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.
Sky Sports: "Two draws, two different impacts. City fans rejoice while Chelsea fans roar in anger."
BBC: "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.