Chapter 464: The Top-of-the-Table Clash Begins, Schmeichel's Brilliant Save!
Due to its long stint in lower leagues, Leicester City's stadium isn't very large, holding just over 30,000 fans. For such an important match, King Power Stadium's tickets sold out long ago, leaving many fans without a chance to attend.
Leicester, with a population of around 300,000, is a significant city by UK standards, even though it might be comparable to a small county town elsewhere. To support a top-tier club is entirely feasible. In comparison, nearby Manchester, with a population of 500,000, is home to two major clubs, Manchester City and Manchester United. Given the British passion for football, Leicester City can grow its fanbase and potentially expand its stadium with time, assuming the club's owners are willing to invest.
Lin Quan always took a moment to survey each stadium he played in. Over his career, he'd played in many famous European stadiums, including Santiago Bernabéu, Camp Nou, Allianz Arena, and Old Trafford. Some stadiums left a deeper impression than others, like Allianz Arena and Santiago Bernabéu, while Camp Nou felt ordinary due to frequent visits. Despite being a rival's ground, he also liked Old Trafford, seeing it as a lucky place for him.
Although the Premier League's commercialization is highly successful, the fervor for football in Germany arguably surpasses that in the UK. This is evident in the larger stadiums and higher attendance rates in the Bundesliga. German clubs often have cheaper tickets, being member-owned and not profit-driven, hence more considerate of ordinary fans.
As Lin Quan surveyed King Power Stadium, Leicester City's fans were also scrutinizing him. Knowing he posed the greatest threat to their team, the Foxes' supporters booed loudly upon his arrival, some even making "friendly" gestures to intimidate him. Used to such hostility, Lin Quan ignored them, aware that any retaliatory gesture, like a middle finger, would lead to disciplinary action from the FA.
After warming up, Lin Quan grabbed a ball and called over Joe Hart. The two started a one-on-one shooting and goalkeeping practice, a test for both. Shooting from outside the box against a focused goalkeeper isn't easy, requiring high skill to score. Shots need precise placement, increased power for faster ball speed, or spin to deceive the goalkeeper.
Joe Hart was highly focused, making three saves out of Lin Quan's first ten shots. Leicester City's fans, noticing this low save rate, grew anxious. Their striker, Vardy, was conducting a similar practice at the other end but managed to score only four out of ten attempts, while Schmeichel saved six. Despite Schmeichel's prowess, Joe Hart wasn't a mediocre goalkeeper either, having been an England international. His replacement by Navas didn't diminish his abilities.
This disparity in shooting prowess between the two teams' strikers highlighted a significant gap. Vardy, seeing this, grumbled to his teammates:
"Hey, Schmeichel, can't you ease up a bit? The fans are here to see my best shots!"
Schmeichel rolled his eyes. "I need to stay sharp and maintain my form. How else can I face Manchester City's fierce attack?"
Schmeichel was aware that this match was a crucial test, expecting a relentless assault on his goal by Manchester City's formidable attacking lineup, including Lin Quan, Agüero, and Son Heung-min. His determination was fueled partly by his past with Manchester City. Many players strive to prove themselves against former clubs, and Schmeichel was no different, especially given his earlier struggles at a lesser Manchester City before their financial transformation.
Lin Quan, finding static shooting drills too easy, brought over Kroos and De Bruyne for more realistic scenarios, receiving varied passes from different angles and speeds. His comprehensive shooting skills, using various parts of his foot for different types of shots, left Leicester City fans in awe, silencing their boos.
"This guy's shooting skills are too versatile!"
"No wonder he's the Premier League's top scorer. He's really strong!"
"Can our defense hold up against their attack?"
Leicester City fans began to worry about their team's defense, which wasn't particularly strong, having conceded 25 goals in 18 matches, averaging 1.39 goals per game, ranking sixth from the bottom. Their victories often came from narrow margins, relying heavily on their offense.
In contrast, Manchester City's defense was formidable, having conceded only nine goals all season, the best in the Premier League. Offensively, they were also dominant, scoring 49 goals, 12 more than Leicester City, leading the league by a significant margin.
The match was poised to be a significant challenge, with Manchester City's superior firepower and defensive solidity pitted against Leicester City's spirited underdog status.
Facing a team with such a strong offense and defense, Leicester City would face immense challenges on both ends. Guardiola, chatting with his assistants on the sidelines, noticed Lin Quan's impressive display, taking shots from both feet. Feeling an itch to join, Guardiola shed his suit, ran onto the pitch, and started feeding balls to Lin Quan.
However, either due to his long retirement or the hindrance of his dress shoes, his passes were not as precise as those from Kroos and De Bruyne. This increased the difficulty for Lin Quan, but it inadvertently provided him with more challenging practice.
Guardiola, excited, continued for a while longer until he slipped and fell awkwardly on the pitch, drawing laughter from the Leicester City fans. His players quickly helped him up, and he brushed off the grass from his sweater, greeting the players before limping back to the sidelines, wincing in pain and rubbing his back. This comical scene made both the Leicester and Manchester City fans burst into laughter.
Guardiola's pre-match strategy seemed to have worked, or perhaps his humorous fall had a magical effect. As the game started, Manchester City launched a fierce attack at Leicester City's home ground. Despite Leicester City's coach repeatedly emphasizing Manchester City's strength, the actual experience on the pitch was overwhelming for the players.
On the sidelines, Ranieri clenched his fists in tension. He had prepared extensively for this match but still felt a sense of despair once it began. Manchester City's dominance was suffocating.
On the other side, back on the bench, Guardiola was surprised. Leicester City's players quickly surged into Manchester City's half at the start, not just one player, but many, attempting to catch them off guard. Coincidentally, this was also Guardiola's plan. As Leicester City advanced aggressively, they were immediately countered by Manchester City. With so many players committed to the attack, Leicester City's defense was left vulnerable. When Manchester City swiftly intercepted the ball and transitioned to offense, alarms rang in Leicester's defense.
"Manchester City on the attack, Kroos with a wide pass!" "Lin Quan takes the ball, passes to Son Heung-min!" "Son Heung-min crosses to the center!" "Agüero shoots, dangerous!" "Kasper Schmeichel saves it with his body!"
Just one minute into the game, Manchester City had already created a highly threatening shot, causing the Leicester fans to hold their breath. This was the strength of the Champions League winners—truly terrifying. While the media had been touting Leicester as the Premier League's dark horse, some clear-headed Leicester fans knew it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to dethrone Manchester City unless they collapsed like Arsenal in the second half of the season.
Agüero, missing the chance, apologized to Son Heung-min, who in turn gave him a thumbs-up, praising the effort. A single attack often sees many crosses but few shots or goals. Manchester City's spirits remained high despite the initial miss, quickly regaining possession and launching an even more threatening counterattack.
This time, Lin Quan cut inside after breaking down the wing, feinted a pass to Agüero, and fired a shot himself. Using Agüero as a decoy, Lin Quan's shot was sudden and well-angled. However, Kasper Schmeichel seemed to anticipate it, diving early to make a stunning save.
"Kasper Schmeichel with a phenomenal save!" Schmeichel's brilliant performance stunned the fans and commentators. The slow-motion replay showed Lin Quan's shot heading for the corner, only for Schmeichel to swoop in like a soaring eagle and knock it away. Had it gone in, it might have been the goal of the match or even the round.
After making the incredible save, Schmeichel jumped up, roaring in excitement. Such saves boost the morale of both the goalkeeper and the team. Leicester City's morale surged thanks to Schmeichel's early heroics. Despite Manchester City's strength, they felt confident with their goalkeeper standing strong.
Watching from the stands was Peter Schmeichel, a special guest for the match. When the broadcast captured him, he was clapping along with the Leicester fans for his son's save. Surprised to see himself on the big screen, he waved to the camera. Peter Schmeichel, a Manchester United legend and one of the best goalkeepers of his era, saw many drawing comparisons between him and his son. The question lingered—could Kasper Schmeichel reach the heights of his father?
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