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!