Chapter 383: Patrolling the Allianz Arena Like a King, Lin Quan's Bold Declaration!
"Blue Moon 2:0 Southern King, Defending Champions One Step into the Final!" "Two Goals in Three Minutes, Golden Ball Winner Crushes Bayern Alone!" "Vindication Battle, Guardiola Defeats His Former Club!" "Bayern Goes Quiet, Faces Another Champions League Semi-Final Exit!" "Hoeness's Folly: Letting Kroos Go Shows Its Consequences as Bayern Pays the Price!"
The match between Manchester City and Bayern Munich captured the attention of global media. After the game, newspapers and news outlets extensively covered the match, with Lin Quan and Guardiola often gracing the front pages. There was no doubt that these two were the key figures in Manchester City's victory.
Without Lin Quan's consecutive goals in the second half, City might have lost to Bayern. Guardiola's tactical acumen in identifying and exploiting Bayern's weaknesses before they could adjust was also pivotal.
Heynckes was frustrated. His team's strength wasn't inferior to City's; they even dominated the first half with superior stamina. But Xabi Alonso's yellow card was too damaging, and without a suitable replacement, he couldn't adjust in time. This was the main reason for Bayern's loss.
Despite Alonso's age, his role on the field was irreplaceable. He was Bayern's playmaker and controlled the game's tempo. One statistic highlighted Alonso's importance: he averaged 200 touches per game, nearly 30% of the team's total. However, at 34 years old, relying on him for full matches was unrealistic; Bayern needed to consider his successor.
"0:2 isn't the end of the world. The outcome will be decided in the next game at the Allianz Arena," said Heynckes. If anyone else had said this, the journalists might have dismissed it as bravado. But with Heynckes, they took it seriously. After all, a month ago, Bayern had overturned a two-goal deficit against Porto at the Allianz Arena, scoring eight goals to silence critics. Bayern certainly had the capability to stage a comeback.
"I'm very familiar with the Allianz Arena, having been there for a year and a half. Next match, I will use our offense to beat Bayern and secure our place in the final," Guardiola boldly responded to Heynckes' statement.
Journalists were shocked. Did Guardiola just say he would attack Bayern at the Allianz Arena? Who gave him that confidence? Didn't he know how devastating Bayern could be at home?
Bayern's players also voiced their determination to turn the tide at home.
"Losing is not the end. We will take back control at home," tweeted Thomas Müller, even tagging Lin Quan with a challenge. "This match saw many mistakes on our part. Next time at home, we won't give our opponents any chances," tweeted captain Philipp Lahm, though he didn't tag Lin Quan, as they weren't acquainted. "Next match, we won't concede a single goal," tweeted Neuer, his short message reflecting his resolve and confidence to be the impregnable wall guarding Bayern's goal.
As Bayern's top scorer, Lewandowski missed several opportunities in this match, drawing criticism from fans who felt he hadn't given his all. They believed players like Gomez or Mandzukic would have scored in those situations. Lewandowski had to assure fans and the club of his commitment, promising goals in the next game.
"I miss the feeling of scoring four goals at the Allianz Arena. Next game, I'll make City feel the despair Porto once felt," vowed Lewandowski.
When these statements reached Manchester City, their players responded in kind.
"If you want to score, you'll have to get past me and my teammates first," retorted Virgil van Dijk, confident after his encounters with Lewandowski. "I also miss playing in the Bundesliga, especially visiting the Allianz Arena," quipped Kevin De Bruyne, reminding Bayern fans of past defeats at home to Bremen, where he and Lin Quan had once played.
Initially reluctant to engage in online trash talk, Lin Quan felt compelled to respond after Müller tagged him. "The Allianz Arena is a grand and beautiful stadium. I hope to patrol it next game," declared Lin Quan.
This statement ignited excitement among fans and spectators.
"Wow, Lin's confidence is off the charts!" "True, glad I'm not a Bayern fan or I'd be panicking." "Why provoke Lin? Müller might have poked the bear here." "Maybe it's Lewandowski's doing."
Those who understood Lin's statement were impressed, while others were confused about the meaning of "patrolling the field."
"What's 'patrolling the field' mean?" asked one curious fan. "It's Lin's signature celebration, where he strolls around the field like a king after scoring a hat-trick," explained another. "Exactly, this celebration happens in away games after a hat-trick." "Lin has done this at Old Trafford, Camp Nou, and Anfield. Although he's scored hat-tricks against weaker teams, he reserves this celebration for top clubs. Bayern has now earned this recognition from Lin."
Lin Quan's bold declaration set the stage for a highly anticipated second leg at the Allianz Arena, where he and Manchester City aimed to seal their place in the final.
"Haha, if I were a Bayern fan, I wouldn't want that kind of recognition. Angering Lin Huang is not a good thing!" "What's there to fear? No matter how strong he is, he's just one player. Can he take on the entire Bayern team by himself?" Bayern fans were clearly displeased. Listening to the discussion, it sounded as if Bayern had already been sentenced to defeat. Although Lin Quan is indeed formidable, Bayern is not entirely without options. Even Messi was stopped by Bayern before, right?
Some curious journalists asked Bayern's coaching staff what they thought about Lin Quan's bold statements. Heynckes calmly responded, "Football is a team sport. Bayern is a cohesive unit. We are confident we can restrict their offense!" His words seemed to dismiss Lin Quan's threat entirely.
However, once the journalists left, Heynckes immediately gathered his coaching staff to discuss how to limit Lin Quan's performance in the next match. After all, Lin Quan had openly declared his intention to score a hat-trick at the Allianz Arena. If they didn't do something and he actually scored three goals, Bayern would be utterly humiliated.
Moreover, Lin Quan is the biggest threat in Manchester City's lineup. Neutralizing Lin Quan would significantly diminish City's attacking power. But figuring out how to limit Lin Quan was a major challenge. The coaching staff struggled to come up with a concrete solution.
Heynckes lamented, "Two years ago, when he was still playing in the Bundesliga, he was quite raw. His stamina, match experience, and even his footwork weren't as exceptional as they are now. In just two short years, his progress has been astounding. We can't find a foolproof way to deal with him!"
"But we have to contain him. His offensive threat is immense, and his scoring efficiency is extremely high. Given the chance, he will score."
"We have no choice but to use that strategy!"
At Manchester City, news of the players' online banter with Bayern's players quickly reached Guardiola. When he heard Lin Quan had declared he would score a hat-trick at the Allianz Arena, he couldn't help but laugh.
"Looks like our next visit to the Allianz Arena will have to be an all-out attack against Bayern!"
"Oh? Does that mean what you said before wasn't true?" Lin Quan asked, surprised.
"Haha, it was just a psychological tactic to put pressure on them, make them second-guess their strategy," Guardiola replied with a sly grin, showcasing his knack for psychological warfare.
"Actually, there's no reason to fear an all-out attack. We have a two-goal advantage. If we score away, each goal counts as double. So, if we can breach Bayern's defense, even if we lose, we can still advance to the final based on goal difference or away goals," Lin Quan stated confidently.
Guardiola nodded. "I know that. But Bayern is known for creating devastating outcomes. Once they get into their stride, there's no telling how many goals they might score."
Lin Quan agreed. A few years ago, Barcelona was crushed 4-0 at home by Bayern, a match that shocked the football world. But that wasn't Bayern's limit. In the 2019-2020 Champions League quarterfinals, Bayern famously thrashed Barcelona 8-2, creating an unforgettable disaster in football history. This scoreline was far more astonishing than the 8-1 victory against Porto. While Porto, despite its history and strength, isn't a top-tier team from the big five leagues, Barcelona is a deeply rooted top team. Achieving such a staggering scoreline against a top-tier team was unimaginable before that match.
So, when facing Bayern, never assume that being a strong team or a top club ensures safety. If Bayern hits their stride, they can dismantle any team, no matter how elite.
"Then let's see who can be crazier!" Lin Quan said, undaunted by Bayern's prowess. He knew that even if they didn't engage in a direct attack, letting Bayern score would empower them to break through any defensive shell. So, it might be better to go all out and fight fiercely. Given their goal advantage, they had a chance.
On May 7th, the other Champions League semi-final match took place. Barcelona, playing at home, defeated Real Madrid 3-0 thanks to goals from Messi, Suarez, and Neymar. This score was highly unfavorable for Real Madrid. They failed to win or even secure an away goal, meaning that to progress in the next match at the Bernabeu, they would need to score at least three goals without conceding. If Barcelona scored, Real Madrid would need five goals to advance, an almost insurmountable task. Thus, following this match, the general consensus was that Barcelona had one foot in the final, while Real Madrid was practically buried.
"With the addition of Suarez this season, Barcelona's attacking firepower has become increasingly formidable. In the first half of the season, Real Madrid could still compete, but in the second half, they have been completely outmatched by Barcelona!" "Though there were doubts about Suarez's character before he joined Barcelona, his outstanding performance has silenced all critics. No one can question his abilities now!" "Manchester City 2:0 Bayern, Barcelona 3:0 Real Madrid. Both teams hold significant advantages. Barring any surprises, these two are likely to meet in the Champions League final!"
(Chapter End)