity to come so soon! After Torres came on, the first half quickly ended.

The Netherlands couldn't score, and Spain didn't widen their lead. During halftime, Del Bosque seriously considered whether to adjust the tactics back.

In terms of counterattacks, Diego Costa posed a bigger threat than Torres!

Now that Diego Costa was substituted, could Spain still continue with their counterattacking strategy? Del Bosque hesitated for a moment, deciding to observe the second half first.

If necessary, they'd switch to possession play! The players were well-versed in the possession system, needing little instruction; they knew how to handle it themselves.

On the other side, with the Netherlands trailing, they had to adjust their lineup. They substituted a center-back for a winger, changing to a 4-3-3 formation.

This adjustment was clearly aimed at strengthening their attack! After the formation change, the Netherlands' attack noticeably improved.

In the 54th minute, the Netherlands launched an attack on the right flank. The full-back Blind delivered a long pass from near the halfway line, about 50 meters, into the penalty area.

Van Persie arrived and leaped to head the ball, bypassing Casillas' interception and scoring, pulling one back for the Netherlands, making it 2-1.

This goal was somewhat miraculous, with a full-back displaying such excellent footwork, truly surprising. After narrowing the gap, the Netherlands' players were pumped up, attempting more attacks to equalize the score!

However, while their sustained pressure indeed stressed Spain, their failure to score exposed vulnerabilities in their defense.

In the 57th minute, Xavi made a crucial through pass, finding Lin Quan. Evading De Guzman's interception, Lin Quan dribbled into the edge of the penalty area, then passed to Iniesta, who, after adjusting his angle, chipped the ball into the net, changing the score to 3-1.

The Netherlands had just narrowed the gap, only to see it erased instantly.

This frustrated the Dutch players, who had struggled for over ten minutes to score once, only to concede on a single counterattack.

The efficiency of both sides was vastly different! Yet, this wasn't the most despairing moment.

Torres dashed into the penalty area and received a pass from Lin Quan.

At that moment, he felt as if he had returned to his peak, with exceptional clarity of mind. After observing the goalkeeper's position, he seized the perfect opportunity, calmly placing the ball into the net, helping the team change the score to 4-1!

After the goal, Torres let out a roar, releasing all the frustration of the past few years. Then he turned and ran towards Lin Quan, embracing him tightly.

He said, "Thank you, Lin!"

Lin Quan patted Torres on the back and replied with a smile, "I also thank you for allowing me to tally another assist!"

The two exchanged smiles, dissipating any past unpleasantness from their league encounters.

On the field, seeing the Spanish players celebrating, the Dutch players felt deeply disheartened.

The goal in the 53rd minute had given them hope of equalizing. However, Spain's consecutive goals shattered their dreams.

Seeing the bright red score on the scoreboard, the fans at the stadium felt bewildered.

What was predicted to be a evenly matched game had turned into a massacre!

And considering Spain's form, they might even score more!

What would the final score be?

Could it be 5-1, or even 6-1?

Chapter 290: Spain's Odds of Winning Soar, Their Path to Victory Looks Bright!

Spain's team was leading by a large margin, and Coach Bosque was humming a tune, feeling relaxed.

He glanced at the bench and called up Xabi Alonso to warm up.

In the 65th minute, Spain made a substitution. Xabi Alonso came on for Xavi. This was a like-for-like substitution; in the past, both Xavi and Alonso could coexist on the field. However, as both players aged, Bosque consciously staggered their playtime to avoid having two older players on the field simultaneously, risking them being outpaced by the opponent.

Xabi Alonso and Xavi had different styles. Compared to Xavi, Alonso was more defensive. This substitution signaled that Spain was planning to play more conservatively.

Seeing Spain's change, Van Gaal hesitated but decided to sub out De Guzman for the faster, more skillful Wijnaldum. Although the 4:1 score seemed irredeemable, he had to try. Even if they couldn't equalize or turn the game around, scoring another goal to make the loss less severe would be good. After all, the Netherlands was a top-tier team, and losing badly would bring heavy criticism from Dutch fans.

Before Van Gaal's substitution, most of the Dutch players were ready to give up, except for Robben. Wijnaldum's entry brought some energy to the Dutch attack, and he quickly formed a synergy with Robben.

In the 67th minute, Wijnaldum made a brilliant pass to Robben, who cut inside and took a long shot, but it went over the crossbar. In the 72nd minute, Wijnaldum successfully broke through and made a through ball. Robben received it in the box, skillfully maneuvered past Pique with his right foot, and shot with his left foot before Ramos could block it. Despite the high quality of the shot, it hit the crossbar.

Robben stood still, shaking his head in frustration. He had given his best, but luck was not on his side. Wijnaldum and Robben's partnership alerted Spain to their threat, and they focused more on containing them. This attention made it difficult for Wijnaldum to deliver passes like before, and Robben's attacks became less threatening, neutralizing the Dutch counterattacks.

In the 75th minute, Bosque made another substitution, bringing on Pedro for Iniesta. Pedro had been on the bench for over an hour, and seeing his teammates dominate with a 4-0 lead had him eager to join. Once on the field, he was very active, running tirelessly to press the Dutch players and contributing both offensively and defensively.

Seeing Pedro so energetic, Lin Quan started moving closer to him. In the 80th minute, Spain's attack reached the penalty area. Lin Quan feinted, letting the ball pass to Pedro, who then shot from the right side of the box, hitting the crossbar. Pedro was stunned by the miss, and Lin Quan shook his head, noting their bad luck with the crossbar, just like Diego Costa earlier.

When Robben's shot hit the crossbar, Dutch fans sighed in regret. Now, it was Spain's fans' turn to do the same. That crossbar had denied Spain twice already!

In the 83rd minute, Spain won a free kick on the left. Lin Quan crossed the ball into the box, where Ramos and Dutch defender Indi clashed, resulting in both getting yellow cards. Bosque frowned at the sight of Ramos getting another card. While Ramos was talented, his temper was a concern. However, a calmer Ramos might not be the same dynamic player.

As the match neared its end, Spain's players relaxed, while the frustrated Dutch players began to lose control. In the 86th minute, Van Persie fouled Pedro from behind, earning a yellow card, the fifth for the Dutch team.

While the Dutch argued with the referee, Busquets quickly took the free kick. The Dutch were distracted, and Lin Quan easily scored, but the goal was disallowed for offside. Fans were disappointed because a goal would have completed Lin Quan's hat-trick. Replays showed it was a close call, with Lin Quan barely ahead when Silva passed the ball.

However, luck couldn't be denied forever. In the 88th minute, Spain's high pressing forced a Dutch mistake. Goalkeeper Cillessen mishandled a back pass, and Lin Quan quickly seized the opportunity, bypassing the goalkeeper and scoring into an empty net, making it 5-1 and completing his hat-trick in his first World Cup match. The fans in the stadium and watching online went wild.

"Lin is amazing! This is the first hat-trick of the World Cup, right?"

"Yes, and he's the only one with a hat-trick so far in this World Cup!"

"Lin is just over 18, isn't he? Is this the youngest hat-trick in World Cup history?"

"Not quite. The fastest hat-trick was by Pele in 1958, at 17 years and 244 days. He's the only one under 18 with a World Cup hat-trick."

"Wow, Pele was incredible! I thought he was just known for jinxing teams with his predictions!"

"He was the first king of football. You need talent to earn that title. By the way, why haven't we heard Pele's predictions for this World Cup?"

"Maybe the Brazilian Football Association asked him to keep quiet. He predicted Brazil would win the Confederations Cup last year, and Spain thrashed them. He also predicted Brazil would win the World Cup this year, scaring Brazilian fans!"

"With Pele's reputation, a gag order seems unlikely. The Brazilian FA probably begged him not to jinx them and to curse other teams instead!"

On the field, Lin Quan celebrated his hat-trick with a front flip, startling Bosque. He had forbidden such risky celebrations.

German star Klose, watching with his teammates, smiled at the scene. He had heard about a talented young player at Werder Bremen who also loved front-flip celebrations, thinking the kid was paying tribute to him. Seeing Lin Quan's rapid rise reminded Klose of himself.

"Front flips are dangerous. If I get the chance, I'll remind him to use them sparingly."

Bosque regretted using all three substitutions so early. If he had one left, he would have subbed Lin Quan out to let him enjoy the crowd's cheers alone, a fitting reward for his outstanding performance.

Assistant coach Tony approached Bosque, asking, "Vincent, do you still think you're spoiling Lin too much?"

Bosque was at a loss for words, momentarily speechless.

Lin Quan's goal completely crushed the Dutch team's morale. Spain's fifth goal wasn't particularly well-executed; it was purely a result of a mistake by the Dutch.

When even the goalkeeper makes such a basic error, what can you expect from the other players?

In the last few minutes of the game, the Dutch players were dispirited and just wanted the torturous match to end quickly.

Spain, on the other hand, continued to press on with their attacks. Even though Lin Quan was no longer trying to score, he still created opportunities for his teammates.

In the 91st minute, Spain got a free kick in a favorable position. Normally, Xavi or Lin Quan would take it, but with Xavi off the field, Lin Quan saw Ramos eager to try and let him take the shot. Ramos' technique was a bit off, and he missed the target, failing to pose a threat to the goal.

In the third minute of stoppage time, Torres fell in the box. Perhaps feeling pity for the battered Dutch team, the referee didn't call a penalty.

In the end, Spain won 5-1, securing a resounding victory over the Netherlands in their opening match of the group stage.

After the match, news of Spain's 5-1 thrashing of the Netherlands quickly made the front pages of sports newspapers worldwide.

People were both astonished by Spain's strength and lamented the swift decline of the Dutch team. Four years ago, the Netherlands had played evenly with Spain, but now, they seemed leagues apart, utterly outclassed.

This shocking scoreline was a true reflection of the difference in strength between the two teams. While many experts and analysts had predicted a Spanish victory, few had expected them to win in such a dominant fashion.

As a result, betting companies dramatically raised Spain's odds of winning the tournament, with the figure soaring to 2.2. This meant that, after just one round of group matches, the external belief in Spain's chances of winning the World Cup exceeded 45%.

This was truly remarkable!

After the victory, Bosque was in high spirits. He didn't wait for Van Gaal to come over; instead, he eagerly went up to him for a warm hug. Van Gaal, looking quite displeased, didn't want to embrace the "old man," but Bosque's enthusiasm left him no choice, making him very uncomfortable.

"Haha, old friend, how does it feel to lose so decisively?" Bosque teased.

"Hmph, you were just lucky. I've already figured out how to counter you. See you in the final!" Van Gaal retorted, shaking off Bosque's hug and walking away proudly.

Bosque found Van Gaal's stubbornness amusing. The words sounded familiar—they were what Van Gaal had said before the match. So, nothing to worry about!

With their strongest opponent in the group defeated, Spain's path to advancing looked bright. Five days later, Spain would head to Maracanã Stadium to face Chile in their second group match.

Chile was not as strong as the Netherlands, and a victory in this match would see Spain advance from the group stage early. Knowing this, Bosque gave the players a two-day break, allowing them to reunite with their families. This wise decision was warmly welcomed by the players, who quickly dispersed to join their loved ones.

While most players went to meet their wives and families, Lin Quan went to Guardiola's hotel to discuss tactics late into the night.

After Spain's match against the Netherlands, the other B group game saw Chile defeat Australia 3-1. This result was expected, as Chile was a strong South American team.

Following B group, other groups' matches also began. In Group C, Ivory Coast came from behind to beat Japan 2-1, and Colombia easily defeated Greece 3-0.

Group D saw the first upset of the World Cup: Uruguay, with stars like Suarez, Cavani, and Forlan, was defeated 3-1 by Costa Rica. Despite being considered potential quarter-finalists or even semi-finalists, Uruguay stumbled in their opening match. This showed that having strong players on paper doesn't guarantee victory, and any lapse in focus can be costly on the World Cup stage.

The rest of the matches didn't feature any major surprises. Among the favorites, Italy beat England 2-1, France easily defeated Honduras 3-0, Argentina won 2-1 against Bosnia with Messi scoring a goal, and Germany thrashed Portugal 4-1 with Ronaldo managing to score a goal.

Notably, in Belgium's 2-1 win over Algeria, De Bruyne came off the bench in the 75th minute and scored a goal, securing a late victory for his team.

After the first round of group matches, European teams had a mixed record of 6 wins, 1 draw, and 6 losses. South American teams had a better win rate with 4 wins and 2 losses. Surprisingly, North American teams had the best win rate, with 3 wins and 1 loss, defying expectations. Asian teams had 2 draws and 2 losses, confirming their reputation as the weakest region. African teams had 1 win, 1 draw, and 3 losses, not performing much better.

With a tight schedule, as soon as the first round of matches in Group H concluded, the second round for Groups A and B was set to begin.

In this round, both Brazil and Spain, having won their first matches, faced strong opponents. Their performance in this round would determine if they could secure early advancement from the group stage.

Chapter 291: Brazil's Unexpected Slip, Spain vs Chile!

Although Spain secured a big win, there were still some concerns for the team.

Diego Costa's old injury flared up again, leaving Spain's front line less robust than before. Without Diego Costa, Spain lacked a strong center forward and a key scorer, putting more pressure on players like Lin Quan to score.

After the match, Bosque immediately sent someone to the hospital to check on Costa's condition and confirmed that his right thigh injury had recurred. The team doctor determined that Costa would need at least two weeks to recover before he could play again.

Two weeks meant he would miss the remaining group stage matches and possibly even the round of 16. However, Bosque felt relieved upon hearing this news. He believed that Spain would have no trouble advancing from the group stage.

By finishing first in their group, Spain would likely face a weaker opponent in the first knockout round, making it easier to reach the quarter-finals. The quarter-finals were scheduled for July 5-6, about three weeks away, which should be enough time for Costa to recover and reintegrate with the team.

Bosque decided to monitor Costa's recovery before deciding whether to play him in the quarter-finals. If necessary, he could wait a few more days and have Costa ready for the semi-finals and final, assuming Spain made it that far.

On June 18, the Brazil vs Mexico match kicked off first. Compared to their previous opponent, Croatia, Mexico was much stronger. This match was a real test for Brazil.

The world paid close attention to this match because it was crucial for evaluating Brazil's capabilities. Based on the performances in the first round of group matches, four teams were considered favorites to win the World Cup: Spain, Brazil, Germany, and Argentina. If it weren't for Spain's overwhelming dominance, Brazil, as the host nation, would have been the top favorite.

Even if not the top favorite, Brazil's match attracted a huge crowd. Over 60,000 fans attended the game, with countless Brazilian supporters coming from all over the country to cheer for their team.

When the Brazilian national anthem played before the match, the entire stadium of 60,000 fans, along with the players and coaches, sang in unison, demonstrating unprecedented unity in Brazil. Brazil's star player Neymar was moved to tears during the anthem. The world's top defender, Thiago Silva, sang with his eyes closed, feeling his blood boil with excitement.

He couldn't wait to crush the Mexican team!

However, 90 minutes later, Thiago Silva felt utterly cold, and Neymar, who had cried before the match, was crying again. The scoreboard showed a number that neither Brazilian players nor fans could accept: 0-0. After 90 minutes, the second favorite to win the World Cup, Brazil, had been held to a draw by Mexico. Not only were they held to a draw, but they were also kept scoreless.

Brazil, known for its powerful offense, performed poorly in this match, with their strong forward line completely silenced. Despite dominating the game, Brazil's strikers wasted numerous opportunities and were ultimately punished for it.

Failing to win this match left Brazil with the same points as Mexico, and both teams now had a chance to top the group. If Brazil wanted to avoid facing other group winners in the knockout stages, they had to win their final group match and score as many goals as possible. Otherwise, they risked finishing second in their group.

According to World Cup rules, the first-place team in Group A faces the second-place team in Group B, and the second-place team in Group A faces the first-place team in Group B. Currently, Spain was leading Group B. If Brazil failed to top their group, they could face Spain in the round of 16. Given the current form of both teams, Brazil's chances of beating Spain were less than 30%.

Thus, this result not only troubled Brazil but also affected Spain. Originally, Spain would only need to face a second-tier team like Mexico in the round of 16, but now, due to Brazil's unexpected slip, the top two seeds might meet early in the tournament.

For Mexico, this result was entirely acceptable. A draw was better for their chances of winning the group. To reach the quarter-finals, they needed to avoid facing Spain. Therefore, they would need to fight hard against Croatia in their next match and aim for a big win.

The man of the match was Mexico's goalkeeper, Ochoa, who made six spectacular saves. In the 26th minute, he miraculously saved Neymar's header aimed at the bottom corner. A slow-motion replay showed that he saved the ball just as it was about to cross the goal line! Even more incredible was his instinctive save in the dying minutes, stopping Thiago Silva's close-range header with his right hand. This save left the Brazilians in despair, with one commentator exclaiming, "Today, it wasn't just a man standing on Mexico's goal line; it was a god!"

The draw between Brazil and Mexico was great news for Croatia and Cameroon. Both teams knew that a win in their match would keep their hopes of advancing alive. In the end, the stronger Croatian team prevailed, with Modric and Mandzukic scoring three goals between them to lead Croatia to a 4-0 victory over Cameroon.

With this win, Croatia could breathe a sigh of relief. If they won their final match against Mexico, they would advance from
the group stage. If Brazil lost their final match, Croatia could even top the group. On the other hand, Cameroon, having lost both their matches, was eliminated early, becoming the first team to exit this World Cup.

The unexpected twists in Group A caught Bosque's attention. "Damn Brazilians, how did they mess up?" he exclaimed.

Brazil didn't want to face Spain too early, and Spain didn't want to face Brazil prematurely either. With Diego Costa still recovering, it would be even harder for Spain to overcome Brazil in the first knockout round.

Bosque decided to prepare ahead of time. "We'll give our all in the match against Chile. After winning, we'll field our substitutes in the last group match, allowing our main players to rest and recharge for the knockout stages."

The World Cup knockout stages are decided by single matches, with no home or away advantage, making the margin for error very slim. Even the strongest teams can easily stumble.

Bosque's strategy was clear: secure a win against Chile, ensure top players are well-rested, and be ready to face any opponent in the knockout stages.

Moreover, facing such strong opponents makes it even more likely to have an upset.

For the Chilean team, being placed in Group B, which includes the last World Cup's champion and runner-up, was extremely unlucky. But as a strong South American team, they wouldn't give up easily.

Currently, the Dutch team is not in good form. They were thrashed 5-1 by Spain in their first match, and in their just-concluded second match, they barely managed to win 3-2 against the weakest team, Australia. This gave the Chileans hope for advancing!

On paper, Chile is definitely not as strong as Spain or the Netherlands. But football is unpredictable, and anything can happen on the field. If they manage to upset the powerful Spanish team, their chances of advancing would look very optimistic! Of course, even if they lose, it's not the end of the world.

Chile currently has a goal difference of +4, while the Netherlands has -3. This means that in the final round, if they face the Netherlands, they only need to win or draw to advance. The key is not to lose too badly in this match!

So, in this match, Chile naturally adopted a defensive strategy. A minimal loss would be considered a win for them; if they could draw, even better! Even if they lose, keeping the goal difference within two goals would still leave them with a better goal difference than the Netherlands.

Seeing their opponent's defensive setup, Bosque's mouth twitched slightly. It was indeed a defensive setup, just as he had expected.

Breaking through a dense defense is a challenge for any team in the world, including Spain. In this match, Chile's defensive setup was even more exaggerated than the Netherlands in the previous match, forcing Spain to use a possession-based pressing style, circling around the opponent's goal trying to find an opportunity.

For the first 30 minutes, the game was uneventful. Spain's possession rate was astonishingly high, and their passing success rate was also very high, but they just couldn't score. Their attacks were repeatedly blocked by the opponents, and when the defense failed, the opponents would resort to fouls to break up Spain's play.

In those 30 minutes, Chile already had three yellow cards. This showed the tremendous pressure Spain was putting on them.

Chile's goalkeeper, Bravo, was outstanding in this match. In the 15th minute, he saved a one-on-one chance from Torres, and in the 27th minute, he saved a long-range shot from Lin Quan. These were both very threatening shots, and if it weren't for Bravo's heroic performance, Spain would have already been leading.

On the World Cup stage, aside from passionate fans, there are also scouts from various big clubs. Bravo's excellent performance earned him high praise from many scouts, including those from top clubs like Barcelona!

Faced with the opponent's defensive wall, Spain started trying to utilize set-pieces and long shots. In the 35th minute, Lin Quan created space in front of the penalty area and launched a high-quality long-range shot. Once again, Bravo made a spectacular save, tipping the ball over the crossbar and averting another crisis for his team.

Seeing this save, Lin Quan put his hands on his hips, feeling a bit helpless. This guy seems even tougher than Buffon and Neuer!

Every World Cup, there always seems to be a bunch of goalkeepers who perform heroically.

Xavi took the corner, causing chaos in the penalty area. Ramos and the opponent's defender Venna both fell in a scramble, but the referee didn't react. Pique won the aerial duel, but his header lacked power, and Bravo easily caught the ball.

Bravo, being both brave and meticulous, noticed that most Spanish players were in their own half, so he quickly threw the ball to winger Sanchez. Sanchez, like a race car, sped down the wing, quickly advancing into Spain's half.

Although Chile had adopted a defensive strategy, it didn't mean they abandoned attacking. With a star like Sanchez, how could they forsake their advantage?

Spain's defense was exposed, with both center-backs still in the opponent's penalty area. In a critical moment, Busquets stepped up and committed a tactical foul to stop his club teammate.

Despite Busquets's apologetic demeanor, the referee still issued a maximum penalty: a red card!

Busquets was stunned by this decision. The foul happened on the wing, far from the goal, and Sanchez hadn't created a clear scoring opportunity. It should have been a yellow card, not a red!

He desperately tried to explain to the referee, hoping to change the decision. But the referee insisted it was a red card, rejecting Busquets's protest. His reasoning was simple: Sanchez had already crossed midfield and was about to cut inside, and Busquets was the last defender, denying Chile a clear scoring opportunity. Thus, it was a red card!

Seeing this decision, Bosque on the sidelines also became agitated. He ran to the fourth official, loudly protesting, but to no avail. The fourth official wasn't going to overturn or stop the referee's decision.

As a result, before the first half ended, Spain was down to ten men. Bosque had no choice but to make a forced substitution. He took off Torres and brought on Xabi Alonso.

The tight defense had caused Torres to struggle again, making him almost invisible on the field. Substituting him had the least impact on Spain's lineup, and the crucial defensive midfield position couldn't be left vacant.

Torres walked off looking somewhat dejected, aware of his poor performance. Without Lin Quan's excellent dribbling and skills, he found it hard to get the ball or create space against a tight defense. He had no complaints about being substituted, realizing it was due to his own lack of ability.

However, Torres felt deeply unsatisfied. With the team down a player and facing a defensive wall, the situation was becoming increasingly unfavorable for Spain. Fans at the Maracana stadium couldn't help but worry: Could Spain also be held to a draw by Chile, just like Brazil?

But at that moment, someone stepped up. In the 43rd minute, after a brilliant combination play with his teammates, Lin Quan broke into the penalty area and received a pass from Iniesta. Facing the unbeatable Bravo, Lin Quan didn't shoot immediately but continued to dribble forward! He was actually going to try to dribble past the goalkeeper!

Chapter 292: Crushing the Opponent Again, Spain’s Strength Terrifies the World!

Bravo realized Lin Quan's intention, but he had no choice. If he stayed on the goal line, Lin Quan would get closer and closer. When Lin Quan shot, Bravo would have very little time to react. Even if Bravo had lightning-fast reflexes, it would be nearly impossible to save such a close-range shot.

So, he had to make a move. But his decision to charge out played right into Lin Quan's hands. One-on-one, Lin Quan feared no one.

Bravo lowered his center of gravity, spread his arms wide to cover as much area as possible, and kept his eyes fixed on the ball at Lin Quan's feet. He was waiting for the perfect moment to make his move, ready to pounce.

As Lin Quan neared the goal, his pace slowed. He stepped forward with his left foot, shifting his weight as if preparing to switch the ball from his right to his left foot.

Now!

Bravo seized the opportunity and lunged towards the ball like a hungry tiger. But Lin Quan was even quicker. Just as Bravo moved, Lin Quan retracted his left foot and nudged the ball with his right, lifting it over Bravo's head and sending it towards Chile's unguarded goal.

The crowd went wild! A rainbow flick! Someone actually used such a flashy move on the World Cup stage!

After beating Bravo, Lin Quan chased the ball towards the goal line. He didn't need to touch it again, watching it roll into the net before spreading his arms and sliding across the grass in celebration.

The Spanish players were ecstatic, rushing over to celebrate with Lin Quan on the sideline. The score was now 1-0! Spain had finally broken through Chile's defensive wall!

Lin Quan's goal was met with thunderous applause and cheers from the crowd, except for the Chilean fans. Goals are common in the World Cup, but such a spectacular goal is rare, especially from a top star like Lin Quan.

"Wow, is that Lin Quan? In another jersey, I'd think it was Brazil!"

"That's some skill, he's really good at this!"

"See, it's not that Lin Quan can't do these tricks, he just chooses not to!"

Lin Quan usually played with a straightforward style, so many fans thought he lacked the flair of players like Neymar and Ronaldinho. But now, he showed that he could use these flashy moves if he wanted to.

"Stepovers, rainbow flicks, Lin Quan is getting fancier!"

"He's adapting to South American style!"

"Haha, Neymar often uses rainbow flicks, but I've never seen him score with one. Lin Quan is just better!"

"Actually, in that situation, a rainbow flick was perfect!"

Online, Lin Quan's goal left many people astonished. Given his usual straightforward style, it was hard to imagine him using such a flamboyant trick.

Chilean goalkeeper Bravo was also shocked. After being beaten by Lin Quan's move, his confidence was severely shaken.

When Spain's celebration ended, the first half soon concluded. Scoring before halftime left the Spanish players in high spirits as they returned to the locker room, laughing and chatting.

In contrast, the Chilean side was downcast. Conceding the first goal while playing defensively meant their strategy had failed. They needed to change tactics and could no longer rely on their defensive setup.

Given the gap in strength between the teams, even changing tactics offered little hope of breaking through Spain's defense.

Chilean coach Jorge racked his brain but couldn't come up with a better plan. So, he opted for a standard 4-3-3 formation to try an offensive approach in the second half. With Sanchez, they might have a chance to equalize, especially with Spain down a player.

However, Spain also made adjustments. After dealing with Chile's defensive strategy in the first half, they were now ready to switch to counter-attacks, putting the Chileans on the defensive.

When the second half began, and Spain pulled back to defend, the Chileans were stunned.

Really? You're the world champions, and you're parking the bus? Where's your pride?

But the Spaniards didn't care. They were a man down; why not defend? If they had all eleven players, they'd use their possession game to dominate!

With Spain's defensive setup in place, there was no going back. The Chileans had to switch to offense.

Seeing this, both the spectators at the stadium and those watching on TV had strange looks on their faces. The team that attacked relentlessly in the first half was now defending, and the team that defended in the first half was now attacking. Because of the field switch, all the action seemed to happen on one side, making it feel like a déjà vu if you ignored the jerseys.

Of course, there were differences. Against Spain's defense, Chile couldn't make any headway. They attacked for 20 minutes without creating significant chances. In contrast, Spain's counter-attacks were devastating.

In the 61st minute, Spain quickly moved the ball upfield after a defensive stop. The ball passed from Lin Quan to Iniesta to Silva and into Chile's penalty area in seconds. Chile's defenders managed to contain Lin Quan, but he backheeled the ball to the oncoming Iniesta, who smashed it into the net, making it 2-0.

Bravo couldn't replicate his first-half heroics, seemingly shaken by Lin Quan's rainbow flick. Iniesta's goal all but sealed the match. With over 30 minutes left, it seemed impossible for Chile to recover two goals.

Sanchez was a great player, but he couldn't single-handedly take on the Spanish team. With Spain's defensive focus, his space was limited, and his club teammates knew his style too well, marking him out of the game.

Chile dominated possession and shots but couldn't score. Spain's counter-attacks, however, were always threatening. In the 78th minute, Alonso switched the play to the wing, Silva fed Iniesta, and a one-two with Lin Quan saw Iniesta's shot blocked for a corner.

Spain then executed a tactical corner, with Xavi passing to Lin Quan, who evaded a challenge and crossed into the box.

Ramos jumped high and outplayed Mena, the opposing defender, heading the ball into the goal.

3:0!

Spain is starting to look unstoppable!

After scoring, Ramos was extremely excited and instinctively prepared to take off his jersey to celebrate.

For a defender, scoring in a World Cup match is something worth celebrating in any way possible.

But at the last moment, he calmed down.

In the previous match against the Netherlands, he received a yellow card. According to World Cup rules, if he got another yellow card in this match, he would be suspended for the next one.

Who are they playing next?

Australia?

Alright, taking off the jersey to celebrate should be fine!

Ramos paused for a moment and then took off his jersey.

The referee didn't hesitate to give him a yellow card, but judging by Ramos's expression, he didn't mind at all.

A yellow card is just a yellow card. It's a good chance to clear his yellow card record against Australia.

This way, when the knockout stage comes, he can play to his strengths without any worries!

"Sergio, did you just deliberately get a yellow card?" Lin Quan saw Ramos's action and asked curiously.

"Hehe, no, I was just too excited to control myself!" Ramos said with a sly smile. He would never admit such a thing openly.

Lin Quan gave him a knowing look. Though deliberately getting a yellow card isn't looked upon favorably, it's a smart use of the rules. Many players do it in leagues and the Champions League.

Yellow card suspensions in the World Cup are stricter than in leagues or the Champions League. In the Premier League, a player is suspended after five yellow cards, and in the Champions League, after three. But in the World Cup, a player is suspended after just two yellow cards.

Moreover, these yellow cards carry over until the semifinals, including those from the group stage.

For front players like Lin Quan, it's not a big deal as they don't have heavy defensive duties and are less likely to get cards.

But for defensive players like Ramos, the chances of getting cards are much higher.

Ramos is a key defender for Spain, and his suspension in crucial matches would be a big blow to Spain's defense.

After falling behind by three goals, Chile's morale completely collapsed.

In the final stages of the match, although Sanchez was still fighting hard, trying to change the outcome, other players had lost their fighting spirit. They just wanted the match to end as soon as possible so they could prepare for the last match against the Netherlands.

With Chile losing their will to fight, Spain didn't want to waste energy either.

But the substitutes who came on were very aggressive in their attacks.

In the 80th minute, Mata tried a long shot from outside the penalty area.

The shot was of high quality, but luck wasn't on his side as the ball brushed past the post.

In the 84th minute, Koke, who replaced Xavi, also tried a long shot.

Bravo seemed to regain his form in the final stages of the match, flying to save the ball and preventing Spain from scoring their fourth goal.

Losing by three goals is a heavy defeat, but losing by four would be a complete rout!

Chile didn't want to suffer a disastrous defeat, especially since they were competing with the Netherlands for second place in the group. Every additional goal conceded could reduce their chances of advancing.

In the closing stages of the match, Spain took their final corner.

Lin Quan's corner was cleared by Chile's defenders, but the ball still fell to a Spanish player outside the penalty area.

Mata controlled the ball and sent it back into the box.

Ramos jumped up again, and his header hit the post.

Before he could feel disappointed, the ball bounced off his leg and into the goal.

Seeing the ball in the net, Ramos was stunned.

Chile's goalkeeper Bravo was stunned too!

All the players and fans in the stadium were stunned!

Is this even possible?

No one expected that the player with the most goals in this match would be a defender!

With two goals in this match, Ramos rose to third place on the top scorers' list!

Only Lin Quan with four goals and Thomas Muller with three had more goals than him.

Ramos had always been known as an attacking defender, but this World Cup had solidified that title.

After all, he, a defender, had scored more goals than most teams' forwards. You have to respect that.

Although Chile didn't want to be routed, they couldn't avoid it.

After being beaten 4-0 by Spain, their goal difference dropped to minus two.

Even with a negative goal difference, they still had a better goal difference than the Netherlands.

After all, the Netherlands also lost by four goals to Spain, but they only managed to get a one-goal difference against Australia, while Chile got a two-goal difference.

This means that in the final round, Chile had a one-goal lead over the Netherlands in goal difference.

So, for Chile, a draw in the last match would be enough to advance.

However, history has shown countless times that when a team only needs a draw to advance, they are very likely to be eliminated.

The national football team of a certain Eastern civilization would agree!

Even though the loss was hard, the Chilean players were somewhat prepared for it.

After the match, many players approached the Spanish stars to exchange jerseys.

The Spanish players couldn't refuse, having already defeated them so badly.

Many players wanted to exchange jerseys with Lin Quan, but one request surprised him – Chile's number one player, Bravo!

"Can we exchange jerseys?"

Bravo didn't seem to be in a good mood after losing, and it was unclear if he asked to exchange jerseys because Lin Quan played well or to remember the humiliation and motivate himself to improve.

Lin Quan was surprised but agreed, "Sure!"

They quickly exchanged jerseys.

Bravo said politely, "Thanks, you played really well. Keep it up!"

Lin Quan nodded, "You too, keep it up, and beat the Dutch!"

Bravo smiled at Lin Quan's encouragement.

"Don't worry, I won't let them score easily!"

Bravo clenched his fist and swung it hard.

Lin Quan silently pitied the Dutch for a moment. If Bravo played fiercely, it wouldn't be easy to score against him.

The Dutch team was strong, but after being thrashed 5-1 by Spain, their morale seemed shaky. They barely managed to beat Australia. In this state, facing Chile, the outcome was uncertain!

But this had nothing to do with Spain!

After the match, coach Bosque announced a break and released the starting lineup for the next game early.

This meant that the main players who weren't in the next lineup could rest well before the knockout stage!

The locker room erupted in cheers. Bosque was thrown into the air by the players for his 'wise' decision, which scared the old coach.

The locker room floor was hard, unlike the grass on the field. If the players slipped, Bosque could be seriously injured!

...

After two consecutive matches where Spain thrashed their opponents, the world saw their terrifying strength.

Especially in the match against Chile, where they still secured a convincing victory despite being a man down early. This kind of dominance made other teams feel suffocated!

As a result, after this match, Spain's odds of winning the championship soared.

The latest odds from betting companies placed Spain's chances of winning at 1.95, meaning the outside world believed their chances of winning were over 50%!

Chapter 293: Will South Korea Face a Crushing Defeat? Seize the Opportunity to Beat the Underdogs, Give Them Another Crushing Defeat!

"Even though I'm Brazilian, I still believe that Spain will win this World Cup!"

After the match between Spain and Chile, the long-silent football king Pelé couldn't help but voice his opinion.

As soon as Pelé spoke, it sparked a heated discussion.

Brazilian fans all breathed a sigh of relief; finally, Pelé wasn't jinxing Brazil anymore.

As for him jinxing Spain, Brazilian fans couldn't be happier.

Some people who didn't initially believe in Pelé's jinxing power now hoped his jinx would come true.

If they could take down Spain with Pelé's jinx, they'd want him to jinx every day!

Fans from other countries, especially Spanish fans, were devastated.

"Pelé really jinxed Spain!"

"Oh no, guys, I'm starting to panic. Can we still bet on Spain winning the championship?"

"Don't be scared! If we win, it's all good; if we lose, we get back to work. Go all in!"

"The rooftop is windy, brother. Stay calm!"

"This is too much. I'll bet on Spain beating Australia first to test the waters."

If it were just betting companies giving Spain the jinx, Spanish fans wouldn't be too worried.

The championship odds are just numbers; they don't mean much!

But with Pelé jinxing them, Spanish fans immediately panicked.

The knockout stage of the World Cup is a single-elimination round, making it highly unpredictable.

Even if Spain is the stronger team, there's no guarantee they'll advance.

If bad luck strikes and some bizarre event happens, they might really be out.

And Pelé has a track record!

Just like four years ago at the South Africa World Cup, he jinxed Brazil, the top favorite to win.

With stars like Kaka and Ronaldinho leading the team, Brazil was highly favored before the tournament.

Pelé's jinx seemed harmless at first.

However, Brazil was sent home early by the Netherlands with a 2-1 loss, not even reaching the semi-finals.

Because of the painful experience from four years ago, Brazilian fans were particularly anxious this time, begging Pelé not to jinx their team.

Samba fans were genuinely afraid of history repeating itself!

Within the Spanish team, some players were also worried.

Pelé's "track record" is too formidable to be ignored.

Originally, coach Bosque planned to use a full substitute lineup against Australia, but Pelé's jinx made him nervous.

"Maybe we should put some main players in the starting lineup for the next match?"

Coach Tony, seeing Bosque's hesitation, cautiously suggested.

"Yes, let's do that!"

Bosque promptly agreed and made the decision.

For most teams in the group stage, the second round is crucial to determine whether they can advance.

In Group C, Japan and Greece, both having lost their first match, faced off.

The result was a goalless draw, 0-0. Despite being a man down from the 38th minute, Greece held off Japan's fierce attacks with tenacious defense.

Japan had 74% possession and 18 shots but couldn't break Greece's defense.

This draw was unfavorable for both teams. With just one point from two games, they must win their final matches to have a chance of advancing, or they will both be eliminated.

On the other side, South American powerhouse Colombia defeated Ivory Coast 2-1, securing their spot in the knockout stage early.

With one win and one loss, Ivory Coast, led by Drogba, has 3 points and only needs a draw against Greece to advance.

In Group D, Uruguay defeated England 2-1, giving England two consecutive losses.

This made England the first European team to be eliminated.

The Three Lions lived up to their reputation as the "China of Europe," consistently underperforming in major tournaments!

After England's elimination, British media were full of lament.

Once again, the World Cup dreams of the British Empire were shattered.

It wasn't just the English who were upset; Italians were also lamenting.

In this round, Italy was unexpectedly defeated 0-1 by Costa Rica.

Not only did they miss the chance to advance early, but they also sent Costa Rica through to the next round.

With this loss, Italy put themselves in a tough position.

In the final round, they face Uruguay to compete directly for the last spot in the knockout stage.

Fortunately, Italy has a one-goal advantage, so a draw will see them through.

But as the old saying goes, teams that only need a draw often end up being eliminated.

Although Group D was labeled the "Group of Death," no one expected Costa Rica to be the first to advance, while two traditional European powerhouses were struggling!

This unexpected outcome is the charm of the World Cup!

In Group E, Deschamps' French team performed outstandingly.

In this round, they crushed Switzerland 5-2, achieving two wins and holding a six-goal difference, putting them in an excellent position to advance.

Although France hasn't officially advanced, they are almost guaranteed to go through unless they lose by four goals or Switzerland wins by five goals in the final round.

So, it's almost certain that France will advance.

After the match, the French celebrated Deschamps' success.

Despite not having a very strong squad, France's performance was surprising and delightful for their fans.

Of course, the French also took the opportunity to mock the English.

Unlike the French, who were modest about their team's strength before the tournament, the English hyped up the Three Lions as potential champions and even believed they could overthrow Spain.

To support their claim, they cited a 2011 match where England defeated Spain, Spain's only loss in three years.

Such shameless behavior naturally called for ridicule!

Everyone loves some post-match banter!

In Group E, the second qualifying spot will be decided between Switzerland and Ecuador. Their final opponents are the weakest team, Honduras, and the strongest team, France, respectively.

Considering the matchups, Switzerland has a better chance of advancing, provided France doesn't slack off!

In Group F, Argentina's performance has been somewhat underwhelming, lowering external expectations.

In this round, they narrowly defeated Iran 1-0, securing their second group stage victory.

However, Argentina struggled to create good scoring opportunities against Iran's tough defense.

With stars like Messi, Higuain, and Aguero, it was surprising to see Argentina having trouble scoring.

If not for Messi's stoppage-time long-range goal, Argentina would have been held to a draw by the underdog Iran.

In Group G, Germany, who were dominant in the first round, had a significantly different performance in this round.

They managed a tough 2-2 draw against Ghana.

If not for substitute Klose saving the day, Germany would have been upset by Ghana!

In another Group G match, Portugal scored in stoppage time to secure a draw against the USA.

The two teams ended up drawing 2-2. With one draw and one loss in their two matches, Portugal is now on the brink of elimination.

In their next match, they not only need to beat Ghana but also win by a large margin to close the goal difference gap with the USA.

As one of the three best players of the current era, Ronaldo's situation is very different from Lin Quan's and Messi's.

Lin Quan's Spanish team is unstoppable, playing incredibly well.

Messi's Argentina, although their wins have been a bit bumpy, at least managed to win. Both teams are either already through to the next round or are in a very good position to advance.

But Ronaldo's team is on the brink of elimination.

After the match, there was a lot of criticism of Ronaldo online.

"Is this what they call the two legends?"

"He hasn't scored a single goal and still dares to compare himself to Lin Quan and Messi?"

"Stop with the black humor. People only recognize Messi, not Lin Quan yet!"

"Haha, I think 'the two legends' is perfect for Messi and Lin Quan, no problem there!"

"You haters, don't you see how hard Ronaldo is working? Did you miss his goal against Germany in the last match?"

"Haha, Germany was already leading by 4 goals and gave you one to save face, and you took it seriously?"

"Exactly, at the end of the last match, saying Germany's players were walking around is an exaggeration. They were strolling like old ladies, playing very casually!"

Although Ronaldo's fans tried to argue, the general fans didn't care about these excuses.

In competitive sports, weakness is the original sin! Even if Ronaldo's fans argue that Portugal is much weaker than Spain and Argentina, no one pays attention.

Even if Portugal is not as good as Spain and Argentina, they should at least get through the group stage, right?

When they lost to Germany, no one criticized Portugal or Ronaldo too much.

But not being able to beat the USA is just unacceptable, even shameful.

Who are the star players on the USA team?

None!

They barely have any players in the top five European leagues.

Portugal, on the other hand, has stars like Pepe, Ronaldo, Coentrao, and Nani, with more than half of the team playing in top European leagues.

As the star player, Ronaldo was bound to get criticized when they lost!

Just like Messi gets criticized when Argentina loses.

Moreover, Ronaldo's performance was indeed not good enough.

In two matches, he only scored one goal, far behind Lin Quan's four goals and even Messi's two goals.

And that one goal was insignificant, unlike Lin Quan's consistent game-changing goals or Messi's crucial winning goal in the last match.

So, in direct comparison among the top three players, Ronaldo's performance was the worst, and it's natural for him to be singled out for criticism.

"Don't mind the outside criticism. Focus on playing well in the remaining matches. As long as you get through the group stage, all the criticism will disappear, and those who criticized you will start praising you!"

Worried that the criticism might affect Ronaldo's form, Mendes personally called Ronaldo to try and soothe his emotions.

Ronaldo just grunted in response, not saying much.

He had seen the criticism after the match, and even an insensitive reporter brought up the issue, which made Ronaldo very angry.

In fact, he didn't need the outside criticism to be angry; he was already frustrated himself.

The USA team's defense was very tight on him, and every time Portugal attacked, he was the most closely marked player on the field.

This made it hard for Ronaldo to find good opportunities! Also, used to the top midfielders at Real Madrid, Ronaldo found it hard to adapt to the national team.

Compared to the club's midfield, Portugal's midfield was much weaker.

He didn't get good passes and even had to make passes himself.

Varela's last-minute equalizer was actually assisted by Ronaldo.

If he could borrow Modric for Portugal, Ronaldo believed he would play much better.

But that's not possible! The matches in Group H have less hype compared to other groups, but that's not the case for a certain "cosmic" nation.

In this round, Belgium's Red Devils narrowly beat Russia 1-0, winning two matches and almost securing a spot in the next round.

That cosmic nation's match against Algeria almost turned into a disaster, but the disaster was for the cosmic nation itself!

Before the match, Korean media were generally optimistic, thinking Algeria was the weakest team in Group H, and that Korea would secure a favorable position in the competition by beating them and earning three points.

However, once the match started, the Koreans were stunned!

Starting from the 26th minute, Algeria scored continuously, netting three goals in just 12 minutes.

The Korean players were all dumbfounded. Was this the weak team they thought?

It felt like they were the weakest team in the group! Even the Algerian players were surprised! Was this really the team that reached the semifinals in the 2002 World Cup?

So they were this weak? It seems the rumors about the biased refereeing back then were true. With such a bottom-tier team reaching the semifinals, anyone could have done it!

Realizing this, the Algerian players pressed on and scored another goal in the second half, extending their lead to four goals.

Although Son Heung-min pulled one back for Korea before the final whistle, they still lost 1-4 to Algeria.

The result of this match caused an uproar in Korea.

Countless Korean fans criticized and even attacked the players, with several defenders who made mistakes being told to kill themselves in shame.

The head coach, Hong Myung-bo, was also asked to be immediately dismissed by angry fans.

As for who would coach the national team after his dismissal, they didn't care at all! While some people were happy and some were sad, the defeat of the Korean team sparked anger among Korean fans but was met with celebration in Europe.

The fans of Spain and Italy, the main victims of the 2002 World Cup, were so happy they wanted to celebrate for three days and nights!

The grudges from back then have never been fully resolved.

The World Cup, held every four years, is the dream of many players.

But due to biased refereeing, they suffered bitter defeats, leaving a lasting pain in the hearts of the fans from both countries!

So, whenever they face Korea, they want to crush them to vent their anger.

Knowing that Korea's next opponent is Belgium, Lin Quan called a few of his Belgian teammates, asking them not to hold back and to win by as many goals as possible! Belgium has no grudge against Korea, but after receiving Lin Quan's call, De Bruyne and Kompany happily agreed: when facing Korea, they would definitely play their hardest. They believed that those who don't play fair should be punished by everyone!

"Don't worry, I'll make sure they get what they deserve!"

(End of the chapter)

Chapter 294: Three Wins in a Row, Top of the Group!

On June 24th, the final round of the group stage commenced.

The Brazilian team withstood the pressure and achieved a 4-1 victory over Cameroon in the last round, successfully advancing to the knockout stage as the top team in their group.

Although Mexico also defeated Croatia, their goal difference was two less than Brazil's, so they had to advance as the second team in the group.

As for Croatia, where Modric plays, they unfortunately exited the tournament after one win and two losses, finishing third in the group.

Cameroon from Africa suffered three consecutive losses, scoring 1 goal and conceding 9, and was disgracefully eliminated.

After confirming the teams advancing from Group A, both qualified teams were especially attentive to the final results of Group B.

Since Spain had already advanced, for the last match, Del Bosque arranged for many substitutes to play.

De Gea, Koke, Martinez, Juanfran, Villa, Mata, Fabregas, Pedro, and others started for the first time.

However, to ensure a stable victory in this match, Del Bosque still left some main players on the field, with Iniesta, Lin Quan, and Alonso continuing to play.

The team's main central defender Ramos accumulated two yellow cards and was suspended, while players like Xavi and David Silva watched from the bench.

The mood of Spain's soldiers in this match was relatively relaxed, with basically no pressure.

However, they still aimed to win this match!

Although Spain had already advanced, they had not completely secured the top spot in the group.

If they were to lose heavily to Australia in the last round, theoretically, they could lose the top spot in the group.

But this possibility was quite small because Spain currently had a goal difference of 8, leading the Netherlands by 11 goals and Chile by 10.

With such a large gap, unless they could achieve a big victory, it would require Spain to suffer a disastrous defeat against Australia.

The former was somewhat possible, but the latter was almost impossible.

Australia lost both matches, their strength ranked bottom in the group, relying on them to create a disaster against Spain was like hoping to win the lottery!

The match progressed as expected.

Facing the weak Australian team, although Spain mostly fielded substitutes, their substitute lineup was still much stronger than Australia's lineup.

In the 16th minute of the first half, Villa scored a goal, helping the team take a 1-0 lead against the opponent.

The Australian players fought stubbornly; having been eliminated in advance, this match was entirely about playing for honor.

In this situation, they did not just stay back in their own half and defend; instead, they bravely played offensively against Spain.

For Australia, winning was impossible, but if they could score a few goals against Spain, it would be worth it. When Spain won the World Cup later, they could also boast back home: we broke through the goal of the world champion Spain!

However, Australia's choice left them a bit unable to cope with Spain's fierce attacks.

In the 36th minute of the first half, Spain scored again.

After several consecutive passes from Lin Quan, Mata, Iniesta, and Fabregas, the football was almost passed into Australia's goal by Lin Quan's passing.

At this moment, Australian players felt the suffocation and powerlessness against the world's strongest team; at first, they could keep up with their opponents.

Later, after Spain made several consecutive passes, they felt dizzy, and almost all of their players instinctively followed the ball, leaving a huge gap in the defense line that allowed Spanish players to shuttle at will and shoot at will.

In this case, conceding a goal was not surprising at all; not conceding a goal would be a miracle!

After leading by two goals, Australia was finally awakened.

They dared not attack again and began to retract their defensive line, adopting a defensive posture.

The huge gap in strength between the two teams made them realize the reality: wanting to score against Spain was truly as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Even the powerful Netherlands team only scored one goal, and the Chilean team did not score a goal at all, even when Spain was down to ten men!

In fact, parking the bus does work.

The score of 2-0 was maintained until halftime.

In the second half, Spain made personnel adjustments.

Iniesta was substituted off for Torres, and Spain adopted a two-forward tactic.

However, the two-forward tactic seemed ineffective against the opponent's dense defense; Villa and Torres couldn't find good opportunities to score.

Del Bosque continued to make personnel adjustments. In the 65th minute, he substituted Alonso for Xavi.

This substitution quickly paid off. In the 69th minute, Xavi initiated an attack in midfield. After several passes involving Lin Quan, the ball reached Torres.

Torres used his strong physical fitness to break through the opponent's defense, suddenly shot after entering the penalty area, and scored a goal!

This was Torres's second goal in this World Cup, both assisted by Lin Quan!

After scoring, Torres was very excited and ran to the sidelines to elegantly kneel and celebrate.

Playing football with these teammates from the national team was simply too damn enjoyable; here, there was always a group of selfless and talented teammates keen on passing him the ball. As long as he created an opportunity, the ball would definitely reach his feet, and all he had to do was put the ball into the goal!

He scored 2 goals in 3 matches, and they were both on the stage of the World Cup, which made him feel like he was back at the peak!

Torres's best performance in the World Cup was in the 2006 Germany World Cup, where he scored 3 goals in 4 matches, including one instance of scoring twice.

Unfortunately, Spain encountered the powerful French team in the round of 16, ending their World Cup journey early. Otherwise, with Torres's hot form at the time, he would surely have scored more goals.

Eight years had passed in the blink of an eye, and Torres was already 30 years old. After experiencing the decline of both club and national team, he thought it would be difficult for him to make a mark on such an international stage again.

But unexpectedly, thanks to Lin Quan's emergence, he experienced a second spring!

Lin Quan could have taken those shots himself that he passed to Torres, but he still unselfishly passed them out!

Such a good teammate, if he could bring him to the club, how great would that be!

But it's a pity he can't take him away, and Manchester City won't sell him either!

Moreover, Torres couldn't ask Lin Quan to always be a supporting role; that was not something Torres could say!

After Torres scored, Del Bosque continued to make substitutions.

He brought on David Silva for Lin Quan.

Although Lin Quan scored only one goal in this match, his role on the field was obvious to the fans.

Therefore, when Lin Quan was substituted, the fans at the scene stood up and applauded him.

Lin Quan also applauded in response to the applause from all sides of the stadium, thanking the fans for their support.

Seeing this scene, Del Bosque showed a satisfied smile.

He intentionally left the last substitution spot for Lin Quan, aiming to make up for the regret of not allowing Lin Quan to enjoy the applause and cheers from the fans in the last match.

"Great job!"

When Lin Quan reached the sidelines and high-fived with David Silva, Vicente del Bosque opened his arms and warmly embraced him.

"Lin, you must be thirsty. Here, have some water to replenish your energy!"

Lin Quan had just sat down on the bench, and immediately, Coach Tony handed him a bottle of energy drink to hydrate.

"Thank you," Lin Quan politely responded, taking big gulps.

He was indeed thirsty, and the ice-cold drink felt refreshing under the scorching sun.

Watching Lin Quan, the other players looked on with envy. It seemed both coaches favored him.

"Coach Tony, I'm a bit thirsty too. Could I get a drink?" Pique reached out for a drink, but didn't receive the warm response he expected from Coach Tony.

"Aren't your legs working? It's over there, help yourself!" Tony replied bluntly.

His attitude seemed to say: You're just a substitute, haven't played a minute, haven't even broken a sweat—do you deserve it?

Even main players like Pique were rebuffed, and the eager substitutes soon abandoned their thoughts.

Club status meant nothing on the national team; showing off wouldn't work here.

If they left a bad impression on the coaching staff, their names might not make the next squad!

After Lin Quan came off, Spain's attack seemed to revert to its old problem.

The team had plenty of forwards like Pedro, Mata, Fabregas, David Silva, Villa, and Torres—all strong players.

Yet they struggled to score. Spain's dominance in possession and continuous attacking waves didn't translate into goals, frustrating Vicente del Bosque.

This team on the field felt both familiar and unfamiliar. Unfamiliar, because it had been a long time since Del Bosque had seen Spain like this before Lin Quan joined.

Back then, they even struggled against unimpressive teams like Georgia and almost drew against the national team.

Thinking about this, Del Bosque sighed.

What if Lin Quan got injured or suspended one day? What then?

However, it wasn't all bad news. The good news was that so far, Lin Quan hadn't suffered any major injuries, and his physical condition remained excellent. He also hadn't accumulated any yellow cards, so for now, these issues weren't a concern.

To address Spain's scoring issues, Del Bosque had recruited Diego Costa to the team.

Although the lad was currently injured and unable to play for the team.

But once he returned from injury, perhaps Spain could try playing without Lin Quan and see if Diego Costa could replace him!

As Del Bosque pondered these issues, Spain scored again.

In the 88th minute, Mata scored directly from a free kick, bringing Spain's lead to 4-0.

Australia couldn't mount a comeback. In the last match of the World Cup, they failed to secure a victory and were instead slaughtered by a large margin.

However, they didn't seem disheartened. After the match, Australian players ran up to exchange jerseys with the Spanish players.

Some even ran to the sidelines with pen, paper, and cameras they had prepared in advance, requesting autographs and photos with their favorite players.

Watching the Australian players on the field chasing after Spanish players for photos, the fans had a strange feeling:

These people seemed more like star-chasers than football players!

Nevertheless, the fans couldn't criticize the Australian players.

"That's normal, right? From the moment the draw ceremony ended, the Australians probably lost hope. After all, being in a group with the reigning World Cup champions and runners-up, plus a strong South American team like Chile, is tough!"

"Yeah, besides the last World Cup's champions and runners-up, there's also a strong team like Chile in their group. None of these three teams are ones Australia can handle. Their participation in this World Cup is truly fighting for honor."

Australia belongs to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), widely acknowledged as the weakest major confederation.

In this World Cup, several Asian teams performed terribly in the group stage. They not only showed no hope of advancing to the knockout rounds but also failed to secure even one victory, nearly setting the worst record for Asian teams in World Cup history!

This has brought back proposals on the internet to reduce the number of World Cup slots allocated to the AFC.

Many European fans argue that rather than allotting World Cup slots to regions like Asia and Africa, which have comparatively weaker football standards, more slots should be given to Europe.

Europe has many strong teams that miss out on the World Cup due to limited slots.

Of course, such proposals are unlikely to be accepted.

To encourage the development of football in regions with comparatively weaker standards, FIFA not only refrains from reducing the AFC's World Cup slots but also considers giving them more slots.

After all, the World Cup is a stage where all countries worldwide are encouraged to participate.

Even if not every country can send a team to compete, efforts should be made to maintain balance and benefit all regions of the five continents.

Otherwise, it could easily turn the World Cup from a global football festival into a regional carnival.

This is completely contrary to their initial intentions!

Therefore, FIFA is currently discussing expanding the World Cup, aiming to increase the current 32 participating teams to 48.

In this case, male football teams that have been absent from the World Cup consecutively due to performance and slots might have the opportunity to play in the World Cup again!

FIFA is very envious of the huge market of 1.4 billion people in this country. After all, even if their national team fails to qualify for the World Cup, they can still generate substantial sponsorship fees for their national football association.

If their national team manages to qualify for the World Cup finals, the commercial revenue brought in is unimaginable!

Of course, given the current decline of the national football team in this country, it seems that even if the World Cup expands, it might not change much.

Chapter 295: The Knockout Matches are Set

After Spain defeated Australia to advance as the top team in their group, the hopes of the Netherlands and Chile to claim the first spot in their group were dashed.

Now, both teams must fight fiercely for the final spot to advance!

As the opponent from Group A, the match between the Netherlands and Chile not only attracted the attention of fans from both countries but also drew significant interest from the host country's Brazilian fans.

As the top team in Group A, Brazil will face the winner of this match in the Round of 16.

From a strength perspective, the Dutch team, often referred to as the "unofficial kings," are certainly stronger. Therefore, the Brazilians are not keen on facing them in the Round of 16.

Comparatively, Brazil is more familiar with their South American rival, Chile.

Brazil and Chile have faced each other 68 times in history, with Brazil winning 48 times, drawing 13, and losing 7, scoring 158 goals and conceding 58.

Additionally, Brazil remains unbeaten at home against Chile, with a record of 15 wins and 4 draws. In their last 12 encounters, Brazil has 10 wins and 2 draws.

These statistics show Brazil's comprehensive advantage. If they face Chile in the Round of 16, their chances of advancing to the quarterfinals are very high.

However, if their opponent is the Netherlands, Brazil's chances of advancing are much lower.

Historically, Brazil and the Netherlands have played 11 times, with Brazil winning 3, drawing 5, and losing 3, scoring 15 goals and conceding 15.

Their most recent encounter was a friendly match in June 2011, which ended in a 0-0 draw. Before that, in the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals, the Netherlands defeated Brazil 2-1.

Therefore, the Brazilian fans present at the match almost all temporarily became fans of Chile, cheering for their South American neighbors while secretly hoping for an easier opponent.

The match between the Netherlands and Chile was very intense. It was clear that the Dutch team had not yet reached their best form.

Chile, learning from their previous heavy defeat by Spain, made many targeted adjustments in defense for this match.

These adjustments effectively restrained the Dutch offense.

By the 75th minute, the score was still 0-0.

Chile's goalkeeper, Bravo, seemed to be in outstanding form, blocking every threatening shot from the Dutch team.

His exceptional performance had already won over scouts from major clubs, with Barcelona's scout recommending the club sign this outstanding Chilean goalkeeper after the World Cup!

If the match ended with this score, Chile would advance to the Round of 16 with a goal difference of -2.

However, in the 77th minute, the first goal of the match finally came.

The Netherlands took advantage of a corner kick opportunity, with Robben passing the ball to Janmaat outside the penalty area.

The Dutch right-back, who had been almost overwhelmed by Lin Quan in the previous match, played a crucial role in this set-piece.

After controlling the ball, he didn't pass immediately but waited for the right moment when the defenders rushed out before passing it into the penalty area, assisting Fer, who had replaced Sneijder, in scoring the first goal for the Netherlands in this match!

The score became 1-0!

This goal saved the Netherlands from the brink of elimination and pushed Chile into a desperate situation.

Chile had to abandon their defensive counterattack and go all out in offense!

In the final stages of the match, Chile launched an all-out attack on the Dutch team.

However, this offensive effort not only failed to result in a goal but also provided the Netherlands with opportunities for quick counterattacks.

In the 92nd minute, the 20-year-old Depay scored his first World Cup goal, securing the victory for the Netherlands.

In the end, Chile, needing only a draw to advance, was eliminated by the Netherlands in the final group match.

With Chile's elimination, the teams advancing from Groups A and B were finalized.

Brazil, the top team in Group A, and Mexico, the second, will face the Netherlands, the second team in Group B, and Spain, the top team, respectively, in the Round of 16.

This matchup left fans of three teams dissatisfied, except for Spain's fans who felt indifferent.

Mexican fans were already lamenting, feeling their team would be out soon.

Meanwhile, the host Brazilian fans and Dutch fans were very nervous, knowing their opponents were strong, making the match very intense with no guaranteed outcome.

However, there was some good news for both Brazil and the Netherlands. By avoiding Spain, they wouldn't face them until the final.

But with many strong teams remaining in this World Cup, reaching the final wouldn't be easy.

After the conclusion of matches in Groups A and B, the last matches in the other groups began.

In Group C, Japan suffered a 1-4 defeat to Colombia in their final match, ending their World Cup journey with 1 draw and 2 losses, scoring 2 goals and conceding 6.

Japan is not traditionally a strong team, with their best World Cup result being the Round of 16, so this outcome was not surprising.

However, Japan's elimination still disappointed Asian fans, especially those in East Asia.

Japan is considered the strongest men's team in East Asia, so their poor performance indicated a grim outlook for other teams from the region.

In contrast, Greece, who were heavily defeated by Colombia in their first match and drew with the weaker Japanese team in their second, managed to stage a miracle.

Despite a rough start, Greece won their final match against Ivory Coast.

Ivory Coast became the second team in this World Cup to be eliminated despite only needing a draw to advance.

In Group D, Italy lost 0-1 to Uruguay in their final match, also getting eliminated despite needing just a draw.

As for England, they played to a 0-0 draw with Costa Rica and finished last in their group with 1 draw and 2 losses.

Eventually, the teams advancing from Group D were Costa Rica and Uruguay, with the two South American teams outlasting the two European teams.

With the teams advancing from Groups C and D confirmed, the Round of 16 matchups were set.

In the Round of 16, Group C's top team, Colombia, will face Group D's second-place team, Uruguay.

Group C's second team, Greece, will face Group D's top team, Costa Rica.

Notably, if Spain defeats Mexico to advance to the quarterfinals, their opponent will be the winner between Costa Rica and Greece.

In Group E, the teams advancing were France and Switzerland, while the two American teams, Honduras and Ecuador, were eliminated.

In Group F, Argentina narrowly defeated Nigeria 3-2 in their final match, advancing as the top team with three wins.

The match was dramatic, with Messi scoring in the 3rd minute, only for Musa to equalize in the 4th. Messi scored again in the 45th minute, and Musa equalized again in the 47th.

Messi was left questioning the prowess of his opponent.

Fortunately, Argentina's third goal wasn't scored by Messi, and Musa couldn't equalize again.

Despite Argentina's three wins, external opinions were pessimistic.

Before Rojo's goal, all of Argentina's goals came from Messi.

If Spain were somewhat reliant on Lin Quan, Argentina would have been eliminated without Messi!

Despite having many forwards, their performances were disappointing compared to their club achievements.

Higuain, Aguero, Di Maria, and others didn't score a single goal in three matches.

Luckily, Argentina's Round of 16 opponent is Switzerland, giving them time to adjust.

In Group E, the other Asian team, Iran, finished with a similar record to Japan, with 1 draw and 2 losses, ending their World Cup journey at the bottom of their group.

And their number of goals was even fewer than Japan's. In three matches, they only scored one goal and conceded four.

This huge gap left Asian fans feeling incredibly depressed and pessimistic.

Including Australia, an extra team, three out of the four Asian teams have already been eliminated, leaving only South Korea.

With one draw and one loss in two matches, South Korea still has a theoretical chance to advance. They just need to win big against Belgium in their final match.

Before the game, South Korean fans were boasting online.

They claimed that Japan and Iran were weak.

They said that only South Korea could defend Asia's honor and that South Korea was Asia's last hope.

They seemed to truly believe they were saviors, convinced that South Korea would perform a miracle in the last match and advance from the group as Asia's only team.

However, South Korea didn't perform a miracle. Instead, despite their opponent getting a red card, they lost 0-3.

This made their pre-game boasting come back to haunt them, attracting criticism from many Asian fans.

"South Koreans, stop pretending and show yourselves!"

"Where are those guys who looked down on Japan and Iran? Too scared to show up?"

"Ha, you used exaggerated acting to get a red card and played with one more player for most of the game, but still lost so badly. This isn't the pride of Asia; it's the shame of Asia!"

"You don't understand. In a parallel universe, South Korea has already beaten Germany and Spain and is the world champion!"

"Ha, the country where the universe originated!"

With South Korea's defeat and elimination, all the Asian teams in this World Cup were knocked out, making Asia the first continent to be completely eliminated.

Moreover, in all 12 matches they played, they didn't win a single game, only managing 3 draws and 9 losses, scoring 6 goals and conceding 27.

This is undoubtedly the darkest moment for Asian teams in the World Cup!

With the poor performance of Asian teams, many Asian countries were awakened to the gap between them and the strong football nations. As a result, more and more young Asian players started to play abroad.

And their choices were no longer limited to the top five leagues. Asian players began to appear in leagues like the Portuguese Primeira Liga, the Russian Premier League, the Dutch Eredivisie, and the Belgian Pro League.

It's worth noting that in this match, De Bruyne played exceptionally well, scoring one goal and assisting twice, accounting for all the goals!

De Bruyne was named MVP of the match and received praise from Belgium's national team coach, Marc Wilmots, after the game.

"Kevin is an excellent player. His creativity on the field amazes me. With him, the possibilities are endless!"

Marc Wilmots, being an attacking midfielder himself, was naturally fond of players in De Bruyne's position.

After training in the Bundesliga and Premier League, De Bruyne grew quickly and became Belgium's midfield core early on.

With him, the Red Devils of Europe looked strong and seemed capable of competing with other favorites for the World Cup crown!

Moreover, Belgium's Round of 16 opponent was the USA, a relatively weaker team, giving them a high chance of reaching the quarter-finals.

As for the semi-finals, it would depend on whether they could overcome Argentina!

If they could get past Argentina, Belgium would face Spain in the semi-finals.

Lin Quan and De Bruyne could very well face each other as opponents for the first time on the field! ...

After the match against Australia, Spain began preparing for the knockout stages.

Although the outside world generally believed that Mexico wouldn't pose much of a threat to Spain, the Spanish team themselves were not so complacent.

In the group stage, there were three matches, and losing one could be made up in the next two.

But the knockout stage is a one-game elimination. If they slipped up, it would be the end for them.

As the top favorite to win the World Cup, if they were eliminated by Mexico, their fans would be furious.

"Mexico is not weak. We can't underestimate them just because their world ranking is lower than ours!"

During the pre-match preparation, Del Bosque gathered the players and gave them a stern talk.

He felt that the team's consecutive big wins could easily make the players overconfident and underestimate their opponents, so it was necessary to knock some sense into them.

Especially the main center-back, Ramos. As a defender, he had been having dreams of being a forward.

He frequently ran forward during attacks, making his desire to score almost visible on his face.

Del Bosque could see that Ramos was very excited.

This guy had scored 2 goals so far, making him the second top scorer for Spain, only behind Lin Quan.

For a defender to score so many goals, he had reasons to be excited.

But a defender's primary job is defense. Scoring should be left to the forwards. If everyone focused on attacking, who would defend the goal?

After a stern talk, Ramos seemed a bit deflated.

He looked much less enthusiastic, but Del Bosque didn't completely crush his spirit. He allowed Ramos to leave his own half and join the attack during set-pieces.

Although Ramos wasn't very tall, his heading ability was impressive and should be utilized.

After all, there weren't many tall players in the Spanish team. While Pique was tall, his heading ability was average, not as good as Ramos.

Thus, letting Ramos join the attack during set-pieces could significantly enhance Spain's threat in the air.

Lin Quan didn't participate in the heading practice. With his height, challenging for headers in the box was too difficult.

Del Bosque had him and a few forwards practice penalties.

Due to the conservative tactics and strong defenses, penalty shootouts were common in the knockout stages of the World Cup.

If they didn't practice penalty strategies, they would be left to luck in a shootout.

The forwards didn't mind this arrangement, but they did have some complaints about the goalkeeper assigned to practice with them.

"David, do you always dive in just one direction when saving penalties?"

After scoring 10 consecutive penalties, Lin Quan stopped and asked De Gea curiously.

Chapter 296: The Knockout Stage Begins, The Brutal Penalty Shootout!

"Do I?"

De Gea was puzzled by Lin Quan's question, not realizing he had this issue.

Lin Quan nodded seriously, "Yes, and it's quite serious!"

To confirm his suspicion, Lin Quan brought a camera and took another 10 penalty shots.

After recording De Gea's saves, it proved Lin Quan was right.

De Gea had a habit of diving to his left, and his penalty-saving moves were awkward, like a player who had just woken up, lacking energy.

After making another 10 penalty shots, Lin Quan wasn't happy.

Taking these penalties didn't help him improve; instead, it was affecting his mindset.

"David, you need to train specifically on your penalty-saving skills!"

The assistant coach also noticed De Gea's weakness and seriously talked to him.

De Gea is Spain's second-choice goalkeeper. If Casillas gets injured or suspended, he might get the chance to play for Spain.

Considering his penalty-saving weakness, if Spain ends up in a penalty shootout, it would be a big problem.

De Gea felt a bit down but nodded, saying he would work on it.

For a goalkeeper, 24 is very young.

The goalkeeper position requires a lot of experience to master, and De Gea has a long way to go, with plenty of time to improve.

Spain's main goalkeeper, Casillas, is already 33 years old and might not make it to the next World Cup.

So De Gea needs to grow quickly, as he might become Spain's future number one.

Compared to De Gea, Spain's other substitute goalkeeper, Reina, is much better at saving penalties.

Against Reina, Spain's forwards could only score about 7 out of 10 penalties.

The unluckiest was Torres, who had 5 of his 10 penalties saved!

No wonder Torres doesn't take penalties for Chelsea; Lampard usually takes them.

Such a low success rate is a bit disheartening.

However, Lin Quan thought Torres's penalty technique wasn't bad; his shots had power, speed, and decent angles.

But Reina could make incredible saves and stop them!

To be honest, this surprised Lin Quan.

He had never thought a goalkeeper could be this good at saving penalties!

"Hehe, you didn't know, did you? Reina won the Premier League Golden Glove and set a clean sheet record for Liverpool!"

Torres, who had played with Reina at Liverpool for several years, knew his teammate's abilities well.

Hearing Torres's words, Lin Quan understood.

No wonder Reina was so good at stopping Torres's penalties—they used to be teammates, so Reina knew Torres's habits well.

Thinking of this, Lin Quan felt eager to try:

"Let me have a go!"

Reina smiled and gestured for Lin Quan to come over:

"Bring it on!"

Although he wasn't at Liverpool when Lin Quan joined Manchester City and didn't face him in the league, Reina had been following his national teammate.

He noticed Lin Quan's perfect penalty record in the league and cup matches since his Werder Bremen days.

Lin Quan had never missed a penalty.

Of course, this was partly because he hadn't taken many penalties.

But a 100% success rate was still impressive!

Usually, a penalty taker with over 80% success is considered excellent, and over 85% is very reliable.

Those with a 100% success rate are rare, mainly among those who haven't taken many penalties.

For example, Lin Quan's club teammate Yaya Toure also has a 100% success rate, but he has only taken 11 penalties.

Lin Quan placed the ball and stepped back a few paces, looking at the goal.

Reina was ready, slightly bending his knees, prepared to dive at any moment.

He planned to judge the direction of Lin Quan's shot by observing his footwork and rhythm—a method experienced goalkeepers use effectively.

For the first shot, Reina guessed the direction correctly, but Lin Quan's shot was too fast.

Before Reina could complete his dive, the ball rolled into the net under his arm.

"Nice shot, let's go again!"

Reina was excited. Lin Quan's shot went to the bottom left corner, the most reliable spot for most players.

Reina was close to saving it. If he had reacted a bit quicker, he might have saved it!

For the second shot, Lin Quan aimed for the left corner again but changed direction.

Reina guessed correctly again but was still a bit slow.

His reaction was quick, but diving and then dropping his body took time, enough for a fast shot to go in.

So, predicting the direction in advance was crucial!

For the third shot, Reina anticipated Lin Quan would go left and dove early.

However, he guessed wrong, and Lin Quan's shot went to the bottom right corner.

"Again!"

Reina wasn't discouraged, becoming more determined.

He felt he was close to saving one!

Lin Quan nodded and took the fourth shot with a calm expression.

Reina anticipated and guessed right this time.

But this shot wasn't a low one; it was mid-height.

As Reina was diving, the ball flew over him.

Seeing this shot, Reina's face changed.

Mid-height shots are easier to save, and shooting them is risky.

Knowing Lin Quan, he wouldn't take such a risk without confidence.

In other words, he had guessed Reina's thoughts!

"Want to keep going?"

They hadn't finished 10 shots yet, but seeing Reina not calling for another try, Lin Quan stopped and asked.

"Yes!"

Reina gritted his teeth and chose to continue the challenge!

Their competition drew attention, and as the players practicing set-pieces finished, they came over to watch.

"What's going on?"

"Hey, it's Reina versus Lin Quan 1v1!"

"Oh, how's it going?"

"4 out of 4 for Lin Quan, Reina hasn't stopped any!"

As the players watched and chatted, Lin Quan took his fifth shot.

Again to the bottom left, Reina didn't guess in advance, waiting to see Lin Quan's move, but was still a bit slow.

"That was so close, a bit faster, and he could have saved it!"

Villa said nervously.

Casillas shook his head:

"Hard to save. Lin's shot was too fast. Relying only on reaction speed, it's tough to stop such a penalty."

As a goalkeeper, he understood the difficulty.

"So, how do you save such a shot?"

Torres asked curiously.

Only goalkeepers truly understand goalkeepers, so he planned to learn from Casillas. That way, when he takes a penalty in the future, he might use this knowledge.

"By guessing!"

"Guessing?"

Everyone looked at Casillas in surprise.

"Yeah, you could call it anticipating, but honestly, it's guessing, guessing which direction the opponent will shoot!"

"Oh! That explains why goalkeepers often dive the wrong way. When that happens, it means they guessed wrong?"

"Yeah, that's right!"

Reina heard everyone's discussion but didn't say anything.

He had tried guessing before, but it didn't work!

Twice he guessed wrong, and once he even got hit with a half-high shot, meaning the opponent had figured out his thinking and found a solution.

If he kept guessing, the success rate would be low.

But if he didn't guess, he would always be just a little bit off, which was really frustrating!

So, after thinking it over, he decided to keep guessing!

For the sixth shot, Reina guessed the right direction in advance.

His fingers touched the ball, but Lin Quan's shot was too powerful. He couldn't stop the ball; he only slightly changed its direction.

With a bang, the ball hit the inside of the post and bounced into the goal.

"Too bad!"

"So close!"

A wave of regretful voices came from the Spanish players watching, all feeling sorry for Reina.

After watching for so long, this was the closest he had come to saving a shot!

Reina was a bit disappointed too, but having actually touched the ball boosted his confidence.

"Again!"

Lin Quan nodded, took a few steps back, but didn't shoot immediately.

After scoring six penalties in a row, almost all his teammates were rooting for Reina, making him feel like the villain boss.

Heh, this feeling isn't bad?

Since he's the villain, he should use the ultimate move only villains have!

This time he would use that move!

Reina was watching Lin Quan's every move and suddenly felt Lin Quan seemed different.

It was as if he had an aura of danger, making people hesitant to look directly at him!

Reina shook off these strange thoughts and focused on Lin Quan's every move. He predicted that Lin Quan would shoot to the right based on his support foot.

Reina moved early!

This time, his reaction was faster than before. If he guessed right, he should be able to save this shot!

However, he didn't touch the ball at all. The ball didn't fly to the bottom right corner but went to the top right corner of the goal!

"Wow!"

"Top corner!"

"Did he guess?"

The Spanish players watching were all surprised.

The reason was simple: Lin Quan's shot went to the top corner of the goal.

There are two top corners in the goal. Unless the goalkeeper is standing right under them, it's nearly impossible to save a shot aimed there.

But aiming for the top corner in a penalty is very risky.

Even the best players can miss when aiming for that spot.

The most famous example is the 1994 World Cup final between Italy and Brazil.

Roberto Baggio aimed for the top corner but sent the ball flying over the bar, a moment that left many fans heartbroken.

Of course, some players succeed in aiming for the top corner, but the failure rate is high, so many don't dare to try it often.

However, this was just a team practice, so winning or losing didn't matter. Lin Quan dared to use this risky move, which wasn't too surprising.

With his skills, hitting a shot like that wasn't too hard.

Reina, despite being hit hard, wasn't too discouraged.

"Again!"

He still didn't give up!

He admitted Lin Quan had great skills, but always aiming for the top corner would eventually lead to mistakes.

He just needed to be patient and wait for Lin Quan to miss!

But one shot after another, Lin Quan finished ten penalties and even a few extra, all without making a mistake.

Reina was heavily impacted. Lin Quan kept hitting the top corners, making him not even want to dive anymore.

No goalkeeper in the world can save a well-aimed top corner penalty!

Reina thought he couldn't do it either!

"No more, no more, I give up!"

Reina, deeply affected, didn't want to continue.

In just this short time, all the confidence he had built up was gone, and he even started doubting his ability to save penalties.

"Uh, Lin, from now on, don't hold back on penalties. If there's a penalty, you should take it. It's the safest!"

Xavi, who Lin Quan had once let take a penalty, said earnestly after watching Lin Quan and Reina's duel.

Other players qualified to take penalties also nodded. If someone could consistently hit the top corners, who else should take the penalties?

Everyone wondered if Lin Quan would use this move in a real match!

If he did, they couldn't wait to see the opposing goalkeeper's shocked face!

After a few days of rest, the knockout stage officially began.

The first match was the host Brazil against the Netherlands.

It was an evenly matched game, and both teams played excellently.

In just the 18th minute, Neymar's corner was flicked by Thiago Silva to the far post, and David Luiz used his thigh to sweep the ball into the net.

Brazil led the Netherlands 1-0!

The Netherlands quickly responded. In the 28th minute, Robben cut inside and faked a shot, then passed to Sneijder, who scored from outside the box.

The score was 1-1.

After exchanging goals, both teams played very cautiously, with strong defense.

This made it extremely difficult for either side to score again, and the 1-1 scoreline remained until the final whistle.

The game went into extra time!

However, during extra time, both teams missed several good chances due to fatigue, and the 1-1 score persisted until the end of extra time.

The game went into a penalty shootout!

Seeing the first knockout match go into a penalty shootout, the fans were all standing, nervous and praying.

The Spanish players watching this match felt a sense of admiration for Del Bosque's foresight.

Indeed, extra penalty practice was the right decision!

Before the shootout began, Van Gaal made a bold decision, replacing the excellent Cillessen with backup goalkeeper Krul.

Clearly, this substitution was aimed at the penalty shootout!

Brazil's first player was a bit surprising. Everyone thought Neymar would go first, but instead, it was defender David Luiz.

Luiz had good skills and a stable mindset. His powerful shot helped Brazil score the first point.

Krul guessed the direction right but was a bit slow.

The Netherlands' first player was their forward Van Persie. He hit a low, tricky shot, but it was slow, and Cesar reacted quickly, diving to save it!

Van Persie held his head in disbelief.

The tens of thousands of Brazilian fans in the stadium erupted in celebration. The Netherlands had missed their first penalty, so if Brazil scored their next four, they would advance to the next round!

However, the Brazilians' joy didn't even last half a minute.

The second Brazilian to take a penalty, Willian, made a wildly inaccurate shot, missing the goal entirely and sending the ball out of bounds!

Now, it was the Dutch fans' turn to cheer.

Just half a minute earlier, they thought their team was doomed, but fate had played a joke on them.

The second Dutch player to take a penalty was Robben. He tricked Cesar and struck a powerful shot to level the score.

Both teams were back to square one!

Next, it was Brazil's turn again. The third player was Marcelo.

He aimed for the middle of the goal, hitting a half-high shot.

Krul guessed wrong, and though he reacted quickly and got a hand on it, he couldn't stop the ball from going into the net.

2-1, Brazil was temporarily in the lead.

The third Dutch player, Sneijder, calmly slotted his penalty into the goal.

2-2, both teams were back to square one again.

Brazil's fourth player was Hulk!

Krul guessed correctly and saved his shot!

The Brazilian fans in the stadium held their heads in disbelief, their faces full of shock.

They had missed!

If the next Dutch player scored, the Netherlands would take the lead!

The pressure was now on Brazil's goalkeeper, Cesar. If he couldn't save at least one of the last two penalties, Brazil would be out of the tournament in the round of 16.

The fourth Dutch player was Kuyt. He was both excited and nervous.

Cesar, experienced as he was, noticed his nerves and started bouncing on the goal line to unsettle him.

This tactic worked. Kuyt, affected by the distraction, was less decisive in his shot, allowing Cesar to guess the direction and save it!

Cesar's excellent performance brought Brazil back from the brink.

Neymar was the last Brazilian to take a penalty. He took a deep breath and touched the grass.

Instead of taking a straightforward shot, Neymar used a change in pace during his run-up to trick the goalkeeper before kicking the ball.

Krul was caught off guard and couldn't adjust in time, watching helplessly as the ball flew into the net.

With this, Brazil had taken all five penalties, scoring three and missing two.

The pressure shifted to the Netherlands. If their last player missed, they would be eliminated!

The last Dutch player was their defender Vlaar.

Perhaps because he was a defender, his penalty was of poor quality. He used the inside of his foot for a weak shot that lacked power and precision.

Such a shot was no challenge for Cesar, who correctly guessed the direction and saved it!

3-2!

Brazil won the penalty shootout against the Netherlands, avenging their loss from four years ago and advancing to the quarter-finals.

Brazil was one step closer to their sixth World Cup title!

They needed to win just three more matches to reach the podium!

However, these last three steps were bound to be incredibly tough!

After the match between Brazil and the Netherlands, it was time for Spain to face Mexico.

Perhaps influenced by the previous match, Spain was awarded a penalty just five minutes into the game.

Seeing Lin Quan step up to the penalty spot, the Spanish players were filled with anticipation.

(This chapter ends)

Chapter 297: Annoying! He Actually Pulled It Off!

Mexico's goalkeeper, Ochoa, stared tensely at Lin Quan, who was standing just a few meters away.

He felt utterly helpless. This penalty had come too quickly and too suddenly.

Lin Quan was well-known and highly regarded, and Mexico's coach had repeatedly warned the players about his threat before the match.

This made the teammates very nervous. Just now, when Lin Quan dribbled into the penalty area, Rodriguez, instead of trusting his teammates to cover, instinctively pulled him down, resulting in a yellow card and an indisputable penalty.

The Mexican players had no complaints about the penalty decision.

But giving a penalty to a strong team like Spain just five minutes into the game made them feel desperate.

Luckily, Ochoa still had a chance to save his team. If he could block this penalty, Mexico would still have hope!

"Come on, show me what you've got!" Ochoa took a deep breath, focused, and stared intently at Lin Quan's every move, trying to read him.

With both sides ready, the referee blew the whistle, signaling Lin Quan to take the shot.

Lin Quan took a deep breath, glanced at the goal, and began his run-up.

One step, two steps, three steps...

His pace quickened, and Ochoa accurately judged that Lin Quan would shoot with his right foot, meaning the ball would go to the left side of the goal!

Without hesitation, he dived towards the left side of the goal.

The crowd held their breath, both Spanish and Mexican fans wide-eyed, not daring to blink, fearing they might miss this crucial moment.

Ochoa guessed the direction correctly; the ball indeed flew to the left side of the goal.

But it wasn't aimed at the bottom left corner as he had thought. Instead, it headed for the top left corner.

Ochoa's brilliant save attempt was in vain, serving only to highlight Lin Quan's nearly unstoppable shot.

Lin Quan's goal was followed by a brief silence, then a deafening roar of cheers and applause.

"You really used that move in a match!"

"What a beautiful shot!"

"Damn it, you really pulled it off!"

"Ha ha, seeing you take a penalty like that must have scared the coach and everyone else!"

As his teammates rushed over to celebrate, they couldn't help but tease him.

Lin Quan glanced towards the bench. Del Bosque looked delighted, judging by his excited fist-pumping. He didn't seem scared at all!

On the sidelines, after celebrating with a fist pump, Del Bosque felt a bit relieved: "Lin Quan is really bold to use such a technique in a match. If he had missed, the fans would have been furious."

But the result was good—the goal went in.

If he ever misses a penalty and suffers for it, then maybe we can convince him to change his approach.

The Mexican players looked very dejected after conceding the goal.

They had planned to use a defensive counter-attack strategy against the strong Spanish team, but falling behind early disrupted their plans.

With such a hasty adjustment, the Mexican players were unsure how effective they could be.

Once the Spanish players finished celebrating and the game resumed, even the Mexican fans could see that their team was struggling.

"This lineup is for defensive counter-attacks; it's not suitable for positional play. Without changes in key positions, they won't be effective in a positional battle."

But it was too early to make substitutions. If any injuries occurred in the second half, and they had used all their substitutes, they would be in trouble.

If substitutions were necessary, it would have to wait until halftime to make tactical and personnel adjustments for maximum effect.

This meant the first half would be very tough for Mexico!

Their opponents wouldn't give them any breathing room!

Once Spain suppressed Mexico's counter-attacks, the game quickly returned to Spain's control.

Spain played their familiar possession game. With a group of top-class midfielders, their attacks were relentless.

The ball moved back and forth among them, repeatedly tearing through Mexico's defense.

The Mexican players had to stay extremely focused, carefully dealing with each Spanish pass.

Any lapse in concentration could lead to a gap, giving their opponents an opportunity.

This constant tension was exhausting for the Mexican players.

It was only the first half, and many were already breathing heavily.

Physical exhaustion was one thing, but the mental strain was even greater.

They didn't know how long they could maintain this level of focus, but they were certain that once their concentration slipped, they would concede again.

On the sidelines, Mexican coach Herrera was extremely anxious, frequently checking his watch, wishing he could speed up time!

He desperately wanted the first half to end quickly. Mexico's counter-attacks were ineffective, and their defense was on the brink of collapse. He feared they would concede again if this continued.

Compared to the anxious Mexican coach, Spain's coaching staff was much more relaxed.

"Do you think we'll score again in the first half?"

"I don't know, it depends on the opportunities the opponents give us. But with little time left in the half, unless they make a mistake, we might not score again."

Del Bosque checked the match time. It was already the 37th minute, with 8 minutes left in the first half.

For Spain's players, this was enough time for several attacks, but scoring against a fully defensive opponent was uncertain.

Mexico had been wise not to make any hasty adjustments after conceding. Otherwise, their defense might not have withstood Spain's relentless attack for the rest of the half.

But like a tightly wound string, it could easily snap under pressure!

In the 44th minute, as the first half was about to end, Spain slowed down, passing the ball around in their own half, seemingly not intending to attack further.

This gave the Mexican players a brief moment to catch their breath.

After being pressured for the entire half, they were struggling to breathe.

The suffocating tension was finally easing. Hopefully, during halftime, the coach could make some adjustments to help them regain some control in the second half and not be so passive!

However, just as the first half was about to end, Spain suddenly sped up.

Pique carried the ball forward from his defensive position, passing to Xavi after a few strides.

Xavi quickly passed to David Silva before the Mexican players could close him down.

David Silva swiftly moved the ball to Lin Quan, who made a direct pass to Torres.

Torres then passed to Iniesta on the other side, who passed back to Lin Quan near the penalty area.

These passes were almost instantaneous. Within seconds, the ball moved from Spain's penalty area to the edge of Mexico's box.

This lightning-fast attacking rhythm left the Mexican players struggling to keep up.

By the time Lin Quan received the ball again near the penalty area, only two defenders were in front of him.

The Mexican defenders were feeling desperate. Spain's attack was too quick, and their midfield had barely offered any resistance.

There were three Spanish players near their penalty area, while they had only two defenders.

If they rushed at Lin Quan, he could easily pass to an open teammate.

But ignoring Lin Quan was not an option either, as he was Spain's most dangerous player.

Unfortunately, Mexican defender Moreno had to rush towards Lin Quan to block and disrupt his shots.

To prevent Lin Quan from passing through, he didn't rush too far forward, always maintaining a suitable distance from his teammates. This way, if Lin Quan tried to pass him forcefully, there was a high probability that a teammate would intercept the ball after he passed.

However, Lin Quan wasn't reckless; facing a situation where less was more, why would he act recklessly?

After attracting Moreno's press, Lin Quan quickly passed the ball to Iniesta, who was charging into the penalty area from the side.

Iniesta promptly dribbled into the penalty area without hesitation, preparing to shoot.

Inside the penalty area, Mexico's last defender also had to move forward to block.

However, like Lin Quan, Iniesta also chose to pass. Instead of passing to Torres, who was in an offside position, he passed to David Silva, who was charging into the penalty area from the other side.

David Silva didn't waste his teammate's excellent pass. After receiving the ball, he lightly pushed it into the far corner, scoring and helping Spain extend their lead to two goals!

This goal was conceded at a very bad time; with just a few seconds left in the first half, Mexico could have gone to the locker room calmly to strategize for a counterattack in the second half.

But this goal before the halftime whistle completely ruined their plan.

The pressure on players and coaches is completely different when trailing by one goal compared to two.

With just one goal down, a successful counterattack in the second half could equalize the score. With another goal, they could even reverse the game against Spain.

But now, being two goals down, their chances of equalizing have significantly diminished.

As for directly advancing to the quarter-finals, that's almost impossible now!

Scoring three goals against Spain in just one half? Mexicans dare not even think about it!

So, when the halftime whistle blew, their players were all worried, feeling very anxious about their team's prospects for advancing.

Apart from Mexicans feeling anxious about the score, other teams in the lower half are also likely to face Spain and are equally worried.

Spain's form has been outstanding. From the group stage to now, they have maintained a winning streak and each match has been won quite comfortably.

If Spain achieved these results by beating weaker teams, that would be one thing, but the fact is they have defeated strong opponents.

Netherlands, Chile, including today's Mexico, these are all strong teams in the World Cup, some even capable of winning the title.

Yet, they all fell at Spain's feet, without even a chance to fight back.

"Who can stop this Spain team!"

Costa Rica's coach sighed deeply, feeling their luck had run out, losing hope for their team to advance to the semi-finals.

However, for them, reaching the knockout stage and even having a good chance of reaching the quarter-finals is already a great achievement.

After all, Costa Rica's best historical result was only reaching the round of 16, so reaching the quarter-finals would already be making history for them.

Costa Rica's coach's optimistic attitude is obviously not something everyone can have.

Similarly, coaches from Belgium and Argentina in the lower half, after seeing the halftime score, also showed signs of worry.

They won't face Spain in the quarter-finals, but if they advance to the semi-finals, they might very well meet Spain there.

Looking at the current situation of this match and the potential opponents Spain might face next, their chances of reaching the semi-finals are very high.

Unless Spain makes a huge mistake or their opponents display a phenomenal performance, no one can change this outcome.

Just thinking about possibly facing Spain in the round after next, coaches from Belgium and Argentina felt very uneasy, realizing they needed to start collecting information about Spain early and study how to deal with them.

In the locker room, Bosque praised his players without making tactical or personnel adjustments.

On the contrary, Mexico decided to go all out, immediately substituting two players and adopting a desperate posture.

Spain expressed their willingness to comply with this challenge.

After the second half started, Mexico's players were very proactive.

They knew very well that if they didn't want their World Cup journey to end here, they had to give it their all.

During halftime, Mexico's coach Herrera made some adjustments to the team's offensive and defensive tactics.

Mainly, they increased their midfield pressure, hoping to limit Spain's midfield and thereby restrain Spain's attack.

Spain's midfield lineup is one of the best among the 32 teams participating in the World Cup.

Precisely because of this, Herrera believed that if they could disrupt Spain's midfield play, they could regain control of the game and relieve the immense defensive pressure they faced.

Moreover, besides disrupting the opponent's attack, pressing in midfield has another benefit: if they win the ball in midfield, they can launch a quick counter-attack right there.

This is much closer to the opponent's goal than launching a counter-attack from their own half, posing a greater threat.

If this were Spain from four years ago, they wouldn't fear Mexico's tactics.

But things are different now; their midfield lineup has aged a bit. Xavi is 34 years old, and his physical and athletic condition is far from what it was four years ago.

So, under Mexico's players' intense pressure, his performance noticeably declined in the second half.

Xavi was strong in protecting the ball when he was younger, but with age, he can't perform many actions anymore.

It's not that his technique is gone, but he doesn't have enough physical strength to support these actions, especially under intense physical confrontation.

As a result, at the start of the second half, Xavi made several mistakes in succession.

Taking advantage of his mistakes, Mexico also tried to organize several counter-attacks, but before they could even begin, Busquets stifled them.

Busquets plays with his mind; he's well aware of Xavi's condition, so he consciously stayed close to him, providing support and protection.

This choice played a crucial role in several defensive plays!

On the sidelines, Mexico's coach saw their counter-attacks being thwarted once again and frustratedly tugged at his hair.

Damn Busquets, why does he always appear so timely?

If it weren't for this guy's interference, Mexico might have scored on those counter-attacks!

Currently, their morale is quite low, desperately needing a goal to boost their spirits.

If they can equalize with one goal, the players' morale will be completely different. By then, Mexico's players might even be able to score two goals in quick succession and equalize the score!

Unfortunately, their opponents aren't just passive targets.

Del Bosque keenly sensed their intentions; it looks like they're aiming to exploit Xavi's weaknesses.

Xavi is aging, and his competitive form has declined significantly. Del Bosque has known about these conditions for a while.

To counter this, he has a plan: when Xavi's physical condition deteriorates in the second half, he'll substitute him.

However, glancing at the substitutes' bench, Del Bosque hesitated a bit.

Who should he substitute?

There are too many backup options!

Forget it, let's play it safe and bring on a more defensively reliable player!

Thinking this, Del Bosque called up Koke to warm up.

Koke is much younger than Xavi Alonso, which gives him more physical energy to cope with Mexico's midfield pressure.

Moreover, under Simeone's coaching, Koke not only has excellent attacking abilities but also greatly improved defensive capabilities.

Young, fast, and defensively proactive—these are exactly what the current Spanish team needs.

The reason Del Bosque chose Koke over Cazorla is to use the World Cup stage to develop these young players for the future generation of the Spanish national team.

Chapter 298: A Dominating Performance, Advancing to the World Cup Quarterfinals!

Seeing Spain swiftly substitute Harvey, Mexico's coach sighed with regret.

Harvey had been their breakthrough, a point they planned to capitalize on, but Bosque's quick and steady decision to substitute him was unexpected.

The new midfielder brought on was young, only 22 years old, yet already a key player for Atletico Madrid with outstanding performances in the Champions League.

Such a player was not easy to deal with.

Indeed, Koke's entry proved their worries right, boosting Spain's midfield defense significantly.

Whether it was innate or nurtured by Simeone's coaching habits, Koke executed the coach's tactics thoroughly, sparing no effort in his physical capabilities, sprinting across the field tirelessly after coming on.

You could see him on the attack and just as much on defense.

And when defending, his tackles were decisive, giving off a rough, wild vibe, reminiscent of players like martial artist Pepe.

Yet when he took the ball forward, his technical skills, expansive vision, and precise passing shone brightly.

This guy seemed like a younger version of Xavi or a blend of Xavi and Xabi Alonso.

With abundant stamina, robust physique, wide vision, nimble feet, and accurate passing, Koke was truly versatile!

Lin Quan hadn't played much with Koke before. After Spain advanced early in the World Cup qualifiers last year, Lin Quan missed several months of national team matches consecutively.

During this period, due to his excellent performances at the club level, Bosque invited Koke and other young players to join the team, playing them in remaining matches and some friendlies.

Among these, the forward pairing of Koke and Real Madrid's Isco garnered high expectations from many Spaniards, who believed these two young talents might eventually succeed the classic combination of Xavi and Iniesta.

Though their cooperation was sparse, the teammates' abilities were evident on the field.

Seeing Koke quickly finding his rhythm upon entering the field, Lin Quan eased up and consciously pushed the formation forward, igniting Spain's offense towards Mexico's half.

Naturally, Mexican midfielders and defenders couldn't just sit idly; they combined to stifle Lin Quan, aiming to dispossess him.

Lin Quan's objective wasn't solely to break through the opponent's defense with his personal prowess, although he could try—yet the success rate was low and not very team-oriented.

Seeing he had attracted defensive attention, Lin Quan immediately shifted the ball sideways, consciously pulling Mexico's formation towards the wings, leaving their midfield open, thus creating opportunities for Spain to attack through the center.

Spain had strong wingers on both sides, and after Lin Quan's pass, he actively moved closer again, forcing Mexican players to stay vigilant.

They assigned a holding midfielder to work with full-backs and wingers, constricting Spanish players with the ball on the wing.

Within the relatively narrow space along the sideline, ten players crowded in suddenly, making it chaotic.

Meanwhile, with one holding midfielder withdrawn, Mexico's central defense became somewhat exposed.

Under pressure, Iniesta shielded the ball, noticing Lin Quan nearby, swiftly returned it to Lin Quan's feet, and moved forward along the wing, seeming to prepare for tactical coordination with Lin Quan.

Mexico's full-back marked Iniesta closely, blocking his path, but after controlling the ball, Lin Quan feigned a pass to Iniesta, prompting the holding midfielder to intercept midway.

However, Lin Quan faked a shot, confusing the opposition, then swiftly moved the ball past the defender in front, charging toward the goal.

This time, the unfortunate Rodriguez was left behind again.

As before, he instinctively reached out to stop Lin Quan, but recalling the painful lesson from the first half, he quickly withdrew his hand.

Mexico's captain, wearing the number 4 jersey, Raphael Marquez, appeared in front of Lin Quan.

Compared to Rodriguez, Marquez had much more experience in defense.

Having played for Barcelona, he was Mexico's first player to wear the Barcelona jersey.

Although aged, his form remained excellent, and he used his extensive experience to help the team win games by carefully observing game trends.

After the previous lesson, Marquez knew Rodriguez couldn't stop Lin Quan, so he preemptively moved over.

Without Marquez's decision, Lin Quan would likely have had a clear chance now.

Marquez quietly sighed in relief, focusing his mind and staying vigilant.

Despite Lin Quan looking young, his reputation and skills were substantial.

If Marquez were careless and underestimated him, he might pay a painful price.

Marquez was prepared to confront Lin Quan head-on.

However, Lin Quan didn't give him the chance.

After drawing away two defenders, Torres' position was now vacant.

So Lin Quan selflessly passed the ball to Torres, who was in an open position.

After receiving the ball, Torres adjusted himself and aimed for the top left corner of the goal, hoping to score an absolute banger just like Lin Quan.

It turned out to be a risky move! With a loud bang, the football hit the crossbar and bounced out over the baseline.

Ah, this...

Torres was stunned, holding his head with his mouth forming an "O" shape.

On the sideline, Bosque saw Lin Quan pass to Torres and shoot, clenched his fists, raised them up, ready to wildly celebrate once Torres scored.

However, Torres kicked the ball high, causing Bosque, the Spanish coaching staff, and even the substitutes on the bench to abruptly halt their celebrations.

"This guy, I'll make him practice shooting a thousand times, aiming specifically for the top left corner of the goal until he's satisfied!"

A one-on-one miss, could there be anything more outrageous? Lin Quan also felt it was outrageous!

He and David Silva had already dribbled past all the opposing defenders, leaving Torres just needing to face the goalkeeper.

Moreover, in that situation, the opposing goalkeeper couldn't come out at all. Torres had enough time to adjust and shoot.

Yet he handed in such an outrageous answer sheet! The mood of the Spanish fans on the scene was like riding a roller coaster. They thought the team could completely seal the victory, but they didn't expect such a good opportunity to be wasted.

Fortunately, they were still leading, and the lead was still substantial, so they quickly recovered from this regretful state, one by one applauding the players on the field, affirming their excellent performance in this attack.

After missing this goal, Torres felt guilty and specifically ran over to apologize to Lin Quan.

"Sorry, Lin, I wasted your assist!"

"Next time, don't hesitate to shoot directly!"

Lin Quan nodded without pursuing the matter further.

"Yeah, next time for sure!"

Torres nodded heavily.

However, there was no next time.

In the 67th minute, Bosque made another substitution.

He took Torres off and sent Villa on.

Although Villa was older, his form was really good.

In the 78th minute, Spain launched a fast counterattack.

Still, after Koke intercepted in the middle and sent a through pass, it reached Lin Quan in the front.

Lin Quan lobbed the ball forward, and Villa successfully avoided offside, stormed into the penalty area, and got a one-on-one.

He didn't waste Lin Quan's brilliant pass and lightly pushed the ball into the far corner, helping Spain expand the score to 3-0.

After scoring this goal, they completely killed the suspense of the match and secured a spot in the quarterfinals.

With just over ten minutes left in the game, Mexico couldn't possibly equalize the score.

"David, great run, great shot!"

During the celebration, Lin Quan sincerely praised him.

Villa, 33 years old, still had such a strong sense of goal and ability to seize opportunities.

It's a pity that time waits for no one, and his days in the national team are probably numbered.

"Heh heh, your pass was perfect. If your pass was a bit slower, I would've been offside!"

Villa didn't boast, but humbly attributed the credit for the goal to Lin Quan.

This made Lin Quan's impression of him even better—humble, low-key, not seeking the limelight, despite his strong abilities, his fame in the national team was far less than his two teammates.

Of course, his style was quite different from Torres'.

Villa was a natural striker, while Torres was more like a traditional center-forward, able to shoulder, shoot, dribble, and even devour defenders alive.

The only problem was that Torres' peak was a bit short. After leaving Liverpool, he went downhill.

Villa's ceiling might be slightly lower than Torres', but his peak period was longer. Even at the age of 33, he still maintained a good form.

When Lin Quan joined the national team, Torres was no longer at his peak, but Villa was still in the tail end of his peak period. This made him have a better impression of Villa.

Spain's third goal was a fatal blow to Mexico.

Three goals behind, with the game about to end, Mexico's players realized they had no chance of reaching the quarterfinals.

This result left them feeling frustrated, playing on the field with a sense of powerlessness, almost allowing Spain another goal-scoring opportunity.

Fortunately, their captain, Max, stepped up in time, scolding his teammates awake, urging them to regain their composure and fight for Mexico's honor.

Mexico had already conceded three goals; they couldn't afford to concede a fourth.

Another goal would turn it into a disaster. They could accept losing, but they didn't want to be humiliated by Spain.

Thus, in the final stages of the match, a group of Mexican players fought for honor, playing even better than before.

However, it was a pity that this form came a bit too late.

In the 84th minute, Bosque used up his final substitution opportunity.

He took off Lin Quan and sent on Pedro.

The purpose of this substitution was clear—to let Lin Quan alone receive the applause from the fans.

In this match, Lin Quan scored a goal and contributed an assist, making him the biggest contributor to the team's victory.

Without the penalty he won just five minutes into the game, Spain might have won, but not as comfortably.

The fans cooperated well, standing and applauding Lin Quan, showering him with applause.

Lin Quan also clapped back to acknowledge the fans, but he couldn't help but feel a bit puzzled:

Recently, Bosque had subbed him off early in consecutive games, letting him alone receive the applause from the fans. Was Bosque being too favorable towards him?

Moreover, it seemed he hadn't favored him this much before, right?

Why the sudden...

This made Lin Quan feel like Bosque seemed to have some conspiracy!

After Lin Quan was substituted, Spain's attack declined significantly.

Their desire to attack also weakened, and players started passing around in their own half to waste time, without continuing to attack Mexico's goal.

Mexico's players attempted to press Spain's players, but after being dribbled past for a while, they decisively gave up this impractical idea.

Unless they pressed everyone forward, it was clearly impossible for just a few forwards to snatch the ball from Spain's defenders.

A few minutes later, as the last minute of injury time passed, the referee blew the final whistle, ending the match.

In the end, Spain defeated Mexico 3-0, advancing to the quarterfinals.

The Legion of Bullfighters continued their winning streak, and their opponent in the quarterfinals would be decided in four hours.

However, whether it was Costa Rica or Greece, they couldn't pose a threat to the Legion of Bullfighters.

Their advancement to the semifinals was just a matter of time!

Chapter 299: Transfer Window Opens, Paris Saint-Germain Offers 200 Million Euros for Lin Quan!

After the match against Mexico, coach Bosque gave the team two days off as usual, allowing the players to relax before the quarter-finals.

According to the schedule, the quarter-final match will take place in a week.

While the players rested, the coaching staff used the time to gather intelligence on their potential opponents.

Although their quarter-final opponent wasn't considered very strong, upsets do happen on the World Cup stage.

Costa Rica, finishing first in their group, clearly had strengths to be reckoned with.

Greece, though not highly regarded, once pulled off a major upset by winning the European Championship.

Even though these teams might not be as strong as Spain, they shouldn't be underestimated.

Spain's goal is to defend their World Cup title, and they are now just three matches away from achieving it. Thus, they can't afford to let their guard down.

Bosque took Coach Tony to watch the Round of 16 match between Costa Rica and Greece.

Before the match, Costa Rica was favored to win.

The game seemed to confirm this, as Costa Rica played very proactively and dominated the match.

In the 52nd minute of the second half, Costa Rica's number 10, Bryan Ruiz, scored the opening goal, making it 1-0.

This goal seemed to signal Costa Rica's historic advancement to the World Cup quarter-finals.

However, Greece, known for their resilience, did not crumble after conceding.

In the 66th minute, Costa Rica's defender Duarte fouled Greece's Holebas and received a second yellow card.

With Duarte sent off, Costa Rica, now down to 10 men, began to lose control of the game.

Greece took the initiative and launched wave after wave of attacks.

In the 67th minute, Holebas's free-kick was headed just wide by Samaras.

In the 69th minute, Christodoulopoulos's powerful shot from the edge of the box missed the goal.

Greece's attacks were becoming more threatening, causing Costa Rican fans to worry.

Despite leading on the scoreboard, Costa Rica's lead felt precarious under Greece's pressure.

Costa Rica's fouls increased under the pressure.

In the 70th minute, Ruiz fouled Samaras and received a yellow card. Two minutes later, Manolas's tackle on Joel Campbell earned him a yellow card as well.

To stabilize the situation, Costa Rica brought on Acosta to strengthen their defense.

Greece substituted veteran Katsouranis to bolster their attack.

The game turned into a fierce contest, with Greece attacking relentlessly and Costa Rica defending desperately.

The intensity of the match kept fans on their feet.

In the 80th minute, Karagounis's free-kick from 25 meters flew over the bar.

In the 82nd minute, Greece's free-kick into the box saw Manolas's header go just over the bar.

Greece seemed on the verge of scoring.

Costa Rica's coach made their final substitution, bringing on Brenes for the exhausted Bolanos.

Bolanos left the field slowly, deliberately wasting time, angering the Greek players.

In the 87th minute, Christodoulopoulos's cross found Samaras, who was in a prime position to score.

Costa Rica's goalkeeper Navas saved the day, snatching the ball before Samaras could reach it, preventing a certain goal.

But luck eventually runs out.

In stoppage time, Navas saved Gekas's shot from 8 meters, but the rebound fell to Greek defender Papastathopoulos, who scored, making it 1-1!

This goal, Papastathopoulos's first in 51 international matches, pulled Greece back from the brink of elimination.

"Could Greece be heading to the quarter-finals?" Tony wondered, amazed by Greece's resilience.

"It's very possible. With extra time approaching, Greece has the numerical advantage and higher morale," Bosque replied seriously, acknowledging Greece's tenacity.

Spanish coaches weren't the only ones who thought Greece might win; Greek fans were also optimistic.

However, after leveling the score, Greece seemed to exhaust their good fortune.

Costa Rica's goalkeeper Navas was incredible, making four crucial saves during stoppage and extra time, thwarting all of Greece's attempts.

Costa Rica, with 10 men, held on, forcing the match into a penalty shootout.

This was the second penalty shootout of the tournament.

Out of three knockout matches so far, two had gone to penalties, highlighting how tough it is to win at this stage.

In the shootout, both teams scored their first three penalties. However, on Greece's fourth, Navas saved Gekas's shot.

Thanks to Navas's heroics, Costa Rica narrowly won the shootout, making history by reaching the World Cup quarter-finals.

They were now set to face the reigning champions, Spain, in the quarter-finals.

Navas was deservedly named Man of the Match.

Greece had 27 shots, with 13 on target, and four almost certain goals denied by Navas's outstanding saves.

This performance made Navas a target for top clubs.

As the transfer window opened, more scouts arrived in Brazil to observe potential signings.

With penalty shootouts frequent in this World Cup, top-performing goalkeepers like Navas and Bravo quickly attracted attention.

While Barcelona negotiated with Bravo's agent, Real Madrid planned to bid for Navas, aiming to replace the aging Casillas.

However, this transfer might not be straightforward, as newly crowned Champions League winners Manchester City also eyed Navas!

City's coach Pellegrini wasn't satisfied with current goalkeeper Joe Hart's inconsistent performance.

Pellegrini wanted to replace Hart but hadn't found a suitable candidate until now. With City aiming for higher goals next season, they needed a more reliable goalkeeper.

Besides seeking a new goalkeeper, Pellegrini also planned to scout for top defenders to further strengthen City's defense.

This season, Mansour's investment in Manchester City remains substantial. Despite City winning the Champions League, he has not reduced his financial support. On the contrary, Mansour plans to use this victory to transform City into a top-tier team with a strong foundation.

A true elite club and a nouveau riche team have significant differences in influence and reputation. Manchester City currently lacks the rich history of a top club. Winning a Champions League trophy helps shed the nouveau riche label, but they are still a step away from becoming a true elite club.

Mansour wants to build on this success and aim to defend their Champions League title. If City can achieve the unprecedented feat of winning consecutive titles, they will firmly establish themselves as a top-tier club.

Taking advantage of the World Cup, Pellegrini personally attends matches to scout players recommended by scouts and observe others not initially on the list. Players who make it to the World Cup are generally among the best in the world, making it an excellent opportunity for clubs to find new talent.

During World Cup years, clubs have the chance to spot talented players who can seize their moment and attract the interest of top clubs. The high level of competition ensures that those who perform well are less likely to be poor investments.

Due to his connection with Lin Quan, Pellegrini watched many of Spain's matches and took note of Chile's goalkeeper, Bravo, during the group stage. Bravo's strengths include his large defensive range and skill in intercepting plays. His quick reflexes, technical footwork, and ability to participate in building play from the back make him an ideal fit for Barcelona, who need a keeper proficient with their feet and capable of initiating attacks.

Seeing Bravo's impressive performance, Barcelona quickly made an offer to Real Sociedad to bring him to Camp Nou. Without having seen Navas' outstanding performance in the match, Pellegrini might have pursued Bravo. As both are Chilean, signing Bravo could have been easier to manage in the locker room.

However, after watching the game, Pellegrini also liked Navas. If they couldn't sign Bravo, they would definitely try to get Navas. While Real Madrid also wanted Navas, their current goalkeeper, Casillas, was still performing well. Navas would have to compete for his position at Madrid.

Casillas, at 33, was not too old for a goalkeeper, with many still playing at the top level in their late 30s. For example, Buffon at 36 is still Juventus and Italy's first choice. Van der Sar played for Manchester United until he was 40. Given Casillas' current form, he could continue at Madrid unless the club decided otherwise.

Pellegrini was confident that if Navas joined Manchester City, he would be their first-choice goalkeeper, whereas at Real Madrid, he might spend more time on the bench waiting for an opportunity. A higher salary and a guaranteed starting position at City versus a lower salary and potential bench time at Madrid made City a more attractive option unless Navas had a strong emotional pull towards Real Madrid.

Pellegrini acted quickly, instructing the club to offer Levante €8 million for Navas to test the waters. If Levante was unhappy with the price, they could increase their offer. However, City's transfer strategy had shifted from high spending to a more balanced approach. Previously, high prices were necessary due to their lack of history and honors, making it hard to attract top players.

Now, with a Champions League title and a competitive league presence, City found it easier to attract high-level players without paying excessive fees. Pellegrini was willing to go up to €15 million for Navas but would reconsider if the price exceeded this amount.

After the Costa Rica vs. Greece match, Pellegrini headed to another stadium to watch Colombia vs. Uruguay. This South American clash featured two strong teams. Colombia had an unbeaten run in their last ten matches, though their last loss was to Uruguay. Many favored Uruguay due to their slightly stronger team on paper.

The match drew a large audience and scouts from top clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea, and Manchester United. Bayern Munich and Manchester City's coaches also attended. Pellegrini brought his assistant, while Guardiola watched the game with Lin Quan.

The game had three main attractions: James Rodriguez (JRod), Suarez, and Cavani. News had spread that Suarez would leave Liverpool this season, with Barcelona as his most likely destination. To assess Suarez's form, Barcelona sent senior scouts to watch.

However, disappointment struck when FIFA announced Suarez's four-month ban for biting Chiellini during the Italy match, ending his World Cup and sidelining him for at least nine club matches next season, or 19 if he stayed in the Premier League. This led Arsenal to withdraw their interest, not willing to pay £40 million plus £1.

With Suarez out, the match's focus shifted, and JRod's outstanding performance captured everyone's attention. Last summer, Monaco bought him from Porto for €45 million, a move many thought was overpriced. Porto, known for buying cheap and selling high, had made significant profits on players like Carvalho, Falcao, and Pepe, each time making millions.

While Porto profited, buying clubs bore the risk, with some players like Quaresma and Anderson failing to meet expectations, earning the label of expensive flops. JRod faced skepticism last year but dispelled doubts with a stellar season at Monaco, scoring 10 goals and providing 12 assists in 37 appearances.

If not for exceptional talents like Lin Quan, JRod's achievements would have garnered more attention. Nevertheless, true talent shines through, and JRod's World Cup performance has been exceptional. He scored in injury time against Greece, opened the scoring against Ivory Coast, and set up three goals against Japan, leading Colombia to the round of 16.

In this knockout match, JRod's brilliance continued to dazzle, capturing the attention of scouts and solidifying his status as a rising star.

Shortly after the second half began, he scored again with a header, expanding the lead for his team.

Facing Uruguay, which was favored before the match and boasted stars like Suarez, Cavani, and Forlan, Colombia, led by JRod, defeated them 2-0 and advanced to the quarter-finals.

With five goals, JRod climbed to second place on the top scorer list, just behind Lin Quan, who had six goals.

After witnessing JRod's dominant performance, scouts from top clubs were astonished. Last year, they laughed at Monaco for overpaying Porto, but now they wished it had been them.

This one game alone could boost JRod's value to at least €50 million. Considering his excellent performance in Ligue 1 and the World Cup group stages, many believed his market value could reach €60-70 million. In South America, only Neymar could rival him at this age.

As soon as the match ended, top clubs started making offers to Monaco for JRod. Real Madrid was the first to approach his agent, offering €80 million.

This offer was hard for Monaco to refuse, having bought him for €45 million a year ago and now standing to make a €35 million profit without spending a dime.

Before Monaco could accept, Barcelona reportedly stepped in, offering €88 million. Meanwhile, Manchester United joined the fray with a £63 million bid, aiming to bring JRod to Old Trafford.

Intent on outdoing their city rivals Manchester City, Manchester United, under new manager Van Gaal, actively pursued several top players, including Juventus' Pogba, Monaco's JRod, and Real Madrid's Di Maria.

United had just signed a ten-year sponsorship deal with Adidas worth £750 million, giving them ample funds to spend in the transfer market. With this financial backing, Van Gaal had no reason to save money for United.

If Manchester City could spend £1 billion to win titles, so could Manchester United.

As United entered the race for JRod, Liverpool also made a move. With Suarez showing interest in Barcelona and seemingly uninterested in renewing his contract with Liverpool, combined with his frequent bans for biting, Liverpool resigned themselves to losing Suarez this summer. To fill the void, they needed a top-level attacking player, and JRod, with his outstanding World Cup performance, was their ideal choice.

If JRod was the most sought-after player at the start of the transfer window, a report from France shook the football world even more: Paris Saint-Germain had offered €200 million to Manchester City for their number 10, Lin Quan.

(End of chapter)

Chapter 300: Paris Saint-Germain's Official Offer Shocks the Entire Football World

When the French Team Newspaper revealed this insider news, it immediately caused an earthquake in the football world.

"200 million euros? Are they crazy?"

"I remember hearing news from England two years ago that Manchester City had offered 200 million euros for Messi!"

"Yeah, that did happen, and Barcelona rejected it!"

"If Messi was worth 200 million euros two years ago, then considering that and inflation, PSG's offer isn't that outrageous!"

"Manchester City signed Lin Quan for free, right? If they really sell him to PSG, they'll make a pure profit of 200 million!"

"Manchester City doesn't need the money, right? If they sell Lin Quan, where will they find a replacement?"

"What about buying James Rodriguez?"

"Ha, Barcelona already raised their offer to 88 million euros for James. If Manchester City wants to buy him, it will probably cost 90 million euros. Selling Lin Quan for 200 million and then buying James for 90 million just to make 110 million and disrupt their entire tactical system? That's crazy!"

"Indeed, unless Manchester City has gone mad, they won't agree to this transfer. Besides, James can't replace Lin Quan!"

While regular fans could discuss this transfer rumor calmly, Manchester City fans were in a panic upon hearing the news.

"Lin Quan won't leave, right?"

"Absolutely not, Lin Quan is our Blue Moon's non-transferable asset. Just 200 million won't take him away, impossible!"

"But what if Lin Quan wants to leave?"

This question caused even more panic among Manchester City fans...

To keep Lin Quan, many fans went to his social media accounts, leaving comments in droves, begging him to stay at Manchester City. Some even went to the club's official website, demanding the team keep Lin Quan.

"Lin has made great contributions to the team; the club shouldn't sell him!"

"If the club dares to sell Lin for money, I will never step into Etihad Stadium again in my life!"

"Please, someone come out and clarify, dispel the rumors! Tell us Lin will stay at Manchester City next season!"

The number of fans leaving messages on the official website was so large that it quickly caught the attention of the club's staff. They were confused, as they hadn't heard anything about selling Lin Quan. So they quickly issued a statement on the website to dispel the rumors.

Seeing the club's statement, the fans breathed a sigh of relief.

Besides Manchester City fans, there were two other groups of fans particularly concerned about this news: PSG fans and Barcelona fans. PSG fans were thrilled, almost ready to celebrate. Although they already had a superstar like Ibrahimovic, he was getting old and didn't match up to the likes of Lin Quan.

Lin Quan was different. He was not only very young but also had skills that equaled or surpassed the best players. If they could sign such a top-tier star, PSG's strength would increase significantly.

Imagining a front line with Ibrahimovic, Lin Quan, and Cavani, PSG fans couldn't help but get excited. If they had this lineup in this year's Champions League knockout stage, how could they have lost to Real Madrid?

Longing to avenge Real Madrid, PSG fans couldn't wait to see Lin Quan in their team's jersey!

However, PSG fans were a bit too optimistic. Upon hearing the club's intention to sign Lin Quan, PSG's top star Ibrahimovic immediately expressed his dissatisfaction.

"If the club insists on signing that Spanish kid, I will leave Paris Saint-Germain!"

When Cavani joined PSG, Ibrahimovic managed to make him a supporting player because he believed he was stronger. But facing Lin Quan, who had greater skill and fame, Ibrahimovic lacked that confidence. If Lin Quan joined, Ibrahimovic would likely become a supporting player, which he couldn't accept.

Like when he couldn't coexist with Messi at Barcelona, he didn't believe he could coexist with Lin Quan at PSG. If Lin Quan came, he would have to leave.

PSG tried to persuade Ibrahimovic to stay, but that didn't mean they would give up on signing Lin Quan. They just wanted a backup plan in case the transfer failed. They didn't want to lose both Lin Quan and Ibrahimovic.

Barcelona fans, meanwhile, were watching the drama unfold with mixed feelings.

"200 million euros, those Qataris really have more money than sense!"

Such a high transfer fee was something Barcelona couldn't afford. Their fans believed that the club could keep promoting talent from their youth academy rather than spending so much on outside players. Lin Quan, a former Barcelona player, stirred complex emotions. He could perfectly fit Barcelona's tactical system, as shown in his performance for the Spanish national team. But bringing him back to Camp Nou would be extremely difficult.

PSG's offer served as a preview. In the future, if Barcelona wanted to bring back their youth academy gem, it might cost them even more.

"Football transfer fees are inflating way too quickly!"

"Yeah, a few years ago, tens of millions were record-breaking. Now it's in the billions!"

"I thought Ronaldo's near 100-million-euro transfer fee record would last for years, but it's about to be broken, doubled even. These damn oil tycoons are burning too much money!"

Thinking about the billions it might take to bring back Lin Quan made Barcelona fans resent the Middle Eastern consortiums.

"It's all their fault. Without them, transfer fees wouldn't have inflated so much in such a short time."

PSG is backed by the Qatari consortium, which has invested heavily in football over the years. The skyrocketing transfer fees in football are indeed connected to them.

The Qatari consortium's heavy spending is partly to promote the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Buying PSG and entering the top European leagues was one of their major promotional moves. They also bought many star players to expand their influence as much as possible.

Stars like Ibrahimovic, Cavani, and Thiago Silva were bought with high prices by the Qatari consortium. When Ibrahimovic joined PSG in 2012, his salary was as high as 15 million euros, more than Messi and Ronaldo at the time.

If Abu Dhabi's consortium's acquisition of Manchester City opened the era of money in football, the Qatari consortium undoubtedly took it further, inflating the football bubble rapidly.

Unlike Mansour's Abu Dhabi consortium, which is now building a football empire with long-term plans, the Qatari consortium seems more like they're playing a game.

After buying PSG and many players, PSG won two Ligue 1 titles in three years. This performance justified the Qatari consortium's investment and achieved their promotional goals.

But everything is afraid of comparisons.

Even though both teams spend heavily on star players, Manchester City is undoubtedly more successful than Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

After all, Manchester City won the Champions League, and PSG did not!

If Manchester City had not won the championship last season, the performance of PSG might still be acceptable to the Qatari consortium.

But after Manchester City's victory, the Qatari consortium, which has been in a constant rivalry with the Abu Dhabi consortium, couldn't sit still any longer!

The French Ligue 1 is ranked lower among the top five European leagues, and the competition is not as fierce as in the English Premier League.

This means that their two Ligue 1 titles are far less valuable than those in the Premier League, and they are almost completely overshadowed by their rivals.

How could they stand this?

So, seeing Manchester City's core player Lin Quan shine in the World Cup, the Qatari consortium had an idea: why not just offer to buy Manchester City's core player?

If they could lure Lin Quan to PSG, just the news of this transfer would create a huge sensation among football fans worldwide.

A transfer fee of 200 million euros, setting a new record, would generate a much bigger buzz than the signings of Ibrahimovic and Cavani.

And if they manage to sign Lin Quan, Manchester City's well-established tactical system would collapse completely.

Next season, Manchester City's performance would inevitably plummet, and on the contrary, PSG might take off.

Even if the transfer doesn't succeed, the hype around a 200 million euro offer for Lin Quan could still draw a lot of attention and publicity.

Either way, PSG stood to gain, so how could they miss this opportunity?

Therefore, the rumor reported by L'Équipe wasn't baseless.

PSG had every reason to submit this offer, and they certainly weren't short on money.

As for whether Lin Quan was worth 200 million euros, that was up to professional analysts to evaluate.

And the professional institution hired by the Qatari consortium, based on all the data collected about Lin Quan, concluded that: Buying Lin Quan at this price would absolutely be a sure win!

Even without considering the massive publicity benefits this transfer would bring to the Qatari consortium, simply bringing Lin Quan to the Parc des Princes would already be a good deal at this price!

Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, and Lin Quan are currently the three strongest players in world football.

These three are superstars with a market value far beyond what money can buy.

The Qatari consortium wasn't worried about spending money; they were worried that Manchester City would reject their offer!

And undoubtedly, Manchester City would reject their offer! When PSG's first offer was made, Manchester City, though surprised, didn't even consider it and directly refused.

Manchester City's stance was firm: Lin Quan is not for sale, no matter the price!

The Qataris seemed to have anticipated this, so they weren't discouraged. Since the direct offer didn't work, they decided to approach the player himself and see if they could persuade him.

So, the day after the rumor spread, Lin Quan received a call from his agent, Pere.

"So, the offer from PSG is real?"

Lin Quan had noticed the rumor online yesterday and initially thought it was fake, but after receiving Pere's call, he realized it wasn't that simple.

"Yes, Paris Saint-Germain really made a 200 million euro offer!"

When Pere answered, he himself felt a bit unreal.

Unbeknownst to him, Lin Quan's market value had already soared to this extent? That's 200 million euros!

This amount might exceed the total value of most average teams in the top five European leagues! For many teams, this amount is enough to build a very decent squad, but PSG was willing to spend it on one player!

It's truly extravagant to the extreme!

"Manchester City didn't agree, did they?"

Lin Quan asked. Manchester City wasn't short on money either, so they probably wouldn't agree to such poaching, unless they were out of their minds.

"Yeah, Manchester City rejected their offer!"

"So you're calling me because PSG couldn't get through with a direct offer, so they approached you with their terms?"

Lin Quan immediately guessed the purpose of Pere's call. When a direct offer fails, contacting the player privately and working on his mindset is a common tactic in football.

For example, when Bale transferred to Real Madrid, to negotiate with Tottenham, Real Madrid first contacted Bale, persuaded him, and made him refuse to train and play, forcing Tottenham to let him go.

But Tottenham's chairman Levy was tough and refused to budge, insisting on a high price even after Real Madrid's other option, Lin Quan, signed with Manchester City.

"Yes, would you be interested in hearing PSG's terms?"

Pere was somewhat tempted by PSG's offer because, according to agent commission rules, if the transfer succeeded, he would get a 10% commission, amounting to 20 million euros!

He had never seen so much money in his life!

Given such a high commission, it's no wonder many agents encourage their players to transfer.

"I'm not interested. I don't plan to leave Manchester City for now, and I'm even less interested in moving to Ligue 1!"

Lin Quan was satisfied with his current life at Manchester City. The team's roster was well-assembled, and they were strong competitors in both the league and the Champions League.

Moreover, the club and owner Mansour treated him very well, and he wasn't someone who would betray the team.

Besides, if he were to transfer, it would only be back to La Liga.

In England, the weather was the biggest downside for Lin Quan.

Manchester's weather was cold, damp, and very changeable, sometimes raining several times a day.

The damp cold was hard to bear, especially for someone like Lin Quan, who was used to the warm and sunny Catalonian coast.

Seeing Lin Quan uninterested, Pere sensibly didn't press the issue further.

During the World Cup, he wanted to focus on playing without being disturbed by various transfer rumors.

Although Lin Quan wasn't planning to leave, Manchester City still felt the pressure.

Pellegrini, who was in Brazil watching the World Cup, was stunned upon hearing PSG's offer!

Damn, it's like their home was being robbed? Lin Quan was his most important player; if Lin Quan was poached, what would happen to Manchester City next season? He immediately called the club. After confirming that the club had refused PSG's offer, he felt relieved.

However, he couldn't completely relax. What if Lin Quan was moved by their sincerity and wanted to leave? So, Pellegrini personally went to the Spanish training camp to visit Lin Quan.

Chapter 301: The Old Master Regrets, Should Have Spent a Billion on Lin Quan!

Chapter 301: The Old Master Regrets, Should Have Spent a Billion on Lin Quan!

"Coach, what brings you here?" Lin Quan was somewhat surprised to see Pellegrini.

"I came to see you, and also to ask about your thoughts on the team's signings this summer," Pellegrini said. He didn't directly ask if Lin Quan was planning to transfer but instead approached the topic indirectly to gauge his thoughts.

"The club should follow its own recruitment plan; I don't have any special thoughts!" Lin Quan didn't know much about the team's transfer affairs and preferred not to get involved to avoid giving the impression that he was overreaching.

As a player, his primary duty was to play football well. Overly interfering in the club's transfer activities was not ideal, as later exemplified by Mbappe.

"No worries, feel free to speak your mind. Oh, and let me introduce you to our recruitment strategy for this summer," Pellegrini patiently explained the players that Manchester City might need to bring in.

Strengthening the defense was necessary, as Lescott's contract had expired and he had not accepted the club's renewal offer. He tweeted: "Winning the Champions League was incredibly exciting and joyful. I am grateful to everyone at the club for this wonderful period in my career and life." Although he didn't explicitly state he wanted to leave, his refusal to sign the renewal contract suggested his intentions.

Lescott had been with Manchester City for five years, but in the last two seasons, he had gradually become a substitute, not appearing many times during the season, which he found dissatisfying.

Now that his contract had expired, leaving Manchester City to join another team for free could get him a favorable contract.

Pellegrini saw Lescott as an important rotation player, not promising him a starting position, so it was tough to keep him. If he wanted to leave, it was better to let him go. Manchester City was not a club without compassion.

In addition to Lescott, the substitute goalkeeper Pantilimon also wanted to leave due to a lack of opportunities. Although his contract hadn't expired, Pellegrini planned to let him go for free.

Pantilimon's skills did not meet Manchester City's standards, and his mentality was not stable enough. With Pellegrini planning to buy a new main goalkeeper, keeping him on the team was not beneficial for either party.

"I plan to bring in either Navas or Bravo for the goalkeeper position. Bravo seems to have nearly reached an agreement with Barca, making it difficult to acquire him, so Navas is the most likely option."

"For midfield, Javi Garcia also wants to leave. Being left out of the Spanish national team has hit him hard, and he wants to go to another team to compete for a starting spot to make a push for the national team!"

Javi Garcia was not an absolute starter but an important rotation player. However, unlike other players, he and Lin Quan both came from Spain and were part of the Spanish contingent. If the club decided to sell him, they would have to notify Lin Quan, the leader of the Spanish contingent, in advance to avoid misunderstandings.

Lin Quan nodded; Garcia had already approached him about this at the end of the season. He understood and respected Garcia's decision, so he would not harbor any resentment toward the club for selling him.

"Cough, Negredo also wants to leave..." Pellegrini added after discussing Garcia's transfer.

This news genuinely surprised Lin Quan. Negredo's appearances for Manchester City were not few, and he had performed well in the league and Champions League.

Lin Quan thought he would continue at Manchester City, but unexpectedly, Negredo wanted to leave and hadn't informed him of this decision.

"Where does he want to go?"

Last season, Negredo played 47 times for Manchester City, scoring 23 goals. His scoring efficiency was quite good.

His departure would greatly impact Manchester City's forward line.

"He wants to return to La Liga. According to him, it seems he can't stand Manchester's cold, damp weather." Pellegrini said with a wry smile. Hearing this, Lin Quan, who had planned to call and persuade Negredo, completely abandoned the idea.

Ah, Manchester's terrible weather is really too much for a Spanish player.

Spain is warm and dry, while England is cold and damp. Coming from Iberia to England, Spanish players generally find it hard to adapt.

Negredo only joined Manchester City a year ago and already wanted to leave. While there are certainly other factors, the weather is definitely a significant influence.

Forget it, if he wants to leave, let him go!

This summer, up to seven or eight players will be leaving Manchester City. With so many departures, the team naturally needs to bring in reinforcements.

Pellegrini plans to buy a substitute forward, a substitute midfielder, and a main goalkeeper. If Joe Hart isn't willing to stay, then he'll be put up for sale, and another substitute goalkeeper will be bought.

Pellegrini didn't need to go into such detail about these transfers, but out of respect for Lin Quan, he shared everything he knew or planned.

"For defense, we plan to buy a taller, younger defender to solve the team's problem with aerial balls!"

Navas isn't tall enough, which makes Pellegrini worried about opponents bombarding them with high balls next season.

Hearing Pellegrini's requirements, Lin Quan immediately thought of someone—a tough guy who almost stole the Ballon d'Or from Messi as a defender!

"Celtic has a young defender named Van Dijk who should meet your requirements!"

"Celtic, huh? I'll take a look when I have time!"

Pellegrini hadn't heard of Van Dijk before, but since Lin Quan recommended him, he would definitely check him out.

"Lin, the team's goal for the new season is to defend the Premier League and Champions League titles, but achieving these two goals will be very difficult, so we need to maintain the stability of the main lineup as much as possible, don't we?"

In the end, Pellegrini couldn't hold back any longer.

Lin Quan looked up at him and smiled, saying:

"Coach, you're not asking if I'm going to leave Manchester City, are you?"

Seeing that Lin Quan had brought the topic into the open, Pellegrini no longer beat around the bush.

"Yes, you are very important to the team. If you're not with us, then our goals for next season definitely cannot be achieved."

With Manchester City's current tactical style, Pellegrini couldn't imagine what the team would be like without Lin Quan.

Seeing Pellegrini's honest attitude, Lin Quan didn't beat around the bush either.

He straightforwardly told him: "Then you and the club can go back and prepare for the new season with peace of mind. I won't leave Manchester City this summer!"

Pellegrini breathed a sigh of relief upon receiving Lin Quan's promise.

But he soon became anxious again. The other party only said he wouldn't leave this summer; what about next year?

After sending Pellegrini off, Lin Quan thought for a moment and decided to make a statement on social media to completely quell this transfer rumor:

"I woke up to find my inbox exploded. Many friends are asking where I am going next season?

Do you even have to ask? Of course, I'm staying at Manchester City!

Next season, at the Etihad Stadium, see you there!"

He also posted a photo of himself scoring at the Etihad Stadium, enjoying the collective cheers of the fans, to show how much he enjoyed his days at Manchester City.

The successive denials and statements by the club and Lin Quan himself put Manchester City fans' minds at ease.

"I knew it, Emperor Lin wouldn't leave Manchester City!"

"That's right, shameless media, they'd do anything for traffic!"

"Phew, now I can finally relax!"

Paris Saint-Germain's offer of 200 million euros really made many Manchester City fans very anxious. There's no helping it; the offer was just too good!

Lin Quan's denial disappointed many clubs closely following this transfer.

Spain, Madrid.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez sighed after hearing the news:

"Paris Saint-Germain threw two billion and couldn't buy Lin Quan. We probably won't be able to get him any time soon!"

The Old Master's chief assistant Manuel Redondo nodded:

"Manchester City's reluctance to let him go is one thing, but the key is that the player himself doesn't want to leave, making it difficult for any team to poach him!"

Florentino's headache lay here, watching Lin Quan dominate the World Cup with Spain, completely overshadowing Ronaldo and Messi.

His value soared, and more and more clubs coveted him, making him increasingly difficult to acquire.

It can be said that as much as the big clubs coveted Messi before, now they covet Lin Quan even more.

And because Lin Quan is younger, even more clubs covet him than those that coveted Messi back then.

Florentino was no exception!

When Lin Quan was at Werder Bremen, he had admired him greatly.

Last season, Lin Quan's performance at Manchester City was perfect, even directly shattering Real Madrid's Champions League dreams.

This made the Old Master hate Lin Quan even while admiring him tremendously and also filled him with immense regret.

If he hadn't bought Bale back then but had decisively brought Lin Quan back to the Bernabeu, Real Madrid wouldn't have to worry about the core of the team for the next dozen years.

Unfortunately, considering Ronaldo's feelings at the time and worrying that Lin Quan wouldn't want to join Real Madrid because of Barcelona, although they contacted Lin Quan and his agent, their attitude wasn't proactive enough, and their sincerity wasn't sufficient, ultimately failing to reach an agreement.

If they could have shown the sincerity that Manchester City did in bringing in Lin Quan, then with Real Madrid's status and influence in football, the chances of attracting Lin Quan to join would have been very high!

Although Ronaldo is strong, he is getting older. Born in 1985, he will turn 30 next year.

After thirty, a player's form starts to decline, meaning that two or three years later, Real Madrid will have to consider who will replace Ronaldo.

Players like Ronaldo and Messi are truly hard to find.

There are very few players in football capable of reaching this level, and among the current young players, aside from Lin Quan, everyone else is far behind.

And these players are almost all spoken for—Neymar is at Barcelona, untouchable; Gotze is at Bayern and won't leave easily; Hazard is considered a treasure by Chelsea, priceless.

Only James Rodriguez might compete, but the clubs eyeing Rodriguez are numerous.

Barcelona, Manchester United, Liverpool, Juventus, and other teams have all joined the fray.

Even if Real Madrid managed to secure Rodriguez, it would cost them dearly.

Honestly, spending a billion euros on a player far less capable than Lin Quan isn't worth it; they'd rather decisively spend two billion to bring Lin Quan back.

Unfortunately, Paris Saint-Germain tried this method, and it didn't work.

Thinking this, Florentino sighed.

Buying Bale was mainly because of his immediate combat power, hoping to seize the opportunity to lift Real Madrid's tenth Champions League trophy.

But in reality, the results were not so good.

Even in terms of immediate combat power, Lin Quan completely overshadowed Bale, and the two weren't even on the same level.

Previously worried that Lin Quan was too young and lacked immediate combat power, and his future was full of uncertainties, it now seems that these concerns were completely unnecessary.

If given another chance, they would definitely not hesitate to choose Lin Quan!

Unfortunately, there is no medicine for regret in this world.

"I wonder if there's a release clause in Lin Quan's contract with Manchester City; if there is, maybe next time we could try activating the release clause!"

Real Madrid's sports manager Padilla was not so pessimistic. Lin Quan doesn't want to leave now, but that doesn't mean he won't want to leave in the future.

And his contract with Manchester City will expire one day; as long as they can convince him to join Real Madrid before he renews with Manchester City, then Real Madrid still has a chance to bring him to the Bernabeu.

"It seems not; Lin Quan's contract with Manchester City is for five years, expiring in 2018!"

"2018?"

Florentino heard this year and was startled, asking subconsciously:

"Is our contract with Ronaldo also up in 2018?"

"Yes!"

Real Madrid and Ronaldo completed a renewal last year, signing a five-year contract expiring in June 2018.

Ronaldo and Lin Quan's contracts expiring in the same year, does that mean they can...

…

After Lin Quan made a clear statement, the speculation about his transfer gradually died down.

People's attention returned to the World Cup and the transfer news about James Rodriguez.

After Colombia eliminated Uruguay, the French team also played cleanly and defeated Nigeria 2:0, becoming the second European team to advance to the quarterfinals.

Next up was France's neighbor, Germany, considered one of the favorites to win this World Cup. Everyone thought Germany should easily beat Algeria before the match.

However, the game turned out to be unexpectedly tough, with Germany performing poorly, while Algeria played quite well.

After 90 minutes of regular play, the score was still 0:0, with Algeria stubbornly drawing with Germany.

After watching this game, German fans were worried.

And those who had been optimistic about Germany before the match began reassessing Germany's strength. Could they go far in the knockout stages with their current form?

Not everyone was worried, though. Fans of the host, Brazil, were pleasantly surprised after watching this game.

Brazil and Germany were in the same half of the draw. If they both made it through the next round, the two teams would meet in the semi-finals.

If Algeria could eliminate Germany, then Brazil's chances of advancing to the semi-finals would greatly increase.

Even if Germany lucked into the quarter-finals, with their current form, wouldn't they just be slaughtered by Brazil in the semi-finals?

Although Brazil's path to the quarter-finals was also very difficult, they defeated the last World Cup's runner-up, the Netherlands, while Germany faced Algeria, who had never before made it to the knockout stages.

The gap in strength between the two was too great, making Brazilians feel that Germany wasn't much after all.

Dragged into overtime, Germany seemed to wake up.

Their attack became sharper, and in the 2nd minute of overtime, Schurrle, substituting for Gotze, scored a goal, giving Germany the lead.

18 minutes later, Ozil scored another goal, securing the victory for Germany.

Although Algeria scored a goal in the last minute of overtime, it couldn't change the outcome of the match.

In the end, thanks to two goals in overtime, Germany laboriously advanced to the knockout stages.

Although they won the match, their poor performance during the game led to a reduction in their odds of winning the championship.

After Germany, the other teams that played seemed to be affected by Germany's sluggish state.

Argentina, also a favorite to win the championship, faced Switzerland, not a particularly strong team, and was also held to a 0:0 draw.

If not for Di Maria scoring a crucial goal in the 118th minute of overtime, Argentina would have been dragged into a penalty shootout.

Messi's performance in this game was very poor, with almost no bright moments.

And Argentina's two key forwards still couldn't score, continuing their embarrassing record of 0 goals.

Compared to Argentina and Germany, Belgium, the European Red Devils, performed a bit better.

Facing the not-so-strong USA, they launched a fierce attack from the start, taking a total of 37 shots during the game, 27 of which were on target.

With so many shots, the score of this game should be quite exaggerated, right?

But after 90 minutes, the score was still 0:0; neither team managed to score a single goal.

This score was too outrageous, with the audience watching both teams continuously attack and shoot, but unable to score.

The USA's goalkeeper, Howard, is known as a hot-and-cold player.

When he's bad, he's awful to watch, but when he's good, he can be unbeatable.

Just like a certain top-lane player rolling dice, rolling a 9 makes him invincible.

In this game, Howard was on fire, contributing 19 brilliant saves, completely frustrating Belgium's shooters.

Under Klinsmann's coaching, this relatively mediocre USA team relied on teamwork and discipline to hold their own against Belgium.

Throughout the game, the USA had several great opportunities, but all were wasted.

In the 90th minute, Belgium made a key substitution.

They brought on Lukaku, who had performed well at Everton, and this substitution became the final straw that broke the USA's defense.

In the overtime phase, the USA hit a physical bottleneck, and after Lukaku came on, their defense line finally couldn't hold.

Facing the physically fit and strong Lukaku, the USA's defenders simply couldn't handle him.

In the 93rd minute, Lukaku sprinted down the flank with the ball. After being bumped by an opposing defender and not moving an inch, it was the American defender who fell.

Lukaku seized the opportunity to quickly carry the ball into the box. Faced with the opposing defenders' block, he smartly passed the ball to De Bruyne.

There were four defenders in the box, but only two Belgian players.

But De Bruyne, receiving Lukaku's pass in the box, didn't rush his shot. Instead, he calmly turned to shake off the defenders, adjusted his position, and then aimed for the far corner of the goal.

Howard had no way to stop this shot, which sealed the fate of the USA team.

Ten minutes later, it was De Bruyne again. He delivered a deadly pass, assisting Lukaku to score another goal.

Although the USA team scored a goal in the 107th minute, it still couldn't change their fate of being knocked out.

In the end, thanks to these two goals, Belgium smoothly advanced to the quarter-finals.

And De Bruyne was thus awarded the MVP of the game.

The twin stars of Werder Bremen, still shining on the World Cup stage!

A mistake occurred; I misread the schedule for Brazil and Germany; their encounter is in the semi-finals, not the quarter-finals, already corrected.

Chapter 302: Countdown to the Championship, Quarterfinals Kick Off!

Chapter 302: Countdown to the Championship, Quarterfinals Kick Off!

In this World Cup, aside from the four Asian teams, the gap between the other teams seems to have narrowed considerably. Out of the eight knockout matches, five went to extra time, including two that went to penalty shootouts. Apart from Spain, the other favorites for the title—Brazil, the Netherlands, Argentina, Germany, and Belgium—were all dragged into extra time. The Netherlands even got knocked out, not to mention exacting revenge on Spain or making it to the quarterfinals. This made the teams that advanced to the quarterfinals very cautious, no longer underestimating any opponent.

Before the quarterfinals, the Spanish coaching staff specifically studied the player characteristics and tactics of Costa Rica and gathered the players to discuss how to limit the opponent's attacks and break through their defense. As they got closer to the trophy, the players also became more spirited, eliminating all distractions and focusing solely on the World Cup matches. For many players, this might be their only chance to win a championship. Missing such an opportunity would mean living with regret for the rest of their lives.

"Costa Rica's defense is very solid. They mainly play a defensive counterattack strategy, which is quite cautious. However, the speed of their transition from defense to attack is very fast. Therefore, when defending, we must closely mark their midfield core, Bryan Ruiz, limit his passing, and effectively reduce or even curb their quick counterattacks."

"Besides Ruiz, their goalkeeper Navas is also quite capable. From the group stage to the knockout stage, his performance has been very stable. He's a goalkeeper with a very fast reaction, sharp anticipation, and good at coming off his line. When facing him, shots must be decisive, as any hesitation is likely to be blocked."

Overall, there aren't many stars worth noting in the Costa Rican lineup. Compared to Spain's star-studded all-star lineup, theirs is more down-to-earth. Among Costa Rica's 11 starters, only three come from the top five European leagues: forward number 9 Campbell, midfielder number 10 Ruiz, and goalkeeper number 1 Navas. Among them, Campbell is technically an Arsenal player but has been out on loan and hasn't been able to make his mark there. Ruiz plays for Fulham but also isn't a regular, so he's been loaned out to PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch league. Navas is the only one who has managed to establish himself in a top league, and he does it well.

In the 2013-2014 season, Navas, with an 80.1% high save success rate, topped famous stars like Casillas and Courtois, and was elected the best goalkeeper in La Liga. His performance in both the group and knockout stages of this World Cup has proven that he truly deserved that award.

On paper, the gap between the two teams is quite apparent. The combined value of the Spanish team is about twenty times that of Costa Rica. However, the World Cup is not about the value of the players but about who scores more and who concedes less.

...

July 5th, the quarterfinals officially began.

The first match was between Germany and France, a European showdown. The two teams have faced each other 25 times in history, with France leading with 11 wins, 6 draws, and 8 losses. However, in their most recent encounter a year ago, France lost 1-2 to Germany on home soil.

In terms of honors, the French team has won the World Cup once, but Germany has already claimed three trophies. France also has one runner-up finish and two third-place finishes, and one fourth place, while Germany has four runner-ups, four third places, and one fourth place.

Germany's record in the World Cup has always been outstanding. Since 1954, they have never missed any edition of the World Cup and have always reached at least the quarterfinals. This stability is why they are always favorites to win the World Cup.

Of course, after 2014, that changed...

Before the match, the general consensus still favored Germany.

Under Deschamps, the French team's performance has indeed improved to some extent. However, there is still a long way to go for a complete revival. Meanwhile, Löw's German team might be the strongest German side of the past decade.

So, facing them, France was more likely to lose than win.

Both teams took the match very seriously.

They both used a 4-3-3 formation. For Germany, veteran Klose was the lone striker, while Lahm returned to his right-back position. For France, Benzema was up front, with Griezmann starting instead of Giroud.

The game started actively for both sides.

In the 3rd minute, Kroos tried a long shot from outside the box with his right foot, but it was blocked by a French defender. In the 7th minute, Valbuena turned near the left baseline and lofted a pass. Benzema shot directly with his right foot in the box, but it went slightly wide of the left post. This was France's best opportunity since the start, but Benzema's shot lacked precision, missing a golden chance to change the score.

After missing this shot, Benzema was very dissatisfied with his performance, constantly muttering to himself, though it was unclear what he was saying.

In the 12th minute, Germany got a free kick opportunity. Kroos delivered the ball into the box from the left, and Hummels pushed past Varane, who was marking him, to head the ball into the goal.

Germany got off to a dream start! Seeing Hummels' goal, Löw excitedly clapped so hard that he didn't even notice his palms turning red.

Before this match, he had studied France's weaknesses and found that they seemed not good at defending set pieces. France's last four goals conceded were all from set pieces.

Thus, the German team practiced set-piece tactics before the match, and it paid off—scoring just 12 minutes after kick-off!

After taking the lead, France tried to equalize but was embarrassed by Germany's counterattacks.

In the 24th and 33rd minutes, Klose and Müller fell in the French box, but the referee did not award a penalty. This caused dissatisfaction among German fans, as the fouls on both players were committed by the same person—France's left-back Digne!

Had the referee awarded a penalty for either foul, Germany might have secured the victory earlier.

In the 34th minute, France also had a chance to equalize. Griezmann beat the offside trap and after reaching the edge of the box, passed to Valbuena. Facing Valbuena's close-range shot, Neuer reacted quickly, blocking the ball with one hand. Benzema rushed to shoot the rebound, but Hummels blocked it with his knee.

After missing this chance, Germany did not give France any more opportunities, maintaining a 1-0 lead until the halftime whistle.

In the second half, Germany's defense became more solid. It was difficult for France to break through Germany's lines, but Germany frequently launched threatening attacks.

Unfortunately, Müller, Schurrle, and others missed excellent opportunities to extend the lead.

In the final minute of stoppage time, Giroud held off defenders in the box to pass to Benzema, whose shot was blocked by Neuer's single-handed save, leaving France powerless to turn the game around.

Benzema's poor performance in this game, missing several opportunities, led to some extreme French fans attacking him after the match.

Accustomed to being blamed, Benzema did not respond to the criticism but silently endured it all.

Not only Benzema, but French coach Deschamps also faced criticism from the outside world, accused of being conservative in tactics and improper in personnel use, leading to France's failure.

In fact, compared to the South Africa World Cup, France's performance in this World Cup was not bad.

But the fatal blow was that they lost to Germany. Because of historical grievances, French fans found it hard to accept their team losing to Germany, so they vented their emotions by attacking others everywhere.

It is unclear what impact this loss will have on France's team rebuilding.

As for Germany, after winning this match, they achieved the feat of advancing to the semi-finals for four consecutive World Cups.

This is also the first time in World Cup history that a team has achieved this feat.

The first team to advance to the semi-finals, Germany, can now calmly wait for their opponent in the semi-finals.

After the match between Germany and France, the next match in the upper half was Brazil vs Colombia, a South American derby!

Amid the cheers of the home fans, Brazil was in fiery form.

Just 7 minutes into the game, utilizing a corner kick opportunity, Brazil took the lead.

Neymar's kick was high quality, and no players managed to reach it at the front post. The ball fell to the unmarked Thiago Silva at the back post, who used his body to block the ball into the goal.

Thiago Silva's goal made the 60,000 Brazilian fans at the Castelao Stadium erupt!

This was the fastest goal scored by the Brazilian team in this World Cup. Taking the lead early, the Brazilian fans who watched the last match anxiously could finally relax.

However, they couldn't be careless, as the opponent's lineup included the powerful star James Rodriguez, who could equalize the score at any moment!

If they could score another goal, it would be even safer!

It seems the prayers of the Brazilian fans had an effect. In the 67th minute of the second half, David Luiz took advantage of a free kick opportunity to score directly, helping Brazil extend the lead to 2-0.

This goal almost guaranteed Brazil a spot in the semi-finals!

So, after David Luiz scored, the Brazilian fans at the venue erupted, Brazilian fans online erupted, and all Brazilian fans erupted!

They saw the hope of winning the championship at home. After advancing to the semi-finals, their opponent would be the newly advanced Germany.

Given Germany's performance in two knockout matches, wouldn't Brazil just slaughter them?

However, Brazil's joy soon turned to sorrow, as their captain Thiago Silva received a yellow card during the defense, leading to a suspension due to accumulating yellow cards, and he would miss the next match against Germany.

In the final stages of the match, James Rodriguez, who had scored in four consecutive matches, delivered a brilliant pass, giving Bacca a one-on-one opportunity, but he was tripped by the rushing Brazilian goalkeeper Cesar.

The referee decisively awarded a penalty and gave Cesar a yellow card.

In the 76th minute, such a penalty kick, which had seemingly secured the match, suddenly made the game uncertain again.

James Rodriguez took the penalty, coolly using a stutter step to deceive the goalkeeper and scored the penalty.

This was James Rodriguez's sixth goal in this World Cup, making him the only player to score in five consecutive matches in this tournament.

After scoring the penalty, James Rodriguez didn't waste time celebrating but quickly ran to retrieve the ball from the net and ran to the center circle.

From his actions, it was clear that Colombia had not given up; they wanted to overturn Brazil and create a miracle!

In the final stages of the match, Colombia's attacks were very aggressive.

To delay the opponent's attacks, Scolari chose to use tactical substitutions to disrupt the opponent's rhythm.

Brazil continuously made substitutions, with Paulinho and Hulk successively being substituted out, both of whom deliberately exited slowly to give their teammates more breathing time.

The Colombian players were very dissatisfied, and their actions became increasingly rough.

In the 85th minute, Colombian defender Zuniga kneed Neymar in the back, causing Neymar to fall to the ground in pain.

This foul was very severe; if Zuniga's knee had been a few centimeters higher, Neymar might have had to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

After the collision, Neymar couldn't continue and was carried off the field on a stretcher.

And Zuniga, who committed such a serious foul, only received a verbal warning, not even a yellow card.

This caused serious dissatisfaction among the Brazilian fans at the venue, and boos of protest echoed throughout the stadium.

After the match, Neymar was diagnosed with a fractured vertebra and would be absent for at least 2-3 weeks.

This meant that Neymar would also miss the next match.

Although Brazil ultimately won 2-1 against Colombia and advanced to the semi-finals, the absence of two key players cast a shadow over their World Cup journey.

After the matches in the upper half were over, the next day, the matches in the lower half kicked off.

The first match was Argentina vs Belgium.

This match saw Argentina off to a dream start. Just 8 minutes into the game, Higuain, who hadn't scored in the previous five matches, finally broke the deadlock.

Belgium was unlucky, as Di Maria's pass, intended for the overlapping full-back, was inadvertently blocked by a Belgian defender, ending up at Higuain's feet by mistake.

Higuain reacted quickly, taking a direct shot. The shot was so sudden that Courtois couldn't react in time and could only watch the ball go into the net.

This was the only goal of the match. De Bruyne, Hazard, and Lukaku tried many times over the next 80 minutes but couldn't change the score.

In the end, Belgium sadly fell to Argentina, unable to advance to the semi-finals and meet Spain.

After losing to Argentina, De Bruyne sent a message to Lin Quan:

Take down Argentina!

Lin Quan, about to enter the match, smiled when he saw the message.

"Don't worry, I'll avenge you!"

Receiving Lin Quan's reply, De Bruyne frowned.

This way of speaking felt odd; it made it sound like they had died!

Well, no need to dwell on that, just cheer him on!

On the evening of July 6th at 17:00, the last quarterfinal match of the World Cup, Spain vs Costa Rica, officially kicked off.

The previous chapter contained a low-level error; Germany and Brazil's encounter is in the semi-finals, not the quarter-finals.

Chapter 303: A Global Dilemma: How to Limit Lin Quan!

Chapter 303: A Global Dilemma: How to Limit Lin Quan!

At the new Water Source Stadium in Salvador, the defending champions Spain are playing against Costa Rica. Costa Rica has opted for a very cautious 5-4-1 formation. This choice is quite wise since Spain is the most offensively powerful team in this World Cup. They have scored 16 goals in their last four matches, averaging four goals per game.

Facing such a formidable offense, it would be foolish to engage in an open attack instead of focusing on defense. After the match started, Spain did not rush their offense. Instead, they patiently probed Costa Rica's defensive weaknesses through careful passing and coordination.

Most Costa Rican players play in their domestic league, which is not very competitive, so their individual skills are not as refined as those of the Spanish players. Spain has a good strategy for such a defense—speed up the play! The top European leagues are superior mainly because they have many star players with high levels of skill and tactics, which allows them to play at a very fast pace. In lower leagues, the slower pace is often due to players' individual skills.

Limited by stamina, passing skills, awareness, and vision, players in lower leagues struggle with a fast-paced game; their error rate increases significantly when the pace is accelerated. This is evident in the annual Club World Cup, where Europe's top clubs face champions from other continents. For example, Asian champion Guangzhou Evergrande couldn't keep up with Bayern Munich's pace at the Club World Cup, despite being able to defeat champions from Central America.

Spain's coaching staff had already researched and identified these weaknesses before the match. Spanish players were aware of their strengths and the opponent's weaknesses, hence playing to their strengths.

In this match, Lin Quan finally experienced what it's like to be a superstar, which isn't necessarily a good thing. Costa Rican players identified him as the primary threat within the Spanish team and assigned someone to mark him closely throughout the game. Whenever he got the ball, he was quickly surrounded and pressured by multiple players, and they did not hesitate to commit fouls against him.

Just 20 minutes into the first half, Lin Quan had already drawn three yellow cards. The main referee, Ilmatov from Uzbekistan, likes to control the game tightly. In his matches, it's rare for the situation to spiral out of control. He often steps in early at any sign of trouble. He had anticipated that Costa Rica might use a foul-heavy strategy against Lin Quan. While this strategy is viable, it comes with a price. If not managed, continuous fouls could escalate tensions, potentially leading to a brawl on the pitch, which would be undesirable.

His issuance of three consecutive yellow cards cooled down the Costa Rican players. For the rest of the match, they were cautious about committing fouls, giving Lin Quan more space to operate. In the 21st minute, Spain launched a quick counterattack. Lin Quan, drawing the defenders' attention, looked towards the center but cleverly passed the ball with the back of his heel to David Silva on the wing. The pass was stealthy, and Costa Rica's defenders couldn't immediately catch up with Silva, allowing him to make a cross. To avoid interception, Silva's cross was powerful.

Torres was a bit slow to start and couldn't reach the ball, and Costa Rican goalkeeper Navas also misjudged the catch. Unfortunately, there was no second Spanish player at the far post to capitalize, and the ball slid across the goal unchallenged.

Coach Del Bosque stood up on the sidelines, applauding the players for the attempt. Although they didn't score, the attack was well-executed and posed a genuine threat. Most importantly, Lin Quan was back in form.

In the 25th minute, Spain attacked again, this time switching to the right flank. Lin Quan advanced with the ball while observing the defensive positioning of the opposing players. The defender, thinking Lin Quan was distracted, attempted to steal the ball. However, Lin Quan quickly moved it away as the defender's foot reached out.

Gambóa was taken aback. Wasn't he not watching the ball? How could he react so quickly? No, it wasn't just reflexes. Was it a trap? Had Lin Quan pretended not to watch the ball to lure him into making a move? The more Gambóa thought about it, the more it seemed likely, but by then it was too late.

Lin Quan had already bypassed him, cutting in from the right toward the box. Seeing Gambóa beaten, the Costa Rican defense rushed back, with midfielder Borges charging at Lin Quan. He planned to stop Lin Quan or at least foul him if he couldn't manage a clean tackle. Borges was lucky earlier not to receive a card, so he had some leeway for a foul.

Lin Quan saw Borges approaching but didn't stop or pass immediately. His teammates hadn't opened up enough space; passing now would likely lead to a stagnant attack. Regrouping would give the Costa Rican defense time to organize, making it hard to break through. The best option was for him to keep the ball a bit longer, draw more defenders, and then pass.

Borges, thinking Lin Quan would pass and seeing an opportunity to strike, crashed into him without hesitation. Expecting to easily overpower the shorter Lin Quan, he was shocked when Lin Quan, sturdy like a little tank, didn't fall but instead caused Borges to stumble back several steps and land on his rear!

Borges was stunned, unable to believe he had lost in a physical challenge. Not just him, but everyone, including the coaches and fans from both teams, was surprised by the outcome. Lin Quan, after getting past Borges, faced a double team. He didn't keep the ball but quickly passed it.

Iniesta received Lin Quan's pass, drove into the box, and made a high-quality shot. Unfortunately, Navas continued his excellent form from previous games, making a spectacular save to deny Iniesta's attempt. Lin Quan couldn't help but glance at Navas with a bit of admiration for his strong performance.

Iniesta shook his head; his shot was decisive and of good quality, which might have succeeded against another goalkeeper, but Navas was the best in La Liga for a reason. The Spanish fans at the venue, though disappointed, were thrilled by the sequence of dangerous attacks. Being able to attend the game in Brazil, they were mostly die-hard fans of the Spanish national team and had full confidence in their team's abilities. As long as Spain maintained this momentum, scoring was only a matter of time.

More than Iniesta's shot being saved, what really caught the attention of the fans watching both at the venue and online was the comic scene of Borges trying to bump into Lin Quan and ending up falling himself. They found it hilariously absurd.

"Haha, Costa Rica's number 5 thought he could handle Lin Quan!"

"Too bad, the flop failed!"

"Not only did he fail, but he also embarrassed himself in front of a global audience. If I were him, I'd be looking for a crack to crawl into right now!"

"Stop, I can almost feel his embarrassment as if he's trying to dig a three-room apartment on the pitch with his toes!"

"Lin Quan may look unassuming, but he sure can take a hit!"

"LOL, remember when Fulham's Richardson tried to take him down and got schooled by Lin Quan? Don't be fooled by his height; his physical strength is no joke!"

"I checked, and Lin Quan weighs about 74 kg, which is actually a kilogram more than Borges. Plus, with his lower center of gravity, he's not at a disadvantage in a collision."

"Lin Quan is 173 cm tall, that's not short, right?"

"About average height? He's a tad taller than Messi!"

"If we're comparing heights, a certain player known for tiptoeing in photos might have something to say!"

"Comparing heights with Ronaldo and Messi? That's just mean!"

"Exactly, since when is height the measure of a hero? Let's compare goals instead, like World Cup goals?"

"Fun fact, Messi has participated in three World Cups and has a total of 5 goals so far."

"Ronaldo also participated in three World Cups, with a total of 4 goals."

"And here's the kicker: Lin Quan, in his first World Cup, has already scored 6 goals. He's also the top scorer of this tournament. Now that James Rodriguez is out, only Messi and Müller pose a threat to him on the scoring charts."

It's shocking to compare these numbers. Fans know Lin Quan has been exceptional this World Cup, scoring multiple goals. But because he's also a prolific scorer in league and Champions League play, many don't realize what these numbers represent.

When fans listed Messi and Ronaldo's World Cup achievements, they realized just how terrifying Lin Quan's six goals in four matches are.

"This game isn't over yet. Lin Quan might score again. If he scores one more, he'll leave James Rodriguez behind and take the top spot alone!"

"Wow, is Lin Quan that fierce? I've always known he's great, but he seems even more impressive than I thought!"

"I feel the same, but why is that?"

"Why? It's because Lin Quan is younger and hasn't been in the professional scene for very long, so he doesn't have as many fans yet, which is why everyone subconsciously thinks Messi and Ronaldo are better."

"That makes sense. It might also have to do with the league and club Lin Quan is in."

"Exactly, Messi and Ronaldo are in La Liga, and Real Madrid and Barcelona are among the top clubs in the world. The attention their matches generate is naturally much higher than Lin Quan's visibility at Manchester City. Not just the fans, but the media too prefer to cover the clashes between those two over anything else."

This is perhaps the most convincing explanation, and fans generally accept this reasoning.

"Let's use this World Cup to show those who have overlooked Lin Quan just how far he has come!"

"Go Lin Quan!"

...

Borges was indeed embarrassed. When his teammates helped him up, he couldn't help but explain:

"I just slipped, I wasn't stable, it won't happen again!"

His teammates glanced at him doubtfully. I'm not blaming you, why are you so eager to explain?

Borges didn't realize his own mistake, but Costa Rica's coach Pinto noticed something:

"Spain's number 30 has stronger physical resistance than we expected."

He had assumed that because of Lin Quan's smaller stature, he would be less capable in physical confrontations, which is why he had set up a smothering strategy.

From the results in the first 20 minutes, this tactic seemed to have some effect. But Borges being knocked down by Lin Quan suggested that it wasn't just the physical combat strategy that was effective, but also the combination with foul tactics.

Without enough fouls, it would still be difficult to contain him. But with three players already carrying yellow cards, continuing with foul tactics would be risky. Given Ilmatov's officiating style, he wouldn't tolerate continued fouls from Costa Rica. They might end up with several players sent off before the match even ended.

So, this method was not viable; they had to think of something else. If top European club coaches couldn't come up with a solution, it was too much to expect him to find one in a short time.

In the end, there was no solution. Costa Rica couldn't limit Lin Quan!

Thank you for your concern. Here's an update on my mother's condition in the hospital. After being admitted, her condition has stabilized somewhat. The doctors have scheduled a coronary angiography for tomorrow to determine the extent of blockage in her heart's blood vessels and will then decide whether to proceed with stenting or bypass surgery.

Chapter 304: A Little Shock for Soccer Fans Around the World from Lin Huang!

After two dangerous attacks, the players from Costa Rica sensed danger. They pulled their defense back, aiming not to make spectacular plays but to avoid mistakes. A draw against Spain that led to a penalty shootout might offer them a slim chance of survival. However, continuing at this pace, they were likely to be completely outplayed by Spain.

As Costa Rica tightened their defense, the challenge for Spain's offense increased significantly. Lin Quan tried several times to break through using his personal skills, but the opponent's defense was tight and gave him little opportunity. Moving too deep made it easy to get surrounded and cut off the passing routes to his teammates, making it difficult to advance the ball.

Faced with such packed defense, Spain started to try long shots from outside the penalty area to see if they could get lucky. However, Navas was in exceptional form, making long shots nearly impossible to get past him.

In the 37th minute, Lin Quan received a pass from a teammate, feigned speeding up to break through, drew the defenders, and then passed the ball back to the center. Iniesta followed up with a powerful long shot from the top of the penalty arc! At the moment of the shot, Lin Quan had just moved away from the front, clearing a path for the shot. The defender following Lin was in the process of moving, accidentally blocking Navas's view of Iniesta, who is shorter. Nevertheless, Navas, with his superhuman reaction speed, made an almost impossible save, batting the football out of the air with a single hand.

Iniesta, seeing his shot saved again, held his head in disbelief, clutching the little hair he had left. He couldn't understand how the opponent made such a miraculous save without having seen the shot coming.

Lin Quan looked at Iniesta with some concern, not so much about his mindset but more about his receding hairline! During their early years at La Masia, Lin often saw Iniesta, whose hairline wasn't so high back then. Over the years, it had receded bit by bit. In a few years, he might become bald like Guardiola.

"Lin, you take the next shot!" Iniesta's confidence was affected, not just him, even forwards dedicated to scoring would begin to doubt their life choices after several missed shots. "Okay!" Lin Quan readily agreed.

Before, when Pellegrini told him Manchester City was interested in and planning to sign Navas, he didn't feel anything special. Although he had heard of Navas's reputation—after all, he took Casillas's starting spot at Real Madrid—a person capable of displacing Casillas couldn't be mediocre. But he had only heard of Navas's name; since they had never directly competed, Lin had no firsthand experience of how formidable Navas was. This match was a good opportunity to really test each other's skills.

As the first half was drawing to a close, the Costa Rican players united more fiercely, desperate to maintain a 0:0 score. However, after they chose to hunker down in defense, the Spanish players pushed over the midfield line and began playing a passing game in the opponent's half. With many players involved in the attack, Spain's passing tactics remained effective even against close defense. Although the Costa Rican players were individually strong, it would be difficult for Spain to break through if they were a team from one of the top five leagues. But for Costa Rica, it was a challenging task.

The only variable was the goalkeeper. Navas's strength was well known, and as Spain increased their shots on goal, he gradually became harder to deal with. In the 42nd minute, Spain executed a brilliant combination play near the penalty area. Despite dense defense, they managed to tear open a gap in Costa Rica's defensive line through an incredibly quick pass.

Lin Quan carried the ball into the penalty area, passed it to Torres in a tight space, who, despite being harassed by a defender, adjusted and passed it back to Lin Quan. This pass showcased Torres's tactical value. Unlike Villa, a pure scorer, Torres, as a traditional center-forward, could act as a pivot within the opponent's penalty area, setting up plays for teammates. He didn't pass the ball directly to Lin Quan's feet but gave it a bit ahead, allowing Lin to accelerate without slowing down.

"Good pass, Torres!" Lin praised internally. He sprinted, took the ball before the defenders could interfere, and then dribbled right, bypassing the last defender to face a one-on-one with Navas. Navas charged out! If it had been another player, like Torres, perhaps he wouldn't have charged. But the Costa Rican coach had made Navas watch five hours of Lin Quan's shooting highlights, from his debut matches at Werder Bremen to the latest World Cup group and knockout stages.

Having watched these tapes, Navas was very wary of Lin's abilities. Lin's shooting skills were varied, mastering all techniques except for heading. Especially his one-on-one success rate, which was incredibly high. Though charging out made it easy for him to be dribbled past, if he stayed in goal, blocking Lin's shots would be nearly impossible. Weighing the lesser of two evils, charging out gave him a higher success rate and more control.

Seeing Navas move, Lin wasn't surprised. A good goalkeeper usually prefers to take control, not passively follow the opponent's pace. Coincidentally, Lin also liked to control the game! He shifted the ball sideways, trying to use his speed advantage to create distance and go around Navas for an open goal opportunity. Of course, Navas wouldn't give him that chance; he lunged like a hungry tiger at Lin's feet, forcing Lin to shoot immediately or have the ball taken away. Even if Navas didn't successfully steal the ball from Lin's feet, just forcing Lin to make a major adjustment would give defenders time to complete the defense.

Goalkeepers are never alone in their struggle; they fight alongside many teammates. Seeing Navas's choice, Lin's expression became serious. The opponent's intentions were clear, but knowing them, he had no other choice but to follow the script Navas set. This guy, it seems, not only has strong skills but also a strong mindset. This gamble-like save, if successful, would bring glory; if failed, it would make him the scapegoat for the team's loss. And yet, Navas did it without hesitation! Lin could only silently praise him, "Good courage!" He wasn't indecisive either; he immediately aimed for the upper left corner of the goal and shot. Navas immediately swung his right arm, trying to intercept Lin's shot in mid-air.

Navas and Lin Quan were very close, Navas had space to block, but his reaction time was very short. Whether his save would touch the ball was entirely up to luck. The fans from both sides, seeing Lin Quan and Navas fight so closely, stopped breathing and stared without blinking at the goal. Could the ball go in?

Navas was lucky; as he swung his arm, he felt his forearm touch the ball. The direction of the football changed, flying up towards the sky instead of straight into the goal. After feeling the touch on his arm and making the save, Navas, who lost his balance, couldn't help but smile. It seemed he had the last laugh in this duel with Lin Quan. However, he celebrated too soon. The ball, though slightly blocked by his forearm, did not completely go out of play. Because his arm had taken some of the ball's force, and Lin Quan hadn't shot with much power, the ball didn't fly very high and began to fall quickly.

As the ball dropped from the air, Navas felt a shadow over him. Fallen to the ground, he instinctively looked up and saw Spain's number 30 leap high with a very standard motion and head the ball into the goal. Boom! Nuevo Estadio Aguas, silent for a moment, erupted like a volcano, blasting out deafening cheers. The Spanish fans were thrilled! They were not only happy about Lin Quan's goal, which broke the deadlock, but they were also surprised and excited to see him head the ball into the goal for the first time.

"Did I see that right? Did Lin Quan just head the ball into the goal?" "Wow, Emperor Lin can head the ball!?" "Messi can score with headers, and Lin Huang is taller than Messi by 3 centimeters; it makes no sense he can't!" "But I've never seen him score with a header before; it's really rare!" "I think he had a few header goals in the Bundesliga, but very few indeed." "Definitely rare. I've seen so many of his games, and I've really never seen him score a header, today was a real eye-opener!" "Haha, from Lin Huang's movement, he must have secretly practiced. That lion-shake head move looked quite professional!" "If Lin Huang was ten centimeters taller, he might be another formidable header player!" "Haha, are you talking about Ramos?" "Steamed bun, are you serious? Ramos is the second top scorer in the Spanish team, his heading skills are spectacular!"

Ramos isn't very tall, only 184 cm, but his heading ability is strong, certainly better than the 194 cm tall Pique. Because Lin Quan's header goal was so rare, the Spanish players couldn't help but ask him when they ran over to celebrate with him: "Lin, when did you secretly practice headers? You scored a header quietly on the World Cup stage, impressive!" "Just practiced in my spare time, it was just in case, didn't expect it to actually come in handy!" "Practiced in your spare time? That standard motion doesn't look like it was casually practiced, did you secretly learn from a header expert?"

Before Lin Quan could answer, Ramos proudly puffed out his chest. Of course, he learned from me! "My heading level, being the best in the Spanish team, no one disputes that, right?" On the sidelines, Coach Bosque excitedly embraced Coach Tony. Caught up in the excitement, he couldn't help but wonder: "When did this kid practice headers?" Coach Tony was also puzzled: "I don't know, given his height, it's very hard for him to win aerial duels in the penalty area, so training headers would basically be a waste of time; that's why we didn't arrange for him to practice this!"

"Could it be that he developed this skill at Manchester City?" Bosque murmured, curious. The game was important as both Navas and Lin Quan were playing, so Pellegrini arrived at the stadium early. Seeing Lin Quan score a header, he wondered just like Bosque: "With Lin's height, the Spanish team still trained him in headers, I don't get it, what is Bosque thinking?" He also thought that Lin Quan practicing headers was a waste of time because it was not practical. Instead of wasting time on headers, it would be better to enhance other weaknesses to improve his overall skills.

Navas, staring at the football in the goal frame, was a bit dazed. He had guessed the beginning but not the end. Who knew Lin Quan still had this trick, using a header he had never seen before in the tapes to breach his guarded goal. It was really a bit of bad luck because Lin Quan rarely used headers to attack; the header he scored in the Bundesliga looked like a fluke, very unstandardized, not showing any signs of heading ability.

So the Costa Rican coach, while organizing the video tapes, actively ignored Lin Quan's headers. This caused Navas to be unaware of Lin Quan's capability, a significant oversight in intelligence. Navas quickly adjusted his mindset! It's just one goal behind, not the end of the world. Trusting his teammates and coach, they could still turn the score around in the second half. As long as he continued to guard the goal and prevent the opponents from extending their lead, they still had a chance to win the game!

Costa Rica had already made history by reaching the quarterfinals, so why not dream a little of the semifinals? With little time left in the first half, after Spain finished celebrating and the ball was kicked off again, the main referee soon blew the whistle for the end of the half. Taking the lead before the break was a great result for Spain. With this goal, the second half's tactics of the opponents were easier to predict, and they now had the initiative, allowing them to take countermeasures against Costa Rica's tactics.

Chapter 305: Lin Huang, the Strategic Player!

During halftime, Coach Bosque indeed adjusted the team's tactics. Although he didn't switch to a defensive counterattack just because of Costa Rica, he chose to substitute Xavi with Xabi Alonso to enhance midfield control. Regarding the front line, if Spain could score another goal before the 70th minute, he planned to replace Torres with Pedro and shift to a false nine formation.

The false nine was a tactic originally played by Spain, but recently Germany had also started adopting it, learning from them. However, Bosque felt that the German take on the false nine was somewhat amiss. They lacked the multitude of top midfielders that Spain had and didn't have a striker like Lin Huang. Forcing a false nine formation, Germany seemed to lose their traditional strengths.

Bosque couldn't understand what Coach Löw was thinking. The football ecosystems and tactical philosophies of Spain and Germany are very different. Blindly copying Spanish tactics, was he not afraid of leading Germany down a dead-end? He guessed that the German Football Association, seeing Spain dominate globally with possession football and envious of their success, desperately wanted to clinch another World Cup and decided to imitate regardless of the consequences.

To this, Bosque could only say that the Germans don't even know how they're courting disaster! Possession football was indeed dominant a few years ago, but it has clearly weakened since then. After being studied and targeted for so long, the strengths and weaknesses of possession football have been fully exposed. Bosque wasn't even sure if Spain could maintain their dominance after this World Cup, as their golden generation would gradually retire from the national team.

In this situation, the German team abandoning their tradition to mimic Spain puzzled Bosque greatly. "Play well in the second half, don't be careless, don't underestimate the opponent. We are only 45 minutes away from advancing to the semifinals, and because of this, we need to be doubly vigilant, not to fall at the crack of dawn!"

Spain had had it too easy so far in this World Cup, so Bosque repeatedly emphasized to his players not to relax or underestimate their opponents. Such mistakes could be irreparable, and it was worth emphasizing a thousand times before the match.

On the other side, in Costa Rica's locker room, Coach Pinto was repeatedly pulling his hair. Spain's number 30 was too troublesome; if they couldn't limit him, many tactics were risky. Since they were behind in the score, Costa Rica would definitely need to increase their offensive efforts in the second half. However, Pinto was most worried about how to prevent Spanish counterattacks during their offensive pushes.

Spain had used counterattacking tactics during the group stage, and their counterattacks were effective and sharp. One moment their opponents might be attacking, and the next, the ball could swiftly move to just outside their own penalty area, leading to a quick and dangerous counter.

Despite not being the strongest team, Costa Rica had done well due to proper tactical application and a united team amplifying their strengths and covering their weaknesses. But in this match, their advantages were not coming into play, while Spain seized every opportunity to exploit their shortcomings.

"We'll play like this!" Eventually, Pinto chose the least risky offensive tactic among the options. The fifteen-minute halftime quickly ended, and the players returned to the field. Costa Rica indeed intensified their attack right from the start, aiming to catch Spain off-guard while they were still warming up into the second half.

Some teams start slow, and launching a sudden attack at the beginning could lead to quick goals. Spain was such a team; they often started poorly in major tournaments but improved as the game progressed, as seen in the World Cup four years ago in South Africa.

However, Costa Rica underestimated the current Spanish team. Under Bosque's guidance, Spain's issue of starting slow had improved significantly, and now deep into the quarterfinals, Spain was fully alert. Relying on Spain being off their game was a far-fetched hope.

"Exactly as the coach predicted, they started with a strong attack!" Seeing the opponents' aggressive start, the Spanish players were not surprised. They sharpened their focus, strengthened their defense and interceptions, and didn't give Costa Rica any chances.

Costa Rica's offensive capability was not strong, and with Spain prepared, their aggressive tactics quickly faltered. Minutes passed, and the momentum of the Costa Rican players waned while the Spaniards regained control of the game, returning it to their familiar rhythm.

On the sidelines, Coach Bosque glanced at the time; five minutes had passed in the second half. He wondered if the Costa Rican coach would give up so easily. From the looks of it, they seemed to have stopped their offensive, yet they were the ones trailing in the score. If they didn't attack, victory would surely be Spain's.

"There must be something else they're preparing, so we can't let our guard down!" Bosque didn't take pride in successfully containing the initial assault; instead, the unusual behavior of the opponents made him uneasy.

Once the game returned to their rhythm, Spain's attacks became fierce. In the 53rd minute, David Silva made a quality cross from the sidelines near the baseline. Torres finally got to the ball, but unfortunately, his shot went straight to Navas. Navas quickly took the ball and launched it to a teammate on the flank, hoping to capitalize on Spain's attacking moment with a counter.

However, Spain was prepared; Alba rushed over and disrupted the counterattack, preventing Costa Rica from succeeding. The Costa Rican coach frowned; he had noticed that when Spain's forwards initiated attacks, they still left four to five defenders back. With such defensive intensity, countering was extremely difficult because the Spaniards clearly anticipated this tactic.

In the first half, because Costa Rica focused mostly on defense, Spain's forwards struggled to create a numerical advantage, thus failing to launch threatening attacks. But the second half was different; as offensive pressure shifted to Costa Rica, they had to choose between attacking and defending. This choice significantly weakened their defense, allowing Spain, even without pushing everyone forward, to frequently threaten with their forwards.

This put the Costa Rican coach in a tough spot. Indeed, relying on past tactics like cutting wood with a dull knife wouldn't work! He had thought the opponents would press aggressively as in the first half, allowing his team to use quick counters to threaten Spain's goal.

The deeper the opponent pressed, the greater the threat of their counterattack became. But now, the situation wasn't as they had expected; after making tactical adjustments, Spain had also adapted. Their counterattacks weren't effective, and their defense was weakened because they had to focus on attacking. As a result, Costa Rica's tactical adjustments seemed to put them in an awkward position, being ineffective both offensively and defensively.

Not only did Coach Pinto realize this, but the Costa Rican players on the field gradually noticed it too. The reason was simple: they felt very tired in the second half. It had been less than ten minutes into the half, and many players were already gasping for air. The main reason for this wasn't the normal physical exertion, but because Spain's attacks were so threatening that they had to exert themselves both offensively and defensively.

Trying to manage both ends was leading nowhere, and unsurprisingly, the players were exhausted. This couldn't go on; another ten or so minutes of this, and their stamina would be completely drained. On the sidelines, Coach Pinto paced back and forth anxiously. He wanted to make substitutions now, but it was too early. Moreover, it was too close to the second tactical time point he had planned; substituting now might disrupt their formation and mess up their tactical setup. Thinking this, he decided to wait a bit longer. But before that, he had the substitutes warm up, ready to enter the game at any moment.

On the other side, upon noticing the opponent's actions, Coach Bosque also called several substitutes to warm up. "Costa, Pedro, Koke, you three warm up!" Hearing Bosque's command, Costa and the others quickly stood up from the bench and joyfully ran to the sidelines to warm up.

"Are you planning to put Costa in?" Coach Tony asked, puzzled. Wasn't the plan to play a false nine? Why bring Costa on now? "His injury has just healed, and I don't yet know his current form. I plan to put him in at the 80th minute to see how he plays!" Eighty minutes? Tony checked his watch; it was only the 55th minute, 25 minutes away from the substitution time Bosque mentioned. Calling him out so early to warm up for 25 minutes?

"Getting fully warmed up isn't a bad thing, especially since this kid was unlucky to get injured in the first game of the World Cup. If he gets injured again, it would waste a valuable spot!" Bosque seemed a bit spooked by Diego Costa's injury history. He had brought him into the team hoping that Costa and Lin Huang could form a deadly striking duo. Unfortunately, Costa got injured after just one game and had been recovering since. With the semifinals against Argentina looming, Bosque felt he couldn't risk putting him in the starting lineup without ensuring he's fully fit.

As they chatted, the 60th minute approached. Costa Rica, which had previously withdrawn to their half, launched a fierce attack on the Spanish goal. This surprised Bosque: Was their aggressive tactic not just for the opening stage but planned for specific periods throughout the half? Fifteen minutes into the second half meant they were launching attacks every fifteen minutes?

On the field, the Spanish players were initially pressing Costa Rica's goal. Suddenly, like unleashed dogs, the Costa Ricans swarmed the Spanish players holding the ball, catching them off guard. The ball was quickly intercepted, and Costa Rica started a counterattack. However, the experienced Xabi Alonso, seeing the opponent accelerate, immediately moved to cover their midfield linchpin, Ruiz. This decision proved crucial for Spain.

When the attack reached Ruiz, it was intercepted by Alonso. Ruiz couldn't outmatch him physically, technically, or in experience. He hesitated slightly with the ball, which was enough for Busquets to close in, and soon the ball was back in Spanish possession. Busquets performed a deceptive move, pretending to drive forward with the ball but then suddenly leaping over it. Alonso followed up with a long pass, sending the ball back into Costa Rica's penalty area.

The pass was aimed at Torres, who, tightly marked by a defender, couldn't head it on goal but managed to flick it to a teammate just outside the box. Torres chose to pass instinctively to the player he trusted most—Lin Huang! With the ball at Lin's feet, the chances of scoring were highest. Although Torres had played longer alongside Iniesta, he felt passing to Lin was the safest and most reliable choice. Maybe this pass would even earn him an assist?

However, Costa Rica's goalkeeper Navas wasn't going to let that happen! With quick reflexes, as soon as Torres passed, Navas chose to charge out. By the time Lin received the pass and bypassed the defender to enter the penalty area, Navas had already blocked his path. "Face me, kid!" Lin, using his peripheral vision, saw that Navas had maintained a good position in relation to Costa Rica's center-backs. Lin didn't have enough space or time to break through. Although he could have shot, the chances of the ball being blocked were significant, given the defensive coverage and the closing side defenders. So, he opted to pass—a rational yet unexpected choice. At such a moment, to pass instead of shoot! Did he no longer care about winning the World Cup Golden Boot? Navas felt played.

Lin passed the ball across to the left side of the penalty area, where a figure swiftly moved in and easily kicked the ball into the open goal. The scorer was Spain's number 21—David Silva! Seeing Silva score, Lin glanced at Navas, puzzled by his expression. Did Navas think of him as some kind of mindless brute? If that was what he thought, Lin didn't mind teaching him a lesson: he played with his brain, not with brute force. David Silva's goal sent the Spanish fans into jubilation as if celebrating a festival, while the Costa Rican fans looked devastated, some even shedding tears. They all knew what Spain's goal in the 61st minute meant for the match. To put it bluntly, that goal had effectively killed any suspense in the game.

Thank you all for your concern. I'll update you on my mother's condition. She had an angiography at 1:30 PM today; the coronary blockage is manageable, not severe enough to require a stent. Tomorrow, we'll see what the chief physician says. If all is well, she'll undergo a gastroscopy in the afternoon to check for any stomach ulcers, and then she should be able to be discharged from the hospital. These past few days have really been frightening!

Chapter 306: Spain vs. Argentina Semi-finals, Messi's Nerves!

Chapter 306: Spain vs. Argentina Semi-finals, Messi's Nerves!

Costa Rica's second aggressive attempt was unsuccessful, leading instead to Spain scoring another goal. The suspense of the match was essentially gone. Looking back, Navas's recent charge seems problematic from a hindsight perspective. It appears he was influenced by Lin Huang's earlier goal, causing a slight change in his mentality, making him somewhat impatient. He's not usually impulsive, but his desire to prove himself against a world-class star like Lin seemed to get the better of him.

Navas knew that scouts from various top clubs, including some of the biggest names, were assessing him. Facing the world's number-one ranked team Spain in a crucial World Cup quarterfinal match, while being scouted by other clubs, created a mix of pressures that made him somewhat impatient. Fortunately, he quickly recognized this, and his subsequent performance stabilized, satisfying the scouts present. After watching most of the game, they began to jot down their observations in their notebooks:

"Navas is technically solid, reacts quickly, has a strong anticipatory ability, can swiftly identify the opponents' offensive routes, and makes the most sensible choices."

"He is very decisive in coming off his line, occasionally reckless, but with his excellent physical skills and superb goalkeeping, he manages to resolve most crises. Moreover, in the match against Costa Rica, Navas showed outstanding leadership and communicated well with his teammates, particularly the defenders. This allowed Costa Rica, far less skilled than their opponent, to hold their own against the world's best team, Spain."

"Overall assessment: Excellent!"

"Transfer price estimate: 10 to 18 million euros!"

After David Silva scored Spain's second goal, Bosque quickly made substitutions. In the 67th minute, Torres was replaced by Pedro. Spain switched to a familiar false nine formation. With the false nine, Spain's players passed more often and quicker. Costa Rica's players, hitting a physical limit, could not keep up with the increased pace of the game. This inability to keep up meant their goal was continuously under threat.

In the 71st minute, Pedro broke into the penalty area and his shot just missed the post. Five minutes later, Pedro again, receiving a pass from Lin Huang in the left side of the penalty area, executed a volley that Navas narrowly saved with one hand. Just ten minutes on the pitch, and Pedro felt what his teammates had experienced against Navas. How was this guy so tough to play against?

Similar to Pedro's feelings, Costa Rica's defenders, out of breath, incredulously watched Spain's number 30. Just moments ago, in a tight space and despite being double-teamed, he managed to pass the ball out. How did he do it? How could they completely stop him? It seemed they couldn't, but fortunately, they wouldn't have to consider this problem much longer.

In the 80th minute, Bosque indeed brought on Diego Costa, replacing team star Lin Huang. To prepare for the match against Argentina in four days, Bosque wanted to reduce the wear on his key players so they could face Argentina in better condition. After Lin left the field, Spain's attack did not stop. Substitute Diego Costa, freshly recovered from injury, energetically ran back and forth in the front, looking for scoring opportunities. Assisted by Spain's master midfielders, he indeed created several good chances. Unfortunately, he couldn't capitalize on them; his shots were either easily saved by Navas or went awry.

Under close guard by Costa Rica's defenders, Costa, just back from injury, played awkwardly. His ball-handling in tight spaces was nowhere near Lin's, making it difficult to find open space. Costa Rica's players, initially intimidated by Costa's reputation from Atlético Madrid, felt after a while:

Is that all?

He seemed much weaker compared to the previous number 30!

Of course, Costa's style differed from Lin's; his dribbling and breaking weren't as good, but he still managed to forcefully create a few chances in the penalty area. Unfortunately, these chances didn't turn into goals, and with Costa Rica's midfield core Ruiz tightly marked, their attacks also struggled to threaten.

The score of 2-0 was maintained until the final whistle. Spain easily overcame their opponents and proudly advanced to the semifinals. After the match, Costa Rica's players appeared somewhat dazed. Some stood with hands on hips, others knelt on the ground, and some just lay there sprawled out, gasping heavily, looking enviously at the celebrating Spanish players in the distance.

They were envious as Spain clinched the last semifinal spot. Unfortunately, they admitted their own skills were inferior, accepting their defeat gracefully. After all, of all the teams Spain had faced, Costa Rica had conceded the fewest goals. Considering the vast disparity in player values between the two teams, holding on to such an extent was quite commendable.

In the post-match press conference, Bosque was visibly delighted as he had just led his team to the semifinals. He energetically answered a barrage of questions from journalists, even addressing topics he usually avoided. Seeing his good mood, journalists eagerly continued their inquiries.

"Coach Bosque, your team has made it to the semifinals, and your next opponent is the formidable Argentina. Do you believe your team can win?"

Bosque smiled: "Of course, why not? We are the defending champions, after all!"

An Argentine journalist quickly retorted: "We have Messi, how could Argentina lose?"

Before Bosque could respond, a Spanish journalist countered: "Spain has Lin Huang!"

"How can you compare Lin, who has only been playing for a few years, to the great Messi?"

"Well, although Lin hasn't been playing long, he has already won a Confederations Cup with the team. What honors can Messi claim with the national team?"

This sparked a heated debate between the Argentine and Spanish journalists over who was stronger, Messi or Lin. The other journalists enjoyed the spectacle, not stopping the argument but rather fueling it, hoping it would escalate into a bigger confrontation.

What a perfect opportunity for sensational news: Spain vs. Argentina, Lin vs. Messi, such tags were sure to escalate discussions and traffic.

Sure enough, when the semifinal matchups were announced, fans of the teams involved erupted into fierce online debates.

"Brazil is the world's number one, I see Brazil eliminating Germany!"

"Haha, with Brazil's captain suspended and their key player injured, what do they have to fight the German machine?"

The upper bracket's semifinal between the host and Germany was a clash of titans. If Thiago Silva hadn't been suspended and Neymar hadn't been injured, the match would have been highly suspenseful. But with the loss of these key offensive and defensive players, Brazil's capabilities were severely weakened.

This makes people skeptical about the host's chances. If this weren't Brazil, their chances of winning might be less than 30%. But because this is Brazil, with the advantage of being the host, predictions for the game are 40-60 in favor of Germany.

Regarding the other semi-final, Spain versus Argentina, the fans are even more divided.

"With Spain in such an unstoppable form, Argentina is likely to face a tough challenge!"

"Indeed, Spain's matches look effortlessly stylish, and they seem to win easily no matter the opponent. They've never been pushed to the brink!"

Spanish fans, not just locally but also neutrals abroad attracted by Spain's strong performance and beautiful play, are in the majority.

"Ha, Spain is only good against weaker teams. They might not be so impressive against a real powerhouse!"

Naturally, Argentine and Messi fans disagree, believing Spain's record is so good only due to favorable draws and not facing top teams. Argentina, unlike Spain's previous opponents, is one of the favorites to win this World Cup. It won't be easy for Spain to beat them. Moreover, Argentina has Messi!

As the World Cup nears its climax, interest and stakes continue to rise. In the world of football, there has always been a debate: Is European or South American football stronger?

European football is known for its strong leagues, steady youth development, and rapidly evolving tactics, which have increasingly influenced the sport, achieving back-to-back World Cup wins. South America, known for producing talented players, has produced two Ballon d'Or winners. Their leagues may not be as influential as Europe's top five, but the prowess of South American players is undeniable. Thus, the debate continues without a clear winner, as fans from both sides cannot convince each other.

The World Cup offers a direct platform for this showdown, allowing them to prove on the field whether European football is more advanced or South American football is stronger. Besides this World Cup, in the past 19 editions, South American teams have won 9 championships, with Brazil taking 5 and Argentina and Uruguay 2 each. European teams have won 10 championships, slightly edging out South America. However, in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, South American teams failed even to reach the finals, which ended up being contests between European teams—quite a setback for fans supporting the strength of South American football.

Therefore, this World Cup in Brazil presents a perfect opportunity for South American teams to redeem themselves. They have indeed made significant progress compared to the last two tournaments, with both Brazil and Argentina reaching the semi-finals. Fortunately, there has been no internal clash; both semi-final matches are between European and South American teams. This means that if they perform well, both could meet in the finals, presenting a South American showdown to the world. Of course, if things go wrong, the finals could again be between two European teams. Allowing European teams to meet in the finals for the third consecutive time on their home ground would be a significant embarrassment for Brazil and all South American teams.

Therefore, before the semi-finals, the South American Football Confederation has called on fans to support Brazil and Argentina at the venues. The debate over whether European or South American football is superior may well be settled after these semi-finals. They cannot afford to lose!

With a loud thump, the football flew in a beautiful arc just brushing the top left corner of the goal. Seeing this, Messi finally cracked a satisfied smile. After learning that Argentina's semi-final opponent would be Spain, Messi increased his training intensity. Only having played in La Liga, he knew firsthand how formidable the Spanish national team was.

If it were before that guy joined the Spanish team, Argentina might have had an even chance or even held a slight edge over Spain. But now, Messi felt that Argentina's chances were less than 40%, possibly even more precarious than Brazil's in the upper half. Considering Germany's performance from the group stage to the knockout stages, their offensive firepower was not as strong as imagined. If Brazil could choose a more robust strategy, even without Neymar and key defender Thiago Silva, and not engage in an all-out attack but control the pace with solid defensive counterattacks aimed at Germany, their chances would still be substantial. But Spain is different!

This team shows no significant weaknesses; instead, their strengths are incredibly pronounced—superb offensive power, tremendous control, and extensive experience in major competitions. These are all areas where Argentina falls short. Despite having Messi, Aguero, Higuain, and Di Maria, Argentina's biggest weakness turns out to be their offense. Their forwards have collectively hit a dry spell in scoring at this World Cup, with Aguero yet to score after five matches. Higuain only recently scored, and Di Maria has scored just once. Messi, the previous major contributor to their victories, has also not scored in the last two matches. Compared to Lin Huang, who scores consistently, Messi has gone 225 minutes without scoring! This situation has understandably caused Messi concern. He's unsure if he can score against Spain, but if even he can't step up for the team, who can he rely on?

Thus, Messi has chosen to maximize his remaining time to improve. He's focusing on penalties and free-kicks, especially impressed by Lin Huang's penalty against Mexico. With numerous shootouts at this World Cup, Messi feels it necessary to practice, thinking that maybe his extra training could prove decisive if it comes to a shootout!

Chapter 307: A 7-1 Thrashing of Brazil Shocks the World!

While Messi was intensifying his training, Lin Huang was doing the same. The difference was that Lin Huang was being used as a practice target. Because his playing style is so similar to Messi's, to better simulate Argentina's offensive strategies—especially how to defend against Messi—the Spanish coach, Bosque, had Lin Huang play the role of Messi to train the Spanish defenders.

Lin Huang was indifferent to this role, taking it as an opportunity for breakthrough training. The Spanish defenders, however, were far from indifferent. They had watched Lin Huang dominate opposing defenders on the field and secretly wished they could celebrate his skills up close. But now, facing him directly, they experienced the same frustration that their counterparts had felt on the field. They were utterly outclassed.

Seeing Lin Huang now, they would rather take a detour. They were truly intimidated.

"Looks like the simulation is quite effective, isn't it?" Bosque remarked casually to the defensive coach, Puyol, as they chatted on the sidelines.

Puyol's mouth twitched in response, his look saying, "Effective? Are you kidding?" Their defense was practically being shredded by Lin Huang; how could that be considered effective?

"Hehe, I think Lin is stronger than Messi. If they can't handle Lin, they might stand a chance against Messi," Bosque continued optimistically. "Besides, the match hasn't started yet. We still have time to improve our defensive skills."

Puyol instinctively wanted to disagree with Bosque's first statement. As the captain of Barcelona, he had watched Messi grow into a superstar. No one knew Messi's capabilities better than he did. A few years ago, when Ronaldo and Messi were both hailed as the best of their era, Puyol was dismissive of such comparisons. Having faced Ronaldo many times, Puyol acknowledged his skills but always felt that Messi was in a different league. Ronaldo was among the best, the pinnacle for mortals, while Messi's genius was simply inimitable.

However, recalling Lin Huang's progress over the past two years and his performance in matches made Puyol reconsider his urge to object. Without a doubt, Lin was also a genius, a Messi-type prodigy. It's no wonder that when Lin first emerged, he was dubbed "the second Messi." This label only changed as Lin's performances in leagues, the Champions League, and internationally began to match and even surpass those of Messi.

Now, Lin might actually be better than Messi. After all, the numbers don't lie. Messi's stats in league, Champions League, and this World Cup have all been eclipsed by Lin, and Messi's explosive power and breakthrough ability have declined since his injury last year. So, in terms of dribbling past opponents, Messi might indeed fall short of Lin now.

From this perspective, Bosque wasn't entirely wrong.

"Their styles of play are still quite different; it's not really possible to perfectly simulate Messi," Puyol noted. Having played with both, he understood their habits and individual characteristics well. For ordinary defenders, stopping players like Lin and Messi with one-on-one marking was nearly impossible. Defensive tactics involving multiple players compressing space and pressing aggressively were necessary.

During his time at Barcelona, Messi frequently faced targeted defenses in league and Champions League games, with double or even triple teams common. Although these tactics sometimes failed, contributing to classic moments of Messi taking on four or five players, if such multi-man defenses consistently failed, then Messi's highlight reels wouldn't be so legendary.

Such tactics are definitely effective; Messi can't always break through multiple defenders. How many players to commit to pressing him and when is something that needs more consideration. If too many players are drawn to one opponent, it leaves gaps elsewhere. If the opposition quickly exploits these gaps to launch a threatening attack, the strategy backfires.

Especially given the quality of Argentina's attacking lineup, focusing only on Messi isn't enough. Though their strikers have been underperforming at this World Cup, what if they regain their form during the semi-finals? Players like Higuain, Aguero, and Di Maria have proven their mettle in league and Champions League play; they're not just big names without substance.

While designing tactics to contain Messi, Bosque couldn't afford to overlook these players. Although Argentina had struggled in their matches, far from Spain's smooth sailing, Bosque and the Spanish team took them very seriously as a traditional South American powerhouse. Argentina had been favorites to win the World Cup before it started, and their ability to reach the finals despite poor form spoke volumes about their quality.

Spain saw Argentina as a formidable adversary, and Argentina viewed Spain as a major obstacle. Argentina's coach, Saviola, had agonized over footage of Spain's recent matches until his hair began to gray. "How can we play against such a strong Spain? If we're eliminated by Spain, will the fans forgive me?" As Argentina's coach, the pressure on Saviola was immense.

In the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, Argentina had strong squads. In particular, the previous tournament could have been theirs if not for Maradona's amateurish coaching. The 2010 squad included stars from the then Champions League-winning Inter Milan—Samuel, Zanetti, Cambiasso, Diego Milito—and prime Messi and Higuain. This lineup included the top scorers from La Liga and Serie A, yet they were blanked by Germany...

If Maradona had simply mimicked Mourinho's tactics at Inter, focusing on defense and exploiting Messi's speed and dribbling, they wouldn't have been so thoroughly defeated by Germany. However, Maradona's puzzling strategy, which kept Messi away from threatening the goal and used him instead as a playmaker in midfield, led to a chaotic and aimless quarter-final for Argentina.

As Maradona's successor, Saviola faced no less pressure. This World Cup's Argentine squad was still potent, even more star-studded than four years ago. Yet Saviola felt like he was walking on thin ice. His coaching experience was limited; he hadn't managed top clubs, which is crucial for a national team coach because ordinary teams rarely possess star players.

With Argentina's galaxy of top-tier talent from the big five European leagues, managing how to use them effectively and maintain a good atmosphere in the dressing room was new to him. Essentially, Saviola had only driven economy cars but was suddenly handed the keys to a multimillion-dollar luxury sports car—a machine he simply couldn't handle.

This was why Argentina, despite their all-star roster, struggled so much. Saviola didn't know how to use his front line effectively or maximize their potential. And clearly, this wasn't an issue that could be resolved quickly.

Hence, Saviola hesitated, unsure whether to adopt a conservative approach and use counterattacking tactics against Spain. Although playing defensively might sound unappealing for Argentina, such tactics were incredibly effective. Especially for a rookie coach, securing the defense was essential before considering offense...

On July 9, 2014, the World Cup semifinals kicked off with Brazil facing Germany. After a four-day break, the reignited World Cup fervor captivated billions of fans worldwide. In some regions, fans even gathered friends and stayed up late just to catch this exciting and intense match live! For instance, in a major Eastern country, fans stayed up until 4 AM local time to watch the game, despite the national team's absence from the tournament. Had their national team made it to the World Cup, the enthusiasm would likely have been unimaginable.

At 19:00 sharp, the match officially began. Brazil, missing two key players, was perceived to be at a disadvantage. Yet, overly confident Brazilian fans made puzzling pre-game claims. Statements like "A Neymar-less Brazil is the true Brazil," and "The invincible Hulk will use his brute strength to destroy the German war machine," were common. They also boasted about Paulinho and Fernandinho being impenetrable barriers that would ensure even standing by the end of the game would be a victory for the German midfield.

However, from the start, Brazil seemed unaffected by the absence of Neymar and Thiago Silva. In the first ten minutes, energized by over 60,000 fans at the Mineirão Stadium, Brazil aggressively attacked the German goal. In the 3rd minute, Marcelo's long shot from outside the box just missed, drawing sighs from Brazilian fans and gasps from the Germans. Despite their missing stars, Brazil still appeared formidable.

But the mood among German fans changed just a few minutes later. In the 11th minute, Germany won a corner. Kroos, after assessing his teammates' positions, sent the ball to the far post. Brazil's defense made a critical error, concentrating too heavily on the near post and neglecting Thomas Müller at the far post. Unmarked, Müller volleyed from about 8 meters out, sending the ball into the net. Germany led 1-0!

This was Müller's fifth goal of the tournament, moving him ahead of Messi to third place in the top scorers' list, trailing only Lin Huang and the already-eliminated James Rodríguez. German fans were ecstatic, sensing an increased chance of victory against a strong Brazilian side.

While the tens of thousands of Brazilian fans in the stadium were disheartened by the goal, they did not lose faith. They believed in Brazil's ability to equalize given their strong team.

Little did they know, Müller's goal was just the beginning of a catastrophe. In the 23rd minute, Kroos sent a through ball to Müller, who cleverly moved the ball before discreetly passing it to Klose. Klose's shot from 9 meters was initially saved by Cesar, but Klose followed up with a rebound that went over the fallen goalkeeper and into the net, making it 2-0. This goal broke the World Cup scoring record, previously held by Klose and Brazilian legend Ronaldo, who was present in the stadium. The camera panned to a serious-looking Ronaldo, uncertain if he was more upset about his record being broken or the dire situation for Brazil.

As the first half progressed, Germany's relentless attack led to goals from Kroos and Sami Khedira, putting Germany up by a stunning 5-0 at halftime. Commentators around the world used phrases like "incredible," "unbelievable," and "baffling" to describe the match and Germany's frightening offensive display.

Despite the lead, German coach Joachim Löw warned his players at halftime not to use the five-goal lead to humiliate Brazil further, stressing the importance of playing respectfully without slacking off. The Germans heeded his words and continued to play solidly without easing off too much, thwarting Brazilian attempts at a comeback with Neuer making spectacular saves.

In the 69th minute, substitute Schürrle scored Germany's sixth goal, and ten minutes later, he added another, bringing the score to a shocking 7-0. Löw was visibly shaken by the unfolding scoreline, concerned about both the unprecedented result and the potential backlash.

As the final whistle blew, the score stood at 7-1, a historic and devastating loss for Brazil. This match, a stunning display of German efficiency and prowess, would be remembered as one of the most shocking in World Cup history.

Chapter 308: The Impact of Brazil's Defeat and the Start of Spain vs. Argentina!

Facing the host of this World Cup, and a five-time champion, Brazil, Germany achieved a wild victory in the semifinals. This is a story we will tell our children and grandchildren for years to come. The Germans know how to rub it in; winning wasn't enough—they want to preserve this win and recount it endlessly to future generations. This is truly adding insult to injury!

The Brazil team, led by Scolari, suffered a record-breaking defeat and was knocked out. After the match, Scolari tried to explain the reasons behind this loss. The absence of Neymar and Thiago Silva is a plausible explanation. However, even without these two, a five-time champion Brazil should not lose by seven goals to Germany. The few answers from the Brazilian coach couldn't fully explain the crushing defeat, which will likely become a permanent shadow in the hearts of Brazilian fans.

After Germany's 7-1 thrashing of Brazil, they were the first to advance to the finals, while their opponents suffered the worst loss in World Cup history. Anyone who watched this match will have to reassess Germany's strength. Whether it's Spain or Argentina facing them in the finals, it won't be an easy game. Perhaps our neighbors across the channel will lift their fourth World Cup trophy!

Even the usually proud English had to admit that Germany has gone further and been more successful in football. The strength of the Premier League hasn't translated into the English national team, which exited the World Cup without a single win, contrasting sharply with Germany's dominant march to the finals.

For Brazil, the semifinal match against Germany turned their World Cup dreams into a nightmare.

Brazil faced the most painful defeat in football history, with Germany scoring five goals in just 18 minutes of the first half. Kroos and Khedira put on an excellent performance, and Klose became the top scorer in World Cup history. The 7-1 thrashing of Brazil by Germany was so shocking that nearly all global news media covered it. Besides the aforementioned, Spain's "Mundo Deportivo," Britain's "Sky Sports," France's "L'Équipe," and Italy's "Gazzetta dello Sport" also extensively reported on the match.

Such a disastrous defeat, especially against a five-time champion like Brazil, is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Fans worldwide couldn't stop talking about it. After the match, social media and news comment sections were flooded with reactions from fans.

"Where are those who hyped the invincible Hulk? Come out and show yourselves!" "The invincible Hulk was invisible the entire match and was subbed off in the second half!" "Without Neymar, Brazil just can't do it!" "I think Thiago Silva's absence impacted Brazil more!" "Indeed, Brazil's defense looked like a mess; the Germans could score at will!" "How is it possible? David Luiz, Dante, Maicon, Marcelo—aren't they all top defenders? How did Germany run over them completely?"

Fans couldn't understand why Brazil's defenders performed so poorly. Unlike Costa Rica, whose players are mostly unknown and play in their domestic league, Brazil's defenders all play in the top European leagues and are well-known stars. Yet their performance was worse than Costa Rica's relatively unknown players.

"It seems we overestimated Brazil's strength due to the home-field advantage!" "Maybe, but we might have underestimated Germany's strength as well!" "Haha, I love this! My German team is invincible. Bring on the Spanish or Argentinians, let's see them try!" Stimulated by this match, German fans were ecstatic. Those who feared the reigning champion Spain now dismissed them. "Germany can beat Brazil by seven goals; can Spain do that?" Spain certainly couldn't!

The devastating score was a result of multiple factors. Even if Germany played Brazil again with the same lineup, they might not replicate such a score. Despite any real gap in strength, it certainly isn't a seven-goal difference. The extreme score was the result of various factors combined.

Brazil's thrashing brought global attention to the World Cup. Fans turned their attention to the other semifinal—Argentina vs. Spain! This match, featuring the strong reigning champions and a star-studded Argentina led by Messi, promised to be just as thrilling.

After Germany's stunning performance, fans hoped for another goal-packed spectacle in the other semifinal. Some even speculated if Spain or Argentina could thrash each other like Brazil was.

"Argentina's defense is strong, and they don't have any suspensions, so it's hard to break them down." "Could it be that Spain gets thrashed instead?" "Spain's defense isn't weak, and their midfield is tough to beat." "Germany could do it!" "Will Spain use counter-attacks in this match given Argentina's strong attack?" "After seeing Germany vs. Brazil, both teams might resort to defensive counter-attacks to avoid embarrassment."

Not only die-hard fans, but even casual viewers got drawn into the World Cup discussions. With everyone around talking about it, watching the games seemed essential to being part of the conversation. The showdown between the reigning champions and Argentina, featuring a clash between superstars Messi and Lin Huang, was eagerly awaited.

Before the match, the debate about who was better—Messi or Lin Huang—resurfaced. Initially, the debate involved Messi and Ronaldo, but with Ronaldo's Portugal exiting early, the spotlight shifted to Lin Huang, who had emerged as a formidable talent.

While fans and media buzzed with excitement, Messi and Lin Huang focused on their respective teams, more concerned about winning the match and advancing to the finals than individual rivalries.

At this point in the competition, nobody wants to fall in the semifinals; everyone hopes to advance to the final and lift their first-ever Hercules Cup. The difference is, Lin Quan is participating in the World Cup for the first time and hasn't yet experienced defeat. Meanwhile, Messi is in his third World Cup, having failed to win in his previous attempts. Therefore, Messi might have a stronger desire for the Cup.

Standing in the players' tunnel, the teams didn't greet each other. Despite being club teammates or even good friends off the pitch, in the World Cup arena, they are simply players for Argentina/Spain. However, during the pre-match handshake, Lin Quan still embraced a few of his club teammates.

"Lin, go easy on us during the match!" Saballeta joked as he hugged him, patting his back.

"I'll try!" Lin Quan knew it was a joke and responded with a smile.

Saballeta and Demichelis exchanged glances, both understanding the challenge. Having played with Lin Quan for a year at their club, they were well aware of his capabilities. If he really got serious, the two of them together wouldn't stand a chance against him.

Fortunately, Argentina's coach, Sabella, had prepared defensive tactics specifically to contain Lin Quan, hoping they would be effective during the match. Aguero, unfortunately, was playing a substitute role for Argentina. Originally, after Higuain had failed to score in several matches, Aguero had some opportunities. However, he didn't capitalize on them, and now that Higuain was back in form, Aguero was left out in the cold, benched by Sabella.

Lin Quan was puzzled—hadn't Sabella watched Aguero play for Manchester City? As his primary support striker, Aguero had performed excellently in both league and Champions League matches. Lin Quan's style resembled Messi's, and since Aguero had a good on-field chemistry with him, it stood to reason he would mesh well with Messi too, especially since they were close friends.

Choosing Higuain over Aguero was baffling. Higuain was like an upgraded version of Negredo who, although a good partner for Lin Quan, wasn't as dynamic as Aguero, who was quick and efficient in finishing, making him the perfect match for playmakers like Lin Quan and Messi.

After all the pre-match routines on July 10th at 7 PM, the World Cup semifinal between Argentina and Spain kicked off. Perhaps influenced by the previous match, both teams played cautiously. They had rarely met internationally, with their last encounter being a friendly in September 2010, where Argentina beat the then newly-crowned World Cup champions Spain 4-1. However, results from previous friendlies, especially one as old as four years ago, were not taken seriously. Both teams crafted their tactics based on each other's recent World Cup performances.

To avoid a collapse like Brazil's, securing their defenses early in the game to prevent early goals was crucial. Brazil's heavy loss was largely due to quick successive goals that destabilized the team. With Brazil's harsh lesson in mind, the remaining teams were cautious.

This conservative playstyle left some fans dissatisfied. "What's this, attack!" "I'm sick of Spain's backward passes!" "Why doesn't Argentina press more aggressively? They just watch the opponent pass the ball around!"

Spain's players wanted to attack, but Argentina's tight defense didn't give them much chance. Lin Quan attempted to break through but was immediately intercepted by Argentina's left-back Rojo and defensive midfielder Mascherano. After probing Argentina's defensive setup, Lin Quan opted to pass the ball back safely, avoiding unnecessary risks until they better understood Argentina's tactics.

Seeing Spain's cautious approach, Argentina's coach Sabella looked tense. He wanted to counter-attack but was concerned about appearances. However, considering Spain's possession-based style, they would inevitably push forward, allowing Argentina to then tighten their formation without criticism.

Yet, as the match progressed, Spain seemed in no rush to attack, and the intensity wasn't there. Were they holding back?

On the field, Messi was active. When Spain pressed, he and his teammates aggressively challenged the ball carriers. Messi rarely exerted himself this much at his club, saving energy for attacks. But at the World Cup, for victory, he willingly did the gritty work, although such pressing was hardly effective against Spain's master passers.

As Messi approached Xavi, the ball was passed to Iniesta. When Messi targeted Iniesta, the latter passed back to Lin Quan. Seeing Lin Quan receive the ball, Messi didn't hesitate and charged towards him. The crowd, witnessing their first direct confrontation at the World Cup, erupted in excitement.

Chapter 309: Lin Quan vs. Messi, a World Cup Clash!

Chapter 309: Lin Quan vs. Messi, a World Cup Clash!

Messi's defensive skills aren't strong, so when he saw Messi charging at him, Lin Quan wasn't worried. He timed it perfectly; as Messi lunged forward, Lin Quan deftly turned with the ball, not only evading Messi's challenge but also swapping positions with him, successfully dribbling past.

The fans in the stands gasped in surprise as they saw Lin Quan easily bypass Messi. This scene was far from the epic clash they had imagined. Many couldn't help but think that Messi might not be as good as Lin Quan.

"Doesn't matter, Messi's strength is in attacking!" "Exactly, Messi might not be able to stop Lin Quan, but Lin Quan can't stop Messi either. Just watch!"

Messi, with years of fame, had a massive fanbase. With Brazil next to Argentina, many Argentine fans filled the stadium, undoubtedly supporting Messi.

Thanks to their solid defense, Argentina withstood Spain's probing attacks. Then, they launched an offensive of their own. Messi, being Argentina's attacking core, naturally received the ball to organize their attack. As soon as Messi got the ball, Spain's players started pressing.

However, this didn't trouble Messi. He effortlessly dodged the first challenger with a change of pace. But as soon as he got past the first player, another one rushed in—Lin Quan.

Seeing Messi dribbling while Lin Quan defended, Messi's supporters got excited. Earlier, Lin Quan had bypassed Messi effortlessly, embarrassing them. Now, they saw this as the perfect opportunity for Messi to regain face.

"Get past him!" "Teach that kid a lesson!"

The fans egged Messi on. Messi himself also wanted to give Lin Quan a lesson. Though not as competitive as Ronaldo, Messi still had a strong will to win. He wanted to defeat Lin Quan in a direct duel to boost his team's morale and possibly dent Spain's confidence.

Messi, dribbling with quick steps, suddenly changed his pace, feinted, and pretended to break through Lin Quan's left side. Messi's fast footwork meant any hesitation from the defender would let him breeze through. Lin Quan didn't hesitate and made a move to block. Seeing this, Messi quickly pulled the ball back to his right foot, attempting a quick maneuver to pass Lin Quan.

Just as Messi initiated his move, he felt a slight nudge, losing his balance. He stumbled and miscontrolled the ball, which rolled away to a nearby Spanish player. The referee blew his whistle, signaling a foul on Lin Quan.

"Lin, watch your defensive actions!" The referee came over and verbally warned Lin Quan. The foul was borderline—could be called or ignored. However, since Messi was involved, the referee had to call it to avoid controversy, given Messi's superstar status.

Lin Quan accepted the warning without protest and extended a hand to help Messi up. Messi wasn't angry, as the foul wasn't malicious. He grabbed Lin Quan's hand, got up, and patted him on the back as a friendly gesture. Despite not knowing each other well, there was a sense of mutual respect between them.

Although Lin Quan was warned, his defense was effective. Purely relying on skill to stop Messi was nearly impossible. Even with a good understanding of Messi's style, Messi's adaptability meant he could often find a way through. Thus, adding physicality to the defense was necessary. There was a risk of being carded, but Lin Quan was careful not to cross the line.

This tactic worked only against honest players like Messi. Against someone like Di Maria, Lin Quan's slightest touch might result in a dramatic fall and loud screams, drawing all attention.

On the bench, Aguero watched his two friends with envy, wishing to be on the field. He hoped the coach would bring him on soon, although it might mean Argentina was struggling.

As the match progressed, both teams began to reveal more of their tactics, gradually increasing their attacking efforts.

The pace of the match gradually picked up, becoming increasingly thrilling. After mid-field pressing failed, Argentina began attempting long passes over the Spanish defense. However, the Spanish defenders effectively covered the ball's landing spots, and Messi was constantly marked, limiting his ability to receive passes. As for Higuaín, without Messi's passes, he was unable to pose a threat upfront and was swallowed by Spain's defensive waves without causing a splash.

In the 25th minute, after switching positions with David Silva, Lin Quan took the ball on the left flank and attempted a forceful cut into the penalty area. Mascherano's charge failed, and Lin Quan bypassed him. Unfortunately, Zabaleta made a successful sliding tackle, clearing the ball to the sideline. Lin Quan shook his head but gave his club teammate a thumbs up for a smart defensive play. Zabaleta had cleverly used the moment Lin Quan adjusted his pace to dispossess him, giving Lin no time to evade the slide.

This tackle might have seemed ordinary to the fans, but only players on the field understand the complexity of such a play. Without deep knowledge of Lin's playing style and significant match experience to time the tackle, it would have been easy to miss the ball and lose position, potentially giving Lin a clear shot at goal.

Spain earned a corner kick, and after consulting with Xavi, it was decided that Xavi would take the corner. Ramos excitedly moved into the box, ready to head the ball, and the towering Piqué also pushed forward. Argentine defenders heightened their alertness, marking these threats tightly to prevent any scoring chances.

Xavi didn't send the ball directly into the box but instead passed to Lin on the right edge of the box. Lin then passed the ball back to the center where Iniesta, taking advantage of the defenders primarily guarding inside the box, tried a long shot. However, the shot deflected off a defender and went out for another corner.

This time, Lin positioned himself in the corner area. He signaled his teammates, indicating he would send the ball to the far post. Piqué initially dashed forward, drawing the defenders with him. Then, Ramos cleverly doubled back towards the far post. As the ball flew over the heads of the leaping players at the near post, it fell perfectly at the far post where Ramos awaited eagerly.

He jumped with great enthusiasm, ready to head in his third goal of the tournament. However, Argentina's keeper Romero was vigilant and punched the ball away before Ramos could connect. The ball fell to Xavi, who unfortunately over-hit his shot.

Although Ramos didn't make contact, the Spanish wave of attacks continued, and the fans were beginning to notice that control of the game was shifting into Spanish hands. As predicted before the game, Spain's robust midfield gradually took over the match dynamics.

By the 29th minute, Mascherano had to clear the ball after Lin's breakthrough on the right flank. After the throw-in, Iniesta passed to Xavi, who then found David Silva. Silva's shot from just outside the box was slightly off target.

During Spain's offensive surge, Argentina managed a few counterattacks. In the 34th minute, Pérez was fouled near the arc, granting Argentina a promising free-kick position. Messi positioned himself for the kick. After observing Spain's wall, he chose a delicate chip over it. The ball's trajectory was unpredictable, almost catching Casillas off guard, but it just wasn't enough.

Despite the high quality of Messi's free-kick, it still didn't result in a goal. Following this close call, Spain's coach Bosque immediately cautioned his players to avoid fouls around the box.

As the first half drew to a close, Spain's relentless offense dominated. The rapid passing between Lin, Iniesta, Xavi, and Torres showcased a mesmerizing flow, leaving the Argentine defense scrambling to cover gaps. Finally, in the 42nd minute, Busquets intercepted a pass in the midfield and quickly found Xavi, who passed to Lin. Lin tapped the ball to Iniesta, who threaded it through to Torres. Torres then returned it to Lin, who had positioned himself just outside the box.

Lin didn't attempt to break through the central defenders directly but instead drew them out, opening a channel in the middle. He then cleverly back-heeled the pass to the onrushing Torres, who found himself directly in front of the goal.

Seeing the ball coming his way, Torres marveled at Lin's precision and vision—the pass was perfect. He relished the thought of having such a teammate at Chelsea. What a joy it would be!

As Romero rushed out to intercept, Torres didn't shoot but instead passed back to Lin, who was ready. Lin fired a powerful shot into the net. 1:0! Spain broke the deadlock.

The vast stadium fell silent as the fans were stunned by Spain's intricate play and Lin's final strike. While Argentina defended well, Spain's players found a way through with their precise passing, reminiscent of peak-era Barcelona. However, it wasn't the legendary number 10 scoring this time but number 30 for Spain—Lin Quan!

Chapter 310: Football Kings Speak Out, Pelé: "I Favor Spain for the Championship!"

Chapter 310: Football Kings Speak Out, Pelé: "I Favor Spain for the Championship!"

"What a fantastic goal!" "Lin Quan's goal has pushed Argentina into the abyss!" As Lin Quan scored, commentators around the world, speaking in various languages, excitedly narrated the goal to fans. Major TV networks repeatedly replayed the goal, showcasing Busquets' interception, Xavi's pass, and the series of passes and movements by Spanish players up front.

"This goal is undoubtedly a credit to the entire team!" "Spain's team executed incredible coordination to achieve a spectacular goal!" "When Lin Quan shot, he was probably less than two meters from the goal; the ball was practically passed into the net!"

After reviewing the slow-motion footage of Spain's goal, commentators around the world couldn't help but express their admiration: "People said that after Guardiola left Barcelona and as peak Barcelona declined, possession-based football would die. However, anyone who watched these semifinals wouldn't think possession football is fading away. Inspired by Spain's style, Germany's strength has increased, as evidenced by their 7-1 thrashing of Brazil. With Lin Quan joining the team, Spain has finally assembled their dream lineup. This Spanish team feels like a return to the days of peak Barcelona! Their control of the game and their ability to pressure opponents is terrifying!"

"Although the score is only 1-0, Spain's lead doesn't seem significant. But after Lin Quan scored, the dynamics of this match changed drastically. Argentina's chances of winning plummeted, shifting from a pre-match 60-40 to now 80-20 or even 90-10. If Argentina can't equalize soon, they will slowly suffocate under Spain's relentless pressure. Argentina's coach, Saviola, is already sweating profusely. Despite the hot weather, he feels as cold as if he's fallen into an ice cellar. He had intended to play on the counter, but his team fell behind in the first half, thwarting his plans. Now, Argentina has no choice but to attack with all their might in the second half."

"After seeing Spain's offensive power in the first half, Saviola is extremely anxious. Is it really feasible to go toe-to-toe with such a team? He's studied Spain's previous five matches, noting that many teams could keep up with Spain in the first half. But once Spain breaks the deadlock, those teams quickly collapse, conceding second, third, or even fourth goals. The Netherlands in the first match, Chile in the second, and Mexico and Costa Rica in the knockout rounds all followed this script. Now, Argentina is handed the same script. If they choose to launch a full-scale counterattack, their fate may not be much better than those teams. This is why the public is skeptical about Argentina's chances after they conceded. Falling behind against Spain almost certainly means defeat."

"If it weren't for having a superstar like Messi in the team, the outside world might not even give them that last 20% chance of winning. The only reason people think Argentina still has a chance is because of Messi. After all, a superstar of his caliber can perform miracles!"

Yet, Messi's mood was somewhat downcast. Watching Lin Quan surrounded by his jubilant Spanish teammates, Messi felt a pang of envy. If he had chosen to join Spain, he might have been the one celebrated in the middle. Shaking his head, Messi dismissed such thoughts from his mind. As an Argentine, he is committed to fighting for Argentina and does not regret his decision. Instead of dwelling on regrets, he's better off rallying his spirits and trying to equalize as soon as possible. Now fully motivated, Messi refused to let Lin Quan get all the glory. He has been yearning for the Hercules Cup for over eight years, and this time, he is determined not to let it slip away so easily.

When play resumed after Spain's celebration, Messi was noticeably more active. In the 45th minute, his breakthrough caused Busquets to foul and receive a yellow card. Although Busquets and Messi are club teammates and have always had a good relationship, on the field, Busquets didn't hesitate to commit a necessary foul. After the foul, he immediately apologized to Messi, hoping not to damage their relationship. Messi didn't hold a grudge as Busquets hadn't used excessive force; he merely pulled him down, and since Busquets had already received a yellow card, there wasn't much more to say. After all, once the national team games are over, they still have to return to club duties, and maintaining a good relationship is beneficial for both.

As the half came to a close, Argentina decided to use this free kick to attempt a header on goal, but Spain's defense was tight. The ball entered the box, but Ramos cleared it immediately. The Argentinian players on the outside then took a long shot that went over the goal, and the referee blew the whistle to end the first half. With a one-goal deficit, the Argentine players returned to the locker room with solemn expressions.

"Come on, Argentina!" "Go, Messi!"

Seeing this, the fans in the stands, including those from Argentina and fans of Messi, shouted out to encourage their team and players. In fact, since Argentina fell behind, these fans have been vocally supporting their team, sticking by them without hurling insults but instead fulfilling their roles as the best twelfth player loyally.

With the host Brazil already eliminated, Argentina has become South America's last hope. This led many Brazilian fans at the venue to set aside past grievances and start cheering for Argentina. People naturally sympathize with the underdog, and given the situation and the current score, Argentina is undeniably the underdog. Even Ronaldo, who had said before the game that "as long as it's not Argentina who wins the championship," was on social media cheering for Argentina.

"Come on, brothers from Argentina, defend the honor of South American football with your courage!"

Ronaldo's message prompted other stars to follow suit. Ronaldinho, who has a good relationship with Messi and has always seen him as a younger brother, also posted on social media: "Go Messi, show them your true strength!"

When two Brazilian players spoke up, how could Argentine stars remain silent? Batistuta, the legendary Argentine striker, posted: "I believe in miracles because my compatriots will fight to the last minute!" Maradona, also an Argentine legend, spoke out during the halftime break in an interview: "Argentina will win. We have the strength, we have Messi, we have Higuaín, we have Di María, and we will make it to the final!"

Maradona, more than anyone, wants to see Argentina lift the Hercules Cup again, just as he led them to victory in the Mexico World Cup years ago.

In this Argentine team, there is someone Maradona believes to be his successor: Lionel Messi! Maradona firmly believes that Messi can become a football king like him. And to become a king, winning the World Cup is almost a necessary condition! So, Messi, go for it! You can do it!

With Maradona speaking out, the other football king, Pelé, couldn't stay silent. However, knowing his reputation as a jinx, Pelé didn't directly bless Argentina. Instead, he playfully posted on social media: "Hey guys, I think the Spanish team is just too strong, they are definitely going to win this World Cup!"

Pelé's tweet immediately sparked numerous responses from fans: "Haha, Pelé jinxed Spain, does that mean Spain will be eliminated?" "Not necessarily eliminated, but their chances of winning are probably gone, right?" "You're underestimating Pelé's jinxing powers. If he thinks Spain will win, they probably won't even make it to the finals!" "Is it really that scary?" "Yes, it's terrifying!" "You scared me; I thought Pelé was going to bless Argentina. Glad that disaster didn't happen!" "Argentine fans should be thanking Pelé for sparing them!" "Thanks, Pelé, for sparing us!" "Thanks, Pelé, for sparing us!"

Argentine fans lined up to thank Pelé, while Spanish fans, after reading his tweet, couldn't help but become indignant. "Darn, the Argentines are so despicable, they brought in Pelé, the jinx, to curse us!" "This is bad!" "Don't worry, Spain is too lucky to be easily jinxed!" "Can someone tell Bosque to just put 11 defenders on in the second half and play a full defensive setup?"

Spanish fans were panicking, suggesting absurd strategies like using 11 defenders. Pelé's jinxing reputation was well known, and every team he jinxed usually met a grim fate. Spain had a strong chance of defending their World Cup title and had dominated on the field, nearly securing a spot in the final. Suddenly jinxed by Pelé, Spanish fans began to worry. Superstitions might be unreliable, but better safe than sorry!

In Spain's locker room, Bosque was unaware his team had been jinxed. He was pleased with the first half and told the players to continue with the same tactics. Considering Xavi's age, he planned to substitute him at the 60-minute mark if Argentina attacked intensively, deciding whether to focus more on offense or defense based on the game's flow.

Bosque had many options, with 12 substitute players at his disposal. One advantage of the World Cup is that even if players aren't in the starting lineup, they can all sit on the bench, ready to be called upon as needed.

As the second half started, Argentina kicked off and immediately attacked, targeting Xavi as Bosque had predicted. Busquets, already carded, was cautious in his defense, and Xavi's age and physical condition limited his defensive effectiveness, giving Argentina their chance.

In the 47th minute, Argentina's right-wing play broke through Spain's line, and a cross by Zabaleta forced Alba to clear the ball to safety. The play started on the wing but was initiated by Messi after he bypassed Xavi. If Spain's midfield had intercepted Messi's pass, the attack wouldn't have been a threat.

Bosque stood up, alarmed by Argentina's fiercer-than-expected offense, with Messi and Di María creating significant threats on the right. He quickly called Martínez to warm up. Originally a defensive midfielder and retrained as a defender at Bayern, Spain needed his strong defensive capabilities.

Deciding who to substitute was challenging: replace Xavi or Busquets? While contemplating, a major incident occurred on the field.

At the 55th minute, a head collision during an Argentine corner kick led to severe injuries for both players involved. They couldn't continue, forcing both teams to make substitutions. Argentina replaced Mascherano with Biglia, and Bosque brought on Martínez for Busquets. However, this didn't resolve the issue with Xavi's stamina.

Shortly thereafter, Bosque needed another substitution. He glanced over at Koke and Alonso on the bench, unsure of the best choice.

Chapter 311: Lin Quan Scores Again, Spain Nearly Steps into the Finals!

Chapter 311: Lin Quan Scores Again, Spain Nearly Steps into the Finals!

"Marco's jumping ability is astonishing!"

"Yes, despite being only 174 cm tall, he can compete in the air with Busquets who is 189 cm—terrifying!"

"If he hadn't jumped so high, maybe they wouldn't have been hurt so badly!"

Watching the unexpected events unfold on the field, fans from both sides were worried.

Mascherano and Busquets, both key defenders for their teams, had to leave the field due to injuries, a significant loss for both Spain and Argentina.

Biglia, replacing Mascherano, lacked his defensive fierceness and resilience, which had once earned Mascherano the reputation of being one of the toughest defensive midfielders in the world.

With him, Argentina's defense had a nearly impenetrable barrier; his absence was a huge blow.

Busquets, known as a "filter for the blind," played a more crucial role than the fans could see.

With both players off, the game took an unexpected turn.

After the substitutions, the pace of the game didn't slow down.

Spain capitalized on the moment as Biglia, newly on the field, hadn't adjusted to the pace yet, launching a fierce attack on Argentina.

In the 58th minute, Argentina's defender Garay lost his shoe in an encounter with Lin Quan, but just as the Spanish cross flew in front of him.

Garay, one shoe off, tried to clear the ball hurriedly. He managed the clearance but slipped and fell, sprawling on the grass, which caused the fans, even the anxious Argentine fans, to burst into laughter.

Spain's corner was then taken by Ramos, who jumped high but headed the ball straight into the hands of goalkeeper Romero.

In the 59th minute, Spain's assault continued in the Argentine box.

Lin Quan outmaneuvered Zabaleta on the wing and was about to break into the box when Demichelis, unable to stop him, fouled Lin just outside the box.

The foul occurred outside the box, but Lin, due to momentum, fell inside it.

The scene became chaotic. Spanish fans shouted for a penalty, pressuring the referee, while Argentine players rushed to explain that the foul was outside the box.

The referee calmed everyone down and then showed Demichelis a yellow card, signaling a clear foul.

The exact location of the foul was uncertain—inside or outside the box—and needed confirmation, possibly even from the video assistant referee system.

Before the referee could get a definitive answer, Lin Quan clarified:

"The foul by Martín was outside the box, this isn't a penalty."

The Argentine players were stunned by Lin's honesty, typically expected to pressure the referee for a penalty in such situations.

Demichelis appreciated Lin's fair play, as it could have been a crucial mistaken call.

"Lin, thanks. I'll buy you dinner back in Manchester," he said.

"Deal!" Lin replied with a smile, slapping Demichelis on the back.

Messi, observing this, gained a deeper respect for Lin Quan's character.

This guy really seemed to match his own ideals.

He thought: "If he could come back to Barcelona, we'd work well together."

Unfortunately, seeing Lin return to Camp Nou soon was unlikely, and without much personal connection, it was hard to become friends.

In the stands, Argentine fans applauded Lin for not exploiting the situation. If they had to lose, they preferred losing to such a fair opponent.

Spanish fans, however, were slightly disappointed, knowing that had Lin pushed into the box, it might have resulted in a goal or even a penalty.

"Ah, Lin's too honest; he could have won a penalty there!"

"Yes, but I prefer Lin this way; at least he doesn't manipulate the rules to win!"

"Haha, if it were some divers, they'd have screamed for a penalty!"

"Someone, just reveal my ID already!"

In a VIP box, FIFA President Blatter, impressed by Lin's integrity amidst football's increasing commercialization, considered Lin an ideal role model for young players.

He began clapping and instructed his assistant to ensure the media highlighted Lin's sportsmanship in their post-match coverage.

As Lin Quan prepared to take the well-positioned free kick, Argentine players nervously set up a wall, fearing a direct goal.

Lin, known for his free-kick goals in leagues and the Champions League, was closely watched.

Given the close distance near the box, his options were limited, so he attempted a lobbed shot.

Romero, highly focused, leaped and tipped the ball over the bar, saving what could have been a direct goal.

Lin was slightly disappointed, his shot not as fast to keep it under control, giving Romero enough time to react.

Back on the field, as Argentina geared up to counter, Biglia passed to Di María, who after a breakthrough, sent a through ball to Messi for a clear chance—Argentina's best of the match.

As Messi faced a one-on-one, the stadium's Argentine fans stood, necks strained, eyes on the pitch.

If Messi scored, the teams would be back on equal footing.

Casillas rushed out, both speeding towards the ball. Messi, risking injury, kicked the ball away first, then dodged Casillas's challenge.

Though slightly unsteady, Messi chased the ball, kicked it towards the goal, and was knocked down by Ramos.

As the ball flew into the net, the score was tied 1:1!

In the midst of adversity, Argentina found themselves equalizing in the 62nd minute of the second half, thanks to a goal by their key player, Messi. This was the first time in this World Cup that a team managed to level the score against Spain, who had been leading. Messi's goal instantly ignited the atmosphere at the Mineirao Stadium. Countless Argentine fans were overwhelmed with joy, embracing each other as tears flowed freely. No words could describe their emotions at that moment; they had been living in tremendous fear and anxiety during the minutes they were trailing behind Spain. Finally, all the gloom that had accumulated in their hearts was swept away!

The Argentinians saw a glimmer of hope to defeat the mighty Spain and secure the last ticket to the final. Not just inside the stadium, but also outside, where Argentine fans who couldn't get tickets, as well as those in bars and homes across Argentina, were visibly excited. They were shouting Messi's name, embracing their family members as if they had already clinched victory in the match.

"Damn it!" At the sideline, the Spanish coach, Bosque, cursed under his breath and kicked over a water bottle as he saw Argentina score. He turned and called Mata and Fabregas from the bench, planning to make a double substitution. He intended to replace Xavi with Fabregas and Torres with Mata, transforming Spain's formation into a true striker-less setup. With Fabregas and Mata on the field, Spain would have five midfielders.

Bosque's plan was straightforward: after gaining possession, everyone was to pass the ball to Lin Quan, maximizing his scoring potential by giving him the freedom to shoot at will. With Lin Quan's scoring abilities, Bosque was not worried about failing to score, especially with such high-caliber midfielders at his service. If Argentina had Messi, Spain had Lin Quan—and not just Lin Quan, but a whole host of top-tier support.

Seeing Bosque's decisive substitutions, the Argentine coach, Saviola, felt a bit lost. It was only the 62nd minute, and the opposing side had already used up all their substitutions. Wasn't he worried about potential incidents later in the game? Saviola lacked Bosque's audacity and wasn't sure how to play after equalizing. His players were boosted by the goal, but should they capitalize on this momentum and continue to attack in hopes of taking the lead?

While Saviola hesitated, Spain completed their strategic changes. Observing Bosque's substitutions, spectators were bewildered. "Substituting two players at once, and all offensive? Is Spain infuriated?" "Fabregas and Mata are both strong offensively, and crucially, can deliver killer passes. With them on the field, Spain's passing and control tactics will become even more formidable, and Argentina's defense may be in real jeopardy." "It's not certain, though; those two aren't the best in physical confrontations. They might not withstand the Argentine pressure." "If it were the start of the game, maybe, but now the Argentine players have been playing for over sixty minutes. They surely don't have as much energy as the freshly substituted Spanish players." "Mata and Fabregas have both played in the Premier League; their physicality is certainly not lacking!" "Time will tell whether Bosque's changes were effective or not!"

Fans had differing opinions, and none could convince the other. All arguments would be settled on the field. Once Fabregas and Mata were on, the Argentine players quickly felt the change—Lin Quan was receiving and passing the ball far more frequently. He also attempted more dribbles, which significantly increased the defensive pressure on Argentina's midfield since they couldn't afford to let him face their backline alone. Once Lin passed their defenders, the Argentine goal was sure to be tested.

Biglia became the busiest person on the field. Messi and Di Maria were offensively strong but defensively weak. Messi was somewhat better; aware of Lin Quan's threat, he actively retreated to defend. Di Maria, however, though participating in defense, rarely chased back if bypassed, choosing instead to trust his teammates. After sixty minutes of play, players on both sides were hitting their physical limits; if they committed fully to both offense and defense, their remaining energy would be quickly depleted. On the other hand, the Spanish players, especially the three who had just come on, were full of energy. Martinez, with his strong defensive instincts and stamina, secured Spain's backline. Fabregas and Mata, fresh on the pitch, acted as connectors in midfield, continuously moving to shake off defenders and reducing their teammates' physical exertion.

Facing two energetic opponents, Argentina couldn't afford to focus on them without compromising their defense against Lin Quan. Bosque's strategic substitutions were proving their worth. If he had made more conservative changes, Argentina might have had the resources to press more aggressively. But his bold move to bring on two players meant Argentina couldn't effectively press either without leaving gaps elsewhere. This allowed Spain to dominate midfield completely. With control of midfield secured, Spain's attacking threats increased significantly.

In the 68th minute, Spain launched a high-quality counterattack. Di Maria's dwelling on the ball led to a turnover by Martinez, who sent a long pass to Mata advancing on the wing. Mata quickly moved the ball along, passing to Iniesta who, before Biglia could foul him, passed back to Lin Quan. Lin, positioned at the edge of the box, received the ball and returned it to Iniesta, who then threaded it back to Lin as he cut inside the box. Lin's movement drew defenders away, opening space for Mata. As Lin received the ball again, the Argentine defenders were tight on him, leaving Mata unmarked. Mata received Lin's pass, feigned a shot, and then slipped the ball under the onrushing Rojo's lifted foot to a ghosting figure behind him. The shadow, without hesitation, adjusted and shot at the top left corner of the goal before Demichelis could block. Romero, eyes wide, desperately reached out but was a fraction too slow to stop the ball.

Chapter 312: Defeating Argentina, Advancing to the World Cup Final!

Chapter 312: Defeating Argentina, Advancing to the World Cup Final!

"Lin Quan, it was him again, stepping up during a deadlock, and once more rescuing the team!"

"The Spanish fans at the venue erupted into celebration, shouting Lin Quan's name, hailing him as the hero of the team!"

Commentators around the world lavished praise from every angle after Lin Quan scored his second goal. On the World Cup semifinal stage, his ability to step up twice and stabilize the team's morale, securing the lead, cannot be overstated.

After scoring, Lin Quan pointed to Mata, who assisted him. He leapt high, riding on Mata's back, celebrating excitedly.

"Nicely done!"

"Great shot, Lin!"

His Spanish teammates, thrilled by Lin Quan's goal, chased after him, crowding around him and Mata to join the celebration.

Even goalkeeper Casillas performed a somersault in front of the Spanish goal in celebration.

The timing of this goal was crucial!

Just as Argentina was gaining momentum, Lin Quan's goal doused their spirits. Had the goal come any later, Argentina might have used that momentum to launch a ferocious comeback. If they had scored another, Spain would have been in great danger!

Now, with a renewed lead, Spain could play with more ease.

Messi quietly retrieved the ball from his net, carrying it back to the center circle, placing it on the spot, and watched as the Spanish players celebrated, waiting to restart the game.

The offensive play Spain just displayed was something Messi had often orchestrated with his teammates back at Barcelona.

Unfortunately, many of those teammates were now his opponents.

Truthfully, Messi did not feel comfortable playing within the Argentine team. The midfield strength of Argentina was nowhere near that of Barcelona, forcing him to play multiple roles. Messi was not yet suited for these responsibilities before his transformation.

He could easily be the finisher and the goal machine, but being the central organizer was a tall order for him at that time.

Messi's transformation occurred over the following years after consecutive defeats at the national team and club levels.

There's always been debate about which Messi was stronger: 2012 Messi, who scored 91 goals in a calendar year, or 2019 Messi, post-transformation.

While opinions may vary, it is evident that Argentina's strength increased after Messi's transformation, as seen by their consecutive wins in the Copa America and the World Cup—two prestigious trophies.

Before this, Messi's international achievements were modest.

Now, without having completed his transformation, and while he had some organizational skills, performing the central role with ease was still challenging for him.

Thus, back in play, Messi was proactive and tried hard to equalize. However, his efforts were not rewarded, and Argentina's attacks were repeatedly fruitless.

Spain had found a way to limit Argentina's offense—by keeping Messi away from the goal.

Messi's finishing skills were evident, but his organizing skills were not as strong. So, forcing him to pass the ball rather than allowing him direct shots at goal significantly reduced Argentina's offensive threat.

Martinez, once on the field, was tasked with this role.

Against the towering 1.92m Martinez, Messi's usual quick footwork and agility should have helped him escape, but it proved ineffective this time.

On the sidelines, Coach Bosque and defensive coach Puyol were relieved to see Martinez thwart Messi's efforts again, both smiling.

"Lin really is our treasure, not only making unmatched contributions on offense but also significant ones in defense," they agreed.

Although it might confuse outsiders, as Lin Quan's defensive performances weren't notably strong, they were unaware of Spain's pre-game training methods.

Lin Quan had helped the Spanish defenders adapt to defending against Messi during these sessions.

These experiences became valuable in managing Messi during the game.

As the game reached the 70th minute, Messi's energy was severely depleted, hindering his ability to perform his usual dribbles.

So, the encounter between a defensively strengthened Martinez and an energy-depleted Messi wasn't as surprising.

Furthermore, whenever Messi had the ball, nearby Spanish players would immediately assist in defending, further exhausting him.

This tactic quickly drained Messi's stamina.

In the 78th minute, Messi's fatigue led to a rare mistake, passing the ball directly to the opposition.

Spain seized the mistake and launched a counterattack.

Mata's precise pass, deliberately let through by Lin Quan for David Silva, led to a quick shot on goal, which Romero swiftly parried.

Martinez controlled the rebound and attempted a long shot. The shot itself wasn't particularly threatening, but after deflecting off a defender, it nearly ended up in Argentina's net.

As the ball almost crossed the line, Zabaleta heroically blocked it on the goal line, preventing the score from becoming 3-1 by mere milliseconds.

Phew!

Seeing Zabaleta clear the ball, both Argentina's fans and players breathed a collective sigh of relief. Martinez, on the other hand, was a bit frustrated. When he took the shot, he wasn't expecting much, but the deflection had reignited his hope, which was then dashed.

"It's okay, next time go into the box to get a header, I'll pass the ball to you!" Lin Quan patted his shoulder, comforting him.

"Okay!" Hearing Lin Quan's words, Martinez's mood lifted, and he happily ran into the box to get ready.

With Martinez on the field, Spain now had three key headers in the box: Ramos, Pique, and Javi Martinez. Ramos was undoubtedly the best at heading, so Lin Quan repeated his words to him.

"Really? Will you really pass to me?" Ramos, eager to showcase his heading ability, was excited.

"Of course, when have I ever lied to you?" Lin Quan winked innocently.

Ramos fell for it and eagerly ran into the box, fighting for a good jumping position against Demichelis and Garay.

As for Pique, Lin Quan didn't trust his heading ability as much, so he didn't give him any instructions. Holding the ball, he placed it at the corner and stepped back, signaling where he would aim.

Seeing Lin Quan's signal, Ramos pretended to run forward, then suddenly turned back, a trick to shake off defenders. However, this time Argentina's players were not fooled and crowded around Ramos.

In his shock, Ramos saw Lin Quan's corner kick head towards the near post instead. "Damn, he tricked me too!" he thought.

Martinez leapt like a rocket and powerfully headed the ball towards the goal. Ramos, a heading expert, immediately recognized the high quality of the header.

Martinez was known for his versatility and had even played as a forward under Coach Bosque and contested headers under Guardiola. If Ramos was the best header in the team, Martinez was undoubtedly second.

The ball, headed with precision and speed, left Romero helpless as it flew into the net, making it 3-1 for Spain in the 80th minute. This goal by Martinez virtually killed the game's suspense, given the remaining time and Messi's exhaustion.

Spain's players went wild, celebrating the goal. Martinez rushed to Lin Quan, giving him a bear hug. "Thank you, Lin!"

"You're welcome, the credit goes to your great header!" Lin Quan responded, acknowledging Martinez's skill.

"Hey, you two, stop being so modest. Lin, you promised to pass to me. Why did you trick me?" Ramos, eager to score, protested.

"Sergio, you are our strategic weapon. We can't reveal you so easily," Lin Quan said seriously.

"Really? Am I that important?" Ramos was skeptical but flattered.

"Of course. Your heading ability is the best in the team. We need to save it for the most crucial moment, the final in a few days. Don't you want to show your skills to the world?"

Lin Quan's words made Ramos feel important and responsible. Nodding, he said, "You're right, I'll save it for the final."

Ramos then returned to his defensive duties, eagerly anticipating the final to showcase his heading ability to the world.

Martinez's goal had a significant impact on Argentina's morale. Coach Sabella quickly made substitutions to adjust. However, he didn't dare to substitute Messi, even though he was exhausted. As long as Messi was on the field, Argentina had a glimmer of hope. But once he was off, it would signal that Argentina was giving up, further demoralizing the remaining players.

But with Messi's reduced stamina, he couldn't perform at even half his usual strength. Against Spain's tightening defense, Argentina's attacks seemed threatening but were ineffective.

In the 88th minute, Di Maria suddenly fell inside the box. Argentina's players rushed to the referee, demanding a penalty. The replays showed that Pique's hand might have brushed Di Maria, but it seemed unintentional. Nevertheless, Di Maria seized the opportunity and went down, hoping for a penalty.

Pique argued passionately, insisting Di Maria was diving. The referee consulted the assistant referee and eventually awarded the penalty. This decision infuriated the Spanish fans, who loudly protested.

"Angel's acting is a bit over the top!" "Really? Just a touch and he goes down?" "It looked like Pique unintentionally brushed him while turning. No real foul there!" "Exactly, Di Maria's path was blocked. No one would be foolish enough to foul in that situation!"

The Spanish fans' view was naturally dismissed by the Argentine supporters.

"A foul is a foul. If you don't want to get called for it, don't touch him!" "Exactly, if you make a mistake, own up to it!" "Messi is stepping up to the spot. He will definitely equalize, and Argentina will seize the chance to defeat Spain!"

As Messi approached the penalty spot amid cheers from Argentine fans and boos from Spanish supporters, he took a deep breath, calming himself before beginning his run-up.

Casillas watched Messi intently, ready to dive. He guessed correctly, but Messi's shot into the top left corner was perfect.

With the score now 3-2, Messi quickly retrieved the ball and ran back to the center, knowing time was running out. They had to push hard to equalize and force the game into extra time.

Spain, aware of this, retreated into a defensive shell, marking Messi tightly. Every time he touched the ball, he was immediately pressured, forcing him to pass or risk being tackled.

With Messi contained, Di Maria became Argentina's main threat, but his tendency to dive worked against them. Spain's strategy was simple: foul him to break up the play. Di Maria's antics wasted precious time, further diminishing Argentina's chances.

In the fourth minute of injury time, with only seconds left, Argentina had one last chance. The ball fell to Messi, who fought through Spain's defense to get a shot off, but Casillas saved it comfortably.

The referee blew the final whistle. After a grueling 90 minutes, Spain emerged victorious, 3-2, securing their place in the final against Germany. They were now one match away from defending their World Cup title.

Chapter 313: An 18-Year-Old World Cup Champion? Why Not!

Chapter 313: An 18-Year-Old World Cup Champion? Why Not!

The moment the final whistle blew, the Spanish players hugged each other in excitement. Even the substitutes and some coaches rushed onto the field, celebrating wildly together with the players. After four years, they had once again reached the World Cup final. The Spanish team now had a real chance to lift the World Cup trophy, the highest honor in football. This excitement and sense of madness were palpable.

Bosque, deeply moved, tried to maintain his composed image as a distinguished coach. He stood up, adjusted his attire, and walked over to the Argentine bench. "Your team played brilliantly; it was a spectacular match!" he said, shaking hands with Argentina's coach Sabella, who replied with a polite thank you and wished him luck in the next game.

Sabella's mood was far from cheerful. After the loss, he knew his position was essentially lost. Even if the Argentine Football Association and fans did not hold him responsible, he would resign. This World Cup, although not held in Argentina, felt almost like a home event since Brazil was right next door, and with Brazil eliminated, it was like a semi-home ground. Despite having a strong squad with stars like Messi and many top-league players, they failed once again in the knockout stage, likely disappointing many Argentine fans. Sabella realized his limitations and decided to step down.

Bosque felt some sympathy for Sabella. Compared to him, Bosque's position was very secure. Since taking charge, Spain had won a World Cup, a European Championship, and a Confederations Cup. If they succeeded in defending their World Cup title, he would undoubtedly become the most successful coach in Spanish history. With the brilliant players in La Liga and promising talents like Lin, Bosque was confident about Spain's future success.

While the Spanish players celebrated, the Argentine players were deeply dejected. When the final whistle blew, many Argentine players fell to the ground, exhausted and heartbroken. Messi, the team's soul, stood there, hands on his hips, staring at the ground, looking like a statue, motionless. This sight broke the hearts of countless Messi fans. Even some neutral fans felt sympathy.

"This is Messi's third World Cup, right?" "Yeah, he's been in three World Cups since 2006." "Eight years ago, he was just a 19-year-old rookie. Now, he's the core of Argentina, but the result seems unchanged. Argentina's World Cup journey ends again."

In the previous two World Cups, Argentina was eliminated by Germany in the quarterfinals. This time, they reached the semifinals but faced a stronger Spanish team and failed to reach the final. Although they improved compared to four years ago, for a team aiming to win, being eliminated in the quarterfinals or semifinals makes little difference; it's still a failure.

This result deeply disappointed Messi. Born in 1987, he was already 27. In the next World Cup, he would be 31. Time was running out for Messi. If he couldn't win the World Cup at his peak, he doubted he could lead the team to victory in four or eight years. His opponent, Spain's Lin, was much younger. Four years later, Lin would be only 22, and eight years later, 26. Lin's strength would only grow, while Messi's would decline with age.

Messi couldn't beat the young Lin now; he doubted he could in the future. If he couldn't win in the next World Cup, he feared he might never lift the trophy.

At the post-match press conference, Sabella took full responsibility for the loss and announced his resignation. Someone had to take the blame, either the coach or the players. Messi had scored twice and done his best, but many still criticized him for not saving the team. However, most agreed that Argentina was tactically outplayed by Spain. Bosque's quick, decisive substitutions paid off, while Sabella's indecisiveness and slow adjustments led to his defeat. Facing such clear disparities, Sabella knew he would be fired if he didn't resign.

Bosque, in contrast, was in high spirits. Brazil seemed like a lucky place for Spain. Last year, they won the Confederations Cup here. Now, they had the chance to win their second World Cup. Bosque confidently declared their intent to defend their title: "We came here to defend our title. Germany is strong, but we are stronger. The final victory will be ours!"

His declaration won strong support from Spanish fans but also provoked German players. Götze responded on social media, "The Spaniards have had it too easy. In the final, we'll make them taste the power of the German machine!" Boateng added, "We beat Brazil 7-1. Spain will face the same fate!"

Spanish players like Piqué and Ramos also fired back, reminding the Germans of their past defeats and mocking their adoption of Spanish tactics. The heated exchanges continued, with both sides using Brazil's defeat as a reference point to argue their superiority.

As a Spanish player, Lin also expressed his eagerness on social media: "World Cup champion? Why not? I can't wait to lift the trophy in the final!" Winning the World Cup was the ultimate goal, especially with just one game left. If Lin won, he would become the youngest champion in Spain's history at 18.

The pre-final war of words continued, with journalists fueling the fire by questioning German coach Löw about Bosque's comments. Löw confidently replied, "We are not here to be a stepping stone for anyone. We are here to win the title!" He also pointed out Spain's lack of physicality and promised a tough, physical game to break them.

Germany was known for their physical, combative style, and although they had adopted more technical play recently, they were still a formidable force. Bosque took Löw's words seriously and studied Germany's past tactics, preparing for all possibilities. Despite Germany's recent technical play, their traditional strengths in physicality and set-pieces remained a threat.

Both teams were preparing intensely, with Bosque even hinting at using Diego Costa alongside Lin in a dual-striker formation for the final, adding to the speculation and uncertainty. Fans and pundits were left guessing if this was a genuine strategy or a smokescreen.

"Hehe, we beat Brazil 7-1, and the Spaniards probably want to experience the same thrashing!"

With the German players joining the fray, the Spanish players couldn't just sit back and watch. Piqué, who loves being in the spotlight, was the first to speak up:

"Have the Germans forgotten who knocked them out four years ago? Have they forgotten the fear of our tiki-taka football?"

Ramos added fuel to the fire:

"Hehe, I guess they haven't forgotten, otherwise why would Bayern and the German national team be learning our tiki-taka?"

Fàbregas was merciless:

"They shamelessly came to learn from us Spaniards, and now they dare say the teachers are afraid of the students. That's hilarious!"

The Spanish players mocked the Germans for adopting their tiki-taka style, even playing without a traditional striker in some matches. The Germans were furious but couldn't deny the truth. Indeed, the German team had adopted the Spanish style of play, originally created by the Spaniards. They retaliated by pointing out their massive victory over Brazil, suggesting they were stronger than Spain.

Both teams had defeated the host nation, Brazil, making Brazil a reference point for measuring their strength. On paper, Germany's 7-1 win looked more impressive than Spain's, but the Brazilian squads they faced were different. Spain faced a full-strength Brazil in the Confederations Cup final, while Germany faced a depleted Brazilian team.

"Germany just took advantage of a weakened Brazil. If Brazil's key players hadn't been injured, who knows how the semifinal would have ended!"

"I'm a Brazilian fan, and I support Spain in this one. Losing to Spain felt fair, but losing to Germany didn't. If Neymar and Thiago Silva were fit, I bet Germany wouldn't have won so easily. Dare to face us again, Germany?"

German fans, of course, didn't engage with this argument, preferring not to waste time on defeated opponents.

As a member of the Spanish team, Lin also spoke out on social media:

"World Cup champion? Why not? I can't wait to lift the trophy in the final!"

No one can refuse the allure of the World Cup, especially when it's within reach. If Lin wins, he will become the youngest champion in Spain's history at just 18 years old.

Following Lin's statement, several German players also spoke out, but their remarks didn't carry the same weight. Hence, the Germans didn't gain much advantage in the pre-final war of words.

However, the battle wasn't confined to social media. Reporters took Bosque's comments to German coach Löw, asking for his response.

"I have great confidence in my team. We didn't come here to be anyone's stepping stone. We're here to win the title!"

At the final stretch, Löw couldn't back down. He not only stood firm but also pointed out Spain's lack of physical strength, confidently stating that Germany would use their robust play to crush Spain and leave a lasting, painful memory for the Spaniards.

The German team was known for their tall, strong players who excelled in physical play. Their teams were always difficult to face, as their strong physical presence could lead to overwhelming victories if they gained momentum.

Löw's words reached Bosque, causing some concern. Wasn't Germany supposed to be playing a more technical game now? What did Löw mean by reverting to their old style? In reality, technical teams often struggle against physical ones. The old German teams were tough, aggressive, and difficult to beat. Their techniques might not have been as flashy as the Spanish, but their simple plays were highly effective.

Bosque took this seriously, immediately gathering his coaching staff to analyze Germany's traditional tactics, preparing for the possibility that Germany might revert to their old ways.

Germany's traditional strengths were clear. For years, they played a straightforward game, often attacking from the flanks, avoiding the densely defended center. Unlike Spain's intricate passing and cutting inside, German wingers would cross the ball to their tall strikers for headers. This old-school approach was simple but effective, especially with a player like Klose, who was excellent at heading.

Besides their wing play, Germany excelled at long shots and set-pieces. Midfielders like Ballack were known for powerful long-range strikes, hard for goalkeepers to save if on target. Defensively, Germany utilized their physical prowess for aggressive pressing, making it hard for opposing stars to perform well under constant pressure. This strategy had successfully limited Messi in past matches, and it was likely they would use it against Lin.

Bosque had concerns about Lin being marked out of the game, which could disrupt Spain's offensive flow. Moreover, Germany's ability to quickly switch play with long passes posed another threat, especially when combined with their solid counter-attacks. Players like Kroos, with excellent vision and passing, were dangerous. Germany's layered, multi-dimensional defense was challenging to break.

But could this current German team still play their traditional style? Bosque was skeptical. The modern German team had evolved, adopting more technical and possession-based play, resembling Spain more than their past selves. Players like Götze, Özil, and Kroos were skillful but less physically imposing.

Bosque saw no signs of Löw dismantling their tactical system, especially not in a World Cup final. Doing so could lead to a disaster, risking a backlash from German fans. He concluded that Löw's comments were a smokescreen to confuse them.

To counter this, Bosque decided to play along. He announced that Diego Costa had recovered well and might pair with Lin in a dual-striker formation for the final, stirring speculation and confusion. Fans and analysts were left guessing if this was a real strategy or another bluff

If Lin is neutralized by the opponents, Spain's attacking machine might just break down. Additionally, Germany's ability to switch play with long passes must be watched. They will exploit the opponent's defensive positioning, moving the ball across a wide area to weaker defensive spots, thus changing the pace of the game and compensating for their simpler tactics, which lack the intricate passing and movement of the Spanish style. This advantage, combined with their counter-attacking strategy, often yields great results. Therefore, when facing Germany, it's crucial not to make mistakes during offensive plays. Any error could be swiftly exploited by Germany for a dangerous counterattack.

German players play with calmness and a good understanding of the game. Kroos, for example, excels at reading the game and delivering precise long passes. His outstanding performances in previous matches have forced Bosque to remain cautious. With tall players in the box and powerful shooters just outside, defending against Germany's attack requires a multi-layered approach. However, there's doubt about whether the current German team can still employ such traditional tactics. Bosque is skeptical because this German team, with its technical style and possession-based tactics, seems more like Spain and less like the old German teams. The selection by Löw shows this change. The starting lineup now includes players like Götze, Özil, and Kroos, who are less physically imposing but technically superior.

These players are given significant responsibilities, and it's unlikely that Löw would completely overhaul the team's strategy, especially not in a World Cup final. Any drastic changes risking the championship could drown him in criticism back in Germany. Yet, how could Löw rely on Germany's physical quality to overpower Spain without abandoning his tactical setup? It's virtually impossible.

Thus, Bosque is convinced that Löw is just throwing smoke bombs to confuse. Following suit, Bosque decides to play along. He announces that Diego Costa, having recovered well, might join Lin in a dual-striker formation for the final, sparking massive media and fan attention. Costa, injured in the match against the Netherlands but returned in the game against Costa Rica, was conspicuously unused against Argentina. He wasn't even listed as a substitute, puzzling many. Was he merely a mascot in Bosque's plans, or did Bosque prefer Torres over him? Due to Bosque's decision to keep Costa benched, conspiracy theories circulated widely. Many fans believed Bosque was hiding Costa's true condition to mislead opponents, leading some German fans to warn their team not to be fooled.

Now, with Bosque openly planning to use Costa alongside Lin, fans are skeptical. Previous matches have shown that Lin is not best utilized as a forward but more effective as a free-roaming playmaker. So, is Bosque's announcement just a smokescreen? While fans might think so, Löw cannot afford such assumptions. If Costa and Lin were to synchronize well, combining their high goal-scoring efficiency, Germany could be in real trouble. Considering both are formidable strikers, Löw opts to prepare for the worst, choosing to believe Bosque's potential bluff.

(End of chapter)

Chapter 314: The Final Arrives, With a Billion Viewers Worldwide Tuned In!

Chapter 314: The Final Arrives, With a Billion Viewers Worldwide Tuned In!

As the coaches of both teams were engaged in tactical battles, the 2014 World Cup third-place play-off kicked off first. Host Brazil, still reeling from their devastating defeat by Germany, faced their South American neighbors, Argentina, at the National Stadium in Brasilia. Both teams, having seen their dreams shattered at this World Cup, watched as Europeans reached the final for the third consecutive time—marking a low point for both teams and South American football as a whole.

Once pioneers of football innovation, Latin football has gradually lost its edge in competition with European football, even falling behind in the times. This has sparked widespread reflection among South American footballers: Have we truly lost our way? Is there a future for South American football if this trend continues? No one could provide them with answers; they had to find their own. If they didn't want the next World Cup to be just another backdrop to a European show, reforms would need to start now.

That said, pondering the future of South American football would have to wait. The immediate concern was how to overcome their current opponent. Deep-seated rivalries already existed between the two teams, and both desperately needed a victory to boost morale. With old and new grievances fueling them, the match was fiercely contested.

Despite missing Neymar, Brazil's defense was bolstered by the return of Thiago Silva, making it far sturdier than in their last match, which crumbled upon contact. Freed from the pressure of achieving results, Argentina's forwards, including Messi, visibly improved. In the 7th minute, Messi broke through to score, making it 1-0. By the 11th minute, Brazil responded with a set-piece, Thiago Silva, freshly back from suspension, equalized. In the 24th minute, Higuain, receiving a pass from Messi in the box, seized a fleeting chance to shoot calmly into the far corner, reclaiming the lead for Argentina, 2-1.

Brazil quickly counterattacked. Oscar took a long shot from midfield, which Romero deflected with a focused save. However, Brazil's Fred, ghost-like, suddenly appeared to slot in the rebound, equalizing the score once more. The atmosphere was initially subdued; fans were demoralized by only competing for third place, but the exciting gameplay, aggressive attacks, and frequent scoring soon whipped them into a frenzy, making the match worthwhile.

Even those watching from home felt stirred: "If only they had played like this earlier, maybe they would have been in the finals!" "Yeah, Brazil was just unlucky, while Argentina basically shot themselves in the foot!" "Argentina and Spain being in the same bracket didn't help either..." "If Argentina had been in the upper bracket, maybe they could have beaten Germany to reach the final!" "It's hard to say, Argentina has fallen to Germany in the last two World Cups; they might not have managed this time either." "Some think FIFA should make a rule to put two strong South American teams in one bracket to ensure a non-European final, to avoid European dominance."

While the World Cup is supposed to be a global feast, disparities in the quality of football across continents often reduce it to a stage for Europe and South America. With Africa, North America, and Asia playing at most destabilizing roles, and Asia often not even managing that, the tournament becomes dominated by Europe. If South American football continues to decline, it could lead to a monopoly by European teams, which wouldn't be good for the World Cup's viewership or international impact.

"But seriously, even if those two teams were in the same bracket, who's to say they wouldn't just get knocked out by some strong European team?" "That's right, Europe has so many strong teams like Germany, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Who knows what could happen at the next World Cup; unless FIFA openly rigs the matches, South American teams still can't be sure of making it to the finals!" "Frankly, instead of relying on draws and group placements, it would be better to genuinely elevate their level of play." Many European fans think Latin Americans, after a series of defeats, should humble themselves and learn from Europe. After all, European football, thriving on high-quality league play and strong youth development, has proven to be the way forward. Europe's strength in football is built on the high standard of the major leagues and a robust youth system, supported by a wealthy middle class and a comprehensive welfare system. This provides a stable and healthy environment for professional football, unlike the big-money leagues in China and the Middle East.

Latin America lacks these conditions, with their best local talents often heading to Europe, where the leagues are more appealing. Raising the level of domestic competitions like the Brazilian Serie A and the Argentine Primera División is challenging.

Fans debate endlessly online without reaching any solid conclusions. Some even suggest that since the domestic leagues can't compete, why not send promising young players to Europe? This is what some Asian countries are doing. South American players could use the major European leagues to hone their skills and learn advanced concepts, which they could then bring back home. However, this would likely dilute the distinctive style of South American football, gradually aligning it more with European standards.

The online debates rage on, but on the field, the sparks fly even higher. After halftime, Argentina pressed hard. In the 55th minute, Messi scored his second goal of the game, giving his team the lead once more. His total for this World Cup reached eight goals! Following his goal, the Argentine fans in the stands chanted his name and applauded enthusiastically. Hearing the roaring cheers, Messi, who had been down since the loss to Spain, finally smiled. He waved to the fans in gratitude for their applause and cheers.

The Argentine fans were thrilled, but nearby Brazilian fans were infuriated. This was their home turf; how could they tolerate such boldness from the Argentinians? They booed Messi unreservedly, some even making offensive gestures. Brazil's players, feeling provoked, intensified their attacks while also frequently fouling Messi. However, simply fouling Messi didn't address their problems. In the 75th minute, Di Maria, known for drawing penalties, was tripped in the box by David Luiz. The referee promptly awarded a penalty. Replay showed the call was fair, but given Di Maria's reputation for diving, which had earned him many penalties in European play, this call was controversial.

But when it comes to breakthrough ability, isn't Lin Quan far superior to Di Maria? Yet, Lin Quan does not win as many penalties as Di Maria. The reason Di Maria wins more penalties is mainly due to his acting skills. Once in the penalty area, he falls at the slightest touch, regardless of whether it's a foul or not. Last season, nearly half of the penalties Di Maria won were suspected of being dives, as seen in slow-motion TV replays, earning him the nickname "The Diving Man."

In the last match against Spain, Di Maria performed such acts in the penalty area. This time, the victims were the host team, Brazil. Naturally, the Brazilians were not pleased. Inside the National Stadium of Brasilia, cries of "referee bias" and verbal abuse towards players were rampant. Brazilian fans were so outraged they wished they could storm the pitch and confront Di Maria. However, the referee, unmoved by the protests from the stands, insisted it was a penalty.

Messi took the penalty, choosing to shoot into the top left corner of the net, facing Cesar. The goalkeeper, facing such a bold move, could only watch helplessly as the ball sailed past him. Scoring this goal, Messi achieved his first World Cup hat-trick and increased his total goals for this tournament to nine. Currently, Lin Quan also has exactly nine goals, tying him for first place in the tournament's top scorer list.

This means Messi has finally caught up to his rival in the rankings. If Lin Quan fails to score in the upcoming World Cup final, he and Messi will share this year's Golden Boot. For Messi, winning a World Cup Golden Boot would not be a complete loss. However, compared to the prestige of the World Cup Trophy, this personal accolade might seem minor, especially since he has already won four Ballon d'Or awards.

After Messi's penalty, the Brazilian team's morale was severely damaged. They became as agitated as they had been in the previous game, with players frequently receiving yellow cards for overly aggressive behavior. Their defensive performance also slipped, nearly allowing Argentina to extend their lead. Fortunately, coach Scolari made timely adjustments, stabilizing Brazil's defense. The score remained 4-2 until the end.

In this South American internal battle, Messi's Argentina emerged victorious, securing third place in the World Cup. As for the hosts, Brazil, after two defeats, had to settle for fourth place. With the appetizer over, it was time for the main course.

The day after the match between Brazil and Argentina, the final of the World Cup between Spain and Germany was set to take place at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. This famous stadium can accommodate 200,000 spectators. The Brazilians had hoped to witness their team lift the trophy here, but after Brazil fell in the semifinals, their carefully prepared stage ended up benefitting others. However, attracting German and Spanish fans to watch the game and spend money locally was a significant boost for the Brazilian economy.

FIFA predicted on its official website that the global audience for tonight's match might exceed one billion people, based on viewership ratings from the semifinals and the previous World Cup final. The Germany vs. Brazil match attracted 390 million viewers, while the Spain vs. Argentina match drew 670 million, surpassing the 2010 final's 530 million viewers.

Both teams' coaches tried to relieve their players' pressure before the final—a monumental challenge for any player, potentially their only chance to play on such a stage. Missing out on the championship trophy would be a regret of a lifetime. The expectations from outside, personal nerves, and anxiety could lead to immense psychological pressure, possibly causing poor performance and loss.

Both teams brought psychologists to provide emotional support and lessen the psychological burden on their players. Whether it helped was uncertain, but doing nothing would certainly leave them uneasy. Yet, it seemed all efforts were in vain as the King and Prime Minister of Spain visited the team, reigniting the players' nerves. The situation wasn't any better for Germany, as Chancellor Merkel visited and encouraged the German team to strive hard and bring glory to their country.

Chapter 315: The World Cup Final Begins, Spain vs Germany!

Chapter 315: The World Cup Final Begins, Spain vs Germany!

The current King of Spain is Felipe VI, who ascended to the throne not long ago. Half a month prior, the old King Juan Carlos I announced his abdication, passing the crown to his son, Prince Felipe. However, the entire nation of Spain is focused on the World Cup in Brazil, showing little concern for the change in monarchy. After all, like many European countries, the Spanish royalty serves more as a figurehead without real power. Compared to the king, it is the Prime Minister of Spain who actually wields significant authority.

However, Prime Minister Rajoy's visit is merely for political showmanship, an opportunity to boost his visibility in the media and among Spanish fans. He himself is not very interested in football, but King Felipe VI is a different story. Although he holds no real power, the king truly loves football. Including the recently abdicated old king, nearly every member of the royal family is a die-hard fan of the Spanish team. This is why, shortly after his coronation, Felipe VI eagerly left the country to visit the Spanish players, more out of his passion for football than official duty.

Furthermore, the king did not come alone; he brought his two children, Princess Leonor and Princess Sofia. At ages 9 and 7, these young princesses are already fervent supporters of the Spanish team. When Spain won the World Cup in South Africa four years ago, the image of the two princesses in Spain's red uniforms, lifting the World Cup trophy, melted the hearts of countless fans.

This time, as staunch supporters, both princesses accompanied their father to visit the team. While King Felipe and Prime Minister Rajoy engaged in cordial discussions with Coach Bosque and some player representatives, the two curious princesses looked around the Spanish training base with wide-eyed wonder.

"You must be Lin," said 9-year-old Princess Leonor, approaching Lin Quan with the demeanor of a little adult. "My grandfather has told me about you. He says you are the best player in the Spanish team!"

Lin Quan suppressed the urge to wipe away sweat; was this really something to say in public? Fortunately, his teammates did not mind the princess's comment and even agreed, praising, "The King sure has an eye for talent!"

"Absolutely, Your Highness, Lin is indeed the best among us!" another teammate added.

"This guy scored 9 goals in his first World Cup, averaging 1.5 goals per game over 6 matches. Is he even human?" another chimed in.

Ramos, feeling a twinge of jealousy, remarked, "I've been to so many World Cups and haven't scored as many as Lin in a single tournament."

His comment sparked playful teasing from his teammates: "You're a defender, Ramos. Why would you even think about scoring more than a forward?"

"Exactly, you score plenty for a defender. If all the goals went to you, what would we need forwards for? Might as well turn us all into defenders!"

Hearing their banter, Princess Leonor's eyes lit up. She looked up at Lin Quan with anticipation and asked, "Since you're so great, can you score a hat-trick in the World Cup final?"

The playful atmosphere among the players turned solemn. Scoring a hat-trick in a World Cup final was a formidable challenge. In the 84-year history of the World Cup, only England's Geoff Hurst had managed such a feat. Superstars like Fontaine, who scored 13 goals in a single tournament, and all-time greats like Klose and Ronaldo, had never achieved this.

Finals are notoriously tight and cautious, often leading to low-scoring affairs, sometimes decided by penalties.

"It's tough, but I can try," Lin Quan responded. He knew about Messi's equalizing total and was determined to defend his position as top scorer and win the Cup.

The princess, satisfied with his response, exclaimed, "If you manage that, I'll convince my father to knight you!"

Lin Quan was taken aback not by the promise of honors but by the young princess's precociousness in offering incentives—truly a future queen in the making.

Unlike her sister, Princess Sofia appeared more innocent and bashful. After the conversation, she approached Lin Quan, looked up at him, and shyly asked, "Super awesome big brother, could you please give me an autograph?"

Handing him a pen and paper she had brought, Lin Quan graciously signed his name.

"Thank you, big brother!" the young princess beamed, jumping with joy upon receiving the autograph.

Having personally witnessed the royal family's passion for football, Lin Quan had no doubts about their genuine love for the game. Not only the two reigning kings but also the younger royals were avid fans, especially given Spain's pinnacle era in football which drew extensive national attention.

Rumors had it that King Felipe VI, a former Olympic athlete himself, planned to enroll Princess Sofia in a women's football academy, possibly heralding a future professional player from the royal family.

After a brief visit to avoid disturbing the team's preparation, King Felipe VI and the Prime Minister took their leave. Before departing, Felipe VI declared, "Gentlemen, I will host a victory banquet at the Royal Palace in Madrid. I await your triumphant return!"

His confident demeanor suggested a firm belief in Spain's victory. Having previously eliminated Germany, Spain was stronger this time around, and the king was determined to witness the defense of their title at the Maracana Stadium, accompanied by his daughters.

No worries, the coach just sent me to ask if you're going to be able to sleep tonight," Puyol said.

"Uh, if you're here, I'll probably have insomnia!" Lin Quan joked.

"Haha, then I'll leave, try to rest early!" Puyol left promptly, trusting Lin Quan's ability to self-regulate, knowing well that a player who can score a hat-trick in a Champions League final isn't likely to lose sleep over nerves before a match. True to form, Lin Quan slept well that night.

However, the next morning, when he got up for breakfast at the usual time, he found very few teammates were up.

"Good morning!" Xavi greeted Lin Quan as he saw him.

"Morning, captain. Where is everyone else?"

"They overslept. The coach cancelled the morning training, we'll probably just go straight to the stadium this afternoon."

"Is that okay?" Lin Quan expressed his concern, knowing that even light training on match day is crucial for maintaining touch and form.

"There's not much else we can do now. We can't exactly go and wake them up now, can we?" Xavi chuckled. "But don't worry too much. Most of us old guys managed to get up; it's not many who are affected."

...

At three in the afternoon, the Spanish players headed to the Maracanã Stadium in their bus. The streets of Rio de Janeiro were filled with fans wearing various jerseys—Spanish fans in red, German fans in white, but most of all, Brazilian fans in yellow. Despite Brazil's team being out of the competition, their passion for watching the game was undiminished.

During the warm-up, Lin Quan noticed that his teammates seemed in good spirits, which reassured him. Relaxed, Lin Quan performed some tricks for the early arriving fans. From about 30 meters out, he hit the upper left corner where the post meets the crossbar with consecutive shots, earning vigorous applause from the crowd.

"Man, that skill is unbeatable!"

"I thought the first shot was a fluke, but after the second and third, I'm just in awe of Lin!"

"I have a feeling that Lin might score directly from a free-kick this match!"

Spain warmed up for less than half an hour before the German team arrived. Both teams occupied half the field, warming up without interfering with each other. Seeing the German team arrive, Lin Quan stopped showing off and started practicing dribbling.

As the players warmed up, both coaches observed their opponents. The German coach, Löw, was particularly focused on Lin Quan, who had performed exceptionally in previous matches, and Diego Costa, who had recovered from injury but had been kept on the bench. Löw suspected that the young Lin Quan might be affected by the pressure of the game, but Lin's confidence during the warm-up made Löw frown. It seemed there was no issue with Lin's form, but the real test would come during the match.

Then Löw turned his attention to Diego Costa. There had been speculation that Costa's injury had not fully healed and that Spain was concealing this. Löw was skeptical of these reports and hoped for an advantage if Costa was indeed still injured. However, after watching Costa's warm-up, Löw was disappointed to confirm that Costa was fully fit.

So, Bosque's hints of using a double-striker formation might actually be true. Facing both Lin Quan and Diego Costa would be a formidable challenge.

Löw's concerns soon became reality when the starting lineup included Diego Costa in place of Torres. Now he had to decide how to arrange his own forwards—whether to stick with the 36-year-old veteran Klose or opt for the younger Götze. If only Reus hadn't been injured, Germany would have had more options.

As the final preparations were underway, disaster struck the German team. Khedira pulled a muscle during warm-up and was ruled out of the final. Löw was dismayed. Losing a key midfielder hours before the final was not a good omen.

With no time left to adjust, the match kicked off at five o'clock. When Spain's tactical setup was revealed, Löw felt deceived by the supposed 442 formation—it was all a bluff.

Spain took an aggressive approach from the start. Without much probing, they quickly launched an attack into Germany's half. After a few passes, the ball was at Lin Quan's feet. The German fans tensed up, even though he was still far from their goal. But Lin Quan's reputation alone was enough to impose immense pressure.

True to that reputation, Lin Quan took a shot from over 40 meters out after observing Neuer's position. Neuer, shocked, quickly backpedaled towards his goal.

Chapter 316: Scoring the First Goal in the Finals!

Chapter 316: Scoring the First Goal in the Finals!

"Hello to all our viewers on CCTV, welcome to the 2014 Brazil World Cup final—Spain versus Germany!"

"I'm He Wei!"

"And I'm Xu Yang!"

"Let's first take a look at the starting lineups for both teams. Spain's starting lineup is..."

In the CCTV studio, the two commentators were introducing the starting lineups of both teams. However, before they could finish, the situation on the field changed dramatically.

Spain didn't hesitate and launched a fierce attack on Germany.

"The ball is with Lin Quan. Iniesta is in a good position. They might pass it to each other. Lin Quan passes... no, he shoots directly!"

"Dangerous!"

"Neuer is positioned very forward!"

Seeing Neuer's positioning, the commentators couldn't help but exclaim. Neuer, known for playing like a sweeper-keeper, was positioned quite forward, covering a large area. This aggressive positioning also made him susceptible to being lobbed by opponents.

Lin Quan, having faced Neuer in the Bundesliga, knew his playing habits well. So, he specifically observed Neuer's position and then decided to shoot from a distance. The shot came very suddenly. Neuer was near the edge of the penalty area, about fifteen meters from the goal. Seeing Lin Quan's shot, Neuer's face changed color in shock as he quickly retreated, not daring to jump in place. The ball's trajectory was high, and jumping in place might not reach it.

However, the ball's speed was faster than Neuer expected. He had only taken two steps back when the ball was about to fly over his head. With no choice, Neuer jumped up, stretching his right hand to try and block the ball.

The ball had a very high arc, and an average goalkeeper might not have reached it. But Neuer, standing at 1.93 meters with impressive jumping ability, barely touched the ball with his fingertips, altering its trajectory slightly. With a thud, the ball hit the upper part of the crossbar and bounced out of bounds.

Seeing the ball deflected, German fans instinctively patted their chests, finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. That shot was incredibly dangerous. Lin Quan's long-range shot was of very high quality. If not for Neuer's heroic save, the ball would have likely gone in.

This narrow escape changed the German fans' view of Lin Quan. This guy was indeed formidable.

After confirming the ball hadn't gone in, Neuer breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at Lin Quan with some fear. This guy had gotten even better over the past few months. To defeat him, Neuer would have to double his efforts.

Seeing the ball deflected by Neuer, Lin Quan also felt a bit regretful. This guy's physical abilities were just too good. His jumping ability was so high that he could almost play basketball.

In a fair assessment, Neuer's sweeper-keeper style pioneered a new goalkeeping method. In modern football, keepers like De Gea, who rarely leave the goal line, are becoming less suited to the times. Neuer's style of actively coming out, covering a large area, and even initiating attacks, is becoming more common. However, few goalkeepers can match Neuer's level, thanks to his excellent footwork, stable mentality, and the continuous development he received under coaches Heynckes and Guardiola at Bayern.

It seems that taking advantage of his positioning to lob him won't be easy. Maybe it would be more effective to try when he leaves the penalty area, but that would require a shot from near the halfway line or even further.

After neutralizing Spain's attack, German players increased their pressing and double-teaming of Spain's midfielders. Khedira's absence was a significant blow for Germany, and Spain was also missing Busquets due to an injury from the semifinals.

Both teams were not at full strength, making the coaches' adjustments even more crucial.

Germany lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Kramer and Schweinsteiger as the defensive midfielders. Kramer focused on defense, while Schweinsteiger was more versatile, good at both offense and defense. Schweinsteiger was the organizer and tempo controller in midfield, but with Kroos coming into his own, Germany's playmaking duties were now shared. In attack, Müller played more like a second striker, Özil was the playmaker, and Kroos controlled the game's pace, similar to his role at club level.

During attacks, Kroos used his vision and precise passing to plot routes, avoiding tight defensive areas and targeting weaker spots. In defense, he moved back to work with the defensive midfielders, creating a tight interception net in front of the defense.

Germany was familiar with this strategy, but Khedira's sudden injury was a setback. Kramer, born in 1991, was young and lacked Khedira's experience and savvy. With defensive midfielders being crucial, Kramer was under significant pressure. If he faltered, Germany could easily lose control of the midfield.

Spain planned to target Özil before the match. Since moving to Arsenal last summer, Özil's weaknesses had become apparent—his dribbling, escaping from markers, and physical confrontations were all weak. Worse, he always looked half-asleep, lacking both personal drive and competitive desire, making him an easy target. But after Khedira's injury, Bosque shifted focus to testing Kramer.

In the 5th minute, Germany built an attack, and the ball reached Özil. Xabi Alonso quickly closed him down, using his body to outmuscle his former club teammate and steal the ball. Müller immediately tried to win it back, but Alonso's speed was faster. He passed the ball to Lin Quan, who then delivered a long pass to Diego Costa upfront. Costa tried to muscle past the defenders, but Boateng and Hummels, working well together, closed him down, and Neuer collected the loose ball.

Costa felt a bit disappointed but gave Lin Quan a thumbs-up for the pass. He started too slowly and couldn't match Lin Quan's pace. If he had moved as soon as Alonso intercepted, he might have been through on goal.

Lin Quan thought differently, noticing Germany's defenders setting up an offside trap. If Costa had moved too quickly, he would have been flagged offside. It seems straightforward attacks wouldn't work; they needed more intricate build-ups.

Neuer's throw started another German attack. Under Alonso's pressure, Kroos passed forward to Müller, who was fouled near the box, giving Germany a free-kick.

Kroos stepped up, aiming for the top-right corner of the goal, but his shot hit the wall, with Costa's height proving crucial. The loose ball fell to a German player, and Schweinsteiger's follow-up shot from the edge of the box went over the bar.

In the opening five minutes, both teams had their chances. They traded attacks, with neither side dominating completely. After probing each other's strengths, the battle centered on midfield control.

With Busquets injured, Bosque started Xabi Alonso, meaning Spain's midfield had two players over 33. In contrast, Germany's midfielders were much younger, apart from Schweinsteiger. Younger players have more stamina and physical prowess. Löw believed that with increased pressing, Germany could overpower Spain's aging midfield.

After the midfield struggle began, he realized that he might have overestimated the strength of Germany's midfield. Spain initially focused on the young substitute, Kramer. Lin Quan, Iniesta, and David Silva took turns attacking his defensive zone. Perhaps due to nerves, Kramer made several mistakes under the relentless Spanish assault. Fortunately, captain Lahm and Schweinsteiger consciously protected him, preventing any serious consequences.

After adjusting to the pace of the game for a while, Kramer's performance gradually stabilized and even showed signs of improvement. Seeing Kramer find his footing, coach Löw felt relieved on the sidelines. But then, problems arose with Özil! As the midfield battle intensified, Özil's weakness in physical duels quickly became apparent. Picking on the weak, Spain exploited Özil's frailty, frequently intercepting the ball from him and launching counterattacks. This made it tough for Germany, as Özil's ability to make threatening passes was vital in offense. The more Özil received the ball, the higher the risk of mistakes. Constantly pressured, Özil struggled to retain possession, making it seem like Germany was continuously handing the ball to Spain.

In the 17th minute, Spain intercepted the ball from Özil again. The ball was quickly passed to Lin Quan, who took a few steps and, after dodging a challenge from Kroos, looked up to assess the German team's positioning. Expecting Lin Quan to pass to Diego Costa again, the German players were caught off-guard. However, Lin Quan only glanced at Costa before decisively passing to Silva on the wing. Silva played a one-two with Lin Quan, who then cut inside towards the penalty area. Kramer tried to stop him but fell for Lin Quan's feint and was easily bypassed as Lin Quan charged into the box. Boateng rushed towards Lin Quan but kept a reasonable distance, learning from previous encounters not to get too close and give Lin Quan an easy pass.

Determined not to be just a backdrop in Lin Quan's highlight reel again, Boateng hoped to redeem himself. After all, the viral gifs of Lin Quan dribbling past him had dented his reputation, with fans questioning his status as the world's best defender. This World Cup final was his chance to prove himself—if he could neutralize Lin Quan and lead his team to victory, he might cleanse his past humiliations.

But stopping Lin Quan was easier said than done. Seeing Boateng keeping his distance, Lin Quan used him as a screen and shot decisively. Boateng, caught off guard, hastily tried to block the shot but missed, and his positioning obscured Neuer's view, delaying the goalkeeper's reaction. The German fans in the stands felt a chill—was their team about to fall behind so soon?

At the critical moment, a player wearing the captain's armband for Germany slid in front of the goal and hooked the ball clear. It was Philipp Lahm—the shortest player on the field—who made the crucial clearance and roared in celebration. A relieved Neuer hugged his teammate, gratefully kissing his forehead. The other German defenders rushed to embrace Lahm, thanking him for his timely intervention.

Lin Quan noted Lahm's position before shooting but hadn't expected such a skilled clearance. He thought if he had aimed higher or opted for a half-volley, the outcome might have been different. However, Lin Quan wasn't discouraged, knowing such miraculous clearances wouldn't happen every time. The first shot hit the crossbar, the second was cleared by Lahm, but the next time, luck might not favor Germany.

Although the goal didn't come, Lin Quan's attempt had German fans and commentators sweating, realizing they had to find a way to contain him. "We must stop Lin Quan!" exclaimed the German commentators, acknowledging his threat. "His shots haven't scored yet, but he's in great form. If this continues, a goal is inevitable."

German fans also recognized where the problem lay—it was Özil. With less than 20 minutes played, they wondered if it was too rash to substitute him so early, given his powerful passing. Löw hesitated, knowing Özil's removal would impact their offensive capabilities.

Inaction led to consequences. In the 31st minute, taking advantage of a German corner kick where most players were forward, Spain launched a quick counterattack. Xavi Alonso delivered a long, precise pass to Diego Costa, who laid it off to Lin Quan. Bypassing Kramer and observing Neuer's positioning, Lin Quan chose to lob the goal from an ambitious 48 meters out. Neuer, positioned far from his line, could do nothing as the ball flew towards the goal.

The fans in the stadium rose to their feet, watching the ball's flight. Those who had seen Lin Quan hit the goal frame repeatedly from distance felt despair—they knew his accuracy. Under the watchful eyes of nearly 100,000 spectators, the ball traced a beautiful arc and thundered into the German net.

1-0! Spain took the lead with Lin Quan scoring a crucial goal in the World Cup final!

Chapter 317: It's Just Not Right!

Chapter 317: It's Just Not Right!

"Goal!!!"

"Lin Quan scores from about 50 meters away from the goal, shooting fast and accurate. Neuer, positioned too far forward, had no chance and could only watch the ball go into the net!"

"Neuer really paid the price for his aggressive positioning!"

"In previous matches, no one could punish him, but in the World Cup final, he unfortunately came up against Lin Quan!"

At the CCTV commentary booth, upon seeing the lobbed shot, the two commentators couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Neuer's positioning was like Fang Tangjing hopping back and forth on the yellow line in court, taunting 'I'm in, I'm out, I'm in again, hit me, fool!' Bao Longxing said he had never seen such a strange request, so he beat up Fang Tangjing.

Just like Bao, with Neuer standing so far forward, not lobbing a goal at him would simply be unjust.

At the German TV commentary booth, seeing their team concede made the commentators utterly despondent.

"Neuer's positioning was too aggressive!"

"Lin Quan had already tried a lobbed shot earlier; he should have been cautious!"

"Now that we're trailing, the situation is very unfavorable for us. We need to score as soon as possible."

"Right, the longer we're behind, the greater the psychological pressure on our players, and they might become increasingly desperate!"

On the Spanish bench, seeing Lin Quan score, Coach Bosque clenched his fists excitedly, let out a roar, and hugged his assistant tightly. Caught up in the emotion, Bosque didn't even notice that his chewing gum had fallen out, but the cameras captured this moment, making it an iconic scene of this World Cup.

After scoring, Lin Quan rushed to the corner flag and slid on his knees in celebration.

His teammates rushed over and slid on the grass after him, imitating his celebration.

The substitutes stormed onto the pitch to join in the celebration.

Though Lin Quan had scored countless goals in clubs and national team matches, a World Cup final goal was incomparably significant.

The quadrennial World Cup is the ultimate goal for almost all players globally, and playing in the final is more important than any other match he has ever played.

It's no exaggeration to say this goal was worth its weight in gold!

If Spain goes on to win the World Cup with this goal from Lin Quan, it might even boost the country's GDP significantly.

In the stands, Spanish fans waved banners and flags, cheering wildly for Lin Quan, the hero of the goal.

At this moment, he was a god in the eyes of the Spanish.

"Beautiful shot!"

In a private box, watching the game with his princess daughters, Spanish King Felipe VI stood up excitedly, applauding Lin Quan just like the other fans, unable to restrain his admiration.

"She's as good as Grandpa said!"

9-year-old Princess Leonor couldn't help but calculate the odds of Lin Quan completing a hat trick in this match.

With 60 minutes remaining and a goal every 30 minutes, he might actually achieve this feat in the World Cup final.

In another box, watching the goal, Spanish Prime Minister Rajoy stood up and applauded his team, turning to German Chancellor Merkel with a smile, "It seems our coach is a bit better!"

Merkel's lips twitched slightly, catching the sarcasm in his words.

Before the match, the media in both countries had a verbal battle, with Spanish media claiming Germany's passing game was borrowed from Spain.

Merkel coolly responded, "Football originated from China's Cuju, but can you see the Chinese team on the World Cup stage?"

"Just as Spain initiated the Age of Discovery when Germany was still fragmented, today Germany is the leading economy in Europe, while Spain is mired in debt."

Rajoy, sweating slightly, knew Spain's economic woes meant relying on strong economies like Germany, so he really couldn't challenge Merkel on this issue.

...

On the German side, seeing his team concede, Coach Löw couldn't help but lean back and run his hands through his hair.

If it were a battle of tactics or a stunning play that led to conceding, he could accept it.

But losing a goal like this...

It felt so wrong.

Such a loss can severely damage team morale.

Löw sighed, worriedly glancing at Neuer, hoping this wouldn't affect his performance.

But how could it not affect a player's mindset?

Frustrated, Neuer kicked the ball away; since his first encounter with Lin Quan at the Telecom Cup, it seemed he had lost every direct confrontation.

When would he ever defeat this guy?

Despite their urgency, the German fans didn't forget their role as the twelfth man.

They dutifully cheered for their team, hoping for a quick equalizer.

Germany indeed intensified their attacks.

Veteran Klose, 36, exhausted his energy battling with the Spanish defenders.

In the 35th minute, Germany displayed excellent teamwork upfront.

Thomas Müller faked a shot and passed cleverly.

Klose, receiving the pass in the right side of the box, shot without hesitation.

The angle was tight, and Casillas blocked it well; the ball bounced back into the box.

Müller attempted a follow-up shot but was beaten to the ball by Ramos.

Spain counterattacked quickly, sending the ball into Germany's box after just three passes.

This time, Germany's defense held firm, Boateng withstanding Diego Costa's charge, making the shot an easy save for Neuer.

After this successful defense, Germany's defenders congratulated each other, with Boateng feeling vindicated.

He realized that against nimble players like Lin Quan, his advantages were nullified, but against traditional strikers like Costa, he could leverage his physicality, so his defensive success rate was high.

With that in mind, he decided not to engage Lin Quan one-on-one anymore, opting instead to work with teammates or leave him to agile defenders like Lahm.

Germany had two tactical setups; when ground penetration failed, they switched to wing play.

In the 39th minute, Germany initiated an attack from the wing.

Lahm's 45-degree cross from the right was disrupted by Piqué, preventing Klose from reaching the ball.

A minute later, Klose was fouled by Ramos just outside the box, leading to a verbal warning from the referee and a promising free kick for Germany.

Kroos aimed for Hummels at the back post with the free kick, but the pass was too predictable, and Ramos cleared it first.

Ramos's heading ability was a threat not only in offense but also in defense.

In the 41st minute, Schweinsteiger lofted a perfect pass from midfield, with Klose timing his run well.

It looked like Germany might get a clear shot, but Casillas was alert and rushed out to intercept before Klose could reach the ball.

The two collided and fell, but thankfully, neither was hurt and quickly resumed play after their teammates helped them up.

The game seemed to revert to its pre-goal pace.

Germany, desperate to equalize before halftime, and Spain, exploiting their eagerness, continuously attempted quick counterattacks.

The pace of the game increased, with fans on edge, not wanting to miss any action.

In the 42nd minute, Schweinsteiger tripped Iniesta in defense and received a yellow card.

A minute later, Lin Quan passed to Silva on the right, who sent the ball into the box. Germany's defenders cleverly stepped forward, catching Diego Costa offside just as he was about to celebrate the goal.

"Come on, that was offside? Those defenders were right in front of me..."

Costa quickly shut his mouth as the replay on the big screen clearly showed he was offside.

On the sidelines, Spain's Coach Bosque frowned.

Germany's offside trap had been effective today, with Costa caught offside several times.

During halftime, he planned to remind Costa to time his runs better and avoid falling into these traps.

In the final moments of the first half, Germany's attacks became frantic as they sought to equalize.

Spain, experienced and composed, began passing the ball around their backline to run down the clock.

Germany responded by committing more players to press high, hoping to force a turnover and counterattack.

Even Özil, who had seemed listless earlier, perked up, likely realizing he might face Löw's wrath at halftime.

Germany's pressing was somewhat effective, forcing Spain's defenders to send the ball forward.

Lin Quan, after receiving the ball, pulled it wide to avoid the densely packed midfield.

German players, red-eyed and not caring whether he was on the wing or in the middle, rushed at him as soon as they saw him with the ball.

Seeing this, Lin Quan quickly passed the ball away.

Iniesta, receiving the pass, was even more dramatically surrounded by four German players, prompting him to pass back to Lin Quan.

The German players were furious, accusing them of mockery for passing around in their own half.

"Not even letting you play cleanly!"

In a moment, five players charged at Lin Quan, this time not just targeting the ball but also the man.

Lin Quan didn't stay put but immediately sprinted along the wing with the ball.

Lahm stuck close to him, not giving him the chance to accelerate.

Meanwhile, Kramer attempted a fierce tackle, aiming to take Lin Quan down along with the ball.

Spanish fans gasped, foreseeing Lin Quan falling injured.

However, facing Kramer's tackle, Lin Quan deftly flicked the ball over and slipped past Lahm from outside the line, not only evading the tackle but also bypassing Lahm's positioning.

This skillful move dazzled the spectators, who cheered him on.

Unfortunately, Kroos was less appreciative and pulled Lin Quan back as he was about to break through.

Lin Quan lost his balance and fell.

The referee immediately blew the whistle, signaling a foul by Kroos.

With the game in the 44th minute and only one minute of stoppage time, the referee's free-kick call effectively dashed Germany's hopes of a counterattack.

Spain would surely use this free-kick to run down the clock, giving them no chance to attack.

Honestly, the free-kick's position wasn't great; not only was it close to the sideline, but it was also far from the goal.

But at such a time, what else do you need? Even if the referee had awarded them a free-kick in their own half, they would have planned it carefully.

Whether it worked was secondary; the main goal was to waste time.

Both Xavis, seasoned players, saw the referee's decision and pretended to discuss free-kick tactics at the sideline with Lin Quan.

"Who's taking it?"

Xavi Alonso asked, looking at Lin Quan and Xavi.

Alonso was known for his powerful and precise free-kicks, making him the best choice for such a distant shot.

"We could set up a play!"

Lin Quan glanced at the poised German players and felt a direct lob into the box might not work well.

"What's the plan?"

Both Xavis were curious, wondering what trick he had up his sleeve.

"We could do this..."

Lin Quan shared his idea, and both teammates lit up, giving him a thumbs-up.

"That could work!"

"I'll cover for you!"

The trio quickly assigned roles, with Alonso ultimately stepping up to the ball, while Lin Quan and Xavi positioned themselves at the top corners of the box.

The German players, suspecting that the Spaniards might not lob the ball directly into the box but opt for tactical play, assigned two players to leave the box to mark Lin Quan and Xavi.

Seeing the Germans' choice, Alonso couldn't help but smile.

Lin Quan had guessed right!

He stepped back and charged at the ball, swinging his leg and sending it into the box.

The German players were stunned.

The Spaniards had lobbed the ball directly into the box after all!

What happened to the tactical free-kick?

That's just not sportsmanlike!

Alonso's long pass, known for its precision, found Ramos in the box.

It was a link-up between two Real Madrid players!

Ramos leapt high, overpowering Hummels to reach the ball first.

Hummels, at 1.92 meters, was known for his heading ability.

Ramos, only 1.84 meters tall, managed to outjump him, showcasing peak heading skills.

But the physical contest with Hummels during the jump impacted his power.

Even though Ramos got to the ball first, if he couldn't reach it, Hummels knew how to prevent a goal, thanks to his defensive experience.

Affected by this, Ramos got a head to the ball, but the angle was off.

The ball clanged against the crossbar!

German fans were on edge as Ramos headed the ball, dreading another goal in the final seconds of the half.

Fortunately, their crossbar came to the rescue once more.

Seeing the ball rebound off the bar, Ramos clutched his head in frustration, wishing he could tear out his hair.

Damn Hummels, if not for his interference, that might have been a goal!

But that's what defenders do, expecting them to watch you shoot without acting is unrealistic.

Though Hummels succeeded defensively, his wary gaze remained on Ramos.

This guy, why is his heading so strong?

Hummels had defended against many forwards with excellent heading skills.

Ramos might not be a forward, but his heading ability would rank him among the top three of those forwards.

Did he choose the wrong position?

He should be playing forward, not defender!

After Spain's shot went wide, the stoppage time for the first half ran out.

The referee then blew the whistle to end the half.

At halftime, Spain led Germany 1-0.

They were just a half away from successfully defending their title!

Chapter 318: A Second Goal, Spain Leads Germany 2-0!

Chapter 318: A Second Goal, Spain Leads Germany 2-0!

During halftime, Coach Bosque specifically checked on the physical condition of the two Xavis. Both players were a bit older and had engaged in intense midfield battles with the German team during the first half, consuming a lot of their energy. Concerned they might not last much longer, Bosque wanted to have a clear idea of their conditions to prepare for possible substitutions. Xavi Alonso could last until about the 75th minute, while Xavi might need to be substituted around the 60th minute. With this information, Bosque felt more prepared.

"Listen up, guys, we're one step closer to defending our World Cup title, but we can't let our guard down!" Bosque addressed his team in the locker room, where all players were focused and energized. "Germany won't give up easily; they will definitely launch a fierce counterattack in the second half."

Lin Quan, hearing Bosque's initial remarks, thought they might play defensively. However, Bosque changed his approach, "In the second half, we cannot just defend passively; that would allow the German team to overwhelm us with wave after wave of attacks. We need to seize the opportunity to score another goal and try to kill the game completely!"

This strategy was unanimously approved by the team, who had already experienced the German team's powerful attacks at the end of the first half. The continuous assaults had indeed put the Spanish defenders under significant pressure. After adopting Spain's tiki-taka style, Germany was capable of both ground penetration and traditional tactics like crossing from the flanks. The German fullbacks' ability to support the attack was strong, and a slight lapse in attention could lead to a successful cross and a potential goal from Klose's strong heading skills. Continuing to defend passively would surely lead to a loss.

Therefore, they planned to take the battle into the opponent's half, continuously threatening the German goal to make them hesitant in committing too many players forward in their attacks. After all, the best defense is a good offense, a principle central to possession-based football.

The 15-minute break quickly ended, and as the teams returned to the field, Spanish fans were surprised to see that Germany had made no substitutions. Despite Mesut Özil's poor performance in the first half, Löw had decided to keep him on the field, which puzzled both sets of fans. German fans, in particular, were concerned that Özil might continue to be a weak link.

"This guy looks a bit different from the first half, doesn't he?" Ramos commented to Lin Quan as they re-entered the pitch, noticing Özil. Lin Quan observed that Özil's expression had turned serious and his eyes more resolute. Whatever Löw had said during the break seemed to have had an effect, at least igniting some fighting spirit and recognition of the stakes of the match in Özil.

However, fear of physical confrontations isn't something that can be easily overcome. Spain could still exploit this weakness in the second half.

As the second half began with the referee's whistle, Germany immediately launched an aggressive attack. Klose passed to Müller, who then returned the ball to Özil, who made a fine through pass. However, Klose couldn't break past the Spanish defense, and Casillas claimed the ball. Casillas then passed to Jordi Alba, who advanced along the wing. After facing a challenge, he quickly passed back to Xavi Alonso.

Alonso was also pressured and returned the ball to Piqué. Although Piqué's heading ability wasn't as good as Ramos's, his ability to play the ball out from the back was superior, making him a safe outlet for Spain's possession-based approach. Klose tried to disrupt Piqué, but he calmly passed the ball to Ramos, who waited for Klose to approach before passing it back to a teammate on the wing.

Seeing the Spanish players start to pass the ball around in their own half, the German fans in the stands began to boo. They were anxious about the time being wasted by Spain's tactics, fearing the game slipping away with each passing minute.

On the sidelines, Löw gestured vigorously, and the German formation pressed higher up to intensify their pressing of the Spanish team. Despite the threat posed by Spain's counterattacks in the first half, which made them cautious, they felt compelled to press forward at this stage; otherwise, Löw feared that the Spanish could just pass the ball around their backline for the entire half.

Germany's aggressive pressing disrupted Spain's back-passing game, which, in truth, they didn't plan to continue indefinitely—such tactics could put even the most ardent fans to sleep!

Piqué seized an opportunity to pass back to Xavi Alonso, who was surrounded by four German players anticipating his next move. Without time to look back, Alonso relied on his rich playing experience to predict the Germans' movements and passed back to Piqué. Piqué signaled that he was unmarked, and Alonso passed the ball back to him again.

This time, Alonso finally had a chance to turn around as his markers were drawn away by his teammates, giving him enough time to handle the ball effectively. Alonso didn't hold onto the ball; instead, he looked up, assessed the positioning of the players upfield, and delivered a precise long pass to the wing.

David Silva received the ball and cut inside toward the box, drawing the German defenders. He then passed to the center where Iniesta, taking advantage of the change in tempo, dribbled past Kramer and entered the box. Hummels closed in to block Iniesta's angle for a shot while directing his teammates to intercept Diego Costa.

Hummels's defensive play was effective, blocking Iniesta's path forward. Iniesta chose not to risk a pass to Costa but instead sent the ball back to the top of the box where an open space awaited.

Lin Quan received Iniesta's pass. Instead of charging into the crowded area, he adjusted and shot decisively. Neuer, focused and anticipating, leapt to tip the ball over the bar with one hand, a remarkable save since Lin Quan had aimed for the top corner—a difficult spot to reach if not well-prepared.

"Good job, Neuer!" his teammates applauded and embraced him, relieved that Neuer had finally managed to prevent Lin Quan from scoring.

On the sidelines, Löw breathed a sigh of relief as Neuer blocked Lin Quan's shot. Spanish attacks were incredibly fast, transitioning from defense to shooting opportunities with just a few passes. Xavi Alonso's presence allowed Spain to bypass the midfield and directly threaten the German goal, necessitating further restrictions on his play.

Thinking this through, Löw called Müller back to communicate his tactical adjustments. Müller nodded seriously and quickly relayed the coach's instructions to the rest of the team.

Germany's defensive strategy shifted quickly, with their defensive line moving forward to reduce the gap with the midfield. At the same time, the fullbacks squeezed in from the flanks to help with midfield defense.

While the wing forwards pressed high, their movement protected the back, preventing Spain from penetrating on the ground. For long passes, they attempted to create offside traps or rely on defensive and goalkeeper advancements to neutralize the threat.

This arrangement was risky, but if they didn't adjust, Spain's counterattacks would be too threatening. Meanwhile, Löw pondered the strategic implications. With the central defenders becoming the key outlet for passing, Germany had to increase their presence in the front, otherwise, they'd struggle to intercept Spanish passes.

No wonder Guardiola transformed Martinez into a central defender; was he planning something similar? Löw's adjustments were effective, and subsequent Spanish counterattacks failed to materialize.

In the 53rd minute, young Kramer, unable to continue after an elbow hit to the head during an aerial duel with Diego Costa, was replaced by Schürrle. Germany's formation shifted to a 4-1-4-1, with Schweinsteiger playing as a lone defensive midfielder, Kroos slightly pulled back to join Özil in central midfield, and Schürrle taking up the left wing.

The foul by Costa was controversial; the referee saw it as an accident and did not issue a card. German players argued it was a malicious foul that should have resulted in a red card for Costa. Replays showed Costa might not have seen Kramer approaching, and the elbow contact occurred accidentally as he came down after the aerial challenge.

Unless he admitted to intending to injure, the referee's decision stood without issue.

The game continued, and Schürrle's entry, while weakening Germany's defense, boosted their offensive capabilities. In the 56th minute, Müller's successful break on the left led to a cross that Schürrle followed up with a shot, spectacularly saved by Casillas. The shot was so threatening that if Casillas hadn't reacted superbly, Germany might have equalized.

Germany took a corner; Kroos sent the ball to the far post where Klose was positioned, but his header was off target. Klose had been giving his all for nearly 60 minutes, and his stamina was now a concern. If this had been Klose in his prime, that header might have found the net.

As German attacks gradually improved, coming closer to scoring, the German fans in the stands grew increasingly excited. They sang loudly, cheering on their team, hoping for a quick goal.

However, just as the Germans thought they were about to equalize, Lin Quan delivered a stunning blow that left them dazed and confused.

In the 59th minute, Lin Quan beat the offside trap and, using his speed, bypassed Hummels to break into the German box. Neuer came out to intercept, but he failed to secure the ball from Lin Quan, who deftly lifted it over him and continued towards an empty net.

Lin Quan coolly completed the play with a precise shot, scoring his second goal of the match, a critical moment in the World Cup final.

Following the goal, Lin Quan sprinted towards the stands filled with Spanish fans, placing his hand to his ear in a listening pose. The Spanish fans, initially stunned, soon erupted, chanting Lin Quan's name as if to shake the stadium.

Their excitement was palpable. If the first goal had given them a lead and a glimpse of retaining the title, Lin Quan's second goal nearly secured the victory, firmly pulling the trophy into Spanish hands.

Some fans near the field even tried to climb over the barriers to celebrate with Lin Quan on the pitch. Fortunately, security personnel intervened in time.

Meanwhile, Lin Quan was swamped by his teammates on the field, all celebrating wildly. Coach Bosque, overwhelmed with excitement, ran along the sideline, wishing he could slide on his knees in celebration.

Former coach Tony and ex-captain Puyol hugged each other, shouting, "We are the champions!"

In contrast to the jubilant Spanish team, the atmosphere in the German camp was much heavier. Neuer sat on the ground, incredulously watching the ball roll in his net, struggling to accept that his goal had been breached again.

The German players were equally despondent. Just when they were close to equalizing, Spain had scored again. The timing couldn't have been worse, and the impact on their morale was severe.

Could they overcome a two-goal deficit?

In the VIP box, Spanish Prime Minister Rajoy stood up again to applaud the players. This time, he refrained from taunting Merkel, who looked distinctly upset. Rajoy wasn't particularly interested in football, but Merkel was a passionate fan. She had once watched a Germany match on her phone during a European Union meeting when she couldn't watch on TV, a moment that had sparked media frenzy.

Falling behind by two goals in a World Cup final signified a dire situation. There had been only one instance in World Cup history where a team had come back from two goals down to win—the 1954 final in Switzerland. In that match, West Germany had recovered from a two-goal deficit against Hungary to win 3-2.

Now, 60 years later, Germany faced a similar situation. Could they pull off a miracle again?

Chapter 319: Free Kick Goal, A Hat-trick in the World Cup Final!

Chapter 319: Free Kick Goal, A Hat-trick in the World Cup Final!

Lin Quan's goal was a heavy blow to the German team's morale. Following that goal, Bosque made Spain's first substitution of the match. He replaced the veteran Xavi with the 22-year-old Koke to increase the midfield's robustness and further contain Germany's counterattacks. This adjustment proved effective, and after the game restarted, Germany found themselves at a disadvantage in midfield, their players increasingly anxious. Their attacks were no longer calm or patient, leading to a very disorganized offensive effort that failed to penetrate Spain's defense or pose any serious threat. Their anxiety also led to defensive errors and yellow cards.

In the 63rd minute, Schürrle, unable to stop Lin Quan, committed a foul from behind and received a yellow card from the referee, Rizzoli. Two minutes later, Müller also received a yellow card for a tackle on Xavi Alonso. The German players' mindset, combined with the scoreline, left the German fans feeling extremely restless, almost foreseeing the inevitable defeat if the team continued in this manner.

Seeing this, Klose, the team's oldest and most experienced player, stepped up. During a break in play, he calmed his visibly distressed teammates by reminding them of West Germany's miraculous comeback in a World Cup final, encouraging them to keep hope alive. "We've made miracles happen on this stage before, we've been at our lowest, but we're on the path to revival. Being two goals down is nothing; just be patient, we still have time!" Klose's words seemed to have a magical effect, calming the team and reigniting their hope.

As play resumed, the Spanish players noticed a sudden increase in the Germans' determination. Their challenges became more aggressive, even frantic, risking possession with every slight delay in passing. The German players also used their physical advantage to engage in body challenges, making it very uncomfortable for the Spanish players and leading to mistakes.

In the 71st minute, a passing error in the Spanish defense allowed Müller to intercept and pass the ball to Özil at the edge of the box. Under pressure from Spanish defenders and just before falling, Özil managed to pass the ball into the box. Klose received the ball with his back to goal, closely marked by Ramos, unable to turn. He passed it back to Kroos, who took a shot that deflected off a defender's leg. Casillas was wrong-footed and could only parry the ball away, not secure it.

Klose was there for the rebound, using his body to block the ball into the net. 2-1! Germany pulled a goal back, adding suspense to the match! Immediately after scoring, Klose didn't waste a second. He grabbed the ball and ran back to the center circle, urging his teammates to quickly reset and restart the game. With Germany still behind, there was no time to waste celebrating. They needed to continue the attack and try to equalize. Now was not the time for celebrations.

"Beautifully done!" Merkel, visibly excited, stood and clapped vigorously. The Spanish Prime Minister's mouth twitched slightly; was there a need to be so excited over just one goal? The score was still in Spain's favor. Despite this, he couldn't help feeling a bit uneasy: Hold on, Spanish boys! Just 20 more minutes, and the championship is ours!

"Keep it up, just like that!" On the sidelines, Löw saw Klose's goal and clenched his fist, waving it forcefully. The timing was perfect—there were still about 20 minutes left in the match, maybe 25 with added time. That was enough time for another goal. Löw was confident in his team; if they could maintain their morale, scoring was not an issue. They had shown this capability in their previous game against Brazil.

As predicted by Löw, the German team's morale surged after pulling back a goal. They played as if energized, launching a fierce attack on Spain. In the 73rd minute, Müller received a pass from Kroos and delivered a cross from the left side of the box. Klose, a bit slow due to fatigue, couldn't reach the ball in time for a tap-in. Two minutes later, during a corner kick opportunity, Kroos' corner found Höwedes, whose header hit the post and went out. This series of attacks had Spanish fans on edge, feeling breathless as they watched the headers flying toward their goal. Thankfully, the post came to the rescue at the last moment, preventing an equalizer.

At this moment, Spanish fans could empathize with Brazilian fans from a previous match—watching Germany in full attack mode was truly terrifying.

"Hold on!" "Just a few more minutes, and victory is ours!" Spanish fans couldn't help but pray internally, wishing for a time accelerator to speed through the final agonizing minutes.

On the sidelines, Bosque realized the situation was unfavorable for Spain, so he quickly made a substitution. He replaced the tiring Xavi Alonso with Martínez, a like-for-like replacement. Martínez, with his fresh legs and extensive reach, joined Koke to form a solid barrier, effectively protecting Spain's defensive line. This substitution immediately impacted the game, effectively stopping Germany's attacks from the midfield.

Germany also made a personnel change; Löw substituted the tired Klose for the younger Götze. Götze's entry changed Germany's formation to a false nine, perplexing some fans who felt Germany was now playing more like Spain than Spain itself.

As Klose made his way off the field, exchanging a high five and hug with Götze, he turned and clapped to the fans, acknowledging what was likely his final World Cup appearance. At 36, it was unlikely he would play in another World Cup. Since his debut in 2002, Klose had participated in four World Cups, scoring a record 17 goals in total. From a stunning hat-trick in his World Cup debut to a crucial goal in his final match, Klose had consistently proved his knack for scoring in key games.

Now, as the old guard passed the torch, it was up to a new generation to carry on. Whether they could match the achievements of players like Klose remained to be seen.

Götze's entry did not change the difficult situation in midfield, where Koke and Martínez continued to dominate. Forced to keep attacking from the wings, Germany tried again in the 76th minute with Schürrle crossing from the left, but Müller and Götze both missed the ball.

Spain quickly countered, with Lin Quan charging towards the German half. With most German players having pushed forward, their defense was exposed, giving Lin Quan a significant amount of space to accelerate towards the goal.

As the match approached the 80th minute and Lin Quan surged forward, German fans were stunned. Was this man made of iron? Did he never tire? While other players showed signs of fatigue, Lin Quan seemed untiring, like a tireless monster still full of energy after a long and intense game.

This sight instinctively filled German fans with fear; their goal had already been breached twice, could it happen again?

As Lin Quan sped forward, Diego Costa smartly moved to his flank to distract the defenders and provide cover. Simultaneously, players like David Silva and Koke also sprinted forward, intensifying Spain's attack.

Boateng and Hummels exchanged glances, knowing they couldn't delay any longer. Hummels decided to commit a tactical foul to stop the Spanish counter. At this point, even a yellow card was a better outcome than allowing a breakthrough.

Lin Quan saw through their intentions and passed the ball to Diego Costa before making a decisive run forward. Costa faced Boateng, and knowing each other's strengths from previous encounters, chose not to attempt a dribble but instead played a one-two with Lin Quan, returning the ball to him.

Hummels, slower and more fatigued, couldn't turn as quickly as Lin Quan. By the time Lin Quan received the ball back, he had already outpaced Hummels, who, in desperation, tripped Lin Quan from behind.

The referee immediately blew his whistle, running over with a stern expression and showed Hummels a yellow card. The Spanish players protested, arguing for a red card since Lin Quan was about to be through on goal, which likely would have resulted in a score. They felt that Hummels' foul from behind to prevent a clear goal-scoring opportunity warranted a red card.

The referee, however, stood firm, warning the Spanish players to back off or face their own cards. Seeing the referee's resolute stance, the Spanish players relented. They had crowded around the referee partly to advocate for their teammate and partly to waste time.

They also hoped to pressure the referee, making him question or even regret his decision, potentially biasing future calls in Spain's favor. This tactic, often used by Barcelona players, was effective in club competitions, so the Spanish national team adopted it. However, World Cup referees, typically top officials from various countries, were more confident in their decisions and backed by FIFA, making them less susceptible to player influence.

While Lin Quan wasn't one to engage in deceitful tactics, he didn't mind using the free kick opportunity to delay the game. With Spain's squad aging and only three substitutions available, every minute was precious.

"Should I take it, or will you?" With both Xavis resting, Spain's free kick options were limited. Iniesta and David Silva discussed the situation with Lin Quan.

Lin Quan assessed the goal from about 35 meters out—a good position for a direct shot. "I'll take it. Just provide a distraction, and I'll try to shoot directly."

The teammates nodded, spreading out to draw the defenders' attention away from the direct shot. However, the Germans weren't fooled twice; they ignored the decoys and concentrated on defending against potential headers from players like Ramos and Piqué.

Ramos, remembering Lin Quan's promise, was particularly active, anticipating a pass that would allow him to score. The Germans, wary of Ramos' heading ability, tightened their defense against him, even drawing Neuer's focus.

Ramos appreciated Lin Quan's strategy, giving a thumbs-up for the distraction. Lin Quan stepped back, took a deep breath, and signaled his teammates to get ready.

Seeing the signal, Ramos was overjoyed, believing the ball would come to him. He increased his activity, drawing even more attention.

At that moment, Lin Quan charged the ball and, under the gaze of a billion viewers, kicked it powerfully toward the box. The ball sailed in a beautiful arc, clearing the wall and dropping towards the goal.

The German players realized too late that it wasn't a cross but a direct shot. Neuer, eyes wide, focused intensely. Though distracted by Ramos, he was most cautious of Lin Quan, having been beaten by his free kicks before.

With only a moment to react and decide, Neuer chose to guard the right side of the goal, anticipating a curve like the one that had beaten him before at Camp Nou. However, the ball didn't swerve as expected but instead dropped sharply, brushing the crossbar and plunging into the net—an elevator shot.

After a brief silence, the stadium erupted in deafening noise. Spanish fans worldwide went wild as Lin Quan scored his third goal of the match with a free kick, completing an unbelievable hat-trick in the World Cup final.

The score was now 3-1. Germany's brief comeback was quashed, and the gap was widened once again.

Chapter 320: World Cup Victory, We Are the Champions!

Chapter 320: World Cup Victory, We Are the Champions!

As the goal was scored, in a Belgian household, a man resembling a cartoon character smiled knowingly.

"I thought you'd forgotten this trick after mastering the art of free-kicks!" De Bruyne reminisced about the days at Werder Bremen when Lin Quan taught him the elevator shot. At that time, Lin Quan was a fringe player Barcelona eagerly wanted to offload. Just two years later, he stood as the core player on the World Cup final stage, even pulling off a hat trick sealed for nearly fifty years. His rapid growth was astonishing!

Thomas Schaaf, Werder Bremen's coach, was equally amazed. When he first took Lin Quan on loan, he saw him as a highly talented player destined to become a star. But he never expected Lin Quan to reach such heights. He wondered if Barcelona now regretted letting him go. With Messi and Lin Quan, Barcelona could have been unbeatable.

Inside an apartment in Spain, Enrique held an invitation while watching the Spanish players celebrate wildly on TV. He pondered over Rosell, who had pushed out Guardiola and then made him purge Lin Quan from the team. Both Guardiola and Lin Quan thrived after leaving Barcelona, especially Lin Quan, who was now showing signs of surpassing Messi. Post their departure, Barcelona's fortunes declined drastically. They were humiliated 7-0 by Bayern in the Champions League semifinals two seasons ago and were defeated by Manchester City last season, not even making the semifinals. After empty seasons, Barcelona's board lost patience, and Martino was dismissed. In two years, they had changed three coaches, and their performance only worsened. Now, facing turbulent times, they turned to Enrique, hoping he would return to take over. Previously, Enrique would have accepted without hesitation, but now, his confidence in Barcelona had diminished.

As Lin Quan scored, commentators worldwide were ecstatic, explaining the historical significance of his goal.

"This is the first hat-trick in a World Cup final in 48 years since Hurst, and the player who achieved it is only 18 years old!"

"We are witnessing the birth of a superstar with billions of fans worldwide. Remember his name!"

"Lin Quan, an 18-year-old genius from Spain, has likely set an unbreakable record as the youngest player to perform a hat-trick in a World Cup final!"

Not just commentators, but fans worldwide were in awe of Lin Quan's goal.

"A hat-trick in the World Cup final!!"

"Lin King is amazing!"

"I never thought I'd witness history!"

"Poor Neuer, who only conceded four goals in six matches, let in three in the final, turning into a sieve!"

"Spain's championship trophy is now secure!"

"Congratulations to Spain for defending their title!"

"Congratulations to Lin King for being the top scorer of this World Cup!"

"Considering the three goals in the final, Lin King has scored a total of 12 goals in this World Cup, just one short of Fontaine's record!"

"12 goals in seven matches, this figure is staggering. It's hard to imagine how Fontaine managed to score 13 goals in a World Cup!"

"Who knows, maybe it was easier in ancient times, but Lin King is still young. He almost broke the record this time; maybe he will next time!"

"If Lin King wasn't so selfless and was a bit more selfish, he might have broken the record already!"

"Yes, he's too much of a team player!"

"He's truly amazing, I'm crying!"

In Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo turned off his TV after watching Lin Quan's third goal in the World Cup final. For the first time, he felt a huge threat to his status in football. On the other hand, Messi, upon seeing Lin Quan's goal, felt even more motivated. If Lin Quan could lead Spain to defend the World Cup title and single-handedly defeat Germany in the final, why couldn't he do the same? Messi didn't think he was inferior to Lin Quan, who had shown that such feats were possible. This gave Messi a new direction and motivation, believing he could achieve the same.

Lin Quan's third goal completely ended the suspense of the match. As the ball hit the net, Lin Quan repeated his iconic celebration - raising his collar like a king surveying his domain. The Spanish players rushed to celebrate with him, and the Spanish fans in the stands erupted in cheers, their voices so loud they seemed to tear the sky apart. At that moment, no words could describe their exhilaration.

Meanwhile, German fans shed tears of sorrow. Lin Quan's three goals had shattered their dreams of championship. With just over ten minutes left in the match, even though theoretically possible, the Germans themselves felt a comeback was improbable. To score two goals against a strong Spain was no easy task. Each time they gained momentum or scored, Lin Quan's goals crushed their spirit, preventing them from finding their rhythm. This was the main reason for their defeat, making them both fear and resent Lin Quan.

On the sidelines, Löw was silent. The substituted Klose's expression turned somber. He sighed internally, wishing he were ten years younger with more stamina, which might have changed the outcome. But in football, there are no 'ifs.'

For four to five minutes after Lin Quan's goal, the German players were like lost souls, playing chaotically without a plan. Spain took control, launching fierce attacks on the German goal. After enduring several Spanish shots, Germany finally regained composure and tried to press forward to create shooting opportunities. This strategy was somewhat effective; in the 87th minute, Germany successfully intercepted the ball in the frontcourt, and Kroos sent a through ball. Schürrle broke down the left and sent a low cross, but an exhausted Özil, slow to start, missed the ball. The German fans sighed in despair. Other than setting up Klose's goal, Özil's performance was disappointing.

In the 88th minute, Lahm sent a long pass from the right, and Müller reached it but couldn't adjust his angle, missing the far post. Disbelieving, Müller held his head, deeply regretting the missed opportunity. If he had scored, the game would still have had suspense. Unfortunately, Müller couldn't emerge as the hero for his team.

Seeing Germany still not giving up and continuing to attack fiercely, Spain countered immediately. In the 89th minute, Lin Quan and Martínez intercepted Kroos in midfield. Lin Quan assessed Diego Costa's position and sent a long pass. This time, Costa didn't fall for the German offside trap. Neuer saw Costa receive the ball and chose to challenge him immediately. Costa, unable to dribble past Neuer, decided to shoot before Neuer could completely block the angle. Neuer's challenge was meant to psychologically pressure the opponent and block the shot angle. Prepared for Costa's shot, Neuer swiftly dove to deflect the ball with his hand, sending it out for a corner. Spain gained a corner kick as regular time ended.

The fourth official indicated four minutes of stoppage time, which was not good news for Germany, eager to score. After Spain executed this corner, the time left would be even shorter, and Spain might even score again.

Lin Quan moved to the corner area, ready to take the kick. The intense match had drained the players' energy, and everyone in the penalty area was struggling to move. However, Martínez, who had come on as a substitute in the second half, was an exception. As Spain's second-best aerial threat at 1.94 meters, he was the ideal target for the corner. Before launching the corner, Lin Quan specifically looked at Martínez and made a gesture, seemingly communicating a plan.

Seeing this, the German players consciously intensified their marking on Martínez, not giving him a chance to head the ball. Martínez, recognizing Lin Quan's gesture, subtly moved with his teammates toward the back post. The German defenders followed him closely, not allowing him any space to break free.

However, at that moment, a 1.84-meter-tall defender suddenly cut back from his run toward the back post and charged to the front post. Just then, Lin Quan launched the corner.

Seeing the trajectory of the ball in the air, Neuer felt a sinking feeling, realizing too late that the ball was not headed for the back post but the front. They had been fooled by Lin Quan's feint!

Ramos, having been initially deceived by Lin Quan, chose to trust him this time. His trust was rewarded, and this time, Lin Quan did not deceive him. Seeing the ball headed straight for him, Ramos was moved to tears by the opportunity.

It wasn't easy, but Ramos had finally gotten his chance to score in a World Cup final. Determined not to let Lin Quan down, Ramos exerted all his strength, leaping high to outjump the defender and firmly headed the ball towards the goal.

Neuer, realizing the ball was headed for the near post, quickly moved in that direction. However, such close-range headers are particularly challenging for goalkeepers to save. The lack of a leg swing in headers makes it difficult for goalkeepers to anticipate the direction—often, even the players heading the ball don't know where it will end up.

Facing such a header, goalkeepers rely solely on their reaction speed and predictive abilities. Neuer was fast, but the ball was faster than he anticipated. His attempt to block it was complete, but the ball had already crossed him.

With a crisp sound, the ball flew into the net. In the first minute of stoppage time, Ramos scored with his signature header, his third goal of this World Cup. This goal eliminated even the theoretical hope for the Germans. With about three minutes left after the celebration, only about a minute would remain—scoring three goals in that time was impossible, even if Germany's players were all Ronaldos.

After the goal, an ecstatic Ramos ripped off his shirt and proudly displayed his muscular torso to the cameras. Lin Quan gave him a thumbs-up, praising his excellent header. Ramos, seeing Lin Quan's gesture, ran over, knelt down, and playfully began to polish Lin Quan's shoes with his knee. While Ramos had executed a beautiful header, he truly owed it to Lin Quan. The quality of Lin Quan's corner—its speed, angle, and height—was perfect. Ramos had headed many balls, but only a few passes made heading as satisfying as those from Lin Quan, which is why he chose to thank Lin Quan in such a manner.

Having fulfilled his promise to Ramos and even earned an assist, Lin Quan was quite relaxed. He graciously accepted Ramos's gesture, and when other teammates arrived, he embraced Ramos and celebrated together.

"Now, our championship is secure, right?" someone asked with a laugh.

"Heh, if they're still not convinced, we'll just keep scoring until they are," said Ramos, brimming with confidence, wishing he could seize the moment to score even more goals.

Unfortunately, the German team was truly beaten. After Ramos's goal further extended the lead, the entire German squad lost their fighting spirit. And seeing this, Spain did not press their advantage.

Both teams peacefully ran down the clock. When the four minutes of stoppage time were up, the referee blew the whistle, ending the game immediately. The German players, relieved to end their nightmare, were heartbroken at losing the World Cup final. Many young players, including Müller and Götze, cried openly.

Germany hadn't touched the World Cup trophy since 1990, 24 years ago. They had thought this was their best chance, yet they had fallen short again. They were deeply unsatisfied but had to accept the outcome and look to the next World Cup for revenge.

Löw, accepting the loss, congratulated Spain's coach Del Bosque and comforted his players. The World Cup final defeat was tough, but it wasn't the end of the world. Their team was young and could fight another day. However, Löw and his players couldn't help but feel a phobia of Spain, having lost to them in crucial matches repeatedly.

Now, learning Spanish football hadn't narrowed the gap but made their defeat even more emphatic. Defeating mighty Spain would likely be a key focus of German football research for years to come.

In contrast, the Spanish fans at the stadium were living their happiest moments. Tears of joy and cheers of victory celebrated Spain's second World Cup win. On the field, the Spanish players and staff, bursting with joy, rushed out, chanting, "We are the champions!"

Chapter 321: World Cup Awards Ceremony - Winning So Many Trophies!

The field was chaotic. The moment the final whistle blew, the Spanish players went wild. The forwards rushed to the corner and knelt, hugging each other. In the backfield, several defenders and goalkeeper Casillas also hugged each other. Even though they had won the World Cup four years ago, winning this most prestigious honor in football once again made them extremely excited.

Since Pele led Brazil to successfully defend their title in the 1962 World Cup, no team had managed to achieve this in 52 years. In the increasingly competitive modern football environment, defending the World Cup seemed like an impossible task. But the Spaniards proved to the world that where there's a will, there's a way!

The live broadcast camera focused on Lin Quan. Undoubtedly, Lin Quan was the best player among the 22 on the field in this match. With 3 goals and 1 assist, he was involved in all four of Spain's goals. Throughout this World Cup, Lin Quan scored a total of 12 goals, surpassing his teammate Villa to become Spain's top scorer in history. Besides these 12 goals, he also contributed 10 assists, creating 22 goals in total! It was his presence that made Spain's offense the most powerful in this World Cup.

In seven matches, Spain scored a total of 25 goals, averaging 3.5 goals per game. This scoring efficiency is the highest of any team in nearly 50 years. With these 25 goals, Spain surpassed Brazil and France, becoming the team with the second-most goals in a single World Cup, just behind Hungary. In the 1954 Swiss World Cup, Hungary, with legendary strikers Kocsis and Puskás, scored 27 goals in five matches, averaging over 5 goals per game. They remain the most aggressive attacking team in World Cup history. Unfortunately, Hungary was defeated by West Germany in the final after leading by two goals, leaving a significant regret.

Clearly, Lin Quan was very excited, hugging each player on the field, whether a starter, substitute, staff member, or reporter. If someone opened their arms, Lin Quan would not refuse a warm hug. After all, joy is meant to be shared.

In the CCTV commentary booth, seeing Lin Quan's joyful face, He Wei exclaimed, "In just two years, Lin Quan has risen from an unknown young player to one of the top stars on the planet!"

Xu Yang nodded in agreement, "Before the World Cup, there were concerns about Lin Quan's youth and whether he could handle the intense competition. But Lin Quan's outstanding performance, with goals in seven consecutive matches and 12 goals in a single World Cup, dispelled all doubts."

"This has been Lin Quan's year. So far, he has won five trophies this season, including the Premier League title, the FA Cup, the League Cup, the Champions League, and the World Cup! And in terms of personal honors, Lin Quan has also received the Premier League Best Newcomer Award, Premier League Player of the Year, Premier League Golden Boot, Champions League Golden Boot, Champions League Player of the Year, World Cup Golden Boot, and World Cup Best Player, among many other dazzling honors!"

"Fans used to jokingly call Lin Quan a record-breaker, but now he might have another title - the honor collector!"

The last person to hug Lin Quan was the retired national team captain Puyol. Puyol did not participate in this World Cup as a player but joined the team as an assistant coach at Lin Quan's invitation. His presence significantly improved Spain's defense. Under his guidance, even Lin Quan's defensive abilities improved considerably.

"Captain, we did it!" Lin Quan said, his eyes red with emotion, as he patted Puyol's back.

"Yes, we did it. Thank you, Lin!" Puyol responded, his voice choked with emotion. Winning this trophy meant Puyol could retire without regrets.

"Careful, careful, put me down!" Del Bosque, the excited coach, entered the pitch to celebrate with his players but was immediately hoisted into the air and tossed upwards by the ecstatic players.

The old coach, though thrilled, was also terrified by this unexpected treatment. After being tossed a few times, he began pleading for them to put him down, fearing he might have a heart attack from the scare. The players, understanding his plight, gently set him down and turned their attention to Lin Quan.

Lin Quan tried to escape but was soon caught by Ramos and Martinez. If it had been on the pitch, Lin Quan might have attempted to get past them one-on-two. But now, without a ball at his feet, he had no chance against these two giants. Fortunately, his teammates weren't as ruthless as his club teammates. They tossed him in the air a few times before gently setting him back down.

While the Spanish players celebrated on the pitch, the staff began setting up the awards stage. There was still some time before the ceremony, and the players, dirty from the intense match, headed back to the locker room to clean up.

On his way to the tunnel, Lin Quan met Germany's legendary player Klose.

"Lin, can I trade shirts with you?" Klose, who had been waiting, asked.

Lin Quan had heard of Klose before, but they hadn't had the chance to play against each other until this World Cup final. It might also be their last encounter as Klose, at 36, was nearing retirement. Lin Quan eagerly accepted Klose's request, swapping shirts with him.

"Play well, the future is yours!" Klose said, holding Lin Quan's shirt.

"Thank you, and I wish you all the best in your future career!" Lin Quan sincerely replied.

Klose wasn't a natural talent but a hardworking player who rose through the ranks. His story was an inspiration to many.

After a brief chat, Lin Quan returned to the locker room, only to be doused with fruit-scented water by his teammates. Laughing, he retaliated with another bottle of champagne. Just as they were fooling around, they were warned of the coach's arrival. The players grabbed their champagne, aiming at the door.

Del Bosque, accompanying King Felipe VI of Spain, opened the locker room door and was immediately sprayed with champagne. The players were momentarily stunned, realizing they had soaked the King. But Felipe, unfazed, joked about feeling hot and needing an excuse to remove his suit, winning the players' admiration.

The players quickly showered and changed into special championship shirts before returning to the pitch. FIFA staff had placed the World Cup trophy on the stage, and the sight of it mesmerized the Spanish fans.

"I wish we could take this trophy back to Spain and keep it forever!" Torres said greedily.

"Maybe if we win the World Cup one more time, we can!" Ramos replied, his eyes fixed on the trophy.

However, Alonso explained that FIFA rules prevented the permanent possession of the World Cup trophy, even if a team won it three times. This rule was set after Brazil's dominance, ensuring no team could keep the trophy forever.

As the Spanish players chatted, the awards stage was completed. Cameras focused on the stage, ready for the award ceremony to begin.

The first individual award, FIFA's Best Young Player, was unsurprisingly awarded to Lin Quan. At 18, Lin Quan was the standout young player of the tournament, with his performance far surpassing his peers. He walked up to the stage, accepted the trophy, and posed for photos. The silver trophy was heavy, and Lin Quan guessed it might be made of solid silver.

Next was the Golden Glove award for the best goalkeeper, given to Spain's Casillas, who won it for the second time. With only four goals conceded in seven matches and four clean sheets, Casillas' contributions were crucial.

As Casillas waved to the crowd, Lin Quan compared his silver trophy to the golden glove and felt a bit envious. However, his name was soon called again for the Golden Boot award. Lin Quan accepted the award from FIFA President Blatter, who recalled how Lin Quan had promised a year ago to meet again on the awards stage. Lin Quan, holding the golden boot trophy, returned to his teammates, knowing the next award, the Golden Ball for the tournament's best player, was also his.

As expected, Lin Quan was called up again. Blatter, laughing, remarked how accurate Lin Quan's prediction was. Lin Quan accepted the golden ball trophy, a stunning gold-plated piece, from Blatter. After receiving the award, Lin Quan joined the other winners for a group photo. Holding three trophies, he struggled to manage them all, joking that winning too many awards wasn't necessarily a good thing.

Finally, the Spanish players lined up to receive their championship medals. Casillas, the team captain, lifted the World Cup trophy, and the stadium erupted in fireworks and cheers. Spain's joyous celebration was immortalized in that moment!

Holding Lin Quan's jersey, Klose wished him well.

"Thank you, I hope your career continues smoothly!" Lin Quan sincerely replied to Klose.

Klose wasn't a natural talent but an example of a grassroots player. He didn't come from a professional youth training background but from playing amateur football, so his starting point was much lower than most players. If not for Reghecampf spotting his talent and bringing him to Kaiserslautern at 22, the future World Cup top scorer might have ended up as a carpenter.

At the same time, Ronaldo, a prodigy, was already the top scorer in the South American Super Cup and had been called up to the Brazilian national team at 17. By 19, he was the top scorer in the Dutch league, and by 21, he was the top scorer in La Liga, winning the European Golden Ball and Golden Boot. At 21, Klose was still struggling in the third division. Compared to top stars, Klose wasn't fast, strong, or particularly skilled—he seemed very average.

Such a player back then would hardly be thought of as a future World Cup top scorer. In the 2002 World Cup, Klose's footwork was still crude. Faced with a half-high ball, he wouldn't use his foot but would bend over and head it. All five of his World Cup goals were headers, creating a record but also highlighting his technical gap compared to other German players.

Over time, Klose worked tirelessly to improve his shortcomings. His footwork continually improved, and eventually, he became proficient with both feet, adding more tools to his attacking arsenal and efficiently scoring goals. Unlike superstars like Ronaldo, Klose's style was simple and practical. His peak lasted long because his skills kept improving, limited only by age.

Not everyone can be Messi, but everyone can learn from Klose. Without needing top-level talent, honing one's skills to the utmost can also leave a mark in football.

After a brief chat, Lin Quan returned to the locker room. As soon as he opened the door, he was hit by streams of fruit-scented water. Lin Quan couldn't dodge and was drenched.

"Surprised?" His teammates, holding champagne, laughed mischievously. Lin Quan wiped his face and grabbed an unopened bottle, spraying them back.

Before the final, many had prepared champagne to celebrate the victory. Although champagne can be drunk, it's more fun to spray it!

"Quick, the coach is coming!" While Lin Quan and his teammates were spraying each other, someone on lookout warned them. The players grabbed their champagne and aimed at the door.

Del Bosque, accompanying King Felipe VI of Spain, opened the locker room door and was immediately hit by the scent of apples, lemons, and other fruits.

What's this? The old coach was puzzled, then suddenly drenched by several streams of champagne.

Del Bosque frowned, realizing something was up, and quickly shielded Felipe VI. The king hadn't even reacted before being soaked head-to-toe in champagne. The players were stunned—how could it be the king when they were told it was the coach?

"You rascals, too unruly!"

At 1.97 meters tall, King Felipe stood behind Del Bosque, unaffected by the champagne.

"No worries, everyone's happy. This is great!" Felipe VI, unfazed, joked, "I felt hot anyway, wearing a suit in this weather. Thanks for giving me an excuse to take it off!"

The king's approachable attitude won the players' unanimous approval. Many had feared they were in big trouble for soaking the king, but his easygoing nature put them at ease.

Felipe VI still had events to attend, so he borrowed a jersey from some tall players and planned to wear it to the celebration. Though a bit unroyal, this move won him great favor with fans, boosting his popularity, especially among Spanish football fans.

The players quickly showered, changed into special championship shirts, and returned to the pitch. FIFA staff had placed the World Cup trophy on the stage, its golden glow captivating the Spanish fans.

"I wish we could take this trophy back to Spain and keep it forever!" Torres said greedily.

"Maybe if we win the World Cup one more time, we can!" Ramos replied, his eyes fixed on the trophy.

However, Alonso explained that FIFA rules prevented the permanent possession of the World Cup trophy, even if a team won it three times. This rule was set after Brazil's dominance, ensuring no team could keep the trophy forever.

As the Spanish players chatted, the awards stage was completed. Cameras focused on the stage, ready for the award ceremony to begin.

The first individual award, FIFA's Best Young Player, was unsurprisingly awarded to Lin Quan. At 18, Lin Quan was the standout young player of the tournament, with his performance far surpassing his peers. He walked up to the stage, accepted the trophy, and posed for photos. The silver trophy was heavy, and Lin Quan guessed it might be made of solid silver.

After receiving the trophy from the award presenter, Lin Quan walked to the center of the stage and showed off his trophy to the cameras. It was a silver trophy with a football on top and a square base. Although it looked ordinary, it was quite heavy. Lin Quan weighed it in his hands, estimating it to be over ten pounds, making him wonder if it was made of solid silver. Even if it were pure silver, it wouldn't be worth much, perhaps around 2000 euros.

Although not very valuable, Lin Quan was still very happy. Honors are something no one ever finds too many of.

Next, the Golden Glove award was given to Spain's goalkeeper, Casillas. This was the second time Casillas received this honor. In this World Cup, Spain conceded only four goals in seven matches, the fewest of any team. Additionally, they kept clean sheets in four matches, thanks to Casillas' crucial saves. Casillas walked to the stage, raising the golden glove and waving to the crowd.

Seeing Casillas' golden trophy, Lin Quan looked at his silver trophy and felt a bit envious. Why did the goalkeeper get a golden glove while the best young player only got a silver ball?

Soon, Lin Quan's name was called again. The third award was the Golden Boot for the top scorer of the World Cup. Lin Quan won this award with an absolute advantage of 12 goals.

"Congratulations, Lin, you are truly amazing!" FIFA President Blatter personally presented the award to Lin Quan. When Blatter awarded him the Confederations Cup Golden Ball and Golden Boot a year ago, Lin Quan had told him he hoped to receive an award from him again a year later. Blatter had thought he was joking because to stand on the podium, you had to either win the championship or the Golden Boot. But Lin Quan had indeed accomplished this nearly impossible task!

Seeing Blatter presenting the award again, Lin Quan smiled and said, "You really keep your promises. I hope I can receive an award from you next time too!"

FIFA was about to hold a re-election next year, and Lin Quan's words were a way of wishing Blatter success in his re-election.

The Golden Boot, unlike the Best Young Player award, was made of gold. However, it felt lighter than the silver ball, making Lin Quan suspect it was just gold-plated.

After receiving the trophy, Lin Quan was unsure whether to leave the stage or stay, as the next award was the World Cup Most Valuable Player, also known as the Golden Ball. This award would undoubtedly go to him as well. Eventually, Lin Quan decided to step down and return to his teammates. Holding the Golden Boot while receiving the Golden Ball felt too showy, so he preferred to take it one step at a time.

"Hold this for me!" he said, handing the Golden Boot to Ramos and heading back to the stage for the third time. Ramos looked at the Golden Boot in his hands, admiring it.

As Lin Quan approached the stage for the third time, the crowd burst into laughter and cheers. Commentators around the world couldn't help but chuckle.

"Lin Quan is showing us what it means to win so many awards that your hands are full!"

"He's won three awards on his own, plus the championship medal and trophy. He could practically open a personal trophy room!"

"Considering his league and Champions League awards, he really could!"

Blatter, presenting the award again, jokingly said, "Your prediction was accurate; it's me giving you the award again!"

Lin Quan couldn't help but laugh. If Blatter weren't corrupt, he would have been a good president, supporting the development of football in less developed regions and ensuring the World Cup didn't become dominated by Europe alone. Unfortunately, Blatter's corruption and enemies led to his downfall.

The Golden Ball trophy was even more splendid than the previous ones, fully gold-plated, including the base. It was dazzling but still paled in comparison to the FIFA World Cup Trophy.

After the Golden Ball was awarded, all the individual award winners gathered for a group photo. Although there were four awards, only two players went on stage because Lin Quan had taken three of them! Lin Quan quickly returned to the field, retrieved the Best Young Player award from Torres and the Golden Boot from Ramos.

Ramos, reluctant to part with the Golden Boot, said, "You can't carry them all. Let me keep this one."

Lin Quan laughed, "Sure, but you'll have to come on stage with me for the photo."

Ramos shook his head, "No way, I don't want to embarrass myself!"

He had scored three goals, but that was far from the top scorer. Holding three trophies, Lin Quan returned to the stage, struggling a bit. Casillas saw his awkwardness and couldn't help but laugh.

Lin Quan sighed, "Winning too many awards isn't always a good thing!"

Casillas rolled his eyes at him, thinking, "Is that even a real complaint?"

After the photo session, the German players took turns receiving their runner-up medals from Blatter. Afterward, it was the Spanish players' turn. The 23 Spanish players, wearing red jerseys, excitedly walked to the stage to receive their championship medals.

Captain Casillas carefully lifted the FIFA World Cup Trophy and slowly walked toward his teammates. The players eagerly awaited, extending their arms. Casillas shook the trophy and his body, swaying with his teammates. When he reached the center, he suddenly raised the trophy high! Confetti rained down in Maracanã Stadium, and fireworks lit up the sky. Amidst the colorful fireworks, the joyous laughter of the Spanish players was frozen in that triumphant moment! (End of chapter)

Chapter 322: Lin Quan Wants to Be the King of Football!?

After Casillas finished lifting the trophy, he handed the World Cup to Lin Quan. Lin Quan raised the trophy high, attracting countless photographers, with flashes going off non-stop, and the fans cheering enthusiastically.

Lin Quan didn't linger with the World Cup for long, immediately passing it to his teammates so they could also enjoy lifting the trophy.

At this moment, King Felipe VI of Spain, wearing a red Spanish jersey, appeared on the field from the players' tunnel with his two daughters, also in Spanish jerseys. Xavi handed the World Cup to Lin Quan, asking him to give it to the King.

King Felipe VI looked very emotional as he kissed the World Cup, then handed it to his daughters without lifting it himself. Princess Leonor and Princess Sofia excitedly received the trophy from their father and jointly raised it high.

This scene almost replicated the classic moment from four years ago, evoking nostalgic memories for the Spanish fans present and watching on TV. This generation of Spanish fans is undoubtedly happy, as their national team is experiencing its most powerful era in history. After failing to win a World Cup for eighty years, they won two in just four years. Since 2008, Spain has won 2 World Cups, 2 European Championships, and 1 Confederations Cup in six years, rarely losing in major tournaments and almost sweeping all available trophies.

However, every dynasty eventually declines. In this Spanish team, Xavi is 34 years old, Casillas, Xabi Alonso, and Villa are all 33. Apart from goalkeeper Casillas, the other three are likely to retire from the national team after the World Cup. They are too old to continue playing in top European leagues. So, they will probably leave for the Middle East or the North American Major League Soccer to make money or simply retire like Puyol.

Additionally, Torres and Iniesta, born in 1984, are already 30, and they can probably only play in one more World Cup. Players born in 1985 like Albiol, and those born in 1986 like David Silva and Ramos, along with 1987-born Piqué, Fàbregas, and Pedro, might also only manage one more World Cup, making it difficult for them to persist until the 2022 World Cup.

Compared to the young squad with an average age of 25.7 years four years ago, Spain's current average age has reached 27.5 years, which is quite high among past World Cup-winning teams. The aging roster is the primary problem Spain will need to address in the coming years, a challenge with no easy solution.

However, optimistic Spaniards aren't thinking that far ahead now. They believe that with the vibrant La Liga and the emerging young talents, the new generation will inherit the legacy perfectly and lead Spain to continued success. Fans and the Spanish media share this belief.

During post-match interviews, a group of reporters surrounded Lin Quan, asking about his feelings on the game and winning the World Cup. After Lin Quan answered, a Spanish reporter asked:

"Lin, did you know you were close to breaking a record set by the legendary Pelé 56 years ago?"

Lin Quan shook his head, indicating he didn't know what record the reporter was referring to.

"When Pelé first led his team to victory, he was only 17 years and 249 days old, making him the youngest champion in World Cup history. You won the World Cup at 18 years and 140 days, not far off!"

Apart from these two, Ronaldo participated in the 1994 World Cup at 17, and Brazil won, but he didn't play, so the reporter ignored his record. The reporter considered players like Lin Quan and Pelé, who participated and scored crucial goals as main players, more legitimate.

"I haven't paid much attention to this. After all, there was no World Cup for me to play in at 17!" Lin Quan responded, making the reporters laugh.

The World Cup is every four years, not annually. Finding young, exceptionally talented players like Pelé and Lin Quan is extremely rare, making Pelé's record hard to break, especially with the stringent conditions set by the Spanish reporter. Players need to be young, central to their team, perform outstandingly, and ultimately lift the trophy—each criterion being tough to meet.

"Does Pelé have other records that someone my age could challenge?" Lin Quan asked, known as the record breaker, showing interest in Pelé's records.

Hearing this, the reporters got excited. Did Lin Quan want to become the new king of football?

"Yes, Pelé's unique record is winning three World Cups, a record untouched for years," a reporter said, eagerly waiting for Lin Quan's response.

Winning three World Cups is incredibly difficult, as shown by no one achieving it since Pelé. Pelé's status as the king of football largely stems from this nearly impossible feat, making him the first recognized football king.

If Lin Quan could surpass Pelé's record, he might indeed become the new king of football. But could Lin Quan really accomplish such an impossible task? Some even doubted if he had the courage to accept this challenge.

A player's career is limited, usually no more than 20 years. Even if they start and end their career perfectly aligned with the World Cup, they can only play in up to six World Cups. Given the fierce competition, even a national team might struggle to win three World Cups in 20 years. Brazil, the team with the most World Cup victories, hasn't won since 2002, failing to reach the finals in the last three editions.

"Well, Pelé's record is indeed tough to break, but I feel I can give it a try. What if I succeed?" Lin Quan answered lightly, not claiming absolute confidence but willing to try with a positive attitude. Success would be great; failure wouldn't matter much since it's almost an impossible task.

Hearing Lin Quan's response, the reporters' eyes lit up with excitement. Big news! Lin Quan wanted to challenge for the king of football! While others wouldn't dare to dream of breaking Pelé's record, Lin Quan wanted to try, showing his confidence in his abilities. Such courage is rare!

With Lin Quan's performance in this World Cup, he certainly had the qualifications to challenge for the king of football. The media, eager to attract readers, exaggerated and sensationalized Lin Quan's interview. The BBC's headline was the most eye-catching:

"Lin Quan: I Want to Be the King of Football!"

The football world was in an uproar after these reports. Fans, still buzzing from the World Cup, passionately discussed the news online.

"Damn, Lin wants to be the king of football. I didn't know he had such ambition!"

"Lin is so confident and powerful. If anyone else said this, I'd think they were bragging, but from Lin, it seems possible!"

"Maybe because Lin truly has the ability?"

"Haha, you fans really believe this? Winning one World Cup is hard enough, let alone three. Keep dreaming!"

"Three World Cups are indeed tough, but not impossible. Rationally speaking, Spain just defended their title, so Lin already has one World Cup. He just needs two more in the next decade or so."

"Right, Lin is only 18. He can play in at least three more World Cups, maybe four if he maintains his form."

"Winning two more in four World Cups is still hard. Spain's lineup is aging!"

"True, but as long as Lin is there, they're still a top team. If other teams don't improve, Spain might defend their title again!"

"I think Germany is strong, and Argentina might be competitive in four years."

"I believe France could rise, with many young talents emerging in their league!"

"Young talents? The Professor will be thrilled!"

"The Professor has been spending more generously in recent seasons. Maybe he's now aiming for big stars instead of young talents!"

"No, no, the Professor is still the same, splitting pennies in half. He might be buying stars, but he's still stocking up on young talents to loan out for experience or sell for profit!"

"Wow, when did Arsenal become a black market dealer?"

"Don't say it like that. Arsenal is providing experienced captains for other teams. How can that be called a black market?"

"Stop it, Arsenal fans are about to cry!"

"Okay, no more teasing Arsenal fans. Let's get back to whether Lin can break the record!"

"Do you think it's possible for Lin to win three World Cups in the next four tournaments?"

"No way, absolutely not!"

"The odds are too low!"

"Haha, if that happens, the World Cup might as well be renamed the Spanish Cup!"

Many believe that even winning one more World Cup in the next four tournaments will be tough for Spain. After this generation retires, whether the next generation can be as strong is uncertain. Lin is amazing, but football is a team sport. He can't win alone, and weak teammates could hinder the team.

Because of this low likelihood, many think Lin was joking. Some rival fans seized the chance to mock Lin as arrogant. Challenging Pelé's legendary records?

The heated discussion reached Pelé himself. Contrary to the mockery from others, Pelé graciously said:

"Records exist to be broken by future generations!"

"Lin is a genius player. Watching him play is a joy for anyone. He is young and full of potential, so I won't easily dismiss him!"

Pelé's support boosted the confidence of Lin's fans.

"Haters, speak up!"

"Even the king himself supports Lin. Do you know better than the king?"

"Just call yourselves 'Know-It-Alls' then!"

While this debate raged on, Lin and his teammates flew back to Spain, bringing the World Cup to Madrid. Informed fans swarmed the Madrid airport, creating a sea of people. When the Spanish players appeared
in the arrival hall, they were greeted by a massive crowd.

"My God, how many people are here?"

"Must be tens of thousands!"

"More than that, look outside!"

"Is half of Madrid here?"

"Can we even leave the airport today?"

Surprised by the turnout, the players were initially shocked. However, the fans were relatively calm, chanting championship slogans without causing any incidents. After discussing with their coaches, the players brought out the World Cup and other trophies to show their achievements in this World Cup to the fans.

Seeing the World Cup excited the fans even more, and they surged forward, eager to touch the enchanting championship trophy. Fortunately, the Spanish national team had coordinated with the airport's security in advance, and numerous security personnel were present to maintain order, preventing any incidents.

After soccer officials announced that the World Cup would be publicly displayed for fans to visit, the crowd gradually calmed down. Instead, they started chanting each player's name. Veterans who had participated in two World Cups received special recognition, getting more applause and cheers. But one player stood out—Lin Quan, even though he had only participated in one World Cup, received as much if not more applause and cheers.

Lin was undoubtedly the key player in Spain's World Cup victory and was the undisputed team core. His contributions on the field were undeniable, so he rightfully received special treatment.

Not only the fans treated Lin specially, but the Spanish royal family also showed him particular attention. After the team's return, King Felipe VI hosted a celebration banquet at the palace, inviting all members of the Spanish team. After the banquet, the king awarded Lin the Queen Isabel Medal, established in 1998 to honor individuals and institutions that make outstanding contributions to the country or promote international relations.

In addition to the medal, Princess Leonor fulfilled a promise and granted him a baronetcy. Although Spanish titles aren't very valuable, having a noble title is something, right?

Lin wasn't the first national team member to be knighted. Four years ago, coach Bosque was granted a marquis title by the old king for leading Spain to their first World Cup victory.

This made Lin wonder if he would have received a viscount or even an earl title if King Felipe VI had granted the title instead of Princess Leonor.

Chapter 323: The Summer Transfer Window Opens, Real Madrid Saving Money to Buy Lin Quan!

After the King's celebration banquet, the Spanish team held a traditional parade. The streets of Madrid were already packed with fans from all over the country, all wearing the Spanish national team jerseys, patiently waiting for their heroes to arrive.

At 9:30 in the morning, led by captain Casillas, the entire Spanish team appeared. Casillas, holding the World Cup trophy high, rode on the first bus. Seeing the trophy and the team members, the crowd erupted into applause and cheers. This scene was broadcast live by television stations, reaching households in cities across the country.

The streets, squares, and bars of all major cities in Spain were filled with fans celebrating and rejoicing. The entire country was immersed in a sea of joy!

...

While Madrid was celebrating their second World Cup trophy in history, the European football transfer market was heating up.

This being a World Cup year, many players chose to transfer after the tournament, making the transfer market particularly lively, with numerous rumors about star players.

Despite Lin Quan publicly denying any interest in PSG, transfer rumors about him continued to circulate. Rumor had it that after seeing Lin Quan's World Cup performance, Real Madrid's president, Florentino Pérez, was determined to bring Lin Quan to the Bernabéu. If Lin Quan showed any intention of leaving Manchester City, Real Madrid would immediately start negotiations with City, offering the most sincere bid, reportedly not less than 200 million euros.

Before Manchester City could respond, another La Liga giant, Barcelona, wasn't happy! Joan Laporta, who was about to run for club president, publicly stated:

"Lin is a treasure of La Masia. We will never allow him to go to our arch-rival Real Madrid. If Lin wants to return to La Liga, his next stop must be Barcelona!"

Reporters scoffed at Laporta's remarks. Lin wasn't even a Barcelona player anymore, so how could they control where he transferred? Besides, Lin had clearly expressed grievances with Barcelona, making his return to Camp Nou unlikely without resolving these issues.

Nevertheless, Laporta's comments were well-received by many Barcelona fans. After Spain successfully defended their World Cup title, Lin's outstanding performance made him a favorite among Barça supporters. Young, highly skilled, suited for possession football, and a La Masia graduate—many Barça fans saw Lin as the ideal candidate to lead their team's revival and return to the top of the world.

Barça fans eagerly wished to see Lin and Messi join forces at Camp Nou. However, achieving this goal was extremely difficult. Laporta had good intentions, but his opponent in the presidential race, Bartomeu, would not let him succeed easily.

After Sandro Rosell was imprisoned, Vice President Bartomeu temporarily took over as club president. While many predicted that Barcelona would hold early presidential elections this summer, Bartomeu postponed them to the summer of 2015, showing his unwillingness to relinquish the presidency to Laporta.

Bartomeu brought back Luis Enrique and planned to sign James Rodríguez and Luis Suárez to strengthen Barcelona's squad and aim for the Champions League next season. If Barcelona won the Champions League, Bartomeu could secure more fan support, helping him defeat Laporta in the next summer's election.

Bartomeu's quick actions caught Laporta off guard, rendering his preparations futile. When other clubs hesitated to sign Suárez due to his biting incidents, Barcelona took the risk, signing the Uruguayan for 81 million euros.

Suárez's arrival formed the MSN trio (Messi, Suárez, Neymar) in Barcelona's front line. Although the trio's strength wasn't fully understood yet, they would soon demonstrate their formidable power in the league and Champions League.

Suárez's transfer was the largest deal of the summer so far, making him the temporary king of the transfer market. However, this record wouldn't last long, as James Rodríguez, another World Cup standout, hadn't yet decided on his next club.

More clubs were interested in James Rodríguez than in Suárez, including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, and Liverpool. Initially, Real Madrid, James, and Monaco had almost reached an agreement. However, after selling Suárez, Liverpool, worried about their upcoming season, urgently sought to fill the void left by their top scorer.

Liverpool, eager to sign a top player, offered Monaco 85 million euros for James Rodríguez, using the funds from Suárez's transfer. This offer made Monaco halt negotiations with Real Madrid to reconsider. With Lin Quan determined to stay at Manchester City, major clubs seemed to have the funds to buy players.

Although not as strong as Lin, James was a rare young superstar. Such players were always in demand, and Monaco naturally hoped to earn more from his sale. Real Madrid, frustrated by the news, considered James non-essential, especially with plans to buy Lin Quan requiring them to save funds.

Consequently, Real Madrid contemplated withdrawing from the competition. Liverpool could have James, and they would save money for Lin Quan. However, James, preferring Real Madrid over Liverpool, pressured his club to make concessions on the transfer fee to facilitate his move to Madrid.

James's public admiration for Real Madrid endeared him to their fans, who liked his good looks and skills. Winning the World Cup Silver Boot and attracting offers exceeding 80 million euros proved his talent. Even if Real Madrid needed funds for Lin Quan later, they could sell James, ensuring minimal financial loss.

Ultimately, Real Madrid and Monaco agreed on James Rodríguez's transfer for 82 million euros, making him the most expensive transfer of the 2014 summer window, narrowly surpassing Suárez. Following last year's 100 million-pound purchase of Bale, Real Madrid again secured the most expensive transfer.

Meanwhile, Barcelona continued their spending spree after buying Suárez, making several more signings. They bought goalkeeper Claudio Bravo from Real Sociedad for 12 million euros and Marc-André ter Stegen from Borussia Mönchengladbach for the same amount, filling their need for top goalkeepers after Valdés refused to renew his contract and faced an uncertain future.

Additionally, Barcelona signed midfielder Ivan Rakitić from Sevilla for 18 million euros and defenders Thomas Vermaelen from Arsenal for 19 million euros and Jérémy Mathieu from Valencia for 20 million euros. In the final moments of the transfer window, they brought in defender Douglas from São Paulo for 4 million euros.

In total, Barcelona spent 160 million euros this summer, reflecting Bartomeu's ambitions. To finance these purchases, Barcelona also sold several players. Cesc Fàbregas, who had insisted on returning to Barcelona, eventually left for Chelsea for 33 million euros. Alexis Sánchez, losing his starting position to Suárez, was sold to Arsenal for 42.5 million euros. Cristian Tello was loaned to Porto for 3 million euros, and Bojan Krkić, once seen as Messi's successor, was sold to Stoke City for 1.8 million euros.

These sales reduced Barcelona's net expenditure to under 100 million euros. In contrast, Real Madrid sold more players than they bought, including Ángel Di María to Manchester United for 75 million euros, Álvaro Morata to Juventus for 20 million euros, Xabi Alonso to Bayern for 10 million euros, and Nuri Şahin back to Dortmund for 7 million euros. Overall, Real Madrid made a net profit of 30 million euros.

Atlético Madrid also made significant moves this summer, selling Diego Costa and Filipe Luís for 50 million pounds, giving them ample transfer funds. Despite Fernando Torres's return, coach Diego Simeone felt the need to strengthen the forward line after Costa and Villa's departure. Taking advantage of Mario Mandžukić's discord with Bayern coach Guardiola, Simeone bought Mandžukić for 22 million euros and Torino forward Alessio Cerci for 15 million euros. They also signed Granada defender Guilherme Siqueira for 10 million euros and Benfica goalkeeper Jan Oblak for 16 million euros to replace Courtois.

After these transfers, Simeone targeted Real Sociedad's young forward Antoine Griezmann, who scored 21 goals and provided 5 assists in 50 matches last season, catching Simeone's attention with his performance against Barcelona.

Simeone initially offered 20 million euros for Griezmann, but Real Sociedad refused, calling him indispensable. Realizing they needed to increase the offer, Simeone raised it to 25 million euros, which softened Sociedad's stance. Ultimately, Atlético Madrid activated Griezmann's 30 million euro release clause, bringing him to the team.

This summer, Atlético spent 120 million euros on transfers, offset by 95 million euros from player sales, resulting in a net expenditure of 25 million euros. La Liga clubs collectively spent 480 million euros in the transfer market, with the big three—Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atlético—accounting for 360 million euros, highlighting the league's wealth disparity.

La Liga's 480 million euro transfer expenditure ranked second among the top five European leagues, but was dwarfed by the English Premier League's 1.02 billion euros, almost as much as the other four leagues combined. The Premier League's intense spending was driven by the sudden rise of Manchester City, funded by the Abu Dhabi group, transforming them from a mid-table team to one of the top clubs in a few years.

Threatened by City's rise, other major clubs joined the spending spree to maintain their status. The Premier League's successful marketing and high broadcasting revenue, with mid- and lower-table teams earning around 80 million pounds per season from TV rights alone, gave them the financial backing to spend heavily, leading to an exceptionally fierce transfer market this season.

Chapter 324: The Premier League's Crazy Arms Race, Is Manchester City Throwing the Season?

"The competition in the Premier League this season is really intense!" Under a large parasol on a beach in Catalonia, Lin Quan and Guardiola were relaxing on lounge chairs, enjoying the sea breeze. Guardiola, a workaholic even on vacation, was engrossed in a newspaper.

"Is that so?" Lin casually asked.

"Yes, the big clubs in the Premier League have been very active in the transfer market, especially your neighbors, Manchester United, who have been crazily buying players!" Lin remembered that after Moyes was sacked, the Dutchman Van Gaal took over the reins at United. He seemed to have spent a lot of money, much of it wastefully.

Lin took a look at the newspaper and, indeed, Manchester United had made big moves this summer. As soon as the transfer window opened, they hastily brought in Luke Shaw from Southampton for £33 million. They also bought midfielder Herrera from Athletic Bilbao for £31 million, Di Maria from Real Madrid for £60 million, and defender Rojo from Benfica for £20 million. Besides, they borrowed Falcao from Monaco at an annual cost of £6 million.

Manchester United spent a total of €180 million in the transfer market this summer, making them the biggest spenders in Europe. Although Barcelona also spent a lot, they recouped around seventy to eighty million euros by selling players. Manchester United, despite several departures, only recouped €43 million. This means their net spending was a staggering €140 million! Van Gaal really knows how to burn through money. However, if his extravagant spending fails, he will likely be heavily criticized.

However, Lin checked online and found that Manchester United fans seemed to applaud Van Gaal's aggressive recruitment; there were some dissenters, but they were few. Most fans were pleased and excited about the club's ambitious signings!

"Haha, the club is really going all out this season, it seems they're ready to make a big splash!"

"Hehe, looking forward to taking revenge on Manchester City in the league!"

"Manchester City's squad hasn't changed much, and they still have Lin. Can we really beat them this season?"

Some fans were unsure, as City, despite being new money, were last season's Champions League winners and not to be underestimated. Last season, Manchester United suffered a double defeat to City, with heavy losses. Lin's hat-trick at Old Trafford, celebrated in Cantona's style of surveying the field, still painfully haunted United fans and had become a nightmarish memory.

"Don't worry, this season we have Van Persie, Rooney, Falcao, Mata, and Di Maria – a bunch of top stars. With this lineup, how could we possibly lose?"

"Right, this lineup basically guarantees the Premier League title this season, and at least a semifinal spot in the Champions League!"

"Exactly, money is such a good thing. If a nouveau riche like City can achieve results by splurging, we, with our rich heritage, have invested so much this season, next season we'll surely beat the crap out of City!"

United's fans were very confident about the team's prospects this season and were eagerly looking forward to it starting. Seeing the high expectations of United fans, Lin couldn't help but want to laugh. Van Gaal was good at spending money, but leading a team to success was another matter...

Outside of Manchester United, Chelsea also spent heavily, and they were one of the first to act. On May 24th, just after the Premier League ended and before the World Cup started, Chelsea quickly reached a transfer agreement with French powerhouse PSG. Chelsea sold their main central defender, David Luiz, to PSG for £50 million, setting a new world record price for a defender. Interestingly, both Thiago Silva and David Luiz were Brazil's main defenders at the World Cup. PSG likely thought buying another Brazilian main defender like Luiz would be beneficial, especially since the two played together on the national team and would easily fit into the team. Despite the high cost, PSG thought it was worth it.

But when Brazil was defeated 7-1 by Germany at the World Cup, PSG wasn't laughing anymore. Chelsea fans, on the other hand, were overjoyed, feeling like they had rid themselves of a liability: "Thanks to the Middle Eastern tycoons for helping us clear a mine!" "£50 million for a defensive bomb, what a profit!" "No wonder our performance was so poor last season, it turns out we had a time bomb in our defense!"

Not all Chelsea fans shared this sentiment, and some defended David Luiz: "David Luiz is actually quite strong, but his positional sense is poor, often making mistakes when he pushes forward." "That's right, he likes to increase his defensive area by moving forward, and once that fails, it becomes very noticeable, making him seem like a defensive liability." "This type of defender isn't suited to command the back line, but he's perfect as a charge-ahead general under someone else's command."

These fans really understood football. In fact, many experts believed that Thiago Silva's suspension had a greater impact on Brazil than Neymar's, with Marcelo and David Luiz both prone to leaving their positions, and Germany's early lead exacerbating Brazil's rash play. This doesn't mean the teams' strengths were vastly different.

Of course, claiming David Luiz is worth £50 million is quite a stretch. So, in this deal, Chelsea clearly made a huge profit. If this transfer had occurred after the World Cup, the price would have likely been only £30 million.

After selling David Luiz, Chelsea had enough funds to buy the striker they desired. Diego Costa, a forward from Spain, the World Cup champions, was sought after by many top clubs. Last season, plagued by a lack of striking power, Chelsea had long been interested in Costa, who had performed well in both the Champions League and the World Cup.

Before the World Cup ended, they offered Atlético Madrid £35 million for Costa. Chelsea's timing was cunning, coinciding with Costa's injury during the World Cup group stages. His consecutive absences due to injury in both the Champions League final and the World Cup led to doubts about his resilience, significantly impacting his transfer value. Atlético shared these concerns, so they entered into negotiations with Chelsea. However, as Spain won the championship, Costa recovered from his injury in time for the final. Although he didn't score, his performance wasn't poor—it was just overshadowed by Lin. Seeing that Costa's injury was not a concern, Atlético was more confident in their negotiations and refused to lower the price.

Chelsea's cheeky offer of less than £50 million, considering they had just earned £50 million from David Luiz's sale, was embarrassing. This obviously made it difficult for Chelsea, who aren't as extravagant as Middle Eastern tycoons. Even if they were, they couldn't afford to be taken advantage of. £50 million for Diego Costa, was it worth it? If Costa remained injury-free and perfectly fit into Chelsea's system, then the price might not seem too outrageous. However, if they really spent so much on one player, they might run short on funds for other necessary signings.

Last season's loss to Manchester City left Chelsea eager to aggressively recruit and arm themselves to the teeth for revenge. In addition to a forward, they were interested in other positions, such as Atlético's left-back Filipe and Barcelona's midfielder Fàbregas. Buying these stars without £50 million would likely be difficult, so Chelsea continued to negotiate with Atlético.

After tough negotiations, Chelsea agreed to send Torres back to Atlético, packaging Filipe and Costa for £50 million. For Chelsea, trading an aging Spanish forward for a younger, peak-form Spanish forward, plus a highly promising left-back and clearing some salary space, was undoubtedly a good deal. For Atlético, after letting go of Costa, they needed a high-level forward, and Torres, a product of Atlético's youth system and Spanish, was a great choice to bring back. Importantly, Torres's transfer fee was only €5 million—practically a giveaway.

For Torres, struggling at Chelsea was frustrating. Instead of continuing to be marginalized there, a change of scenery to rediscover his form seemed better. And returning to his boyhood club after seven years was like coming home for Torres.

After this transfer, Chelsea went all out to bring in Fàbregas from Barcelona, completing their final puzzle piece. Barcelona wasn't eager to let Fàbregas go, but needing funds to compete with Real Madrid for Suárez and James Rodríguez, they were compelled to sell. After negotiations, the two clubs agreed on a €33 million deal.

This summer, Chelsea spent €110 million on transfers. However, after selling David Luiz and Lukaku, they recouped €100 million. In total, they spent less than €10 million, barely achieving a balanced budget. Really, Chelsea, lacking a top-quality forward, shouldn't have sold Lukaku, who was performing well at Everton. But tensions between Abramovich and Mourinho, and the lack of significant funds for transfers, forced Mourinho to raise funds through sales. While Lukaku was valuable, selling him brought in a €40 million budget, and Chelsea feared his value might decrease later. However, this decision laid the groundwork for Lukaku's future returns to Chelsea...

Manchester United and Chelsea were big spenders, and Liverpool wasn't about to fall behind. After selling Suárez, they had plenty of funds and brought in Emre Can, Lallana, Markovic, Lovren, Origi, Moreno, and Balotelli in one go. While none of these players were particularly expensive—the most costly being local midfielder Adam Lallana at €31 million—the costs added

These acquisitions totaled €150 million, breaking Liverpool's single-season transfer spending record. Despite signing many players, none, except perhaps Balotelli, were star players. And Balotelli was a notorious troublemaker. Thus, despite spending the most in their 131-year history, Liverpool fans remained worried. It seemed their expensive recruits wouldn't match Suárez's impact. However, Suárez's frequent suspensions, totaling 19 matches, were a major concern.

Among the traditional top four, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Liverpool each spent over €100 million, and Arsenal wasn't idle. After spending £45 million on Özil last summer, Wenger was willing to spend more this year. Arsenal spent €42.5 million on Sánchez from Barcelona and €20 million on forward Welbeck from Manchester United. Wenger also spent €35 million on two defenders and €4 million on a backup goalkeeper. In total, Arsenal spent €100 million this season, with a net expenditure of €80 million after sales, which was significant for them.

Even Wenger, usually known for his frugality, was forced to spend heavily due to the intense competition in the Premier League. Meanwhile, Manchester City, the initiator of this arms race, had a relatively quiet summer. They spent €15 million on Levante's World Cup standout goalkeeper Navas, €15 million on Porto midfielder Francisco, and €30 million on defender Mangala. Their total transfer spending was only €60 million, much less than the other top four.

Moreover, City sold several players, including Javi García, Negredo, and Rodwell, recouping €65 million. Thus, their net spending was negative! Where was the promised financial splurge? This minimal spending led to doubts from the outside world—was Manchester City planning to throw the season?

Chapter 325: Value Skyrockets by 80 Million, Surpassing Messi to Become Number One!

As last season's Champions League winners and home to some of the world's top superstars, Manchester City has garnered more attention this summer than ever before. In the past few years, City could attract fans' attention through big-ticket signings, but such a strategy is not sustainable and tends to cast a somewhat negative image on the club. Many fans view City's unrestrained spending as disruptive to the transfer market and as inflating operational costs for other clubs. Consequently, City has often been burdened with the image of a nouveau riche club.

However, this summer is different. Manchester City has been very restrained in the transfer market. Their appeal this season is not due to high-profile acquisitions but rather their performance last season and the presence of star players in the team. Winning the Champions League significantly boosted City's global influence and popularity, attracting many fans.

Moreover, City's rapid rise has drawn the attention of numerous European powerhouses. Last season, they beat top teams like Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Barcelona on their way to the championship, proving their strength was based on skill, not luck.

As the defending champions, if their lineup remains largely unchanged, they will continue to be strong contenders in the Champions League. This is not good news for the other powerhouses, which have begun to scheme ways to weaken City by poaching their valuable players. By buying top players from City, these clubs could enhance their own strength and diminish City's.

Manchester City indeed has several top stars; among their starting eleven, except for Kolarov from Serbia who did not qualify for the World Cup, the other ten players participated in the tournament. Among them, Lin Quan and David Silva won the World Cup, while Kroos was a runner-up. Aguero, Zabaleta, and Demichelis reached the semifinals, and De Bruyne and Kompany made it to the quarterfinals. All these players, except Aguero who wasn't a regular starter, were key players for their national teams.

Lin Quan was particularly outstanding. Participating in his first World Cup, he led his team to victory and defeated Messi head-to-head in the match against Argentina. This dramatically boosted his popularity in the football world, with many pundits and stars predicting that he would become the strongest player in future football. Some even suggested he might already be at that level!

Thus, the most sought-after player from City, without a doubt, is Lin Quan. However, prying him away from Etihad Stadium is highly challenging. He still has four years left on his contract with City, and he has expressed no desire to leave. Even if he were willing, determining the transfer value for a player of his caliber is complex. The most recent high-profile transfer involving a player like Lin was Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009. At that time, Real Madrid paid Manchester United 80 million pounds—94 million euros—to secure Ronaldo, setting a new record for the highest transfer fee.

Five years have passed since then, and players' values have skyrocketed, making that price less relevant today. However, one thing is certain: any transfer fee for Lin would undoubtedly set a new world record. While the major clubs were unsure about Lin's exact worth, the German transfer market updated its latest player value rankings. According to their scientifically calculated system based on players' performances at the World Cup, Lin Quan's value shot up by 80 million euros to 150 million euros due to his outstanding performance, surpassing Messi as the current most valuable player in action.

Although Messi did not win the World Cup, his five goals in the final two matches added considerable value, bringing his worth up to 135 million euros, making him the second most valuable player. Considering the age difference between Messi and Lin, with Lin only 18 and still developing, it is unlikely that Messi, now 27, will close this 15 million euro gap, especially as injuries and aging could lead to a decline in his performance.

Below Lin and Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo ranks third. His performance with Portugal at the World Cup was poor, scoring only two goals and facing early elimination. Therefore, his value did not increase and remains at 120 million euros, ranking him third. At 29, Ronaldo is the oldest of the top three, and his value is unlikely to increase, only to decline with age.

Behind these three, the ranking continues with Gareth Bale from Wales, who did not make it to the World Cup, causing his value to decrease from 90 million euros last year to 80 million euros now. Neymar, expected to surpass Bale, unfortunately suffered an injury during the World Cup, and Brazil's devastating loss to Germany dampened the pre-tournament hype around him. His value increase was less than expected at 70 million euros, ranking him fifth.

The players ranked sixth to tenth are Di Maria and Iniesta at 65 million euros, James Rodriguez, Suarez, and Falcao each valued at 60 million euros. Notably, due to their impressive World Cup performances, Lin Quan's teammates Kroos and De Bruyne saw their values increase to 50 million and 35 million euros, respectively. Despite missing the World Cup, Marco Reus's value soared by 20 million euros to 55 million euros, making him the most valuable German player.

Thus, the German transfer market has a significant influence, and many clubs use its valuations as a reference for conducting transfers. When the latest rankings were published, they sparked widespread discussion in the football world.

"Lin has topped the rankings?" "Is that for real?" "150 million euros? Has the German market gone mad? That high?" "Even Messi is only at 135 million. Lin is just 18 and already at 150 million, is there no justice?" "Consider inflation. If Messi were five years younger, his value might not be lower than Lin's." "Seeing the transfer fees this summer makes me dizzy. Nearly 80 million euros used to be the record!" "Remember when Zidane moved to Real Madrid for just 77.5 million euros? That shocked the world back then!" "Inflation is crazy. Didn't PSG just make a 200 million euro offer for Lin? If that deal had gone through, it would have doubled the current record!"

During his vacation, Lin Quan saw his updated value on social media and couldn't help but comment, "Am I really that expensive?" He had expected his value to rise, possibly to 110 or 120 million euros, but the German market's aggressive new valuation at 150 million euros took him by surprise.

Under Lin's social media post, numerous fans commented. "Indeed very expensive, a kilo of pork costs just 12 yuan, your value could buy 140,000 tons of pork !" This comparison by a Chinese fan made Lin smile wryly. Calculating his worth in terms of pork? Ridiculous!

Yet Lin couldn't help but do the math. One pig weighs about 100 kilograms; 140,000 tons of pork translates to 1.4 million pigs. Unbelievable!

The updated German transfer market valuations caught the attention of major clubs. Seeing Lin's value, they gasped. The German market valuations are just a reference; actual transfer fees are usually higher, especially if the player's contract is not nearing its end. Lin's contract with City still has years left, and his value at 150 million euros implies that buying him would cost at least 200 million euros. No wonder City rejected PSG's 200 million euro offer without hesitation. To buy Lin, a club might need to prepare 250 million euros or more, a sum that few clubs can afford, even the traditional powerhouses.

Even if they had the money, they might not be willing to spend it all on Lin. Such a high fee would also mean an exorbitant salary, unaffordable for most clubs except a few super-rich ones. But clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, and PSG could be exceptions. While the first two don't have Middle Eastern backers, they have the financial reserves built over many years and could potentially gather the funds by selling some players. PSG, backed by Qatari money, doesn't have a funding issue but still struggles to buy top players. They failed to buy Lin at 200 million euros, and 250 million euros might not be enough either. Ronaldo and Messi are also uninterested in joining PSG, so they might target players below the top three, like Neymar.

Neymar's value is only 70 million euros; if PSG offers 150 million, would Barcelona sell? PSG intends to test the waters.

Accepting the reality that they couldn't buy Lin Quan, major clubs turned their attention to his teammates. City has several young, talented players who attracted interest from the powerhouses, especially Kroos. His excellent World Cup performance gained him widespread recognition. Clubs that mocked City's big spending last winter now regret their words. Based on his World Cup performance, 50 million euros for Kroos is reasonable. But given the current market, prying him away from City might cost 60 or even 70 million euros, and City might still refuse to sell.

Ignoring whether City would sell, clubs decided to test the waters. Real Madrid took the first step. With Xabi Alonso transferred to Bayern, their midfield lacked a main player. Although they signed James Rodríguez, he is an attacking midfielder, unlike Alonso. Casemiro, their Brazilian find, was loaned to Porto and unavailable. Thus, Real Madrid offered 55 million euros for Kroos. But for City, this was unattractive. They bought Kroos for 50 million euros and wouldn't sell for just a 5 million euro profit.

City rejected Real Madrid's offer without hesitation. Real Madrid, unsurprised, raised their bid to 60 million euros. Meanwhile, they contacted Kroos's agent Walker, intending to persuade the player himself. Walker, invited by Real Madrid's president Florentino Pérez, gladly went to Madrid for a private discussion.

Chapter 326: Emperor Lin, Team in Danger, Return Quickly!

Chapter 326: Emperor Lin, Team in Danger, Return Quickly!

Walker himself is not opposed to arranging for his players to transfer to Real Madrid, as after all, Real Madrid is one of the most successful clubs on this planet. In terms of influence in the football world, Manchester City still has a significant gap compared to them.

However, he also has concerns. That is the fact that Real Madrid's team is filled with superstars, and the competition is very intense. Many players at Real Madrid end up not playing and have to sit on the cold bench. The most famous case was Kaka a few years ago, who joined the team for a transfer fee of 75 million euros but rarely got a chance to play.

This makes many players hesitant about transferring to Real Madrid, as a player's prime is so short, and spending years on the bench could ruin their entire career.

But Walker's worries soon disappeared when Florentino showed his sincerity. He promised Walker that as long as Kroos joined Real Madrid, he would be a main midfielder and wouldn't have to worry about not getting playtime! Florentino was clearly aware of the other party's concerns and addressed them right from the start. No wonder he has been able to bring so many stars to the team; in negotiations, the old man truly has a unique personal charm.

Although Real Madrid was very sincere, Walker did not immediately agree. He said he needed to discuss with the player himself before making a decision. Florentino expressed his understanding and promised that Real Madrid's doors would always be open to Kroos.

After the meeting, Walker hurried back to Germany. He went to Kroos' home and had a detailed talk with him. Kroos seemed hesitant after hearing Walker's words; he hadn't been at Manchester City for long, only six months, so he didn't have deep feelings for the club.

But the team's current performance is excellent, and the atmosphere within the team is good. Here, he could also earn a very high salary. Last year when he transferred to Manchester City, the club offered him an annual salary of 11 million euros. According to the contract they signed, Kroos' salary this year could rise to 12 million euros. This salary would be hard to match in other clubs, including Real Madrid. For example, James Rodriguez transferred to Real Madrid for a fee of 82 million euros, and his annual salary at Real Madrid was revealed to be only 7 million euros. If Kroos were to move to Real Madrid, even if it were higher than this figure, it probably wouldn't be much higher.

However, Manchester City can't compete with Real Madrid in terms of commercial development. Moving to Real Madrid could allow him to earn income from other aspects. Weighing it up, both sides seemed about the same.

If the income is roughly the same, then the internal status and the difficulty of obtaining honors need to be considered. "Mr. Walker, what is the atmosphere like in Real Madrid's locker room compared to Manchester City?" Kroos is a very rational player; he rarely makes impulsive decisions based on emotions. If he cannot fully weigh the pros and cons of both teams, he won't make a decision lightly.

This is what Walker really appreciates about him, unlike another player, Royce... Alas, thinking about Royce's injury, Walker feels a headache. Royce needs rest, which is a clear matter for the German national coach Löw, hence he did not call up Royce.

Lewandowski announced early that he would not renew his contract with the team, leaving Dortmund without a penny, transferring for free. This left Dortmund financially and spiritually drained! In the new season, after losing Götze and Lewandowski, Dortmund will rely more on Royce, which means he won't get much rest. Moreover, he himself might not want to rest, because he wants to lead the team to achieve good results and prove to those who left that even without them, Dortmund is still that strong Dortmund.

If it were someone else, this trait would be admirable, and Walker would sincerely applaud. But Royce is a player under Walker, which makes him very troubled.

Fortunately, Kroos is not like that. So hearing Kroos' words, Walker smiled and said, "Every team's locker room atmosphere is related to the team's leader. The leader in Manchester City's locker room is Lin, whose character and temper you are already very familiar with, so I don't need to say much."

Kroos nodded; Lin Quan's character is very easy-going and a good person to get along with. The atmosphere in Manchester City's locker room is also harmonious, without much scheming.

Speaking of which, Kroos quite likes the atmosphere in Manchester City's locker room. And because the team has a superstar like Lin Quan, whenever the team faces difficulties, he always steps forward, giving a very solid sense of security. This is also what he fondly remembers about Manchester City, just for Lin Quan, Kroos doesn't really want to leave.

"The locker room atmosphere at Real Madrid has always been poor, because they have too many top stars. And these players are divided into different factions, such as the native gang and the foreign gang, within the foreign gang there are the continental faction and the Latin American faction. These factions scheme against each other, openly and secretly; Real Madrid is far from being as calm as it appears.

However, I heard that Real Madrid plans to handle the internal issues and is going to send Casillas, the leader of the native gang, away. Once Casillas leaves, the unquestionable leader of the Real Madrid locker room will be Cristiano Ronaldo. You must have heard about Ronaldo's personality; he's quite dominant and not easy to get along with. But since you're a midfielder, there won't be a conflict of positions, and you could even provide assists for these forwards.

So, his attitude towards you won't be bad, he might even deliberately seek to win you over. Therefore, if you go to Real Madrid, you don't have to worry too much about this aspect."

After hearing Walker's analysis, Kroos felt relieved. Honestly, given Kroos' technical characteristics, he thinks the pace of La Liga would be more suitable for him. The Premier League's actions are too rough, players' fouls are too harsh, and the physical confrontations are too intense, making it easy to get injured here. Like other players, Kroos really dislikes the feeling of being injured, as it can have a huge negative impact on a player's form and even their entire career.

Besides, without a winter break, the dense schedule in December and January is a bit overwhelming. What's more uncomfortable is the awful weather in Manchester; it's cold and rainy here, and it can rain several times a day, which feels very unpleasant.

It's clear that in the half year at Manchester City, Kroos has accumulated a lot of resentment. However, every place has its pros and cons. The Premier League is not entirely bad, and La Liga is certainly not a paradise.

All in all, his feelings about Manchester City are just okay. If it weren't for the invitation from Real Madrid, he probably wouldn't consider other teams.

But it just had to be Real Madrid...

At Manchester City, it's not just Kroos who is being targeted. Thanks to his outstanding performances in the Champions League and World Cup, De Bruyne's value has skyrocketed. Teams that didn't value him before are now taking a second look.

AC Milan made the first move, offering 35 million euros to Manchester City for him. Hearing that AC Milan had made a move, Inter Milan immediately joined the fray, raising the offer by 1 million to 36 million euros.

Manchester City didn't hesitate to reject all these offers. De Bruyne has a good relationship with Lin Quan, and the club wouldn't easily sell him. Moreover, he provides significant help in the attack, and his combination with Lin Quan has already proven its powerful effect on the Bundesliga field!

Such a player, Manchester City absolutely wouldn't sell for a mere 35 million euros!

After rejecting these two teams' offers, the Bundesliga side, Dortmund, also joined the fray. After consecutively losing Götze and Lewandowski, Dortmund's front line was left with only Royce.

This makes the outlook for Dortmund's new season very worrisome, and in a rush to strengthen the team, Dortmund offered a high price of 40 million euros to bring the Bundesliga-proven De Bruyne to the team.

This price is actually not high, but transfer fees in the Bundesliga are generally lower. Dortmund previously sold Götze for only 37 million euros.

And Lewandowski left as a free agent, meaning that after losing two core players, Dortmund only earned a mere 37 million euros.

Now, they're offering 40 million euros for De Bruyne, meaning they'd still have to pay an extra 3 million euros in the transfer market. As expected, Manchester City still refused Dortmund's offer.

But the continuous offers from other teams made Manchester City's coach Pellegrini a bit uneasy. The club spent less money this summer, but that doesn't mean, as outsiders think, that Manchester City is giving up.

Rather, they couldn't find suitable players on the transfer market. They currently don't lack forwards or midfielders, only the defense line needs strengthening.

Manchester City's main central defender, Demichelis, is already 34 years old and is preparing to retire. After playing in the World Cup, he called Pellegrini to tell him he was thinking of leaving.

Demichelis was a confidant Pellegrini brought from Malaga; although he is a bit old, he really is like a stabilizing pin on the defense line. Last season, Manchester City's captain, Kompany, made several mistakes on the defense line, and if not for Demichelis stepping forward to help his teammates, Manchester City might not have gone so far.

So, Pellegrini persuasively urged him to stay. Demichelis hesitated and wasn't completely convinced.

This made Pellegrini worry, and he had to continue to bring in reinforcements to prevent a shortage of personnel on the defense line. But good defenders are really hard to find, like David Luiz, who costs 50 million pounds, and other teams' main defenders cost so much that Pellegrini dares not even think about it.

Moreover, other teams always ask for a bit more when negotiating transfers with Manchester City, making it even more disadvantageous for Manchester City.

"By the way, didn't Lin want to recommend a player to me before, what was his name?"

Just as Pellegrini was troubled by the team's defense line issues, he suddenly remembered something. Lin Quan had told him that in the Scottish Premiership's Celtic team, there was a young defender with potential worth noting.

Pellegrini had noted this at the time and had arranged for professional scouts to go to Celtic to observe this player named Van Dijk.

It's been so long now, the scout's report should have been submitted by now, right?

Sure enough, after flipping through the scout reports for a while, Pellegrini found the report on this young defender named Van Dijk.

Van Dijk: 23 years old, Dutch, height 1.93 meters, weight 90 kilograms. Currently playing for Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.

Advantages of the player: Strong positional sense, excellent physical condition, strong heading ability, high success rate in one-on-one defense, strong support defense, good at compressing space.

Disadvantages: Tackling, chasing back, and slide tackling abilities are average, turning speed is slow, easy to be exploited from behind.

Estimated transfer value: 8 million pounds.

After reading the scout's report, Pellegrini furrowed his brows. This defender's basic skills seem average?

Why would Lin Quan recommend such a player to him? From the scout's report, aside from an excellent positional sense that slightly interested him, other aspects did not attract him.

However, the scout's report might not be accurate, and he planned to personally watch Van Dijk's match videos.

...

After the transfer market's value was announced, Lin Quan once again became the focus of fans' discussions. Actually, since he successively won the Champions League and World Cup, Lin Quan seemed to have never left the front pages of major media.

Thanks to the media's tireless reports and hype, Lin Quan's global fame has greatly increased. Although he is not very active on social media, the number of fans following his account still skyrocketed to 15 million like a rocket!

With such a large fan base, Lin Quan truly caught up with Messi and Ronaldo in terms of influence.

This greatly increased Lin Quan's commercial value, and sponsors came to him in droves. Now he doesn't lack sponsorship contracts, so he needs to select the sponsors.

As much as possible, he should not choose those cooperations that would have a negative impact on his personal image, because his personal image is closely related to his commercial value.

He cannot smash his long-term brand for short-term benefits.

Seeing Lin Quan's clear-headedness, Guardiola felt very relieved. What he was most worried about was that Lin Quan, because of becoming famous too early, would be dazzled by the outside praise and degenerate too early.

Such a talented player is hard to come by in decades; it would be a real pity if he fell so easily!

Vacation time passed quickly, and in a blink of an eye, it was the end of July. The new season's training for Manchester City was getting closer, and Lin Quan had to end his vacation.

However, the last time Lin Quan shared a bit about his vacation at the beach on social media, it drew countless comments from fans.

"Emperor Lin, the team is in danger, return quickly!"

Chapter 327: Lin Quan Intervenes, Easily Resolved! Van Dijk Goes for 10 Million Euros!

Chapter 327: Lin Quan Intervenes, Easily Resolved! Van Dijk Goes for 10 Million Euros!

"Hi, Lin, did you enjoy your holiday?"

"Thank God, Lin, you're finally back!"

"I knew you wouldn't leave Manchester City. All those reporters outside are just stirring things up!"

Lin Quan had just returned to Manchester City, and along the way, from the security guards to the club staff, everyone enthusiastically greeted him upon seeing him. However, their relieved demeanor made Lin Quan feel a bit puzzled; hadn't he made it clear a long time ago that he would not leave Manchester City? Why were they still so nervous?

He didn't waste time speculating but went straight to Pellegrini's office to gather information. Pellegrini, upon seeing Lin Quan, sighed in relief as if a great weight had been lifted from his heart. As long as Lin Quan was not leaving, everything else was minor.

"It's actually not a big deal. Some top clubs are interested in some of our players and want to poach them!" Pellegrini then briefed him on the situation with Kroos, De Bruyne, and others being targeted.

"Kroos going to Real Madrid?" Lin Quan was a bit surprised to hear about the transfer rumors surrounding Kroos. Kroos had been with Manchester City for only half a year and had both earned a high salary and received various honors during that time. It was baffling why he would want to leave. Was the allure of Real Madrid really that strong?

"This isn't confirmed yet, but some paparazzi caught the Real Madrid president meeting privately with Kroos's agent."

"And there were rumors before that Real Madrid is very interested in Dortmund's star Royce..."

"Royce won't leave Dortmund!" Lin Quan dismissed Pellegrini's speculation, knowing Royce well enough to say that he wouldn't abandon Dortmund like Götze and Lewandowski did when the team needed him most.

"I'll give Kroos a call and ask!" Seeing Lin Quan so sure, Pellegrini's expression turned serious. Although he felt that Kroos leaving Manchester City was unlikely, he couldn't rule out the possibility. It was essential to clarify the situation immediately. Otherwise, by the time the new season started, if their midfield star suddenly announced a transfer, Manchester City would not have the chance to find a replacement.

When Pellegrini's call came, Kroos was hesitating about whether to go to Real Madrid. After seeing Pellegrini's call, Kroos hesitated for a few seconds but eventually decided to answer.

"Coach, is there something you need?"

"Yes, Lin is back with the team. When are you coming back?" Pellegrini did not directly ask if Kroos had been in contact with Real Madrid. Such a question was too direct, and Kroos might not admit it, which could backfire.

"Lin is back?"

Kroos brightened up upon hearing Pellegrini's words. His hesitation was due to Walker bringing back insider news that Real Madrid was preparing to spend a significant sum to bring Lin Quan to Bernabéu! A big part of why Kroos stayed at Manchester City was because of Lin Quan; with Lin Quan there, Manchester City's performance was guaranteed. But if Lin Quan left, there was no point in him staying.

"Yes, he has ended his vacation and is back to prepare for preseason training!"

After receiving a firm response from Pellegrini, Kroos immediately stated, "I'll pack up my stuff and leave tomorrow!"

After hanging up the phone, Pellegrini breathed a sigh of relief. Indeed, Kroos going to Real Madrid was just a rumor; if he really wanted to go to Real Madrid, he wouldn't have been so easily persuaded. However, upon further reflection, this situation might have been true. Perhaps Lin Quan's early return to the team reassured him, just like the indescribable feeling of relief Pellegrini had felt when he saw Lin Quan at the club.

...

After learning of Lin Quan's return, more than just Kroos changed their minds. Demichelis, planning to retire in Argentina, agreed to renew his contract with the club for another year after being persuaded by Lin Quan. However, another main central defender, Lescott, was determined to leave Manchester City to join West Bromwich. In addition, Pantilimon was also let go by Pellegrini, joining Sunderland on a free transfer. This summer, many people left Manchester City.

But many new people arrived too!

During the preseason training, a tall young player appeared at Manchester City's training ground. Assistant coach Brian brought the player to the training ground and then found head coach Pellegrini, saying:

"Coach, the player is here, should we let him try out?"

Pellegrini glanced at the tall, dark-skinned young player nearby, nodded, and said, "Put him in a red vest, send him to the reserves!"

The assistant coach immediately stopped the ongoing intra-squad match and let Manchester City's own academy young defender Plumuel come off, replaced by the new defender.

"Who is this guy?"

"Don't know, must be here for a trial?"

"He looks quite strong, but with such a tall height, he probably moves slowly."

On the main team's side, several key players from the last season saw the newcomer and couldn't help but discuss it.

"Kevin, pass me a good ball later; I want to test his strength!"

Aguero was eager to personally assess the new player's abilities. After all, Manchester City was now considered a semi-top club, and they couldn't just let any Tom, Dick, or Harry into the team! If this new player was only average, it would be better to send him away early to avoid him becoming a time bomb on the defense line.

Hearing Aguero's words, De Bruyne nodded expressionlessly. However, after nodding, he instinctively looked at Lin Quan and noticed a faint, enigmatic smile on his lips.

What was he smiling about?

Lin Quan had noticed Van Dijk as soon as he appeared on the sideline. This was the future number one defender in football, a monster worth 75 million pounds! However, the current Van Dijk was still inexperienced, and his strength hadn't reached the level of his peak.

So when Aguero suggested testing the newcomer, Lin Quan did not speak up to stop it. He was also curious about Van Dijk's current level.

The match quickly resumed, and soon, De Bruyne seized the opportunity and completed a pass with Aguero. As soon as Aguero received De Bruyne's pass, the young defender who had been on the field for less than five minutes appeared in front of him.

Hehe, the defense is eager, but I wonder about the strength!

Aguero did not hold back because the opponent was a newbie. After receiving the pass from his teammate, he used his explosive power to accelerate, seemingly planning to overpower Van Dijk.

However, this move quickly failed.

Van Dijk retreated in time, maintaining a reasonable distance and using precise positioning to prevent Aguero from overtaking him.

When one tactic failed, Aguero quickly thought of another.

He used his signature move of stopping and starting quickly, using rhythm changes to gain space for a breakthrough.

But this tactic also failed. Van Dijk kept retreating and did not make a move.

Damn, why don't you challenge me? I've already taken the ball into the penalty area; aren't you afraid I'll shoot?

In the end, Aguero had to rush to shoot before Van Dijk's teammates could press him.

Van Dijk's blocking area was large, and without a good shooting angle, the result of Aguero's shot was predictable.

After the shot, Aguero glanced at the tall guy across from him.

He had never seen such a strange defender, who just knew how to retreat and not challenge!

And this defensive strategy made Aguero very uncomfortable.

It was like having a martial art skill but being unable to use it, which was extremely frustrating.

After blocking Aguero, Van Dijk also couldn't help but wipe off some cold sweat.

The opponent's footwork was too fast, and his explosive power was strong; he almost couldn't keep up with the rhythm.

If it wasn't for the opponent receiving the ball close to the penalty area, without much space to accelerate, Van Dijk might not have been able to defend him!

Is this the strength of a Manchester City main player?

It seems indeed stronger than his teammates at Celtic!

Pellegrini initially wasn't very optimistic about Van Dijk's abilities. The reserve team's strength was limited, and he had no rapport with his teammates.

Expecting him to single-handedly defend Aguero was an impossible task.

But after watching their first confrontation, Pellegrini's opinion changed.

"His football IQ is high, knows his strengths and weaknesses, so doesn't easily make a move!"

"The retreating defense strategy can effectively suppress the attacker's space, reducing the opponent's threat and even affecting their mentality?"

Pellegrini didn't quickly conclude but decided to continue observing.

It was just one confrontation; maybe it was just the kid's luck?

Aguero was also somewhat unconvinced, and in the following time, he tried a few more times.

After these few encounters, he lost more than he won, even in situations that were unanimously considered his weak point, like the ball behind him, he didn't gain any advantage.

Van Dijk's turning speed was indeed not fast, but his positioning ability and physical confrontation were very strong.

The ball might get past, but the person had to stay.

Aguero tried several times but couldn't succeed!

"The guy is quite tricky, not easy to deal with!"

In the end, Aguero had to admit that he had lost.

Although he felt his current state had not returned to its best, Aguero thought that even if he were at his peak, succeeding against this guy five times out of ten would not be easy!

"That strong? Did you overdo it during the off-season, and now you're physically weak?"

His teammates cast doubtful glances at Aguero, feeling that his poor form had led to his defeat against the opponent.

After all, an unknown young defender managing to single-handedly defend against a Champions League champion's main forward?

Such a thing was rare in both the Champions League and league play!

If the opponent really had such strong abilities, they wouldn't have never heard his name.

"Damn, I'm telling the truth; if you don't believe it, try it yourselves!"

Aguero said angrily.

His teammates were skeptical of his words, so they stepped forward to test it out themselves.

The result, naturally, spoke for itself. Among those who actively challenged Van Dijk, the successful ones were few, and the failures were the vast majority.

"He's really tough to deal with!"

"I've never seen this kind of defensive method!"

The main players marveled, the opponent's defensive style was indeed strange.

"This guy's defense method, if he encounters a player with strong dribbling skills, fast footwork, and strong explosive power, then it won't work!"

At this point, everyone's gaze turned to Lin Quan.

Didn't he perfectly meet these criteria?

Lin Quan had been watching from the sidelines for a long time, carefully observing Van Dijk's defensive strategy.

The opponent's defensive method wasn't much different from his peak, but the experience gap was clear.

Facing a peak Van Dijk, Lin Quan's chances weren't great, maybe successful five or six times out of ten.

But facing Van Dijk at this time, he felt his chances were very good.

So, in the next attack, Lin Quan faced Van Dijk.

Based on his recent performance, Van Dijk had successfully caught the attention of Manchester City's coaching staff.

Including Pellegrini, everyone was very surprised by this newcomer's strength.

That so many main players couldn't gain an advantage over him was enough to prove his ability.

At this time, seeing the team's top star up against this newcomer, everyone perked up, unable to help but look forward to it.

Could this newcomer defend against Lin Quan?

Seeing Lin Quan take the field, Van Dijk's pupils constricted, and his alertness reached its peak.

As one of the most famous players on this planet, everyone in football knew Lin Quan!

And among defenders, his fame was even higher!

Because in the world of defenders, everyone agreed that Lin Quan was the most difficult player to defend on the planet!

Originally, this position was Messi's, but after Messi's injury and decrease in explosive power, Lin Quan took his place.

Van Dijk had naturally heard of Lin Quan's great fame and had even fantasized about successfully freezing him on the field and making a name for himself in one game!

However, when Lin Quan really appeared in front of him, he couldn't help but feel nervous.

Could he really defend against him?

Five minutes later, Van Dijk slumped to the ground, panting heavily, his gaze fixed on the scoreboard along the sidelines.

The scoreboard had already changed to 3:0.

Lin Quan had scored three goals in just five minutes, all of which were breakthroughs from his position.

Unstoppable, simply unstoppable!

Reflecting on their recent encounters, Van Dijk's face was bitter.

The opponent's footwork was too fast, his dribbling ability was extremely terrifying, and he was very skilled at using feints and rhythm changes to dribble past players.

Van Dijk's retreating defense not only failed to be effective in front of him, but it also became a cover for the opponent to charge into the penalty area and then score.

Normally, the further the ball carrier is from the defender, the greater the threat, but with Lin Quan, the situation was completely reversed.

Van Dijk felt that the closer the opponent was to him, the harder he was to defend!

Seeing Van Dijk's dejected look, Lin Quan walked over, helped him up, and encouraged him:

"You played well, keep it up!"

With Lin Quan's encouragement, the clouds in Van Dijk's heart were instantly cleared.

He was still an unknown figure, but the opponent was already a world-famous talented player.

Receiving recognition from him was a huge encouragement for Van Dijk!

"Yes, I'll keep working hard!"

...

Although Van Dijk was unquestionably defeated in his match-up with Lin Quan, Manchester City's coaching staff's evaluation of him did not decrease but increased.

After all, in the eyes of Manchester City's coaching staff, there was no one in the world who could single-handedly defend Lin Quan yet!

If Van Dijk could do that, he wouldn't be playing in a league like the Scottish Premiership; he would probably have been poached by top clubs like Real Madrid or Bayern Munich long ago!

"What do you think, should we buy him?"

Brian asked tentatively.

Pellegrini nodded; the opponent was only 23 years old and already had such strength.

Keeping him and focusing on his development, once he matured, Manchester City's defense line wouldn't have to worry about having no one available for at least ten years!

"Okay, let's make an offer to Celtic, by the way, how much are they asking?"

"It shouldn't be very high, under 10 million euros, we should be able to handle it!"

Van Dijk had only transferred to Celtic last year, and the transfer price at that time was only 3 million euros.

If Manchester City offered 10 million, Celtic would naturally be happy to make a profit.

"Then let's offer 10 million, resolve this quickly to avoid complications!"

Chapter 328: Manchester City's 7-2 Massacre of AC Milan at the International Champions Cup!

Chapter 328: Manchester City's 7-2 Massacre of AC Milan at the International Champions Cup!

Manchester City's acquisition of a young defender from the Scottish Premier League for 10 million euros did not attract much external attention. After all, Manchester City's previous purchases often involved tens of millions of euros, and spending only 10 million euros on Van Dijk seemed minor to reporters. How capable could a defender bought at that price be?

Compared to Van Dijk, the press was more concerned about potential transfers involving Manchester City's big-name stars. However, as Lin Quan, Kroos, and De Bruyne appeared on Manchester City's training ground one after another, the transfer rumors circulating in the media quickly dissipated. If these stars were truly transferring, they wouldn't be returning to Manchester City for preseason training.

After a brief training period, Manchester City immediately headed to the United States to participate in the International Champions Cup. Started in 2009, the International Champions Cup is a commercially-oriented event. Although it's quite high-profile, it essentially serves as a series of warm-up matches. However, since the participants are mostly top clubs and the participating teams receive significant financial rewards, invited teams generally do not decline the invitation. After all, it's a chance to make money and get in some preseason training—a win-win situation.

By its fifth year, the International Champions Cup had grown significantly in influence, attracting more television networks interested in buying broadcasting rights. Especially this year, with all eight participating teams being major European clubs, there were no filler teams from regional leagues like in previous years. The teams included Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, AC Milan, Inter Milan, AS Roma, Real Madrid, and Olympiacos. Except for Olympiacos, the rest were considered top clubs, with Manchester City and Roma slightly behind but still close to that level.

This lineup drew a large number of fans to the games, and as soon as tickets went on sale, they were quickly snapped up by eager fans. The matches involving Real Madrid and Manchester City drew the most attention. Indeed, these were the only two teams with superstar players. The organizers, understanding the market well, scheduled the final to be held at Michigan University's stadium, which can accommodate over 100,000 spectators. If Real Madrid and Manchester City were to meet in the final, just ticket sales alone would generate a substantial profit for the organizers.

According to the tournament format, the eight teams were split into two groups, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semifinals, and the winners of those games moving on to the finals. As the favorites, Real Madrid and Manchester City were placed in separate groups. Manchester City's group included Liverpool, Olympiacos, and AC Milan, while Real Madrid's group comprised Real Madrid, Manchester United, Inter Milan, and Roma. Real Madrid's group was more balanced in terms of team strength, especially with Manchester United, who had aggressively recruited new players during the summer and had a real chance to challenge Real Madrid for the top spot in the group. The two Italian teams, limited by the decline of Serie A, were not highly regarded.

As for Manchester City's group, they were expected to advance without issue, with Olympiacos likely being eliminated. Whether Liverpool or AC Milan would advance would depend on their direct match.

As the recent Premier League and Champions League champions, Manchester City was scheduled to play in the opening match against the Italian giants, AC Milan. Since it was a friendly match, both sides fielded several substitutes. The starters sat on the bench, watching and joking as the substitutes strived on the field. Such preseason games did not necessitate starting with the main lineup because there were unlimited substitutions and no restriction on the number of players on the bench.

Despite being a lineup of substitutes, there was still a clear difference in strength. Manchester City played very actively from the start. Just 11 minutes in, Jovetic scored the first goal. Two minutes later, Sinclair added another, making it 2-0 to Manchester City. Although it was only a friendly, being two goals down within 13 minutes was embarrassing for AC Milan's coach, Inzaghi, who began to stand and shout to his players to be more proactive and aggressive. However, his shouts seemed to confuse his players more than help.

By the 23rd minute, Navas had added a third goal for Manchester City. Four minutes later, the score was 4-0. Not yet done, Jovetic scored again in the 32nd minute to make it 5-0. Seeing his team about to suffer a massacre, Inzaghi couldn't sit still any longer. He substituted four key players in an attempt to turn the game around, but the substitution had little effect. Van Dijk and goalkeeper Navas, making their debuts for Manchester City, performed exceptionally well, repeatedly thwarting AC Milan's attacks. Navas, in particular, made some spectacular saves that left AC Milan's players questioning their life choices.

Fortunately, Montari managed to pull one back for AC Milan in the 42nd minute, slightly salvaging the situation. However, as the second half began, Manchester City also made substitutions. Silva, Kroos, Aguero, and De Bruyne came on, and the game's dynamics changed drastically. It shifted from AC Milan pressuring Manchester City to Manchester City dominating AC Milan. Inzaghi responded by substituting four more main players, and at this point, almost all of AC Milan's starters were on the field, while at least half of Manchester City's main players were still on the bench.

As more star players entered the field, the game became even more exciting, and the atmosphere in the stadium heated up with the fans' cheers growing louder. However, the peak of excitement hadn't been reached yet, as over fifty thousand fans were anticipating one man's appearance.

"Sub Lin in!" "Let Lin play!" "We want to see Lin!"

As the game approached the 70th minute with no sign of Lin Quan, the fans grew restless. They began to loudly chant his name, putting pressure on the event organizers and Manchester City's coaching staff. With the team leading by a large margin and dominating AC Milan, Manchester City's coach, Pellegrini, was in a good mood. Hearing the fans, he turned to Lin with a smile and asked, "Lin, want to warm up by playing?"

Lin nodded. Though the outcome was already decided, as a fan favorite, he always took care of his supporters. So, in the 75th minute, Lin was substituted in. The crowd erupted in cheers when Lin finally took to the field.

"Lin!" "Lin!"

Over fifty thousand fans chanted Lin's name in unison, welcoming their football emperor. Lin couldn't let such support go unacknowledged. After entering the field, he scored directly from a free kick, further extending the team's lead. In the final moments of the game, Lin received the ball on the wing, dodged multiple AC Milan defenders, and after a nearly solo run down their defensive line, calmly finished inside the box. This goal completely electrified the stadium, leaving the fans in awe of Lin's performance.

In the end, Manchester City crushed AC Milan 7-2 in the opener. Although it was just a friendly match, the margin was still staggering. During the post-match handshake, AC Milan's new coach Inzaghi, who had taken over after his predecessor Seedorf was fired for poor results, looked grim. This defeat made him pessimistic about his prospects at AC Milan. The current team was far from the Milan he remembered from his playing days. Misfortune seemed to befall both Milan teams simultaneously, as on the other side, Inter also fell to Real Madrid. However, unlike AC Milan's collapse, Inter fought until the end but unfortunately lost in a penalty shootout. The International Cup does not allow ties; matches that end in a draw go straight to penalties.

In other matches, Manchester United beat Roma 3-2, and Liverpool narrowly defeated Olympiacos 1-0. The Premier League teams maintained a perfect record with three wins, while Serie A teams suffered three losses, showcasing their decline. This left Italian football fans, especially those who remembered Serie A's glory days, feeling quite melancholic:

"Alas, it seems Serie A really is in decline. The glory days of the mini World Cup are gone!"

After a three-day rest, the second round of matches quickly began. This round pitted Manchester City against Liverpool in an all-Premier League clash, full of rivalry and tension from the start. To secure a victory, Pellegrini fielded a mix of starters and substitutes. Van Dijk and Navas continued to start, alongside Milner, Fernandinho, Kolarov, Jovetic, and Aguero.

The situation was similar for Liverpool, with neither side wanting to lose. The match was tense, with no goals in the first half. In the 53rd minute, Jovetic broke the deadlock, but Manchester City's lead didn't last long. Henderson equalized for Liverpool in the 57th minute. Substitutions followed shortly, and within ten minutes, both teams had switched to their main line-ups.

However, Pellegrini left Van Dijk on the field. The Chilean coach seemed to have high hopes for the young player and was using the match as a high-pressure training to accelerate his development.

"Is this really okay? If he makes a mistake that leads to a loss, it could greatly damage his confidence," the assistant coach expressed concern, feeling it was too soon for Van Dijk to face such pressure.

"It's just a friendly match. If he can't handle this pressure, how will he manage in league and Champions League matches?" Pellegrini explained while keeping an eye on Van Dijk, eager to see what surprises the player could bring.

Unlike goalkeeper Navas, Van Dijk had never played in the top five leagues before. The intensity of this match was undoubtedly at or even above that level, and all his teammates were starters, except for him, a substitute and a recent addition to the team. This put a lot of pressure on Van Dijk, making him quite nervous.

However, he was not the type to shrink back. Under immense pressure, Van Dijk not only maintained his performance but improved. In several defensive plays, he managed to shut down Sturridge and Balotelli. Although Balotelli was known for his unpredictable behavior, his physical prowess was world-class, a challenge for any defender. But against Van Dijk, Balotelli gained no advantage and was thoroughly contained.

Seeing Van Dijk's solid performance, Manchester City's coaching staff breathed a sigh of relief. On the other side, Liverpool's coach Rodgers was baffled. Where did Manchester City get this formidable defender? He had no recollection of him. After inquiring with his assistant, he learned that Van Dijk had only recently been purchased from Celtic for a mere 10 million euros.

"10 million euros for this level of defender?" Rodgers was astounded. Such a bargain seemed unbelievable. Why hadn't Liverpool had the chance to snag such a deal? If he had known about such an excellent defensive prospect at Celtic, he wouldn't have hesitated to offer 15 or even 20 million euros. Quality defenders were becoming increasingly rare and expensive, a trend exacerbated by clubs like Paris Saint-Germain, who had driven up prices by paying exorbitant fees for their defenders.

After the defense held off Liverpool's offensive pressure, Manchester City's formidable midfield and attack began to dominate. With Lin, Aguero, and De Bruyne leading the charge, Liverpool's defense eventually crumbled. In the 67th minute, Lin scored, putting Manchester City back in the lead. Eight minutes later, Aguero scored off an assist from De Bruyne, securing the victory.

In the dying moments of the game, as Liverpool attempted a comeback, Manchester City launched a swift counterattack, with Lin assisting David Silva to score another goal, finalizing the score at 4-1.

With two consecutive matches ending in large victories and scoring a total of 11 goals, Manchester City's terrifying offensive power sent chills down the spines of the other participating teams. Manchester City's strength had not diminished; it had only grown stronger.

Chapter 329: The Rivalry Renewed, Manchester City vs. Real Madrid, Lin Quan’s Transformation Trial

Chapter 329: The Rivalry Renewed, Manchester City vs. Real Madrid, Lin Quan's Transformation Trial

"Manchester City's strength is still formidable; they blew away Liverpool and AC Milan!" "Indeed, even as a Manchester City fan, it's hard to watch—a 7-0 thrashing of Milan in a friendly match is a bit too harsh!" "Even though Manchester City didn't make big moves in the summer transfer window, why do I feel like their bench strength has actually improved?" "Truly, I didn't expect their defensive lineup, especially the substitutes, to be so solid that AC Milan and Liverpool could barely make a dent." "That new tall defender at Manchester City has really strong defensive skills; that 10 million euros was well spent!" "Compared to PSG spending 50 million pounds on David Luiz, that's an absolute steal!" "Ha, PSG has vividly demonstrated what it means to have more money than sense!"

As the term 'PSG' comes up, the online community bursts into cheerful banter. During this summer break, as the major leagues haven't yet started, fans are left to follow pre-season matches and friendlies, with the International Champions Cup, featuring heavyweights like Manchester City and Real Madrid, naturally drawing major attention.

After watching Manchester City's two matches, their fans are thoroughly reassured. The team hasn't weakened; instead, it seems stronger due to better integration of the squad. This has heightened their expectations for the team's performance in the upcoming season.

However, fans of other teams aren't feeling quite as joyful after watching the matches, especially the longstanding supporters of AC Milan. "Though the exaggerated scoreline was largely against substitutes, it's clear that Manchester City and AC Milan are no longer on the same level." "AC Milan finished eighth in Serie A last season; they are indeed a notch below Manchester City, so it's normal that they couldn't compete." "Alas, the overall situation in Serie A isn't good, and the rapid reduction in investments means there's no money to do anything significant. If only AC Milan had the financial clout of Manchester City!"

AC Milan has many fans worldwide, particularly those who started following football early and witnessed AC Milan's glorious days. Even though the Istanbul night's champagne incident was embarrassing, at least they had the capability to reach the finals to have such an incident. Now, looking at the team that's gradually sinking in the league and missing out on even qualifying for the Champions League finals, the old fans feel deeply melancholic.

However, this is just the beginning. AC Milan's chaos and decline are set to continue for a long time. Compared to AC Milan fans, Liverpool supporters are also deeply worried. The team spent 150 million euros during the transfer window without seeing much improvement, and they still lost decisively to Manchester City.

"Liverpool's strength doesn't even seem as good as last season!" "Ah, when Suárez was around, at least he could be the focal point of the attack. His departure has left Liverpool's offense confused. The opposition's goalkeeper and defenders performed well, but Liverpool's own chaotic attack strategies and the messy performance of the forwards were also to blame."

As deeply as they love, so harshly they criticize. AC Milan is just beginning its decline, and its fans can hardly bear it. The Reds have been sinking for many years. The Premier League has been around for over 20 years, and Liverpool hasn't won it yet.

Compared to the Reds' fans, fans of the Red Devils (Manchester United) are somewhat complacent. In this International Champions Cup, Manchester United performed quite well. They defeated Roma, then overcame Inter Milan, and in their last match against Real Madrid, Manchester United won 3-1, completing a streak of three victories. This outcome was unexpected, especially since the final match against Real Madrid saw both teams field their main players, except for Ronaldo's absence for Real.

The result was still a resounding defeat for Real Madrid. It's worth mentioning that in the 62nd minute, Lingard replaced Rooney, making his debut for Manchester United and almost scored. Unfortunately, Lin's shot was weak, and Casillas easily caught it, posing no threat. Ultimately, Manchester United won all three matches and confidently advanced to the semifinals. On the other side, Manchester City also advanced effortlessly, defeating their last group opponent, Olympiacos, 3-0 to top the group.

Thus, the semifinal matchups were set: Manchester City vs. Real Madrid Liverpool vs. Manchester United These results met the pre-tournament expectations of the pundits, with three Premier League teams advancing to the semifinals, while the Serie A teams were all eliminated. Although harsh, this truly reflected the current gap in strength between Premier League and Serie A teams on the international stage. The decline of Serie A is becoming ever more apparent.

... August 2nd, the International Champions Cup semifinals kicked off with Manchester City facing Real Madrid at the Michigan University stadium, packed with 108,732 fans. Despite soccer not being the traditional sport of the United States, the number of fans was substantial. Thanks to decades of international influence, the crowd was dominated by fans in white Real Madrid jerseys, outnumbering those in Manchester City's sky blue.

However, if one were to count the jerseys of the most supported player, Lin Quan would win hands down, evident from the number of Manchester City No. 10 jerseys in the crowd. Real Madrid might have superstars, but the number of fans wearing Ronaldo's No. 7 jersey was significantly fewer than those supporting Lin, possibly due to the scandal Ronaldo was involved in a few years ago in Las Vegas.

In this match, Manchester City didn't abandon experimenting with their lineup just because it was a semifinal. Pellegrini still fielded several substitutes but, respecting the opponent and the fans, he started Lin Quan. This wise decision won strong support from the fans at the venue. Once the match began, fans continuously cheered for Lin, and amusingly, even some wearing Real Madrid jerseys cheered for him. When asked why they were cheering for a Manchester City player while wearing Real Madrid jerseys, these fans boldly claimed: "Such a talented player will eventually join Real Madrid, so we're cheering for a future Real Madrid player!"

If Ronaldo heard this response, one wonders what he would think! Just months ago, the two teams met in the UEFA Champions League semifinals, so they were well-acquainted with each other's strengths, leading to an immediate onslaught without much probing.

This high-level, fast-paced game thrilled the spectators, who felt they got their money's worth. No wonder Europeans love watching soccer; if they could regularly enjoy such high-quality matches locally, not just Europeans but even Americans would gladly embrace it. Seeing the happiness of American fans, those in China expressed envy: "When can we enjoy such high-quality matches locally?" "Traveling to Europe to watch games is too expensive, and the Chinese Super League's level is too low. It would be great to watch such games locally each summer." "I think our domestic companies could organize something similar to what they do in the U.S., placing the stadiums in several major cities. There'd be no worry about selling tickets!"

The International Champions Cup was also broadcast by CCTV, allowing domestic fans to watch these games. However, watching on TV at home and being at the stadium are completely different experiences. Fans long to watch these top European clubs compete live.

In 2009, the Italians held the Super Cup in China, which was hugely popular. Countless fans flocked to the stadium, and it's said that just the revenue from ticket sales exceeded 70 million! Such figures are unimaginable in Italy. The success of this event revealed the immense potential of the Chinese market to European clubs. Over the years, several top clubs have tried to conduct pre-season training in China, playing warm-up matches against Chinese Super League teams and making some extra money. For instance, during Real Madrid's tour last year, they played a friendly against Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande, easily winning 6-1. The vast difference in team strength made the match almost unwatchable, quickly diminishing domestic fans' interest. Compared to playing against local clubs, they much prefer watching matches between European powerhouses like those in the International Champions Cup.

The calls from fans caught the attention of those responsible for sports event operations in China, who have tried to contact the organizers of the International Champions Cup to bring the event to China.

... In the midst of cheers from over a hundred thousand fans, the two teams launched fierce attacks one after another. With no pressure of results in this type of match, both teams played openly, committing more to offense than defense. In the 21st minute of the first half, Manchester City took the lead with a goal from their forward, Aguero. After underperforming in national team matches, Aguero seemed to have regained his form at the club, transforming back into the invincible warrior of the pitch. Real Madrid quickly responded, with Bale performing his trademark wing run in the 27th minute. The Welshman, relying on his speed, breezed past several Manchester City defenders and scored with a curling shot from behind the area to make it 1-1. This spectacular goal earned him applause from the fans.

Excited by the goal, Bale was quite agitated. Whenever there was a match between Real Madrid and Manchester City, the media habitually compared Lin and Ronaldo, often overlooking him. This irritated Bale, who has ambitions of leading the team. He has long sought to replace Ronaldo as the key figure at Real Madrid. Therefore, the cheers from the fans were particularly sweet to him. "As long as I keep performing like this, I will eventually dethrone that guy!"

Seeing Bale's smug expression, Ronaldo was notably annoyed. He signaled Modric and Isco to pass him the ball more. In such a crucial match, as Real Madrid's leading star, how could he not score? Modric might hold off, but Isco obediently sent a few good passes Ronaldo's way. However, the Portuguese seemed not fully recovered from his World Cup slump, wasting the opportunities Isco provided. This turned Isco's expression sour: "Come on, you can't blame me for that!"

Meanwhile, Bale noticed Isco's frequent passes to Ronaldo and started to show his displeasure. "What's this? Passing only to Ronaldo and not to me? Is Ronaldo your 'big brother', and I'm not?"

Unlike the internal competition at Real Madrid, Manchester City played harmoniously. Lin, not particularly keen on scoring, didn't shoot immediately when chances arose. Instead, he would first check his teammates' positions to see if they had better opportunities. If someone was better placed, he unhesitatingly passed the ball. Aguero's goal came from Lin's assist, and in the 42nd minute, Lin, with a clear shot on goal, instead passed back to the advancing De Bruyne, assisting him to score.

"Why didn't you shoot yourself?" De Bruyne asked curiously after scoring. In his view, Lin rarely missed such one-on-one opportunities. Although Casillas had rushed out to block, with Lin's skills, scoring seemed almost guaranteed, yet he chose to pass.

"Because your position was better, almost an open goal. It made more sense to pass to you," Lin explained naturally. As the top scorer of the World Cup, the Champions League, and the Premier League, Lin was no longer chasing goals. Moreover, scoring in such a match was meaningless in terms of progress. Instead, improving his ability to orchestrate play could bring greater value to both himself and the team. This was a path of successful transformation proven by Messi. In 2019, Messi fully transformed into a central playmaker, taking on the roles of organizer, attacker, and finisher, truly leading the team single-handedly. This transformation maximized Messi's talents in game-reading, vision, precise passing, and free-kick skills, significantly enhancing his abilities. Without this successful shift, Argentina might not have claimed the World Cup trophy years later. And thanks to PSG, which provided a less demanding football environment, Messi had the energy to perform at the World Cup after years of exhaustive play at Barcelona.

Chapter 330: Charging Towards the Seven-Trophy Title!

In the second half, both teams switched sides and resumed the match. Unwilling to stay behind in the score, Real Madrid made some substitutions. They replaced Isco with James Rodriguez, who had recently joined the team. As the most expensive transfer of the summer, Rodriguez's entry was met with high expectations from the fans. Everyone wanted to see what the 82 million euro star could bring to the team.

Rodriguez was very active after coming on, showing great effort both in attack and defense. His attitude pleased Real Madrid's coach Ancelotti, who nodded approvingly from the sidelines. Although Rodriguez's price tag was high, he still had a long way to go compared to the team's top stars. To quickly integrate into Real Madrid's tactical system, he needed to maintain a high level of effort.

Despite his enthusiasm, Rodriguez struggled with team coordination. Apart from a few impressive moments shortly after he came on, he quickly became less visible on the field. This performance left Real Madrid fans at the stadium deeply disappointed—was this what 82 million euros had bought? It felt like a waste of money.

Even though Rodriguez's performance was below expectations, other Real Madrid players stepped up. After a summer of intense shooting practice, Benzema's shooting had improved significantly. In the 62nd minute of the second half, he received a pass from a teammate and scored an almost impossible goal. The shot was so unexpected that Manchester City's goalkeeper Navas was unprepared and couldn't make the save, becoming just a backdrop to Benzema's celebration.

Scoring against last season's best La Liga goalkeeper was a testament to the beauty of Benzema's shot. After scoring, Benzema slid on his knees in celebration, roaring towards the camera. After being eliminated from the World Cup, Benzema had been burdened with much criticism. Being blamed at both the club and national team levels was too much for him. He had considered retiring from the national team but changed his mind after a conversation with coach Deschamps. However, the frustration had been building inside him, and now he had finally let it out.

Seeing Benzema's passionate celebration, the Manchester City players were puzzled. It was just a friendly match; was such excitement necessary? It seemed as if they were still playing in a Champions League semifinal!

However, not all Manchester City players were indifferent to Benzema's goal. Newcomer defender Van Dijk, who had played in four consecutive matches, took the goal personally. He immediately went over to Navas to apologize, indicating that his defensive mistake had led to the goal. Van Dijk had positioned himself well initially, pushing Benzema towards the sideline where it seemed unlikely he could shoot effectively. Underestimating the skill of a top player was a mistake—Benzema was particularly dangerous near the baseline.

"It's okay, I didn't expect him to shoot either!" Navas generously forgave him, though he hadn't really blamed Van Dijk in the first place. Van Dijk, unfamiliar with Real Madrid's players from not having faced them before, was bound to make mistakes. Navas, having previously played in La Liga against Real Madrid, should have been more aware of Benzema's capabilities but also failed to anticipate the shot.

As the defenders reviewed their errors, Manchester City's midfielders discussed how to disrupt Real Madrid's midfield passing. "Modric is crucial for Real Madrid's offense. We need to focus on him, limit his passing, and not let their forwards receive the ball comfortably and shoot," they planned.

Throughout the game, Modric was heavily targeted by Manchester City. Despite his experience and stamina helping to mitigate some of the pressure, he still made several mistakes. Manchester City capitalized on these errors, with Lin and Aguero scoring in the 77th and 89th minutes, respectively.

Eventually, Manchester City defeated Real Madrid 4-2 and advanced to the final. The script was almost identical to their previous Champions League semifinal meeting, where they also eliminated Real Madrid and went on to win the championship. It seemed they were set to replicate that miracle!

In another match, Liverpool and Manchester United faced off in a fierce encounter. Liverpool initially led by two goals, but in the second half, Manchester United's stars, particularly Di Maria, powered a comeback. Di Maria won a penalty and scored a goal himself, leading to a 5-3 victory for Manchester United in this iteration of the fierce rivalry.

Now, the two Manchester teams were set to meet in the final three days later, promising another exciting Manchester derby for global fans. Last season, Manchester City had dominated Manchester United with significant victories, fueling United's desire for revenge. They were eager to prove on the field that the Red Devils were the true kings of Manchester.

With this vengeful spirit and anticipation for victory, Manchester United's stars made bold statements in the media and on social platforms, challenging Manchester City and vowing to teach them a lesson. Manchester City, including Lin, responded coolly to these provocations, seeing no need to engage further. They preferred to let their performance on the field do the talking, intending to show that Manchester was still dominantly blue.

On August 5th, the Miami Hard Rock Stadium hosted the Manchester derby, not on British soil but thousands of miles away in the United States. Even so, the derby atmosphere was electric. As one of the world's most influential clubs, Manchester United had a substantial number of fans in the U.S., filling nearly half of the 80,000-seat stadium with supporters in red. Manchester City, having risen to prominence more recently, had about half as many fans present. The rest of the audience was neutral, with some fans wearing jerseys from other clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich coming to enjoy the spectacle.

Both teams took this final match of the International Champions Cup seriously. Even Van Dijk, who had played continuously, sat this one out. While Manchester City was indifferent to the so-called International Cup, they were keen on another trophy—the UEFA Super Cup. After this warm-up, they were set to return to Europe to face last season's Europa League champions Sevilla in a battle for the Super Cup.

Recent Super Cups had seen the Champions League winners surprisingly defeated, turning the event into a breeding ground for upsets. Manchester United, Inter Milan, Chelsea, and other champions had fallen to Europa League winners. Last season, Bayern Munich nearly lost to Chelsea in such a match. If not for Lukaku missing a crucial penalty, the outcome might have been different.

As the newly crowned Champions of Europe, Manchester City was participating in the Super Cup for the first time and took it very seriously. Losing to the Europa League champions would be embarrassing. Out of respect for Sevilla, Manchester City planned to use their local rivals Manchester United as practice to refine their tactics for the Super Cup.

Once the match started, Manchester United players aggressively pressed all over the field. They were desperate to score multiple goals against Manchester City to redeem themselves. However, Manchester City remained unphased, skillfully passing and moving, using the full width of the field to manipulate their opponents. They even strategically retreated to lure Manchester United forward, exposing gaps in their defense.

Seizing the opportunity for a quick counterattack, Manchester City capitalized on these gaps. Manchester United players, adopting a total football strategy reminiscent of Dutch tactics, found themselves stretched. Such a strategy demands high individual skill, and under the pressure of Manchester City's attacks, United's players began making mistakes.

In the 27th minute, Manchester City disrupted United's defense with several coordinated movements, confusing their marking assignments. Lin, sensing a vulnerability, suddenly accelerated through a gap between two United players who miscommunicated and failed to even foul him. Lin continued into the box, easily bypassed a rash challenge from Smalling, and faced his national team colleague De Gea. With confidence, he pushed forward into the small box and coolly slotted the ball into the far corner. De Gea, typically reluctant to come off his line, was caught out, unable to adjust in time to prevent the goal.

1-0. Manchester City temporarily led Manchester United!

After scoring, Lin did not celebrate excessively. Such a goal didn't warrant it. Despite the many stars Manchester United had bought, their lineup seemed top-heavy. Van Gaal's tactics might not be suitable for them, Lin thought.

While Lin refrained from celebrating too much, Manchester City's other players didn't hold back. Captain Kompany ran to the sidelines, gesturing for applause from the fans. The spectators complied enthusiastically, except for the 40,000 Manchester United fans who collectively booed. They couldn't stand seeing Manchester City celebrate.

They began shouting the names of their players, urging them to stand up and equalize the score, leading the team to victory. With top stars like Van Persie, Rooney, Mata, Falcao, and Di Maria, surely they could score, right? Inspired by the fans, Manchester United launched even more intense attacks. Particularly Falcao, who played desperately to prove himself.

However, Manchester United's attacks were all bluster. Their front-line coordination was chaotic. With so many stars on the field, who should hold the ball, who should lead the attack, and who should support were all unresolved issues. Until Van Gaal sorted these matters, Manchester United played more like a collection of individuals than a cohesive team.

Taking advantage of Manchester United's frantic offensive, Manchester City executed several quick counterattacks. In the 44th minute, Manchester City scored again. De Bruyne's lethal through ball sliced open United's defense, allowing Aguero to beat the offside trap and score one-on-one with the keeper. Just before halftime, Manchester City extended their lead.

In the second half, Manchester City played more steadily while Manchester United grew increasingly anxious. Their desperation hindered their ability to score. In contrast, Manchester City, ready to conserve energy for the Super Cup, capitalized on United's mistakes to extend their lead.

In the 76th minute, Manchester City exploited a defensive error by United, scoring again. The match ended with a 3-0 victory for Manchester City. Manchester United, despite 23 shots, failed to score a single goal. Manchester City, with only eight shots, scored three times. Without De Gea's crucial saves, the score might have been even more lopsided.

This defeat left Manchester United deeply frustrated. Despite significant investment and many new signings, they still lost badly to Manchester City. Why hadn't spending money strengthened the team? For the first time, Red Devils fans began doubting the effectiveness of spending big on transfers.

While United's fans were pondering their situation, Manchester City was already on their way back to Europe, preparing for the upcoming UEFA Super Cup. With three trophies already secured, they aimed for a sixth, even a seventh. Given the opportunity to claim seven trophies, Manchester City was determined to seize it. Thus, they were fully committed to winning the Super Cup!

Chapter 331: The King’s Style of Play, Manchester City Wins Their Fifth Trophy!

Before the UEFA Super Cup match began, UEFA announced last year's European Player of the Year award. Unsurprisingly, Lin Quan won the honor. His competitors were Messi and Ronaldo, but their votes were far behind his. No one was surprised by Lin Quan's win; instead, everyone was more interested in whether he could win this year's Ballon d'Or. If he does, Lin Quan will become the youngest Ballon d'Or winner in history.

Considering that Lin Quan had just won the Golden Boy award last year, if he successfully claims the Ballon d'Or this year, he will make history by becoming the first player to win both awards consecutively. Although Messi also won both the Golden Boy and Ballon d'Or, it took him four years to transition from winning the Golden Boy to the Ballon d'Or. In Lin Quan's case, it only took him a year. This incredible speed has raised everyone's expectations for him. Maybe, this guy really can become the next football king?

...

On August 10th, the annual UEFA Super Cup began. The match was held in Cardiff, Wales, not far from Manchester. So for Manchester City, it felt like a half-home game. The previous Europa League champion was Sevilla, marking their third time winning the title. From this year onwards, Sevilla achieved a three-peat in the Europa League, leading fans to joke about renaming it the Sevilla Cup.

Although their opponents weren't strong, Manchester City did not take them lightly and approached the match with full effort. Sevilla, aware of their own position, adopted a defensive counter-attacking strategy. This solid defense did cause Manchester City some difficulties, with several of their attacks ending in failure. However, Manchester City had encountered such situations many times last season, so the players remained calm, composed, and patient.

This composed attitude earned nods of approval from many football experts and legends. They believed that Manchester City was showing the qualities of a strong team and that winning a few more trophies would elevate them to the status of a football powerhouse.

Seeing Sevilla's tight defense within the 30-meter area, Manchester City began trying long-range shots and set pieces to break the deadlock. In the 38th minute of the first half, De Bruyne took a high-quality free kick that broke the deadlock. After this goal, the game opened up. Sevilla, unable to keep defending, launched attacks towards the end of the first half, trying to equalize.

However, they seemed to forget why they had lasted over thirty minutes. With Sevilla pushing forward, Manchester City found attacking much easier. In the 42nd minute, Kroos sent a precise long pass, assisting Aguero to score, making it 2-0. Three minutes later, Lin Quan broke through from the wing, cut inside to the edge of the penalty area, and scored with a world-class shot, making it 3-0.

Sevilla fans at the scene were dumbfounded. Their defense seemed rock solid for the first 38 minutes, but in a blink, they were down 0-3. In just seven minutes, Manchester City had scored three goals. This is the strength of a Champions League winner.

The first half quickly ended, and with a three-goal deficit, Sevilla players returned to the locker room dejected. On the other hand, Manchester City players were relaxed, already seeing the fourth trophy beckoning.

In the second half, Sevilla tried to launch a major offensive against Manchester City. However, they could hardly threaten Manchester City's goal, with most of their attacks being stopped in midfield. Pellegrini had arranged a midfield trio of Kroos, De Bruyne, and Fernandinho for this match. With clear roles—De Bruyne focusing on attack, Fernandinho on defense, and Kroos on coordination—the trio's increasing synergy was becoming evident.

In this match, the midfield trio's strength began to show, posing a significant threat to other top teams. Sevilla's counterattacks not only failed but also exposed their defensive weaknesses. In the 63rd minute, after a textbook counterattack starting from the back, involving only three passes (Kroos to De Bruyne to Lin Quan), Lin Quan scored again. The entire move took just eight seconds—quick, precise, and ruthless, leaving Sevilla's players helpless.

This goal dealt a heavy blow to Sevilla's morale. Subsequently, they played with hesitation, attacking cautiously to avoid counterattacks, resulting in a situation where they could neither attack nor defend effectively.

Seeing the match was effectively over, Pellegrini made quick substitutions. In the 69th minute, he replaced Lin Quan, allowing him to rest and enjoy the fans' applause. The fans were very generous with their applause, standing up and cheering as Lin Quan left the field. Lin Quan clapped back at the fans and high-fived Jovetic, who was coming on, before sitting on the bench.

Several substitute players quickly offered him chilled energy drinks, which left Van Dijk dumbfounded. He wasn't sure if he was more shocked by Lin Quan's high status in the team or regretful for not thinking of this earlier. As a newcomer, Van Dijk realized that to establish himself in Manchester City, he needed to align with the team leaders.

After Lin Quan went off, De Bruyne was also substituted. Lin Quan, with extra chilled water, handed him a bottle.

"You're giving me stuff that others brought to please you?" De Bruyne joked.

"Do you want it or not?" Lin Quan pretended to take it back.

"I'll take it, why not?" De Bruyne grabbed it and drank it down eagerly.

Despite his words, De Bruyne was grateful. In the hot August weather, playing for over seventy minutes, a cold drink was incredibly refreshing.

"Too ruthless! It's 4-0, and they're still attacking!" De Bruyne commented, watching his teammates continue to pressure Sevilla's goal.

"Attack is the best defense. We're not attacking, we're defending actively," Lin Quan joked.

De Bruyne laughed, just as Jovetic, the substitute, scored again from a David Silva pass.

"Does scoring another goal count as defending?" De Bruyne asked.

"Maybe not this time. This one might be a bit much," Lin Quan replied.

The score was now 5-0. Manchester City had inadvertently created another lopsided match.

Sevilla was deeply frustrated. Dominating the Europa League, they had high hopes for this match, only to be easily overrun by Manchester City. Other Europa League teams had managed to occasionally upset Champions League winners, so why were they being battered so badly?

After winning this match, Manchester City secured their fourth trophy. Including the League Cup, this was their fifth trophy. The media, which had criticized Manchester City for allegedly throwing the season during the summer transfer window, quickly changed their tune, praising the team.

Before the new Premier League season started, Sky Sports made its customary season predictions. Eight football experts and legends unanimously ranked Manchester City as favorites to retain their title. Chelsea, last season's third-place finishers, were predicted to be second. The media was optimistic about Mourinho's summer signings, believing Diego Costa and Fabregas would boost Chelsea's attack, solving their scoring issues.

Manchester United, who made several high-profile signings over the summer, was predicted to finish third. Despite being packed with top stars, their loss to Manchester City in the International Champions Cup exposed many issues. Otherwise, United might have ranked higher. Arsenal, known for consistently finishing fourth, was predicted to secure the same position again, despite Liverpool's seemingly stronger squad on paper. Experts believed Arsenal would continue their tradition of making the top four.

Liverpool was ranked fifth. Despite significant signings, losing Suarez meant they lacked a comparable replacement, making their chances in the competitive Premier League uncertain. Following Liverpool, the predicted 6th to 10th places were Tottenham, Everton, Swansea, Southampton, and Newcastle. These teams were not seen as title contenders but had a chance to qualify for the Europa League.

Besides predicting the champions, the experts also forecasted the teams most likely to be relegated, identifying QPR, Burnley, and Crystal Palace as the top candidates based on their squad strength and last season's performance.

The new Premier League season was set to kick off on August 16th. However, Manchester City had one more match to play before then—the Community Shield. This traditional season opener pits the previous season's league champions against the FA Cup winners. Originally called the Charity Shield, the match's proceeds go to charity, with this year's focus on raising awareness for children with autism, a common condition causing significant suffering for children and their families.

Given Lin Quan's global influence, the FA invited him to be the event's ambassador to promote awareness and understanding of autism and to encourage support for affected children. Always supportive of charitable activities, Lin Quan agreed to be the ambassador and led by example, donating 100,000 euros to help children with autism. His actions earned him widespread praise, even from rival fans.

Liverpool and Manchester City had recently faced off in the International Champions Cup, so both teams were familiar with each other. Skipping the probing phase, they went straight into attacking. Learning from their previous loss, Liverpool played with a clear strategy, focusing on limiting Lin Quan's teammates, preventing them from passing the ball to him. As long as Lin Quan didn't get the ball, his individual skills wouldn't matter.

This tactic, previously used against Messi, was now being employed against Lin Quan. Realizing Liverpool's strategy, Lin Quan adjusted by moving away from the penalty area and playing deeper in midfield. Liverpool's defenders, relieved to see him retreat, soon realized the flaw in their plan. With Lin Quan in midfield, they couldn't mark him as effectively. His strong ball control and numerous passing options made him even more dangerous, capable of creating shooting opportunities for himself or assisting teammates.

The match ended 2-0, with Manchester City taking 18 shots. Lin Quan only took two shots, one from a free kick, yet his influence remained high, contributing an assist and a goal. With this win over Liverpool, Manchester City claimed their fifth trophy, now just one Club World Cup away from a historic six-trophy season!

Chapter 332: UEFA Award Ceremony, Reunion with Reus!

August 16 marked the start of the 2014-2015 Premier League season. Manchester United, who had spent nearly 200 million euros during the summer, was set for the opening match. Their ambitious summer signings clearly showed they were aiming high. This opening match presented an excellent opportunity for Manchester United to demonstrate to the world that they are back.

The Premier League took good care of Manchester United by matching them against Swansea, who finished 12th last season. The stark difference in the value of both teams made the match seem predictable. Manchester United's team was valued at over 600 million euros, while Swansea's was under 80 million euros. Given such a huge disparity in value, the match seemed a foregone conclusion.

Everyone expected Manchester United to win, especially since they had never lost an opening match at Old Trafford since 1972. With such a strong squad on paper, it seemed impossible for them to lose to a mid-table team.

Eager to witness this victory, countless Manchester United fans from around the world filled Old Trafford to capacity. Even the retired Sir Alex Ferguson was there, chewing gum and looking relaxed, confident in Manchester United's victory.

However, 90 minutes later, the score was set at 1-2, with the home team trailing. The highly favored Manchester United delivered a disappointing start to their fans worldwide. The match exposed the same issues seen during their International Champions Cup games: the team did not play cohesively but rather like a group of individuals.

Post-match, the media criticized manager Van Gaal for sticking to the 3-5-2 formation, which had already proven outdated at the World Cup. His stubbornness to change tactics and implement this formation at Manchester United evidently did not suit the team. Not only was Van Gaal criticized, but also the high-profile players in the team were rebuked for their poor performances despite their high salaries.

However, Rooney was the exception. His bicycle kick goal brought a glimmer of hope for Manchester United, though they ultimately failed to capitalize on it. Media remarked, "In the end, only Rooney proved reliable, and he's one of the few players brought up by Sir Alex Ferguson still in the team. Manchester United is still riding on the legacy left by Sir Alex."

Manchester United's upset in the opening match made other big clubs nervous about following in their footsteps. Indeed, other top teams struggled in their games. Tottenham faced West Ham and, despite an early red card, clenched a win in stoppage time. Arsenal, after falling behind early, managed to come back and secure a win with a last-minute goal in stoppage time. Liverpool, after an early lead, almost saw a turnaround but secured a win with Sturridge's 80th-minute goal.

These teams won, but the thrill and danger of the games left their fans heart-pounding. When it was Manchester City's turn, their fans were much more relaxed. Unlike other teams, City hadn't made significant changes over the summer, and with Lin Quan in the team, their fans were not worried about their form. Indeed, Lin Quan scored early and assisted David Silva to help the team dominate early on. In the second half, Manchester City played even more comfortably, effectively shutting down the opponent.

In the 78th minute, Lin Quan assisted again, helping Aguero score, and secured a 3-0 victory, which was also the final score. Newcastle, playing at home, were thoroughly outplayed. Post-match stats showed City controlled over 80% of possession and tripled Newcastle's shot count. City dominated the game, not giving Newcastle any chance at all.

After the first round of matches, Manchester City, with this convincing win and a goal advantage, topped the leaderboard right from the start. Other teams' fans lamented as they saw a repeat of last season where City never relinquished their top spot and smoothly sailed to the championship. Now, seeing City top again so early, they feared another repeat of last season.

... A week later, the second round of Premier League games kicked off. Chelsea first played, temporarily topping the leaderboard with a 2-0 win over Leicester City. Arsenal, playing away at Everton, nearly faced a defeat but managed a comeback with two goals in the last eight minutes, securing a tough draw. Arsenal fans, relieved they hadn't lost, began to worry about the season's prospects in such a competitive league.

Manchester United, hopeful of a rebound after their opening loss, ended up barely drawing against Sunderland away. With just one point from two games, Manchester United was near the relegation zone, infuriating their fans. Critics continued to target Van Gaal, and betting companies even started taking bets on when he would be sacked.

As attention focused on Manchester United's struggles, Manchester City returned home to face an old rival, Liverpool, for the third time in a month. City was glad to meet Liverpool again, having figured out how to beat them. Liverpool fans, on the other hand, were not eager for this match. After Suarez's departure, Liverpool hadn't quite fixed their attack, and facing City now seemed a guaranteed loss, as proven by their previous two defeats. They didn't want a third.

Despite Liverpool's request to postpone the match due to City's intense upcoming schedule, City refused. Conceding to postponement would only increase their burden later in the season. Denied the delay, Liverpool arrived at the Etihad Stadium not hoping for a win but determined not to lose again.

But they really didn't want to lose another game, so Liverpool abandoned the dignity of a top club and parked the bus at Etihad Stadium! Seeing the opponent's defensive setup, Manchester City fans were stunned. It's not that top clubs can't deploy such tactics, but it's rare because it's a strategy usually forced upon weaker teams by stronger opponents. Top clubs have their pride, so it's seldom seen that they show weakness before the game even starts—unless the opposing team's strength is immensely formidable, like the Barcelona of old. When facing that era's Barcelona, even the biggest clubs would defensively hunker down—parking the bus was not shameful against them because not doing so could lead to a disastrous defeat.

The fact that Liverpool parked the bus at Etihad could either mean they admitted their inferiority to Manchester City, or they recognized City's strength as akin to that legendary Barcelona team. Despite Liverpool's defensive tactics, Manchester City did not ease their pressure. In the 41st minute, Lin Quan once again broke through Liverpool's goal with a free kick, nearly killing the game as it shattered Liverpool's hopes of a draw.

Therefore, in the second half, Liverpool indeed abandoned their passive strategy and desperately tried to attack head-on with Manchester City. This decision turned out to be unwise. In the 55th minute, Lin Quan scored his second goal of the game. By the 69th minute, Aguero had also found the net. And the onslaught wasn't over; in the 78th minute, De Bruyne, receiving a pass from Lin Quan, scored the fourth goal of the match. Manchester City led 4:0 against Liverpool!

Manchester City's demonstration was clear: not parking the bus could be lethal, and indeed, it was brutal. But Manchester City's scoring spree wasn't done yet. In the 83rd minute, their defender Zabaleta also scored a goal—unfortunately, it was into their own net. Navas was a bit helpless; despite the team's excellent performance, he had hoped to add another clean sheet to his record, but who could have predicted such a betrayal by a teammate?

Ultimately, Manchester City, playing at home, defeated Liverpool with a score of 4:1, securing their second consecutive victory and overtaking Chelsea at the top of the leaderboard. After suffering three devastating defeats to Manchester City within a single month, it was rumored that Liverpool fans developed a condition known as 'Fear of Manchester City.'

After this round of games, Pellegrini and Lin Quan flew to Monaco to attend the draw ceremony for the 2014-2015 Champions League group stage. Lin Quan had participated in this event twice before, but the attention he received this time was unprecedented. As he arrived at the venue in a dedicated car, the place was swarming with reporters—over 300 journalists had been waiting, and they swarmed him the moment they saw him, blocking his entrance.

"Lin, what are your expectations for Manchester City this season?" "Lin, is defending the Champions League your goal for this season?" "Lin, are you confident about winning the Ballon d'Or?" Questions bombarded him, coming too fast for Lin Quan to either fully hear or answer them individually. He only had one thought: Is this what it feels like to be a top superstar?

Lin Quan briefly answered a few trivial questions, then apologized with a gesture to the reporters, indicating he needed to proceed to the award and drawing ceremony. Security personnel came over and escorted him out of the crowd. The reporters, held back by security, could no longer hassle Lin Quan.

"How does it feel to be a superstar?" he was greeted by a familiar face upon entering—Mario Reus, grinning annoyingly. "Is your foot okay?" Lin Quan glanced at Reus's recently injured left foot and asked. "Cough, let's remain good friends and not talk about that," Reus responded. Before the World Cup, he had injured his left ankle during a warm-up match for the German team. The timing was devastating as it was too close to the World Cup, causing him to miss the 2014 tournament. This injury was especially painful for Reus and the German fans, as Germany had lost the final to Spain, missing the championship.

If Reus had been present, his dynamic ability to drive and burst could have significantly boosted Germany's offensive power. Known for his tireless running, Reus could contribute massively not only in attack but also in defense, unlike the physically weaker Özil or the solely hard-shooting Müller. But unfortunately, it was he who got injured.

Watching Germany lose to Spain from home, Reus felt both agony and self-blame. He blamed himself for getting injured at such a critical time, unable to contribute to his team. "It's tough with an ankle injury; it can easily become a recurring issue. I suggest you rest it for a few months, minimize your playtime and skip the national team matches for a while," Lin Quan advised, remembering how unlucky Reus was in 2014. Not only did he miss the World Cup, but he also re-injured the same spot—his left ankle ligament—during a Euro qualifier right after the World Cup.

These injuries greatly affected Reus and also impacted Borussia Dortmund's performance in the league and in Europe. The season turned out to be a disaster for Dortmund, as they struggled in the league following the departure of key players like Götze and Lewandowski. As Bundesliga teams adapted to Dortmund's tactics and even developed counter-strategies, Dortmund found it increasingly difficult to play effectively.

In such circumstances, a fighter like Reus would only push himself harder, which could only lead to more injuries... It was a vicious cycle. Better to properly heal at the start of the season than to keep getting injured. This season was doomed for Dortmund anyway; it wasn't something Reus could fix alone—it was a systemic issue. However, convincing Reus of this was not going to be easy.

Sure enough, after hearing Lin Quan's advice, Reus laughed and said, "That won't work. The team is counting on me; I can't just desert them!"

Moreover, for the teams subsequently drawn into this group, it can definitely be described as a 'group of death'! Yero was quick to act, drawing several teams in rapid succession. Shakhtar Donetsk was drawn into Group H, Benfica into Group E, Dortmund into Group D, Basel into Group B, Juventus into Group A, and Schalke 04 into Group G. Among these, Dortmund and their Group D seed, Arsenal, were already well acquainted. The two teams had encountered each other in last year's Champions League group stage, trading wins and effectively tying. However, Dortmund, thanks to their goal difference advantage, finished above Arsenal to claim the top spot in the group, relegating Arsenal to second place and qualification. It remains to be seen whether Arsenal can seek revenge this year.

After the second-tier draw concluded, the third and fourth-tier draws were conducted swiftly. Among these 16 teams, there were not many strong squads, but one team that had won the Champions League multiple times had been absent from the competition long enough to be placed in the third tier—this team was Liverpool! Liverpool's luck was neither good nor bad; they were drawn into Group B with Real Madrid. While Real Madrid was a powerhouse, the second-tier Basel was of moderate strength. If Liverpool could defeat Basel, they would likely secure a spot in the knockout phase. However, challenging Real Madrid for the top spot in the group would be difficult with their current strength.

Liverpool's progress in the knockout stages would largely depend on luck if they couldn't top their group. This year's Champions League groups were relatively balanced, without the emergence of a 'group of death' like last year. If one had to name a 'group of death,' it would be Group E, where Bayern Munich resided. Of course, this label of 'death' applied to the other three teams in the group, as Bayern would likely secure first place easily unless they faltered. The other three teams in the group were Benfica from the Portuguese league, Roma from Serie A, and CSKA Moscow from the Russian league. Their strengths were relatively equal, with CSKA Moscow slightly weaker but having a formidable home advantage. The remaining two teams weren't very strong, and their ability to advance would depend heavily on their performances.

For Manchester City, the draw was very favorable. They were placed in Group C with Monaco from Ligue 1, Leverkusen from the Bundesliga, and Zenit from the Russian league. None of these teams posed a significant threat to City, except perhaps Zenit in away games. After the draw, Manchester City fans began discussing potential knockout stage opponents.

"Looking at the second-place teams from other groups, none are very strong. As long as we keep up our performance, reaching the quarterfinals shouldn't be a problem!" "That's too conservative; we should at least aim for the semifinals!" "The semifinals depend on luck. What if we draw Real Madrid or Barcelona in the quarterfinals?" "Aren't Real and Barca both teams we've defeated before? What's there to fear?" "This season's Real Madrid has gelled better and become stronger; we really shouldn't underestimate them!" "True, we were lucky to win in the semifinals last season. If it weren't for Lin Huang's exceptional performance and the crucial away goals, we could have been the ones eliminated!" Recalling that battle at the Bernabeu, many City fans felt nervous. At the 80th minute of regular time, Real Madrid was leading 3:1, and City was on the brink of elimination. If Lin Huang hadn't scored that crucial goal to take the game into extra time, they wouldn't have lifted the Champions League trophy.

"Barcelona is also formidable this year; we've seen Messi and Neymar's capabilities in the Champions League and La Liga, and now they've added Suarez. The attacking power of their front trio is unimaginable!" While others might focus on Suarez's controversies, City fans were more concerned about his abilities. Last season, City had a draw and a win against Liverpool, and the victory was a tense affair. This season, they had already defeated Liverpool three times in a month. Liverpool with and without Suarez seemed like two different teams.

"Also, we're the defending champions, so other teams will definitely study us and play more conservatively against us, which will make our games tougher." When Barca was at its peak, other teams would set up defensively against them. While City isn't yet considered a 'galactic' team like that, being targeted and studied is inevitable.

Therefore, for many fans, reaching the quarterfinals would be a satisfactory achievement. Advancing to the semifinals or even the final would be a bonus. City fans were cautious, aware of the difficulties in defending their title. However, the betting agencies disagreed! After the Champions League draw, they immediately released the odds for the season, placing Manchester City ahead of both Real Madrid and Barcelona as favorites to win. (End of chapter)

Chapter 333: Champions League Draw Results Announced, Manchester City Tops the Odds!

Chapter 333: Champions League Draw Results Announced, Manchester City Tops the Odds!

After a casual conversation with Royce, the award ceremony was about to start. Following the presentation of the Best Female Player award for last season, it quickly transitioned to the Best Male Player award. The entire venue's focus was on Lin Quan, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neuer, who were the standout performers in last season's Champions League.

Lin Quan not only led his team to the Champions League title but also achieved the remarkable feat of scoring 20 goals in a single season. Ronaldo, although his team fell in the semi-finals, broke the record for most goals in a Champions League season with 17 goals. Unfortunately, his extraordinary achievement was overshadowed by Lin Quan's even more exceptional performance.

Neuer had a great season with Bayern, but his accomplishments paled in comparison to the other two, making him more or less a runner-up in this race.

After the nominees were announced, cameras focused on the trio. Lin Quan appeared calm, Ronaldo looked serious, and Neuer, having the slimmest chances, wore an indifferent expression, seemingly acknowledging his unlikely win.

"Looks like Lin Quan is very confident about winning!" chuckled the hosts in CCTV's live broadcast room. "Leading his team to victory and breaking the single-season goal record are both award-worthy achievements on their own. I can't imagine under what circumstances UEFA wouldn't give the award to Lin Quan."

There was a possibility that UEFA could manipulate the results as they did with last year's controversial Ballon d'Or. However, Lin Quan's lead this time was too significant to ignore without causing uproar.

The answer was quickly revealed as nearly all the 12 voters cast their votes for Lin Quan, with only one consolation vote going to Ronaldo. Lin Quan won the 2013-2014 UEFA Best Player by a landslide.

After the award ceremony, the highly anticipated 2014-2015 UEFA Champions League group stage draw began. FIFA Secretary-General Gianni Infantino gave a lengthy speech about FIFA's reforms and efforts to promote the development of European leagues and national teams.

Infantino emphasized the need for UEFA to implement the "Financial Fair Play" regulations promptly to ensure sustainable development and support for smaller clubs and countries within Europe. His speech hinted at giving more Champions League spots to teams from smaller national leagues.

However, the audience seemed more interested in the draw than in Infantino's speech, with some even dozing off during his address. Infantino, noticing the lack of interest, ended his speech abruptly and announced the start of the draw.

Iker Casillas, Lin Quan's teammate from the national team and Spain's star goalkeeper, was in charge of the draw. The 32 teams qualifying for the group stage were divided into four pots, creating eight groups.

Thanks to last year's impressive performance, Manchester City moved from the third pot to the top seed pot. The top seed teams included Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Manchester City, Atlético Madrid, Arsenal, and Porto, with La Liga and the Premier League each having three teams.

During the draw, each team was assigned a group, but unlike usual, they weren't placed immediately. Instead, a secondary draw determined their group assignments. For instance, after Bayern Munich was drawn, another guest drew an 'E', placing Bayern in Group E.

The process continued with Casillas drawing his own club, Real Madrid, and assigning it to Group B. Manchester City was drawn third and placed in Group C. The other top seed teams were allocated as follows: Arsenal to Group D, Barcelona to Group F, Porto to Group H, Atlético Madrid to Group A, and Chelsea, the last to be drawn, also to Group E.

The audience was relatively relaxed during the top seed draw, speculating on which was the strongest and weakest teams. Powerhouses like Manchester City and last season's other top teams were considered tough opponents for any group.

The least formidable top seed, by common consensus, was Porto, which had underperformed in the previous season's Champions League. If drawn into Porto's Group H, teams might hope for a top spot.

After the first pot was drawn, Casillas stepped down, and Spanish legend Fernando Hierro took over to draw the second pot teams, which included Schalke 04, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Shakhtar Donetsk, Basel, Zenit Saint Petersburg, and Benfica. This pot contained several strong teams that could pose significant challenges, especially in groups with the top-seeded powerhouses.

The anticipation and discussions around the draw highlighted the intense competition and strategic considerations that define the Champions League group stages.

This draw was crucial for many teams, and the atmosphere at the venue became tense. After Hierro delivered a brief speech, he quickly started the second round of the draw. He first drew Zenit St. Petersburg, and as in the first round, another guest drew the group Zenit would enter: Group C! They were placed in the defending champion Manchester City's group. The director immediately cut to a split screen of the coaches from Zenit and Manchester City, showing very different reactions; Zenit's coach couldn't hide his wry smile, while Manchester City's coach seemed quite pleased, apparently very satisfied with the draw. No wonder, as Zenit is considered one of the weaker teams in the second pot, and Manchester City could likely secure an easy 6 points against them.

Hierro then drew Paris Saint-Germain, the strongest team from the second pot. The audience grew curious about which group they would end up in. The answer came quickly: Group F, with Barcelona. Both coaches grimaced at the result. Barcelona, a traditional powerhouse, had heavily invested this season, forming the formidable MSN trio with Suarez. Paris Saint-Germain, having spent heavily in the transfer market for several years, dominates Ligue 1 and is formidable in the Champions League. The pairing of these two teams in one group promised a blockbuster clash, turning Group F into a potential "group of death" for any subsequent teams drawn into it.

Hierro worked quickly, drawing several more teams. Shakhtar Donetsk went to Group H, Benfica to Group E, Borussia Dortmund to Group D, Basel to Group B, Juventus to Group A, and Schalke 04 to Group G. Dortmund and Arsenal, drawn together again in Group D, had faced each other in last year's group stage, ending with an equal win-loss record but Dortmund topping the group on goal difference, pushing Arsenal to second place. It was uncertain whether Arsenal could turn the tables this year.

After the second pot was complete, the third and fourth pot draws proceeded swiftly. These pots contained fewer strong teams, but one notable inclusion was Liverpool, a multiple-time Champions League winner that had been absent from the competition long enough to fall to the third pot. Liverpool was drawn into Group B with Real Madrid. Although facing the formidable Real Madrid, Liverpool only needed to best Basel to likely secure a spot in the knockout stage, though competing with Real Madrid for the top spot in the group seemed unlikely.

The group stages appeared relatively balanced this year without any overwhelming "group of death" scenarios like last year. However, if one group could be called a "group of death," it would be Group E with Bayern Munich, largely because of Bayern's dominance; their main challenge would likely come from Benfica, Roma, and CSKA Moscow, who were all relatively evenly matched, with CSKA enjoying a strong home-field advantage.

For Manchester City, the draw seemed ideal. Group C's opponents, Monaco from Ligue 1, Bayer Leverkusen from the Bundesliga, and Zenit from the Russian Premier League, didn't pose significant threats, with only Zenit's away games potentially proving difficult.

After the draw, Manchester City fans began speculating about their knockout stage opponents, confident of advancing past the group stage without much trouble. However, much would depend on the luck of the draw in the quarterfinals, especially if they faced heavyweights like Real Madrid or Barcelona, who were considered even stronger this season.

The debate among fans and the cautious optimism highlighted the challenges of defending a title in a tournament as competitive as the Champions League. Despite the favorable draw, many fans felt reaching the quarterfinals would be an achievement, with progress beyond that depending on form and fortune.

Bookmakers, however, seemed more confident in Manchester City's chances, placing them as the favorites to win the Champions League this season, even above stalwarts like Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Chapter 334: Substitute Hat Trick, Breaking the Fastest Premier League Record

Chapter 334: Substitute Hat Trick, Breaking the Fastest Premier League Record

Public opinion, whether positive or negative, does not affect Manchester City's preparation. Having won the championship last year, they approach this season's Champions League with a calm mindset. It's too early to talk about defending the title as the group stages haven't even started yet. This year, Manchester City will compete across four fronts: domestic league, cup competitions, the Champions League, and the Club World Cup. More competitions not only spread their focus thinner but also place higher demands on their stamina and form.

To avoid the near-collapse under the strain of multi-front battles experienced last year, Coach Pellegrini decided to rotate the squad early, ensuring each player gets adequate rest. On August 30th, the third round of the Premier League kicked off, with Manchester City hosting Stoke City at home. Given the modest strength of the opposition, Pellegrini made several changes to the starting lineup. He left main players like Lin Huang, Aguero, Kroos, Fernandinho, and Zabaleta on the bench. This bold move seated half of last season's championship heroes on the bench.

The starting lineup included newcomers like Van Dijk, Sagna, and Fernando. Additionally, Jovetic, who saw limited action last season, was in the starting lineup after Negredo's transfer, gaining more favor from the coach. Pellegrini's strategy was to use a mix of reserves and starters against weaker teams like Stoke City, fostering the growth of younger players through real-game experience. With the season potentially reaching close to 70 matches, using the main squad for all games would wear them out. Hence, this season, City's reserves needed to step up and alleviate the pressure on the starters.

However, such an approach carried risks. The difference in strength between the reserves and the starters was significant, especially Lin Huang's replacement. No suitable substitute for Lin Huang could be found within the entire squad or even across the top European leagues. The only player comparable in style to him was Messi. But Manchester City could not possibly buy Messi to substitute Lin Huang; that would be excessively extravagant. Even if they entertained the idea, Barcelona would not sell him, and Messi would not condescend to be a substitute.

Lin Huang felt he did not need a substitute anyway. His stamina was fine, and he was not prone to injuries, capable of maintaining full attendance in games. Once the match began, City's players, though many were reserves, played with great enthusiasm. After all, they were part of the treble-winning team and faced a lower-ranked league opponent confidently.

However, reality struck a hard blow. Throughout the first half, Manchester City constantly attempted to launch attacks, but their efforts remained fruitless, with Stoke City's goal unbreached. At the start of the second half, using a counterattack, Stoke City broke the deadlock and scored against Manchester City.

Goalkeeper Joe Hart was particularly frustrated. The goal was exquisitely executed, leaving him no chance but to watch the ball hit the net. With the arrival of Navas, voted the best goalkeeper in La Liga, Hart's position as the starting goalkeeper was under severe threat. In his first two matches for City, Navas had demonstrated his worth, which would have been perfect if not for a Zabaleta own goal in the previous game. The competition from Navas put immense pressure on Hart. Eager to prove himself in this rare starting opportunity, he was unfortunate to face a "wonder goal" by the opposition's forward.

The substitute bench, including Lin Huang, felt some sympathy for Hart. In the fan circles, there was a famous saying: "Being Harted with a kick!" Hart seemed cursed to always be the backdrop in highlight reels. Despite his abilities, which Lin Huang, a teammate familiar with Hart's capabilities from internal training, could attest to, Hart's luck was simply poor. His misfortune made him a frequent feature in soccer memes, earning him the title of the ultimate "background king."

Pellegrini cursed quietly after the goal. He did not blame Hart; it wasn't his fault. But falling behind right after the second half started was unsettling. He had intended for the reserves to get more game time to enhance their skills and maintain better form, not to lead the team to a loss and create a psychological shadow of defeat. Especially a home defeat was unacceptable for City.

Thinking quickly, Pellegrini did not hesitate to call Lin Huang and Kroos to warm up, preparing them to enter the game. Although many key players were not on the field, this did not affect the home fans from cheering for their team. However, seeing their team dominate yet fail to score in the first half, only for the opponent to succeed in their single counterattack, was incredibly disheartening.

Fortunately, the sight of Pellegrini making substitutions lifted the spirits of the City fans. Everything seemed hopeful with Lin Huang entering the game. "I don't know why, but seeing Lin Huang come on makes me instantly relieved!" "Yes, this sense of security is really comforting!" "Now that you mention it, even though we dominated the first half, there was a sense of unease because Lin Huang wasn't there!"

In the 55th minute, Lin Huang and Kroos were both subbed into the game. The Etihad Stadium erupted in applause for them, anticipating a robust comeback. The duo did not disappoint. After their entry, City's attack immediately looked more threatening. Kroos controlled the midfield pace and frequently set up the forwards with precise passes. Lin Huang, with his linking play, maneuvered through the opposition's defense to find their weak spots.

Stoke City, a mid-to-lower table team, did not have the individual quality to withstand such pressure. Soon, their defensive vulnerabilities were exposed. In the 69th minute, Lin Huang, near the edge of the box, drew multiple defenders and chipped the ball through to De Bruyne, who threaded a pass to Jovetic in the box, leading to a goal.

Manchester City evened the score! Although this goal was neither scored by Lin Huang nor assisted by him, at least half of the credit for the goal should go to him. Without his exceptional dribbling and breakthrough abilities drawing the defenders' attention in the front, Jovetic wouldn't have had such a clear shot. Of course, the pass from De Bruyne was also beautiful, and he wasn't selfish either. When Lin initially passed the ball to him, De Bruyne could have gone for goal himself.

After the goal, Lin approached De Bruyne to high-five in celebration. "Nice pass!" "Your pass was pretty good too!" They laughed together, putting their arms around each other's shoulders, and joined their teammate to celebrate the goal! Stoke City players felt helpless. After taking the lead, they had fantasized about walking away with a win from the Etihad Stadium. Defeating Manchester City would have given them substantial bragging rights, especially since they would have beaten the reigning treble winners. However, Jovetic's goal shattered their dream. Now that the score was tied and the opposition's starters were back on the field, just the sight of Manchester City's number 10 was enough to discourage them from attacking. Teams that try to go toe-to-toe with Manchester City usually end up badly beaten.

So, instead of dreaming about taking all three points, they focused on trying to hold on for a draw. For an underdog like Stoke City, recognizing reality and giving up unrealistic dreams is commendable. Yet, they seemed not to fully grasp it. Even carrying a point away from the Etihad Stadium is a tough task! After equalizing, Manchester City's players instantly felt much more relaxed. The fear of losing dissipated, and the return of their key players gave them unparalleled security. Influenced by these factors, their performance on the field improved, becoming more confident and composed.

In the 82nd minute, Manchester City displayed dazzling teamwork in the front. After several consecutive passes, Stoke City's defense was disrupted. De Bruyne quickly seized the opportunity and sent a low through pass aimed behind the opposing defenders. Lin and De Bruyne had been playing together for over two years and understood each other exceptionally well. Sensing where De Bruyne was looking, Lin immediately grasped his intent. He feigned a retreat but then suddenly cut back, shaking off Stoke City defender Ryan Shawcross.

Ryan, being over 1.9 meters tall, lacked the agility of a smaller player like Lin. As Lin dashed away, Ryan hurriedly turned to chase. But by the time he had turned around, Lin had already gained a meter's lead, received the ball, and was charging into the penalty area. Stoke City's goalkeeper, Begovic, internally cursed his defenders: a bunch of sieves, is that how you mark someone? In the end, it's up to me. If I can block Lin's shot, maybe I can...

Lin glanced at him, noticed the goalkeeper's legs were apart, and deftly kicked the ball through. Begovic felt a chill as he instinctively tried to close his knees to stop the ball, but he was too slow. The ball had already passed between his legs and rolled into the net. Begovic's dream of stopping Lin ended abruptly with that cold splash of reality. Stopping Lin's one-on-one was not as easy as it seemed. Many goalkeepers before him had tried and failed to do so.

Lin's goal turned the score to 2:1, with Manchester City reversing the game against Stoke City. Seeing their team score two goals in just over ten minutes to complete the turnaround, the tens of thousands of Manchester City fans at the scene waved their scarves and shouted Lin's name, giving the warmest applause and cheers to their hero. Indeed, as long as Lin was on the field, they could comfortably enjoy the game. The Stoke City players were devastated; in just thirteen minutes, their nearly secured victory had slipped away. Now they were not only missing out on three points but couldn't even secure one.

Unwilling to accept this outcome, they launched a fierce attack on Manchester City in the final stages, trying to alter the score. It seemed they thought, "We're already behind, we have nothing to lose." Continuing to concede wouldn't change the loss, but if they could score another goal, maybe they could salvage a precious point. The idea was good, but the outcome was not favorable. As Stoke City threw caution to the wind, Manchester City's offensive threat increased. With less stringent marking or multiple players on him, Lin's threat in the front increased significantly.

In the 85th minute, after bypassing the defenders, Lin pushed a shot to the far corner, scoring his second goal of the match. That wasn't all; in the 89th minute, just as regular time was about to end, Lin received a pass from David Silva and curled in his third goal of the game. This hat trick, achieved in just 7 minutes after coming off the bench, broke the record for the fastest hat trick in Premier League history, previously set by Manchester United's Dwight Yorke in 2001. What's more terrifying is that Lin set this record as a substitute! Considering this, it's a record that may be very hard for any other player to break.

Chapter 335: The Sky Clears and the Rain Stops, Mourinho Thinks He's Back on Top!

Chapter 335: The Sky Clears and the Rain Stops, Mourinho Thinks He's Back on Top!

Manchester City had just won their game when news from next door broke: Manchester United had drawn yet again! Following a draw against Sunderland, they now faced off away against the last-place Burnley, ending the match with a scoreless draw. After 90 minutes, the game ended 0:0, handing out a dull draw to the fans. Burnley finally earned their first point of the new season, while Manchester United faced three winless rounds, marking their worst start in Premier League history.

In response to external criticism, Van Gaal continued to employ his 3-5-2 formation. Di María served as an attacking midfielder alongside Fletcher, with Rooney and Van Persie up front as strikers. Van Gaal's stubborn tactics did not bring victory, and with only two points from three matches, Manchester United was now seven points behind league leaders Manchester City. Early in the season, the Red Devils were nearly out of the title race. This performance subjected the Dutch coach to severe criticism.

Post-match, a BBC commentator puzzledly asked, "The captain of the England team, the captain of the Ecuador team, the captain of the Dutch team, a World Cup champion, and a world-class coach, yet why can't we win a single game this season?" The BBC's criticism was somewhat mild compared to the harsher rebukes from United fans:

"What kind of rubbish coach is Van Gaal? 3 center-backs + no good defensive midfielders + 3 wingers + 2 shadow strikers + 1 forward, and you spent 200 million to fight relegation?" "I'm really curious, where did the 200 million euros spent in the summer transfer window go?" "What did we buy exactly, you tell me Di María is worth 75 million euros?" "Serious investigation into Van Gaal, I suspect he took kickbacks!" "I've seen wasteful, but never this wasteful! Sir Alex's hard-saved legacy was squandered by Van Gaal in no time, and the most infuriating part is, there's no improvement in results!" "With such team performance, even comparing him to Moyes is a compliment!" "Dutchman, get out!" "Bring back Sir Alex, if we keep losing, my heart as a Red Devil fan can't take it anymore!" Red Devils fans greatly missed the days under Sir Alex when Manchester United was the most dominant team in the Premier League. Now, they are nearly reduced to fighting relegation...

Seeing Manchester United fans wailing next door, Manchester City fans could hardly contain their glee. "Ha, even mighty Manchester United has its bad days!" "I still miss your untamed days!" "Using a squad worth six to seven hundred million to fight relegation, only Manchester United could manage such an extraordinary feat!"

Despite Manchester City securing three consecutive wins, they have not widened the gap with their competitors. This round, Chelsea won their away game against Everton 6:3, also claiming three straight wins, clinging tightly to Manchester City without allowing last season's scenario of City running away with the league to repeat. This season, with the addition of Fàbregas and Diego Costa, Chelsea's lack of firepower has greatly improved. In their first three matches, Chelsea beat their opponents 3:1, 2:0, and 6:3 respectively, scoring 11 goals in total, only second to defending champions Manchester City. In these games, Diego Costa scored a total of five goals, including two braces. Compared to the previous years when scoring was a great struggle, Diego Costa has had a perfect start at Chelsea, making countless fans of the Blues cry tears of joy: "It's not been easy, after all these years, we finally have a striker who fits our team perfectly!" "The 50 million pounds spent were so worth it!"

With the team securing three consecutive wins, Mourinho felt he was back on top again. He told the media, "Yes, the team I coach is the best in the entire Premier League, and of course, our goal is the championship!" "Manchester City? They have a bunch of good players, but their squad is too young and prone to inconsistency."

"Plus, we have a way to deal with them!" Mourinho had his reasons for this confidence.

Last year, even amid troubles, Chelsea managed to stay unbeaten against Manchester City. In one away game, they even ended City's unbeaten streak at home.

If not for Lin's miraculous shot at Stamford Bridge, they might have achieved a home and away sweep over City.

This year, with a further strengthened squad, Mourinho felt it was time to push for the championship trophy.

If he couldn't secure the Premier League title this year, Abramovich's patience might run out. After returning to Stamford Bridge, Mourinho and Abramovich had a brief honeymoon period, but their relationship became tense after the Emenalo incident.

During the last winter break and this summer's transfer window, Abramovich, the Chelsea owner, made no moves.

Chelsea's transfer funds were almost entirely raised by Mourinho through player sales. Although Abramovich allowed him to decide on player transfers, indicating temporary trust, Mourinho well understood Abramovich's limited patience.

If Mourinho couldn't lead Chelsea to better results this season, he wouldn't need to wait for his three-year contract to end; he'd be fired by Abramovich.

After all, upon his return to Stamford Bridge, Mourinho had boldly claimed he would lead Chelsea to a Premier League championship within two seasons.

Now, with only the last season left to fulfill his promise, if Chelsea ended up empty-handed again, even Mourinho himself wouldn't have the face to stay.

Pellegrini, not adept at verbal jousts, especially against a master like Mourinho, chose to ignore the provocations. In the fourth round of the Premier League, Manchester City was set to face Arsenal away in a highly anticipated match.

This season, Arsenal had bought the winger Sanchez from Barcelona. Although not as expensive as Di María, Sanchez was performing much better than Di María at Arsenal. This gave Gunners fans a glimmer of hope: could Arsenal overturn the behemoth Manchester City at their home ground? On paper, Arsenal's chances seemed slim.

Manchester City, both in terms of squad strength and recent form, was superior. But as they say in football, the ball is round, and anything can happen on the pitch. Especially for a young and ambitious team like Arsenal, who could become fearless once they found their rhythm, capable of toppling even the Champions League winners. However, if Arsenal couldn't find their form, their chances were slim, and they might even face a debacle. Three years ago, they had been thrashed 8:2 by Manchester United away...

This match was crucial for the league standings. Chelsea's opponent this round was weaker, and Mourinho was confident in a victory. But if Manchester City also defeated Arsenal, then the gap between the two teams would remain close.

Thus, before the game, Mourinho stirred the pot. He told reporters that he admired Wenger and his team: "Arsene is a commendable coach, and his team is full of imagination and spectacular offense. I believe Arsenal is fully capable of securing a victory at home."

Mourinho would love nothing more than for Arsenal to give their all against Manchester City, allowing his Chelsea to benefit from the fallout. Wenger felt mixed emotions upon hearing Mourinho's praise.

At a crucial moment when Manchester City and Chelsea were vying for the top spot, Arsenal, hoping to quietly strengthen, suddenly found themselves thrust into the spotlight.

Mourinho said he was optimistic about Arsenal, but Wenger didn't believe his sweet talk at all, especially since he wasn't very confident in his own team either. Before facing Manchester City, Arsenal had already drawn two consecutive games.

Normally, Arsenal tends to drop points in the latter half of the season, often being in great form during the first half, sometimes even leading at the midway point. However, this season, Arsenal's decline was evident right from the start.

After being held to draws by two weaker teams, Arsenal had only managed to secure 5 points from three rounds. This was far from ideal for Arsenal, particularly given their poor record against stronger teams.

Thus, every game against a weaker Premier League team became crucial for them. Nevertheless, compared to Manchester United, their situation was somewhat better. With one win and two draws, Arsenal had at least gathered 5 points and were still in contention for European competitions, while Manchester United, with two draws and a loss, had only managed 2 points and were in the relegation zone.

Facing Manchester City early on was an absolute nightmare for the current Arsenal. Despite being at home, Wenger had no confidence in winning.

The memory of nearly being overturned by Manchester City's reserves at their own stadium last season still haunted him. Now facing Manchester City's main squad, Wenger felt only fear and despair.

Even a draw seemed like a luxury, as the control of the game was not in their hands—it depended on whether Manchester City would allow them any chances.

On September 13th, the fourth round of the Premier League kicked off. Manchester United, winless in their last three, were up first in a must-win game.

They faced Queens Park Rangers, a team expected to be relegated. Despite the opponent's weak status, Manchester United could not afford to be careless.

Van Gaal fielded what he considered his best lineup, ready for a battle crucial for survival. Di María, much criticized, finally made a mark by scoring his first goal for Manchester United in the 24th minute of the first half.

Following Di María's opener, Manchester United players seemed to wake up. Herrera and Rooney quickly followed with goals, extending the lead to 3:0 before halftime. This allowed the Manchester United fans at the stadium to finally relax.

Cameras captured Sir Alex Ferguson, who seemed in good spirits, chewing gum and smiling in the stands at Old Trafford.

In the second half, Mata added another goal, sealing the match at 4:0. Manchester United finally clinched their first win of the season, a moment the Red Devils' fans had been awaiting for nearly a month.

Meanwhile, at Emirates Stadium, the match that had started an hour after Manchester United's was only in the 38th minute, with the scoreboard showing 0:2, home team trailing. Goals by Lin and Agüero in the 15th and 28th minutes had silenced the Arsenal fans.

Falling two goals behind Manchester City before half-time made a comeback seem unlikely. If Arsenal lost this match against Manchester City, their rankings would likely fall to around tenth place, putting them back on level terms with Manchester United. After years of battling to secure Champions League qualification, could Arsenal now be at risk of missing out? Without Champions League participation, Arsenal's financial situation would only worsen, making it hard to strengthen the squad or retain their stars. Such a scenario could see Arsenal slip further into decline.

Contemplating this, Wenger clenched his fists in frustration. He had been at Arsenal's helm for nearly 20 years and since the restructuring of the Champions League, his team had never missed a season. This year could not be an exception.

With these thoughts, Wenger hurriedly left the pitch and headed back to the dressing room early, planning to overturn his initial tactics and devise a new strategy to counter Manchester City.

The scene was captured by reporters and Arsenal fans alike, who were left wondering what had prompted Wenger's early departure.

Could he no longer bear to watch his team's poor performance? This speculation unsettled the Arsenal fans—if even their coach had lost hope, what could they expect?

Finally reaching halftime, the dejected Arsenal players returned to the dressing room, only to be surprised to find someone had arrived before them. "Kids, I'm sorry!" Wenger apologized as soon as the players entered.

"It's because of my wrong tactics that we're behind at halftime, and it's not your fault. We shouldn't abandon our strengths for a purely defensive strategy against Manchester City."

Chapter 336: Chelsea’s Relentless Pursuit, Diego Costa's Comeback!

"Wilshere! Arsenal's number 10, our pride, has scored a spectacular goal to help the team pull one back!"

"We are still one goal behind; it's not the time to relax yet. Keep up the attack, Gunners!"

As the second half began, Arsenal changed their tactics.

They shifted from their first-half approach, deploying more players into their offensive play.

With more support from the midfield and backline, Arsenal's elegant passing and cutting reappeared on the field.

This scene made the Arsenal fans at the stadium boil with excitement!

This is it, this is the Arsenal we know!

This is Emirates Stadium, our home ground; we should fear no one!

After scoring, Arsenal's young players really stepped up.

They are indeed less adept at handling pressure, often experiencing significant fluctuations in their performance.

But once they shed their burdens and played to their strengths, Arsenal's offensive power was not to be underestimated.

As the second half started, Manchester City found themselves on the back foot.

Arsenal may not have top-tier superstars, but each of their players possesses refined skills.

Once their confidence was bolstered, they were capable of executing almost fantastical passing plays on the field.

Such interplay could even give the once-dominant Barcelona a run for their money, nearly causing an upset.

Manchester City were witnessing a frenzied Arsenal for the first time, forced to retreat to their half to defend against the all-out assault.

Lin was puzzled by the stark contrast between Arsenal's first and second half.

Not just their tactics, but the players' attitudes and performance on the field had also dramatically transformed.

This made him curious about what Wenger might have said in the dressing room at halftime.

What kind of pep talk could have caused such a drastic turnaround?

Although unclear about the specifics, Lin knew they had to stem Arsenal's momentum.

Otherwise, another goal from the opposition could really throw the match wide open.

And just as he feared, Manchester City conceded again!

In the 74th minute, Arsenal launched an attack from the right.

Ramsey's cross from the right was not properly cleared by Kompany's header.

Wilshere, getting ahead of the defenders, headed the ball into the left side of the box, and Sanchez, retreating, caught it and executed a stunning volley.

The shot was so sudden that Navas could only react instinctively, but the ball cunningly found the top right corner of the net.

Arsenal had drawn level at 2:2!

Emirates Stadium erupted the moment Sanchez scored.

The Chilean star, thrilled, ripped off his shirt and sprinted along the sideline in celebration.

His teammates chased him down and piled on top of him, celebrating wildly.

This was Sanchez's third goal in recent matches, and within just four games at Arsenal, he had already won over the fans.

On the sidelines, Wenger excitedly punched the air.

The €43.5 million spent felt painful at the time, but Sanchez's performances made it seem well worth it.

Since van Persie's departure, Arsenal had desperately needed a real powerhouse.

Pellegrini, a bit annoyed by the opposition's goal, rushed to the sideline, yelling at his players to focus and not get distracted.

Captain Kompany's performance had been fluctuating, not as solid as before.

Pellegrini glanced at the bench, his gaze resting on summer signing van Dijk.

Should he bring him on?

Van Dijk, intensely focused on the game from the bench, had performed well in pre-season matches for Manchester City.

But once the Premier League started, his opportunities to play were still limited.

After all, he was at best a substitute, not a regular starter.

Yet van Dijk didn't complain; after all, Manchester City were the reigning treble winners.

A player who had never competed in the top five European leagues could not expect to secure a starting position immediately.

His task was to train hard, cherish every minute he played, and earn the trust of the coach and his teammates to secure more playtime and eventually a starting position.

Van Dijk was confident about this.

"Virgil, warm up, get ready to play!"

Just then, van Dijk heard the coach calling his name.

Suppressing his excitement, he swiftly stood up from the bench and ran to warm up by the sideline.

After naming van Dijk, Pellegrini looked towards the other substitutes.

Arsenal's wing attack was fierce in this match.

Their midfield was strong, with players like Özil, Wilshere, Ramsey, and Sanchez all having excellent technical skills.

Their close-range combinations were threatening, making it difficult for Manchester City to press effectively.

Once the opponent's passing broke through their defense, it posed a lethal threat to their goal.

Thus, strengthening the midfield interception became crucial.

Thinking this, he called Fernando to prepare to reinforce the midfield's toughness.

In the 78th minute of the second half, Manchester City started making substitutions, bringing on two players at once.

After entering the game, van Dijk, perceived as young and easy to bully by Arsenal's players, saw increased attacks in his defensive area.

Sanchez, Ramsey, and others took turns testing van Dijk's defenses, hoping to break through at this point.

However, to their disappointment, the young player was impressively stable, not only avoiding mistakes but also using his solid defense to neutralize their attacks.

On the other side, Fernando, joining forces with his Brazilian compatriot Fernandinho, formed an impenetrable barrier in midfield.

Manchester City's midfield toughness was significantly enhanced, and they started to aggressively press Arsenal's midfield players.

Özil's aversion to physical contact in the Premier League was no secret, and opponents often exploited this by intensifying their physical game against him.

Manchester City was no exception.

Under the intense pressing and harassment from Fernandinho and Fernando, Özil's performance rapidly deteriorated.

He became increasingly error-prone as his performance on the field worsened.

Although Arsenal's midfield was visually impressive, no one could match Özil's ability to threaten with his passes.

By neutralizing Özil, Arsenal's offensive threat significantly declined.

After intercepting Özil, Manchester City exploited the vast spaces behind their opponents with quick, simple passes and positioning, launching dangerous counterattacks.

This match saw Cazorla out injured, leaving Flamini as the sole defensive midfielder.

A single defensive midfielder struggles to cover the entire midfield alone.

By exploiting this, Manchester City continuously attacked from the wings.

Facing Manchester City's counters, Arsenal's players aggressively tracked back.

But apart from Ramsey, the other three midfielders were offensive-minded and lacked strong defensive and intercepting abilities.

Their rush back from the front to defend was largely futile, merely draining their energy without much benefit.

The ineffective defensive effort from the three offensive midfielders led to a disconnect between Arsenal's defensive line and midfield within their own thirty-meter zone.

Relying solely on a single defensive midfielder couldn't bridge this significant defensive gap.

Manchester City keenly seized this weakness.

In the 82nd minute, after a turnover, Manchester City launched a rapid counterattack.

The ball was passed forward continuously until it reached Lin Quan. A clear path opened up before him, and seizing the opportunity, Lin cut in from the flank and glided across the open space along Arsenal's penalty area. Arsenal's defenders, noticing Lin maneuvering outside their box, became visibly tense.

While they were distracted by Lin, they failed to notice a tall player in sky blue, rushing up from behind and breaking into Arsenal's box. Lin spotted the run of his teammate and delivered a precise cross. Van Dijk leaped high to meet the ball with a powerful header, smashing it into Arsenal's net. The score changed to 3-2!

Manchester City had regained the lead! It was Van Dijk's first Premier League goal. After scoring, he excitedly rushed to the sidelines, sliding in celebration with authority. On the sidelines, Pellegrini, seeing Van Dijk's crucial goal, was thrilled, celebrating with each of his colleagues through hugs and high-fives.

Manchester City's fans were ecstatic, amazed that this new signing, acquired for just €10 million, proved to be so effective. At such a critical moment in their battle for the top spot with Chelsea, this goal was priceless.

"How did he get there?"

"He's playing too confidently. If we were counter-attacked, he'd be to blame!"

Lin was curious about how Van Dijk had managed to get near Arsenal's box. After the celebration, he asked him about it.

"It was like this: their forward Welbeck dropped back to defend, and I followed him to the middle. Seeing an opening in front of the goal, I just charged forward," Van Dijk explained.

Lin laughed upon hearing this. Van Dijk, just subbed on and full of energy, could sprint across the field with no issue. Even if his forward push had not resulted in a goal, he could quickly retreat to defend. Arsenal had not expected a defender to push up so deeply and couldn't assign someone to guard him in time. Even if they had seen his advance, they couldn't prevent his header due to their fatigue.

"Lin, thanks for the pass. It was beautifully delivered, and I've never headed such a comfortable ball before!" Realizing a great chance to bond with the team leader, Van Dijk quickly thanked Lin, also taking the opportunity to flatter him a bit.

"You played beautifully yourself!" Lin responded with a smile. As a team leader, it was only right to encourage a newcomer who showed such initiative and effectiveness on the field.

After falling behind again, Arsenal's players became anxious. With less than ten minutes left in the game, unless they could score two goals, victory seemed unlikely. Now, they were no longer hoping for a three-point win but just to equalize and secure one point.

Realizing their midfield was vulnerable, Wenger instructed Arsenal's midfield to tighten up their formation to prevent Manchester City from exploiting any gaps. However, this tactic didn't work well, as Manchester City had already figured out how to counter them.

In the final stages of the game, Manchester City's midfield overwhelmed Arsenal's half, aggressively pressing Özil and Wilshere. They couldn't hold the ball under pressure, and Lin continuously attacked from the right, specifically targeting Özil. Özil struggled defensively against Lin, unable to stop the repeated assaults.

This scene reminded many fans of the World Cup final, where Spain employed similar tactics against Germany. Forced by necessity, Wenger substituted Podolski in for Özil.

With Özil off the field, Manchester City's defensive midfielders focused on Wilshere, who also couldn't manage to control the ball. With Özil and Wilshere unable to link play, Arsenal's attack disintegrated.

In the last moments, Sanchez tried to use his individual skill to break through, but without the support of his teammates, his efforts were in vain. On the sidelines, Wenger frowned, wondering if Sanchez had played similarly at Barcelona.

Ultimately, the game ended with Arsenal losing 2-3 at home. This loss dropped Arsenal to 10th place in the league, seven points behind Manchester City, who continued to lead with four wins in four games.

In another Premier League match, Chelsea maintained their perfect record with a 4-2 victory over Swansea at home. However, they were still one goal behind Manchester City in goal difference, placing them second.

Yet, in another ranking, Chelsea's players surpassed Lin Quan. In the victory over Swansea, Diego Costa achieved a hat-trick within 20 minutes, his first in the Premier League. This brought his total to 8 goals, temporarily putting him ahead of Lin Quan as the top scorer in the Premier League.

Chapter 337: The Winds Have Changed

Chapter 337: The Winds Have Changed

"Diego Costa's scoring efficiency makes it look like he's going to win the Premier League Golden Boot!" "Be optimistic, he might even get the European Golden Boot!" "It's unbelievable that someone could surpass Lin Quan in goals scored!" "That's why they say Spanish forwards are really strong!" "Indeed, you know it when you see it!" "Torres liked this!"

After Chelsea secured their fourth consecutive win, the Blues' fans were ecstatic. When they first heard that the club had spent 50 million pounds on another Spanish forward, everyone was nervous, fearing a repeat of the Torres situation. Torres was a strong player, but not a fit for Chelsea, managing only 46 goals in three years, never reaching double digits in a single Premier League season. That the Chelsea fans didn't label him a complete flop was quite gracious of them.

"If only we had Diego Costa last season, we wouldn't have missed so many chances," the fans lamented their previous season's failures in both domestic and Champions League matches. "Why dwell on the past? It's like we're behaving like sore losers. We just need to win back what we lost last year." "That's right, trust in Mourinho, trust in our team. We're going to reclaim our championship trophy this year!"

Chelsea's fans were brimming with confidence, believing they could overcome Manchester City to reclaim their crown. Meanwhile, following Chelsea's winning streak, the media began to hype their success. BBC Sports published an article detailing Mourinho's impressive track records in his second year with teams, whether at Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, or Real Madrid. His teams generally show significant improvement in the second year, sweeping domestic honors and even stabilizing at the top of European football.

This pattern suggests Mourinho might work magic in his second season, excelling at revitalizing teams, but typically by the third year, the teams would become fraught with internal conflicts, leading to his departure. However, this being only the second year, the article was very optimistic about Chelsea's prospects this season. Many agreed that this Chelsea squad might be one of the strongest under Mourinho's second-year management.

The real test, however, would come in the fifth round of the Premier League, where Chelsea and Manchester City would face off. The outcome could determine whether Manchester City would continue to dominate or if Chelsea could wrest back the glory.

Before their critical showdown, both teams were scheduled to participate in a Champions League group stage match, providing a preview of their current form.

On September 17, at 5:30 PM at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City would face Zenit St. Petersburg, the champions of last season's Russian Premier League, in what the Russian media hyped as a clash of champions. Zenit, known for their significant financial investments and strong showings in recent seasons, had proud moments in their history, particularly their 2007-2008 UEFA Cup win and a subsequent victory over Manchester United in the European Super Cup.

However, Zenit's recent performances hadn't lived up to their golden era, despite high-profile acquisitions like the Brazilian forward Hulk. British media were skeptical of the Russian hype, dismissing it as unfounded arrogance. Manchester City's fans were eager to see their team teach the overly confident Russians a lesson in humility.

Manager Pellegrini was not swayed by the external noise and prepared for the match as usual. With a crucial match against Chelsea looming, he opted to rest key players and give others like Van Dijk a chance to shine, who was replacing the rested Demichelis. Van Dijk, no stranger to Champions League play, looked forward to proving his worth in a stronger team.

As the players prepared to enter the field, Javi Garcia, a former Manchester City player now with Zenit, approached Lin Quan, seemingly wanting to explain his departure: "Lin, I—" "Play well, let's try to advance together!" Lin Quan, guessing Garcia's intent, offered a warm embrace and encouragement, helping ease Garcia's nerves before the match.

As the players entered the field, Manchester City fans unfurled a banner welcoming Javi Garcia back to the Etihad Stadium. This touching gesture moved Garcia deeply, and he played very actively in midfield as the match began.

In the 4th minute, Garcia made a deadly through pass down the middle. Hulk seized on a defensive error by City defender Mangala, drove into the box, and fired a powerful shot into the City goal. The crowd was in shock! The Blue Moon fans couldn't believe that their team was trailing just four minutes into the game.

After assisting his teammate's goal, Garcia refrained from celebrating, while Hulk ran to the corner camera, roaring and pounding his chest like the real Hulk. Pellegrini was very unhappy with Mangala's mistake. Mangala was City's biggest signing of the summer, but his performances so far had made it difficult for Pellegrini to trust him. Honestly, Mangala's performance was even worse than Van Dijk, who cost a quarter of Mangala's transfer fee.

However, it was still early in the match, so taking Mangala off so quickly would be too drastic. Making a substitution before halftime signals extreme dissatisfaction from the coach and often leads to conflicts between the player and the coach. So, Pellegrini decided to give him a bit more time.

Unfortunately, Mangala soon proved that Pellegrini's decision was wrong. In the 22nd minute, Mangala made another critical error, misjudging a header and allowing the ball to fall to Zenit's midfielder Witsel, who seized the opportunity and blasted the ball into the net. Navas had no chance to save, as the shot was taken from very close range.

If City fans were only a bit worried after the first goal, the second goal really made them panic. Their defense seemed as fragile as paper, and the player in the number 15 jersey looked like a spy sent by the opponent. With such a weak defense, how could they hope to win?

The timing of the second goal was particularly bad, as City had been pressing Zenit's goal and were close to equalizing. The second goal, however, halted City's momentum and significantly hurt their morale. On the other hand, Zenit went wild after scoring their second goal. The whole team was ecstatic, realizing they had scored twice against the defending champions at their home ground.

On the sidelines, Pellegrini's face turned pale with anger. He called up Demichelis, giving him instructions before preparing to bring him on. In the 25th minute, City made a substitution, with Demichelis replacing the underperforming Mangala. Mangala walked off clearly upset, ignoring Pellegrini, which was immediately caught by the photographers. The reporters began imagining stories of discord between the coach and the player, hinting at potential locker room strife.

Once Demichelis came on, City's defense stabilized. Zenit's attacks were no longer as effective. Despite Mangala's poor performance, Van Dijk played exceptionally well. Without his solid defensive efforts, City could have conceded even more goals. With the defense now secure, City's attack started to pick up.

In the 38th minute, Lin Quan drove forward, exploiting a defensive gap to score from outside the box, hitting the top left corner of the net and pulling one back for City.

During halftime, a furious Pellegrini returned to the locker room, intending to have a stern talk with Mangala, only to find him absent. This infuriated him even more, raising his blood pressure. "This guy needs to be dealt with!"

In the second half, City made another substitution, with David Silva coming on for Milner. This change had an immediate impact, as Silva's presence on the left wing allowed City to launch a series of strong attacks. In the 58th minute, Silva sent in a cross, which Aguero missed, but the goalkeeper also misjudged, allowing Lin Quan to tap the ball in at the far post, making it 2-2.

After equalizing, Lin Quan quickly retrieved the ball from the net and rushed back to the center circle to restart play. The Zenit players were visibly deflated, watching their hard-fought lead slip away. Javi Garcia couldn't help but sigh, feeling that as long as Lin was on the pitch, City was almost impossible to defeat.

Seeing the tide turning against them, Zenit's coach signaled his team to fall back and defend, hoping to secure a draw. However, with City fully on the attack, holding on for a draw was not going to be easy.

In the 78th minute, Kroos scored from a long-range shot, giving City the lead. Five minutes later, De Bruyne sealed the victory with a direct free kick, making it 4-2. City had managed to secure a hard-fought win in their first Champions League match of the season.

But the victory was less convincing compared to Chelsea's 4-0 thrashing of Schalke 04 on the same night. The hard-fought win seemed underwhelming in comparison. As the anticipated showdown between City and Chelsea approached, the public opinion shifted, with more voices now favoring Chelsea.

(Chapter End)

Chapter 338: Mourinho's Trap

Chapter 338: Mourinho's Trap

"Wow, Chelsea is incredible, they swept Schalke 04 with a 4:0! Is this the same Chelsea I know?" "Last season, Chelsea's attack was constipated; this season, it's like diarrhea!" "Someone upstairs made a flavorful comment..." "Crude, but accurate. It feels like with Fabregas and Diego Costa, Chelsea's attack suddenly found its groove!" "So, it's not just the Spanish forwards that are effective—the midfielders are great too!"

In this game, like Lin Quan, Diego Costa also scored a hat-trick. His goals were spectacular, delighting the fans. In just over a month at Chelsea, Diego Costa has completely won over the fans. Despite his rugged looks, he's incredibly effective. With him on the field, Chelsea fans don't have to worry about scoring.

Counting this match, since joining Chelsea, Costa has played in five games and scored 10 goals, averaging two goals per game! His scoring efficiency is in a class of its own, compared to the likes of Shevchenko, Drogba, and the disappointing Torres, who cost £50 million. No wonder Mourinho praised Diego Costa so highly at the post-match press conference—who wouldn't appreciate such an efficient, high-scoring player?

Diego Costa's importance to the team is clear from looking at Atletico Madrid. Last season, they were dominant in the Champions League, but they lost their first group match of the new season without Costa. Their attacking strength significantly diminished. In their first group match against the modest Greek team Olympiacos, they frustratingly lost 2:3—a result that shocked everyone, given that Atletico was last season's Champions League runner-up.

Thus, when Chelsea fans heard that Atletico lost while their own team had a big win, they were incredibly relieved. They were glad they acted quickly to secure Costa before other teams could. Had they been slower, they might have missed out. And although £50 million seemed expensive at first, now it seems quite reasonable. After all, part of that £50 million also covered the transfer of left-back Filipe Luis, with only about £35 million actually going for Costa!

Spending £35 million on such a powerful striker turned out to be a bargain, especially compared to Manchester United, who spent £60 million on Di Maria, which now looks like a huge loss. In this round of the Champions League, besides Arsenal, the remaining three Premier League teams all won. Arsenal truly met their nemesis, losing 0:2 away against Dortmund.

Liverpool, returning to the Champions League after five years, played very cautiously in their first match. Fortunately, with goals from Balotelli and Captain Gerrard, they narrowly beat their opponents and secured a victory in their first group match. In other group matches, Bayern, Barcelona, and Real Madrid all won, with Real Madrid continuing their strong performance from last season with a 5:1 home victory, with Ronaldo, Bale, Benzema, and James all scoring.

This season, Real Madrid's hunger for the Champions League is stronger than ever. Neighboring Barcelona is also eyeing the trophy eagerly, making it harder for all major teams to secure the Champions League trophy.

Because the team's Champions League victories were not smooth, Pellegrini did not give the players a break after the matches, but instead gathered them for closed training. If playing Zenit was this tough, how would they manage against a resurgent Chelsea? The upcoming match against Chelsea at Manchester City's home ground is a must-win. Losing this match would not only widen the gap with Chelsea on the points table but also make it harder to seek revenge when they next visit Stamford Bridge. Last season, City didn't fare well at Stamford Bridge and almost lost. Facing a much stronger Chelsea this season, their visit to Stamford Bridge is expected to be even more challenging.

"Coach, you look unwell, do you need to rest a bit?" On the training ground, the assistant coach, seeing Pellegrini's pained expression and apparent discomfort, expressed his concern.

"I'm fine, don't worry. Just make sure these guys train hard and don't slack off," Pellegrini replied, clutching his chest but still found a place to sit down. He had felt a moment of darkness and a heavy pressure in his chest, suddenly struggling to breathe—a sensation he had experienced before but never as severely as today. Could it be due to overexertion these past few days and not resting well?

Pellegrini couldn't help but wonder. He had been staying up late night after night, studying opponents and tactics, which was tough on his body at his age. He knew it wasn't good, but it was necessary. This year is crucial for Manchester City; if they want to step up and become a true top-tier team, they must win another championship trophy this year. But as they say, it's harder to defend a title than to win one. Last year, City appeared as challengers, and the major teams didn't pay much attention or were overly cautious. In the Champions League, they were underestimated by many teams due to their poor past performances, providing them with an opportunity to upset.

But this year is different, the direction of the wind has changed! As the defending champions, they are now the ones being studied and targeted by all teams. No one underestimates Manchester City anymore; on the contrary, many teams take pride in defeating them, like Zenit did. In that match, Zenit's players were extremely motivated, clearly thrilled by the prospect of defeating last season's Champions League winners.

This increased attention and caution from other teams make City's matches this year much more challenging. In the league, City's strength is evident, and the long season allows them some margin for error. But in the Champions League, particularly in the knockout stages, they face stronger opponents and a much shorter schedule, leaving little room for error.

Thus, City cannot afford mistakes this year; every step must be taken with the utmost care, adding significant stress and psychological pressure on the coaching staff. "It'll get better after this period," Pellegrini reassured himself.

Before the game, Mourinho once again used his advantage, playing mind games with Manchester City through the press. Surprisingly, Mourinho didn't attack City directly. Instead, he analyzed City's slump in form and offered his insights: "Manchester City has already won the Champions League, so it's understandable if their players lack some motivation now," he commented, causing the reporters at the pre-match press conference to doubt their hearing. Mourinho, not kicking someone when they're down? Is he changing his ways?

As the reporters were puzzled, Mourinho added, "I can relate to that feeling, after all, I have two Champions League trophies, the most of any coach in the Premier League." The reporters rolled their eyes; yes, we know you have two Champions League trophies, Mourinho.

Leading two different teams to Champions League glory is undoubtedly Mourinho's proudest achievement. Of course, it's a remarkable feat, one that sets him apart in the Premier League and indeed in football at large, matched only by a few others like Guardiola, Ancelotti, and Spain's coach Del Bosque. Each of these coaches is a giant in their own right. Mourinho's triumph with Porto marked a non-big-five league's championship win; Guardiola pioneered the tiki-taka football style and built Barcelona's dream team; Ancelotti won multiple Champions League titles with Milan and proved his worth in various leagues; and Del Bosque led Spain to an unprecedented international success, cementing his status as one of football's leading figures.

While the reporters weren't interested in Mourinho's bragging, they did appreciate his analysis of Manchester City. After the press conference, they widely reported his comments, and surprisingly, many agreed with his views: "Indeed, it seems Manchester City's players have won everything and now lack a thirst for further triumphs."

"From the last game, you could see their lack of aggression and movement compared to last season," they observed. "Even though Mangala's mistakes were glaring, they can't entirely mask the mediocre performances of other City defenders."

Criticism of City's players' attitudes quickly spread, impacting the City squad significantly as they prepared for their next game. While Pellegrini could enforce a media blackout at their training camp, he couldn't confiscate their phones or stop them from accessing news online, nor could he prevent the traditional media from echoing these sentiments.

Exposed to widespread criticism, City's players felt immense pressure, especially psychologically; they didn't want to appear uncommitted or indifferent to winning. Thus, when the game started, they played aggressively—and recklessly. Early in the game, Aguero got injured during a tackle and had to be substituted, setting off a chain reaction of tension and harsh play among the City players. Within 12 minutes, Fernandinho received a yellow card for a rough foul.

Shortly after, Zabaleta got his yellow card, accumulating quick bookings for City, particularly in crucial defensive roles. "Zabaleta's foul was unnecessary; the opponent wasn't in a dangerous position, and his teammates hadn't lost their defensive stance. It's unclear why he committed the foul," the commentators critiqued.

"Perhaps Aguero's injury ignited City players' tempers, causing them to lose their composure?" they speculated. "Could it be the psychological impact of Chelsea's pre-game mind games? Notice how City players are playing unnervingly, as if they're trying to prove something…"

On the sidelines, Pellegrini frowned, noticing something odd about his team's play. While their engagement had increased, so had their fouls. "It's only been 30 minutes, and Chelsea have already been awarded seven free kicks," he noted.

On the opposing bench, Mourinho smirked at City's predicament, pleased with the chaos. Anticipating this, he signaled his players to intensify their physical play and commit more fouls, hoping to provoke City further.

In the 36th minute, Lin Quan was brought down by Matic in a heavy tackle, which the City players saw as a deliberate act. As tensions escalated, Lin Quan quickly stood up, preventing his teammates from retaliating. "Stay calm, they're just trying to provoke us!" he urged, knowing he was immune to injury and that the opponent's aggressive tactics would only result in more cards for them.

"See? I told you, he's fine. It was just a dive!" Matic shouted, causing further uproar among the City players.

The referee, however, ignored Matic's claims and showed him a yellow card. Despite this, Chelsea did not hold back; within three minutes, Ramirez committed another foul from behind, knocking Lin Quan to the ground again.

This time, City's players were furious. They collectively confronted the Chelsea players, with David Silva pushing Ramirez and even Yaya Toure, who had previously clashed with Lin, stepping forward to defend him.

The situation on the field was chaotic, with players more focused on settling scores than playing football. Seeing this, Mourinho couldn't hide his delight. Now, all it would take was one more foul on Lin, and he might lose his temper. Once Lin was provoked, City would be doomed to lose.

Chapter 339: Lin Quan's Revenge - The Third Attribute Exchange

Chapter 339: Lin Quan's Revenge - The Third Attribute Exchange

The referee was uncompromising, issuing yellow cards to Ramirez for fouling, David Silva for pushing, and Yaya Toure. By halftime, a total of six yellow cards had been distributed, with four borne by Manchester City players. This troubled Pellegrini, who worried about the two defensive midfielders already booked. Looking ahead to the second half, he contemplated substitutions to prevent midfield defensive vulnerabilities.

Turning his attention to the substitutes' bench, he noted three midfield options: Kroos, Fernando, and Lampard. Indeed, Lampard, once a legend at Chelsea, was now with City. This summer, after his contract with Chelsea expired and was not renewed, he moved to play in Major League Soccer. However, NYCFC loaned him back to the Premier League, and just before the transfer window closed, he was signed by City on a temporary deal. Lampard would play until January of next year, at which time his performance would dictate whether he stayed or returned to New York.

Kroos, not known for his defensive prowess but excellent in attack, could enhance City's offensive play if he came on. Both Lampard and Fernando were stronger defensively; should City gain the lead, either could be used to stabilize the situation. With these options in mind, Pellegrini planned his substitutions based on the unfolding second half, but it was critical that no more cards were incurred in the meantime.

Inside Etihad Stadium, the heated gameplay and frequent fouls shifted fans' focus from the match to antagonizing the opposing players and fans. The atmosphere was charged; both teams played with noticeable emotion, an environment perfectly suited for Chelsea's forward Diego Costa, known for his dirty tricks during physical confrontations. He had a knack for subtle provocations that enraged opponents, like when he goaded Zabaleta into a foul that earned the latter a yellow card.

Seeing the defenders burdened with yellow cards, Costa consciously sought them out for physical confrontations, using his cunning tactics to provoke further. City's defenders, irritated by his antics, responded aggressively; Demichelis, in particular, retaliated with a tackle that earned him a yellow card, increasing City's total to five.

"Kid, this is just a lesson. If I catch those tricks again, watch your legs," Demichelis warned fiercely after the foul, glaring at Costa who lay on the ground grimacing. The tackle was harsh—realizing it was no joke, Costa significantly reduced his provocations.

Although City's players were enraged, they still managed to suppress Chelsea in the first half. Mourinho had placed Ramirez as an advanced midfielder and dropped Fabregas to a defensive role. This tactical shift made it difficult for Chelsea to control the midfield; Willian's tendency to hold the ball too long became problematic. Whenever he received the ball, he would delay passing, allowing City's defense to regroup, making it hard to create scoring opportunities.

Not just Willian, but Hazard too was underperforming. Chelsea struggled to launch effective attacks, their previously fluid combinations and formidable firepower seemingly neutralized by City. On the sidelines, Mourinho frowned. While his psychological tactics had worked to unsettle City, the lack of threat in Chelsea's play was concerning. If City regained their composure, their attacking potential could pose a serious threat, especially with a player like Lin Quan on the field.

Thus, Mourinho knew they had to continue targeting Lin to fully provoke him. In the 41st minute, Ivanovic knocked Lin down just outside the box, earning the game's eighth yellow card—Chelsea's third severe foul against Lin in a short time. Yet, to Mourinho and Chelsea's surprise, Lin appeared neither injured nor enraged. Quickly getting up, he set the ball for a free kick, his calm demeanor unshaken.

Courtois felt uneasy about the free kick's position, sensing the potential danger. "Damn, how can't we knock him down?" Mourinho wondered, doubting his strategy as Lin, stable and unaffected, prepared to take the shot. "Need me to create a diversion?" De Bruyne approached, offering to assist. Recently successful with free kicks, he suggested he could confuse Courtois by lining up alongside Lin.

"No need, I got this," Lin assured, eyeing the Chelsea goal and meeting Courtois's gaze. Courtois, alerted by Lin's confident smile, braced himself. Could it be a knuckleball or a curveball? Both were Lin's specialties, both highly effective.

However, Courtois's predictions were off. As the referee prepared to whistle for the free kick, Lin had already decided his approach. He retreated, accessed the system's store interface, and spent points to acquire Roberto Carlos' powerful shooting technique, enhancing his strength attribute to maximum.

Ready to perform, Lin exited the system and continued retreating, increasing his distance from the ball. Chelsea's players, noticing his extensive run-up, grew anxious. Was this serious? Such a long run-up suggested a powerful shot was coming.

Chelsea's wall braced themselves, praying Lin's aim was true and wouldn't target them—such a hit could be painful, even injurious. Courtois, though skeptical of Lin's heavy artillery tactics, remained vigilant, aware that his lack of direct experience with Lin's powerful shots didn't mean they weren't coming.

As Lin charged, the pace of his run sent chills through Chelsea's players, their fear palpable. Courtois watched intensely, his instincts on high alert. As Lin struck the ball, the Chelsea wall flinched, covering vital areas, dreading the impact.

A loud bang followed by a scream indicated someone hadn't dodged in time. Relief mixed with curiosity filled the air as Chelsea players turned to see Matic doubled over in pain, his agony clear. The ball had struck him hard, a deliberate act by Lin, seen as retribution for earlier fouls. The Chelsea players looked on, realizing the dangers of provoking Lin—his response was not just skillful, but fearsome.

The referee, seeing no immediate need for medical attention, allowed play to continue, but the message was clear: Lin Quan was not a player to be trifled with.

Matic, the midfielder from Chelsea, was writhing in pain, clutching his stomach and curled up like a shrimp. The cold sweat on his face and his open, silent scream of agony sent shivers through his teammates. It was a stark act of retaliation. Matic had fouled Lin Quan first and had spoken rudely. Now, Lin Quan's free kick seemed deliberately off-target, perhaps even aimed at Matic. This realization filled Chelsea's players with a mix of horror and fear. Lin Quan was fearsome indeed. And now, they were powerless against his method of revenge.

Chelsea's medical team rushed onto the field, examined Matic, and confirmed he could no longer continue the game. Mourinho, his face ashen, saw his plans thrown into disarray with Matic's unexpected exit. He was forced to substitute Matic with Miguel. The intimidation from Lin Quan's revenge significantly deterred Chelsea players for the rest of the game, especially from committing fouls against Lin Quan. Nobody wanted an outcome similar to Matic's.

Chelsea became more cautious, but Manchester City did not let up. In the final moments of the first half, City intensified their attacks on Chelsea's goal. In the 44th minute, Silva made a cross from the left, and Lin Quan, narrowly missing a goal, heightened the pressure. A minute later, Yaya Toure split the defense with a pass; Kolarov dashed from the left and sent a cross that Jovetic headed against the post. The rebound fell to De Bruyne, who either passed deliberately or misfired a shot that instead found Silva on the right. Silva deftly threaded the ball between two defenders back into the box.

An empowered Lin Quan shoved past a defender, broke into the box, and poked the ball into Chelsea's net. In the final minute of the first half, City broke the deadlock, making it 1-0. The timing was crucial, only seconds away from the halftime whistle. The goal unleashed a torrent of pent-up frustration from City players, who ecstatically rushed towards Lin Quan.

Even the usually composed Lin Quan got caught up in the moment, stripping off his jersey to reveal a chiseled torso, running to the sidelines, spreading his arms wide, tilting his head back, and closing his eyes in front of the roaring stands. Etihad Stadium erupted in deafening applause and cheers, a cathartic release for the City fans enraged by Chelsea's earlier fouls. Had it not been for the security personnel, they might have stormed the pitch to confront the Chelsea players directly.

Amidst this tumult, Pellegrini felt a rush of exhilaration and leapt from his seat to embrace his assistants joyously. Meanwhile, a frustrated Mourinho kicked a water bottle fiercely after seeing Lin Quan score. Cursing the ill-timed loss, he pondered what went wrong with his strategy that had seemed so effective until then. Confounded by Lin Quan's unshaken composure despite the fouls, Mourinho worried if the intensity of the fouls had been insufficient. Yet, escalating the fouls risked red cards for Chelsea.

Determined to remain composed, Mourinho reminded himself that his tactics had not yet failed, with the second half still to play. He left for the locker room without looking back, his mind on adjusting his strategy for the remaining 45 minutes.

During the halftime break, the tension between the teams nearly escalated into a physical altercation in the tunnel, only avoided thanks to the timely intervention of officials and stadium staff. The hostility from the game had now deeply entrenched a rivalry between Manchester City and Chelsea. The players exchanged harsh words peppered with vulgarities about each other's incompetence and cowardice outside the locker rooms.

Lin Quan, disinterested in such exchanges, returned to the locker room. There, he first noticed Lampard, sitting quietly in a corner, caught in an awkward position given his long history with Chelsea and current allegiance to City. Respecting Lampard's situation, Lin Quan did not bother him. Instead, he approached Aguero to inquire about his injury. "How are you doing?" Aguero, trying to smile through his discomfort, admitted, "Not great. I've got a ligament tear in my left thigh. I'll be out for six to eight weeks." Lin Quan patted his shoulder, comforting, "Take your time to heal. We'll be waiting for you to come back."

Chapter 340: Lampard's Light

Chapter 340: Lampard's Light

During the halftime break, Pellegrini repeatedly warned the players not to let the opposition's words and actions provoke them. He emphasized the importance of controlling their emotions and avoiding any more yellow cards. Outwardly, the players agreed, but internally they were thinking about how to decisively beat Chelsea. After all, not fighting back isn't the spirit of a true man, especially in the Premier League—not La Liga!

Despite the players' mixed feelings, once back in the game, they firmly implemented Pellegrini's offensive strategies. At the start of the second half, Manchester City launched a fierce attack on Chelsea, seemingly aiming to replicate the goal from the end of the first half. In the 47th minute, Manchester City won a corner. Lin Quan took the corner with a tactical play, passing the ball to Silva. Silva then drew the defenders and lobbed the ball into the penalty area. The coordination was excellent and created an opportunity, but unfortunately, Manchester City's attackers couldn't reach the ball first, and Chelsea's captain Terry cleared the danger.

Two minutes later, Manchester City's offense surged forward again. Lin Quan passed the ball to the flank, where De Bruyne delivered a precise through pass. Lin Quan's long-range shot from the edge of the penalty area was brilliantly saved by Courtois, leading to another corner for Manchester City. This time, Lin Quan opted to send the corner directly into the box, causing a scramble that ended with Courtois securing the ball.

In these intense few minutes, Manchester City's attacks were relentless, but Courtois's outstanding performance kept Chelsea's goal secure. After returning to Chelsea from Atlético Madrid this season, Courtois, through some maneuvers, ousted Čech to become the starting goalkeeper. Initially, Chelsea fans were skeptical of him, given Čech's long and proven record. Courtois, a post-90s goalkeeper, faced doubts about whether he could match Čech's consistency.

Now, it seems Chelsea fans can rest easy. In his appearances for Chelsea, Courtois has been exceptional. His spectacular saves not only look good but also show the mark of a top-tier goalkeeper.

Chelsea wasn't just passively defending against Manchester City's attacks. In the 53rd minute, they had a free kick opportunity in the middle. Fàbregas attempted to send the ball into the box. However, the ball seemingly struck a defender's arm during flight, leading Chelsea players to immediately claim for a penalty. The referee, however, dismissed their appeals, which greatly displeased the Chelsea players and their coach Mourinho, who vociferously complained to the fourth official. His choice of words and tone were quite aggressive.

Informed by the fourth official, the referee approached Mourinho and issued him a yellow card as a warning. Mourinho, who has a history of being sent off, had to calm down; a red card would prevent him from managing the team from the sidelines.

Although Chelsea didn't win a penalty, their protests seemed to have an effect. It appeared that to balance out his earlier decision, the referee made some compensatory calls. In the 55th minute, Manchester City executed a tactical free kick; Silva's pass into the box led to Cahill bringing down De Bruyne, a clear penalty situation which the referee ignored, awarding only a free kick instead. This decision frustrated Manchester City players, who felt the obvious foul should have been called.

After an apparent oversight by the referee, Manchester City's players, who had been calming down, became agitated again. In the 58th minute, Diego Costa elbowed Zabaleta and received a yellow card. An angered Zabaleta got up to confront Costa, and it nearly escalated into a fight stopped only by their teammates.

Despite the intervention, Zabaleta's anger was not assuaged. In the 61st minute, during a Chelsea counterattack, Costa was on the receiving end of a retaliatory tackle by Zabaleta, who dramatically rolled on the ground, screaming in pain. The referee hesitated because giving Zabaleta another yellow would lead to a red card. However, unable to ignore this foul, he booked Zabaleta again and sent him off.

This decision drew boos from the home fans at Manchester City's stadium, whether against the referee or their opponents was unclear. Pellegrini, realizing the dire situation with 30 minutes left and one player down, feared the match would become significantly more challenging.

To stabilize the defense, Pellegrini had no choice but to substitute David Silva with Milner. Now playing at home with 10 men, Manchester City's formation changed from 4-2-3-1 to 4-2-2-1.

Seeing Manchester City's reduced numbers, Mourinho made a decisive move by substituting Mikel and Oscar for the booked Ramires and the underperforming Willian. Mourinho's intent to stack the front and intensify the attack was clear—being only one goal down, Chelsea's strong offensive capabilities this season could still turn the game around or even secure a win.

Mourinho's tactical adjustments quickly showed results, leveraging the midfield advantage, Chelsea gradually took control. In the 65th minute, a corner from Fàbregas was headed by Ivanović to the far post, where Costa attempted a diving shot. However, Navas was alert to Costa's movements and blocked the shot just in time, causing the Manchester City fans to breathe a sigh of relief. Thankfully, their team had invested in a top-class goalkeeper, or the score might have been leveled by now.

Yet, Chelsea did not relent in their attack. In the 71st minute, Ivanović, moving upfield, delivered a high-quality cross. Costa cleverly maneuvered the ball to the right side of the pitch, past Mikel, and nudged it towards an open Hazard. Faced with a perfect setup, Hazard did not waste the chance and scored, equalizing the match at 1-1.

Chelsea has leveled the score! At this moment, losing a goal is almost fatal for Manchester City, who are already down a player. Both the players on the field and the fans watching in the stadium can't help but feel worried. With Chelsea's strong form and high morale, can Manchester City, lacking one player, withstand their fierce attack? Recalling Chelsea's recent 4-0 victory over Schalke 04 in the Champions League group stage, Manchester City fans are particularly anxious. This season's Chelsea team is entirely different from last season; scoring is no longer a challenge for them.

"Why be so pessimistic? This is our home ground!" Lin Quan shouted, seeing his teammates' morale dipping.

"Right, so what if we're down a man? Didn't we eliminate Real Madrid away with ten men? Is Chelsea scarier than Madrid?" De Bruyne joined in, boosting the team's spirit. Last season's most perilous Champions League match for Manchester City was that away game against Real Madrid. Despite being a goal down and one man short, they performed a miracle and knocked out the formidable Real Madrid. Having faced such a battle, what's there to worry about now? Especially since this is their home ground and they are not behind.

"Yes, this is our turf, we can't let Chelsea run wild here!" "Charge and turn the game around with our attack!" The players, already simmering with frustration, were fully ignited by Lin Quan's rallying cry.

Seeing his players revitalized in such circumstances, Pellegrini felt reassured. His gaze lingered on Fernando and Lampard on the bench before he finally chose Lampard. Lampard, a versatile box-to-box midfielder with a powerful long shot and superior attacking skills compared to Fernando, knows Chelsea inside out. At this moment, hopes were pinned on the veteran's experience.

The Manchester City fans were puzzled to see Lampard subbed on. "Why not Kroos now?" they thought, given Kroos' offensive capabilities, which could significantly enhance Manchester City's attack. "What is the Engineer thinking? Why not bring on Teacher Toni?" "It's proven countless times, Teacher Toni plus De Bruyne and Lin Quan are an unstoppable combination on the field!"

"It might be because we're a man down. We need someone with strong physical play and some offensive ability," someone guessed. "Yeah, that must be it!" "But this guy has such deep ties with Chelsea, he wouldn't be a mole, right?" "Can't be, right? After all, he's a professional; he shouldn't confuse the situation!" "Let's just trust him for now."

Manchester City fans were ambivalent about the substitution, while Chelsea fans had mixed feelings. Seeing a player who served their team for 14 years now wearing the opponent's jersey was bittersweet. "Ah, why didn't the club renew with Lampard?" "Yeah, Lampard has served the Blues for so long, and clearly, he still has some gas left. Why not even a one-year contract?" "Even though Lampard's older, didn't players like Pirlo and Xavi renew with their clubs?" "If he had one more year, he could have retired a Blue. Such a pity we won't see that now!"

With the game situation favoring Chelsea, their fans were more relaxed, which allowed them the space to discuss Lampard's situation. After entering the game, Lampard quickly neutralized a Chelsea attack with a clean defensive move. Chelsea fans' good mood vanished when they saw him tackle Fàbregas to stop an advance. "Damn!" "Really?" "Lampard, take it easy, those are all your former teammates!"

Lampard maintained his professionalism; now wearing a Manchester City jersey, he was committed to giving his all for the team. And while he was considerate of his old teammates, he didn't hold back against others. As for Fàbregas? "Heh, when I was at Chelsea, this guy was captaining our rivals Arsenal! Why should I feel bad about fouling Arsenal's former captain? Not at all!" Poor Fàbregas found playing as a defensive midfielder very uncomfortable today. Manchester City targeted him with intense pressure right from the start, and while Chelsea players fouled Lin Quan, Manchester City didn't spare Fàbregas either.

Lin Quan, immune to injuries, even earned three yellow cards for his opponents. But Fàbregas lacked such talents, grimacing in pain with every fall. If not for his determination, he would have asked to be subbed off. "I can't fall; we're about to win. Just win this match, and we'll top the league!" Fàbregas, lying on the ground in pain, kept encouraging himself. After leaving Barcelona, he seemed transformed, even more desperate than before.

Chapter 341: Rumblings at Bayern, Guardiola Faces Tension!

Chapter 341: Rumblings at Bayern, Guardiola Faces Tension!

"Goal!!"

"Lampard scores a lethal cannonball against his former team, plunging Chelsea into the abyss!"

"At the 81st minute, Lampard scores with a stunning world-class shot, marking the third goal of the match. Manchester City takes the lead again, 2-1!"

The stadium erupts in joy as Manchester City fans go wild after Lampard's goal. This goal not only greatly increases Manchester City's chances of clinching three points but also delivers a heart-wrenching blow to Chelsea.

Indeed, Chelsea fans feel a deep ache as they watch Lampard, a legendary figure who contributed immensely to their team, score. It's especially painful because if any other Manchester City player had scored, they could have easily cursed them out. But Lampard's significant contributions to Chelsea make it hard for fans to express anger towards him.

Yet, Lampard's goal is devastatingly critical. With the match crossing the 80-minute mark, Chelsea only needed one more goal to possibly secure three points. Now, they need to score twice in the remaining time—a daunting task against a solid Manchester City defense.

As the match progresses, instead of the optimistic cheers anticipating a major win and leading the league, Chelsea fans can no longer muster a smile.

Post-goal, Lampard chooses not to celebrate and solemnly returns to his half. Both Chelsea fans and Lampard himself are heavy-hearted. He never wanted to be Chelsea's adversary, but his loan back to the Premier League seemed to seal this fate.

On the sidelines, Mourinho is silent, hands on hips, stunned that a former Chelsea player delivered such a crucial blow. Pelligrini is equally surprised. He fielded Lampard primarily for his experience to stabilize the game, not expecting such a pivotal goal.

Lampard's goal significantly boosts Manchester City's morale, enhancing their performance as the game progresses. Conversely, Chelsea players become increasingly impatient, desperate to equalize.

In the 83rd minute, Chelsea launches an attack. Schurrle's long shot is confidently saved by Navas. Navas quickly throws the ball to the flank where De Bruyne, dodging a defender, sends a precise through pass.

The pass splits Chelsea's defense, reaching Lin Quan. Chelsea's defenders, panic-stricken, frantically chase him. However, despair sets in as Lin Quan's dribbling at full speed surpasses their pace without the ball—and he's accelerating!

"Lin receives De Bruyne's pass!"

"Chelsea's defenders haven't given up—they're chasing him down, but the gap is widening, not closing!"

"Lin is speeding up even more!"

Courtois, realizing the danger, rushes out of goal as staying would be a sure defeat. Although advancing is logical, it's hardly effective.

As Courtois advances, Lin Quan enters the penalty area. He feints a shot, which Courtois initially doesn't fall for. However, Lin Quan pauses and fakes again, tricking Courtois this time.

Courtois dives towards where he anticipates the shot, only to find the ball hasn't been kicked.

It's too late. Before he hits the ground, Courtois hears the crushing sound of the ball hitting the net.

By the 84th minute, Lin Quan scores again, extending Manchester City's lead to 3-1!

Having a numerical advantage doesn't always equate to an actual advantage—not against Manchester City.

Lin Quan's goal sends fans around the globe into a frenzy, decisively killing off the game and securing a win for Manchester City.

With less than ten minutes remaining, how could Chelsea possibly score two goals?

In just three minutes, Chelsea's near-certain victory slips away, leaving their fans in utter dismay.

Slow-motion replays focus on Lin Quan, intensifying Chelsea fans' sense of dread: After over 80 minutes, while other players are drained, Lin Quan still possesses remarkable energy.

Is he even human?

In Messi's prime, only injuries and stamina could contain him. For Chelsea fans, it seems neither applies to Lin Quan.

How are they supposed to compete?

On the field, Chelsea players seem lost, unsure whether to attack or defend. They should be launching an all-out assault but seem to lack the belief they can win at Manchester City's home ground.

Without spirit, victory is unattainable. Instead, Manchester City, despite being a man down, continues to attack as if they were the ones trailing.

Ultimately, the match ends with Manchester City crushing Chelsea 3-1, topping the leaderboard after this crucial matchup. With this win, Manchester City remains undefeated with 15 points. Despite the loss, Chelsea still holds second place.

The gap between the two is small, and Chelsea still has a chance to catch up.

Meanwhile, Manchester United suffers a shocking 5-3 defeat at Leicester City. With only one win in five games, United's poor start raises questions about the manager's future, despite high hopes following significant transfers.

However, the response was only disappointment! Louis van Gaal's Manchester United was far removed from the team that fans had come to know. The spirit of the Red Devils, a legacy from the Ferguson era, was nowhere to be found in this team; instead, it seemed to have migrated to their neighbors, Manchester City.

On September 24, in the Bundesliga. Guardiola's Bayern Munich, playing at home, swept away their visitors Paderborn with a score of 4-0, clinching a victory in a top-of-the-table clash. This win propelled Bayern Munich to the top of the Bundesliga, leading by one point.

During the post-match press conference, an elated Guardiola not only answered a series of questions about Bayern but also, uncharacteristically, initiated a discussion about Manchester City and Lin Quan. "Lin? He is an incredible player, arguably one of the best in today's football world!" Guardiola clarified, "And I say this not because he's my son. Anyone who has played football and seen him on the field would understand why I say this. Him compared to Messi? Well, their styles are similar, but I've only coached Messi, not Lin, so it's hard to give an objective assessment."

A German journalist quickly raised a question: "Do you look forward to working with Lin Quan at the same club?" Guardiola responded without hesitation, "Of course, I look forward to it!" Given Lin Quan's statement that he would not leave Manchester City, the general interpretation of Guardiola's words was that he subtly indicated he wouldn't renew his contract with Bayern and was likely to move to the Premier League to reunite with Lin Quan.

This news, once reaching the ears of Bayern's top brass, caused significant discontent. Guardiola's season had not been very successful; Bayern's league position had even fallen behind a newly-promoted team at one point. Moreover, his tactical changes had displeased many veteran players. German football tends to be insular. Guardiola's methods were initially supported by Bayern's top management because they wanted to incorporate Spanish football expertise. However, the failure at the World Cup showed them this approach was flawed, leading to considerable introspection within German football circles. Many believed that they should not blindly imitate Spanish tiki-taka, as the German players' style was significantly different.

Blind imitation was deemed harmful—they needed to develop a tactical system that played to German strengths. With Bayern being nearly synonymous with the German national team, changes in the national team's strategy would naturally reflect on Bayern. Influenced by these factors, Bayern's management gradually lost patience with Guardiola's approach. Dissatisfaction from previous transfer dealings also soured relations, leaving Guardiola uninterested in renewing his contract. In fact, Bayern was not planning to offer him a new contract and was even considering terminating his current one early, especially with the European Championship approaching, signaling a need for quick reform in German football.

This interpretation by outsiders seemed not entirely baseless—Guardiola was indeed likely to move to the Premier League next year, and there was also a possibility he could return to Barcelona. However, given Barcelona's excellent performance this season, leading the league over Madrid's teams, and with Suarez soon to return from suspension, their results were expected to improve further. This environment reduced the calls for Guardiola's return, as many Barcelona fans felt the strength lay within the club itself, not just with Guardiola. After all, since leaving Barcelona, he hadn't fully proven his managerial mettle, and Barcelona's current performance was not disastrously poor.

After defeating Chelsea, Pellegrini gave his players a two-day break. Following the rest, they traveled to face the 10th-ranked Hull City. The game went smoothly, with Manchester City cleanly defeating their opponents 3-0. Lin Quan played only the first half, helping his team score one goal before being substituted by Pellegrini due to the substantial lead, saving him for the mid-week Champions League match.

Meanwhile, Manchester United finally won their latest match, with Rooney and van Persie both scoring. However, Rooney received a yellow card in the second half for losing his temper, which made United play defensively and nearly allowed the opposition to equalize. This victory moved United up three places in the rankings, just two points shy of the Champions League spots. If they could maintain this momentum, securing a spot in next season's European competitions seemed likely, although winning the league appeared challenging since they were ten points behind leaders Manchester City.

On the other hand, Chelsea seemed unaffected by their loss to Manchester City, returning home to decisively beat Aston Villa 3-0, continuing to closely follow Manchester City with a three-point gap.

On October 1, the second round of the Champions League group stage commenced. Manchester City flew to Germany to face their next opponent, Bayer Leverkusen. Leverkusen, not particularly strong, had lost 0-1 to Monaco in their first group match. Facing the defending champions Manchester City was daunting; a loss in this match would leave them at the bottom of their group, severely dimming their prospects for advancement. With no other option, they prepared to give their all against Manchester City at home.

Chapter 342: Universe Country's Publicity Backfires, Barcelona Loses Unexpectedly

Chapter 342: Universe Country's Publicity Backfires, Barcelona Loses Unexpectedly

The hype by the cosmic country did not gain international acceptance. In everyone's view, Lin Quan and Son Heung-min's abilities are simply not on the same level. Forcing a comparison between two players who are not on the same level is just shamelessly chasing clout. Japanese media reported: Son Heung-min is merely the "Asian Star" as proclaimed by Koreans, but Lin Quan is a bona fide world-class football star. The gap between them is like comparing a firefly to the bright moon. It's baffling where Koreans get the confidence to compare the two.

As football powerhouses in East Asia, both Japan and Korea have many players competing in European leagues. For instance, Japanese star Keisuke Honda wears the number 10 jersey at AC Milan, a position much more prominent than Son Heung-min's at Leverkusen. Thus, if anyone is most annoyed by the Korean hype, it would naturally be the Japanese.

As for the domestic fans in China, since there are few Chinese players abroad, and those who are abroad do not match the top Asian levels, the public tends to just watch these developments as spectators, occasionally mocking the arrogance of the Koreans.

"Honestly, Son Heung-min has faced Lin Quan before; when Lin was at Werder Bremen, he led his team to defeat Son's Hamburg in both encounters!"

"Exactly, if he couldn't beat Lin Quan from two years ago, how do the Koreans dare to provoke the current Lin?"

"Fair is fair, Son Heung-min is talented and still young. He might make a name for himself in the future, but if he's as arrogant as the Korean media and fans, I doubt he'll reach very high levels."

"Hopefully, he'll play well. Asian football needs top stars to promote the sport so that more kids fall in love with football."

Lin Quan was unaware of the Korean media's reports, but Son Heung-min apologized to him before the match for any trouble caused by his country's media. Son, who had trained in Europe from an early age, had a manner more influenced by Europe than his compatriots.

Lin Quan, unaware of the media coverage but knowing Korean media's reputation, didn't take his frustrations out on Son. After Son apologized, Lin patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile, "No worries, just play well and give us a great game."

Encouraged by Lin, Son nodded heavily, "Yes, I'll learn a lot from you in this match!"

As a fellow winger, Son admired Lin greatly. He had collected many of Lin's match highlights and often studied Lin's dribbling and shooting techniques to improve his own skills. His rapid improvement over the seasons was largely due to his diligence.

The match began with Leverkusen leveraging their home advantage to launch an offensive against Manchester City, hoping to catch them off guard. In these attacks, Son performed exceptionally well, his break on the wing even earning an opponent a yellow card. Korean fans in the stands cheered wildly for Son, thinking he had overshadowed Lin.

As they eagerly anticipated a goal from Son to decisively outperform Lin, Leverkusen's aggressive but ultimately non-threatening offense was methodically dismantled by City's well-organized defense. After weathering the initial storm, City players took control of the midfield and began their counter-attacks.

Leverkusen had focused heavily on defending against Lin, considering his pivotal role in City's lineup. They believed that stopping him would cripple City's offensive capability. However, they were gravely mistaken. Lin did not attempt to showcase his skills to counter the media hype. Instead, he adapted his style from being a striker to a playmaker.

With Lin's assists, Jovetic and David Silva scored in the first half, stunning Leverkusen's coach who had anticipated Lin's direct attacks on goal. Instead, Lin had remained outside the box, orchestrating plays that led City to a two-goal lead without much apparent effort from him, deepening Leverkusen's despair.

Despite their disadvantage, Korean fans refused to see the reality. They clung to the fact that Son, despite not scoring, had performed better than Lin, who had also not scored. They boasted about Son's successful dribbles, claiming a hollow victory in that regard.

However, their claims fell apart in the second half when Lin scored from outside the box in the 65th minute, his third goal penetration of Leverkusen's net and his first personal goal of the match. This left the Korean fans speechless; surely, they couldn't argue that dribbling was more important than scoring.

And when Lin later dribbled past four defenders to score again near the end of the match, completing his brace, even the most delusional fans couldn't twist the narrative in Son's favor.

Despite the overwhelming defeat, Son sought out Lin after the match to exchange jerseys, a gesture that Lin gladly reciprocated. Korean fans, witnessing the exchange, suddenly switched narratives, praising Son for gaining recognition from the world's best player—a title they had inadvertently validated for Lin during their fervent support.

Thus, even as they tried to elevate Son, they unwittingly acknowledged Lin's superior status in the football world.

European media usually describe Lin Quan as "one of the best." After Korean media heavily reported on the match, especially emphasizing Lin Quan exchanging jerseys with Son Heung-min, many Korean fans quickly became fans of Lin Quan.

"No wonder he's considered the best of our time; Lin Quan is truly amazing!" "Yes, he can effortlessly break through on the wing, organize attacks in the center, and assist teammates. His playing style is becoming more and more like Maradona's!" "I wonder when our Son Heung-min will reach Lin Quan's level!"

Because of Lin Quan's strong performance, the Koreans have faced reality after this match. Although they have stopped hyping the rivalry between Son Heung-min and Lin Quan, they have started trying to find evidence that Lin Quan might have Korean ancestry. Typical of the so-called "origin of all things" country!

Korean media reports are of no concern to Lin Quan, who does not understand Korean and naturally wouldn't bother following news from a small country. Instead, Manchester City's players are more focused on their group standings and the scores of other groups. After defeating Bayer Leverkusen, Manchester City has won both its games, leading their group with 6 points. Monaco and Zenit drawing their game increased City's lead to 2 points. In Group C, Manchester City tops the table with 6 points, Monaco follows with 4, Zenit has 1, and Leverkusen has none after losing both matches.

Looking ahead, City's position looks promising. Monaco, next in line to challenge City, faces slim chances of victory. Monaco's situation is slightly better than Zenit's because of their points advantage. Zenit must win their next game against Leverkusen to catch up. Leverkusen, to avoid early elimination, must desperately win their next game.

In other groups, Atletico Madrid and Juventus's spotlight match in Group A saw Atletico recover from a loss to Olympiacos by beating Juventus 1-0 at home, earning three crucial points. Surprisingly, Olympiacos lost to Malmo in this round. This result caused a four-way tie with each team having 3 points, creating a chaotic fight for progression where all four teams still have a chance.

In Group B, Real Madrid has won both of its matches, leading the standings and looking strong to advance. Liverpool unexpectedly lost away, putting their progression in jeopardy. Their next match is at home against Real Madrid. Given the current form and strength of both teams, Liverpool's chances of winning at home are slim. A loss would likely see them fall behind Basel, who shares the same points. Therefore, Liverpool needs to defend their home turf and hope for a Basel loss.

In Group D, Arsenal achieved a thrilling victory for their fans with a 4-1 home win over Galatasaray. Arsenal's attack was seamless, with Welbeck scoring a hat-trick and Sanchez also finding the net. The only downside was their goalkeeper Szczesny getting a red card in the second half, meaning they must use a backup goalie for their next away match.

In Group E, Bayern Munich narrowly won 1-0 away against CSKA Moscow, not only gaining three points but also avoiding the difficult winter trip to Moscow.

Group F saw a major upset. Barcelona, who were favored to win, lost 2-3 away to Paris Saint-Germain. Lin Quan was surprised to hear about Barcelona's defeat, as he remembered this season's Champions League winner was supposed to be Barcelona. The MSN trio hadn't unleashed their power yet, which explained the loss. Messi and Neymar scored, but it wasn't enough for victory. This loss cast doubts on Barcelona's Champions League prospects for the season. With Suarez still suspended, even when he returns, if he doesn't integrate quickly, Barcelona might not top their group. Finishing second could mean facing tough opponents like Manchester City, Real Madrid, or Bayern Munich in the knockout stage, which isn't favorable for Barcelona.

However, the situation isn't dire yet; Barcelona still has a chance to reclaim the top spot. But given PSG's current form, it will be challenging. PSG, after defeating Barcelona, is highly motivated. Many of their players believe this is their best chance to win the Champions League, especially for their star player Ibrahimovic, who has never won the title. Before Lin Quan's rise, Ibrahimovic was often considered the third-best player behind Messi and Ronaldo. However, unlike the top two, Ibrahimovic never won the Champions League despite playing for several top clubs like Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, and AC Milan. His bad luck often saw him miss out on the title. Now at 33, he is undoubtedly in the twilight of his career, making PSG possibly his last chance to win the Champions League.

After several seasons of heavy investment, PSG has significantly improved their squad. This season, they look stronger than ever, even defeating mighty Barcelona. It seems they might finally have their best shot at the title. If Manchester City could win with similar investment last season, there's no reason PSG can't do the same with even greater resources.

Chapter 343: Last-Minute Win Against Monaco, Ranieri Gets Sacked

Chapter 343: Last-Minute Win Against Monaco, Ranieri Gets Sacked

After returning to England from Germany, Manchester City took a two-day break and then traveled to Birmingham to face Aston Villa. Although Aston Villa isn't particularly strong, their rough playing style can be challenging, even for top teams. Carelessness could lead to an upset.

Fortunately, Manchester City was in excellent form for this match. They scored two goals within the first 20 minutes. Aston Villa's aggressive tactics didn't help, and they eventually lost 0-3 to Manchester City. With this win, City continued to lead the league with a perfect record. Chelsea, however, stayed close behind. In their match against Arsenal, Chelsea won 2-0 at home thanks to goals from Hazard and Diego Costa, keeping them just three points behind City.

Meanwhile, Manchester United faced Everton and narrowly won 2-1, marking their second consecutive win and moving up to fourth place in the league. Falcao and Di Maria both scored, quieting some of their critics.

After the Premier League match, Manchester City quickly returned home for an EFL Cup match. Facing a weaker opponent, Pellegrini rotated the squad, fielding many substitutes. Despite this, City still managed a 7-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday, advancing to the next round.

With successes in three competitions, Manchester City seemed poised to replicate their previous season's glory. There was widespread optimism about them defending their league title for the first time in club history.

This optimism peaked after City's 4-1 home win over Tottenham in the eighth round of the Premier League.

"Eight consecutive wins! Who can stop Manchester City?" "The Rise of a Giant: Witness the Ascendancy of Manchester City in the Premier League!" "Tottenham is like City's toy; they get thrashed every time they meet!" "Tottenham hasn't performed badly this season, ranking high on the table. But in this match, they seemed completely outclassed." "Indeed, it's as if they're inherently weak against City, always suffering heavy defeats!" "Tottenham's performance wasn't bad, considering they scored. Last season, City crushed them 6-0 at home!"

Fans were not surprised by City's home win. The Etihad Stadium has always been a fortress, difficult for other Premier League teams to conquer. However, the repeated heavy defeats Tottenham suffered against City puzzled many. Though Tottenham is not a top-tier team, they are a strong contender just below the Big Five. The drastic disparity in their performances against City was baffling.

Last season, City scored 11 goals over two matches against Tottenham, leaving Spurs fans with a severe case of "Cityphobia." Among the 20 Premier League teams, City had become the one they least wanted to face.

Amidst the shock at City's eight consecutive wins and their dominant form against Tottenham, a seasoned journalist published an article titled "The Premier League is Heading Towards Its Demise!" The subtitle read: "Dominant Manchester City Might Destroy the Premier League's Foundation!"

The journalist's sensational headline grabbed attention, but his article was well-researched, filled with data and technical analysis. He argued that the Premier League's appeal lies in the intense competition among multiple top teams and the suspense of each season's title race. If City continues to dominate, creating a monopoly on the title, the league's biggest selling point could vanish, reducing its overall appeal and potentially leading it to a fate similar to the Bundesliga.

In recent years, the Bundesliga saw a surge in international viewership thanks to Borussia Dortmund challenging Bayern Munich's dominance. However, with Dortmund's decline and Bayern's resurgence, the league has become monotonous again, impacting its global viewership.

"Honest journalist, making a valid point. We can't let City dominate alone!" "Agreed, other teams should unite, focus on taking down City!" "Count Manchester United in!" "Chelsea's in too!" "Arsenal is interested!" "Liverpool's been fed up with City for a while!" "Tottenham, we're willing to help..."

Fans from other teams collectively responded: "Get lost!"

Though these were just online fan discussions, the rivalries among Premier League teams meant they were unlikely to unite against City. After all, Manchester United had already dominated the league during Ferguson's era without much complaint. The current resentment towards City stemmed from their rapid rise, which older, established clubs found hard to accept. Over time, as City continues to win, this sentiment might change.

Nevertheless, becoming the league's public enemy soon had tangible effects. City's request to postpone their ninth-round league match against West Ham United, due to their Champions League game against Monaco, was rejected. The two matches were scheduled too close together, with only a day's gap. Last season, City had successfully requested a postponement for a similar situation, supported by the Premier League to help their European campaign. This time, however, both the league and West Ham declined.

West Ham, eager to exploit City's potential fatigue, refused the postponement. This decision complicated City's preparations, as the travel from Manchester to Monaco involved a 2000-kilometer trip, wasting several hours on flights alone. Despite the inconvenience, the Monaco match was crucial for City, as Monaco was the second-strongest team in the group and a direct threat to City's top spot. A win would significantly bolster City's lead in the group.

With three group stage matches remaining, it would be difficult for Monaco to catch up, meaning Manchester City is almost guaranteed to advance as group leaders. Securing the top spot would allow them to consider strategically resting key players and focusing on the league until the Champions League knockout stages begin. This would give the main squad some much-needed rest before the crucial matches.

Ultimately, Pellegrini decided to field his strongest team against Monaco.

Like Chelsea, Monaco's owner, Rybolovlev, is also a Russian oligarch. Whether it's genuine love for football or inspired by Abramovich's success in the Premier League, Rybolovlev invested heavily in Monaco in 2011. He hired Claudio Ranieri and spent a fortune on star players. In just a few seasons, Monaco had spent hundreds of millions of euros, bringing in numerous stars.

Naturally, such a significant investment demanded better results. Rybolovlev gave Ranieri a strict mandate: either win Ligue 1 or reach the Champions League semifinals. However, both goals seemed challenging for Monaco. Despite their heavy spending, Paris Saint-Germain's spending was even more extravagant. In the realm of financial football, even Manchester City couldn't compete with PSG.

Thus, it was inevitable that Ranieri would struggle to meet these high expectations. Ranieri's forte was managing mid-table teams with some existing talent, but he often struggled with top-tier teams, leading to frequent dismissals. Monaco's squad, before the influx of high-priced players, might have been just right for Ranieri. But the arrival of many stars made it harder for him to manage relationships and unlock their full potential.

Facing the formidable Manchester City, Ranieri naturally adopted a defensive counter-attacking strategy—a common choice for non-top teams against City. Ranieri's defensive setup was unique, with the three defensive lines closely packed, significantly compressing the attacking space and making it difficult for City's players to organize their attacks. Even a player as strong as Lin Quan struggled to find opportunities in such a tight space. Adding to City's woes, Kroos was injured and had to leave the field just 15 minutes into the match, disrupting City's attacking organization.

By the 80th minute, the score remained 0-0. The Louis II Stadium echoed with the loud cheers of Monaco fans, who were thrilled to see their team hold the defending champions to a draw, especially after being unexpectedly held to a draw by Zenit in the previous match. Before the game, many doubted Monaco's chances, with some predicting a heavy defeat.

In the VIP box, Monaco's owner watched his team being pinned back in their own half. His face darkened with displeasure. He wanted a resounding victory, not a draw earned through defensive play. With the match not yet over, it was uncertain if Monaco could even hold onto the draw. This thought made Rybolovlev look at Ranieri with growing discontent. He had invested so much in building a luxurious squad, only for Ranieri to manage them like this? If PSG could beat the mighty Barcelona in the Champions League, why couldn't Monaco defeat City?

As the match neared its end, Monaco's players grew more adventurous. They had held City for most of the match and felt emboldened to launch counterattacks. On the sideline, Ranieri wanted to stop this reckless behavior. He had watched many of City's games and knew they were adept at scoring late winners or last-minute goals. The previous season's Champions League semifinal win against Real Madrid was proof. Despite their good play for 80 minutes, any lapse in the final stages could lead to a crushing defeat.

However, just as he was about to issue instructions, a club official reminded him that the owner was unhappy with the team's performance and wanted a home win. Ranieri, being the honest person he was, couldn't go against the owner's wishes. He watched nervously as his players launched attacks, hoping against hope they would score and then fall back to defend resolutely.

Unfortunately, wishful thinking rarely pays off in football. In the 88th minute, City capitalized on Monaco's attacking push and launched a counter-counterattack. Within seconds, the ball moved from City's 30-meter area to Monaco's penalty area. City's counterattack was so swift that many Monaco players were caught out of position, still advancing when the ball was played behind them. Lin Quan took the ball into the penalty area and calmly slotted it past the onrushing goalkeeper, making it 1-0.

Lin Quan's goal stunned the entire stadium into silence. Monaco fans were left speechless. In the VIP box, Rybolovlev was furious, his face contorted with rage. He resolved to sack the Italian coach as soon as the match ended. He regretted not terminating Ranieri's contract at the end of the previous season, believing the team's performance could have been better without him.

Poor Ranieri once again became the scapegoat.

Chapter 344: Pellegrini Misses Game Due to Illness, Manchester City Faces Coaching Crisis

Chapter 344: Pellegrini Misses Game Due to Illness, Manchester City Faces Coaching Crisis

"Ranieri Sacked Again, Where Will the Tinkerman Go Next?" After the match, the media's focus wasn't on the game's outcome but on Monaco's decision to sack their head coach, Ranieri. Honestly, Ranieri did a decent job at Monaco. Under his leadership, Monaco had been promoted from Ligue 2 to Ligue 1. Sacking such a meritorious coach without respect was rather unjustifiable.

For the Russian oligarch, however, this seemed inconsequential. Terminating the contract came with a payout. As long as the money was paid, they felt free to fire anyone. The issue, though, wasn't about money but the coach's dignity. Following Ranieri's dismissal, the global football community criticized the financial powerhouses, especially those owned by Russian billionaires.

A few years ago, Chelsea's poor performance led Abramovich to sack multiple managers within a short span. This behavior severely impacted Chelsea's reputation among coaches. Many top coaches steered clear of Chelsea. Abramovich's failed attempts to lure Guardiola to Stamford Bridge were partly due to Chelsea's reputation for frequently sacking managers, leaving a bad impression on Guardiola.

Top-tier coaches like Guardiola have no shortage of offers and see no need to endure such treatment. Even Mourinho returned to Chelsea reluctantly after his stint at Real Madrid. He valued his pride, and being sacked by Abramovich had left a lasting impression on him.

As Monaco and Chelsea faced criticism, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain were also scrutinized. When discussing financial football, these four teams were always the first to be mentioned. A curious journalist asked Manchester City's manager, Pellegrini, if he feared for his job. Pellegrini, having had such concerns last year, was no longer worried after leading the team to a Champions League victory.

"Ha, if the club wants to fire me, I'll take it as an early vacation. You know, leading a winning team is exhausting!" Pellegrini subtly hinted at his successful track record, suggesting it would be foolish for the club to sack him. Ironically, the next day, Pellegrini missed Manchester City's training session.

"Where's the coach?" "Could he be late?" "He's always punctual. Why is he late now?"

As the players gathered, Pellegrini's absence piqued their curiosity. Although training could proceed with the assistant coaches, with a match the next day, Pellegrini's absence was unusual. His presence was crucial for deciding the starting lineup and tactics.

"Everyone, quiet down!" Assistant coach Brian hurried in to announce bad news: "Coach Pellegrini is unwell and is currently undergoing medical examination. I will be in charge of tomorrow's match."

Brian, the most senior assistant coach, was accepted as the temporary head coach. The players were confident that Pellegrini would recover soon. However, his sudden illness worried them.

On October 25th, Brian led a largely substitute squad to London to face West Ham United. This rotation wasn't a last-minute decision due to Pellegrini's illness; it had been planned to rest key players who had just played a grueling Champions League match. Fatigue and potential injuries were concerns, as several key players were already sidelined. Captain Kompany had an injury affecting his performance, but Van Dijk stepped up. More worrying were the injuries to Aguero and Kroos, critical to Manchester City's attack and midfield control.

These injuries signaled a warning to Manchester City about the dangers of their packed schedule, with around 70 matches in a single season across all competitions. Even with rotation, key players would still play nearly 50 matches, including many intense Champions League games.

However, rotation came at a cost. In London, Manchester City faced fierce resistance from West Ham, who treated the match like a fierce London derby. The match's intensity was usually reserved for West Ham's arch-rivals, Millwall, but now Manchester City experienced it.

Just 12 minutes in, West Ham scored, catching Manchester City off guard with a quick free kick. Amalfitano scored, putting West Ham 1-0 ahead. Manchester City's players protested an offside, but the referee dismissed their claims. The quick free kick's foul call was also controversial.

On the sidelines, Brian frowned. The referee's home bias was evident, putting Manchester City at a disadvantage. The young substitutes were too eager, giving West Ham several chances. Trailing and dealing with a biased referee, Brian grew anxious. If the starting players were on the field, he wouldn't worry as much, even with the referee's bias.

Regretting not bringing Lin Quan, who had volunteered to play, Brian realized his decision might have been too conservative. Lin Quan's presence would have significantly increased their offensive threat.

Despite fielding substitutes, Manchester City's lineup was still formidable. In the 43rd minute, Milner capitalized on a defensive lapse to equalize. This goal excited Brian and reassured the main players watching. Winning with a full reserve squad would be ideal.

However, even if they couldn't win, getting a draw was still acceptable. That way, even if Chelsea won, Manchester City would still be ahead by one point. A one-point lead is still a lead. Besides, Chelsea's performance isn't flawless; they can't win every match. This round, Chelsea's opponent was Manchester United.

Although Manchester United had a rough start to the season, they had recently bounced back with two consecutive wins. Van Gaal seemed to have found the right strategy for United. Plus, this match was at their home ground, raising some expectations for their performance. Many United fans hoped Van Gaal could seize the opportunity to defeat Chelsea at home, thereby closing the gap with the top two teams. Beating Chelsea first, then defeating Manchester City, was the perfect comeback script many United fans envisioned.

...

In the second half, Manchester City played steadily, giving their opponents no chances. By the 85th minute, the score remained 1-1. It seemed the match was heading for a draw. However, in the 87th minute, a referee's decision changed the outcome. A West Ham player fell in the penalty area after dribbling the ball in. The referee not only gave Clichy a yellow card but also awarded a penalty. A penalty at this stage of the game was almost a death sentence for Manchester City!

This decision sparked strong dissatisfaction among Manchester City players. They crowded around the referee, protesting and appealing. However, the referee did not change his decision and instead issued yellow cards to Milner and Fernando. It was clear he was determined to give West Ham a victory!

On the sidelines, Brian was so furious he clapped sarcastically at the referee. The referee, prompted by the fourth official, ran to the sideline and directly sent Brian off with a red card. With a penalty against them and their temporary coach sent off, Manchester City was left with no chance and had to swallow a bitter defeat away from home.

After the match, referee Clattenburg faced severe criticism from Manchester City fans. His key decisions led to Manchester City's first loss of the season. "The infamous Premier League refs strike again. How could they miss such an obvious offside by Amalfitano? It's outrageous!" "I bet the referee was bribed; otherwise, why would he make so many controversial decisions?" "What do you mean by controversial decisions? All of them were against Manchester City, clearly under some pressure from above!" "Could it be the Premier League itself?" "Tall trees catch the most wind. Manchester City's impressive performance has clearly put them in someone's crosshairs!"

Manchester City immediately filed a complaint with the FA, demanding an investigation into the referee's conduct. They also used their financial power to flood the media with stories portraying Manchester City as victims, making sure everyone knew about the injustice. Additionally, Manchester City organized and funded a large protest of fans outside the FA headquarters. They were not a team to silently endure injustice. If everyone played dirty, then what was the point of football?

Facing immense public pressure, the FA was forced to respond, promising a thorough investigation to ensure the league's fairness and integrity. Such promises were largely seen as empty words, given the internal protection among officials. Manchester City didn't expect the FA to overturn the results but wanted them to be more cautious in future matches. After all, a major fallout would be bad for everyone. The Abu Dhabi Group was here for business and had assessed the risks. They had already gathered incriminating evidence on several FA executives, ready to be used as a last resort. If exposed, these officials would be disgraced, severely damaging the FA's reputation.

The team's defeat impacted the players' morale, compounded by Pellegrini's ongoing health issues, preventing his immediate return. With temporary coach Brian also suspended for his red card incident, another assistant coach had to step in for the next game. Fortunately, Manchester United managed to draw with Chelsea, keeping Manchester City's two-point lead intact. Though the loss was bitter, the damage was minimal.

Next up, Manchester City would face Manchester United at home. Considering United's recent form, especially their strong performance against Chelsea, this match would be tough for City. Without the injuries and absent head coach, Manchester City would be confident. In their pre-season encounter in North America, City had dominated United. Although United had improved over the past three months, City still had a significant edge. However, given the recent setbacks, the upcoming match's outcome was uncertain.

United's manager Van Gaal saw this as an opportunity to topple their neighbors, boldly declaring before the match that he would lead United to victory at City's home ground, ending City's winning streak against them.

Chapter 345: 700 Million Fans Witness the Manchester Derby!

Chapter 345: 700 Million Fans Witness the Manchester Derby!

"Van Gaal really knows how to pick his moments. If it were at the beginning of the season, he wouldn't dare boast like this even if he was given the courage!"

"Exactly. Manchester City is currently plagued with injuries, their head coach is absent, and they just lost a game. They're in a slump in every way!"

"Manchester United is quite lucky. If this match had been a couple of rounds earlier, their chances of winning wouldn't have been even 30%. But now, facing such a weakened Manchester City, the outcome is unpredictable!"

Van Gaal's bold statement immediately drew ridicule from many fans. Most fans were disdainful of his opportunistic behavior. However, Manchester United fans didn't care. They saw a glimmer of hope to defeat Manchester City at their home ground.

Last season, the humiliation they suffered at Old Trafford at the hands of Manchester City was an eternal scar. If they couldn't avenge that loss at Etihad Stadium, it would be a persistent pain stuck in their throats.

Before the match, BBC Sport interviewed some experts and legends to get their views on the game. More than half of those interviewed believed Van Gaal's Manchester United had a chance to win away.

"Manchester City has too many injuries. Their attack, midfield, and defense—the entire spine of the team—is affected. Such widespread injuries greatly impact the team's fighting strength."

"Without their head coach, and with the assistant coach banned, Manchester City has no tactical advantage. I believe Van Gaal can use his superior on-the-spot command to defeat Manchester City!"

The experts' opinions were almost unanimous; they didn't favor Manchester City at home. They all believed Manchester City's weak point was the absence of their head coach's tactical planning and on-the-spot adjustments.

While Pellegrini wasn't known for his exceptional on-the-spot command, his ability was still far superior to that of the assistant coaches. Having coached for so many years, he had encountered every possible scenario, accumulating experience far beyond that of the assistants. Relying on assistant coaches for command and adjustments couldn't compare to the wily Van Gaal, who was a renowned tactician.

Even if Manchester City managed to hold their own in the first half, they would likely fall once Van Gaal made his tactical adjustments in the second half.

...

Amidst widespread pessimism from the outside, a sense of gloom pervaded Manchester City's training sessions. Players often seemed distracted, frequently glancing toward the edge of the field where the head coach usually stood.

Normally, an elderly man with a head of silver hair would be there, urging them on. They used to grumble about how strict he was with training, feeling it was too exhausting. But now, without him there, they felt out of sorts.

"What exactly is the coach sick with? Why hasn't he recovered yet after so many days?"

"Who knows? Maybe we should visit him at the hospital?"

At this suggestion, everyone turned to Lin Quan.

Lin Quan nodded. "Let's go visit him and check on the captain's recovery too!"

After training, they all drove to the hospital to visit their coach and teammates.

"What brings you all here?"

In the hospital room, Pellegrini looked surprised to see the sudden appearance of his players.

"Coach, we came to see you! How are you feeling?"

Pellegrini, in his hospital gown, looked a bit haggard but still in good spirits. At least he wasn't in a coma or hooked up to numerous machines as some players had feared. This sight reassured the players; perhaps it wasn't as serious as they had thought.

Hearing their concern, Pellegrini tried to lighten the mood.

"Nothing serious, I'll be back with the team soon!"

His words lifted the players' spirits. With their head coach back, they believed they could quickly bounce back from this slump.

"You must be here to talk about the next match. I have some things to tell you about the tactics and strategies for the game against Manchester United. I've been studying their recent matches these past few days..."

Pellegrini was a workaholic. Even in the hospital, he hadn't stopped working. During his stay, he meticulously analyzed Manchester United's recent tactics and outlined the starting lineup and strategies for the upcoming match, anticipating the assistants' limitations in on-the-spot command. He even pre-planned substitutions for specific situations and time points.

Hearing his detailed plans boosted the players' confidence. Despite their incomplete squad, they felt more hopeful about defeating Manchester United at home.

After spending some time with him, the players left. Lin Quan, however, stayed behind, seeking out Pellegrini's primary doctor to inquire about his condition.

As expected, the reality differed from Pellegrini's reassuring words. According to the doctor, Pellegrini had an aneurysm, a dangerous condition that could be fatal if it ruptured.

"Does this condition affect his ability to work normally?" Lin Quan asked with concern.

"Absolutely," the doctor replied seriously. "Patients with this condition should be hospitalized for treatment. Continuing to work could worsen the condition and increase the risk of rupture, endangering the patient's life."

Lin Quan felt uneasy hearing this. With such a diagnosis, Pellegrini likely couldn't continue coaching. The club was probably already searching for a suitable replacement. The team couldn't go without a head coach indefinitely...

On November 2nd, Etihad Stadium.

All of the Premier League's attention was focused on the clash between these two teams!

Despite the team's struggles and the pessimism surrounding their chances, thousands of Manchester City fans still filled the stadium. They carried supportive banners, sang the team anthem, and walked proudly into the stadium.

Blue Moon fans demonstrated their unwavering loyalty and spirit of never giving up, showing the world what true dedication looked like.

When Manchester United's coach Van Gaal stepped onto the pitch, the Manchester City fans collectively booed, with some near the visitors' bench even insulting Van Gaal's family.

Hearing the boos and insults, Van Gaal, stepping onto the pitch, disdainfully glanced at the Manchester City fans in the stands: "Hmph, a bunch of idiots. You'll be crying when the match is over!"

He didn't like the atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium, nor did he like the fans there. If he could, he would use a bloody massacre to teach these damned people how to respect a world-class coach!

In the players' tunnel, both teams were waiting to enter the field. Although there were many familiar faces on both sides, no one was in the mood for greetings. This match had been hyped as a life-or-death battle.

Soon, led by the referee, the players, holding the hands of the mascots, left the tunnel and stepped onto the field. When the announcer introduced the players, each Manchester City player received deafening cheers from the fans. However, when it was Manchester United's turn, the stadium was filled with boos and curses.

A few years ago, Manchester City was still weak, and Manchester United, at the height of its power, didn't even consider their neighbors worthy of attention. Back then, the Manchester derby was just a showcase for the Red Devils, lacking the intensity of a truly competitive match.

But in recent years, as Manchester City gradually rose, the matches between the two teams started to embody the true spirit of a derby. Consequently, the Manchester derby grew increasingly intense, attracting more and more fans, second only to the long-standing rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United in terms of excitement.

This time, the teams were closer in strength than ever before, making the outcome entirely dependent on their performance. Such a suspenseful match naturally drew immense attention.

According to Premier League statistics, this Manchester derby attracted 690 million viewers worldwide, a level of excitement almost comparable to the World Cup!

On the evening of November 2, at 6:30 PM, under the global spotlight, the first leg of the 2014-15 Premier League Manchester derby officially kicked off.

Manchester City's formation was 4-4-2, while Manchester United's was 4-3-3. However, after the game started, United's formation shifted to 4-1-4-1.

Van Gaal finally changed his stubborn tactics, as the dreadful results at the beginning of the season showed that his system didn't suit Manchester United. If he had listened to external advice earlier, United's points gap with the top teams might not have been so large.

Currently, Manchester United was 11 points behind Manchester City in the standings. Considering the league was only in the 10th round, with just 9 matches played, United had already fallen so far behind. Van Gaal's previous performance must have been terrible! No wonder the Red Devils' fans were so furious; almost the worst record in the club's history would frustrate anyone.

After the game started, Manchester City played very actively. They frequently attacked Manchester United from the wings, forcing United's full-backs to stay back in their half, unable to push forward to support the attack. From the field's perspective, it seemed that Manchester City was gradually gaining the upper hand.

In the 8th minute, Milner broke through on the wing and sent a through ball. Lin Quan suddenly surged from the left flank, muscled past Fellaini, and shot directly. The move was so sudden that it took less than 2 seconds from Lin Quan's sprint to his shot. Lin Quan's speed and surprise meant that both Smalling and Rojo had no time to block. The ball flew straight towards Manchester United's goal!

De Gea, Lin Quan's national team teammate, had witnessed Lin Quan's prowess during training and matches with Spain, so he was particularly wary of him. From the moment Lin Quan started his run, De Gea anticipated a shot. And he was right. Facing such a high-quality shot, De Gea leaped high and tipped the ball over the crossbar. He initially intended to catch it, but the speed and power of the shot were too much, so he took the safer route and punched it away.

Manchester City won a corner. Lin Quan stood in the corner area, surveyed the penalty box, and signaled for a near-post play. Van Dijk, seeing the signal, smartly took a few steps back and then suddenly returned, shaking off the Manchester United defender marking him. Van Dijk got to the first touch and headed the ball towards the goal. However, the header was slightly off, with the ball grazing the post before going out of bounds.

This wave of attacks by Manchester City made the Manchester United fans at the scene extremely nervous! Even though City had several injured key players and their head coach was absent, their fighting power was still formidable, especially the guy in the number ten shirt. Every time Lin Quan got the ball, the Manchester United fans felt as if their hearts were gripped by a hand, leaving them breathless!

Just Lin Quan alone brought immense pressure to them!

On the sidelines, assistant coach Redell was clapping excitedly, sending applause and encouragement to the players. The game plan was entirely based on Pellegrini's strategy, and according to the veteran coach's tactics, United wouldn't adjust too quickly in the first half. Van Gaal would need time to decipher Manchester City's strategy, making it the perfect time for City to score. If they could break the deadlock and take the lead in the first half, adjusting tactics in the second half would be much easier!

Manchester City had a simple yet formidable strategy—counter-attacking. While counter-attacking was often a go-to tactic for weaker teams against stronger opponents, it didn't mean strong teams couldn't use it. On the contrary, when powerful teams deployed this tactic, it became even more terrifying. Last season's Champions League saw Barcelona and Real Madrid experiencing this firsthand.

So now, all Manchester City needed was a goal!

On the other side, Van Gaal sat on the bench, appearing relaxed. But in truth, he was incredibly nervous, far from the calm demeanor he projected. Manchester City's attacks were highly threatening, making Van Gaal's heart pound. It was fortunate that City wasn't at full strength, as facing a fully fit Manchester City with their head coach on the touchline would have been far more daunting.

(End of the chapter)

Chapter 346: The Unstoppable De Gea, Even More Unstoppable Lin Quan!

After his musings, Van Gaal kept his eyes fixed on the pitch, trying hard to discern Manchester City's tactics to find any weaknesses. The sooner he could identify their weaknesses, the better it would be for Manchester United. If they delayed and City scored, the match would become much harder to play.

However, missing these two scoring opportunities did not dampen City's spirits. In the 18th minute, Lin Quan showed off his unstoppable dribbling skills, carrying the ball from the right flank to the edge of the penalty area. Manchester United's defender Rojo had no choice but to tackle him, bringing Lin Quan down just outside the box. The referee did not hesitate to show Rojo the first yellow card of the match, much to the relief of Manchester City's owner Mansour, who was watching from a box. The officiating was clearly better than in the previous game.

The free-kick position was good, and Lin Quan decided to take it himself. Unfortunately, De Gea, who had trained with him in the national team, anticipated the direction and narrowly saved the shot. Had it been any other goalkeeper, they might not have been so lucky.

City's attack continued. In the 20th minute, Fernandinho made a long pass from the back, and Lin Quan controlled the ball, facing off against Rojo. Already carrying a yellow card, Rojo dared not make another reckless challenge, reducing his threat significantly. Using his superb dribbling skills, Lin Quan changed direction twice, shaking off Rojo's defense, and made a tight-angle shot from the right side of the six-yard box.

De Gea was there again! His positioning was excellent, and he managed to make another incredible save to deny Lin Quan.

Seeing De Gea save the team again, Manchester United fans at the stadium and those watching at home couldn't help but shout out in their hearts, "De Gea, you're a lifesaver!"

Though De Gea wasn't great at coming off his line, his shot-stopping ability within the six-yard box was impeccable. A goalkeeper with such a glaring weakness still managing to hold the starting position at a club as prestigious as Manchester United spoke volumes about his abilities in other areas.

Seeing the opposing goalkeeper performing so well, City fans began to groan in frustration: "This guy is like a brick wall! It's impossible to get past him!" "It's ridiculous! Even Lin Quan's shots have been saved three times. There aren't many goalkeepers in the world who can do that!" "Lin Quan has faced the best goalkeepers out there—Buffon, Neuer, Cech, Casillas. None of them have ever given him this much trouble!" "De Gea is pretty incredible. When Casillas steps down, maybe he will secure the starting spot for Spain!"

While fans and pundits praised De Gea's brilliant performance, De Gea himself felt it was all just luck. Though he had anticipated Lin Quan's shots, each save was made with great difficulty, showing just how exceptional Lin Quan's shooting skills were. Knowing this, De Gea didn't dare let his guard down. One mistake could erase all his previous heroics and potentially make him the team's villain.

Realizing how hot the opposing goalkeeper was, Lin Quan quickly changed his approach. In the 21st minute, after a series of intricate passes, De Bruyne made a through ball into the box, and Lin Quan subtly chipped the ball over a defender while moving forward. The ball followed him into the box, giving him a direct shot at goal. Without hesitation, Lin Quan shot at the goal.

De Gea, who was having an outstanding game, managed to block the shot with his body. However, before United fans could celebrate, the rebound hit Lin Quan and went into the net. It was as if Lin Quan had anticipated his shot would be saved!

Boom!

The Etihad Stadium erupted with an unimaginable roar, as countless City fans jumped from their seats, waving their fists and shouting in joy. Finally, they had scored! Finally, they had gotten the ball past that damned goalkeeper!

Seeing De Gea block Lin Quan's shot again, their hearts had almost sunk. Fortunately, the ball still went in!

"Damn it!" Van Gaal's face turned pale as he cursed under his breath upon seeing United concede. The match was only 20 minutes in, and they were already trailing. This unexpected turn of events worried him about the rest of the game. City was performing much stronger than he had expected, especially their star player, Lin Quan, who was incredibly active in the attacking half and seemed to be involved in every attack.

Van Gaal had set up defensive strategies against Lin Quan, and United's players had tried hard to execute them. But all their efforts failed. One-on-one marking couldn't stop him, and when double-teamed, Lin Quan cleverly found spaces to pass the ball. His passes weren't just to relieve pressure; they were orchestrating attacks, creating new threats each time.

How could there be such an exceptional player in football?

City's roster was full of stars, and aside from Lin Quan, they had De Bruyne, David Silva, and Yaya Toure, all capable of making decisive plays. If they weren't defended properly, they could score just as easily. This was a weakened City side; without their injuries, their threat would be even greater and harder to defend against.

The more Van Gaal thought about it, the more he felt uncertain. Could his team defeat this City in such form?

After scoring, Lin Quan ran to the sideline, took off his shirt, and revealed a white undershirt. Displayed on the big screen was a message on his undershirt: "Get well soon, Coach!"

In the hospital room, Pellegrini, watching the match live against his family's wishes, felt a surge of emotion seeing this display.

"This kid always surprises me!"

Though he said this, Pellegrini was deeply touched. However, thinking about his illness, he couldn't help but sigh. According to the doctors, he wouldn't be able to return to coaching any time soon. He was reluctant to leave his players and didn't want to abandon their unfinished work halfway.

After taking the lead, City's attacks didn't slow down but intensified. In the 25th minute, Zabaleta dribbled down the flank and crossed with the outside of his left foot. Lin Quan cleverly let the ball pass to Jovetic, who calmly shot, aiming for the bottom left corner of the goal. However, De Gea, who rarely leaves his line, came out early and blocked the sure goal. Jovetic held his head in disbelief, unable to accept that his shot was saved. He finally understood what Lin Quan had been feeling after having his shots repeatedly stopped by De Gea.

The United fans applauded De Gea's brilliant performance but also started to worry. The better the goalkeeper performed, the worse the situation was for the team. They couldn't rely solely on De Gea; the rest of the team needed to step up. If they continued to struggle and fail to threaten City's goal, United was doomed to lose.

However, after De Gea passed the ball to his teammates, it was intercepted by City players after just a few passes. Di Maria fell on the pitch but didn't get up immediately, and City continued their attack. With the defense focused on Lin Quan and a few other forwards, Yaya Touré seized the opportunity, dribbling forward and aiming to enter the penalty area. Blind tackled him but fouled, earning United their second yellow card of the game.

The free kick was in a good position, but Lin Quan let Yaya Touré take it. Since Touré had earned the opportunity, Lin Quan decided to let him have it. Touré, determined, aimed for a difficult spot after seeing De Gea's previous saves. However, his execution didn't match his ambition, and he sent the ball flying over the bar, not even threatening United's goal.

After being under siege for half an hour, United finally mounted a decent attack. In the 30th minute, Luke Shaw broke through on the left, and Zabaleta fouled him. The referee issued a verbal warning and awarded United a free kick. Van Persie aimed for Fellaini in the box, but Van Dijk cleared the ball. United couldn't capitalize on this chance.

After holding off for 30 minutes, United's attack ended disappointingly, leaving their players visibly anxious. When Navas was about to kick the ball, Smalling tried to obstruct him, earning a yellow card from the referee. Smalling retreated to his half, cursing under his breath. Not only did he fail to gain an advantage, but he also got booked.

However, Smalling's troubles weren't over. In the 39th minute, City launched another attack. Lin Quan dribbled down the right, with Smalling stepping up to intercept. Lin Quan used simple body feints to easily bypass him, preparing to cut into the penalty area for a shot. Perhaps frustrated by previous referee decisions or embarrassed by being outplayed, Smalling rashly tackled Lin Quan from behind, earning his second yellow card and a red card, sending him off the field.

Generally, referees are cautious about giving a second yellow card, but Smalling's blatant foul left no choice. The pre-match emphasis on fair play meant the referee had to enforce the rules strictly, sending off United's defender.

"Stupid!" Van Gaal fumed as Smalling walked off. Previously, when United was trailing, Van Gaal wasn't too worried. But now, with a man down, his heart sank. Even though City wasn't at full strength, playing with ten men against them was too much. The numerical disadvantage would hinder his tactical plans, making it hard to exploit City's weaknesses even if he figured them out.

Lin Quan was helped up by his teammates, ignoring Smalling as he prepared to take the free kick. The position wasn't ideal, so he crossed into the box instead of shooting. Unfortunately, neither Van Dijk nor Demichelis could reach it, and United cleared the ball. United quickly made a substitution, bringing on Carrick to stabilize the defense and taking off Januzaj. With Carrick as a makeshift center-back, United's formation changed to 4-3-2.

With the numerical advantage, City dominated the game. In the 42nd minute, Yaya Touré sent a through ball into the box. Lin Quan controlled it and turned to shoot, but Fellaini brought him down. The referee awarded a penalty without hesitation.

Standing at the penalty spot, Lin Quan made De Gea incredibly nervous. Having seen Lin Quan's penalty training, De Gea knew he would aim for a corner. But which corner? De Gea had no choice but to wait and react. As expected, Lin Quan aimed for the top left corner. De Gea couldn't reach it, and the ball hit the net.

Just before halftime, City extended their lead to 2-0. With United down to ten men and City leading by two, the match seemed decided.

However, United wasn't ready to surrender. During the break, Van Gaal made adjustments. In the second half, United increased their offensive pressure and played more actively. After a sluggish first half, they finally seemed awake!

Chapter 347: Slump

Di María, who had been sleepwalking through the entire first half, finally woke up in the second half. From the start of the second half, he suddenly became very active, creating several threats with his breakthroughs on the wing.

In the 49th minute, Di María was brought down by Demichelis during a breakthrough on the right. Di María looked furious and confronted Demichelis, questioning him angrily. Despite being teammates on the national team and having a decent relationship off the pitch, Demichelis showed no mercy during the Manchester derby and made a tough challenge.

The referee didn't show any leniency either and handed the Argentine defender a yellow card, the fifth of the match. The number of yellow cards in this game seemed to be exceeding the average.

In the 54th minute, Di María once again caused trouble on the wing and sent a cross into the box. Rooney, like a bulldozer, emerged from the crowd and tried to tip the ball into the net. Unfortunately, he just missed it, with the ball skimming past his toes.

Di María couldn't hide his disappointment as his face showed clear frustration. Rooney was also very annoyed, thinking he was just a bit short. If he had Van Persie's height, he would have scored.

Van Persie, who is 188 cm tall, was equally frustrated. He thought that if he had been in Rooney's position, he could have reached the ball. However, his slower start meant he missed the chance.

Despite being down to ten men, United continued to threaten City's goal, which infuriated the City players. They started to intensify their attacks on United.

In the 57th minute, with the opposing defense packed tight, Yaya Touré attempted a long-range shot from outside the box. It was a powerful strike but just slightly too high, going over the crossbar.

In the 66th minute, during a corner kick, United's center-back Rojo collided heavily with Van Dijk and went down injured. He was stretchered off the field, seemingly dazed, causing concern among United fans. Van Dijk, on the other hand, seemed unfazed despite the heavy collision, showing that people's physical resilience varies.

After Rojo was taken off, Van Gaal was forced to bring on young McNair. With both starting center-backs out, United's defense had a huge vulnerability, which was quickly exploited.

In the 72nd minute, Van Persie's speculative shot was calmly saved by Navas. City launched a quick counterattack, with De Bruyne sending a 30-meter pass to Jovetic. Jovetic, perhaps still haunted by De Gea's previous saves, chose not to shoot immediately. Seeing De Gea rushing towards him, he passed the ball to David Silva, who fired it into the net, out of De Gea's reach.

3-0! City had scored their third goal, effectively sealing their victory. With only 20 minutes left, it was highly improbable for United, down to ten men, to score three goals. Had they been capable of such a feat, they wouldn't be so far down in the league standings.

United players looked dejected, their faces full of disappointment. They had come to the Etihad Stadium with high hopes of revenge but were instead taught a harsh lesson about reality.

Some of United's star players hadn't given up entirely. In the 81st minute, Van Persie managed to cut inside from the right and fired a low shot. It was dangerous, but Navas was alert and blocked it by coming out early and narrowing the angle.

In the 83rd minute, Rooney made a sudden burst, dribbling past three players on the left. Despite stumbling a bit, he managed to get through. Rooney entered the box and, facing a double-team by Van Dijk and Demichelis, passed the ball to his teammate. However, Van Persie either didn't expect the pass or wasn't prepared, and the ball went past him, allowing City's defenders to clear it.

Rooney was so frustrated that he almost started cursing, and Van Gaal on the sidelines shook his head in dismay. United's counterattack only spurred City to increase their pressure.

Navas replaced Milner, and Fernandinho replaced Fernando, signaling an intensified offensive. In the 84th minute, Navas broke through on the right and passed to Lin Quan, who passed back to De Bruyne. De Bruyne's shot was blocked by the experienced Carrick. A minute later, Navas fired a powerful shot from the edge of the box, only to see it hit the post and bounce out.

City's relentless attacks had United fans on edge, fearing another goal would turn the match into a massacre. United had already suffered four consecutive defeats to City, with two of those being heavy losses.

In this tense atmosphere, United players hesitated in their attacks, significantly reducing their threat. The match ended with City securing a 3-0 victory at home. This win not only extended their lead at the top of the table but also reinforced their dominance in the Manchester derby.

At the post-match press conference, journalists didn't hold back, bombarding Van Gaal with questions. His pre-match bravado about beating City away from home had backfired spectacularly, and now he faced the consequences.

Van Gaal's defeat in the Manchester derby further complicated his situation. Reports suggested that United's board had lost patience with him and were already in contact with other coaches, hinting at a potential managerial change before the winter break.

Similarly, despite their victory, rumors circulated about City's managerial position. Shortly after City's win over United, reports emerged that Pellegrini had resigned due to health issues. City was reportedly in talks with several high-profile unemployed managers to fill the vacancy.

Though the news hadn't been confirmed, many were skeptical. However, Lin Quan, aware of Pellegrini's condition, believed it to be true.

Pellegrini's departure visibly affected City's morale. On October 29, in the fourth round of the League Cup, City suffered a shocking 0-2 defeat at home to Newcastle United, missing out on the quarter-finals. It was their first home loss in six months, the previous one being against Chelsea last season.

Adding to their woes, star winger David Silva was injured and taken off just nine minutes into the game, further depleting City's already strained squad.

The post-match examination revealed that David Silva had a knee sprain and would likely be out for 4-6 weeks. With the team having just lost their head coach and now facing multiple injuries, Manchester City had four key players sidelined. Including Nasri, who had pulled his groin during a training match, City's injury list was extensive.

Low morale, continuous injuries, and a packed schedule combined to cast a dark shadow over City's prospects this season. A month ago, experts and pundits praised City heavily, but now they were pessimistic about the team's chances.

"If City can't get out of this slump soon, the title might end up with the Blues," some experts said. "City needs to address their issues quickly, whether it's the injury problems or the head coach vacancy. The longer these issues drag on, the more it will affect their performance," others added. "I think City should consider dropping some cup competitions and focus on the league and Champions League. If necessary, they can even abandon the Champions League to reduce the injury impact on their players."

The general consensus was that City's injury crisis was closely linked to their tight schedule. The high frequency of intense matches left players without adequate rest, leading to injuries. To resolve this, they needed to reduce the number of matches for players, allow more rest, and perhaps hire top-tier medical teams to monitor players' health closely.

Against this backdrop of widespread pessimism, City faced Monaco in the fourth round of the Champions League group stage on November 3rd. Monaco arrived in Manchester hoping to exploit City's poor form and grab a win against the defending champions.

But they miscalculated. Although City was indeed in a slump, they still had a player who couldn't be overlooked.

"Lin! Once again, he stepped up in the crucial moment to save the team!"

In the 82nd minute, Lin Quan used his exceptional individual skills to force his way into the box, carrying a defender with him, and scored the only goal of the match. For Lin Quan, this one goal was enough.

"City have won four out of four, with 12 points, and have secured qualification from the group with two games to spare!" "This result is a huge relief for City amidst their turmoil." "Let's hope this victory can help City get out of their slump!"

After this victory, there was a collective sigh of relief within City. Even if they lost their remaining two group matches, as long as Leverkusen didn't win both of their next matches, City would still secure the top spot in the group. Therefore, they could afford to strategically rest players in the upcoming games and focus on the league.

However, the team's poor form seemed to persist. In the weekend's league match against relegation-threatened QPR, City's away form was still poor. In the 23rd minute, Lin Quan gave City the lead. But this advantage was soon squandered.

In the 37th minute, Austin's long-range shot equalized for QPR. Then, in the 78th minute, Demichelis made a defensive error. Exhausted, he miscleared the ball into his own net, making it 2-1 and putting City in a desperate situation.

"Sorry, my bad!" Demichelis repeatedly apologized to his teammates. In such a low moment for the team, not only had he failed to help, but he had also worsened the situation, making him feel deeply guilty.

"It's okay, we still have time," Lin Quan said, patting Demichelis on the shoulder to comfort him. With Mangala unreliable and Kompany still not fully recovered, City had few options for center-back. For the aging Demichelis, regularly playing full matches had severely drained his stamina. Despite his critical error, his key clearances had prevented even more goals.

"Right!" Demichelis nodded firmly. He might doubt others, but he believed Lin Quan's words without question.

City quickly made substitutions, bringing on veteran Lampard for Fernando. In the 78th minute, Lampard's long-range shot missed narrowly. In the 81st minute, De Bruyne's shot in the box was blocked by the goalkeeper...

In the final ten minutes, City launched wave after wave of attacks. But QPR, determined to secure a vital win for their survival hopes, hunkered down to defend their lead. For QPR, these three points were crucial in their fight to stay in the Premier League.

In the 85th minute, Lin Quan received a pass from De Bruyne. He had already assessed the defensive positions before receiving the ball. The box was packed with defenders, leaving no gaps—long-range shooting seemed the only option.

Thinking this, Lin Quan shifted the ball as if preparing for a long shot. The QPR defenders, having seen similar attempts throughout the match, didn't react strongly, merely raising a foot to block. But just as they moved, Lin Quan pulled the ball back and accelerated past them, catching them off guard and unable to even foul him.

Two defenders moved to block him, anticipating either a rushed shot or a pass. But to their surprise, Lin Quan neither passed nor shot immediately. Instead, he used his physical strength to force his way between them.

"This is..." "How is this possible?"

Both the crowd and the QPR defenders were stunned. They knew Lin Quan had exceptional technique and skills but didn't realize his physical strength was so formidable that he could break through two defenders.

Boom! With a thunderous strike, the ball was almost deformed as it flew towards the goal. The QPR goalkeeper, ready to dive, instinctively pulled his hands back. Such a powerful shot could easily break a wrist.

The ball tore into the net, stretching it backwards before settling. The force of the shot was undeniable!

Chapter 348: Manchester City Shocks Football by Inviting Guardiola to Coach

"Defending Champions in Trouble, Held to Draw by Relegation-Struggling Team!" "Manchester City Hits Rock Bottom, Chelsea Might Climb to Top!"

After the game, media outlets were buzzing with reports about the unexpected result. For many, Manchester City being held to a draw by a relegation-threatened team on their own turf was a massive upset. If not for Lin Quan's phenomenal performance, scoring two crucial goals alone, Manchester City might have faced defeat.

Before this matchday, Chelsea was only two points behind City. Now, with City drawing, a victory against Liverpool away could bring Chelsea level on points with Manchester City. At Anfield, the game ended 1-2 with the home team initially leading, but the visitors, Chelsea, rallied with two goals to secure a comeback victory.

With this, Chelsea has caught up to Manchester City on the leaderboard, only trailing in goal difference and temporarily taking second place. The contrasting current forms of the two teams are stark—Chelsea with two consecutive victories and Manchester City in a slump, facing consecutive losses in both the League Cup and league matches.

The news of Pellegrini's resignation had broken, leaving Manchester City without a head coach, widely discussed in football circles. This created an awkward timing as most renowned managers were already committed elsewhere. Apart from Claudio Ranieri, who was recently dismissed and not considered a good fit for top clubs, there were no outstanding available managers.

Consequently, Manchester City had to temporarily assign the assistant coach, Brian, as the acting head coach. Meanwhile, they started to discreetly contact other notable managers to see if they could bring them to Manchester during the winter break. At the top of City's list was Lin Quan's foster father, Guardiola.

On November 21st, just before the 12th round of the Premier League: Inside a mansion outside Munich, Guardiola met a familiar face. "Mr. Chairman, what brings you here?" Seeing Manchester City's chairman Fahim at his mansion, Guardiola was a bit surprised. Due to Lin Quan, Guardiola had interactions with all levels of Manchester City's club. When Mansour originally came to Munich to recruit him and his son, Fahim was there too.

"Hehe, urgent matters, I had to come personally!" Fahim, relieved that Guardiola didn't refuse to meet, took a deep breath. He had researched the Bundesliga situation beforehand; Guardiola's days at Bayern were not going smoothly.

Though Bayern's performance in the league was as dominant as ever, leading the Bundesliga without a loss by the 12th round and well ahead of the second-placed team, the internal dynamics were not as favorable. The gradual decline of Dortmund and the failure of other teams to rise meant that there was virtually no threat to Bayern in the Bundesliga.

Despite the season being less than halfway through, Bayern could nearly claim their championship early, achieving a three-peat. However, Guardiola's control over the team had significantly decreased, deteriorating day by day. This was partly because his reforms had upset many players.

Guardiola wasn't adept at maintaining good relationships within the team, often comparing players unfavorably with Lin Quan and Messi, which many resented. Furthermore, Guardiola liked to transform players' roles, such as converting defensive midfielders to center-backs, like Mascherano at Barcelona and Martinez at Bayern. These transformations, if unsuccessful, could ruin players, like Martinez, who had been plagued with injuries, possibly due to these changes.

Moreover, the national team's disastrous World Cup outing led to calls for a restructuring in German football. This environment made the previously welcoming attitude towards foreign coaches like Guardiola a thing of the past, whether from fans or club officials.

All these factors compounded to create Guardiola's precarious situation. Fahim had come personally because he felt that persuading Guardiola to join Manchester City was highly likely. Guardiola's capabilities and tactical style were a perfect fit for City. His personal relationship with Lin Quan and the high regard from the club's owner gave him an advantageous position over other potential candidates.

So, persuading Guardiola to join City during the winter seemed like the best outcome for both parties. "Please come in!" Guardiola shrugged, having guessed the purpose of the visit. The news of Manchester City's managerial shakeup had reached Germany a week ago, and Guardiola, who had been covertly following Lin Quan's situation, knew about it before many others.

"There's no time to beat around the bush," Fahim said as they entered. "We would like to invite Mr. Guardiola to coach at Manchester City this winter!"

Fahim was indeed direct, wasting no time in making his intentions clear. With only a month left until the winter break, time was running out to find a suitable manager before the Champions League knockout stages began.

Guardiola has a three-year contract with Bayern Munich, with a termination fee of 10 million euros. If Manchester City were to invite him to coach, naturally, he wouldn't be expected to pay this fee himself.

"Of course, if the contract needs to be terminated, we will cover any losses incurred from the breach," Fahim thought to himself. To Manchester City, renowned for its financial muscle, 10 million euros is a trivial amount. More importantly, they would be acquiring one of the most talented and prestigious managers in football. For City, this is a rare opportunity, perhaps only second to when they signed Lin Quan from the transfer market.

After Fahim promised to handle the contract issues, Guardiola began to review the contract he had brought. Despite being prepared, Guardiola was still taken aback by the terms offered. Manchester City was indeed bold; they offered a contract for four years with an annual salary of 18 million euros. Undoubtedly, this salary is the highest in the coaching world, unmatched by any other.

Compared to his salary at Bayern, Manchester City's offer was double. Signing this contract would make him the highest-paid manager, just as Lin Quan is the highest-paid player in football. The lavish spending habits of Middle Eastern magnates are well-known, and today Guardiola truly understood their scale.

Guardiola was pleased with the salary, but he was more concerned about the level of control he would have within the club. There are two types of head coaches in the Premier League: the common type that focuses just on coaching and another type that also handles club management duties, known as a football manager.

This latter authority was once common in the Premier League, but with increasing professionalization and commercialization, it has become less so. Since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement, perhaps only Arsène Wenger could be considered in this more empowered role.

Guardiola didn't aspire to handle club operations but insisted on having the ultimate authority over transfers. This would allow him to manage resources effectively and acquire players that fit his system, rather than the club indiscriminately buying players that might not suit his needs, which could hinder the team.

He was not interested in the club's operational authority beyond a point, but he wanted the decision-making power to accept or reject participation in commercial matches. If commercial interests were prioritized over the team's preparation, it would be counterproductive.

Guardiola's aim was simple: to develop the most effective tactics, transform the team into his ideal version, and lead them to multiple honors. He valued the experience of this process and the joy of winning honors more than internal club politics or power struggles.

"I'm sorry, I don't have the authority to grant that," Fahim apologized after hearing Guardiola's requests, explaining that he would need to discuss it with the club's owner to make a decision.

Guardiola nodded in understanding. Although Fahim was the chairman, the club wasn't his personal property, so significant decisions had to be approved by the owner, Mansour. Guardiola's demands might be unacceptable to many elite clubs.

However, at Bayern, after repeated frustrations related to transfers, Guardiola was adamant about having this power. He didn't want to see desired players sold for profit or unwanted players purchased and imposed on him, creating conflicts within the dressing room.

Understanding Guardiola's stance, Fahim realized that granting extensive managerial powers might compromise the club's governance. Without returning to the UK, Fahim flew directly to Abu Dhabi to meet with Mansour, the owner of Manchester City. When Mansour learned of Guardiola's willingness to accept the invitation to Manchester, he was thrilled.

"Just give it to him. As long as he is willing to commit to Manchester City, why not make him the manager?" Mansour was very optimistic about Guardiola's potential impact at Manchester City and was quite accommodating of his requests. He foresaw a future where Guardiola, alongside Lin Quan, would elevate Manchester City to surpass even Manchester United and Real Madrid in terms of influence and commercial value. The investment was well worth it for such outcomes.

Armed with Mansour's authorization, Fahim promptly contacted Guardiola again to start resolving the contract issues with Bayern Munich.

Recently, the Manchester City chairman has been flying around the world, sparking rumors that the club is scouring the globe for top managerial talent to bring to the Etihad Stadium. Media outlets, seizing on the situation, speculated wildly about potential candidates like Marcello Lippi, Guus Hiddink, Luiz Felipe Scolari, and Jürgen Klinsmann, all of whom were not currently managing top clubs and were likely candidates for City.

Headlines like "Manchester City's Managerial Shake-up: Who Will Take the Reins?" and "World Cup-Winning Coach Linked with Manchester City, Poised for Premier League Return?" dominated the news. Meanwhile, some coaches hinted to journalists that City had contacted them, aiming to leverage this for better positions.

However, when a photo of Fahim meeting privately with Bayern Munich coach Guardiola in Munich was released by a journalist, the entire football world was shaken!

Chapter 349: Bayern's Home Loss, Barcelona Fans Collapse in the Bathroom

"Bayern Suffers a Home Defeat, Guardiola May Switch to Manchester City!" "Manchester City Reaches Out to Guardiola, New Manager Revealed!" "Guardiola May Join Manchester City and Lin Quan to Form Football's Strongest Father-Son Duo!" "Famous Managers Flood the Premier League, Mourinho vs. Guardiola Battle to Unfold!"

The photo of Fahim and Guardiola's private meeting, once released, immediately caused a massive shock throughout the football world.

"Is it true? Is Guardiola really going to City?" "The photos are out, it must be true, right?" "If Guardiola goes to City, that would be an amazing scene, almost too good to believe!" "Do you guys not think that Manchester City's current lineup somewhat resembles the dream team era of Barcelona?" "It does, Lin Huang can be compared to peak Messi, maybe even stronger. Kroos and De Bruyne are like slightly lesser versions of Xavi and Iniesta. Add Fernandinho, David Silva, Aguero... It seems Guardiola won't need to make major tactical changes, he could just copy his Barcelona strategies."

Some fans automatically associate Guardiola with Barcelona's revolutionary tikitaka style, which had once sent shockwaves through the football world. At a time when this strategy was unfamiliar to many, Barcelona used it to dominate the sport, accumulating countless honors. Now, the prospect of Guardiola coaching Manchester City has reignited hope for a revival of this tactic.

When Guardiola initially moved to Bayern, not many fans were optimistic. Not because Bayern lacked strength; on the contrary, Bayern was too strong. Having just won the Champions League under Heynckes, any change Guardiola implemented came with high risks. If his reforms succeeded, Bayern fans would see it as expected since they were already champions. But any failure or shortfall would attract fierce criticism, as was evident when Bayern was eliminated in the semifinals by Atlético Madrid.

Nevertheless, Guardiola's tenure at Bayern wasn't a failure. Under his leadership, Bayern set a record for the second-longest unbeaten streak in the top five European leagues and dominated their domestic league. His reforms actually strengthened Bayern's league dominance due to the high margin for error in possession football, which proved incredibly stable.

However, in the high-stakes Champions League, the stability of possession football wasn't as effective against top-tier clubs, which contributed to Guardiola's eventual challenges in the knockout stages. This was partly due to his penchant for innovation.

Yet in this timeline, Guardiola only stayed at Bayern for a season and a half, and the repetitive Champions League failures hadn't yet occurred, so the criticism wasn't as severe as before. At this point, the number of fans hopeful for his success outnumbered the skeptics.

"I heard Manchester City has given Guardiola a lot of power!" "Yeah, I heard it's similar to a football manager's authority!" "Really? Mourinho didn't even get that kind of power at Chelsea, and Guardiola gets it just entering the Premier League? That seems too easy." "Some people have a hard time getting such authority, but it's not necessarily the same for others!" "Manchester City and Chelsea's owners are not the same. Abramovich is very hands-on with Chelsea, almost wanting to get involved himself. In contrast, Manchester City's owner, Mansour, has great respect and trust in professionals!" "Yes, I've heard about that too. Last year when Manchester City won the League Cup, I heard Mansour initially planned to personally distribute bonuses and visit the players. However, considering it might undermine the coach's authority, he eventually decided against it. Even when Manchester City won the Premier League and Champions League, he was at the games but never stepped into the locker room." "That's a savvy owner!" "Indeed, this is the first I've heard of it and it totally changes my perception of the Middle Eastern consortia!"

In fact, behind Manchester City, the Abu Dhabi consortium not only boasts significant financial strength but also operates the club with strategic foresight, unlike the short-sighted approach of some other consortia. They're genuinely interested in football, whereas others might use it merely to promote events like the Qatar World Cup, focusing on short-term impacts without regard for long-term club management.

"If these rumors are true, then Manchester City can provide Guardiola with a stable environment, allowing him time and space to experiment, which is a good thing." "Looks like Manchester City is really on the rise, maybe by next year we'll start calling them the new 'universe team'!"

Fans optimistic about the generous conditions offered to Guardiola by Manchester City began to feel hopeful. The authority he's been granted seems even greater than during his time at Barcelona, and with a superstar like Lin Quan in the team, it's as if City has picked up Barcelona's old playbook.

"I think we shouldn't be too optimistic. Barcelona's players mostly came up together from La Masia, their understanding is unmatched by any other team. Manchester City's players are from all over the world, their styles and cohesion can't compare to that Barcelona team. Plus, Spain has always been about technical football, which isn't necessarily the case in the Premier League. If they try to play exactly like Barcelona, they might struggle to adapt." In the midst of optimism, some cautioned restraint. However, at this point, clubs hadn't fully experienced Guardiola's experimental nature. People only saw his success at Barcelona and not his struggles at Bayern and early Manchester City, so these voices of reason went largely unheeded.

Many saw Guardiola as a cure-all, believing that his arrival at City would immediately set things right and lead the club to new heights. Manchester City fans were elated, feeling like the clouds had parted to reveal clear skies.

However, the sentiment among Bayern fans was mixed. Guardiola's record was neither here nor there. While he dominated the league, the Champions League defeat to a non-elite team like Atlético Madrid was unbearable for the proud Bayern fans. After losing to Atlético, many fans wanted him out, unable to accept not scoring in two games. Where was the fierceness and blood of the Heynckes era?

Now that Guardiola might leave, they felt a reluctant loss. A semifinal finish was tolerable, and another coach might not maintain such stability in the league.

Even Bayern fans who dislike Guardiola must admit one fact: under his guidance, Bayern's players have significantly improved their technical skills. The most obvious example is Thomas Müller. Over the past two seasons, Müller has become smarter and more creative on the pitch, and his skills have become more solid. In private interviews, Müller has often expressed his admiration and respect for Guardiola. Even those players who don't get along well with Guardiola rarely criticize his coaching abilities.

If Guardiola leaves, who could be a better fit for the team? Bayern's answer is to bring back the old coach.

When rumors spread about Guardiola possibly leaving Bayern, the club immediately took action. Bayern's manager, Hoeness, personally visited Heynckes at his home. After retiring, Heynckes had been enjoying a quiet life, refusing offers from other clubs, and seemed content to spend his days gardening, reading, and occasionally commentating on matches.

For Heynckes, he had already won all the honors he could, and his life had no regrets. Therefore, he lacked the motivation to return to coaching. When he retired from Bayern, clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona had invited him to coach, but he declined all offers, preferring his quiet life in the countryside.

Coaching a team is exhausting work. It requires not only leading training sessions but also collecting opponent information, analyzing game footage, setting up lineups, and devising tactics. During matches, a coach must focus on the game's progress, identify weaknesses in the opposition, and much more. This work is highly demanding, especially for older individuals.

Therefore, most famous managers usually retire by the age of 65. Few, like Ferguson, coach well into their 70s. So, when Hoeness visited, Heynckes didn't immediately agree to return:

"Mr. Hoeness, I'm aware of the situation at the club. I need some time to think about it and will get back to you."

Heynckes' reluctance was understandable. The rumors were still unconfirmed, and he didn't want to step in unless Guardiola left immediately. If Guardiola planned to stay until the season's end, there was no need for Heynckes to intervene. This was out of respect for the current coach and the mark of a great manager.

Heynckes had some grievances about Bayern's actions back in 2012-2013 when the club signed Guardiola before he officially announced his retirement, making things awkward for him. Although he led the team to a Champions League victory, he couldn't continue coaching due to the prearranged transition. Given the circumstances, if Guardiola didn't leave during the winter break, there would be no need for Heynckes to return. Bayern would have time to find a suitable replacement.

Heynckes, having already stepped in for Bayern multiple times, was deeply attached to the club. But at nearly 70, he couldn't continue coaching indefinitely. Bayern needed to find a long-term solution and couldn't rely on him forever.

Aside from Bayern and Manchester City, two other clubs were particularly interested in the news of Guardiola possibly moving to Manchester City: Barcelona and Real Madrid. Barcelona's interest was simple—Guardiola had built the dream team era, winning numerous honors, including the unprecedented sextuple. His tenure brought immense global influence and a vast fan base to the club. The current downturn in Barcelona's performance since his departure made his legacy even more cherished. Fans constantly called for his return, hoping he could revive the team's glory days. Laporta, a candidate for the club's presidency, even campaigned on bringing Guardiola back to Camp Nou.

However, the news of Guardiola potentially joining another club felt like a betrayal to Barcelona fans. It was as if their admired figure was suddenly leaving them for another team. They were heartbroken, fearing that with Guardiola at Manchester City, Lin Quan would also never return to Barcelona, doubling their pain.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid had their reasons for concern. They didn't want Guardiola back at Barcelona, remembering how challenging his teams were. But they also didn't want him at Manchester City, strengthening an already strong team.

Chapter 350: Father and Son on the Same Team, Guardiola Arrives in Manchester!

"Are you coming to Manchester?"

Lin Quan only found out about this after finishing the match against Swansea. In this game, Manchester City finally stopped their downward spiral by defeating their opponents 2-1 at home. However, the victory was not easy. Swansea scored in the ninth minute, causing Manchester City to panic. The interim coach, Brian, made adjustments that not only failed to help but also made the team more passive. If Lin Quan hadn't stepped up and equalized in the 34th minute to stabilize the team's morale, the match could have ended differently.

Swansea is not a particularly strong team, but Manchester City struggled against them, worrying the fans about the team's current state. Many fans in the stands held up banners welcoming Guardiola, hoping for his arrival. They just wanted the winter break to come quickly so they could see their new coach sooner.

Lin Quan called Guardiola after seeing the fans' banners. Although he had seen media reports, he knew how unreliable they could be. Until there was confirmed news, he treated all such reports as false. But with the detailed nature of the recent rumors, including photos of private meetings, Lin Quan couldn't help but wonder if Guardiola had indeed reached an agreement with Manchester City behind his back.

"Who told you? Did someone from Manchester City inform you?" Guardiola sounded surprised on the other end of the line, as if the matter was entirely untrue.

"No, I saw it in the news," Lin Quan replied, feeling a bit annoyed. It seemed the media couldn't be trusted, not even for punctuation. They had made it sound so convincing that he almost believed it.

"Hehe, these journalists are really well-informed," Guardiola said, causing Lin Quan to momentarily pause.

"So, are you coming over during the winter break?"

Guardiola did not deny it, so Lin Quan no longer questioned its validity. He was now inclined to believe it was true and just needed to confirm the timing. Whether Guardiola came in the summer or this winter made a huge difference for Manchester City. The team was currently in a slump, and their performance was unstable. They urgently needed a boost to stabilize morale, and Guardiola's arrival could provide that.

From the team's perspective, it would be best for Guardiola to come during the winter break. However, from the coach's perspective, joining a new team so hastily during a short winter break, with limited options in the transfer market, would make it difficult to acquire and integrate desired players. The second half of the season would bring intense competition in the league and the Champions League, along with the Club World Cup, adding to the pressure on results.

Guardiola's arrival during the winter could bring about tremendous pressure, risking criticism and damaging his reputation if results were poor. Waiting until the summer would alleviate these concerns, giving him ample time for recruitment, squad adjustments, and preseason testing.

Despite these considerations, Guardiola's response was surprising:

"This winter. Delaying it any further might not be a good idea."

Guardiola knew winter wasn't the best time, but he was decisive. With the private meetings already leaked, it was better to finalize things quickly. Prolonging it would be detrimental for all involved, including Bayern, Manchester City, and himself.

He was also concerned that if Manchester City's poor form continued, it would severely impact the players' mentality, making it harder to rebuild confidence.

"Alright, give me a call when you're coming. I'll drive to pick you up."

"Sure, I don't have a place to stay in Manchester. I'll stay at your place," Guardiola immediately suggested.

"No problem, my house is big enough. We can even accommodate Maria, Valentina, and the others."

If Guardiola left Bayern, his children would need to transfer schools to England. It would be a good time to arrange their transfers during the winter break. They had initially planned to live together in Munich, but circumstances changed with Lin Quan joining Manchester City.

"Finally, we can all be together as a family again," Guardiola sighed. After working at Barcelona, Bayern, and now Manchester City, he realized the nature of coaching made it difficult to stay in one place for long.

He hoped to stay in Manchester long enough to elevate the team to elite status, win a few Premier League titles, and secure a couple of Champions League trophies. This would be perfect. Once Maria, Valentina, and the others graduated, and Manchester City had solidified their place among the elite, he could retire with his mission accomplished. He could then either return to Spain with Lin Quan or continue exploring other leagues.

"Don't think too far ahead. Use the winter break to scout some players. By the way, here are some positions Manchester City needs to strengthen..."

Lin Quan wouldn't usually discuss such matters with any other coach, but since it was his father, there were no such reservations. Who could be more candid with each other than father and son?

Hearing Lin Quan's suggestions, Guardiola momentarily felt disoriented.

Who's the coach here, and who's the son?

Guardiola acted quickly. On November 29, after Bayern defeated Hertha Berlin, he announced at the post-match press conference that he would be stepping down as Bayern's coach.

"Yes, I have submitted my resignation to the club."

Although this outcome had been anticipated, Guardiola's confirmation still sent shockwaves through the football world.

Some fans who supported Guardiola held banners outside his home, asking him to stay. Meanwhile, other fans, indifferent to Guardiola, angrily criticized him for being irresponsible. "Who leaves a team in the middle of the season? Is there anyone so outrageous?"

The attitude within German football was also divided. Some were worried, believing that foreign top managers leaving the Bundesliga would make the league more conservative and closed-off, which wouldn't be good. Others didn't mind, thinking that these foreign coaches with their constant reforms had muddled German football's traditional style. To restore the glory of German football, they believed these foreigners needed to be cleared out.

Before the World Cup, German football was quite open-minded. But now, it had become more conservative and xenophobic. Therefore, fewer people wanted Guardiola to stay; more hoped he would leave.

Interestingly, Bayern Munich's attitude was quite ambiguous. They didn't seem eager to retain Guardiola, only formally expressing a hope that he would reconsider his resignation. Meanwhile, some German journalists revealed that after rumors of Guardiola's move to Manchester City surfaced, Bayern's general manager, Uli Hoeneß, had visited the retired coach Jupp Heynckes.

Heynckes was known as Bayern's "firefighter" coach, having come out of retirement three times to help the club. Whenever Bayern had issues with their head coach, people immediately thought of Heynckes. This had almost become a habit!

This news led to speculation: Was Heynckes about to take charge of Bayern for the fifth time?

Upon hearing this, Bayern fans were overjoyed. Almost all Bayern fans eagerly welcomed Heynckes back to the Allianz Arena. They couldn't forget the Bayern team under Heynckes from a year and a half ago. That team was unbeatable in the league and dominant in the Champions League, often demolishing their opponents. Even the mighty Barcelona had been thrashed 7-0 by them.

Just mentioning that Bayern team made even non-football fans in Munich proud. So, when they heard that Heynckes might return, Bayern fans were full of anticipation. They looked forward to seeing the strongest Bayern team make a comeback.

It wasn't just the fans who felt this way. Bayern players, upon hearing about Heynckes' potential return, were also thrilled. Even Arjen Robben, who rarely updated his social media, wrote excitedly: "Is this true? I can't wait to play under you again!" Franck Ribéry also posted: "I was stunned when I heard the news; I couldn't believe it was real!" Philipp Lahm, known for his high emotional intelligence, thanked Guardiola: "Thank you, Pep, for accompanying us over the past year and a half and for leading us to break the Bundesliga unbeaten record. I wish you all the best in your next journey." After expressing his gratitude to Guardiola, he also welcomed Heynckes' return in another post.

While Bayern players were busy welcoming Heynckes, Manchester City players, upon confirming Guardiola's winter arrival, also took to social media to express their welcome. Sergio Agüero said, "I've heard so much about you from Lionel Messi. I'm looking forward to working with you!" Toni Kroos stated, "I don't think any midfielder wouldn't want you as their coach!" David Silva commented, "Your greatness speaks for itself. Welcome to Manchester. Trust me, you'll 'love' the weather here!" Guardiola curiously replied to Silva's post: "Really?" Silva responded with a cheeky emoji: "Of course, in every way!"

Compared to others, Lin Quan was more straightforward: "Send me your flight details. I'll pick you up at the airport!" Guardiola replied with a screenshot of his flight information, which was quickly noticed by many onlookers. "Guys, I know Guardiola's flight details!" "Haha, I saw it too. Did Guardiola think this was a private message? This is hilarious!" "Let's go to the airport to meet him!" "Haha, Lin Quan will be there too. Let's get their autographs and photos before letting them go!"

Although Lin Quan quickly deleted Guardiola's reply, it was too late. The details had already been captured and shared. So, on the day Guardiola arrived in Manchester, the airport was packed. The number of fans who showed up to greet him was overwhelming.

"So many people?" Guardiola was startled upon seeing the sea of people in the arrivals hall. He had expected some Manchester City fans to welcome him, but not this many.

"Rationally speaking, these people might not all be here just for you, Dad," said Marius, adjusting his glasses and trying to act like Detective Conan. "Right, didn't big brother say he'd come to pick you up? Maybe these fans are here for his autograph and photo." Almost 14 years old, Maria was blossoming into a beautiful young woman. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she stood on tiptoes, scanning the crowd. During the World Cup, she barely knew anything about football. She went to Brazil to support her big brother and join the excitement. But after witnessing her brother lead Spain to defend their World Cup title, Maria gradually fell in love with football. She even joined her school team, moving from a substitute to a starting position through hard work. Now, she was no longer the football novice she once was.

Having played football herself, Maria realized how extraordinary her brother was. Those effortless-looking dribbles and breakthroughs on TV were incredibly challenging to execute on the field. Thus, Maria became an avid fan of Lin Quan, the most passionate kind. After joining Lin Quan's fan club, she discovered her brother's vast influence in the football world. Fans like her were countless. So, she believed most of the fans at the airport were there for Lin Quan's autograph and photo.

Chapter 351: Guardiola: Manchester City Buying Messi? It’s Not Impossible!

Chapter 351: Guardiola: Manchester City Buying Messi? It's Not Impossible!

Maria guessed right; more than half of the fans at the scene were there for Lin Quan. Of course, there were also people there to welcome the new coach Guardiola, but they were in the minority. Most came for Lin Quan and incidentally welcomed Guardiola.

Guardiola, unaware of this, was deeply moved by the large turnout, thinking all the fans were there for him. "Manchester is truly a great place," he thought. The club's owner was understanding, and the fans were so warm and welcoming. He felt a strong obligation to give back to these supportive fans.

Manchester City took Guardiola's arrival seriously, organizing a grand welcome ceremony at the Etihad Stadium. Many fans and journalists attended, making the event lively. City fans held various banners, chanting Guardiola's name, viewing him as a savior who could lead the team out of its current slump.

The journalists, on the other hand, were there to chase the hype and boost their newspaper sales and online clicks. Sky Sports even broadcasted the event live, attracting over 5 million viewers globally. This viewership number exceeded many Premier League matches.

"No wonder he's a world-class coach; even a welcome event draws so many viewers!" "Of course, this is the man who built the Dream Team at Barcelona, winning two Champions League titles in three years!" "Haha, I wonder if Guardiola can replicate his Barcelona success at Manchester City." "Doubtful. City's pedigree isn't on par with Barcelona's. Barcelona's La Masia academy is world-renowned. Manchester City? I haven't heard of any notable youth players from City." "City's youth academy is indeed a weak point, but that's also because they've only had significant investment for six years since the Abu Dhabi group took over." "Exactly. Clubs like Barcelona and Ajax have spent generations, even decades, building their youth systems. It's not an overnight success." "The Abu Dhabi group is reliable. They prioritize youth development, spending considerable sums on improving facilities and establishing youth teams." "Sounds much better than PSG, who rely solely on buying players." "Indeed, there are differences even among Middle Eastern billionaires." "Certainly. The Qatari group seems more like they're playing around compared to Abu Dhabi's serious approach."

The fans initially discussed Manchester City but gradually shifted to criticizing Paris Saint-Germain. It seems fans aren't entirely against wealthy club owners; they just dislike those who don't respect football's traditions and rely solely on buying players instead of developing their own.

City was initially disliked for this reason but has since gotten on the right track. Although their youth academy hasn't yet produced significant results, they are making progress. Currently, City is already a strong team. While many players weren't homegrown, this is common in football; even Real Madrid has few academy graduates in their lineup.

At the event, Guardiola looked at the expectant faces of the thousands of fans present and felt the weight of his responsibility. He took a deep breath and spoke: "Thank you very much to Manchester City for giving me the opportunity to coach here. Manchester City is a club with a long history and a rejuvenated spirit. I am looking forward to the next four years and am confident we will all enjoy this journey together."

The fans responded with cheers and applause, moved by his words.

"Today, I don't want to talk about my past successes. After all, everyone knows I've won two Champions League titles. There's no need to emphasize that!" Guardiola said with a smile, causing the fans to laugh. This was a nod to a certain coach known for frequently mentioning his two Champions League titles.

"Now that I'm here, I aim to find a new, stronger, and more suitable playing style for Manchester City, such as a City-specific tiki-taka." Guardiola's words received more applause. Fans were worried he might rigidly apply Barcelona's system to City, but his words assured them otherwise.

"I know the City players well, especially the one wearing the number 10 jersey!" His remark made the fans laugh again, and the cameras panned to Lin Quan in the front row. The number 10 was none other than Lin Quan. Given their close relationship, it would be strange if Guardiola didn't know him well.

"City has a group of excellent players. I will take the time to get to know them, embrace them, and occasionally get angry at them!" Some City players sitting near Lin Quan looked at him for confirmation. Lin Quan nodded; Guardiola was generally good-natured but could be quite strict when it came to work.

Towards the end of the event, Guardiola gave a flattering speech: "One of my dreams was to play for Manchester City, but that's not possible now. However, coming here as a coach is, in a way, fulfilling that dream!" The fans were delighted, giving him a warm round of applause. However, Lin Quan, standing by, couldn't help but feel a bit nauseated: "I didn't expect Guardiola to be so good at flattery!"

Guardiola enjoyed the applause: "I must say, the atmosphere here is incredible. From my first day in Manchester, I've felt the fans' passion. I hope to continue living in this atmosphere, eager to learn more, meet more people, and become the great coach you all hope for."

After flattering the club and the fans, the event moved to the Q&A session with journalists eagerly awaiting their turn. The first question asked was quite attention-grabbing: "Coach Pep, will you buy Messi?" Guardiola paused, then laughed heartily and replied, "Messi is a fantastic player. If he's willing to come and the club can afford it, of course, I'd love to bring him to the Etihad Stadium. After all, like everyone, I'd love to see the chemistry of two Messis on the field!"

The fans and journalists at the scene burst into knowing laughter. Guardiola had voiced what everyone was thinking. Many people were very curious about what it would be like if Lin Quan and Messi were on the same team. The results of these two leading teams separately were already so terrifying; if they joined forces, no team in the football world could probably compete with them.

Of course, given the high market values of these two players, bringing them together wouldn't be an easy task. During the summer transfer window, PSG had made an offer to Manchester City. Although unsuccessful, it revealed the true market value of players like Messi and Lin Quan—over 200 million euros each! If a team wanted both players, the transfer fees alone would exceed 400 million euros. Even for clubs like Manchester City and Barcelona, this is a massive amount.

Only teams backed by Middle Eastern billionaires like Manchester City and PSG could afford this. Fortunately, Lin Quan's team, Manchester City, had the financial capability, and Guardiola had a good relationship with Messi. Combining City's wealth with Guardiola's influence might actually persuade Messi to join.

After hearing Guardiola's statement, fans and journalists couldn't help but let their imaginations run wild. Some eager journalists already had drafts prepared in their minds, ready to create big news as soon as the press conference ended.

Not only the journalists wanted to make headlines, but even the big boss of Manchester City, Mansour, who attended the event personally, misinterpreted Guardiola's statement as a request to the club. He seriously instructed his assistant, "After the winter transfer window opens, make another offer to Barcelona. See if we can bring Messi over."

Although this would cost a lot of money, for the wealthy Mansour, money wasn't an issue. As long as it strengthened the team, he wouldn't reject any of Guardiola's requests.

Guardiola joining Manchester City garnered a lot of attention not only in the UK but throughout Europe. Guardiola's fame was immense due to his past coaching successes, making his every move highly scrutinized. His joining a team that had just won the Champions League, which also had one of the hottest superstars in football, naturally worried other top clubs aiming for the Champions League.

Especially since Guardiola mentioned buying Messi, which heightened everyone's concerns. When Guardiola's words reached La Liga, Barcelona quickly made a statement: Messi is not for sale. No matter the time, Barcelona would never put Messi on the market. He would end his career at Camp Nou.

Clearly, Barcelona was nervous. As Messi's mentor, Guardiola held a special place in Messi's heart. Many players at Barcelona, including Messi, fondly remembered playing under Guardiola. Barcelona feared these players might be tempted and persuaded by Guardiola to join Manchester City. They had already missed out on Lin Quan and couldn't afford to lose Messi. If Messi left, Barcelona would be set back significantly.

Despite Barcelona's insistence that Messi was not for sale, journalists and fans remained skeptical. In the commercial era of football, club statements are often as unreliable as hot air. The winter transfer window was approaching, and once it opened, they would find out if Barcelona's claims were true.

In a luxury villa in Barcelona, Lionel Messi turned off the TV broadcast, feeling dazed. Did Pep really say he wanted to take him to Manchester City? Was he serious or joking? If Guardiola genuinely invited him, should he accept?

Messi was conflicted. His attachment to Barcelona was deep, and he didn't want to leave. But Guardiola had been a great mentor and highly appreciated him. Rejecting Guardiola's invitation would make Messi feel guilty. The ideal situation would be for Guardiola to return to Camp Nou so they could reunite. However, that dream was shattered the moment Guardiola decided to join the Premier League. Messi sighed deeply.

Manchester City's biggest rivals in the league, Manchester United and Chelsea, were the most affected by Guardiola's move. As City's arch-rivals, United didn't want City to recover from their slump. They hoped City would continue to flounder so they could teach them a lesson in the next Manchester derby at Old Trafford.

Chelsea, on the other hand, were City's main competitors for the title this season. In the last five league matches, Chelsea's winning streak allowed them to surpass City in the standings. After 17 rounds, Chelsea had 13 wins, 3 draws, and 1 loss, totaling 42 points and sitting at the top. City, with 12 wins, 3 draws, and 2 losses, were second with 39 points. The gap between the two teams was small, just one game. Considering there was a direct clash between the two in the second half of the season, if City regained form and beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea's current lead would disappear.

Thus, Mourinho and his Chelsea team were highly vigilant about Guardiola's arrival.

Chapter 352: If You Don't Court Death, You Won't Die; Guardiola Starts Experimenting!

Chapter 352: If You Don't Court Death, You Won't Die; Guardiola Starts Experimenting!

Guardiola worked very efficiently. After officially joining Manchester City, he didn't even take a break. He declined the Christmas holiday the club offered and quickly started working. Considering Manchester City's current situation, Guardiola couldn't afford to waste time. He needed to quickly get into work mode to help the team overcome their difficulties. With the winter transfer window opening soon, he also needed to find suitable players in the transfer market to fill the gaps in the squad.

There was a lot of work to do, and it was all urgent. Upon arriving at Manchester City's training base, Guardiola gathered the players, gave a brief speech, and then had the assistant coach arrange the daily training. He stood on the sidelines, seriously observing the players' conditions. This season, Manchester City had been plagued by injuries, and many players were recovering, undergoing rehabilitation training.

Seeing Kroos training with the ball, Guardiola asked his assistant, "How has Kroos been lately?" The midfield was always the most crucial part of Guardiola's team, and much of his strategy revolved around the midfield positions.

"His recovery isn't going well; he seems to have a significant mental block," replied the assistant coach and physiotherapist after exchanging glances.

"Mental block?" Guardiola was puzzled. He knew Kroos's character; he was a very professional player. Why would he have a mental block?

"Yes, this is his first winter without a break. The team not only doesn't give a holiday for Christmas, but we also have to train and even play a match on Christmas Day. For many players new to the Premier League, they aren't used to this schedule."

Guardiola nodded, indicating he understood. Manchester City's next game was on December 26, the day after Christmas. This scheduling was indeed somewhat inhumane. Unlike other leagues, the Premier League, organized by the Premier League Association, pursued extreme commercialization, choosing to hold matches during the peak holiday season to attract more fans and dominate the broadcasting market while other leagues were on break. This maximized revenue from event promotion and broadcasting rights.

However, for the players, the "Christmas rush" was a torturous and hated schedule. While others were on vacation, they had to play games, and not just any games, but a series of very dense fixtures. The Premier League Association was eager to cram as many matches as possible between Christmas and New Year, disregarding the players' well-being. It was no wonder the players were unhappy.

British players might be fine with it since they grew up in this environment and were used to it. But for players from other countries, especially those new to the Premier League, it was normal and common to feel unaccustomed and resistant in the first few seasons. Not to mention, this Christmas period was a high-risk time for player injuries.

"If his injury isn't severe, give him a week's holiday to rest," Guardiola said.

"Ah?" The assistant coaches were dumbfounded when they heard Guardiola generously offering Kroos a holiday.

"Coach, do you know what you're saying? Our team is full of injured players; we don't have many healthy ones left. Although Kroos can't start and play a full match, he can still come off the bench in the second half. This helps him integrate into the team faster and gives our other midfielders a break. But you're letting him go, which means we have even fewer players available, and the remaining ones will have to shoulder an even heavier burden!"

"Ask who else wants a holiday. Anyone who does gets three days off," Guardiola added, showing no intention of changing his mind. Today was Christmas Eve, and tomorrow was Christmas Day. Being the most important holiday in Western society, making players sweat on the field during this time felt a bit unreasonable.

"But coach, if we give the whole team a holiday, what about the match on December 26?" the assistants asked.

"Hehe, don't worry. Don't we have the reserve and youth teams?!" Guardiola seemed confident, implying he would promote players from these teams.

The assistant coaches were speechless. Using reserve and youth team players as starters? Was he intentionally throwing the match?

The Premier League's Christmas period had started, and Manchester City had three tough matches in the coming week. This dense schedule was when most Premier League teams dropped points. Manchester City was already three points behind Chelsea in the standings. If they didn't perform well in these three games, they'd fall even further behind.

At such a crucial moment for catching up, Guardiola seemed to be throwing away a match, and it was his debut. Wasn't he afraid of the backlash from fans and journalists if they lost?

Guardiola truly wasn't afraid. It was just one match. If they lost, so be it. It wasn't a big deal. On the contrary, if his decision to give players a break earned their favor, increased his support within the team, and improved their morale and condition, it would be a huge win.

So, after saying this, Guardiola turned and left, preparing to go to the reserve team to pick players. When the reserve team's coach and players saw Guardiola, they were thrilled, even training more vigorously on the field. This was the new head coach of the first team. His purpose was clear—he was here to scout players for promotion to the first team.

For all reserve team players, playing for the first team was their dream. So, they couldn't afford to miss this opportunity and tried their best to impress Guardiola. Chatting with the reserve team coach while observing the players' performances, Guardiola noted that most players, despite trying hard, showed only average ability. With his keen eye, they clearly didn't meet his standards.

Guardiola sighed inwardly. Back at Barcelona, the La Masia academy was full of talented players. But at Manchester City, it was hard to find even one decent player. However, La Masia's scouting range was vast, and its reputation drew countless parents worldwide to bring their children for trials. Only the best stayed, so it wasn't surprising La Masia had many talents.

In contrast, Manchester City's youth training had only recently started getting on track and lacked depth. Youth training needed to be prioritized as it was crucial for the club's long-term talent development. Future star players would become increasingly expensive, and relying solely on buying players would only escalate costs, eventually straining the club's financial system.

This is obviously not a long-term solution! There were almost no players who met Guardiola's standards or caught his eye, but since he was already there, he couldn't leave empty-handed. So, he had to lower his standards. Looking for players who could at least hold their own in a top-tier league, he found a few who seemed decent.

"Hmm, this forward looks good. What's his name?" Guardiola pointed at a young black forward, about six feet tall, and asked the reserve team coach.

"Oh, him? His name is Kelechi Iheanacho, he's 18 years old, from Nigeria. He's got good talent, a promising forward!" Guardiola nodded, "Move him up to the first team and let him play a few matches!"

After saying this, he noticed a defender who was performing well in defense. "What's this defender's name?"

"Tosin Adarabioyo. He's got excellent physical attributes and good defensive awareness. With more match experience, he could become a great defender!"

"Alright, bring him up too!" Guardiola ended up promoting five young players to the first team. The remaining players, despite the first team's shortage of players, were not suitable for promotion.

The chosen five were ecstatic, feeling like they'd been hit by a stroke of luck. They felt like they were dreaming and couldn't believe they'd been selected by a world-class coach like Guardiola!

As for those not selected, they felt quite dejected. They couldn't doubt Guardiola's judgment; if they weren't chosen, it meant their talent and skills weren't sufficient. Many started to realize they might not have a future at Manchester City and began considering transfers to other clubs.

When Guardiola returned to the first-team training base with the young players, the assistant coaches had finished compiling the list of players requesting the three-day holiday. Many had signed up, unable to resist the lure of a Christmas break.

Guardiola had anticipated this, so he remained calm. However, seeing Lin Quan's name on the list erased his calm demeanor. "Ahem, you want to take these three days off too?" Guardiola found an opportunity to talk to Lin Quan during a break in training.

"Yeah, I promised to take Maria and Valentina to the amusement park and aquarium!" Seeing Guardiola scratching his head, Lin Quan suppressed his laughter and replied seriously.

Hearing this, Guardiola hesitated. "If someone is willing to accompany us to the amusement park, I think Valentina and Maria might be okay with postponing it until after New Year."

Guardiola quickly nodded, "No problem, I have time after New Year. I'll definitely take them out then!" Lin Quan nodded and removed his name from the holiday request list.

The Christmas rush was tough, but with last year's experience, he felt he could manage. Especially now, with the team at a critical juncture, he couldn't just let Guardiola take all the risks alone.

"With so many main players resting, the next game won't be possible without you!" Guardiola breathed a sigh of relief when Lin Quan removed his name.

Lin Quan rolled his eyes at him and asked, "Aren't you afraid of messing up with such big changes right from the start?" It was clear that Guardiola was trying to win over the players, but Lin Quan thought he was being too hasty. He could have taken things slower and more gradually. It was like Guardiola's habit of experimenting in crucial Champions League knockout matches; it was risky.

Guardiola nodded, "I can't say I'm not worried, but I've studied our opponent's game footage and have some ideas. Even if some main players can't play, we might not necessarily lose." The next match was his debut with Manchester City and would attract a lot of attention. He certainly didn't want to start with a loss.

The next match was against West Bromwich Albion, a relatively weak team. Guardiola had already asked the club staff for recent match footage of the opponent and done thorough research. He was confident he had a decent chance, which gave him the courage to make such decisions.

Of course, he couldn't play with an entirely substitute lineup; Lin Quan, the core of Manchester City, had to be on the field as he was crucial for victory.

...

December 26, Manchester, Etihad Stadium. This was the first match after Christmas and Guardiola's debut with Manchester City. The game drew unprecedented attention, with the stadium packed to capacity and no empty seats to be found. Manchester City fans had been eagerly awaiting this match!

This was Guardiola's first game in charge, and everyone was keen to see what changes he would bring to the team. The Premier League even arranged a live broadcast during prime time to maximize exposure and promotion opportunities.

However, when the starting lineups were announced, both the fans in the stadium and the journalists covering the match were stunned.

What on earth was Manchester City doing? The lineup had many unfamiliar names.

Chapter 353: Guardiola's Success, 18-Year-Old Shines on the Field!

"Half of Manchester City's starting lineup consists of substitutes, and there are even some unfamiliar names!" "Guardiola is really daring, making such extensive rotations!" "Do they really underestimate West Bromwich Albion that much?"

Upon seeing Manchester City's starting lineup, there was widespread speculation and disbelief. Many thought Guardiola was taking too big of a risk. After all, West Bromwich Albion was still a Premier League team, and fielding so many substitutes seemed disrespectful.

West Bromwich Albion's coach felt the same way. He shot an angry glance at Guardiola, clearly unhappy. Guardiola, however, appeared very calm, at least outwardly. He sat leisurely on the bench, chatting and laughing with his assistant coaches, showing no signs of concern about his starting lineup.

Torrent, a 52-year-old assistant coach sitting closest to Guardiola, asked with worry, "Are you sure this will work?"

Guardiola calmly replied, "If the tactics work, there won't be any problem."

Torrent, even more concerned, asked, "What if the tactics fail?"

Guardiola shook his head, "Don't worry, my friend, they won't fail."

As he said this, Guardiola's gaze fell on Lin Quan, who had just taken the field. With Lin Quan as his safety net, Guardiola felt confident.

Amidst the intense attention, the referee blew the whistle, and the match officially began. Fans and pundits alike watched with bated breath, eager to see how Guardiola's Manchester City differed from Pellegrini's.

After a short while, viewers noticed some unusual formations: "Why is Fernandinho playing in the defense?" "Is Manchester City using a 3-3-2-2 formation?" "Doesn't look like it, it seems more like a 3-4-2-1 during attacks!" "The midfield positioning is very strange; how many defensive midfielders does City have?" "Is it just me, or does it seem like Manchester City has more players on the field? They're everywhere, and always in numerical superiority!"

Ordinary fans were baffled by Manchester City's formation. The defenders didn't seem like defenders, the defensive midfielders didn't seem like defensive midfielders, and even the wingers were playing differently than expected.

In a corner of the stands, Chelsea's assistant coach Rui Faria, who had worked with Mourinho for 15 years, couldn't help but frown and mutter, "A flexible backline with wingers dropping back?"

He had observed closely: during defensive transitions, Fernandinho was positioned as a center-back. But during attacks, he pushed up into the midfield, increasing the number of players there and providing more passing options.

Guardiola had used this tactic before with Mascherano and Martinez at Barcelona and Bayern. Seeing Fernandinho's positional shift, Faria immediately thought of this strategy. But what was the point of combining it with wingers dropping back?

Unable to understand Guardiola's full intent, Faria and other scouts from various teams continued to observe closely.

When Fernandinho moved forward, Manchester City gained numerical superiority in midfield, creating several threatening attacks quickly. This made West Bromwich Albion's coach very cautious. He realized that they hadn't assigned anyone to mark Fernandinho.

In the pre-match preparations, who would think to assign a player to mark an opposing center-back? With no one marking him, Fernandinho became the initiator of Manchester City's attacks from the back.

Seeing Fernandinho push forward again into a midfield role, West Bromwich Albion's coach stood up abruptly and instructed his left midfielder to track and mark Fernandinho. This adjustment worked immediately, reducing the number of attacks initiated through Fernandinho.

"Ha! Is this what they call a world-class coach?" West Bromwich Albion's coach, seeing his adjustment work, felt proud and confident. He never really believed in the hype around big-name coaches, thinking they were just famous but not necessarily better than himself.

On Manchester City's bench, seeing the opposition adjust and limit Fernandinho, Guardiola didn't worry. In fact, he seemed even more relaxed, saying to Torrent, "Perfect!"

As Guardiola's words trailed off, the dynamics on the field changed. In the 9th minute, as West Bromwich's left midfielder moved inside to mark Fernandinho, Lin Quan dropped back into his own half.

Seeing Lin Quan drop deep, the Manchester City full-back immediately passed to him. With the left midfielder pulled inside, a huge gap opened up on the wing. Since Lin Quan was deep in his own half, this area was outside the opposing full-back's defensive zone. With no one marking him within ten meters, Lin Quan received the ball in acres of space.

For a player of Lin Quan's caliber, being given such space was a fatal mistake by the opponent. West Bromwich quickly paid the price. In the 11th minute, Lin Quan dribbled past several defenders down the wing and assisted Iheanacho, who scored to make it 1-0.

Guardiola couldn't contain his excitement, leaping from his seat to celebrate wildly. This was his debut match with Manchester City, and given the high level of attention and his risky decisions, Guardiola was under immense pressure. Fortunately, his tactics worked, and City scored first.

Seeing the goal, West Bromwich Albion's coach was stunned. How had his defense collapsed so suddenly? He scratched his head in confusion, unable to understand how his team had been broken down.

Meanwhile, in the stands, Faria felt a shock of realization.

His earlier confusion was resolved by this Manchester City attack. So, this was Guardiola's true masterstroke, combining these two tactics?

Faria couldn't help but think: If Chelsea faced Manchester City with these tactics, how could they stop them? With Fernandinho pushing forward, City had three midfielders. Just using forward players to mark them wouldn't be enough. Midfielders would need to join in.

But City had at least five players in the midfield and forward positions. If Chelsea allocated too many players to mark City's midfield, their own defense would lose its structure, reducing it to two defensive lines. This would leave a 20-30 meter gap between the lines.

If City exploited this space with a forward pass or a successful dribble, it would break Chelsea's defense and threaten their goal. And City had at least five players capable of such passes and several who could make those dribbles, especially Lin Quan, their number 10.

Lin Quan's one-on-one dribbling success rate was nearly 100%. No one had managed to stop him one-on-one so far. Thinking about this, Faria began to sweat. If he were coaching Chelsea, his chances of beating this Manchester City would be less than 10%.

Thankfully, he wasn't the head coach of Chelsea. This thought gave Faria some relief. But could Mourinho handle Guardiola's tactics? This thought brought back his worries.

On the pitch, after scoring, Iheanacho celebrated wildly. It was his first time playing for Manchester City's first team, and he scored in his debut. He had never imagined it would go this smoothly.

It was all thanks to the man on the sideline. So, after scoring, Iheanacho ran to Guardiola and gave him a big hug. "Thank you, boss. This is an amazing night. I'll never forget today!"

Guardiola was also pleased. He didn't expect such a successful debut for Iheanacho. "You earned it. Enjoy the night and the feeling of playing on the field!"

"I will, coach. Just watch!" Iheanacho felt incredibly motivated by Guardiola's encouragement.

On the field, Lin Quan and De Bruyne high-fived to celebrate, then stood in the center circle, watching Iheanacho and Guardiola celebrate on the sideline. Lin Quan was impressed by Iheanacho's speed, smart positioning, and calm finishing. No wonder he was called City's future star.

Seeing the 18-year-old Manchester City youngster score in his debut, the fans in the stands were delighted. Was City's youth academy finally bearing fruit?

"What's his name? He's fast!" "He's Kelechi Iheanacho. He was promoted to the U23s recently, and now he's playing for the first team!" "He's good. With some more training, he could be a regular rotation player." "Yes, we don't have many forwards. He'll get his chances!" "I've heard Guardiola is good at developing young players and giving them opportunities. Today proves it!"

The fans were pleasantly surprised. Initially, they were anxious about Guardiola's lineup. But seeing the young players perform so well made them feel that Guardiola was the right choice for Manchester City.

Some fans even began to dream about the future: "With Guardiola's reputation, many young talents will want to join City. Maybe someday, our youth academy will be as famous as La Masia!"

After celebrating with Guardiola, Iheanacho didn't forget to thank Lin Quan for the assist. Without Lin Quan's selfless pass, he wouldn't have had the chance to score.

The match continued. After the first goal, City's morale soared, and they launched a series of attacks. On the other hand, West Bromwich Albion's players were affected by the goal. Their coach instructed them to increase their marking and pressure on Lin Quan. They believed that by stopping Lin Quan, they could stop City's attacks.

But they were wrong. Just five minutes after the first goal, in the 16th minute, City scored again! This time, De Bruyne scored, and the goal was almost identical to the first one. The only difference was that the attack came from the left this time.

If the first goal was a fluke, the second left no excuses. Especially since Lin Quan, who was drawing defenders on the right, didn't participate in the attack.

West Bromwich Albion's coach broke into a cold sweat, feeling anxious and helpless. Two goals from the same tactic almost sealed the game, and he couldn't figure out the problem or how to counter it. He glanced fearfully at Guardiola on the City bench. This was the strength of a world-class coach.

(End of chapter)

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.

Chapter 355: Mourinho's Shock

Chapter 355: Mourinho's Shock

"14 days, 6 matches: The reigning champions face a grueling schedule!"

"Club World Cup & League? What will Guardiola choose?"

"Premier League scheduling controversy: Club World Cup may become a nightmare for top clubs!"

News about Manchester City's grueling schedule quickly grabbed media attention and was widely reported. As the most high-profile team recently, any news about City drew significant attention and sparked heated discussions. When the media reported City's predicament, it immediately trended online, leading to widespread debate.

"City's luck is really bad!"

"It's Guardiola's bad luck. He just joined and is already facing such a brutal schedule!"

"Who made this schedule? It's inhumane!"

"Even without the two Club World Cup matches, City's schedule during this period is still tough!"

"At least City, as Champions League winners, only start from the semifinals in the Club World Cup, needing to play just two matches. Otherwise, their situation would be even more dire!"

"Even though it's just two matches, adding them to an already brutal schedule makes it worse. I think City will have to make a choice."

"Winning the Club World Cup would give them the prestigious sextuple. Maybe they should go for the Club World Cup first!"

"Yes, the sextuple is prestigious and has a high reputation. They should secure it first!"

"No English team has won the sextuple before. If City achieves this, it would significantly enhance their status as a top club!"

"But if they choose the Club World Cup, what about the league and FA Cup?"

"City is currently three points behind Chelsea. If they abandon two league matches, the gap could widen to nine points. Given Mourinho's discipline and Chelsea's current strength, it would be nearly impossible for City to close that gap in the second half of the season!"

"It's a tough choice. You can't have your cake and eat it too. Let's see what City decides!"

"It's all the Premier League's fault. Other leagues have winter breaks, but the Premier League doesn't. They even have a congested schedule around Christmas to attract viewers."

"Yes, the Premier League's winter period is often when the top contenders start to separate and widen the gap. Many teams with good first-half performances start to fall behind during this time!"

"For example, a certain team that's always fourth!"

"Arsenal: Please don't mention it, thanks!"

"Sigh, Arsenal is having a tough season, trailing the top team by 13 points. No hope for the title again!"

"Forget the title. Focus on securing fourth place first. Five teams are threatening their Champions League spot. One slip-up and they could miss out on the Champions League!"

"What does Arsenal have left? No major trophies in ten years, not particularly high wages. The only attractions for star players are the annual Champions League spot and Wenger's personality!"

"The Professor is getting old. He might not coach for many more years. It's hard to imagine what Arsenal will do once he retires. Sigh, it's tough!"

"This season, besides the two title contenders, which other big clubs aren't having a tough time? They're all struggling!"

"Yes, Chelsea, City, United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs—so many teams competing for Champions League spots. Even if you exclude Spurs, with City's rise, one of the traditional Big Four will definitely be pushed out!"

"From the standings, Liverpool seems the most likely to be pushed out. They're currently eighth with 28 points!"

"Suarez's departure significantly impacted Liverpool's strength!"

"I choose to believe in the Professor. Since Wenger took over, Arsenal has never missed the Champions League!"

Choosing between the league and the Club World Cup was a tough decision for City. Ultimately, Guardiola decided to go all out for the sextuple!

The sextuple was an opportunity City had worked hard for over the past year and was the last step Pellegrini hadn't completed. With only two matches left to achieve this, Guardiola didn't want to let the chance slip away. If they missed this opportunity, he would feel guilty for a long time.

The league title was important, but there was always next season if they missed it this year. He could afford to lose this time!

Upon hearing Guardiola's decision, everyone admired his resolve. Guardiola was willing to take on the responsibility and risk, earning everyone's respect. In an era of self-interest, such sacrifices were rare.

Pellegrini's assistant coach, Brian, was deeply moved and informed Pellegrini of Guardiola's decision. Pellegrini was shocked and speechless for a long time before sighing deeply.

Guardiola was a good person. Though he and Guardiola didn't know each other well, he was deeply moved by Guardiola's actions. Feeling undeserving of such kindness, Pellegrini called City's chairman, Fahim, to explain the situation and request him to persuade Guardiola.

As the new coach, Guardiola needed results to stabilize the team and build his authority. Sacrificing the league could severely damage his career, potentially becoming a significant setback. Pellegrini didn't want his legacy to negatively impact Guardiola's future.

Fahim was shocked when he received Pellegrini's call. He didn't expect Guardiola to make such a bold decision, willingly giving up the league despite still having a chance to win it. Fahim was unsure whether to persuade Guardiola, so he reported the matter to the club's owner, Mansour.

Mansour was equally surprised. After contemplating, he said, "Respect Guardiola's decision. If he decides to go for the sextuple, I'll provide my private jet for the team to reduce travel fatigue."

Mansour admired Guardiola's character. Even if City didn't win the league this season, he wouldn't blame Guardiola. Originally impressed by Guardiola's ability and coaching style, Mansour now felt even more confident in his choice, seeing Guardiola's high moral character as the ideal fit for City.

After making the decision, City fielded a lineup of mostly substitutes and youth players in the 19th-round home game. This lineup was even bolder than the one against West Bromwich Albion, with hardly any first-team players on the field. The main squad had already left early for Morocco to participate in the 2014 Club World Cup.

Burnley's coach was delighted to see City's lineup. Struggling in the relegation zone, they desperately needed points to escape their predicament.

Burnley originally had little hope of gaining points in their away game against Manchester City, but with City strategically abandoning this match, their chance had come!

Burnley's coach waved his hand and signaled his players to charge and attack. After all, they were just facing a bunch of substitutes and youth players.

A relegation-threatened team dominating at Etihad Stadium was a scene hard to imagine. Yet, it was happening!

However, Burnley didn't expect the defensive resilience of City's lineup. Despite their lack of strength, City's substitutes were particularly tenacious in defense. Their aggressive pressing and running limited Burnley's offense, resulting in numerous unsuccessful attempts.

The City fans present were thrilled to see their substitutes performing so well, loudly cheering and encouraging them.

While cheering for their team, City fans were also closely following another match: Southampton vs. Chelsea.

Southampton was having a good season, currently two points ahead of Arsenal and sitting in fourth place. If they could maintain this performance, they had a chance at securing a Champions League spot for the next season.

Despite the disparity in paper strength between Southampton and Chelsea, given Southampton's form and their position in the standings, City fans and many other Premier League fans who didn't want Chelsea to win the title were hopeful. They wanted Southampton to slow Chelsea's progress or, better yet, defeat them.

This seemingly impossible hope started to look achievable. In the 17th minute of the first half, Southampton's summer signing Sadio Mané, bought for 15 million euros, opened the scoring, giving Southampton a 1-0 lead over Chelsea.

Southampton's surprising goal had City fans and Chelsea's rivals celebrating. The Etihad Stadium was buzzing with excitement.

The players on the pitch were puzzled by the commotion in the stands.

Realizing this, the City fans shouted, "Chelsea is losing to Southampton!"

Burnley's players were still unfazed. Chelsea losing didn't concern them. But the next shout sent chills down their spines: "Beat Burnley, and we can catch up with Chelsea!"

Upon hearing this, Burnley's players noticed a significant change in City's players. They were suddenly more energized and aggressive.

"Not good!" Burnley's coach quickly tried to calm his players down, but it was too late. City launched a powerful counterattack.

Sinclair intercepted the ball in defense and passed it to Milner, who sprinted down the wing. Cutting inside near the penalty area and drawing defenders, he passed the ball to the center. Iheanacho smartly stepped aside, allowing the ball to reach the oncoming Lampard.

Lampard fired a trademark long-range shot, scoring and giving City a 1-0 lead.

After scoring, Lampard shook his head and smiled wryly. The last time he scored for City, it was a crucial goal to beat Chelsea. This time, his goal again threatened Chelsea's position at the top of the table. He hoped Chelsea fans wouldn't hold a grudge against him for these goals.

City fans, however, didn't care. Seeing Lampard score, they celebrated wildly. No one expected that with this lineup, they could take the lead and even have a chance to win!

Now, if Southampton could hold on and City could maintain their lead, they could surpass Chelsea on goal difference and top the standings!

At St. Mary's Stadium in Southampton, Mourinho watched as Southampton's young forward Mané scored, beating Chelsea's goalkeeper.

"Dammit!" Mourinho cursed under his breath. He admitted he had underestimated Southampton's fighting spirit. On paper, Southampton was far weaker than Chelsea, so he, like other Chelsea fans, had expected an easy win.

But once the match started, he realized the situation wasn't as simple. Southampton had adopted a defensive counter-attacking strategy at home, which wasn't surprising. Most teams used this tactic against Chelsea.

The problem was Southampton had Mané, a lightning-fast winger. At 22, Mané possessed exceptional speed and explosive power. Southampton clearly knew this and repeatedly used his speed to counter Chelsea.

This tactic made Chelsea's defense nervous and cautious. Finally, in the 17th minute of the first half, they conceded.

For a team like Chelsea, conceding a goal at this point wasn't too troubling. They had plenty of time to equalize. But now, with Southampton scoring, they would firmly stick to their defensive counter-attacking strategy.

With Mané's speed, this strategy posed a significant threat to Chelsea. Pushing forward to attack would leave gaps in their defense, giving Southampton plenty of space to exploit.

This worried Mourinho the most. However, he took solace in the fact that City's lineup was full of substitutes, so they were likely to lose at home to Burnley, giving Chelsea a buffer.

Feeling somewhat relieved, Mourinho casually asked his assistant, "What's the situation in the other match?"

Knowing which match Mourinho was referring to, the assistant quickly searched on his phone. When the results appeared, the assistant was stunned.

"Huh? What's wrong?" Seeing his assistant's surprised expression, Mourinho frowned. Could it be something unexpected? Surely Guardiola's team of substitutes hadn't managed to win?

"Uh, latest update, City just scored. They are currently leading 1-0!" the assistant stammered. "And it was Lampard who scored again!"

Mourinho felt his mind go blank.

Chapter 356: What Does It Mean to Be a World-Class Superstar? Lin Quan's Unique Influence!

"Attack! Attack at all costs!"

Mourinho couldn't sit still. If Chelsea lost and Manchester City won, their lead would vanish. The Burnley players were truly useless, failing to beat a City side full of substitutes. Now, Chelsea had to rely on themselves. No matter what, they had to win this match. If they could defeat Southampton, they could at least maintain their 3-point lead over City.

Under Mourinho's orders, Chelsea's players launched a frenzied assault on Southampton. With stars like Diego Costa, Schürrle, Hazard, Oscar, and Fàbregas leading the attack, Chelsea's front line was nothing short of luxurious. After half a season of playing together, their chemistry had improved significantly. Southampton's defense was under immense pressure.

In the 45th minute of the first half, Fàbregas delivered a brilliant pass to Hazard, who scored to level the game. This was Fàbregas's 13th assist of the season, an impressive feat. Chelsea's attacking power this season was largely due to the arrivals of Fàbregas and Diego Costa, who had collectively contributed to over 70% of Chelsea's goals.

Seeing Hazard's goal, Mourinho pumped his fist in excitement. If they kept playing like this, victory was assured. Fàbregas had been outstanding this match, finding his stride since joining Chelsea. His confidence manifested in his bold dribbles, reminiscent of Iniesta at Barcelona. In the first half, Fàbregas completed five successful dribbles against Southampton's tight defense.

Despite his brilliance, an incident in the second half changed everything. In the 55th minute, Fàbregas was fouled in the right side of the penalty area. Surprisingly, the referee, Anthony Taylor, showed Fàbregas a yellow card for diving instead of awarding a penalty. This decision infuriated Fàbregas, who confronted Taylor. Mourinho, too, was livid on the sidelines: "That was a clear penalty!"

The replays showed that Fàbregas had been tripped by Southampton's defender, Targett. However, Taylor stuck to his decision. The controversial call affected not just Fàbregas but the entire Chelsea team, disrupting their rhythm and reducing their attacking threat. Southampton managed to hold onto the 1-1 draw until the end.

Chelsea's excellent run was halted by this unexpected draw, dropping two crucial points. If City managed to win against Burnley, Chelsea's lead would shrink to just one point.

At the end of their match, Mourinho hesitated to check City's score, fearing they might have won. Fortunately for him, that nightmare didn't come true. City couldn't maintain their lead, with Burnley equalizing in the second half. Both games ended in draws, leaving Chelsea with their 3-point lead intact. However, the result was far from ideal, and Mourinho's frustration was palpable.

Even Fàbregas, typically mild-mannered, lashed out in his post-match interview, risking an FA ban: "Mr. Taylor might believe his eyes, but the cameras clearly showed otherwise. I won't suggest he see an eye doctor, but perhaps a psychologist. I doubt he can sleep well tonight after such a ludicrous decision."

Mourinho's comments were even harsher: "I can't believe such a blatant foul wasn't given as a penalty. I want to find referee Taylor and wish him a Happy New Year. I hope he watches this on TV and feels ashamed."

Chelsea fans were equally enraged. They had hoped to capitalize on City's tough schedule to widen the gap, only for the referee to ruin it. Some even speculated that Taylor, being from Manchester, was biased and had deliberately sabotaged Chelsea.

The British media quickly picked up on the controversy, adding fuel to the fire.

"Two draws, two different impacts. City fans rejoice while Chelsea fans roar in anger."

"Guardiola's bold use of youngsters earned City an unexpected point, while Mourinho's side squandered their advantage. Despite the drama, this keeps the Premier League title race exciting. With 19 rounds to go and a 3-point gap, anything is possible, especially with one more head-to-head clash remaining."

...

"What? Our substitutes managed to draw at home?" Guardiola, who was in Morocco preparing for the Club World Cup, was visibly surprised upon hearing the Premier League results.

"Yes, and Chelsea was also held to a draw by Southampton, which means the gap between us hasn't widened!" Assistant coach Torrent said, beaming with joy. This outcome was an unexpected delight.

"If we can hold out in the next match too, then when we return, we might actually be able to overtake Chelsea and defend our Premier League title!" another assistant coach said, full of hope.

Guardiola smiled. "I'm afraid it won't be that simple. Our tactics have mostly been exposed, and the next opponents will surely know how to deal with us. Plus, the next match is away, so our chances of losing are high."

Manchester City's next opponent was Arsenal, one of the traditional Big Four and much stronger than Burnley. Arsenal desperately needed points to secure a Champions League spot for the next season, so they would definitely be well-prepared and fight tooth and nail for victory. Facing such a tough battle, it would be challenging for City even to draw, let alone win.

Despite Arsenal's recent struggles, they were still a Premier League giant with a deep history. The assistant coaches had to admit that Guardiola's assessment was realistic, though they still held out a sliver of hope for a miracle.

In contrast to the substitutes hoping for a miracle, Manchester City's main squad, led by Guardiola in Morocco, performed effortlessly in the Club World Cup. On December 29, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, City faced Central American champions Cruz Azul. By halftime, City was already leading 3-0 thanks to goals from Lin Quan, De Bruyne, and Yaya Touré. Even after Guardiola substituted many of his starters in the second half, City continued to dominate, with Navas scoring the fourth goal in the 70th minute. The match ended with a 4-0 victory, securing City's place in the final.

The game drew over 45,000 spectators, double the average attendance for this Club World Cup. Clearly, most fans came to see Manchester City. Despite being a neutral venue, the crowd overwhelmingly cheered for City. Even those who weren't initially City fans became supporters as the match progressed. City's gameplay was simply too attractive: the seamless teamwork, relentless attacks, and brilliant performances from top stars left fans thoroughly entertained.

Not only the spectators, but even the Cruz Azul players admired City's play. After the match, the Cruz Azul players weren't at all disappointed by their loss. Losing to a full-strength City was expected, and they accepted the result gracefully, transforming into fans themselves as they sought autographs, photos, and jersey swaps with City players.

The most sought-after player for jersey swaps was, unsurprisingly, Lin Quan. As soon as the final whistle blew, Cruz Azul's players, including substitutes, rushed toward him. Lin Quan, caught off guard, was soon surrounded. He initially thought they just wanted to swap jerseys and began to remove his shirt, but he underestimated their enthusiasm. The players not only hugged and took selfies with him but also started pulling off his jersey.

Lin Quan's half-removed jersey became a prized trophy, causing a near scuffle among the Cruz Azul players. Lin Quan was bewildered—weren't they teammates? Was this necessary? He had clearly underestimated his influence in football and the fervor of his admirers.

Lin Quan's jersey was just one piece of memorabilia. The determined Mexican players next targeted his boots. Realizing their value, they removed his shoes, and the frenzy didn't stop there. His shin guards, shorts, and socks were all snatched away. Had Lin Quan not held on tightly, he feared they might have taken his underwear too!

Proud of their "trophies," the Cruz Azul players paraded Lin Quan's gear, oblivious to their original roles as opponents. It seemed they had come to chase a star rather than play football. Incidents like this were not uncommon in the Club World Cup. The previous year, Ronaldinho, playing for Atlético Mineiro, experienced something similar. Following such a superstar, other players had turned the Club World Cup into a stage for fan worship.

Lin Quan hadn't expected such a scenario, given his relatively short time in the limelight and his still-growing international reputation compared to legends like Ronaldinho. But the scene on the pitch suggested otherwise—his fame was greater than he realized.

Shaking his head, Lin Quan headed back to the dressing room but was intercepted by reporters. Nearly stripped, he wrapped himself in a towel, barefoot and shirtless, for the interview. Those who knew the context understood what had happened, but others might have thought he had been robbed. The reporters, always keen on a good story, took numerous photos of Lin Quan's unique look, making it the headline. This edition of the newspaper sold out quickly, with many fans clipping Lin Quan's picture for keepsakes, boosting the papers' sales significantly.

Chapter 357: Lin Quan's Sharp Comments on the Two Greatest of All Time, Messi and Ronaldo

The reporter interviewing Lin Quan happened to be a woman, and seeing her trying hard not to laugh made Lin Quan laugh himself.

"How about I go to the locker room, take a shower, and change clothes before continuing the interview?"

Despite the earlier chaotic scene, Lin Quan was in a great mood since the team won and moved a step closer to achieving the sextuple.

"No need, no need! I'll just ask a few quick questions!" The female reporter quickly shook her head, clearly worried that if he left, he might not come back, and she couldn't exactly storm the locker room to interview him.

"Alright then," Lin Quan thought, knowing that if he stayed and did the interview, he might not have to attend the post-match press conference, where Guardiola would likely want him to handle many questions.

The reporter introduced herself as being from France's L'Équipe.

"Lin, first of all, congratulations to your team on beating the opponents and reaching the Club World Cup final. Do you and your teammates have confidence in winning the final?"

Lin Quan nodded firmly. "Of course, we're here for the championship. No matter who the opponent is in the final, we are confident we can beat them and achieve the club's first sextuple!"

Lin Quan's answer was direct and almost arrogant, as if the final opponent wasn't even worth mentioning. If there were no surprises, their final opponent would likely be Argentina's San Lorenzo, last year's Copa Libertadores champion. For the past seven years, the Club World Cup finals had typically been between the UEFA Champions League winner and the South American champion, with European teams winning six times and losing only once. The only loss came in 2012 when Chelsea lost to Corinthians, largely due to the team's morale collapsing after controversial refereeing in a match against Manchester United.

Chelsea's loss didn't prove much, as the gap between European and South American teams had been widening, with European teams now generally having a clear advantage. Unless Manchester City made significant errors, their chances of losing were very low. Plus, with the sextuple dream so close, City's players were sure to give their all in the final.

The reporters didn't seem to think the South American champions posed much of a threat to the European champions, so they quickly wrapped up questions about the match and moved on to more pressing topics.

"Lin, the Ballon d'Or ceremony is approaching, and you are one of the top contenders. Do you feel confident about winning the FIFA Ballon d'Or this year?"

The Ballon d'Or ceremony was set for January 14th, and on December 2nd, FIFA had announced the final three candidates: Lin Quan, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi. Compared to last year, this year's Ballon d'Or discussion had less hype, not because the award had lost influence but because there was little suspense about the outcome. Last year, without a major tournament, the award mainly considered players' performances in their clubs and World Cup qualifiers, making Ribéry and Ronaldo the top contenders. This led to significant controversy, with many believing Ribéry deserved the award more, and FIFA's last-minute rule changes and voting discrepancies only added to the drama.

This year, after winning both the Champions League and the World Cup, Lin Quan was the clear frontrunner for the Ballon d'Or, with a significant lead over his competitors. As a result, the usual heated debates among fans were much quieter this time.

Lin Quan smiled at the reporter's question and replied, "If I say I'm not confident, would you think I'm being insincere?"

The reporters chuckled, confirming his assumption.

"Well," Lin Quan cleared his throat and continued seriously, "The FIFA Ballon d'Or is the highest honor for a player, something every player aspires to. If I were to win this award, I would be incredibly honored."

Lin Quan didn't directly answer whether he was confident about winning. Instead, he took the opportunity to praise the Ballon d'Or, emphasizing its importance and stature in the football world, making the award itself seem more prestigious.

"And how do you evaluate your two competitors, Ronaldo and Messi?" the reporters quickly asked, shifting to another hot topic.

Before Lin Quan's rise, the football world was dominated by Messi and Ronaldo. But now, it seemed the landscape had shifted to a three-way rivalry, with Lin Quan in a leading position. This development surprised many, and people were curious about Lin Quan's future status in football. If he continued performing as he had been, it was likely he would surpass both Messi and Ronaldo in the foreseeable future, a feat few players could claim.

"Messi and Ronaldo are both outstanding players," Lin Quan said sincerely. "One is incredibly gifted, and the other is exceptionally disciplined. They are great role models for young players. Competing with them on the pitch in the same era is an honor."

Lin Quan's response wasn't just politeness; it reflected his genuine thoughts. Messi and Ronaldo represented two different paths in football: one based on natural talent and the other on hard work.

Messi possessed rare, visible talent, utilizing it to become an unstoppable force on the field. Ronaldo, while also talented, relied more on his extraordinary discipline and hard work to reach his level of greatness.

"Attack at all costs!" Mourinho couldn't sit still anymore. If Chelsea lost and Manchester City won, their previous lead would vanish completely. Burnley was just incompetent, unable to even beat Manchester City's full reserve squad! Now Chelsea could only hope to secure a win themselves. No matter what, they had to win this game. Winning against Southampton would ensure that, regardless of Manchester City's result, they would maintain at least a three-point lead.

Under Mourinho's command, Chelsea's players launched a ferocious attack on Southampton. Diego Costa, Schurrle, Hazard, Oscar, Fabregas… The lineup of Chelsea's midfield and attack was nothing short of spectacular, and their understanding had greatly improved over the half-season.

Under the onslaught of these top stars, Southampton's defense came under tremendous pressure. In the 45th minute of the first half, Fabregas delivered a brilliant pass, assisting Azar to score and level the match. This was Fabregas' 13th assist of the season, a testament to his efficiency.

Chelsea's offensive firepower this season owed much to the contributions of Fabregas and Diego Costa. One provided assists, and the other scored goals, together accounting for more than 70% of Chelsea's goals and significantly boosting the team's attacking capabilities.

Mourinho, seeing Hazard score, excitedly waved his fist. "Keep playing like this, and victory will surely be ours!" He thought. Fabregas had an exceptional game, and since joining Chelsea, he seemed to have found his place in the team, playing with increasing ease and confidence.

He demonstrated this confidence by daring to take the ball forward, much like Iniesta did at Barcelona. Throughout the first half, amid Southampton's tight defense, Fabregas managed five successful dribbles. Aside from the assist to Azar, he created two other significant threats in the first half.

In the 7th minute, he faced Wanyama directly on the left flank, anticipated the opponent's movements, then skillfully dribbled past him to deliver a cross into the penalty area. Unfortunately, a defender blocked the ball to the baseline, preventing a potential early lead for Chelsea.

In the 24th minute, Fabregas again threatened on the left with a dribble, accelerating inside to shake off his marker. Unfortunately, Schurrle was not on the same wavelength, wasting the cross delivered by Fabregas.

Continuing his excellent performance in the second half, in the 47th minute, Fabregas broke through the midfield to deliver a through ball to Diego Costa. Unfortunately, Costa ran too fast, and the slightly underpowered pass from Fabregas meant the chance was missed.

Mourinho was very pleased with Fabregas' performance, even giving him a thumbs-up from the sidelines. As Chelsea's midfield commander, as long as Fabregas was in form, Chelsea had a very high chance of winning.

However, everything came to a sudden halt following an incident involving the opposition. In the 55th minute, Fabregas was tripped in the penalty area's right flank in an attempt to break through. It was a clear foul, but to everyone's surprise, the referee, Taylor, issued Fabregas a yellow card, apparently believing he had dived.

This decision sparked intense displeasure from Fabregas, who chased after Taylor to protest the call. Mourinho was also visibly upset: "Damn it, that was a penalty!" Replay clearly showed that Fabregas was tripped by the defender Taggart.

However, Taylor did not change the call, insisting on his decision. The wrongful decision seemed to affect Fabregas' focus for the remainder of the game, and not just him—Chelsea's overall performance suffered as well.

Chelsea, once in control, now struggled to maintain their fluency in attack, reducing their threat significantly. Southampton took advantage of this respite to hold the score at 1:1 until the final whistle.

Chelsea, having held a great advantage, couldn't capitalize and unexpectedly dropped two points. If Manchester City managed to beat Burnley, Chelsea's lead would shrink to a single point.

As the game ended, Mourinho was reluctant to ask about the score from the Manchester City game, fearing that City had won and caught up. Fortunately, that nightmare did not materialize. Manchester City also ended their game in a draw, and Chelsea maintained their three-point lead.

This result was far from the expectations set before the game, leaving Mourinho and his players dissatisfied. The usually even-tempered Fabregas, speaking to reporters after the game, risked a suspension by openly criticizing the referee: "Mr. Taylor believes his eyes, but the cameras on the field strongly contradict him. I wouldn't suggest he visit an optometrist, rather, I'd recommend a psychiatrist, as I don't think he can sleep peacefully after making such a ridiculous call tonight."

Mourinho's comments were even more scathing: "I can't believe such a foul wasn't awarded a penalty. I'd like to find referee Taylor and wish him a happy new year. I'd also tell him that if he saw the incident on TV, he'd be ashamed of himself."

Besides the angry parties involved, Chelsea's fans were also outraged. They had hoped to use Manchester City's difficult schedule to widen the gap, but the referee's decisions thwarted these plans. Some fans, suspecting Taylor of bias because he was from Manchester, accused him of taking bribes from City to sabotage Chelsea.

The British media were all over the story of the two draws, propelling the issue to a climax. Sky Sports noted, "The two draws had starkly different implications for the teams involved. Manchester City's fans celebrated while Chelsea's roared in anger." BBC added, "Guardiola's bold use of young players and substitutes scraped a point in a nearly lost game, a decent result for City. But Mourinho's side, despite dominating, shockingly dropped two points—an absolute disaster for the Blues."

With the league still tightly contested and 19 rounds to go, the three-point gap didn't seem insurmountable. Especially since the two teams had one more direct encounter. If Manchester City could defeat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, they could erase the lead entirely. (End of chapter)

Chapter 358: Manchester City Wins Seven Trophies!

"Hello, viewers of CCTV. Welcome to our live broadcast of the 2014 Club World Cup final between Manchester City and San Lorenzo."

"The team in sky-blue jerseys is the current Champions League winner, Manchester City. The team in red and blue striped jerseys is the Copa Libertadores champion, San Lorenzo."

"Hehe, at first glance, it looks like Manchester City is playing against Barcelona!"

"Yes, indeed. San Lorenzo's jerseys do look a bit like Barcelona's. Coincidentally, this team hails from Messi's homeland, Argentina."

After quickly introducing the starting lineups of both teams, the two commentators began chatting.

"Before this match, Manchester City has already won the Community Shield, FA Cup, Premier League, Champions League, and UEFA Super Cup, making it a total of six trophies. If they win the Club World Cup today, they will become the second team after Barcelona to achieve the sextuple."

"Coincidentally, the person who led Barcelona to that achievement is now sitting on Manchester City's bench—Pep Guardiola!"

The commentators' tones were full of respect when talking about Guardiola. Despite his young age, he has achieved worldwide recognition. The possession-based football style he pioneered has led an era, becoming a model for many teams to learn and emulate. If he can replicate his success with Barcelona at Manchester City, he might claim the title of the best football manager in the world.

Guardiola sat calmly on the bench, seriously watching the match. He did not underestimate the opponent despite their perceived weaker strength. In single-elimination matches, upsets can easily occur. If the opponent has a solid game plan and a bit of luck, they could defeat them in a surprise upset.

Therefore, Manchester City played very patiently in this match. They didn't rush their attacks but first solidified their defense, steadying themselves before probing the opponent's weaknesses for a lethal strike. As a result, the first ten minutes of the match seemed very calm.

However, after those ten minutes, Manchester City's attacks began to intensify. In the 12th minute, a series of passes from Manchester City exposed a slight flaw in San Lorenzo's defense. The City players quickly capitalized on it, with Lin Quan making a run towards the gap. De Bruyne, following closely, passed the ball to him. Their coordination was seamless, giving the opponent no time to react. Lin Quan, after two quick dribbles, entered the penalty area and took a shot. Unfortunately, aiming for a corner, the ball narrowly missed, grazing the post and going out, causing Manchester City fans to sigh in disappointment.

San Lorenzo's players were startled. The first ten minutes of Manchester City's slow pace had given them a false sense of security. They thought the European champions weren't that formidable. But when Manchester City suddenly increased their tempo with quick passes and sharp movements, San Lorenzo struggled to keep up.

"Stay focused and alert, don't let your guard down!" San Lorenzo's coach shouted from the sidelines, unhappy with his team's defense. If their luck had been worse, they would have already been trailing.

Unlike San Lorenzo's coach, Guardiola remained composed. Was this all it took to rattle them? They were just starting to speed up; the main act was yet to come.

Guardiola deployed a false nine formation today, clearly making Lin Quan the focal point of their attack. Since leaving Barcelona, Guardiola hadn't coached a player similar to peak Messi. Now, with someone arguably even more formidable, he was thrilled. Guardiola knew well how to utilize such a player.

Starting from the 10th minute, Lin Quan became increasingly active upfront. His involvement saw Manchester City's attacks surge, putting immense pressure on San Lorenzo. In the 15th minute, Lin Quan's turn and shot from the edge of the box struck the crossbar, sending chills down San Lorenzo's spine. This guy was just too lively to contain. Seeing regular methods fail, San Lorenzo resorted to more fouls to try and stop Lin Quan.

The match referee, Walter Lopez from Guatemala, maintained a strict officiating standard. After the first foul on Lin Quan, he immediately gave a verbal warning to San Lorenzo's players about their actions. When Lin Quan was fouled again, Lopez did not hesitate to show a yellow card. San Lorenzo's number 20 midfielder, Ortigoza, received the match's first yellow card in the 17th minute. Burdened with heavy defensive duties, Ortigoza became hesitant after the booking, affecting his defending. Noticing this, Manchester City exploited his weakness.

Ortigoza soon found himself overwhelmed as the waves of Manchester City's attacks left him flustered, causing multiple errors. His teammates had to help cover, leading to overall defensive instability.

A breakthrough was imminent. In the 22nd minute, Lin Quan dribbled past Ortigoza, who dared not tackle him, and charged into the penalty area. Drawing the defenders and goalkeeper's attention, he passed the ball across the goal. De Bruyne, following up, easily slotted the ball into the empty net. The score was 1-0, and Manchester City took the lead.

De Bruyne's goal seemed effortless. Lin Quan's single breakthrough had dismantled San Lorenzo's entire defense, leaving De Bruyne to simply tap the ball in. Even an eighty-year-old granny could have scored that goal in such a situation. Celebrating the goal, De Bruyne gestured to Lin Quan to join him. Lin Quan, laughing, ran over, hugging De Bruyne and asking, "How was my pass?"

De Bruyne, with a serious face, replied, "It was alright. It would've been perfect if you had passed to my right foot."

De Bruyne's preferred foot was his right, but who could consider such details when passing? Amid the intense pressing and marking, just delivering the pass was already impressive enough. Lin Quan, hearing De Bruyne's words, rolled his eyes, "Try passing me such a ball yourself!"

De Bruyne nodded, "Sure, let's see!"

...

Beautiful!"

"What a beautiful pass!"

"To pass the ball surrounded by three players, Lin Quan's vision and passing ability are amazing!"

In the CCTV studio, the two commentators couldn't help but praise this play. The credit mainly went to Lin Quan, who managed to pass the ball out, completely collapsing the opponent's defense. De Bruyne's shot was almost effortless; anyone else could have scored too.

"Some worry that as Lin Quan ages and injuries accumulate, his explosiveness and speed will decline, making it hard for him to make such sharp breakthroughs and thus losing his threat. But in this game, Lin Quan showed with his excellent passing that even without his breakthrough ability, he could still secure a place in the team with his outstanding passing skills."

"In fact, since Suárez joined Barcelona, Messi has also started to transform. His number of breakthroughs has decreased, and his passing has increased. At Barcelona, Messi's share of goals has decreased, but Suárez and Neymar's goal numbers have skyrocketed. This hasn't weakened Barcelona; it has actually improved their overall strength. This year's Champions League is likely to be even more intense than last year. With Real Madrid's BBC, Barcelona's MSN, and the strong defending champion Manchester City, these three teams are considered the favorites to win this year's Champions League!"

...

After conceding a goal, San Lorenzo strengthened their defense against Lin Quan while launching their own attacks. They clearly realized that if they couldn't limit Lin Quan's performance, they had no chance of winning this match. However, while Guardiola heavily utilized Lin Quan, he didn't place all the attacking tasks on him alone. When Lin Quan was tightly marked, other Manchester City players stepped up. In the 42nd minute, Navas scored again from a great pass by De Bruyne, making it 2-0.

With this goal, Manchester City had one hand on the trophy. They were getting closer to their first Club World Cup title and achieving the sextuple. In the second half, San Lorenzo made a substitution, taking off the yellow-carded Ortigoza. However, they brought on an attacking player instead of a defensive one, further weakening their midfield defense.

With fewer players in midfield, San Lorenzo couldn't maintain possession despite having more players upfront. Manchester City completely controlled the midfield. Having secured the midfield, Manchester City played their signature Guardiola-style possession football. From then on, Manchester City's possession rate skyrocketed. They almost always had the ball, and San Lorenzo barely touched it. Even if San Lorenzo occasionally won the ball back, Manchester City quickly pressured and regained possession.

At this point, all Manchester City players, except the goalkeeper, were pressing upfield. They kept passing and attacking outside the opponent's penalty area, leaving San Lorenzo's players to chase the ball helplessly. Manchester City's attacks were relentless, like waves crashing in. San Lorenzo's players were under immense physical and mental pressure, feeling extremely stifled. They had no solution as Manchester City's ball control was too strong to break.

San Lorenzo's coach watched in terror, his body trembling. This Manchester City team was far superior to any opponent they had faced in their league or the Copa Libertadores. Before this, they had never encountered such a formidable opponent. This was Guardiola's possession football. Although he had heard of it before, this was his first close-up experience of its oppressive power. He looked fearfully at the bald man on the sidelines, wondering what kind of genius could devise such a revolutionary and creative tactic.

On the pitch, San Lorenzo's players were visibly fatigued and mentally strained. Despite only being 60 minutes into the game, some players were panting heavily, and a few even started cramping. The massive physical and mental strain led to more fouls and yellow cards. In the 61st minute, Navas was fouled while breaking through, resulting in a yellow card for San Lorenzo's number 11 player. In the 65th minute, Lin Quan was brought down by their winger, and San Lorenzo's number 7 received a yellow card.

Compared to their opponents, Manchester City, controlling the game, consumed less energy. As San Lorenzo's players tired, they could no longer resist Manchester City's attacks. In the 72nd minute, Lin Quan half-turned and shot from the edge of the box, scoring again to make it 3-0. This goal completely killed the game. San Lorenzo, already weaker than Manchester City, had no hope of a comeback given the score and the game's flow.

With the game decided, Guardiola began making substitutions to conserve his players' energy for their pursuit in the Premier League. Before being substituted, De Bruyne delivered a perfect pass to Lin Quan in the 77th minute. In open play, he calculated the timing and distance accurately, placing the ball right in front of Lin Quan's right foot.

The precision of this pass made Guardiola jump up from the bench, eyes wide open. Lin Quan was also surprised. He had only joked with De Bruyne earlier, not expecting him to actually do it. Faced with such a perfect pass, Lin Quan did not waste the assist. Without needing to adjust, he swung his leg and sent the ball into the top corner of the net, making it 4-0. Lin Quan scored his second goal of the final, completing his brace.

After Lin Quan's goal, Guardiola eagerly used two substitutions to replace both him and De Bruyne. As they walked off, the fans stood up and applauded them. This match left a lasting impression of both Lin Quan and De Bruyne on the fans. Especially De Bruyne's final pass, which stunned the entire stadium. Since leaving Chelsea, De Bruyne had improved rapidly. Though not as renowned as other world-class midfielders, his skills were just as formidable.

Shortly after their substitution, the referee blew the final whistle. With four splendid goals, Manchester City triumphed, not only defending Europe's honor but also claiming their first Club World Cup title. This was their seventh trophy of the season, crowning them the first team in Premier League and football history to achieve a septuple.

Chapter 359: Chelsea's Crushing Defeat and the Arrival of the Ballon d'Or

After the Club World Cup award ceremony, Manchester City wasted no time in taking Mansour's private jet back to Manchester with their trophy. Predictably, upon arrival at Manchester's airport, City players were surrounded by a sea of ecstatic fans who had come to welcome them.

This was Manchester City's first Club World Cup and their first septuple, a feat never achieved by their rivals, Manchester United. The Blue Moon fans had every reason to be overjoyed and excited.

That night, Manchester was engulfed in celebration. Fans worldwide rejoiced over Manchester City's septuple. The news quickly spread throughout the football world.

"A septuple! That's incredible!"

"Congratulations to Manchester City on their septuple and to Lin Quan and Guardiola for unlocking this new achievement!"

"Keep it up, City! Aim for another one this year!"

"Ha, no chance! They've already been knocked out of the League Cup by Newcastle!"

"Messi won the Ballon d'Or after achieving the sextuple and then went on to win four in a row. Is Lin Quan following in Messi's footsteps?"

"It seems possible! Lin Quan plays like Messi, so his honors should match up as well!"

"I'm not so sure. Messi was not only strong in those years, but Barcelona was also in a league of its own. Messi's success came from a perfect combination of timing, location, and support. Manchester City did well last season, but their performance this season has been inconsistent. Plus, with fierce competition from Messi and Ronaldo, winning four Ballon d'Ors in a row will be much harder for Lin Quan."

"No worries. Lin Quan is still young, and he has a long future ahead. Once Ronaldo and Messi retire, the Ballon d'Or will be his for the taking!"

"Who knows? Maybe an even better player will emerge in the future."

"I doubt it. European players now seem to be factory-made, like robots—well-rounded but not outstanding."

"Yeah, creative young players in football are becoming rarer. Standardized training makes it very hard for new players to reach the heights of Lin Quan, Messi, or Ronaldo."

"And Lin Quan is so young. Any player over 18 will struggle to surpass him. As for those under 18, it will take them four or five years to emerge!"

Fans were full of admiration for Lin Quan. His sudden rise had excited those tired of the Messi-Ronaldo era. But they also felt for the young players who would follow, knowing how massive the challenge would be with Lin Quan standing in their way.

After Manchester City achieved their septuple, an old question from last year resurfaced—can City be considered a top club?

"Does this septuple make Manchester City a top club?"

"Probably. In terms of honors, I'd say City's achievements are already more impressive than Arsenal's. If Arsenal is a top club, why shouldn't City be?"

"Come on, no matter how bad Arsenal gets, they still have 13 top league titles. In terms of history and honors, how can City compare to Arsenal?"

"Exactly! Arsenal's status isn't a fluke."

City fans were not convinced and brought up a painful point for Arsenal fans:

"Good point, but I have a question—what has Arsenal won in the past ten years?"

"Sure, Arsenal was glorious in the past, but that's history. Since the Premier League started, they've only won three league titles, just one more than City. And they've never won the Champions League!"

"Past titles still count. City should be compared to Chelsea. Chelsea became a top club after winning three league titles and a Champions League."

The debate went on, with neither side conceding. However, by Chelsea's standards, City might be one league title away from top-club status. Regardless, the entire Premier League was both shocked and worried about City's septuple.

Winning titles in all competitions is immensely difficult, as Manchester United, who have tried many times, knows best. Winning both the Premier League and Champions League simultaneously is already a Herculean task. Most teams can only focus on one competition, either the league or the Champions League. Only a few top clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern, and Manchester United can compete on multiple fronts. Even then, the risk of failure is high, and it's easy to end up empty-handed.

Manchester United has won the Champions League twice and was the first team in the top five leagues to achieve a treble. However, in the 1998-1999 season, they lost the League Cup, Community Shield, and European Super Cup. In the 2007-2008 season, they didn't even win the FA Cup.

Before Manchester City, only three teams had achieved the treble: Manchester United (1998-1999), Barcelona (2008-2009), and Inter Milan (2009-2010). Bayern Munich came close in the 2012-2013 season but were eliminated by Werder Bremen in the German Cup, missing the chance.

Even Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have failed to achieve the treble, showing how difficult it is. As for the sextuple, only Barcelona has ever completed it, making it even harder. Therefore, Manchester City's septuple has shaken the Premier League immensely. Though there's still debate about whether City is a top club, their current trajectory suggests it's only a matter of time.

Especially with Lin Quan and Guardiola, and the support of the Abu Dhabi group, City's future looks bright. While this may be great for their fans, it's a nightmare for other Premier League teams, who have now agreed to do their utmost to stop City.

On January 2nd, in the 20th round of the Premier League, Manchester City hosted Sunderland. Before the match, Sunderland's coach boasted about weighing the strength of the septuple winners. Normally, such talk would be seen as overconfidence. Sunderland, after all, couldn't compare to Manchester City. If City went all out, a two-goal win would be a modest outcome.

However, this time, things were not in City's favor. Despite the main players' return after winning the Club World Cup, they were exhausted from the game and travel. To avoid injuries, Guardiola again used a full reserve lineup. Unfortunately, just seven minutes in, City conceded a penalty and a red card, making their home defense incredibly tough.

Adam Johnson, who briefly played for City, calmly converted the penalty, giving Sunderland the lead. Despite Nasri equalizing for City, Sunderland's Jack Rodwell scored in the 68th minute, restoring their lead.

Coincidentally, Rodwell was also a former Manchester City player. He transferred to Sunderland last summer for 12.6 million euros and scored the decisive goal on his first return to the Etihad Stadium.

With two former players turning against them, Manchester City suffered a 1-2 home defeat to Sunderland. Sunderland's coach backed up his pre-match talk, delivering a cold, harsh reminder to Manchester City fans that their time of joy was over and darkness was coming.

The news of Sunderland's triumph at the Etihad became the top story across major news outlets. An underdog victory always captures the public's imagination, especially when the upset is against a team that had just secured a historic septuple.

Media outlets that had previously praised Manchester City's achievements now turned their praise into ridicule, becoming tools for rival fans to mock City.

"Ha! This morning, the media was singing praises of City's septuple, and by evening, they were slamming and criticizing them. Interesting, very interesting!"

"Typical media behavior. Trusting their integrity is like believing pigs can fly!"

Some fans were fed up, noting that it was the same media hyping up and now tearing down City, all for the sake of selling more papers.

City's shock defeat brought immense joy to Chelsea fans. They saw a golden opportunity: a win in their upcoming match would widen the gap between Chelsea and City to six points. With the season halfway through, a six-point lead would be significant and could be crucial for Chelsea's title hopes.

However, high hopes can lead to great disappointment. As Chelsea fans assumed an easy win, Tottenham had other ideas.

While Spurs might not be a top-tier club, they are certainly a strong second-tier team. Chelsea might be formidable, but they are not unbeatable, especially at Tottenham's home ground.

Thus, at home, Spurs engaged Chelsea in a fierce battle. Despite Chelsea scoring first, Harry Kane led Tottenham in a 20-minute spree, scoring four goals and leaving Chelsea reeling.

Chelsea fans were stunned: is this the same Spurs team that Manchester City regularly thrashed? Spurs were so fierce it seemed like they might hand Chelsea a crushing defeat.

Tottenham, which had suffered heavily against Manchester City in recent seasons, averaging 5.5 goals conceded per game, turned their frustration into a powerful display. Chelsea had not faced such an aggressive attack all season, not even from Manchester City.

In the end, Tottenham secured a 5-3 victory, defending their honor with a resounding win. Chelsea, meanwhile, failed to extend their lead at the top and revealed vulnerabilities for other teams to exploit.

This match saw Harry Kane's market value soar from 5.5 million euros to 50 million euros, replacing players like Jack Wilshere as the new darling of English football. England proved once again they are experts at creating stars, and many believed in Kane's potential.

Manchester United quickly made a 50 million-pound offer to bring Kane to Old Trafford as a replacement for the declining Rooney. Surprisingly, Kane refused to leave White Hart Lane. A product of Tottenham's youth academy, Kane was deeply attached to the club and wanted to win a title with them before considering a move.

This decision endeared him to Spurs fans, and the club's chairman immediately sought to renew his contract with a pay raise.

Chelsea's unexpected loss gave City some respite from media criticism. The media quickly shifted their focus to Chelsea, criticizing Mourinho for underestimating Tottenham. Manchester City, having fielded a full reserve team, now seemed less controversial.

In this relatively relaxed atmosphere, City calmly regained their form. On January 4th, after a three-day rest, City fielded their main players in the FA Cup third round and defeated Sheffield Wednesday 4-1 at home, advancing to the next round.

The entire team performed exceptionally well, especially Lin Quan. He completed a hat-trick in the first half alone, effectively ending the match and turning the second half into a formality.

With the Ballon d'Or ceremony approaching, Lin Quan's hat-trick was a perfect showcase of his outstanding form. The Ballon d'Or seemed all but assured for him.

Chapter 360: Nike Panics, Offers 45 Million Big Contract!

Chapter 360: Nike Panics, Offers 45 Million Big Contract!

With the World Club Cup trophy secured and the septuple accomplished, the calls for Lin Quan to win the Ballon d'Or grew louder. With less than half a month to go until the award ceremony, Lin Quan's lead over Messi and Ronaldo was so significant that even their fans had accepted the outcome.

"Never mind, Messi already has four Ballon d'Ors, what's the harm in letting Lin Quan have one?" Messi's fans were confident. Having achieved four consecutive Ballon d'Ors, Messi was the player with the most Ballon d'Or wins in history. At only 27, he had at least five more peak years, during which he could aim for a fifth or even sixth Ballon d'Or.

Ronaldo's fans, though less confident, still took pride in his two Ballon d'Ors, placing him alongside legends like Beckenbauer and Ronaldo. Despite approaching 30 and having only two or three peak years left, Real Madrid's current dominance meant Ronaldo could still aim for more titles, possibly securing a third Ballon d'Or.

Despite Lin Quan's strong position, Manchester City didn't take any chances. No player in the club's history had ever won the Ballon d'Or, and Lin Quan was poised to break that record. The club ramped up its efforts to campaign for him, knowing that while the player's performance was crucial, club support was also essential.

Unlike Real Madrid, Manchester City was a newcomer without deep connections in football. Thus, they leveraged their financial power, investing in global media campaigns to promote Lin Quan. As a result, numerous reports began surfacing, praising Lin Quan and arguing that he deserved the Ballon d'Or.

Such extensive coverage ensured that if Lin Quan didn't win, it would conflict with public perception, sparking significant controversy and reducing the chances of behind-the-scenes manipulation.

Nike also joined in, utilizing their influence in football to back Lin Quan. They saw his potential to boost their brand and sought to renew their contract with him. While Nike's influence wasn't as substantial as Adidas's, they aimed to attract athletes with better offers. Given Lin Quan's rapid rise, Nike couldn't afford to lose him to competitors.

With Ronaldo nearing 30, Nike needed a new face for their football strategy. Lin Quan, talented and young, was the perfect candidate. To secure his loyalty, Nike contacted his agent, offering to help him win next year's Laureus Award.

"Wait, the Laureus Award?" Lin Quan was surprised when his agent, Pere, mentioned it. He knew the award, typically dominated by sports like racing, tennis, and golf, rarely acknowledged footballers. Thus, he had never considered it a possibility.

"Yes, Nike wants to position you as their top athlete and push for the Laureus Award next year," Pere explained.

Winning the Laureus Award required exceptional achievements in international sports and unanimous recognition from the selection committee. Competing against athletes from various sports, the award was fiercely contested. Recent winners were often from athletics and tennis, with names like Bolt, Nadal, and Djokovic frequently appearing.

Despite multiple nominations, footballers like Ronaldo and Messi had never won. Rumors suggested that the existence of the more prestigious Ballon d'Or made Laureus judges less likely to vote for footballers, making it an extremely tough award for them to win.

However, Nike's substantial influence across multiple sports, with numerous sponsored athletes, couldn't be ignored. With their full support, Lin Quan had a real chance. Reflecting on his 2014 performance, he had achieved the pinnacle for a footballer, winning league titles, cup competitions, the Champions League, World Cup, and Club World Cup.

Individually, Lin Quan had also swept the awards, including league top scorer, league MVP, Champions League top scorer, Champions League MVP, World Cup top scorer, and World Cup MVP. His achievements matched those of his competitors, and with Nike's backing, he felt a Laureus Award was within reach.

"What does Nike want in return?" Lin Quan knew there were no free lunches.

"They want to renew your contract or sign a longer-term sponsorship deal," Pere replied.

Lin Quan's current contract with Nike, signed in 2013, was worth 18 million euros over three years and was nearing its end. With a superstar like Lin Quan, Nike's urgency was understandable.

"What are they offering?"

Someone couldn't wait to send money my way, and no one would refuse such a good thing. Of course, at this moment, the initiative to renew the contract was in Lin Quan's hands, and he would certainly use this opportunity to secure more benefits for himself. Sponsors might be strong when facing other players, but they can't be strong when facing top-tier players because superstars don't lack suitors, just like a beautiful woman doesn't lack admirers.

"They've offered you a five-year, 45 million euro contract!" Pere's voice on the other end of the phone sounded excited. Compared to the previous three-year, 18 million euro contract, Nike's new offer was full of sincerity. The previous contract amounted to 6 million euros per year, while the new one increased that to 9 million euros annually, a 50% increase. This rate even surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo's.

In 2013, Ronaldo renewed his contract with Nike for five years and 40 million euros, making his annual rate 1 million euros less than Lin Quan's. The value of a sponsorship contract directly reflects a player's status with the sponsor. Lin Quan's higher rate meant that, in Nike's eyes, his status and commercial value surpassed Ronaldo's, making him the top star in Nike's football strategy. This was what Pere felt showed Nike's full sincerity.

However, Lin Quan was not entirely satisfied with the amount. He remembered that when NBA star LeBron James first entered the league in 2003, he signed a seven-year, 93 million dollar contract with Nike. In 2010, when he renewed his contract, industry speculation suggested that LeBron's sponsorship deal exceeded 200 million dollars, potentially reaching an astonishing 40 million dollars a year. Compared to Lin Quan's 9 million euros a year, LeBron's contract was about four times higher. This significant disparity made Lin Quan a bit displeased.

LeBron James might be the top player in the NBA, and his status might be slightly higher than Lin Quan's, but the gap in their standing shouldn't be four times as wide. So, why was Nike willing to pay LeBron so much more in sponsorship than they were willing to pay him?

"Um, well..." Pere was momentarily speechless, unsure how to explain to Lin Quan. Compared to football, basketball's global influence was indeed smaller. In the U.S., basketball wasn't even the number one sport. Judging by the global frenzy during last year's World Cup, football was undoubtedly the world's most popular sport. However, football had a fatal flaw: football shoes were hard to sell.

Basketball player contracts were largely centered around shoe endorsements, with sponsors often developing exclusive shoes for them. Fans could buy these shoes to wear both in sports and in daily life, leading to a vast consumer base and high sales. Sponsors could gain huge profits from shoe sales, making them willing to spend big on signing athletes.

However, football shoes were too specialized. Spiked shoes weren't suitable for everyday wear, only for the field. Professional football shoes were expensive and had limited use, only appealing to football enthusiasts. Ordinary fans might buy a jersey, but were unlikely to buy football shoes, limiting their market. Consequently, football player sponsorship deals were naturally lower than those for NBA players.

"That's not an issue. I'm not always wearing football shoes; I can definitely endorse Nike's everyday sports shoes and other products. There's no need to limit it so strictly!" Lin Quan's thinking was a bit unconventional.

"Okay, I'll relay your feedback to Nike and see what they say."

Nike received Pere's feedback and immediately convened an emergency meeting to discuss. They weren't sure about the effectiveness of having a football player endorse products unrelated to football. Usually, they would choose track athletes or celebrities for such endorsements, rarely football players. Moreover, Lin Quan's contract amount already exceeded Ronaldo's, and increasing it further might cause significant dissatisfaction from Ronaldo.

Thus, Nike politely declined Pere's proposal. To compensate Lin Quan, they promised to do everything possible to help him win the Laureus Award next year.

"Then let's wait for the results of next year's Laureus Award," Lin Quan replied, somewhat dissatisfied with Nike's response. It felt like they were offering a vague promise to trick him into renewing his contract early. Without a guarantee, Lin Quan wasn't inclined to trust such empty promises. Fortunately, the Laureus Award shortlist would be announced early next month, and the ceremony would be held on April 15, 2015, at the Shanghai Grand Theater. Nike's sincerity would be evident by then.

After rejecting Nike's renewal offer, Lin Quan refocused on his matches.

On January 10, Manchester City visited Everton at Goodison Park. They received good news: Agüero and Kroos had both recovered from injuries and were included in the squad, coming on as substitutes in the second half. With a full-strength squad, Manchester City led 3-0 by halftime with goals from Lin Quan and De Bruyne. In the second half, Lin Quan scored again, completing hat-tricks in consecutive matches, showcasing his red-hot form.

Soon after completing his hat trick, Lin Quan was substituted by Agüero. As Lin Quan left the field, Guardiola, seemingly worried that Lin Quan might be upset, hugged him and explained his reason for the early substitution.

"You've already scored three goals. Everton's players are getting desperate, and if you stay on the field, they might target you with fouls and retaliations, which could be dangerous, so I substituted you."

Lin Quan looked at Guardiola and curiously asked, "When you substituted Messi, did you also explain it like this?"

Chapter 361: The Ballon d'Or Announcement, and the Winner Is... Lin Quan!

Chapter 361: The Ballon d'Or Announcement, and the Winner Is... Lin Quan!

After playing the match against Everton, Lin Quan and Guardiola took a flight to Switzerland to attend the FIFA awards ceremony. Upon arrival, they were surrounded by a throng of journalists, forming a tight ring around them. Behind the journalists, a large number of fans were held back by the venue's security. Some held up posters of Lin Quan, while others wore his jersey, all chanting his name, hoping for an autograph.

Seeing the sea of cameras and flashing lights, Guardiola couldn't help but feel nostalgic. He remembered how, just two years ago, when he first brought Lin Quan to such events, Lin was an unknown, unnoticed by the crowd. Now, he had become a superstar on par with Ronaldo and Messi. Such rapid progress in just two years was astonishing!

Lin Quan, always affectionate toward his fans, saw those holding his support signs and smiled, waving at them. He took the jerseys and autograph books handed to him and signed his name. Of course, with so many fans present, it was impossible to satisfy everyone's autograph and photo requests.

Once inside the venue with Guardiola, Lin Quan was about to sit anywhere when a staff member guided him to a seat in the front row, specifically prepared for him. Seated next to him was a familiar face, dressed in a sharp suit with a friendly smile—Lionel Messi.

"Hi, Messi!" Lin Quan greeted him, noticing Messi's smile directed at him.

"Hello, Lin. Did you come with Pep?" Messi asked, glancing at Guardiola seated not far behind them, his tone filled with a hint of envy.

"Yeah, he got nominated for the Best Coach award, so we came together," Lin Quan replied. He figured Guardiola was likely there just for show, as the Best Coach award for 2014 was almost certainly going to Vicente del Bosque, who led Spain to defend their World Cup title. Even if Del Bosque were out of the running, Manchester City's former coach, Pellegrini, who was recovering from illness, had a better chance with his five trophies.

"I envy you, getting to be coached by Pep. It's something many players dream of," Messi said, clearly admiring Guardiola.

"If you really envy me, why not accept Manchester City's offer and come play under him?" Lin Quan joked, inviting Messi.

"Don't joke. Barcelona would never accept City's offer," Messi shook his head, finding Lin's joke not amusing.

"If you really want to go, why wouldn't they accept?" Lin Quan said casually, sensing that while Messi admired Guardiola, his attachment to Barcelona was deeper. Messi just smiled and shook his head, not pursuing the topic further.

The two then chatted about football techniques. Their playing styles were similar, and many techniques were unique to them, making it hard to find someone else to discuss these topics with. Meeting someone with a similar style and level felt like looking in a mirror, and once they started talking, they couldn't stop, bonding like long-lost brothers.

"Does horse stance really improve lower body stability?" Messi asked, somewhat skeptical.

"Of course, squats and horse stance both help. I've tested it myself," Lin Quan affirmed. For players like them, active in the frontcourt core area, a stable lower body and strong physical confrontations were crucial. Only with a stable lower body and improved physical confrontation could they hold the ball after receiving it, allowing for breakthroughs, passes, or dribbling.

"Also, understanding kinesiology and rehabilitation can help find the best way to play and fully tap into our potential. Modern sports increasingly rely on technology, and we need to keep learning to keep up," Lin Quan added.

Hearing Lin's confident advice, Messi became interested. "I'll try it when I get back."

Their styles were similar, and the defensive intensity they faced was almost identical. However, Lin Quan's performance in terms of fitness and injuries was noticeably better, indicating there was something behind it. With a mindset to learn and improve, Messi took Lin Quan's advice seriously.

The FIFA awards ceremony was broadcast live, and from the moment Lin Quan sat next to Messi, a camera was trained on them, capturing their interactions.

"Lin and Messi seem to get along well, chatting so happily."

"Both came from La Masia, so maybe they knew each other before."

"Yeah, possibly. Their skills and styles are similar, so it's not surprising they get along."

"During the Messi-Ronaldo era, it wasn't this harmonious."

"Back then, the media played up their rivalry, making it seem like there could only be one top player, leading to tension among their fans."

"Exactly. Players' personalities attract similar fans. Messi and Lin are both humble and low-key, so it's natural they get along. But Messi and Ronaldo being together feels odd."

"Stop pretending Messi is a saint. When you were attacking Ronaldo, where was the humility?"

In no time, the fans were arguing again. Wherever Messi and Ronaldo fans were, arguments seemed inevitable. Lin Quan's fans watched the drama unfold, enjoying the spectacle without getting involved.

Speak of the devil, as Lin Quan and Messi were chatting happily, a tall figure sat beside them. They both turned to see who it was—it was Ronaldo.

"What are you guys talking about?" Surprisingly, Ronaldo wasn't aloof but joined the conversation.

"We were discussing ways to improve fitness and reduce injuries," Lin Quan replied.

"Oh? Got any good tips?" Ronaldo asked, intrigued.

Lin Quan repeated what he had told Messi. Messi occasionally chimed in, and with Lin Quan between them, the three could converse without any apparent tension.

This scene left those who had been fervently arguing online speechless. Wasn't it said that Messi and Ronaldo saw each other as enemies and couldn't stand each other? How come they were chatting so warmly in private?

"Lin Quan has great people skills, managing to chat comfortably with both Messi and Ronaldo!" some observed. It was evident that Lin Quan's presence had eased the tension between Messi and Ronaldo. Otherwise, with their usual relationship, they would probably just greet each other briefly, never engaging in such a lively conversation.

...

At 7:30 PM, as the guests arrived one after another, the awards ceremony officially began. As usual, the first award announced was the Puskás Award. Lin Quan, Ronaldo, and Messi, sitting in the front row, appeared relaxed, knowing none of them were nominated for this year's Puskás Award.

"Who do you think will win this award?" Ronaldo, seemingly privy to some inside information, initiated the topic.

Lin Quan and Messi glanced at each other and simultaneously said, "James Rodríguez!"

Ronaldo was slightly taken aback by their unanimous answer. "How did you guess that?"

"It's simple. His goal had the highest difficulty and was the most visually impressive. While Van Persie's header and Cahill's volley were also spectacular, they didn't quite match James Rodríguez's goal," Lin Quan explained.

Sure enough, the answer was soon revealed, and it was as Lin Quan and Messi had predicted. The winner was Real Madrid's James Rodríguez for his stunning turn-and-volley goal at the World Cup, which had earned unanimous acclaim from the judges.

Following the Puskás Award, the host, along with invited guests, announced the 2014 FIFA/FIFPro World XI. The eleven players were:

Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas Defenders: Philipp Lahm, Sergio Ramos, Thiago Silva, Jordi Alba Midfielders: Andrés Iniesta, David Silva, Toni Kroos Forwards: Lin Quan, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi

The biggest winners were undoubtedly Spain, with six players in the lineup.

Next, the hosts announced the other awards. The Best Women's Coach went to Kellermann, and the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year was awarded to Nadine Kessler. On the men's side, Spain's coach Vicente del Bosque was unsurprisingly named the Best Men's Coach.

After these awards, it was time for the highlight of the evening—the FIFA Ballon d'Or. Despite its singular name, the award represented two honors: the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year.

The big screen began showcasing highlights of the three final nominees from the past year. As the top favorite, Lin Quan noticed that his highlights seemed to feature more prominently than those of Ronaldo and Messi. His highlight reel focused mostly on spectacular goals from the Champions League and the World Cup, especially the finals of both tournaments.

As the screen replayed these crucial moments, many in the audience were reminded of the unstoppable presence Lin Quan had been on the field. These familiar scenes rekindled memories for many, as most had watched the Champions League and World Cup finals, even if they hadn't followed every league match.

Once the highlight reel ended, the camera zoomed in on Lin Quan, Ronaldo, and Messi sitting in the front row. Their expressions varied: Lin Quan appeared calm and composed, showing no signs of nervousness, impressing many with his big heart and steady demeanor. Messi, too, seemed relaxed, knowing his chances were slim after a lackluster year in both club and international play. Ronaldo, on the other hand, tried to control his emotions, appearing slightly tense. His clenched fists on his lap betrayed his inner hope, though he knew his chances were slim.

Thierry Henry, the former Arsenal star known as the King of Highbury, stepped onto the stage to present the award. Holding an envelope with the winner's name, Henry's efficient and decisive style was evident. He didn't draw out the suspense with jokes or delays. After a quick glance at the card, he promptly announced the winner:

"The winner is... Lin Quan!"

As soon as Henry announced Lin Quan's name, Messi immediately began clapping, as if prepared for the outcome. Ronaldo, sitting to Lin Quan's right, first ruffled his hair, then clenched his lips before reaching out to shake Lin Quan's hand, congratulating him. "Congratulations, you deserve this trophy!"

Lin Quan stood up with a smile, hugging both Messi and Ronaldo. "Thank you. I hope we three will be sitting here again next year!"

"Haha, absolutely!" Messi replied confidently. While he wasn't sure about winning the Ballon d'Or again, he was confident about making the top three.

"Just make sure you both congratulate me when I win next year," Ronaldo quipped, implying that he was determined to claim the Ballon d'Or the following year.

Lin Quan smiled as he made his way to the stage to accept his award, surrounded by the applause and admiration of his peers. It was a moment of personal triumph and a sign of even greater things to come in his career.

Chapter 362: The Youngest Ballon d'Or Winner in History, A Hot Candidate for the Title of King!

"The Youngest Ballon d'Or Winner in History is Born!"

"2014 Ballon d'Or Announced: Lin Quan Wins by a Landslide with 68.7% of the Votes!"

"The Two Kings Can Now Be Called the Three Kings!"

After Lin Quan won the Ballon d'Or, the media wasted no time in extensively covering his victory. This Ballon d'Or carries significant weight and has little controversy. Among the three finalists, Lin Quan received nearly 70% of the votes, while Ronaldo got less than 20%, and Messi just over 10%. This might be the least controversial Ballon d'Or in the past 20 years. Moreover, it marks the first time in Ballon d'Or history that a player under 20 has won the award. Lin Quan, who is still more than a month away from turning 19, has shattered Ronaldo's previous record as the youngest winner. In 1997, Ronaldo was 21 when he first won the Ballon d'Or. Lin Quan has improved this record by a full two years!

This record is unprecedented and likely will never be matched. For an 18-year-old, securing a stable position in the first team is already challenging, let alone becoming the core of a team that wins both the Champions League and the World Cup. Before Lin Quan achieved this feat, no one in the football world even considered it possible because it seemed utterly unattainable.

However, this seemingly impossible feat has now occurred. Naturally, people began to compare Lin Quan to the first "King of Football"—Pelé! Both became famous at a young age and participated in the World Cup at a very young age, leading their teams to victory. Lin Quan's trajectory almost mirrors Pelé's. Therefore, many believe that Lin Quan might follow in Pelé's footsteps and become the new King of Football.

"This boy is like me. I think Lin will eventually become the King of Football!"

When these rumors reached Pelé, he personally expressed his high regard for Lin Quan, stating that Lin Quan is as outstanding as he was and will surely be crowned the new King of Football. However, another King of Football, Maradona, disagreed.

"Yes, I also believe Lin Quan will become the new King of Football, but I don't agree with Pelé. Lin Quan's style is clearly more like mine!"

Although the two Kings had some disagreements, they both concurred that Lin Quan would eventually become the King of Football. This filled fans with excitement!

"Two Kings endorsing him publicly; I ask, who else?"

"Haha, Lin Quan is not even 19 yet and already has so many honors and achievements. It's not surprising that the two Kings see him becoming a King too!"

"I'm not so sure. Pelé has a reputation for jinxing. If he says it, Lin Quan might just fall short!"

"You can't say that. Pelé predicted that Spain would win the World Cup, and he was right!"

"Even if you don't believe Pelé, you should believe Maradona's prediction, right?"

"Indeed, except for his coaching skills, Maradona has a good eye for talent!"

"It's too early to tell. Lin Quan is not even 19 yet; he's still very young. Young players are very prone to significant injuries, which can severely affect their performance. If he turns out to be a flash in the pan, he won't become the King of Football."

"Nonsense! Lin Quan is tough and resilient; he won't get injured so easily."

"Although Lin Quan has had fewer injuries, injuries are still a major concern. As long as he maintains his current form and avoids injuries, becoming the King of Football is just a matter of time!"

...

After winning the Ballon d'Or, Lin Quan became even more low-key. He didn't engage in the external debates, focusing instead on training and maintaining his form. With more main players recovering from injuries, Guardiola had more options at his disposal. However, he didn't give up on strengthening the team during the winter transfer window.

On January 17, Manchester City hosted Arsenal. Since receiving funding from the Abu Dhabi consortium, Manchester City has had more victories than defeats against Arsenal. Earlier in the season, Manchester City had already beaten Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. So, Manchester City wasn't too worried about the Gunners' challenge. They were more focused on the next match, an away game against Chelsea, which was expected to be much tougher.

Chelsea's home ground has always been difficult. They once held an 86-game unbeaten streak at home. For any team visiting Stamford Bridge, it was a daunting task. Last year, Manchester City had narrowly escaped defeat at Stamford Bridge, thanks to Lin Quan's stunning overhead kick in the final moments. Thus, Guardiola treated the match against Arsenal as a rehearsal for the Chelsea game, using it to experiment with new tactics.

This move angered Arsenal players. What did this mean? Using us as a test subject? Do they think we're pushovers? The Gunners, driven by their quest to secure a top-four finish, were formidable when provoked. Within 34 minutes of the first half, Arsenal surprisingly took a 2-0 lead over the reigning champions, with Cazorla contributing a goal and an assist.

This unexpected result shocked everyone. Manchester City fans at the stadium couldn't believe their eyes, thinking the score was surely reversed. Even the small contingent of traveling Arsenal fans was incredulous. What was going on? Were the Gunners finally rising? Leading the seven-time champions Manchester City by two goals at their home ground—was this real?

On the sidelines, Arsenal manager Wenger clenched his fists, trembling with excitement as Giroud headed in the second goal from Cazorla's assist. This season, with other teams heavily investing in their squads, Arsenal faced greater challenges. Their record in head-to-head matches against strong teams was poor, failing to win against Manchester United, Manchester City, and Chelsea, only managing a draw against Liverpool. This dismal record against strong teams had dropped Arsenal out of the top four, and they were struggling to secure a Champions League spot.

A victory in this match would not only bring them valuable three points but also end the embarrassing record of not winning an away game against the reigning champions since 2002. After the initial joy, Wenger forced himself to remain calm. It wasn't time to celebrate yet. The first half wasn't over, and they were facing Manchester City, the reigning champions. Manchester City was a formidable team, and they had players like Lin Quan who could single-handedly change the course of the game. A slight lapse could erase their current lead in no time.

...

On Manchester City's bench, Guardiola was getting restless. He had made some changes to the team's lineup and formation for this match, which had decreased the team's ability to intercept in the midfield. Additionally, the absence of Yaya Touré and the fact that Kroos was just returning from injury and not yet at his best affected the team's midfield strength.

Arsenal, on the other hand, was playing exceptionally well. Their passing and movement were not only elegant but also highly coordinated, making it difficult for City to defend against. Particularly, their attacks from the wings exposed the weaknesses in City's flank defense. However, the critical issue was the midfield battle, where Cazorla was incredibly active, making significant plays in dangerous areas.

Realizing this, Guardiola made bold adjustments. He moved City's defensive line forward, positioning captain Kompany as a sweeper at the back. Simultaneously, he made changes in the midfield by having the wingers tuck inside, increasing the number of players in the midfield. This strategy opened up the wings but set up two lines of interception inside.

Seeing Guardiola's adjustments, Wenger frowned. Why would Guardiola make such changes? With the wingers tucked in, it became easier for Arsenal to attack from the wings, which was exactly how they had been breaking through City's defense. Guardiola's strategy seemed to expose City's soft underbelly to Arsenal's attack.

Wenger, unable to understand the tactic, decided to observe the situation for a while. His indecisiveness struck again; in such moments, one should either solidify the defense or exploit the opponent's exposed weaknesses aggressively. Simply staying put while the opponent adjusted was the worst choice, especially since he overlooked his team's vulnerability to pressure.

Arsenal, when playing smoothly, could be invincible. However, under pressure, especially away from home, they struggled to turn things around.

Guardiola's adjustments quickly paid off. In the 43rd minute of the first half, City crowded Cazorla in the midfield, successfully dispossessing him. Fernandinho quickly passed the ball to De Bruyne, who then passed to Lin Quan. With the wingers tucked inside, they were closer to Lin Quan, supporting his advance into Arsenal's half and enabling quick, effective combinations.

Arsenal's players hesitated, not opting for an immediate multi-player press on Lin Quan. His dribbling was too strong; if they failed to dispossess him, it would leave their defense wide open. The question was, without pressing him, how could they stop his advance?

The answer: they couldn't. Lin Quan dribbled past Ramsey and Koscielny, advancing into the box. Mertesacker, Monreal, and Bellerín's attention was fully on Lin Quan. However, instead of shooting, he passed the ball to the other side of the box, assisting Navas who scored. City quickly pulled one back, changing the score to 1-2.

After the goal, Navas and Lin Quan ran into the net to grab the ball, both reaching out almost simultaneously. "Come on, let's get another one before halftime!" Lin Quan let Navas take the ball, patting him on the shoulder. "Right, let's do it!"

While City's morale soared, Arsenal's players became agitated after conceding. City's attack wasn't particularly complex, relying on a quick counter. Yet, Arsenal, having experienced the attack firsthand, felt a twinge of fear. City's attack was too fast and simple, involving only three forward passes before scoring. Arsenal had failed to limit any of these critical passes.

On the sidelines, Wenger pondered how to counter City's counterattacks. During the recent attack, De Bruyne and Lin Quan's passes were crucial. Lin Quan not only made the final assist but also drove the ball forward and drew defenders' attention. From near the center circle to the penalty area, Arsenal let him advance nearly 30 meters unchallenged. This was unacceptable. Simply fouling or stopping him would have prevented the goal.

However, stopping Lin Quan was easier said than done. Real Madrid and Barcelona knew his threat but couldn't contain him either. So, Wenger dismissed the impractical idea of stopping Lin Quan and focused on De Bruyne. Limiting De Bruyne's passing could reduce City's offensive threat. Wenger immediately adjusted, intensifying the defense on De Bruyne.

The change quickly took effect, decreasing De Bruyne's touches and passes. However, the overall situation worsened. With De Bruyne marked, another player stepped up—Kroos, who had previously underperformed. In stoppage time of the first half, City capitalized on another Arsenal mistake. Receiving Lin Quan's pass at the edge of the box, Kroos fired a long shot, scoring City's second goal.

Within minutes, City had scored twice, shaking Arsenal's confidence. For Arsenal players, City's goals seemed as effortless as eating or drinking. Their hard-earned lead vanished in minutes, making them question their ability to beat a strong team like City.

When Arsenal's players started doubting themselves, a collapse was imminent. In the second half, City continued their relentless attacks, repeatedly threatening Arsenal's goal, while Arsenal's counterattacks lost their initial creativity and effectiveness. Without inventive and coordinated passing, they couldn't breach City's defense.

The match ended 5-2, with Arsenal squandering a two-goal lead to lose the three points they should have secured. Post-match, photos surfaced online showing Wenger, silver-haired and carrying a suitcase, having fallen in a Manchester subway station, being helped up by security.

These images sparked widespread discussion. "Poor professor, that looks like a bad fall!" "He must be upset about the loss, and the slippery floor didn't help." "Heartbreaking for Arsenal fans, losing like this is really tough." "Wenger has aged; his black hair turned white in just a few years!" "He's sacrificed so much for Arsenal. If he coached elsewhere, he wouldn't have these troubles." "Wenger looks like he can't hold on for many more years. It's really despairing for Arsenal fans to see no hope like this!" (End of chapter)

Chapter 363: Transfer Window Opens, Manchester City Eyes Kimmich, Rüdiger, Kanté, and Other Young Talents

As Chelsea also won their match this round, Manchester City's game against Arsenal did not help close the gap between the two teams. The gap remained at three points, and with City set to face Chelsea away next, Guardiola decided to rest many of his key players during the midweek FA Cup match against Middlesbrough, fielding a semi-reserve lineup instead.

Unexpectedly, Manchester City lost 2-0 away to Middlesbrough and were knocked out of the FA Cup. This result caused quite a stir, with many questioning whether Guardiola's methods were indeed unsuited for the Premier League, as Mourinho had previously suggested.

Mourinho seized the opportunity to mock Guardiola, especially with their teams set to face each other in the next round. Engaging in psychological warfare to unsettle City's mindset could significantly improve Chelsea's chances of winning.

"I've always said Guardiola's style only works in La Liga. In another league, it just doesn't. The loss to Middlesbrough is proof!" Mourinho said. "In the next game at Stamford Bridge, I'll personally teach Guardiola how to play football in the Premier League, the world's top league!"

Initially, people were skeptical about Mourinho's claims. However, considering Manchester City's recent performances and current form, many started to believe Mourinho's words. City seemed to be in a slump, and facing Chelsea away at Stamford Bridge—one of the toughest places to play—was not promising.

Guardiola didn't bother to respond to Mourinho's trash talk, knowing full well from their La Liga days that Mourinho excelled in psychological games. Engaging would only play into Mourinho's hands.

However, the recent matches did expose some issues within City's squad. With Yaya Touré away at the Africa Cup of Nations, City's midfield was lacking depth. Additionally, there were numerous problems in their defense that needed addressing.

Therefore, with the transfer window still open, Guardiola began looking for new signings. First, he sold defender Mangala, bought from Porto in the summer window, for €23 million. Mangala had a poor half-season with City, frequently making costly errors. Additionally, he struggled to adapt to the weather and food in Manchester, making it hard for him to integrate into the team. Both parties agreed to part ways, with City taking a €7 million loss on his transfer fee.

With already limited defensive options, Mangala's departure made it imperative for City to sign a new defender. However, finding a good defender wasn't easy, especially with Paris Saint-Germain inflating the market. Given the exorbitant fees for defenders like David Luiz, it was clear that getting a quality defender would require a significant investment.

Guardiola set his sights on two Bayern Munich defenders: Boateng and Alaba. Despite being famously outmaneuvered by Lin Quan in a past match, Boateng had excellent defensive awareness. His fall in that instance was due to his mind keeping up with Lin Quan's speed, but his body couldn't. For an average defender, Lin Quan would have easily gotten past them on the first move. Boateng's ability to think quickly was commendable, even if his body couldn't always keep up. Besides Lin Quan, Boateng performed well against other players. His experience in the league and Champions League had honed his skills, showing great promise.

As for Alaba, Guardiola saw immense potential in him during his time at Bayern. Alaba, not yet 23, was incredibly talented but slightly inexperienced. He was strong, fast, and agile, capable of both attacking and defending. Guardiola saw him as a future top left-back. City's right-back Zabaleta was strong, but left-back Kolarov was weaker defensively despite his attacking prowess. In the previous match against Arsenal, it was Kolarov's side that Arsenal exploited to score twice. As a result, City often rotated between Kolarov and Clichy. Guardiola wanted a more balanced left-back to solve this issue once and for all.

Like Wenger, Guardiola preferred buying young talents. These players had more room for development, were more manageable, and could potentially become the team's backbone for years. If they didn't work out, they wouldn't cost much and could still be sold. Since he just joined City, there was less pressure for immediate results, allowing him to focus on building a team to his liking.

Thus, as the transfer window opened, City immediately submitted a bid to Bayern, offering €80 million for both players. This was a significant offer, but Bayern didn't even blink, rejecting it outright. With the Bundesliga only halfway through and the Champions League still in the knockout stages, Bayern couldn't afford to lose two key defenders. Heinkes, back from retirement, had ambitious plans for Bayern and wasn't about to let them go.

After Bayern's rejection, Guardiola dropped interest in Boateng and made a €40 million offer for Alaba alone, hoping it would be more acceptable. Despite the high price, Bayern refused again. Bayern's general manager, Hoeness, even stated that as long as Guardiola was at City, Bayern wouldn't conduct any business with them. Clearly, relations had soured following Guardiola's departure from Bayern.

With Bayern out of the question, Guardiola turned to other clubs, targeting players like Carvajal from Real Madrid and Hummels from Dortmund, hoping to secure their main defenders. However, clubs either refused due to their ambitions or took advantage of the situation to inflate prices, making it impractical for City to proceed.

A string of rejections left Guardiola frustrated. "Buying players during the winter break is really tough!" he sighed, collapsing onto his couch after a long day.

Lin Quan, returning from a football session with his brother Marius, overheard him and asked, "Still haven't secured a defender?"

"No, it's not that easy!" Guardiola shook his head. "Good defenders are as rare as gold. Those we want are either too expensive or unavailable. Should we buy players who might turn out to be liabilities?"

Lin Quan nodded in agreement. "How about I give you some suggestions?"

"You?" Guardiola looked at Lin Quan, puzzled. Did he really have knowledge in this area? But with nothing to lose, Guardiola decided to listen. "Alright, go ahead."

"Have you followed the matches in the second division of the Bundesliga?" Lin Quan asked.

Guardiola nodded, indicating he had.

The German leagues are well managed, and whether it's the Bundesliga, 2. Bundesliga, or even 3. Bundesliga, their finances are generally healthy. This financial health allows them to operate steadily, and the large football population base provides a constant stream of talent. Many teams, including Bayern, often loan young players to 2. Bundesliga teams to gain experience, making the 2. Bundesliga teams quite strong and the matches enjoyable to watch.

"Do you remember RB Leipzig's right-back Joshua Kimmich?" Lin Quan asked.

Guardiola thought for a moment and then nodded, "Yes, I do. The kid has a high football IQ, excellent defensive positioning, and a great cross!"

Guardiola recalled the memory fragment of Kimmich, a player who had caught his eye. If a player impressed him once, he usually wouldn't forget them.

"Kimmich is only 19 now, still very young. You could buy him to groom as a successor to Zabaleta. His market value isn't too high, probably between €7-10 million. By the time he's ready, Zabaleta will likely be retiring, making for a perfect transition!"

"Do you really rate him that highly?" Guardiola was surprised to hear Lin Quan say that Kimmich could be Zabaleta's successor. Guardiola knew Zabaleta's quality well, one of the few defenders he trusted completely on City's backline.

"It's not just me; Bayern also rates him highly. Considering Lahm's age, Bayern will probably make a move for him this summer. If you don't want to miss the chance, now is the last opportunity to act. Once Bayern shows interest, do you think you can outbid them?"

Having managed Bayern, Guardiola deeply understood Bayern's immense influence in the Bundesliga. For most German players, playing for Bayern significantly increased their chances of being selected for the national team. Bayern's invitation was almost impossible to refuse. Many players, upon learning of Bayern's interest, would even lower their transfer fees to join Bayern. This was why it was hard for other Bundesliga teams to resist Bayern's poaching, leading to Bayern's dominance in the league. The good players were all taken by Bayern, making it hard for other teams to compete.

Initially, Guardiola wasn't too concerned, but Lin Quan's words made him wary. It was no secret that Bayern was looking for Lahm's successor. Born in 1983, Lahm wasn't getting any younger and probably had only two or three seasons left. Bayern would surely find and groom a replacement soon. Kimmich, with his outstanding talent, would definitely catch Bayern's eye sooner or later.

Determined, Guardiola decided, "Alright, I'll have someone make an offer to Leipzig!"

"Make sure it's discreet. Don't let Bayern know. Once they intervene, it will be hard to get the player," Lin Quan reminded him.

"Yes, I'll be careful!"

Following Guardiola's instructions, Manchester City submitted a €5 million bid to RB Leipzig. For Leipzig, this was a significant amount. They had bought Kimmich from Stuttgart for only €500,000, and now they could make ten times the amount after just a year.

Feeling a bit surreal, Leipzig cautiously raised the price to €7 million, fearing they might scare off the buyer if they asked for too much.

To their surprise, Manchester City didn't haggle and directly agreed to the price, leaving Leipzig stunned. They felt they might have underpriced the player, thinking Manchester City might have agreed to a higher amount.

After reaching an agreement, City promptly transferred the money to Leipzig, impressing them with their speed and generosity. They regretted not having more players to sell to City.

Kimmich quickly arrived at Manchester City, passing his trial and medical examination. Guardiola was very satisfied with the 19-year-old, believing that with proper training, Kimmich could become a key player for City's defense.

Having seen the success of Lin Quan's suggestion, Guardiola now had great faith in him. After completing Kimmich's transfer, he eagerly sought more advice from Lin Quan.

"The team still needs a center-back, a midfielder, and a forward. Do you have any good recommendations?"

It turned out Lin Quan did.

"For center-back, Stuttgart's Rüdiger is good. His price should be reasonable, and he recently suffered a severe injury. You could probably get him for under €15 million."

"And for midfield, I know a very strong defensive midfielder."

"Oh? How strong?" Guardiola asked, intrigued.

"At his peak, he could reach the level of Makelele."

Guardiola's eyes widened in disbelief. Being a contemporary of Makelele, he knew just how formidable Makelele was, capable of playing as a single pivot. Without him, the attack-heavy Real Madrid might not have won the Champions League. It was no wonder Casillas once said he most missed Makelele. After Makelele left, even with stars like Zidane, Ronaldo, and Beckham, the Galacticos quickly declined without a solid defensive foundation.

"His name is N'Golo Kanté, a Frenchman currently playing for Caen in Ligue 1," Lin Quan revealed.

Chapter 364: Lin Quan and Guardiola Personally Secure Kanté, Manchester City Bids for Salah

January 24th, Rennes, the second-largest city in northwest France. Roazhon Park, Round 22 of Ligue 1. The match between 10th place Rennes and third-to-last Caen was underway. Normally, this match wouldn't attract much attention since neither team is particularly famous and Ligue 1 doesn't have a high viewership. However, when the cameras caught Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and the new Ballon d'Or winner Lin Quan in the stands, the fans went wild.

"Guardiola? What's he doing here?" "Is he scouting our players?"

The Rennes fans naturally assumed Guardiola was interested in their players since it was their home game. But in fact, Guardiola was there to watch Caen's number 17, N'Golo Kanté.

When Guardiola realized he was on the big screen, he waved and smiled at the fans. Lin Quan, next to him, clenched his right fist and made a cheering gesture, seemingly encouraging the players.

Their presence excited both teams' players. Lin Quan was a role model for many young players who aspired to become famous overnight like him. Guardiola, being a world-class coach, represented a gateway to playing for a big club.

Determined to catch Guardiola's eye, the players put extra effort into their performances. Midfielders were particularly motivated, as Guardiola has a penchant for signing midfielders.

Rennes' star midfielder, André, assumed Guardiola was there for him, leading him to play with extra enthusiasm. In the 15th minute, André scored a goal. Instead of celebrating with his teammates, he looked towards the stands to gauge Guardiola's reaction. Seeing Guardiola and Lin Quan applauding boosted his confidence, making him believe he had impressed the City manager.

However, his overenthusiasm backfired. Due to his mistakes, Caen managed to equalize before halftime. André's performance deteriorated further in the second half, and Caen seized the opportunity, scoring three more goals to win 4-1.

The home defeat angered Rennes fans, who had expected a victory against a newly promoted team. André, the main culprit for the loss, faced widespread criticism. Fans couldn't understand why Guardiola would be interested in such a player.

But Guardiola wasn't there for André or the match MVP, Julien. His eyes were fixed on Caen's number 17, the diminutive Kanté. Anyone who understood the game would have noticed his exceptional performance.

"How did he do?" Lin Quan asked after the match.

"Very impressive, he has great potential!" Guardiola's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Let's go meet him."

Kanté was surprised to receive a call from his agent saying Guardiola wanted to meet him. He was even more shocked to find himself sitting with Guardiola and Lin Quan at a café.

"Sit down, N'Golo, don't be nervous," Guardiola said with a smile. Lin Quan offered to order something for him, but Kanté, feeling overwhelmed, declined.

Once Kanté calmed down, Guardiola got straight to the point. "N'Golo, I want to bring you to Manchester City. Are you interested?"

Kanté, still in disbelief, quickly nodded. For someone from a grassroots background, an invitation from a Premier League giant was a dream come true.

Unlike those who came through professional academies, Kanté's journey was arduous. He had been rejected by several youth academies and played for a semi-professional club until he was 19. In 2010, he finally joined a professional club in Ligue 2, but they got relegated to the third tier. After gaining some experience, he joined Caen and helped them secure promotion to Ligue 1.

Guardiola and Lin Quan were impressed by Kanté's story and determination. After sealing the deal with Kanté, Guardiola turned to Lin Quan for more advice.

"The team still needs a center-back, a midfielder, and a forward. Do you have any other recommendations?"

Lin Quan thought for a moment. "For center-back, Stuttgart's Rüdiger is good. He's affordable, especially after his recent injury. Around €15 million should do it. As for a midfielder, I know someone who could be as good as Makelele at his peak. His name is N'Golo Kanté, and he plays for Caen in Ligue 1."

Guardiola was stunned but intrigued. Lin Quan's suggestions had been spot-on so far, and he trusted his judgment. They both agreed to secure the players before bigger clubs took notice.

The reality was that Caen was a weak team. Halfway through the season, they were at the bottom of Ligue 1 and were likely to be relegated back to Ligue 2. N'Golo Kanté, born in 1991, was about to turn 24. Spending a few more years in lower leagues would waste his prime as a professional player.

So, Guardiola's offer from Manchester City was like a lifeline for Kanté. He would have accepted even if it had come from a mid-tier Premier League team like Leicester City. Guardiola was surprised at how easily he secured Kanté, expecting more negotiation.

To avoid any complications and to compensate Caen, Manchester City offered £8 million. After some negotiation, the final price was set at £9 million, approximately €11 million. On January 25th, Manchester City announced the transfer on their club website.

This transfer was done so quickly that the public had no prior knowledge of it until Manchester City's official announcement. Fans were puzzled by the signing of Kanté, as they knew nothing about him. How could Manchester City be interested in a player with such an obscure background, one who had mostly played in lower leagues?

Guardiola, unfazed by public opinion, focused on finding a defender and a forward next.

In a Stuttgart hospital, a tall, young black player lay on a bed, staring at the ceiling. Antonio Rüdiger had suffered a meniscus injury a month ago, ending his season and requiring knee surgery. For a player not yet 22, such an injury was a significant risk. He was likely to lose his starting spot at Stuttgart and had already seen potential suitors retract their offers due to his injury.

The stark contrast between his past acclaim and current uncertainty left Rüdiger disheartened. His agent, Saif Rubie, visited him, trying to lift his spirits.

"Hey, Antonio, you need to stay strong!" Rubie said. "Focus on your recovery, leave the club matters to me. Trust me!"

Rüdiger was moved by Rubie's unwavering support during his low point, deepening his trust in him.

"I've discussed with Stuttgart. Once you recover, we'll see if you can get back into the starting lineup. If not, we'll look for a loan move. You need regular games to develop at this age."

Rüdiger nodded in agreement. Approaching 22, he needed playing time to maintain his growth, and a loan move could provide that opportunity. Without the injury, he wouldn't have faced any issues securing a starting spot.

"Where would the loan be? Germany or abroad?"

"I've spoken to Roma. They're interested in you. If you recover well, you could play in Serie A."

Roma was a reputable club, competitive in Serie A. Playing in Italy could help him develop his defensive skills. As Rüdiger was about to agree, Rubie received a phone call that left him smiling widely.

"Good news! We don't need a loan anymore. A top club has made an offer!"

"A top club? Who?"

"Manchester City!"

On January 26th, shortly after announcing their second winter transfer, Manchester City revealed their third: Stuttgart's main center-back, Antonio Rüdiger, transferred for €10 million. Last summer, clubs had offered €15 million for Rüdiger, but Stuttgart declined. His severe injury devalued him by a third, and Stuttgart, fearing permanent damage to his performance, quickly accepted Manchester City's offer.

With two new defenders and a midfielder, Guardiola concluded his defensive and midfield signings. As the transfer window neared its end, only a forward remained on his shopping list. On January 27th, The Sun reported that Manchester City had made a £12 million bid for Chelsea's Mohamed Salah.

(Chapter End)

Chapter 365: Top of the Table Clash: Manchester City vs. Chelsea

Life at Chelsea had not been easy for the Egyptian Pharaoh. Since joining Chelsea in the winter transfer window last year, Salah's time at the club had become increasingly difficult. Initially, Mourinho was very interested in him. Salah had left a deep impression on Mourinho by leading Basel to defeat Chelsea in the Champions League.

Because of this, Mourinho decided to bring him to Chelsea to solve their attacking problems. However, Salah, who performed outstandingly at Basel, struggled to adapt at Chelsea. During the 2013-2014 season, Salah still had some opportunities, appearing in 10 Premier League matches and scoring two goals. But this season, after Chelsea bought Diego Costa, Salah completely lost his place in the team. So far this season, he had only played in three Premier League matches, all as a substitute during garbage time, without scoring or assisting.

The lack of playing time left Salah disheartened. He realized he had no future at Chelsea and started seeking a loan move or even a transfer away. Just as Mourinho was eyeing Fiorentina's Cuadrado, he planned to use Salah as part of the deal by loaning him to Fiorentina.

The transfer negotiations were going smoothly until Manchester City intervened. Receiving a £12 million bid from Manchester City, Chelsea was taken aback. Were they genuinely interested in buying Salah, or were they just trying to disrupt the transfer negotiations with Fiorentina?

There were rumors that Manchester City was desperately looking for defenders, and Cuadrado's performance in Serie A was well recognized. Could it be that Guardiola was also interested in him? Mourinho found it hard to discern Guardiola's intentions.

Chelsea had bought Salah for £15 million, but his performance over the past two seasons had declined, dropping his market value. Therefore, Manchester City's £12 million offer was not too low, and there was room for negotiation. The final deal would likely settle around £15 million, a price Chelsea could accept if Manchester City was sincere.

However, selling a promising player to a direct league rival was something most clubs were unwilling to do. They would rather sell to clubs in other leagues, even for a lower price. Last winter, Manchester City had snatched up De Bruyne for a low price after he was sidelined at Chelsea. It turned out Chelsea had misjudged, suffering a significant loss.

Seeing De Bruyne's growing success at Manchester City, Chelsea fans deeply regretted the sale. If only they had known De Bruyne was this good, they wouldn't have sold him. If they had to sell, they shouldn't have sold him to Manchester City! For just €20 million, they gave Manchester City a midfield core, a deal that was a massive loss for Chelsea.

Learning from last year's lesson, Chelsea was very cautious when they received Manchester City's bid for Salah.

"Negotiate with Fiorentina again. We'll offer up to €30 million; if it's more than that, we won't buy," Mourinho decided.

Mourinho hadn't been too focused on Salah, nearly forgetting about him. But Manchester City's bid made him cautious, wondering if he had misjudged Salah. Guardiola, known for his sharp eye for talent, must have seen something special in Salah to bid for him.

However, if they kept Salah, the transfer fee negotiations with Fiorentina might fail. Fiorentina's asking price was €35 million, and Chelsea's offer was €5 million lower. Adding to this, Chelsea had pulled Salah from the agreed loan move, making Fiorentina quite unhappy. They felt Chelsea was insincere. Cuadrado's performances in Serie A and last year's World Cup were impressive, making €35 million a fair price for him.

Negotiations were stalling, so Chelsea had to increase their offer by €2 million. Fiorentina was reluctant but Cuadrado's desire to join Chelsea made them accept to avoid conflict with the player. As for Salah, his move was blocked by Chelsea after Manchester City's bid. This wasn't good news for the Egyptian Pharaoh, as he was unlikely to get playing time at Chelsea during their title chase. Lack of playing time was detrimental for a young player in a crucial development phase. Thus, Salah's attitude towards Mourinho shifted from respect to distance.

After Chelsea's refusal, Guardiola wasn't too upset. Salah's style was similar to Messi and Lin Quan. With Lin Quan already in the team, Salah would only serve as his backup. But Lin Quan's attendance rate was very high, with few injuries and excellent stamina, making a backup almost unnecessary.

So Chelsea's rejection didn't bother Guardiola much. Lin Quan, however, felt it was a missed opportunity. Salah was a key player at Liverpool, and getting him early could weaken Liverpool significantly. Unfortunately, the plan didn't work out, and it remained uncertain if Salah would join Liverpool when Klopp arrived in the Premier League.

This winter, Manchester City made four transfers: sold one player and bought three, with a net spend of just €5 million. Such a low spending amount could be mistaken for a small team in the top five leagues! Used to their club's lavish spending, Manchester City fans found the sudden frugality hard to accept. Last winter, they had made headlines with the €50 million signing of Kroos, making him the top transfer of the window. Now, their total spend was just one-tenth of what they had spent on a single player last year. This was too thrifty!

Upon hearing this, the club's chairman, Al-Fahim, spoke with Guardiola:

"Mr. Guardiola, the club's finances are fine, and the transfer budget is ample. You don't need to save money."

He gently reminded Guardiola that Manchester City's financial backer, the Abu Dhabi Group, was not an ordinary club and did not need to save money.

"Mr. Al-Fahim, you misunderstood," Guardiola smiled. "I'm not trying to save money. I'm just spending where it's needed. I'm very satisfied with these signings."

With Guardiola's assurance, Al-Fahim had nothing more to say. He couldn't force Guardiola to spend money. Besides, the winter transfer window was short and restricted. Perhaps Guardiola would make significant moves in the summer.

After Al-Fahim left, Guardiola reflected. Manchester City and Bayern Munich felt completely different. At Bayern, his annual transfer budget was a mere €30 million, and to get suitable players, he had to sell to buy. At Manchester City, there were no budget limits, and spending less made the chairman worried. This was unheard of. Manchester City was indeed different from other clubs, making Guardiola feel he had made the right choice.

...

Since it was the first winter transfer window after the World Cup, there weren't many transfers in the top five European leagues this winter. Most major transfers had already been completed during the summer, leaving only minor adjustments for the winter window.

Among the Premier League's big clubs, Chelsea was the most active in the transfer market. They sold André Schürrle to Wolfsburg for €32 million and then bought Juan Cuadrado from Fiorentina for the same price. These two transfers were the highest of this winter window, making Schürrle and Cuadrado the joint record signings of the period.

Besides selling Schürrle, Mourinho also sold Bertrand, who had no place in the team, to Southampton for €13 million. In total, Chelsea not only didn't spend any money but actually made a profit of €13 million. If they had sold Salah to Manchester City, they could have made around €30 million this winter.

Arsenal, under Wenger, continued their tradition of getting the most value for their money by buying two players for €2.5 million and €15 million respectively—Bielik and Gabriel. Bielik, at 17 years old, was a young prospect for the midfield, while Gabriel was a needed reinforcement for the defense. It seemed Wenger still couldn't resist buying young talents.

Liverpool had no major moves, leading to speculation about whether they were saving money for a big summer move or simply out of ideas. With their current poor performance, they were the team most in need of reinforcements.

Manchester City's neighbor, Manchester United, also had a quiet winter transfer window, not signing anyone. There were rumors that United were interested in Juventus' midfield star Pogba, but nothing materialized. Van Gaal's tenure at Manchester United was tough. Despite spending heavily in the summer, their performance was poor. Consequently, the board was likely hesitant to give him more money to spend recklessly.

While spending in the top five leagues was modest, the Chinese Super League was quite the opposite. This winter, Guangzhou Evergrande spent heavily on Goulart and Alan, spending a total of €26 million. This expenditure would rank them third in Europe, just behind Wolfsburg and Valencia. It seemed the financial power of the Chinese Super League was growing stronger.

As the transfer window was closing, Lin Quan received a call from his old teammate from Werder Bremen, the towering striker Marko Arnautović.

"Hey, Lin, did you see the news?" Arnautović's voice was excited on the other end of the line.

"What news?" Lin Quan was confused.

"Well, I've been chased by several Premier League teams and have finally joined Stoke City for £5.5 million! How's that? Pretty impressive, right?"

"Very impressive!" Lin Quan paused and then complimented him with a smile.

"Hey, you know it! I've checked the schedule, and next month our teams will play against each other. I'll treat you to dinner then. Make sure to bring De Bruyne along. That guy hasn't contacted me since leaving Bremen."

"Sure, I'll let De Bruyne know. If he doesn't want to come, I'll drag him off the team bus!"

"Deal!"

After hanging up, Lin Quan couldn't help but feel a bit nostalgic. Arnautović joining the Premier League a season and a half later than expected might have been influenced by his own career trajectory. Given Arnautović's physical attributes and mental toughness, adapting to the Premier League shouldn't be too difficult for him. The pace of the Premier League might be perfect for his style. He just wondered if Arnautović would eventually go to China to cash in on a payday.

Time flew by, and January quickly came to an end. On February 1st, the Premier League resumed. This round featured a top-of-the-table clash between Chelsea and Manchester City, a match that drew immense attention.

Due to the importance of the game, the Premier League scheduled it for the last day in a prime time slot, separating it from other matches to maximize viewership. Chelsea and Manchester City were first and second in the standings, and this match could significantly impact the title race.

If Chelsea could defend their home turf and beat Manchester City, they would extend their lead to six points. With only 15 rounds left and no more head-to-head encounters, this lead would be substantial, making it difficult for Manchester City to catch up unless Chelsea made multiple errors.

Conversely, if Manchester City managed to win at Stamford Bridge, the two teams would be level on points, making the title race even more unpredictable.

Given the stakes, the match attracted immense attention even before it started. Media outlets interviewed numerous football legends and experts to get their predictions. Most of them believed Chelsea had a better chance of winning or at least drawing. Less than 30% thought Manchester City could win at Chelsea's infamous Stamford Bridge, known for being a formidable fortress.

Chapter 366: A Lightning Start – Lin's Quick Goal!

The match between Manchester City and Chelsea attracted a large number of news media, and the pre-match press conference was packed with journalists from all over Europe, and even Asia and North America. Thanks to the advantage of the English language, promoting the Premier League is easier compared to the other top leagues. Reports and commentary from the UK can be easily read and watched by fans worldwide without translation.

This widespread reach has significantly increased the Premier League's global audience, making the title race not only important to millions of domestic fans but also to billions of international viewers.

"Coach Mourinho, I'm a reporter from The Guardian. Previously, you criticized Manchester City for losing to Middlesbrough and said they couldn't possibly beat a strong Chelsea team. What do you have to say about your team losing to a League One team in the FA Cup?"

This question from The Guardian made Mourinho very uncomfortable. Two weeks ago, when Manchester City lost to Middlesbrough in the FA Cup, Mourinho harshly criticized City and Guardiola, saying that Guardiola couldn't even handle a Championship team and that his coaching style was overrated and unsuitable for the Premier League.

However, the very next day, Mourinho's Chelsea lost 2-4 to Bradford City, a League One team. Being thrashed by a third-tier team was even more embarrassing than City's loss.

Faced with the sharp question from The Guardian, Mourinho's face immediately changed color. "My team is leading the Premier League, and we are on the right path. Those who fail to see this always try to attack us over minor issues to discredit all our achievements!"

"I have led two teams to win the Champions League and four teams to win league titles. I don't need you journalists to judge my abilities!"

After saying this, Mourinho walked off, refusing to answer any more questions. The room erupted in boos; the reporters were clearly unhappy with Mourinho's attitude. However, they were used to his antics. It wouldn't be surprising if he was now in the locker room, using the media criticism to rally his players and create a siege mentality.

After Mourinho left, all eyes turned to Guardiola. Guardiola, in contrast, had a much better temperament. He patiently answered the journalists' questions, except for refusing to comment directly on Mourinho.

When asked about Lin Quan, Guardiola's eyes softened. "For me, Lin Quan means everything."

A reporter from Mundo Deportivo inappropriately asked, "And what about Messi?"

Guardiola's expression immediately turned awkward.

During the warm-up session before the game, the Manchester City players were relaxed, chatting and laughing as they went through their routines. Lin Quan and De Bruyne had just completed a set of side steps, cross steps, and quick steps when they looked out at the stadium.

"Hey, there's someone holding a banner with your name on it. Are they welcoming you back?" Lin Quan said, pointing out to De Bruyne, who was returning to Stamford Bridge for the first time since his transfer to Manchester City.

"Really?" De Bruyne looked in the direction Lin Quan indicated, only to see a banner that read: "Traitor, get out of Stamford Bridge!"

De Bruyne's face instantly turned dark. "Damn it, I shouldn't have trusted you!"

De Bruyne wanted to grab Lin Quan in retaliation, but Lin Quan had anticipated this and quickly ran away, laughing. "Haha, I made a mistake. I meant another banner. Look over there!"

"You think I'd believe you again?" De Bruyne waved his fist in mock anger.

Seeing his players so relaxed, Guardiola felt a sense of relief. Playing at Stamford Bridge was challenging, and he had worried about the players feeling too much pressure. But now, it seemed his concerns were unnecessary.

For this crucial match, Guardiola didn't experiment with new tactics but stuck to the familiar formations and strategies the team knew well. He had many ideas in his head but decided to save them for less critical matches.

However, even without trying new things, Guardiola still shared his thoughts with his players. In modern football, understanding and utilizing space on the pitch is crucial. Guardiola believed in a more detailed division of the field into 20 zones, compared to the conventional 18-zone system.

The key to effective offense lies in utilizing the golden 14 zones, while defense focuses on protecting zone 5. Guardiola's vision involved breaking the field into more precise areas to optimize both offense and defense scientifically.

He was confident that future football would evolve based on such detailed analysis, and whoever mastered these concepts would gain an advantage. This work would take time, but with Lin Quan's presence, Guardiola felt more comfortable experimenting gradually during the rest of the season.

On the evening of February 1st, Stamford Bridge was brightly lit and packed with tens of thousands of fans. As the referee's whistle blew, the much-anticipated match between Chelsea and Manchester City began.

Both teams used a 4-2-3-1 formation, indicating their intention to play aggressively. Right from the start, Chelsea's players pushed forward quickly, trying to capitalize on their home advantage to catch Manchester City off guard.

However, Manchester City was well-prepared. Their front players immediately pressured Chelsea's ball carriers, preventing them from gaining any momentum.

Once Chelsea couldn't pass the ball quickly, their attacking players lost their opportunity as the defense settled in. On the sidelines, Mourinho frowned. Guardiola's lineup surprised him. Starting Fernandinho was expected, but benching Kroos and starting Fernando was not. Was Guardiola avoiding a possession game?

Without Kroos's passing and organization, City had to rely on their front players' cooperation for attacks. Skipping the midfield for quick counterattacks seemed odd since City didn't have a center-forward to hold up the ball. How was Guardiola planning to attack?

Mourinho shook his head, deciding not to waste time figuring out Guardiola's thoughts. He preferred focusing on improving Chelsea's offensive efficiency. Mourinho aimed to take all three points from this match. Beating City at home would make Chelsea's title chances very favorable.

In the Stamford Bridge VIP box, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich watched the field with a serious expression. Last season's lack of trophies made him unhappy with Mourinho, worsened by a fallout over the club manager issue. If Mourinho could win significant honors, Abramovich might tolerate his behavior. But Chelsea's poor performance in the Champions League, especially losing to Basel and being eliminated by Guardiola's Bayern, irked Abramovich.

Having won the Premier League, Abramovich's focus shifted to the Champions League. Since their triumph, Chelsea's recent Champions League performances have been dismal, not fitting a top club's stature. Abramovich hoped Mourinho would lead a breakthrough, at least reaching the semi-finals or final. If Mourinho failed again this season, Abramovich might sack him for good.

"Mourinho, I hope you seize this chance and don't disappoint me," Abramovich thought as he watched Mourinho on the sidelines.

After Chelsea's initial attacks failed, City took over. In the 7th minute, City intercepted the ball in the front. Navas, under pressure from Hazard, passed to Lin Quan. Oscar and Matic anticipated this and closed in on Lin. If Lin received the ball, he'd be intercepted, stopping the counterattack. But Lin passed back to Navas, who had kept running forward as part of their strategy.

Hazard handed Navas off to left-back Azpilicueta, focusing on a counterattack if Chelsea regained possession. However, Hazard didn't notice Matic's forward position, leaving a temporary gap in Chelsea's defense. Navas spotted this and cut inside instead of continuing down the line.

"Block him!" Matic yelled, but Ramirez and Terry had already sensed the danger, charging towards Navas. Without Lin's dribbling skill, Navas quickly passed to Aguero. Aguero, marked by Zouma, couldn't turn, so he passed back to Lin.

Lin, despite pressure from Ramirez, struck a powerful shot from the edge of the box. The ball hit the crossbar with a loud thud. Instead of bouncing out, it ricocheted down into the net, making a bounce on the goal line before settling in the back of the net.

The thunderous strike felt like a hammer blow to Chelsea fans' hearts, causing their breath to catch. Only seven minutes into the game, and Chelsea was already behind at home? The silence at Stamford Bridge was deafening as countless Chelsea fans struggled to accept the reality. They clenched their fists and glared at the celebrating number 10 player.

Not again!

Chapter 367: He Plays So Smart!

"Goal!!! A lightning-fast goal from Lin Quan!" "Just seven minutes into the game, Lin Quan has given Manchester City the lead with a long-range shot. Chelsea is in danger now." "Lin Quan truly is Chelsea's nemesis. Every time he plays against them, he scores, and each goal is crucial!" "Haha, I bet Chelsea fans hate him. Whenever their team is about to win, Lin Quan steps up and shatters their dreams."

In the CCTV studio, two commentators chuckled as they spoke. Due to Lin Quan's presence, they naturally leaned towards Manchester City during their commentary. In fact, many Chinese fans had started to support Manchester City, especially after Guardiola joined the team. Watching City play allowed them to witness Lin Quan's extraordinary performances and Guardiola's brilliant tactics, something rarely seen in domestic leagues.

Plus, the timing of the Chinese Super League (CSL) matches didn't conflict with the Premier League, so fans could enjoy both leagues. Despite years of efforts to promote the Premier League in China, the results in the last year and a half, since Lin Quan joined City, surpassed all previous efforts.

Unfortunately, Lin Quan didn't have Chinese nationality; otherwise, his popularity would have been even higher.

"That shot from Lin was ridiculous! It looked like it was going over the bar, but it went in!" "Yeah, just a tiny bit higher, and Chelsea wouldn't be trailing now." "I once saw Lin practice hitting the crossbar from 30 meters out and hit the same spot multiple times. I've never seen such accuracy in any other player." "Maybe Messi could do it too. I saw him on a TV show where his accuracy was frightening!" "But the distance wasn't as far as 30 meters. That show wouldn't have had enough space." "Anyway, Lin's shooting accuracy is outstanding. Goalkeepers can't afford to let their guard down against him." "Speaking of goalkeepers, how did Courtois manage to bench Cech? I feel bad for Cech!" "Yeah, Cech is still in great form. Mourinho should give him more playing time!" "If it doesn't work out at Chelsea, he could move to another team. Arsenal needs a good goalkeeper. This season, Ospina and Szczęsny haven't been great, especially Szczęsny, with a save rate below 70%."

Seeing Chelsea waste a top goalkeeper like Cech, Arsenal fans could only feel envious. Cech had played just four Premier League matches this season, keeping three clean sheets with a 90% save rate. He would be a perfect fit for Arsenal. Given the rivalry between Chelsea and Arsenal, Cech might be hesitant to switch. But if Chelsea continued to bench him, even the most loyal player might consider leaving. If Lampard could move to City, why not Cech to Arsenal?

The match continued, and Chelsea, now trailing, attacked fiercely like an enraged lion. In the 11th minute, Oscar's shot narrowly missed. Two minutes later, Willian crossed from the wing, and Diego Costa's shot was tipped over the bar by Navas. Chelsea's attacking momentum peaked, but Van Dijk, who had been pushed by Costa, was furious and wanted to confront him.

Costa played dirty, often using sneaky moves to disrupt defenders. Last time at Etihad Stadium, his antics angered City, leading to their 3-1 victory. Even in the recent Liverpool match, Costa's dirty play nearly got him banned by the FA. One would think he'd learn, but here he was, repeating his old tricks.

Chelsea won a corner, and Willian's cross aimed for the towering figures in the box. Captain Terry's header just missed the bar, wasting a chance to equalize. On the sidelines, Mourinho clapped, pleased with his team's performance. They were playing well and seemed destined to equalize.

However, things didn't go as planned. Realizing Chelsea's attacking threat, Guardiola signaled City to control the game's pace. They used the width of the pitch, passing patiently and only attacking when sure of a chance. This frustrated Chelsea, who, when pressing high, saw City pass back to their defenders. Chelsea's forwards, outnumbered, were toyed with by City's defenders.

Seeing Diego Costa helplessly chasing the ball, City's defenders felt avenged and wanted to keep him running in circles. As City wasted time with their possession, Chelsea fans booed loudly. They hated this style of play, worrying the clock would run out before they could equalize.

Mourinho glanced at Guardiola. This style was different from his Barcelona days. Back then, Guardiola and his Barcelona played less pragmatically. Guardiola met Mourinho's gaze calmly. The possession play wasn't his tactic; it was Lin Quan's decision, controlling the game's tempo without Kroos.

"This kid plays so smart," thought Guardiola. Continuing this way would frustrate Chelsea's players. As time passed and Chelsea grew desperate, City maintained their formation, unperturbed by Chelsea's advances.

On the surface, Chelsea seemed dominant, pressing City into their half. But City's low defensive block, with its numerical advantage, effectively nullified Chelsea's attacks. Chelsea's offense seemed potent but lacked real threat. Instead, City's counterattacks exposed Chelsea's defensive gaps as they pushed forward.

In the 24th minute, Ivanović made a passing error, and Fernandinho intercepted the ball. Fernandinho quickly passed the ball to Lin Quan, who, after assessing the field, sent a through ball to Agüero. This pass penetrated Chelsea's defense, but unfortunately, Agüero, who had just recovered from an injury, was not in top form. Courtois made a timely charge and blocked Agüero's shot at the edge of the penalty area.

This counter-attack by Manchester City frightened Chelsea, and for the next few minutes, they didn't dare to push forward as aggressively. But when they didn't press high, Manchester City reverted to their back-passing game, drawing more boos from the Chelsea fans, who were getting increasingly frustrated with City's "shameless" tactics.

Mourinho's expression turned serious. He called Matić over, gave him some instructions, and then signaled his players to press forward boldly. With their coach's backing, Chelsea's players grew more confident. Mourinho's eyes were sharp and focused on City's half.

The benefit of City's defensive contraction was that it created a lot of space for counter-attacks, but the downside was that they were defending very close to their own goal. If Chelsea managed to intercept the ball, they could immediately threaten City's goal. So it became a contest of whether Chelsea could seize the opportunity to overpower City or if City could hold out and rely on counter-attacks to bring down the Blues.

In this tense standoff, both sides had numerous attacking opportunities. In the 29th minute, Ramires intercepted De Bruyne's pass, and Oscar's long-range shot was saved by Navas. In the 32nd minute, City's long pass from the back was misjudged by Terry, allowing Agüero to break free. However, after a long run, Agüero's low shot missed the goal, and Lin Quan, who had positioned himself for a follow-up, couldn't help but sigh at the wasted chance. If it had been him taking the shot, it would almost certainly have been a goal.

"Sorry, Lin, my mistake!" Agüero apologized after realizing that Lin Quan had been in a perfect position for a pass. Recognizing his own impatience and lack of awareness, Agüero apologized to Lin Quan, who responded graciously, "It's okay, you just recovered from an injury. No need to blame yourself too much." The ball was already missed, and there was no point in blaming his teammate who had already acknowledged his mistake.

This counter-attack by City was even more threatening than the previous one, and it came very close to scoring. Chelsea fans were on edge, feeling Mourinho's tactics were too risky. Chelsea was known for their defensive counter-attacks, not this pressing offensive style.

But Mourinho remained unfazed, unaffected by the near-miss. He signaled his players to keep pressing forward. Chelsea's players, seeing their coach's directive, continued to press City, despite their nerves. Both teams were playing in unfamiliar styles: Chelsea with pressing offense and City with defensive counter-attacks. If the team names were hidden, fans might mistake City for Chelsea and vice versa.

Playing unfamiliar tactics inevitably led to mistakes. In the 41st minute, Ivanović's long pass found Hazard. The Belgian, who had been quiet all half, finally shone, dribbling past defenders into the box and passing to Diego Costa, who scored to make it 1-1.

Chelsea had equalized, bringing the match back to even. Mourinho celebrated wildly on the sidelines. Although it was just an equalizer, it meant a lot to him. In football, his most respected rival was Guardiola. They had similar achievements, and each encounter between them was highly anticipated.

Mourinho could accept losing to others, but not to Guardiola, especially not at home. Guardiola, on the other hand, remained calm. Despite the poor timing of conceding the goal, there was still another half to play. A 1-1 draw wasn't the end of the world for City.

He ignored Mourinho's exaggerated celebration. The more attention he gave, the more smug Mourinho would become. Guardiola was more concerned about the tactics for the second half. The goal they conceded showed that continuing like this was risky. Chelsea's offense had improved significantly, especially with the addition of Diego Costa, who solved their scoring woes.

With talented players like Hazard and Oscar, letting Chelsea dominate was dangerous. City needed to revert to their familiar tactics. But using possession football against Mourinho's team had been ineffective in Guardiola's final season at Barcelona. So, should he use that strategy?

Guardiola had an idea, but it was untested and risky. He decided to see how the second half unfolded before committing to it. If necessary, he would unveil this trump card at the last moment for a decisive move.

Chapter 368: Consecutive Thrashings, Guardiola's Full-Back Midfield Tactics Shock Europe!

At the start of the second half, Chelsea fans quickly noticed a substitution from their opponents. Kroos came on for Fernando. This substitution was somewhat expected by Chelsea, as Manchester City needed to strengthen their attack due to their lack of offensive power. However, once the second half began, it became clear that this substitution was not so simple.

Kroos wasn't positioned as a defensive midfielder but moved up to the forward position, yet Manchester City's formation still had two defensive midfielders. What was going on? A closer look revealed that Zabaleta had moved up to play as a defensive midfielder, transforming Manchester City's four-back formation into a three-center-back system.

What kind of strange formation was this? A 3-2-4-1? Even Chelsea fans were baffled, and Mourinho on the sidelines was also puzzled. Was Guardiola up to his tactical tricks again? Only he could come up with the idea of having a full-back play as a defensive midfielder. Mourinho decided to observe further to understand Guardiola's tactical intentions.

After several offensive and defensive exchanges, he noticed that Manchester City played with a pure three-back formation during attacks but reverted to a four-back formation during defense, with Zabaleta returning to his defensive position. This adjustment gave Manchester City an extra midfielder during attacks, significantly enhancing their offensive power.

In the 59th minute, Manchester City launched an attack from the left. Lin Quan received the ball and fired a powerful left-footed shot, causing Courtois to fumble the save. Agüero seized the opportunity and tapped the ball into the net. Manchester City regained the lead, making it 2-1!

Chelsea fans were left speechless. Their opponents' offense was simply superior. Before Lin Quan's shot, they had several opportunities to score. If not for Courtois and Chelsea's defenders, they would have conceded even earlier.

Mourinho frowned, recognizing that Guardiola was employing a novel tactic involving full-back midfielders. However, he couldn't immediately figure out how to counter this tactic. Meanwhile, on the field, Chelsea players, now trailing, desperately launched attacks against Manchester City.

In the 62nd minute, Matić was tripped by Navas near the sideline, earning Navas a yellow card. Although the foul seemed unnecessary given its distance from the goal, Guardiola surprisingly applauded Navas' decision, indicating possible defensive weaknesses on the wings that Mourinho suspected but couldn't yet address.

Before Mourinho could adjust, Manchester City scored again. In the 67th minute, Navas sent a cross from the wing, and Lin Quan executed a spectacular half-turn bicycle kick, scoring a stunning goal. Neither Chelsea's defenders nor Courtois anticipated this shot. Stamford Bridge erupted in shock, and some Chelsea fans almost applauded before realizing it was the opponent who scored.

"Damn it, can no one stop this guy from scoring?" Chelsea fans were deeply frustrated. Lin Quan had once again become their nemesis, always performing exceptionally well against Chelsea.

"Damn!" Mourinho, taken aback by Lin Quan's goal, kicked the coach's bench in frustration. The Chelsea substitutes instinctively shuffled away from their furious manager. On the Manchester City bench, Guardiola, overwhelmed by Lin Quan's goal, held his head in disbelief and excitement.

"Torrent, did you see that? Did you see Lin's goal just now?" Guardiola grabbed his assistant coach's arm, almost speechless with excitement. Torrent, feeling the pain, silently wished Guardiola would let go of his arm.

Lin Quan's goal greatly boosted Manchester City's morale. Previously hesitant about Guardiola's new tactics, they now fully embraced the strategy. With newfound confidence, they showed Chelsea just how powerful a fully unleashed Manchester City could be.

In the second half, Manchester City's attacks intensified, frequently threatening Chelsea's goal. Chelsea was forced to stay in their half, focusing solely on defense. In the 76th minute, Manchester City made their first substitution, bringing on Lampard for Fernandinho. In their last encounter at the Etihad Stadium, Lampard had scored a crucial goal against Chelsea, shattering their hopes of victory. Now, back at Stamford Bridge, fans wondered what surprises the former Blue might bring.

In the 78th minute, Milner headed a Navas cross towards the goal, but Courtois tipped it over the bar. A minute later, De Bruyne's long-range effort hit the post and went out. In the 80th minute, Mourinho made his final substitution, bringing on Drogba for Willian. The fans stood and applauded as the former Chelsea hero took the field.

Although 37 years old, Drogba still possessed impressive physical prowess. In the 82nd minute, Chelsea intercepted the ball and launched a quick counter-attack. Drogba, shrugging off defenders, was about to charge towards the goal when Lampard fouled him from the side, earning a yellow card. Lampard quickly helped Drogba up, apologizing. Drogba brushed it off, understanding that both were fighting for their teams.

In the final stages, neither side managed to create significant chances, and Manchester City emerged victorious with a 3-1 win in the top-of-the-table clash at Stamford Bridge.

The final score mirrored the first encounter at the Etihad Stadium earlier in the season, both in scoreline and match progression. With this double victory over Chelsea, Manchester City finally caught up with their rivals on the points table. Both teams now had identical points, and with 15 matches remaining in the league, the title race was set to be decided by the consistency of both teams in the final stages.

Consistency had always been a hallmark of Guardiola's teams. After the match, the media heaped praise on Guardiola and his team, lauding their excellent performance. Guardiola's substitutions and tactical changes in the second half were seen as the key to Manchester City's victory over Chelsea.

On the other hand, Mourinho faced a tough time. His pre-match boasts became a boomerang, hitting him back. Rumors suggested that Chelsea's owner, Roman Abramovich, was very unhappy with Mourinho. The two reportedly had a heated exchange after the loss to Manchester City. While the truth of these rumors was uncertain, those familiar with Abramovich's temperament believed them to be quite likely.

Abramovich was known for his impatience, and Mourinho was known for his high self-regard. The two had always had a challenging relationship. Adding to the tension, Abramovich's ideal coach was not Mourinho but Guardiola. This preference became even more pronounced after Mourinho's repeated losses to Guardiola. Speculations grew that if Chelsea's performance didn't meet Abramovich's expectations, he might fire Mourinho in a fit of anger, as he had done with other notable managers before, such as Ranieri, Mourinho (in his first stint), and Ancelotti.

If Mourinho were to be sacked again, the question remained: where would he go next?

Chelsea's problems were theirs to deal with. After winning the top-of-the-table clash, Guardiola was in high spirits and gave his players three days off to rest. Being eliminated from the League Cup and FA Cup turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Manchester City. With the Champions League knockout stages yet to begin, they only had to focus on one game per week, a comfortable pace that kept the players fresh and reduced the risk of injuries.

Guardiola took advantage of this period to instill his tactical ideas into the players, working towards transforming Manchester City to his liking.

On February 7th, Manchester City hosted Hull City in the 24th round of the Premier League. The match was expected to be one-sided, with Manchester City at the top of the table and Hull City third from the bottom. Even before the match, few gave Hull City any chance. The result was indeed shocking; by halftime, Manchester City had already scored five goals. Lin Quan completed a hat-trick in the first half and was substituted at halftime. Agüero, gradually regaining his form, scored twice, once in each half. The final score was a staggering 8-0, delivering Hull City their most humiliating defeat in their 111-year history.

Meanwhile, Chelsea, reeling from their home defeat, struggled against Aston Villa. Villa led 1-0 at halftime thanks to a goal from Okore. Chelsea, looking lackluster, only managed to mount a comeback in the second half, led by Hazard, narrowly winning the match to keep pace with Manchester City.

However, the contrasting forms of the two teams were evident. Manchester City went on to thrash Stoke City 7-1 in the 25th round, scoring 15 goals in two matches and showcasing their formidable attacking prowess. This stunning display sent shockwaves across Europe, drawing attention to Guardiola's new tactics and their devastating effectiveness.

During the match, Arnautović, who had transferred to Stoke City during the winter break, scored a consolation goal, much to the delight of his former teammates Lin Quan and De Bruyne. Post-match, what was supposed to be a friendly reunion turned into a venting session for Arnautović. He had come with high hopes, eager to show his old friends his progress, only to witness Manchester City's ruthless performance.

"This heading ability of yours hasn't diminished at all. To beat Van Dijk and score a goal is no small feat!" Lin Quan complimented Arnautović, recalling their time at Werder Bremen.

"That guy is strong? I thought he was just a rookie," Arnautović responded, unfamiliar with Van Dijk.

"Yes, very strong," De Bruyne affirmed seriously.

Lin Quan teased, "You should buy a newspaper tomorrow, cut out the part where you outjump Van Dijk to score, and keep it as a memento. When he becomes famous, you can look back at this goal and feel proud."

On the way back to Manchester, Van Dijk, listening to music on the bus, suddenly sneezed. Rubbing his nose, he wondered if he had caught a cold after the match.

Chapter 369: Wenger: Not Signing Lin Quan Is My Lifelong Regret!

Headlines:

"Who Can Stop Manchester City?" "Guardiola Is Slaughtering the Entire Premier League!" "15 Goals in Two Games: The Terrifying Power of Lin Quan + Guardiola!"

After these two matches, the entire Premier League was shaken. With Guardiola's transformation of the team, Manchester City consecutively demolished their opponents with high scores, showcasing an unstoppable force. This left all Premier League teams, especially those set to face Manchester City, trembling with fear.

Other top clubs were even more worried. Guardiola had only just started his work at Manchester City, and the results were already this impressive. Once he fully imprints his vision on the team, how will other Premier League giants compete?

Every tactic has weaknesses, and Guardiola's full-back midfield tactic surely has its own. Finding these weak points is crucial for other teams to avoid being helpless when facing them in the future.

On February 22nd, the 26th round of the Premier League kicked off. Before this match, many top Premier League clubs, and even some from other leagues, sent scouts to observe Manchester City's game against Newcastle, hoping to identify any weaknesses.

Arsenal's manager Arsène Wenger, after leading his team to a victory over Crystal Palace, hurried to the Etihad Stadium to watch Manchester City face Newcastle. However, Manchester City continued their ferocious momentum, crushing Newcastle 5-0, avenging their League Cup elimination.

After watching this match, Wenger's face was ashen. He feared his team might not make it past the last 16 in the Champions League. Wenger wasn't alone; many teams worried about how to defend against Manchester City if they drew them in the knockout stages.

Manchester City's rampage attracted attention across Europe. Beyond the British media, outlets from Spain, Italy, France, and Germany also began reporting on Manchester City's series of victories. Manchester City had scored 20 goals in their last three matches, averaging 6.6 goals per game, leading all of Europe in offensive efficiency. With the team's main players returning from injury, their attacking power was expected to increase further.

Media across various countries used words like "shocking" and "terrifying" to describe Manchester City. The Spanish newspaper AS stated: "Just as he pioneered tiki-taka at Barcelona, Guardiola's new tactics at Manchester City are set to bring a new revolution to football."

"If teams cannot find a way to limit them, no one will be able to stop this rampant Manchester City!"

"Perhaps, when facing Manchester City at home, it will become necessary to park the bus."

AS's report caused panic in the football world, especially since even Real Madrid considered using defensive tactics against Manchester City. How were other teams supposed to cope?

However, some held different views. With their powerful MSN trio, Barcelona, who were dominating in La Liga and the Champions League, declared that if they faced Manchester City in the knockout stages, they would use their strong offense to avenge last year's defeat.

Real Madrid, with their BBC trio, were equally formidable in attack. This season, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Manchester City were undoubtedly the top offensive teams in Europe. Coincidentally, these three teams all had superstar players. Teams with such superstars were gradually distancing themselves from those without.

On February 26th, the Champions League knockout stages began. Manchester City faced Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in an all-English tie. Manchester City's recent winning streak, coupled with Guardiola's innovative tactics, had garnered European-wide attention. This match attracted a large number of journalists.

Given that Manchester City's recent victories were against relatively weaker teams, there was skepticism about their tactics' effectiveness against top clubs. If Manchester City could continue their dominance against Arsenal, it would prove that their tactics worked against strong teams too, causing more anxiety among the top clubs.

Before the match, Wenger publicly stated that he had found a way to limit Manchester City. This gave Arsenal fans some relief and heightened anticipation for the game.

At the start, Wenger's team attacked Manchester City's right flank, seemingly targeting what they perceived as a weakness. This approach initially seemed effective, as Manchester City's attacking threat wasn't as prominent in the first 20 minutes. However, in the 28th minute, Kroos broke the deadlock with a long-range shot, changing the game's dynamic entirely.

Before halftime, Lin Quan scored a direct free-kick to extend the lead to 2-0. Early in the second half, Agüero's goal made it 3-0, effectively putting the game to bed. Arsenal's experience showed that Manchester City's tactics were equally potent against top teams.

On the sidelines, Wenger frowned deeply, pondering a solution. While the flanking attacks worked somewhat, they couldn't fully contain Manchester City's offense. What was Manchester City's real weakness?

Unable to find an answer, Wenger watched his players lose their composure. After Agüero's third goal, Coquelin and Bellerín committed fouls out of frustration, earning yellow cards. Their aggressive fouls seemed more like venting anger than following a tactical plan.

To prevent injuries to key players, Guardiola substituted several, including Lin Quan, after the third goal. Since Guardiola's arrival, Lin Quan rarely played full matches unless necessary. Guardiola usually substituted him after he scored or when the team had a comfortable lead.

Guardiola believed there was no need to keep key players on the field when the outcome was decided. He regretted not protecting Messi better at Barcelona, which led to Messi's series of injuries. Although Messi's injuries increased after Guardiola left Barcelona, he still felt guilty.

If it weren't for Lin Quan's emergence, Messi would likely be Guardiola's favorite player. Now, this affection was directed at Lin Quan. Guardiola wanted to compensate Lin Quan for all the regrets he had with Messi.

As he hugged Lin Quan during the substitution, Guardiola thought, "He must be deeply moved by my efforts to protect him!"

However, Lin Quan felt otherwise. Every time he wanted to boost his stats, Guardiola would sub him off. "Doesn't he want me to enjoy the game?"

Moreover, Lin Quan worried that such favoritism might make other players jealous. He began to understand how Haaland felt when he was substituted after scoring five goals in the Champions League.

Being pampered by Guardiola wasn't all good!

After Lin Quan was substituted, Manchester City's attacking threat decreased significantly. Without Lin Quan, Arsenal's players breathed a collective sigh of relief. They couldn't defend against Lin Quan, but they could handle the other Manchester City players. Once they patched up their defensive gaps, Arsenal's performance improved, and their attack showed more promise.

In the 92nd minute of injury time, substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain pulled one back for Arsenal, changing the score to 3-1 and salvaging a bit of pride for the Gunners.

When the final whistle blew, Arsenal had suffered a 3-1 home defeat to the powerful Manchester City. This scoreline almost sealed their fate, as their prospects in the return leg at the Etihad Stadium looked bleak.

During the post-match handshake, Wenger praised Guardiola and his team: "Your team played exceptionally well. Congratulations on your victory!"

Guardiola, who held great respect for Wenger, responded warmly. He believed that Wenger's arrival had changed the Premier League, injecting it with the spirit of technical football. Had the Premier League remained the simple, rough-and-tumble league of long-ball tactics, he would never have joined.

"Thank you for your kind words. Your team and players were also excellent. I wish you success in your upcoming matches!"

Wenger forced a smile. The success Guardiola referred to was merely securing a top-four league finish—a task Wenger had become quite adept at over the years. Though Southampton's surprising rise this year added some difficulty, Liverpool's struggles gave Arsenal more breathing room. With the tough matches behind them, the rest of the schedule seemed manageable for Arsenal. As long as the team avoided mistakes, securing a top-four finish shouldn't be too difficult.

However, securing a top-four finish year after year, only to be eliminated in the first round of the Champions League, began to feel meaningless. Wenger longed for his team to win a championship, whether in the league or the Champions League.

"I really envy you, being able to coach such an outstanding player as Lin."

Wenger made no secret of his admiration for Lin Quan. His greatest regret was not acting sooner to sign Lin Quan two summers ago. Given his reputation for nurturing young talent, he might have had a chance to bring Lin Quan to the Emirates Stadium. But the opportunity slipped away. By the time Lin Quan's value skyrocketed, Arsenal no longer had the financial power to sign him.

Guardiola sensed Wenger's regret and disappointment and was momentarily at a loss for how to respond. He felt a pang of guilt towards Wenger. When he was at Barcelona, he had taken Fabregas from Wenger, who was well-known for his affection for the player. Fabregas's transfer to Barcelona was a significant betrayal to Wenger and Arsenal.

After Fabregas joined Arsenal, Wenger even sold the club captain, Patrick Vieira, to make room for him. Wenger treated Fabregas like his own son, making the betrayal all the more painful.

In this round of the Champions League, the three remaining Premier League teams recorded one win, one draw, and one loss. Mourinho's Chelsea drew 1-1 with Paris Saint-Germain in Paris. Securing an away goal was a positive outcome for Chelsea. As long as they avoided losing or conceding multiple away goals in the return leg, they stood a good chance of reaching the quarter-finals.

Elsewhere, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich all secured victories. Bayern's 7-0 demolition of Shakhtar Donetsk showcased the terrifying firepower of Heynckes' team. This victory electrified Bayern fans and the entire German football community.

Bayern's supporters felt a sense of restoration. This was the Bayern they remembered—strong, dominating, and true to their traditions, rather than trying to play possession-based football. The sentiment was that, if they hadn't deviated from their path, Bayern might not have been eliminated last year, and Germany might not have lost in the final.

The resounding victory injected confidence back into Bayern. While the football world was abuzz with Manchester City's invincibility, Bayern's thrashing of Shakhtar shifted the spotlight. They reminded everyone that Bayern Munich were still formidable contenders.

In a post-match interview, Heynckes openly declared Bayern's ambition: "The Champions League title? Why not? My players and I are aiming for it!" His return aimed to rectify the chaos left by Guardiola's tenure. Winning the Champions League again would be the ultimate proof that Guardiola's reforms at Bayern were misguided.

When Heynckes' comments reached Guardiola, he remained unfazed: "Congratulations to Bayern on their victory. I sincerely wish them success in the Champions League."

Since joining Manchester City and coaching Lin Quan, Guardiola had become indifferent to external criticism. He felt no need to prove anything. Now, he only wanted to enjoy football.

Chapter 370: Sweeping Arsenal, Advancing to the Champions League Quarterfinals

Guardiola had just talked about enjoying football, but within three days, Manchester City hit a snag. On March 1st, in a high-stakes match at Anfield, Manchester City suffered a 2-3 defeat against Liverpool.

The match began in heavy rain, forcing both teams to play under challenging conditions. The wet field hampered Manchester City's passing game, causing numerous passing errors. Meanwhile, Liverpool, eager to avenge their previous defeat, played with incredible determination. Despite the risk of injury due to the slippery ground, they ran and sprinted relentlessly, launching counterattacks against Manchester City's defense.

Liverpool appeared to be on the back foot for much of the match, controlling only 32% of the possession, but their counterattacks were lethal, especially those launched from the flanks. In the 11th minute, Henderson opened the scoring for Liverpool. Although Manchester City equalized in the 23rd minute through a De Bruyne long shot assisted by Lin Quan, Liverpool regained the lead just three minutes later. Coutinho, with a brilliant solo effort, weaved through the defense and unleashed a stunning long shot to beat Navas.

In the 75th minute, Lin Quan received a through ball from De Bruyne, evaded the offside trap, and scored to level the match again. As the game seemed destined for a draw, in the third minute of injury time, Liverpool's legendary captain Gerrard, who had already announced his departure at the end of the season, scored a trademark long-range goal, sealing a dramatic 3-2 victory for Liverpool.

After scoring the winner, Gerrard celebrated wildly, stripping off his shirt and rushing towards the stands packed with ecstatic Liverpool fans. His teammates joined him in the joyous celebration, hugging and kissing him, reveling in the hard-fought victory. The Anfield crowd erupted; pre-match, few had given Liverpool a chance against Manchester City, yet they had defied the odds with a thrilling win.

Guardiola scratched his head in disbelief. The timing couldn't have been worse. Just seconds away from the final whistle, a slip by a Manchester City player in the wet conditions had given Gerrard the chance to score.

Gracious in defeat, Guardiola walked over to shake hands with Liverpool's coach. Manchester City's loss invigorated their rivals, who now believed they had found a way to counter Guardiola's innovative tactics.

In the 28th round of the league, Leicester City tried to emulate Liverpool's strategy. They analyzed Liverpool's victory and concluded that Manchester City's defensive weakness lay on the flanks. With fullbacks pushing up into midfield, City's formation often looked like a 2-3-5 when attacking, with five players pressing forward. The two wingers, a center forward, and two attacking midfielders created multiple threats near the opponent's penalty area. This made defending difficult for opponents and allowed City to immediately press and disrupt the opposition's counterattacks, often regaining possession and creating second-chance opportunities.

City's new tactics had led to a high success rate in regaining possession near the opponent's penalty area, resulting in numerous goals from turnovers. However, Liverpool's superior players could sometimes break through City's pressing. When this happened, City's five forward players were too far upfield to retreat in time. As a result, City's four defenders and one holding midfielder would form a compact, layered defensive shape to protect the goal, leaving the flanks exposed.

During the rainy match at Anfield, the conditions had favored Liverpool's counterattacks and played against City's technical style. Moreover, Gerrard's well-timed long shot sealed City's defeat. Leicester, lacking these advantages, suffered a heavy defeat when they tried Liverpool's tactics against City.

By halftime, Manchester City had already secured a 3-0 lead. Guardiola did not substitute Lin Quan, signaling City's continued intent to attack. By the time Lin Quan was finally substituted, the score was 5-0. Leicester City players were left demoralized, questioning why their strategy, which had worked for Liverpool, had failed so miserably for them.

Seeing his team bounce back from the previous defeat with a resounding victory, Guardiola was in high spirits. He engaged in a conversation with Lin Quan, who had just been substituted.

"That winger looks pretty good, doesn't he?" Guardiola asked, pointing to Leicester City's number 26.

"You mean Mahrez?" Lin Quan replied, taking a sip of his energy drink.

"Yes!" Guardiola nodded, showing an interest in the player's potential. "What do you think of his skills?"

"He's got good skills, very technical with excellent dribbling and cutting inside to shoot. He could play as a winger or attacking midfielder. If he develops well, he could become a key player for a smaller team," Lin Quan assessed.

Lin Quan remembered Mahrez's breakout season with Leicester, where he scored 17 goals and provided 11 assists, earning the Premier League MVP award. Although Mahrez was not yet at that level, Guardiola's keen eye had spotted his potential in just one match, a testament to his ability to identify talent. Guardiola's preference for technically gifted players, evident in his recruitment strategy, likely drew him to Mahrez.

Guardiola's conversation with Lin Quan ended on a hopeful note, with the possibility of nurturing more talents like Mahrez under his innovative tactics.

After the match, the media spotlight once again shone on Guardiola and Manchester City. Their tactical adjustments and dominant performances were widely praised, with many commentators hailing Guardiola's ingenuity. In contrast, Mourinho's pre-match bravado had backfired, and rumors of tension with Chelsea owner Abramovich began to surface.

As Manchester City continued their campaign, Guardiola focused on enjoying the beautiful game and developing his team, undeterred by external pressures. His satisfaction was evident, as he guided his players through victories and setbacks alike, ever committed to the joy and artistry of football.

"Really?" Guardiola couldn't help but start thinking.

Manchester City's right winger is Navas, who is already 30 years old. Given his age and the fact that he often plays as a substitute for Lin Quan, he has been considering leaving. Guardiola needs to find a new outstanding right winger for the team. Previously, he had tried to bid for Salah from Chelsea, intending to have Salah replace Navas. Unfortunately, Chelsea was unwilling to sell, and Guardiola's plan fell through.

Now, seeing Mahrez, who is about the same age as Salah, Guardiola once again felt the urge to sign him. Mahrez joined Leicester City last year for only £500,000. Over the past two seasons, his performance has been impressive, and his value has increased significantly. Guardiola estimated that it would take at least £20 million to bring Mahrez to Manchester City.

Spending £20 million on a relatively unknown player seemed like a gamble. So, should he make the move?

"£30 million or less, and you can go for it. Of course, if you can get Salah, that would be even better!" Lin Quan, noticing Guardiola's hesitation, spoke up. At the right winger position, peak Salah's ability is slightly stronger.

After a heartfelt conversation between the "father and son," Guardiola, who had been hesitant, made up his mind. Yes, he would buy! Having saved so much money during the winter transfer window, he felt it necessary to spend during the summer window to satisfy both himself and Manchester City's fans.

Leicester City's loss confused other teams. They were unsure if copying Liverpool's strategy would work. While some teams hesitated, others remained determined.

In the 29th round of the Premier League, Burnley, ranked second to last and in desperate need of points, decided to copy Liverpool's strategy at home. The result was disastrous. By the end of the match, they were down 4-0, and that was after Manchester City had substituted many key players in the second half to prepare for the midweek Champions League knockout match. Had City gone all out, it would have been a massacre.

In another match of this round, league leaders Chelsea faced fourth-placed Southampton. Surprisingly, despite Diego Costa scoring early, Chelsea couldn't secure a win. Matic's foul in the penalty area gave Southampton a penalty, allowing them to escape Stamford Bridge with a draw. This result meant that Chelsea's lead over Manchester City, which had widened after City's loss to Liverpool, shrank back to just one point. The once promising title race for Chelsea was now precarious.

Adding to Chelsea's woes, they were held to a draw at home by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. This match was a nail-biter for Chelsea fans. Their team managed to score in the 81st minute, reigniting hopes of victory. However, David Luiz's goal in the 86th minute dashed those hopes, resulting in a 1-1 draw. Since the previous leg in Paris also ended 1-1, both teams had equal scores and away goals, leading to extra time.

In extra time, Chelsea scored first through Hazard, sending Stamford Bridge into a frenzy. Mourinho celebrated wildly. But PSG's Thiago Silva equalized in the 114th minute, giving PSG two crucial away goals. Chelsea threw everything forward in the dying minutes but couldn't find a winner. The match ended, and Chelsea were eliminated from the Champions League at home, falling in the Round of 16 once again.

"Mourinho's days at Stamford Bridge are numbered!" "Haha, serves him right for being so arrogant!" "With Abramovich's temper, if Chelsea don't win the league this season, I'm betting 50 cents that Mourinho will get sacked!" "If he's sacked again, which team would want him?" "Maybe Manchester United; Van Gaal's doing worse than Mourinho there!" "Good idea, let Mourinho go to United and mess them up even more!"

Following Chelsea's elimination, public opinion turned harsh against Mourinho. The promises he made upon returning to the club now seemed hollow. Since winning the Champions League, Chelsea had been knocked out in the group stage once and the Round of 16 twice, with their performance worsening each time. They seemed far from being on the right track, appearing instead to be on the verge of decline. It's been five years since their last league title, and without any new trophies, they would fail to live up to their status as a top club.

While Chelsea fans were worried, Manchester City fans were jubilant. In the second leg of their Champions League tie, City comfortably defeated Arsenal 2-0 at home, advancing to the quarterfinals with a 5-1 aggregate score. After breaking through in the Champions League last year, City's luck seemed to have turned. Despite facing tough opponents in the previous season, this year they had an easier group and a favorable Round of 16 draw against Arsenal. With no distractions from the League Cup and FA Cup, City could focus on the Champions League in peak condition.

In this round of the Champions League, apart from Chelsea, there were no major upsets. Powerhouses Bayern, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Juventus all advanced to the quarterfinals. On March 19, the draw for the 2014-15 Champions League quarterfinals took place at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. With so many top teams in the last eight, fans eagerly anticipated some heavyweight clashes.

Table of Contents

257: Chapter 257: Champions League Draw, Facing Real Madrid in the Semifinals!

258: Chapter 258: This is Anfield, but it's despair for Liverpool! (Please vote for this chapter!)

259: Chapter 259: Hat-trick, Kingly Celebration—Who is the Real King of Anfield?

260: Chapter 260: Rematch with Arsenal, Wenger's Madness!

261: Chapter 261: Scoring from an Impossible Angle, Helping Arsenal Break a Ten-Year Trophy Drought!

262: Chapter 262: Lifting the Trophy at Home, We Are the Champions!

263: Chapter 263: UEFA Champions League Semi-finals, Galaxy Battles!

264: Chapter 264: Not Swapping Jerseys with Ronaldo, Is Ronaldo Jealous?

265: Chapter 265: The Show of Lin Quan, Bale, and Ronaldo!

266: Chapter 266: 16 Goals in a Single Season, Breaking the Champions League Record!

267: Chapter 267: Lightning Goal, Reversal of the Reversal!

268: Chapter 268: 3-2, Real Madrid. See You in Madrid for the Next Round!

269: Chapter 269: Semi-finals, Away to Bernabéu!

270: Chapter 270: Dawn in Adversity

271: Chapter 271: Diving and Penalty

272: Chapter 272: S-shaped free kick reappears, 18 goals in a single Champions League season!

273: Chapter 273: Manchester City's Miracle, Advances to Champions League Final!

274: Chapter 274: Two Champions, the Different Fates of Manchester City and Barcelona!

275: Chapter 275: The Last Champion of the Big Five Leagues - Champions League!

276: Chapter 276: Before the Final Battle

277: Chapter 277: Man City vs Atletico Madrid, the Champions League Final Begins!

278: Chapter 278: Ronaldo and Mourinho: The Key to Victory Lies in Lin Quan!

279: Chapter 279: Unlucky Courtois!

280: Chapter 280: The Fatal Strike at the Estadio da Luz, Manchester City 1-0 Atletico Madrid!

281: Chapter 281: New and Old Legacies, The Sky of an Eighteen-Year-Old!

282: Chapter 282: Champions League Winner—Manchester City!

283: Chapter 283: The Impact of Manchester City's Victory and Investment from the East!

284: Chapter 284: Manchester City's Championship Celebration! World Cup Approaches!

285: Chapter 285: A Legendary End, Spain's 23-Man Roster!

286: Chapter 286: The Team Arrives in Brazil, Brazilian Tricks!

287: Chapter 287: The World Cup Kicks Off, Spain vs. Netherlands: A Rematch of the Finals!

288: Chapter 288: Lin Quan's First World Cup Goal and the Pressure on Ronaldo and Messi!

289: Chapter 289: 5-1? Spain's Big Victory Over the Netherlands!

290: Chapter 290: Spain's Odds of Winning Soar, Their Path to Victory Looks Bright!

291: Chapter 291: Brazil's Unexpected Slip, Spain vs Chile!

292: Chapter 292: Crushing the Opponent Again, Spain’s Strength Terrifies the World!

293: Chapter 293: Will South Korea Face a Crushing Defeat? Seize the Opportunity to Beat the Underdogs, Give Them Another Crushing Defeat!

294: Chapter 294: Three Wins in a Row, Top of the Group!

295: Chapter 295: The Knockout Matches are Set

296: Chapter 296: The Knockout Stage Begins, The Brutal Penalty Shootout!

297: Chapter 297: Annoying! He Actually Pulled It Off!

298: Chapter 298: A Dominating Performance, Advancing to the World Cup Quarterfinals!

299: Chapter 299: Transfer Window Opens, Paris Saint-Germain Offers 200 Million Euros for Lin Quan!

300: Chapter 300: Paris Saint-Germain's Official Offer Shocks the Entire Football World

301: Chapter 301: The Old Master Regrets, Should Have Spent a Billion on Lin Quan!

302: Chapter 302: Countdown to the Championship, Quarterfinals Kick Off!

303: Chapter 303: A Global Dilemma: How to Limit Lin Quan!

304: Chapter 304: A Little Shock for Soccer Fans Around the World from Lin Huang!

305: Chapter 305: Lin Huang, the Strategic Player!

306: Chapter 306: Spain vs. Argentina Semi-finals, Messi's Nerves!

307: Chapter 307: A 7-1 Thrashing of Brazil Shocks the World!

308: Chapter 308: The Impact of Brazil's Defeat and the Start of Spain vs. Argentina!

309: Chapter 309: Lin Quan vs. Messi, a World Cup Clash!

310: Chapter 310: Football Kings Speak Out, Pelé: "I Favor Spain for the Championship!"

311: Chapter 311: Lin Quan Scores Again, Spain Nearly Steps into the Finals!

312: Chapter 312: Defeating Argentina, Advancing to the World Cup Final!

313: Chapter 313: An 18-Year-Old World Cup Champion? Why Not!

314: Chapter 314: The Final Arrives, With a Billion Viewers Worldwide Tuned In!

315: Chapter 315: The World Cup Final Begins, Spain vs Germany!

316: Chapter 316: Scoring the First Goal in the Finals!

317: Chapter 317: It's Just Not Right!

318: Chapter 318: A Second Goal, Spain Leads Germany 2-0!

319: Chapter 319: Free Kick Goal, A Hat-trick in the World Cup Final!

320: Chapter 320: World Cup Victory, We Are the Champions!

321: Chapter 321: World Cup Awards Ceremony - Winning So Many Trophies!

322: Chapter 322: Lin Quan Wants to Be the King of Football!?

323: Chapter 323: The Summer Transfer Window Opens, Real Madrid Saving Money to Buy Lin Quan!

324: Chapter 324: The Premier League's Crazy Arms Race, Is Manchester City Throwing the Season?

325: Chapter 325: Value Skyrockets by 80 Million, Surpassing Messi to Become Number One!

326: Chapter 326: Emperor Lin, Team in Danger, Return Quickly!

327: Chapter 327: Lin Quan Intervenes, Easily Resolved! Van Dijk Goes for 10 Million Euros!

328: Chapter 328: Manchester City's 7-2 Massacre of AC Milan at the International Champions Cup!

329: Chapter 329: The Rivalry Renewed, Manchester City vs. Real Madrid, Lin Quan’s Transformation Trial

330: Chapter 330: Charging Towards the Seven-Trophy Title!

331: Chapter 331: The King’s Style of Play, Manchester City Wins Their Fifth Trophy!

332: Chapter 332: UEFA Award Ceremony, Reunion with Reus!

333: Chapter 333: Champions League Draw Results Announced, Manchester City Tops the Odds!

334: Chapter 334: Substitute Hat Trick, Breaking the Fastest Premier League Record

335: Chapter 335: The Sky Clears and the Rain Stops, Mourinho Thinks He's Back on Top!

336: Chapter 336: Chelsea’s Relentless Pursuit, Diego Costa's Comeback!

337: Chapter 337: The Winds Have Changed

338: Chapter 338: Mourinho's Trap

339: Chapter 339: Lin Quan's Revenge - The Third Attribute Exchange

340: Chapter 340: Lampard's Light

341: Chapter 341: Rumblings at Bayern, Guardiola Faces Tension!

342: Chapter 342: Universe Country's Publicity Backfires, Barcelona Loses Unexpectedly

343: Chapter 343: Last-Minute Win Against Monaco, Ranieri Gets Sacked

344: Chapter 344: Pellegrini Misses Game Due to Illness, Manchester City Faces Coaching Crisis

345: Chapter 345: 700 Million Fans Witness the Manchester Derby!

346: Chapter 346: The Unstoppable De Gea, Even More Unstoppable Lin Quan!

347: Chapter 347: Slump

348: Chapter 348: Manchester City Shocks Football by Inviting Guardiola to Coach

349: Chapter 349: Bayern's Home Loss, Barcelona Fans Collapse in the Bathroom

350: Chapter 350: Father and Son on the Same Team, Guardiola Arrives in Manchester!

351: Chapter 351: Guardiola: Manchester City Buying Messi? It’s Not Impossible!

352: Chapter 352: If You Don't Court Death, You Won't Die; Guardiola Starts Experimenting!

353: Chapter 353: Guardiola's Success, 18-Year-Old Shines on the Field!

354: Chapter 354: Guardiola and Mourinho's Feud, the Grueling Schedule Ahead

355: Chapter 355: Mourinho's Shock

356: Chapter 356: What Does It Mean to Be a World-Class Superstar? Lin Quan's Unique Influence!

357: Chapter 357: Lin Quan's Sharp Comments on the Two Greatest of All Time, Messi and Ronaldo

358: Chapter 358: Manchester City Wins Seven Trophies!

359: Chapter 359: Chelsea's Crushing Defeat and the Arrival of the Ballon d'Or

360: Chapter 360: Nike Panics, Offers 45 Million Big Contract!

361: Chapter 361: The Ballon d'Or Announcement, and the Winner Is... Lin Quan!

362: Chapter 362: The Youngest Ballon d'Or Winner in History, A Hot Candidate for the Title of King!

363: Chapter 363: Transfer Window Opens, Manchester City Eyes Kimmich, Rüdiger, Kanté, and Other Young Talents

364: Chapter 364: Lin Quan and Guardiola Personally Secure Kanté, Manchester City Bids for Salah

365: Chapter 365: Top of the Table Clash: Manchester City vs. Chelsea

366: Chapter 366: A Lightning Start – Lin's Quick Goal!

367: Chapter 367: He Plays So Smart!

368: Chapter 368: Consecutive Thrashings, Guardiola's Full-Back Midfield Tactics Shock Europe!

369: Chapter 369: Wenger: Not Signing Lin Quan Is My Lifelong Regret!

370: Chapter 370: Sweeping Arsenal, Advancing to the Champions League Quarterfinals