Chapter 253: At the Top of the Champions League Scorers List, Manchester City Is Two Matches Away from the Title!
"Camp Nou Falls!"
"Manchester City 3:2 Comeback Victory Over Barcelona, Barca May Miss the Semifinals!"
"Lin Quan Defeats His Former Team, Scores Twice to Lead Manchester City to Victory at Camp Nou!"
"End of Possession Football? Should Guardiola's Style Be Abandoned?"
Manchester City's victory over Barcelona spread like wildfire both online and offline as soon as the match ended.
Before the match, most believed Barcelona had the upper hand, but the final result was unexpected.
Barcelona had 71% possession and 21 shots with 7 on target but only scored 2 goals.
Manchester City showed remarkable efficiency with 12 shots, 5 on target, and 3 goals.
Manchester City's shots were half of Barcelona's, and at least 6 of those shots came in the last 5 minutes when they besieged Barcelona's goal.
In other words, Manchester City scored 3 goals with just 6 shots!
This incredible scoring efficiency could be the highest across all five major leagues!
Manchester City's win was not easy.
At Camp Nou, the match saw 48 fouls and 8 yellow cards, 5 of which went to Manchester City.
It was a fierce battle with players from both sides leaving the field injured.
In the post-match media coverage, Manchester City received high praise.
"El Mundo": "An exciting contest where Manchester City withstood the pressure and used efficient counter-attacking tactics to defeat Barcelona. Lin Quan was undoubtedly the best player on the pitch."
"Sport": "Neymar's goal gave Barcelona hope, but Manchester City's number 10's counter-attacks plunged Barcelona into despair."
Even as they reported the match, Barcelona's mouthpieces couldn't resist offering suggestions to their club: "Maybe Barcelona should focus on one competition. Continuing to fight on three fronts might leave them empty-handed."
"El Mundo Deportivo": "Manchester City displayed immense fighting spirit. Barcelona could have won in the first half, but Lin Quan's defense on Messi weakened Barcelona's attack.
Perhaps we should support Bartomeu's suggestion to bring Lin, this La Masia gem, back to Camp Nou!"
Compared to the Barcelona-friendly papers, Real Madrid's mouthpieces were more critical.
"Marca": "Lin Quan's presence left Messi frustrated. Manchester City's core player led them to victory.
Martino's foolishness squandered Barcelona's advantage. The aging Xavi clearly couldn't sustain such high-intensity play.
Congratulations to Manchester City, who are on the verge of making history by reaching the semifinals. Next week's match at Etihad Stadium will merely be Barcelona's death sentence!"
"AS": "As long as Lin is there, Manchester City is invincible."
AS's report had less mockery and more praise for Lin Quan, likely due to Real Madrid's strong interest in him.
At the post-match press conference, Martino admitted: "Undoubtedly, Lin is one of the best players in the world."
A British journalist asked: "Coach Martino, if Barcelona fails to reach the semifinals, would that be a failure for you and the club?"
Martino nodded: "If we don't make it to the semifinals, it would indeed be a failure. If my team is eliminated, I will resign from my position."
Martino's statement surprised the journalists. His contract with Barcelona still had over a year left, yet he was willing to resign?
"So, to keep my job, I will lead my team to a comeback at Etihad Stadium!"
Martino's determination was admirable, but wasn't he worried about making such bold statements?
Failing to win at home, how did he expect to defeat Manchester City on their home ground, especially needing at least three goals or a two-goal margin? The challenge was immense!
Pellegrini, arriving later, was visibly pleased compared to the troubled Martino.
He praised his team, especially highlighting Lin Quan and De Bruyne.
"Lin's performance didn't surprise me; he has always been a phenomenal player. He always delivers surprises when on the pitch!"
"De Bruyne played exceptionally well. His pass significantly contributed to our victory, and I foresee a bright future for him at Manchester City!"
"The 3:2 score isn't a very safe lead. You know, we're facing the mighty Barcelona. If we get complacent just because we're ahead for now, we might end up with a tragedy."
"My team will be fully prepared at Etihad Stadium, and we'll strive to advance in the second leg."
With a successful win over Barca under his belt, the Chilean coach felt much less fearful of them.
Lin Quan didn't attend the press conference. After the match, he went to the hospital with his teammates.
Kompany was taken to the hospital for an MRI scan, and it was initially diagnosed as a mild concussion, requiring 2-3 weeks of rest.
This meant he would definitely miss the next home game against Barca.
Compared to Kompany, Piqué had it worse.
He was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, needing hospital observation and treatment, possibly missing up to three months of play.
Unlucky Piqué might not only miss the next Champions League game but also this year's World Cup.
...
As Manchester City conquered Camp Nou, the results of other matches also came in.
Manchester United, hosting the match, was forced into a draw by a ten-man Bayern Munich, not only failing to secure a victory but also conceding an away goal.
This result was very tough for Manchester United. Their next game at Allianz Arena looked grim.
However, Bayern's key midfielder Schweinsteiger was sent off with a red card, adding some uncertainty to the next match.
Since Kroos left, Guardiola heavily relied on Schweinsteiger. Now, with him suspended, how Bayern would adjust in midfield became a crucial factor in the next match's outcome.
At Parc des Princes, Paris Saint-Germain drew 3:3 with Real Madrid.
Ibrahimovic and Ronaldo both scored, with Real Madrid taking the lead three times and being equalized three times.
Although they didn't win, having three away goals was something Real Madrid could accept.
For PSG, their next visit to Bernabéu meant they must win to avoid elimination, so they had no choice but to fight hard.
Compared to the previous three matches, the game between Borussia Dortmund and Atlético Madrid was much duller.
Dortmund attacked fiercely almost the entire match, but facing Atlético's solid defense, they couldn't score at all.
The best performer in this game was undoubtedly Atlético's goalkeeper Courtois. If not for his heroic saves, Atlético would have been overwhelmed by Dortmund's fierce attacks.
After the game, Dortmund's coach Klopp and Atlético's coach Simeone admired each other. Both respected the other's coaching abilities.
Despite their different styles, with one favoring offense and the other defense, leading relatively modest teams to such heights showcased their impressive coaching skills.
This result gave Atlético a slight advantage, as Dortmund would find it even harder to break through Atlético's defense at their home ground in the next match.
However, the good news for Dortmund was that they had been left 23 points behind Bayern in the league, making it impossible to compete for the league title. They could focus more on the Champions League.
Atlético, like Barcelona, was in the final sprint for the La Liga title, and the league would inevitably consume a lot of their energy and form.
This might give Dortmund some chances.
After the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, the betting companies immediately adjusted the odds for several teams to win the championship.
Real Madrid's odds ranked first, making them the top favorite for this season's Champions League.
Guardiola's Bayern ranked second, but their odds were significantly behind Real Madrid. Kroos's departure made the public less optimistic about their chances to defend the title.
Barcelona, initially ranked third, saw their odds drop sharply after this match, falling to fifth place.
Manchester City entered the top three for the first time, ranking behind Real Madrid and Bayern.
Following them were Atlético, Dortmund, Barcelona, PSG, and Manchester United.
Although PSG and Manchester United both ended up with draws, the odds suggested that the public assumed they were already eliminated.
What a bad luck they had to face the top two favorites.
After the first round of matches, the Champions League top scorers list was updated.
Lin Quan, who scored twice at Camp Nou, topped the scorers list for the first time!
Currently, his total goals stood at 14, tied with Ronaldo, both sharing the first spot.
Although only sharing the first place, it was Lin Quan's first time topping the list, making it very significant.
"King Lin is really amazing. First time in the Champions League, and he accidentally won the Golden Boot!"
"King Lin's goals have fewer penalties, making them more valuable."
"King Lin is indeed impressive, but there are still 4 more games in the Champions League. Before all matches are over, the top scorers list isn't final, so it's too early to celebrate!"
"True, even if King Lin passes this Barca hurdle, if he faces Real Madrid next, it will still be tough!"
"What if he's lucky and faces Bayern instead?"
"Haha, let's look forward to King Lin leading Manchester City to the finals then!"
...
Before returning to Manchester, Lin Quan received a call from Guardiola.
"Kid, how does it feel to score at Camp Nou?"
"Not bad. Why, feeling sorry for your old club?"
Guardiola had played for Barcelona for over a decade and coached them for four years after retiring. His feelings for Barca were much deeper than Lin Quan's.
Seeing Lin Quan score at Camp Nou, Guardiola had mixed feelings.
He was happy and even proud of Lin Quan, but also a bit sad, as Lin Quan had scored against the goal he once tried so hard to protect.
"Barca can't accommodate me anymore, so what's the use of feeling sorry?"
That sounded like someone dumped by a scumbag, full of resentment, right?
"Alright then, why did you call? I'm about to board the plane, so if there's nothing else, I'll hang up!"
"You brat, can't I chat with you for a bit?"
"Okay, okay, what do you want to talk about? I'll chat with you!"
Guardiola pondered his words carefully, then spoke, "Laporta found me and said he would run for president later this year."
"Stop, you're not going to say that his campaign promise is to bring you back to Camp Nou, right?"
"Yes, but not just me. He also hopes to bring you back to Barca!"
"No, I'm not interested in returning to Barca. I advise you not to get involved either. It's clear that Barca's squad is aging and their combat effectiveness is declining. Real Madrid is at their peak, and Atlético has emerged as a strong contender. If you return to Barca, the situation will be much tougher than before!"
Barca fans miss Guardiola because he brought them numerous honors when he coached them.
But if Guardiola returned to Barca and couldn't lead them out of their current difficulties, those fond memories in the fans' hearts would quickly shatter. He might not be seen as a savior but rather a scapegoat.
"Yes, I understand."
Guardiola's reason was still intact. He was just wavering between emotions and logic.
Lin Quan's words were the decisive factor that made him completely abandon the idea of returning to Barca.
"Alright, dad, I really need to board now. Talk to you later!"
"Okay, bye, safe travels!"
"Hehe, almost forgot, congrats on leading Bayern to set a new record in the top five leagues, winning the Bundesliga title with seven rounds to spare!"
Before Guardiola could say "thank you," Lin Quan hung up, leaving him listening to the dial tone.
He smiled wryly, feeling like in this conversation, Lin Quan was the adult, and he was the child, almost as if he had been lectured.
...
After returning to Manchester, City rested for two days.
On April 5th, they hosted Southampton and won 4:1, consolidating their lead.
With five rounds left, City, with a game in hand, led Liverpool by 7 points.
Their next league match would be away at Anfield, facing Liverpool in a top-of-the-table clash.
Last time at Etihad Stadium, Liverpool ended City's home winning streak, leaving City eager for revenge.
This time at Anfield, City vowed to settle the score.
If they could beat Liverpool in this direct encounter, their lead would extend to 10 points, and with one more game, they could secure the title three rounds early.
So, Manchester City is just two games away from their second Premier League title!
"Ah, if our game against Aston Villa hadn't been postponed, we might have been 10 points ahead by now. That would mean winning against Liverpool at Anfield in the next game and lifting the trophy in their home ground. Just thinking about the faces of Liverpool players makes me feel ecstatic!"
"Well, it's not bad. As long as we defeat Liverpool, we can clinch the title at our home ground in the next game against West Bromwich Albion. Winning at home has a better atmosphere, you know, getting cheers from tens of thousands of fans instead of boos!"
If they win at Anfield, Manchester City players will definitely face fierce jeering from the Reds' fans. They wouldn't dare to celebrate recklessly at their home ground either, fearing a brawl with the 20-year trophyless Liverpool fans storming onto the pitch.
"Yeah, that makes sense. So, let's aim to beat Liverpool and lift the trophy at our home ground!"
"Yeah, beat Liverpool, lift the trophy at home!"
The players cheered and started joking around.
It's evident they're in high spirits, excelling in all three fronts. The league title is just a matter of time, and they're only a game away from reaching the Champions League semi-finals. With just two more wins, they could lift the FA Cup!
This season, Manchester City is guaranteed at least two trophies. With luck, they might even clinch the Champions League, achieving the treble!
Of course, the likelihood of that is still quite low. Their upcoming Champions League opponents are all formidable, and it won't be easy for Manchester City to advance.
Pellegrini arrived at the training ground and, after a slight cough, caught the players' attention, taking out his tactics book and saying:
"You did well in the last game, I'm proud of you!"
The players knew he was referring to the game against Barcelona, and each of them involuntarily puffed out their chests, filled with pride.
"But we made quite a few mistakes during the game, and these errors need to be corrected promptly. Otherwise, in the next game, our opponents might capitalize on them, posing a risk of defeat."
The players became alert and listened attentively.
"The pressing intensity of possession football, you've experienced it, right?"
Manchester City players recalled the despair and powerlessness they felt when Barcelona tightly pressed them in the first thirty minutes of the last game.
"It's normal to have that feeling when facing Barcelona, as other teams experience it too."
Manchester City's players were a bit confused, not knowing what Pellegrini was getting at.
"When facing Barcelona, I hope you don't get nervous. Nervousness increases mental and physical fatigue, making you tire out faster, just like you understand, right?"
The players nodded in agreement. Before major tournaments, players generally need to relax their minds and enter the field with as calm a mood as possible.
But achieving this is easier said than done. When your opponents start besieging your goal, how could you not be nervous?
"The answer is simple: threaten Barcelona's goal with our attacks, make their players nervous!"
Pellegrini quickly sketched out tactics on the board, arranging Manchester City's strategy for the next game against Barcelona.
"In the next game, we'll play like this!"
Seeing Pellegrini's tactics, Manchester City's players were skeptical.
Would such retro tactics work against a top-tier team like Barcelona?
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