The Premier League's First Touch Was an Assist-Tang Long Left Mancini Stunned in the Stands!

As the saying goes, a new broom sweeps clean!

New England national team manager Mancini has been extremely busy lately.

He first worked with assistant coach Chivu to thoroughly screen all England players currently playing in the England domestic league.

The analysis then covered the characteristics of the current England national team's starting lineup, as well as its corresponding weaknesses.

Fortunately, his good partner Chivu was exceptionally helpful, bringing his video analysis skills from his time with Inter Milan's first team to the England national team, helping Mancini to grasp the team's situation in the shortest possible time.

But that's far from enough!

With the UEFA European Championship just around the corner, the England national team is currently participating in the UEFA European Championship qualifiers.

After a two-month break during the summer transfer window.

In September of this year, England has two UEFA European Championship qualifiers: an away game against San Marino and a home game against Switzerland.

Mancini wasn't too worried about the match against San Marino, after all, their opponent was a weak team.

However, the Switzerland team should not be underestimated, especially since they have Xherdan Shaqiri, the fast winger who previously coached Inter Milan, active in their squad.

Both Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur have a large number of national team players playing for them.

Manchester City have Joe Hart, Sterling, Milner, and Delph.

Tottenham Hotspur, on the other hand, have even more: Harry Kane, Alli, Dier, Walker, Danny Rose, and Trippier.

Among them, Alli and Dier, two very young players in their early twenties, are also key targets for Mancini's observation.

Therefore, in order to assess the latest national team roster, Mancini decided to attend the first round of the new Premier League season to watch Manchester City play against Tottenham Hotspur.

Throughout the first half, perhaps because it was the first game of the season and the players hadn't warmed up yet, the England internationals from both teams performed rather poorly.

However, for Manchester City, Milner has attracted Mancini's attention.

To date, Milner has played for Manchester City for five years, three of which were under Mancini.

Milner's role at Manchester City back then was the same as it is now: a rotation player.

Mancini felt that this man's footwork was too rough, so he didn't really like using him.

However, Milner's disruptive running ability in the midfield and attacking third today caught Mancini's eye.

Furthermore, Milner's perfect integration into Pellegrini's ground-based passing and control tactical system impressed Mancini, who remarked that "a person should be viewed with new eyes after only three days' absence!"

Milner, who is already 29 years old, continues to improve his ability to read the game, which makes him very gratified.

"Perhaps Milner can secure a starting position in the national team when we play Switzerland," Mancini thought to himself.

Looking at the current Manchester City, Mancini was also lost in memories.

Memories flooded back to me!

In 2012, Balotelli, while off-balance, assisted Agüero, who scored the winning goal against QPR, securing Manchester City's first-ever Premier League title.

Mancini sprinted along the sidelines; the whistling wind and his frenzied shouts seem like they happened just yesterday.

A foolish smile appeared on his lips.

After regaining his composure, he made a rough comparison and felt that Manchester City was stronger now than it was back then.

Especially after Tang Long joined, the midfield strength has improved by leaps and bounds!

Based on Mancini's understanding of Tang Long, he will soon occupy a central position, replacing David Silva, whom he once coached, and become the team's attacking playmaker.

During halftime, Tang Long asked Pellegrini in the locker room when he would be able to come on.

Pellegrini explained kindly, "Don't rush, observe more. We're in the lead now, and the situation is in our hands."

Milner stood at a distance and saw Pellegrini pulling Tang Long, the two of them whispering to each other.

His heart tightened, and he couldn't help but think, "Looks like they're going to make substitutions. Tang Long is my position, so if he comes on, I'll be the first one they take. I played so well in the first half, even creating the free kick that led to the goal, why am I being substituted? That's not fair!"

Before he could even complain to his good friend Joe Hart, Pellegrini immediately began explaining the second-half tactics to the entire team. After finishing, he waved his hand dismissively, dismissing the players without making any substitutions at halftime.

Milner was overjoyed, winked at Joe Hart beside him, and whispered:

"Haha, I knew it! With my performance, why would the boss substitute me? On the court, it's always about performance. No matter how high Tang's price tag is, as long as I perform well, my starting position will always be mine. That's fair!"

Inside the players' tunnel, Joe Hart put his arm around Milner's shoulder and said, "You'd better do your best! I heard that the national team coach Mancini, is here to watch the game!"

"Oh, really?" Milner exclaimed in disbelief, "Mancini is here? How come I didn't know!"

"It's true, I saw a close-up of him on the big screen at the stadium."

Milner couldn't help but feel a little smug, and his strides became much longer.

"Hart, you did well too! Look at Tottenham's Tottenham Hotspur attack in the first 15 minutes, they just couldn't break through your goal. You really showed off in front of Mancini!"

"Stop, stop," Joe Hart's tone suddenly became confident. "I've always been the national team's first-choice goalkeeper, don't bring that up."

Just as Milner and Joe Hart were gloating, and the other players were convinced that Manchester City would easily win the game.

This time, a substitution made by head coach Pochettino at halftime suddenly reversed the balance of victory that had been tilting in Manchester City's favor!

He replaced the slower, less physically strong starting attacking midfielder Eriksen with the 19-year-old young midfielder Alli.

Furthermore, Guarin was moved from the defensive midfield position to Eriksen's original attacking midfield position.

Regarding this substitution, tactical mastermind Coach Zhang analyzed it as follows:

"I know Guarin all too well. Last season, during my commentary on Inter Milan's Serie A matches, I noticed that Guarin not only runs exceptionally well and is physically strong, but he also loves physical contact and has a powerful long-range shot. Compared to Eriksen, Guarin's pressing in the attacking third is also more intense. It seems that Tottenham Hotspur is going to continue to put pressure on Manchester City!"

As expected, just as Coach Zhang predicted, Tottenham Hotspur in the attacking third, which had weakened after the first 15 minutes, suddenly intensified at the start of the second half.

Alli, Dier, Guarin are all players who never tire of running and love physical contact.

In the 55th minute of the second half, Alli, positioned in the defensive midfield position, played a through ball to Guarin.

The pass was a bit too long; Guarin was chasing after it, while Yaya Toure also rushed over from the other side.

The ball was traveling in a straight line, and the two players were positioned on either side of each other, neither of them having complete control of the ball. So they simply bumped into each other with their shoulders.

This seemingly accidental collision was like a collision between Mars and Earth; both of them were instantly thrown apart.

Yaya Toure is 190cm tall and weighs 90kg, making him a typical heavyweight bulldozer in the Premier League.

However, in this legal collision with Guarin, he was actually unable to overpower the 184cm tall Guarin, and instead bounced a greater distance than his opponent, losing control of the ball!

Guarin then took two steps and got the ball.

From 28 meters away from the goal, Guarin drew his bow and arrow, glanced up at Hart's position, then looked down and unleashed a powerful shot at the ball!

"Ah, this position is perfect for a long-range shot!"

"Extremely powerful!"

"Hart, Hart, he flew out!"

"Goal! My God, that was an absolutely divine goal!"

"Although this is the opening match of the Premier League season, it is very possible that Guarin's powerful long-range shot will win the title of Premier League of the Round!"

This spectacular goal elicited a deafening roar of cheers from the Tottenham Hotspur fans in Mancini's section.

The team has also scored its first Premier League goal of the season, again by a new signing!

Mancini knew Guarin had a powerful long-range shot, so he wasn't very surprised that Guarin scored this wonder goal.

Instead, he admired Tottenham Hotspur manager Pochettino's substitutions.

If Eriksen hadn't been substituted and Guarin hadn't been moved up to the attacking midfield position, Eriksen would likely have been sent flying four or five meters by the Ivory Coast player's shoulder during that confrontation with Yaya Toure.

After scoring, Guarin didn't celebrate much. Instead, he called to Harry Kane, who was closer to the goal, to quickly take the ball from Joe Hart and return it to the center line to inbound the ball.

Scoring a wonder goal is certainly exciting, but what's the point if you don't win the game?

Manchester City then gradually broke down Tottenham's pressing through Tottenham Hotspur passing and began to threaten the opponent's goal. Unfortunately, Sterling's shooting skills were simply too poor. Aguero managed to create two consecutive one-on-one opportunities for him by pulling him back, but both shots went straight into the stands.

This left Tang Long, who was on the bench, looking utterly exasperated.

He thought to himself, "Sterling is an attacking player, and I'll inevitably have to combine with him in the future. Even if I figure out his runs and deliver a through ball, he'll have to rely on himself to shoot. He's far inferior to Agüero in that respect!"

Milner was also dissatisfied with the performance of his national team teammate Sterling.

He can play in the middle or on the wing for the national team. In a sense, Milner and Sterling are actually in competition for the national team.

Since you can't score, it's my turn!

After 18 consecutive passes in midfield, Manchester City's Agüero got a chance to open up space thanks to Milner's tireless running and runs. Aguero cut into the penalty area and made a cutback pass to Milner at the edge of the box.

At the same time, Spain winger Navas on the right wing made a quick overlapping run, reaching out for the ball, "Give it to me!"

Mancini in the stands nodded slightly, thinking to himself, "This goal is definitely in."

This is a two-on-one situation Alli Guarin incredibly fast, he can't possibly defend against two people at the same time!

If Milner simply flicks the ball to the right, Navas will have a one-on-one opportunity.

Compared to the 21-year-old Sterling, the 29-year-old Milner has more experience on the field and handles the ball more skillfully. His ability to receive the ball at the top of the penalty arc is a result of his keen insight, which is also Mancini's assessment of him.

Milner could have passed the ball to Navas on the right, but at that moment, he didn't want to.

Instead, he feinted a step to the right, then flicked the ball to the left, attempting to get past Alli who was blocking his way, and break into the penalty area to shoot.

Mancini was watching from the stands, Tang Long was watching from below, and I, Milner, was determined to make the Tottenham Hotspur fans open their eyes wide and see if I, Milner, truly had the ability to be a starter for Manchester City and the England national team!

Let me personally execute that go-ahead goal!

It's good for players to have a desire to win, and Milner, with his strong desire to perform, was blinded by it at this moment.

Alli, who was positioned in front of him to defend him, was taken aback for a moment, then let out a long sigh of relief!

He knew Milner's characteristics perfectly well.

Although this guy has high basketball IQ and strong running ability, his footwork is a bit rough and he is very slow. Don't even think about getting past his long legs given by his 188cm height!

Actually, the moment Milner flicked the ball laterally to the left, Tang Long on the sidelines slapped his thigh and thought, "That's it! This dribble is definitely not going to work."

The reason is simple: the feints are not realistic, and the step frequency is too slow.

As expected, Alli took a step to the side with his right foot, and his massive body blocked Milner's path.

Milner kept charging forward, but at 175cm tall, his head slammed into Alli's back, which was as solid as a steel plate.

With a thud, he bounced back, frantically waving his hands to maintain his balance as he stumbled backward, like someone who had fallen off a cliff and ended up sitting awkwardly on his backside.

"That's hilarious! Milner's hands and feet are so uncoordinated, he dances like a cripple!" Nasri, sitting next to Tang Long, was known for his sharp tongue, and he made no attempt to mock Milner's waving gestures.

A roar of applause erupted from the 60,000 fans at White Hart Lane for Alli's brilliant defensive play.

Upon seeing this scene, Mancini couldn't help but hiss softly, his expression turning grim.

He knew that the defense wasn't actually that Alli was defending exceptionally well; it was just that Milner was playing terribly.

On the football field, one should play to one's strengths and avoid one's weaknesses.

If you can't dribble past someone, just pass the ball to Navas on the right wing. Why force yourself to get past them?

Is it just to show off in front of me?

No need, really no need! I know how badly you play.

Wasting opportunities will be punished; this is an irrefutable truth on the football field.

After Sterling squandered two one-on-one opportunities and Milner made a fool of himself due to greed, Guarin showed these two Manchester City players what true skill looks like!

This time, poor England goalkeeper Joe Hart once again became the backdrop for a wonder goal!

But it's not his fault that he scored that goal.

It was clearly a cross from Tottenham Hotspur winger Walker that was cleared cleanly by Ranocchia to Dodo meters outside the penalty area.

But before the ball could even hit the ground, Guarin forward and unleashed a powerful volley!

This long-range shot from 35 meters out saw the ball veer left and right in the air, making Joe Hart's heart race.

At the very last moment, it suddenly made a tiny, almost imperceptible turn from right beside its own side and rushed into the net.

Guarin yelled, shoved away his teammates who tried to grab him, and sprinted down to his knees towards the Tottenham Hotspur stands!

"Wow, Guarin's in good form today. He seems to be really adapting to the pace of the Premier League."

Seeing his former teammate Guarin score two powerful shots, Tang Long could only cheer inwardly. It was a bit of a pity. If Guarin had come to Manchester City, his physical attributes and long-range shooting ability would have secured him a place there, at least no worse than the team's two defensive midfielders Fernandinho and Fernando.

Just as Tang Long was pondering this, he heard head coach Pellegrini calling his name.

"Tang, get ready to go on stage!"

Pellegrini was very dissatisfied with the team's defense after conceding two long-range goals in a row.

But what embarrassed him even more was the team's terrible performance on the offensive end!

Agüero was caught between two tall center-backs and unable to connect with the midfield, resulting in very few shots on goal throughout the match.

Manchester City, whose style of play revolves around possession, only managed to score their sole goal from Ranocchia's aerial bombardment. Of their remaining attacking opportunities, Sterling squandered two one-on-one chances. While their overall ability can be attributed to limited skill, Milner's foolish dribble infuriated Pellegrini, a player known for his poor judgment.

If we were leading 3-0, it would be one thing, but the score is so close now. Your greed for goals shows a complete disregard for the team's overall interests.

Tang Long had just finished a set of warm-ups when he happily stood up and substituted Milner for him.

Milner looked incredulous. As he left the field, he didn't even high -Tang Long. Instead, he went straight to Pellegrini and, with anger and resentment, argued with him.

"WTF! Boss, didn't you realize? I definitely covered the most distance in the whole game, I ran until my lungs were about to explode, and I was the one who created the first goal, so why were you substituted?"

Milner left one more thing unsaid.

The national team coach was sitting in the stands, and you substituted me when we were behind, so you're saying that being behind was my fault?

What if Mancini doesn't want me for next year's UEFA European Championship?

Seeing Milner's intense emotions, Pellegrini took a step back, his eyes filled with astonishment.

In his mind, this guy had always been an honest and hardworking young man. How could he not only contradict him today but also swear in front of the camera?

"Milner, you've really disappointed me today!" Pellegrini turned his head away, not bothering to look at him again.

Even after sitting on the bench, Milner was still muttering to himself.

He said to Nasri beside him, "See? I bet you, after I'm off, we absolutely won't be able to score again. Don't run as fast as me!"

Milner gestured towards Tang and continued speaking to Nasri, "See that? This China guy, he doesn't run at all right away, he's taking a stroll!"

Tang Long didn't move much after he came on.

He stood at the front waist position, walking slowly, turning his head back and forth, as if looking around at something, with a thoughtful expression.

Nasri sneered, "They're from Serie A, an old people's league. They play standing up, how can they compare to our Premier League?"

Milner covered her mouth and laughed, "Look at him, looking around so aimlessly. Is he looking at pretty girls? He seems kind of silly and not very bright."

"He should be playing with the old men in the park. What is he doing here? Hey, look, the ball is rolling over. Why don't you go and catch it? What is he standing there for? Has he ever played professional football? And he's getting Pound Sterling 180,000 a week. What makes him so special?"

No sooner had Milner finished speaking than Tang Long suddenly stepped forward, his body stretched out in a very relaxed posture, and his right foot slammed into the bottom of the football, producing a loud bang like a shot!

The soccer ball flew at high speed close to the ground, bouncing twice after traveling about twenty meters.

It was these two slight bounces that caused the football's spin to suddenly accelerate, its arc becoming more pronounced, just managing to bypass Tottenham's Tottenham Hotspur Vertonghen's desperately outstretched toes and roll to Agüero had successfully beaten the offside trap!

One-on-one, chip shot, and into the net— Agüero demonstrated to Sterling, through his own experience, what the correct way for a striker to shoot is.

Milner and Nasri on the bench were stunned!

So much so that while the other players on the bench jumped up to celebrate, the two remained seated like wooden figures.

"He assisted?" Milner asked.

"Yes, that's right," Nasri said.

"... I felt like that was his first touch since he came on." Milner's throat tightened, and he swallowed hard.