Chapter 463: Guardiola's Weakness and the Start of the Top-of-the-Table Clash!
In the 65th minute of the second half, Benteke's goal finally broke the deadlock between Liverpool and Leicester City, pushing Leicester into a critical situation.
"Benteke has scored a crucial goal. This one is worth its weight in gold!"
Despite missing several opportunities created by his teammates throughout the match, Benteke eventually capitalized on one and converted it into a goal. This goal was not only vital for Liverpool and Leicester but also significant for Manchester City.
"Leicester City's position is now very precarious. If they lose this match, they could end up being more than ten points behind Manchester City by the halfway mark of the season!"
Commentators expressed their concern for Leicester City. If they lose this match, they would be nine points behind Manchester City. If they then lose the top-of-the-table clash against Manchester City, the gap would widen to twelve points. Being twelve points behind halfway through the season means that Leicester City would have little to no chance of catching up unless Manchester City experiences a massive collapse in the second half of the season.
For Leicester City, their hopes of contending for the title could be dashed by this match. Ranieri, known for his mild-mannered and friendly demeanor, showed his frustration. Seeing his team fall behind, he made decisive substitutions, urging his team to quicken the pace of their attacks, sacrificing some defensive stability to throw more players forward. He instructed his players to press aggressively in the final third, fighting tooth and nail for the last thirty minutes of the match.
Although Leicester City is considered an underdog team, their position as the season's biggest dark horse indicates their significant strength. When such a team adopts a do-or-die attitude, even a storied club like Liverpool can struggle to cope.
In the dying moments of the match, Liverpool found themselves in a very defensive position. Klopp's tactics, which emphasize running and pressing, had taken a toll on the players' stamina, leading to a noticeable drop in their physical condition in the second half. Additionally, Leicester City's fierce pressing applied immense pressure, making it difficult for Liverpool to breathe.
However, Liverpool's resilience shone through. Despite facing intense pressure and relentless attacks, they held firm, repeatedly thwarting Leicester's offensive efforts. In the closing moments, Liverpool players frequently suffered cramps but refrained from time-wasting tactics. The home crowd at Anfield sang "You'll Never Walk Alone" in unison, boosting the morale of the home team. Encouraged by the overwhelming support, Liverpool managed to hold on until the final whistle.
When the referee blew the final whistle, the Liverpool players collapsed onto the pitch, utterly exhausted. This hard-fought victory had taken everything out of them. On the other hand, Leicester City players, hands on their hips, wore expressions of disappointment. Losing such a crucial match is a significant blow to team morale, especially right before their pivotal clash against the league leaders.
On the sidelines, Klopp approached Ranieri to shake hands and exchange a few words.
"Your team played well. I hope you win your next match."
Leicester City was set to face Manchester City on December 28. As the chasers, Liverpool naturally hoped for Manchester City to be upset. This would theoretically keep their title hopes alive, although their current gap from Manchester City was quite large.
Ranieri forced a smile and replied, "Thank you for your wishes, and congratulations on your win today. You deserved it." Without the grueling battle, he would have been more confident about facing Manchester City at home. But after such a taxing match and an eventual loss, his team was drained of energy and morale, making their upcoming match against Manchester City even tougher.
The press coverage following the round of matches focused mainly on Manchester City and Leicester City.
"Leicester City falls to Liverpool, season's biggest dark horse at risk of fading!"
"Ranieri's magic failing? Leicester in tough situation!"
"Manchester City wins big at home, extends lead!"
This season, the traditional giants had faltered, leaving the title race between a new power and a dark horse. No one could have predicted this outcome at the start of the season. Although public sentiment favored Leicester City's fairy tale run, the hard reality showed Manchester City's superior strength and form.
With the upcoming top-of-the-table clash, public opinion overwhelmingly expected Leicester City to lose. Even Ranieri admitted in interviews that defeating Manchester City would be incredibly challenging.
"Manchester City is a great team, and Guardiola is one of the most talented coaches in football. Under his guidance, this Manchester City team looks invincible."
Ranieri's words were honest, but they also seemed like a psychological tactic to lower Manchester City's guard. Many Manchester City fans, feeling overconfident, started celebrating prematurely.
"Haha, Ranieri is scared!"
"Of course he is. Look at their level compared to ours. How could they win?"
"The match hasn't even started, and they're already scared. The result is obvious!"
Given the poor performances of traditional giants this season, many declared Manchester City the 2015-2016 Premier League champions prematurely.
It wasn't just the fans who were overconfident; this complacency had crept into Manchester City's dressing room as well. Some players were already discussing possible celebrations and breaks post-victory, reflecting a dangerous underestimation of their opponents.
Guardiola was highly alert to this complacency within the team. He hadn't been swayed by the external praise. Ranieri's words might be true, but they could also be a psychological tactic to lower Manchester City's vigilance. Celebrating victory before a match is considered bad luck in football, and if things go wrong, it could lead to embarrassment.
Recalling AC Milan's famous premature celebration as a cautionary tale, Guardiola immediately summoned the players for a stern talk.
"Do you all think we've already won the next match?" he asked, scanning the players. Some shook their heads, while others, mainly the younger ones, remained silent, perhaps acknowledging their overconfidence.
"If that's what you think, I can give you all a break. You won't need to play the next match."
Some players, initially excited at the prospect of a break, quickly subdued themselves, sensing the seriousness in Guardiola's tone.
"I'm serious. If you go into the next match with this attitude, we are guaranteed to lose!"
Guardiola's firm words left the players shocked and confused. Some felt puzzled, others frustrated, while a few remained contemplative.
"If you think we can win the next match just by relying on external praise and paper comparisons, without actually playing, then we might as well have the trophy handed to us now!"
Guardiola's words struck home, causing the previously complacent players to hang their heads in shame. As players, they knew well that anything could happen on the pitch.
"When I was a player, I was taught never to celebrate before the match ends."
"And now, I'm teaching you: Never underestimate any opponent!"
With that, Guardiola announced the starting lineup for the next match, excluding all the players who had shown signs of complacency, even keeping them off the substitutes' bench.
Guardiola's personality was well-known—he was a perfectionist with strong control tendencies, often demanding absolute obedience. He wasn't afraid to purge players he couldn't work with, showing no mercy.
Consequently, the players left out of the squad were anxious, fearing they might be sold in the next transfer window. After training, they approached Lin Quan, hoping he could mediate.
"Lin, could you please talk to the coach for us?"
Lin Quan smiled. "Actually, you should apologize to him directly. Or keep a low profile for a few days and hope we win against Leicester. Once he's calmed down, things should be fine. But don't make this mistake again. The coach values attitude towards the game. Skill can be improved, but a poor attitude is hard to fix."
Guardiola's anger was understandable, Lin Quan thought. He knew a bit about the background. At Barcelona, under Guardiola's guidance, the team had become an unstoppable force. However, after achieving so much, some players lost their hunger for more, becoming complacent. This led to disappointing results despite the team's potential.
Guardiola left Barcelona partly due to conflicts with the club president but also due to frustration with the team's complacency. For a perfectionist like him, he expected his players to maintain high motivation and follow his tactical plans strictly, even when leading comfortably.
While this seemed reasonable, it was demanding. People aren't machines and can make mistakes. Such strict expectations had caused friction at Bayern, and now at Manchester City. The team didn't have troublemakers, and young players were more obedient. His reputation as a world-class coach also kept dissent at bay, but the underlying issue remained.
Lin Quan considered speaking to Guardiola about this issue, both as a player and as his son. However, with an important match approaching, he fully supported Guardiola, avoiding any actions that might undermine his authority.
The players, following Lin Quan's advice, apologized to Guardiola. Although he forgave them, he still excluded them from the upcoming match. Their future playing opportunities would depend on their attitude in training.
December 28: The Last Match of the Premier League First Half
As the highlight of this round, the match between Manchester City and Leicester City was scheduled last. This made it the final match of 2015 across Europe's top five leagues. To avoid affecting viewership, other matches in this round had already concluded, giving this match unprecedented attention.
Hundreds of TV stations broadcasted the match, with potentially over a billion viewers. In the UK, Leicester was buzzing with excitement. The King Power Stadium was packed to capacity, with even the aisles filled with eager fans.
Everyone was ready, waiting for the match to start!
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