Chapter 448: The Terrifying Strength of Klopp's Liverpool!
Cristiano Ronaldo has always been competitive, and it's normal for him to resist the idea of aging. After all, he still lags behind Messi and even Lin Quan in terms of accolades and needs to work hard to close that gap.
Attentive fans have meticulously compared the accolades of these three football superstars in terms of national team, club, and individual honors. The results are not very favorable for Ronaldo.
For the national team, Ronaldo has not won any significant awards so far. Messi, at least, has an Olympic gold medal. Lin Quan, on the other hand, has the most honors in this regard, with both the Confederations Cup and World Cup titles, putting him ahead of the other two.
At the club level, Ronaldo has won three league titles and one Champions League title during his time in the Premier League. After joining Real Madrid, he won one league title but no Champions League titles. Messi, however, has amassed seven league titles and three Champions League titles with Barcelona. Lin Quan, having started his career later, has fewer titles than both. However, his efficiency is remarkable, winning two league titles and two Champions League titles in his first two seasons with Manchester City. At this rate, Lin Quan could surpass Messi in club honors soon.
In terms of individual accolades, Messi has four Ballon d'Or awards, Ronaldo has two, and Lin Quan has one. Overall, Ronaldo trails significantly behind Messi. However, compared to the rising star Lin Quan, Ronaldo still holds a slight advantage in club achievements and personal awards. But given Lin Quan's current form, this advantage may soon disappear. Especially in individual awards, Ronaldo's one extra Ballon d'Or might soon be matched by Lin Quan, as the upcoming Ballon d'Or ceremony is highly anticipated.
Last season, Manchester City, led by Lin Quan, not only won back-to-back league titles but also defended their Champions League title successfully. Combined, these achievements overshadow anything else, especially since there were no major international tournaments last year, making club performances the key factor. Compared to Lin Quan, Ronaldo won nothing last year in club competitions, neither the league nor the Champions League. Messi faced similar issues, exacerbated by injuries affecting his game time. Even with some bias from the judges, Messi's accomplishments couldn't compete with Lin Quan's massive successes.
Thus, many believe that Lin Quan winning this year's Ballon d'Or is almost certain, with little controversy. If Lin Quan wins this year's Ballon d'Or, he will tie with Ronaldo in the number of awards, nullifying Ronaldo's slight edge. This fills Ronaldo with a sense of urgency, pushing him to excel in both the league and Champions League to avoid being overtaken by Lin Quan and to close the gap with Messi.
Ronaldo's determination is evident, but Real Madrid's squad has some weaknesses. After the fourth round of the Champions League group stage, they immediately faced a tough match against Sevilla in La Liga, resulting in a loss. At the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, Sevilla set up an intense attacking match against the league leaders, Real Madrid, and surprisingly came out on top. This loss shocked La Liga fans as the seemingly unstoppable Real Madrid was halted by Sevilla, who had been soundly defeated by Manchester City.
Fans began to worry about the disparity in strength between Real Madrid and Manchester City. Real Madrid's midfield, in particular, showed significant problems, especially after Xabi Alonso's departure. Although Modric is a fantastic player, he plays more like an attacking midfielder rather than a holding midfielder, leaving a crucial role in midfield vacant. Real Madrid had hoped to bring in Toni Kroos, but Manchester City acted first, thwarting their plans. Casemiro's return bolstered their midfield somewhat, but his organizational skills are not on par with the best. In the recent match, Sevilla managed to dominate key statistics like passing accuracy and passing numbers, despite having less possession. If they struggled against Sevilla, how would they fare against Manchester City's even stronger midfield?
While Real Madrid's concerns mounted, a surprising result from the Premier League brought them some relief. Manchester City was held to a draw by Aston Villa, ending their 11-game winning streak. This 0-0 draw was remarkable because Manchester City's powerful offense had rarely been kept scoreless. This result sparked widespread interest and analysis, with experts and coaches trying to understand how Aston Villa managed to stifle Manchester City's attack.
Aston Villa is known for their physicality and aggressive playstyle. In recent seasons, they have taken down several top teams with their robust and combative approach. Although they have toned down their fouling, their strength in physical confrontations remains a key feature. In this match, their strategy was simple: deploy a fast forward to disrupt Manchester City's defense and rely on their physical prowess to withstand City's attacks.
This match drew significant attention post-game as analysts and fans sought to unravel the tactics Aston Villa used to successfully halt Manchester City's attacking juggernaut. The draw not only ended City's winning streak but also offered a glimmer of hope to other teams across Europe, suggesting that Manchester City could be challenged and that their seemingly invincible run had its vulnerabilities.
All the other players stayed back in their half and parked the bus. If Manchester City came forward, they would engage in physical battles, using their bodies and even fouls to disrupt City's passing game. Once they got the ball, they would just hoof it forward without any midfield build-up, relying solely on long balls and aerial duels. This old-school tactic proved to be very effective.
After their exhausting Champions League trip, Manchester City players were already low on energy. Aston Villa's strategy forced City players to cover a lot of ground, dealing with constant physical challenges, further draining their stamina. By the end of the first half, some City players were already cramping up.
Seeing this, Guardiola made three substitutions in the second half, bringing in young, fresh legs. However, with only three substitutes allowed and the entire team's energy flagging, these changes had limited impact. Additionally, the young players lacked the skill and experience of the starters, struggling to break down Aston Villa's tight defense, ultimately resulting in a frustrating draw.
After analyzing the match, it became clear that Aston Villa's tactics were simple but effective. However, other teams might find it hard to replicate. Nonetheless, Liverpool, City's fierce rivals, decided to give it a try.
On November 22nd, at the Etihad Stadium, Klopp's revitalized Liverpool gave a masterclass on how to beat Manchester City. Liverpool had a dream start, scoring just 2 minutes into the game thanks to a City defensive error that resulted in an own goal. This early lead boosted Liverpool's confidence immensely.
In this game, Liverpool players ran tirelessly, making it seem like they had an extra man in midfield. Besides their relentless running, Liverpool executed Klopp's high-pressing strategy to perfection. They took a page out of Aston Villa's book, increasing the intensity of their physical play without crossing the line to draw fouls or cards, exploiting the Premier League referees' lenient approach.
This aggressive and fast-paced style left Manchester City flustered. They hadn't faced such an intense and physical team for a long time, and Liverpool's approach felt like a breath of fresh air.
In the 23rd minute, Liverpool's brilliant attacking play led to Firmino assisting Coutinho for a goal. Just 7 minutes later, Coutinho returned the favor, setting up Firmino to score. By the 30th minute, Liverpool were already 3-0 up.
The Manchester City fans at the Etihad were stunned. When was the last time they saw their team trailing by such a margin at home? It felt like a distant memory. Yet, the scoreboard showed a harsh reality: 0-3. No matter how much they wanted to bury their heads in the sand, they couldn't ignore it.
The City fans were furious, while the traveling Liverpool supporters were ecstatic, hugging and celebrating wildly. Across Liverpool, in bars, homes, and online, news of Liverpool's incredible 3-0 lead spread like wildfire.
"Liverpool are on fire!" "They're dominating the unbeatable Manchester City. This is why we're the mighty Liverpool!" "No other team can play such exhilarating football." "Stay calm, everyone. This is just the beginning!" "Klopp is incredible. In less than six months, he's transformed Liverpool. Give him a few more years, and we might finally win the league!"
Despite winning the Champions League, Liverpool hadn't won the league title in over 20 years. Their legendary captain Gerrard had retired without lifting the Premier League trophy, a lingering regret. Now, seeing Klopp's energetic and vibrant Liverpool, fans couldn't help but get emotional, some even shedding tears of joy. Could this finally be their time?
"Don't celebrate too soon. Remember the Istanbul miracle!" Someone warned amidst the jubilation. "True, it's not halftime yet. With City's strength, they won't go down easily. There's plenty of time for a comeback."
Liverpool once staged a historic comeback from 3-0 down in the Champions League final. Manchester City, with their formidable squad and stars like Lin Quan and mastermind Guardiola, were more than capable of a similar feat.
City fans and players were initially shell-shocked, unaccustomed to such a scenario. This season, they had rarely trailed in games, let alone faced a 3-0 deficit at home. However, as back-to-back Champions League winners, they weren't going to crumble easily, especially not at the Etihad.
From the 30th minute, Manchester City launched a spirited counterattack.
(End of Chapter)