Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions-Chapter 702 - 494: The Battle of the Leaders Begins with a Climax! No-Looking Pass Stuns Chelsea!
24-hour News: "The Return of the King! The Premier League Clash for the Top Spot is About to Ignite!"
Manchester Evening News: "Manchester City Did Not Disappoint Us, They Returned Victorious from Camp Nou!"
The Times: "In Times of Crisis, Tang is Still Manchester City's Most Dependable King Arthur!"
Der Spiegel: "Tang Makes Messi Look Inferior, Leading Manchester City to Turn Decay into Wonder!"
Sports Weekly: "Champions League Match Viewership Breaks 7! Tang Long Becomes a Ratings Tool for CCTV Sports!"
After the match, the media enthusiastically highlighted Manchester City's monumental victory.
In their view, clinching a last-minute win with one player less is already a rare feat, let alone against a team like Barça, who are not just any Premier League relegation fighter, but a top European powerhouse equipped with MSN!
And Tang Long, without a doubt, became the focal point of all the reports.
His long solo run from the backfield to the front past five players has been a replay favorite on various TV stations these days.
British viewers, no matter which channel they tune to, can see Tang Long's agile figure at Camp Nou.
Even Barça's outlet, Daily Sports, wrote an article saying, "A Chinese man, leading an English team, performed a miraculous battle on Spanish soil."
Before the match, no one dubbed it as a battle between Messi and Tang Long;
However, post-match analysis suggested that Tang Long's brace, in terms of statistics, ratings, and contribution to the team, surpassed Messi.
Yet, the Premier League's schedule is so packed that journalists' focal points keep shifting.
Manchester City's Champions League buzz only lasted two days before the attention shifted from international to domestic battles.
Three days later—
The Premier League top battle arrives!
In recent years, a match between Chelsea and Manchester City has never received this much attention from all English media outlets.
This is a six-point match!
After this Premier League Round 9 clash, either Manchester City or Chelsea, both on the same points, will definitely trail the other by three points.
This is also Conte's first encounter with Manchester City.
Everyone is eager to see whether this Italian, who led Juventus to dominate the Apennines, can bring his winning tradition to Chelsea and the Premier League?
Conte, with his disheveled hair, looks unkempt and always appears sleepy, but when he speaks, he is full of vigor, especially with that rural Lecce-accented English, sounds rustic yet firm.
"Will this match decide the Premier League champion this season?"
"I think so!"
"From my first day at Chelsea, I unabashedly communicated my desire for the Premier League title to the players."
"I told them, if you want to be the best kid in the block when you're a child, you've got to take down the toughest one!"
"I can't wait to meet Guardiola at the Etihad, this will definitely be a fierce battle, and I am fully prepared."
In contrast to Conte's aggressive approach, Guardiola remained very humble.
He knew that Manchester City was at a significant disadvantage in terms of stamina compared to Chelsea.
Chelsea fielded eight substitutes among their eleven starters in their mid-week Champions League fixture, drawing 0-0 at home against the weak Copenhagen and nearly suffered an upset loss;
But that is definitely not a true reflection of Chelsea's strength; they rested their main players in order to defeat Manchester City in this Premier League top clash!
"I'm not familiar with Conte, but we have a lot in common, such as successful tenures with our teams and long stints as team captains, he will have success in the Premier League too."
"Will this match decide the Premier League champion this season?"
"This is just an ordinary league match; there are 38 rounds in the league, every round determines the final champion."
Despite saying that, Guardiola knew very well that if they don't take down Chelsea in this match, dampening Conte's rustic Italian fervor, the remaining league matches will be even tougher to play.
Therefore, even knowing that Tang Long cramped after the Barça match, Guardiola called him the day before the game and, with an apologetic look, told him he would have to start in the weekend league again.
Tang Long's response was very straightforward, "No problem, I couldn't be more eager to face Chelsea; they're even more competitive than Manchester United this season."
Guardiola was delighted and decided to give Tang Long a special privilege, "You can stay up front, reduce pressing, and focus your energy on scoring goals."
...
"Number 9!"
"Tang!!!"
When the DJ on site shouted Tang Long's name, the fans' cheers erupted, far surpassing those for anyone else's name.
And for Manchester City's teammates, they were already used to such scenes.
Last season, the king of Etihad alternated between Agüero and Tang Long;
This season, the stadium has only one king, Tang Long!
Although Agüero felt somewhat lost at heart, he was convinced.
Because he also had his highlights this season—setting the record for scoring in six consecutive Premier League matches at the start of the season, until it ended with the match against Tottenham.
So far this season, Agüero has scored six goals in total, with half directly assisted by Tang Long, and in the rest, Tang Long also indirectly participated in the offense.
Agüero knew full well that his scoring streak owed a lot to Tang Long's help.
Still, Agüero had his regrets.
Standing in the center of Etihad Stadium with the ball under his feet, he said to Tang Long:
"Tang, I know I've scored quite a few goals, but it's always one per match. If you can help me score a brace, I'll treat you to the best steak in Manchester, how about that?"
Tang Long didn't say anything, just nodded with an "OK" hand gesture.
Agüero was overjoyed instantly because, knowing Tang Long's capabilities, he wouldn't speak lightly about anything he couldn't do. If he spoke it, he could certainly do it, so as the referee blew the whistle, the Argentine forward took off with a cheerful mood.
...
"Sergio!"
Right-back Navas started the game fiercely.
Despite being the shortest on the field at just 170 cm, ever since Guardiola converted him to a full-back, his flank positioning skills have been on full display, intimidating opponents with every overlap.
This time, using his signature leg feint on the wing, he left the left wing-back Moses dizzy and anxiously thinking, hurry up and pass!
Yet Navas kept yelling "Sergio," without passing and kept faking.
"Stop calling, I'm here, just pass already!" Even Agüero got anxious, standing in the box with arms outstretched.
Boom!
Navas passed!
But it wasn't a cross; instead, it was a back pass, given to the retreating and supporting Tang Long.
Defensive player Moses was dumbfounded and couldn't help but curse Navas, "So you've been teasing me all along!" Navas shrugged and ran off.
While Chelsea's players were amused by Navas's absurd pass, Tang Long met the ball without stopping it, suddenly allowing it to slip through, spun around, and got past the closely marking Fabregas, turning instantly from facing the right flank to facing the left.
In that moment, man and ball were combined perfectly, the feint was extremely convincing, and even the bypassed Fabregas was taken aback, secretly applauding.
Agüero's mind clicked, and meeting Tang Long's eye, he immediately made a diagonal run!
Tang Long surged forward with a sudden step down the middle, attracting David Luiz and Kante to block him;
As the two were about to seal his path, Tang Long nudged the ball with his left foot, clearly looking at the far-left Kolarov, yet the ball slipped between Kante and Luiz's legs and penetrated into the box!
No-Looking Pass!
Agüero received the ball sideways, his body agile and fluent, controlled and struck seamlessly, directly blasting a shot!
The ball brushed Courtois's face, piercing into the near corner!
1-0!
"Yoho! The guaranteed goal is done~" Agüero exclaimed excitedly, embracing Tang Long.
