Several Teammates Join Forces to Pressure the Manager! Turmoil Erupts in the Manchester City Dressing Room Again!

The Sun is a very peculiar media outlet.

Their reporting on player transfers is often riddled with errors, leading to numerous embarrassing situations.

However, when it comes to gossip, especially player scandals, Romano is truly a master of scandals!

Their accuracy rate in uncovering player scandals and gossip is over 98.724%.

Who cheated on their partner, which star athlete's son isn't their biological child, who threw a party at their mansion with a bunch of models, and so on. The stories are presented with pictures and text, logical and well-founded, making them impossible to ignore.

Therefore, while his teammates were doing extra training, Tang Long went to London alone to meet with a female reporter. When the Sun broke the news, everyone felt it was solid evidence!

Tang Long held his Ranocchia phone and scrolled down until he saw the comments from netizens.

- [Haha, it has to be the Sun!]

-[The Sun is a professional publication; their reports are indistinguishable from official announcements and are 100% credible!]

[Who would have thought that Tang, who looks so upright with thick eyebrows and big eyes, would also fall for the charms of a blonde Europe woman!]

Why do all the soccer stars like big, curvy women? Me too!

-[To be honest, Diletta's figure is absolutely top-notch; I watched a lot of her live interviews when I was watching Serie A. ]

[Guys, I really love this!]

-[The Sun, really useful for casual conversation!]

"These damn paparazzi are just bored and have nothing better to do than take pictures of other people without doing anything productive. Just ignore them and focus on playing your game."

Ranocchia said indignantly to Tang Long.

As an older player with more experience on the field, Ranocchia was also frequently followed and photographed by tabloids in Italy before he got married.

However, Ranocchia had never been featured in the world-renowned the Sun before, so he was very worried that this online bullying would have a psychological impact on 19-year-old Tang Long.

However, Tang Long remained calm and composed, instead carefully examining his own picture in the newspaper.

"What a pity. If I had known I was going to be in the Sun, I should have fixed my hairstyle. Look, the wind has blown my hair all crooked."

Ranocchia: "..."

During today's training, Tang Long clearly sensed a different atmosphere than before.

Many people's gazes towards him changed, and the atmosphere became slightly tense.

Tang Long was a little confused by this: What does it have to do with you that I'm in the Sun? It's not like you're the ones who got it.

However, Tang Long was unaware that a media attack targeting him was not only spreading in the media outside the field, but was also stirring within the team.

So, before training started this morning...

Inside the Manchester City manager's office, manager Pellegrini and his assistant Rayne sat facing each other.

Two freshly printed copies of the Sun were placed in front of them.

Compared to the electronic version, the print version of the Sun provides a more detailed description of Tang Long's actions, accompanied by more pictures.

Pellegrini carefully read through the newspaper, then slammed the thick stack onto the table with a loud thud!

"What's going on? We're about to play Juventus away, and they manage to pull something like this!"

Assistant coach Rayne, standing nearby, also vehemently criticized the Sun, calling them an unscrupulous media outlet.

"With the major tournament just around the corner, the UK media should maintain a unified stance on the outside world. Juventus is our strongest opponent in Group B. The Sun's actions are deliberately trying to demoralize us, and Juventus should be the happiest of all!"

As the two were talking, footsteps came from outside the door, and four players walked into the office.

They are Toure, Fernando, Fernandinho, and Silva.

Pellegrini was taken aback when he saw the four players coming to him together.

Toure is the leader of the French-speaking Faction, while Fernando and Fernandinho form a united Portugal group within the team.

Silva is an important member of the Spanish-speaking Faction, second only to Agüero in status.

There's a strong gang culture within Manchester City. Why are these guys coming to find me?

"Boss, I think Tang should be removed from the club's starting attacking midfielder lineup!"

Silva's opening statement was a bombshell, leaving Pellegrini and assistant coach Rayne completely stunned!

One player went to the head coach's office and asked to have another player removed from the starting lineup.

This kind of direct and straightforward communication is the first time Pellegrini has seen it in his 20-year coaching career.

Deploying players and arranging formations is always the head coach's job. No head coach with self-respect would agree to players interfering, especially a top-tier coach like Pellegrini.

However, given that Silva is a key player for the team, he has contributed both merit and hard work to the club over the years;

Pellegrini then suppressed his anger and patiently asked him, "Why did you say that?"

"Boss, do you remember what you promised everyone on the plane back to Manchester after we beat Sunderland?"

"You gave us a day off, and you said that anyone who took a picture of you in the Sun during that day would have to sit on a bench. You said that yourself!"

Seeing Silva's confident and well-prepared demeanor, Pellegrini's mind went blank.

The over-60-year-old coach's memory wasn't very good. He looked at Rayne with some doubt and asked himself if he had said those words.

"Yes, boss, that's what you said," Rayne said hesitantly.

Actually, Pellegrini just said it casually, his purpose was to give the players a little reminder: it's just a day off, don't go anywhere, just stay at home, even if you just sleep or play games.

The claim that being reported by the Sun would result in him sitting on the bench was just something he added off the cuff, and he didn't seem to care about it afterward.

Unexpectedly, Silva took the words to heart and secretly wrote them down in his notebook!

After being reminded by Silva and Rayne, Pellegrini realized that he had indeed said such a thing, which was quite embarrassing.

Before Pellegrini could reply, Toure spoke up again.

"Mr. Pellegrini, I also heard what you said on the plane. I understand that you may have just said it casually and didn't take it too seriously."

Upon hearing Manchester City veteran Toure defend himself, Pellegrini nodded with satisfaction.

Sigh, it seems Toure understands this old man best. Can you really take something like that offhand remark seriously?

Besides, we had just won 3-0, and we were in a good mood, so who remembered anything else?

However, Toure quickly changed his tone, causing Pellegrini's face to fall again.

"But let's put aside whether Tang was featured in the Sun for now, and talk about the atmosphere within the team first."

"Yesterday was a day off, and as you probably know, nearly 10 players from the Manchester City first team gave up their rest and came to the club early in the morning for extra training. You could see us in the gym and on the pitch."

"But look what Tang is doing, traveling four hours round trip from Manchester to London to meet his new lover!"

At this point, Toure paused, then placed his hands on Fernando and Fernandinho, who were standing next to him.

"Both of my buddies play as defensive midfielders."

"They were both there during yesterday's extra training session; I heard they arrived at the gym as early as 8:00 AM."

"There's something I'm not sure I should say, but recently you moved Tang from attacking midfielder to defensive midfielder, which has affected the starting positions of these two younger players, especially Fernandinho. He hasn't played in many games, and they're both very frustrated!"

Isn't what you're doing unfair?

Finally, Toure made sure to emphasize one point.

"The reason I brought these two young men here isn't for myself. I have the highest attendance rate in the entire Manchester City squad this season, and I'm doing this entirely on behalf of my teammates. Those who bleed and sweat for the club even during their holidays are forced to sit on the bench. Is that fair?"

Seeing that Toure was backing him up.

The two Brazil defensive midfielders, Fernando and Fernandinho, nodded frequently, sharing their thoughts with Pellegrini.

Silva, standing to the side, squinted at the three of them.

Compared to the team's full-strength defensive midfielders, Silva, who plays as an attacking midfielder, was all alone.

As a member of the Spanish-speaking Faction, he had once considered asking Agüero to go with him to talk to Pellegrini.

However, Agüero politely declined Silva's request.

The reason is obvious.

In the attacking midfield position, Tang Long can provide more support and assists to Agüero compared to Silva.

From this perspective, Agüero would absolutely not go with Silva to the head coach to put pressure on Tang Long.

Silva cursed inwardly when he heard his longtime friend Agüero refuse his request!

"In the past five years, I don't know how many cakes I've given you or how many balls I've fed you. As soon as Tang Gang came, you started dating him? You're such a fickle and scumbag!"

I thought to myself, if you're not going, then don't go, I'll go by myself!

Unexpectedly, they ran into Toure, Fernando, and Fernandinho halfway there.

Now Silva felt more confident, since four people are always stronger than one.

Pellegrini, in his sixties, has seen it all.

After listening to the players' complaints about Tang Long and analyzing their respective positions, he immediately understood why these four players had come directly to his office for the first time.

It's all because of Tang Long's rise; his outstanding performances in every position have shaken the status of these veteran players!

Pellegrini even felt that if Agüero hadn't firmly held onto his starting center forward position, he too would have joined the others in pressuring him to resign.

He thought to himself, "My teammates are training extra on their rest day, but Tang Long is off to London to have fun. That's really unfair. The worst part is that he was caught by the Sun. It's only natural that the other teammates are upset."

On the surface, Pellegrini maintained a very tough stance and dismissed the players.

However, after discussing it privately with his assistant coach Rayne, he decided to exclude Tang Long from the starting lineup for the away game against Juventus.

There are two reasons for doing this.

Firstly, Pellegrini must keep his promise to the players on the plane, otherwise he will find it difficult to gain their respect in the future;

Secondly, this matter has caused quite a stir in UK, and Pellegrini is worried that it might affect his form, so it would be better to keep him on the bench for the time being and let him avoid the limelight.

Near the end of the training session.

Pellegrini came downstairs from his office and announced the starting lineup for tomorrow's match against Juventus in front of the entire team.

"Center forward, Agüero."

"Left wing, Sterling."

"Attacking midfielder, Silva."

Hearing this, Silva clenched his fists tightly and let out a long sigh of relief!

Haha, I'm back in the starting attacking midfield position! I love playing this position!

However, several of the team's defensive midfielders still looked tense.

Pellegrini glanced at them.

"The two starting defensive midfielders Toure and Fernandinho."

Upon hearing this, Fernandinho's eyes lit up, and he rubbed his hands together excitedly;

Toure, who was standing to the side, appeared expressionless, but a barely perceptible smile flickered across his lips.

The two members of the Italian-speaking Faction, Ranocchia and Kolarov, looked at Tang Long with worried expressions.

There's no place for Tang Long in the forward, attacking midfielder, or defensive midfielder positions.

We can't exactly put him at defense!

It seems he won't be starting against Juventus.

As expected, Tang Long's name was nowhere to be seen when Pellegrini announced the starting eleven.

Toure, who was standing in the same row as him, couldn't help but turn to the side and glance at Tang Long, who was five seats away from him.

He had originally intended to search Tang Long's face for the various expressions he was hoping to see.

Shock, resentment, unwillingness, or anger?

He's always performed very well, but because of the scandalous report in the Sun, he was excluded from the starting lineup. He must be feeling terrible, hehe!

But what puzzled Toure was...

Tang Long remained calm and composed, showing no significant emotional fluctuations.

Instead, he nodded slightly and smiled.

Toure scoffed, thinking to himself, "Keep pretending, keep pretending. If Fernandinho and Silva both perform well against Juventus and beat the strong opponent, who will start in the future is really uncertain! Young man, you've only been playing football for a few years, you probably still don't understand locker room matters!"