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)