Chapter 446: The Killer Question
After the match, a video of Guardiola's interview was uploaded online, sparking a lot of attention and discussion among fans.
"BBC reporters really know how to stir things up. How could Guardiola possibly answer that question?"
"One is his former favorite player, the other is his most reliable star player now, and his 'son.' Both are incredibly talented and have similar styles. It's a tough choice for Guardiola!"
"If Lin Quan hadn't emerged, I think Guardiola would definitely choose Messi. I heard that when he was coaching Bayern, he often used Messi as a benchmark to push Bayern's players, always saying how Messi did this and that."
"Haha, I heard about that too. Guardiola supposedly set tactics based on Messi's standards, trying to make players emulate him, only to realize they couldn't. That just made him appreciate Messi even more, solidifying his role as a 'Messi fanboy.'"
"It's a pity, though. This 'Messi fanboy' has betrayed his idol in just a few short years!"
The person saying this was clearly a Messi fan, speaking in a half-joking, half-resigned tone.
Before Lin Quan, Messi and Ronaldo were often compared. However, their styles were quite different, each with unique strengths. Comparisons usually boiled down to stats and accolades.
But Lin Quan was different. His style was incredibly similar to Messi's, almost identical. When he first emerged, people called him "Little Messi." Over the years, as he gained more fame and won honors that even Messi hadn't, he shed that label. Still, when it comes to who resembles Messi the most, fans first think of Lin Quan. They have similar height and build, extremely similar technical styles, and nearly identical positioning, dribbling, and shooting techniques. They seem like they were molded from the same cast, making them natural subjects for comparison.
The debate over who is better between Lin Quan and Messi has long been a topic of discussion online. While Lin Quan has many supporters, Messi has even more. After all, Messi has played for many years and accumulated a larger fan base. However, Lin Quan's momentum is strong. He won the World Cup as the core of the Spanish team, a feat that gained him countless fans. Younger fans, in particular, prefer Lin Quan. They started watching football when Messi was past his peak, while Lin Quan is still in his prime, possibly even getting better.
Older fans, on the other hand, tend to favor Messi more, influenced by his outstanding performances in past seasons and their nostalgic feelings.
"Messi was incredibly strong back then, but unfortunately, injuries and team issues have caused his performance to decline."
"Messi isn't young anymore. If he doesn't change his playing style and continues to get injured, he might follow in Ronaldo's footsteps. For us Messi fans, every match is precious because they might be his last."
Since 2013, Messi has been plagued by injuries, missing many league and Champions League matches this year. Barça's poor performance this year is largely due to Messi's absences and Neymar's departure, leaving them weakened. They can't compete with Real Madrid and even struggle against Atlético. Additionally, the Catalonia independence movement has cast uncertainty over Barça's future, worrying their fans.
In contrast, Lin Quan's Manchester City seems to have a bright future. With ample transfer funds, a stable management team, a powerful coach, and strong teammates, City has everything a top club needs. They just need to win more trophies and honors on the field.
While the debate over who is stronger, Lin Quan or Messi, might not yield a definitive answer now, everyone agrees that if Lin Quan continues his current trajectory, he will surpass Messi in a few years, becoming the best player on the planet. If no new players reach the heights of Messi and Ronaldo, he might end their era and dominate the football world alone.
…
Lin Quan wasn't affected by the reporters' questions, but Guardiola felt uneasy. Usually, he would sit next to Lin Quan, but today he squeezed into the front with his assistant coaches.
"Hey Pep, why didn't you answer the reporter's question?" Torrent teased, half-sitting due to Guardiola's presence.
"Only a fool would answer that!" Guardiola shot him a look, thinking to himself that he wasn't stupid. He wouldn't fall into such a trap set by the reporters.
After speaking, Guardiola ignored his assistant and focused on studying the team's schedule. At the end of October, City had two matches left: a League Cup match against Crystal Palace and a league match at home against Norwich. Neither opponent was particularly strong, and with City's current form, winning should be straightforward.
Guardiola didn't prioritize the League Cup, so he planned to field substitutes against Palace to give them some playing time. Depending on their performance, he might continue to give them opportunities against Norwich. If they didn't perform well, he had no choice but to use the main squad.
Every year, English teams dread the hectic Christmas period. Without a winter break, this period is grueling, with many matches and high-profile games. Losing a match can be like losing a six-pointer, making it easy for rivals to catch up. The lack of a winter break, combined with the cold weather, often leads to low morale and an increased risk of injuries. Therefore, this period tests a team's depth and management skills.
In the summer, City's signings were restrained, so Guardiola planned to bring in a forward during the winter transfer window to strengthen the attack. Jovetić, currently a substitute, didn't meet Guardiola's standards or preferences. Strengthening the squad's depth to prepare for possible injuries and the intense schedule was necessary. If all else failed, they could always promote talent from the youth team, as they did last year.
...
On October 29th, in the League Cup at Etihad Stadium, Manchester City faced Crystal Palace at home. Guardiola fielded a lot of substitutes and even youth team players for this match, meaning their on-paper strength wasn't necessarily much higher than Crystal Palace's. However, City's substitutes dominated, crushing their opponents 5-1 at home. In this game, Son Heung-min scored twice, Iheanacho added another, and substitute De Bruyne scored from a penalty. Notably, 17-year-old Manu García from the U18 team made his debut in the 84th minute and scored in stoppage time, earning considerable attention and interest from various clubs.
Following Lin Quan's successful precedent, many teams are now keen on young players in their late teens, looking for hidden gems. This trend has provided many opportunities for young talents like Kylian Mbappe. In Ligue 1's 11th round, he made his first-team debut for Monaco at 16 years and 308 days old, breaking Thierry Henry's 1994 record to become the youngest player to debut for Monaco in the league. Although Mbappe's performance was average, simply appearing in Ligue 1 at such a young age was a significant achievement. With more opportunities and given Monaco's stable performance, their coach might frequently include Mbappe, potentially advancing his fame earlier than expected.
Boosted by their resounding home victory with substitutes, Guardiola's confidence soared. Two days later, in the league, he continued to use young players, starting Son Heung-min and placing Iheanacho and Manu García on the bench. Playing at home, City dominated, leading 2-0 at halftime with goals from Lin Quan and Son Heung-min. Preparing for the midweek Champions League match, Guardiola made bold substitutions, taking out Lin Quan, David Silva, and other key players at halftime, bringing on Iheanacho, Fernando, and Sagna.
Initially, Norwich struggled to recover from their heavy first-half setback and continued to play cautiously. However, realizing City's lineup changes, they increased their attacking efforts. Whether it was Norwich's good luck or City's bad luck, in the 66th minute of the second half, Norwich was awarded a penalty after a shot hit a City defender's hand. Joe Hart, City's starting goalkeeper for this match, initially guessed the wrong direction but miraculously saved the shot with his foot. Captain Kompany quickly cleared the ball, saving City from danger.
"Wow, it seems even the heavens favor Manchester City!" "Norwich fought hard for that chance, but they squandered it!"
Joe Hart's save allowed him to vent his pent-up frustration with a roar, feeling he had finally turned his luck around. However, in the 82nd minute, Norwich's forward Jerome attempted a speculative long shot from outside the box. The ball swerved unexpectedly, leaving Hart rooted to the spot as it sailed into the net, making the score 2:1.
Despite still leading, City's defense looked shaken, and Norwich, buoyed by their goal, didn't waste time celebrating but rushed to restart play, aiming for an equalizer or even a comeback. The final minutes saw Norwich relentlessly attacking City's goal, creating a rare spectacle of the home side being besieged.
Guardiola's expression grew serious. His players seemed rattled by Norwich's late goal, becoming overly cautious and defensive, which displeased him. Relying solely on defense to see out the match was not his style. He called out to his players, urging them to push forward again. With Son Heung-min still on the pitch, his speed could be a vital counter-attacking weapon. Sure enough, in the 88th minute, Kroos intercepted the ball and launched a long pass to Son Heung-min, who sprinted towards Norwich's goal like lightning. Unable to catch him, a Norwich defender brought him down, earning a straight red card.
City's morale surged after seeing their counterattack succeed and their opponent reduced to ten men. They resumed their offensive, and in stoppage time, De Bruyne was fouled in the box, earning a penalty. However, in a twist of fate, De Bruyne's shot hit the crossbar and bounced out.
Seeing De Bruyne miss the penalty, Lin Quan and Guardiola were both stunned. What just happened? Did De Bruyne catch the 'miss' bug from the opposing team?
This match, featuring two missed penalties, drew significant attention despite being an otherwise ordinary fixture. City's shaky performance gave hope to other teams. If Norwich could almost upset them, why couldn't they?
(End of chapter)