When old enemies meet, their eyes blaze with hatred! Buffon and Chiellini were ready to tear Manchester City apart!

"You can't even play, so why are you coming to me?"

Although Manchester City's female team doctor, Resie, said this, her soft, fair hands were still kneading Tang Long's bare back.

"Who said I can't play? Even if I'm not in the starting lineup, I'm still on the bench."

As Tang Long spoke, he directed Gracie's small hands, controlling the direction of her kneading.

"A little to the left, not to the side, yes, yes, above, a little higher, hey, can you be a little gentler?"

After finishing the morning training.

Because we're playing Juventus away tomorrow night.

Manchester City's players also didn't go home; they had lunch at the club, then got ready to depart and rested on the spot.

They will board their flight to Turin at 4 p. m. local time.

During his lunch break, Tang Long also went to Gracie's office to enjoy her physical therapy.

At this moment, Gracie pouted while pinching the well-defined muscles on Tang Long's back, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

"You're recovering well; most of the injuries on your back are healed."

Although Gracie was diligently giving Tang Long physical therapy, her mind was elsewhere.

The Sun is a famous UK entertainment newspaper, and Gracie also saw the news about Tang Long on her phone.

Seeing that the boy she admired had gone to great lengths to travel from Manchester to London during his short day off, just to see that woman, Gracie was naturally disheartened.

"What did you go looking for that long-legged, beautiful female reporter for?" Gracie suddenly asked with a smile.

Tang Long noticed a hint of murderous intent in the laughter.

He quickly and righteously explained that he hadn't done anything. First, he and his teammate Ranocchia went to see Guarin, and then Diletta just fed him noodles and did nothing else.

"What kind of noodles?" Gracie's hand stopped.

"Italy, what else could it be?" Tang Long said.

"I can make you noodles too. Why didn't you ask me? I live in Manchester."

Tang Long laughed, "You, the mayor's darling daughter, can cook? I don't believe it."

Gracie sneered, "What, you look down on me? I can not only cook noodles, I can also butcher pigs!"

Then Gracie talked to Tang Long about his childhood.

According to her, her family lived in the north of England when she was in primary school.

There was a farm there, and when her father had time off, he would take her hunting in the forest. They would kill wild boars with a shotgun, and then the two of them would slaughter the boars together and invite the neighbors to eat roast suckling pig.

"Otherwise, how do you think I could study medicine? I'm not afraid of bloody things at all."

Gracie puffed out his small chest, his tone filled with undisguised pride and self-satisfaction.

Her hands, like a scalpel, cut back and forth across Tang Long's back muscles.

"I've dissected human cadavers in medical school. The scalpel cuts in here, below your shoulder blade, and you'll first touch the lower edge of the trapezius muscle."

"The trapezius is a large muscle that plays an important role in shoulder and neck movement. If the scalpel continues to penetrate, it will encounter the infraspinatus and teres minor muscles. These muscles are closely related to the movement and stability of the scapula. During the dissection, we need to carefully separate these muscles piece by piece with the scalpel to avoid damaging the surrounding nerves and blood vessels."

Gracie's tone was calm, as if she were recounting something perfectly ordinary, but Tang Long listened with a chill running down his spine.

"Next, we will access the joint capsule between the scapula and humerus. This joint capsule is very important; it is white with a slight reddish tinge and maintains the stability of the shoulder joint. During dissection, we must take special care to protect the integrity of the joint capsule to avoid affecting subsequent observation and analysis. If the joint capsule is accidentally damaged, it may lead to joint dislocation or instability."

As Gracie spoke, she gently ran her fingers along the area around Tang Long's shoulder blades, allowing him to more intuitively feel the location of these human tissues.

At this moment, Gracie's warm little hands were as cold as a scalpel.

Tang Long thought that Gracie was probably analyzing how to dismember her own back in her mind at this moment, and his heart tightened. In his own mind, however, an image of the petite Gracie holding a blood-soaked scalpel flashed into his mind, and he quickly told her to stop talking.

"What are you afraid of? I'm not really going to dissect you."

However, as she spoke, Gracie's tone suddenly lowered, tinged with worry.

"I remember that after the initial two matches of the league season, during the adaptation phase, you were always a starter, both in the league and the UEFA Champions League. This time, Pellegrini suddenly took you out of the starting lineup, so you'd better watch out!"

Gracie said Manchester City is not comparable to other clubs in the Premier League.

Here, everyone acts like a big shot, everyone thinks they're superior, and they'll snatch your seat without batting an eye!

"You didn't notice? When Pellegrini announced Silva as the starting attacking midfielder, look at the Espanyol's eyes! He was so smug, huh!"

Tang Long was taken aback. "What, you saw it?"

Gracie gently patted Tang Long on the back.

"I was on the sidelines at the time. I forgot to tell you, I'll be traveling to Turin as the team doctor."

Tang Long's surprised reaction made Gracie feel a pang of sadness.

He realized that even if he were on the sidelines, Tang Long wouldn't be able to see him, and that Tang Long was probably thinking about that Italy woman.

"And another thing, you really didn't do things right this time," Gracie said earnestly. "Your teammates were all practicing extra on their days off. Even if you didn't want to practice, you could have just stayed home. Why were you running around everywhere? You don't know how the UK media and paparazzi are following you around. They'd love to ruin your reputation so they can make money."

Tang Long originally wanted to explain to Gracie that he was actually doing extra training as well.

During the four-hour drive to London and back to Manchester, I watched videos and fed them to my AI System without blinking, putting in just as much effort and time as athletes sweating it out in the gym.

However, he recalled Ranocchia's "mockery" of him watching videos and practicing on the train, and felt that this made even less sense for Gracie, so he simply didn't explain.

"I never need extra training because I'm already very strong," Tang Long teased Gracie on purpose.

"Then keep acting up, I can't be bothered with you anymore."

Gracie sighed softly.

"Don't think that just because you were bought by Manchester City for a club-record transfer fee, other clubs would cherish you like a treasure. But the Abu Dhabi United Group is never short of money. If they wanted to get rid of you, they wouldn't even blink an eye."

Tang Long's confidence stemmed from his self-awareness of his own abilities.

Having just moved from Serie A to the Premier League, he was also impressed by the league's high intensity, high competitiveness, and fast pace.

However, after playing six or seven games and gradually getting used to it, he realized that the Premier League is really just that kind of thing!

Football.

Football in any national league is generally not that different;

However, they have different understandings of tactics and subtle aspects of gameplay.

Controlling the tempo, delivering precise passes to help teammates score goals, and being able to step up when necessary—these are the few things that allow Tang Long to establish himself in any country's top league.

Kolarov had already made it clear to himself about the factional infighting within the Manchester City dressing room.

During the morning training session, Tang Long could tell from the scheming looks his teammates gave him that his exclusion from the starting lineup was not only due to Pellegrini's decision, but also because of the interference of certain individuals.

However, as his mentor Chivu said, in the end, it's all about ability on the football field!

Am I really capable?

Could he become a regular starter for Manchester City?

Those teammates who interfered don't have the final say.

Pellegrini needs him, the club needs him, and the fans who support Manchester City need him too!

If they don't want me to play against Juventus, then just wait and see if Manchester City can beat Juventus!

Tuesday at 5:30 PM.

Manchester City's flight landed on time at Turin Airport.

This marks Tang Long's first return to the country since leaving Serie A this summer.

Here, he spent his first year as a professional, and as a rising star, he won two championship trophies.

However, upon his first return to the Apennine Peninsula, Tang Long was greeted with a rather unusual gift.

About a hundred die-hard Juventus fans, having timed it perfectly, waited in the exit tunnel.

As the Manchester City players slowly emerged, the fans, in an organized and disciplined manner, all raised a copy of the Sun high above their heads with a resounding "whoosh!"

"Hey, Tang! Look here, look here!"

"Look at your beloved Italy blonde!"

"Can you teach us how to get Diletta?"

"I also know a lot of blonde beauties. Would you like me to introduce you to one more?"

The players waved their copies of the Sun in unison, their synchronized movements creating a gust of wind at the players' tunnel entrance at the airport.

Clearly, the Sun's influence has long since extended beyond the British Isles, reaching all of Europe!

Juventus fans, playing at home, also want to use this opportunity to mess with the Manchester City players' mentality.

Seeing such a grand display, the Manchester City players were shocked, and many were stunned.

Amidst the cheers and shouts of Juventus fans.

Coach Pellegrini frowned deeply, glared at the Juventus fans, muttered a curse word from his Italy roots, and then dragged his suitcase past silently.

Some fans even practically shoved newspapers in the faces of Manchester City players.

Ranocchia was tall and had long arms. Being a native Italy, he feared no one. As he passed by, he slapped over two newspapers in front of him.

He's the former Inter Milan captain, and he's not afraid to confront Juventus fans!

The female team doctor, Gracie, carrying her medical kit, followed closely behind Tang Long, walking quickly past.

Tang Long walked fast, and the petite Gracie had to jog to keep up with him.

She looked at Tang Long with some concern, afraid that his mindset would be affected, but Tang Long remained expressionless and indifferent.

However, several players in the Manchester City squad are in a very happy mood!

Yaya Toure strode by, hands in his pockets, a smile on his face.

Wearing headphones and sunglasses, Silva was in high spirits. He even stopped to sign a few autographs for some Juventus fans who offered them autograph books.

Fernandinho, the Brazil defensive midfielder who finally made his starting appearance, smiled and gave a thumbs-up to the camera!

His mouth was so big it almost reached his ears.

Kolarov, one of the three leaders of the Italian-speaking Faction, found their performance amusing.

No, you guys aren't even acting anymore, not even pretending anymore?

The next day, at 7:40 PM local time in Turin.

Inside the Juventus Stadium home team locker room.

"Guys, it's starting in 5 minutes, keep your heads up, I have a few words to say to you at the end!"

Allegri slammed his fists roughly on the tactical board, drawing everyone's attention to him.

As Juventus' head coach, he thoroughly enjoyed this moment.

"Last season, Juventus successfully defeated AC Milan, Napoli, and Inter Milan to win the Serie A title, continuing the team's long-standing dominance in Serie A!"

"But if you think I'm satisfied with this, you're wrong!"

"The Agnelli family paid a high price to poach me from AC Milan, and it was definitely not just for the Serie A title!"

Allegri's voice grew louder and louder, echoing throughout the locker room.

"UEFA Champions League winners!"

"Juventus' only goal this season is the UEFA Champions League title!"

"Therefore, our first step in our UEFA Champions League journey is to win Group B, which will be very beneficial for us in the round of 16 after we advance."

"Group B of four teams: Juventus, Manchester City, Sevilla, and Borussia Monchengladbach. The latter two are just there for show. The top two spots will be decided between us and Manchester City."

"We can only win this home game against Manchester City, we cannot afford to lose! If I see anyone slacking off or not giving their all on the field, they'll be benched as soon as we get back to the league. Do you all understand?"

The Juventus players answered in unison, "Understood, boss!"

Among the players calling for help, Juventus' two stalwarts, veteran center-back Chiellini and goalkeeper Buffon, were the most vocal!

Last season, Juventus achieved one win, one draw, and one loss in three encounters with Inter Milan, which, judging solely from the results, was not a disadvantage.

However, in the next two matches, both Chiellini and Buffon suffered defeats against Inter Milan, or rather, were defeated by Tang Long!

Buffon was twice outmaneuvered by Tang Long's Panenka penalty kicks against Inter Milan, causing the legendary Italy goalkeeper to lose face.

Chiellini, on the other hand, scored a last-minute own-goal header in a match that should have ended in a 3-3 draw, allowing Tang Long to score the winning goal against him!

After the match, then-coach Mancini quipped, "A team always needs someone to step up in crucial moments. For us, it was Tang Long who stepped up, while for Juventus, it was Chiellini!"

The biting sarcasm in his words still echoes in my ears!

Therefore, this clash between Juventus and Manchester City appears on the surface to be a confrontation between a Serie A powerhouse and Premier League powerhouse;

But in the minds of Chiellini and Buffon, this was a golden opportunity to defeat Tang Long!

However, to their great disappointment, they learned from Allegri that Tang Long would not start the match but would instead sit on the bench.

Due to the controversy caused by the Sun, Tang Long will likely only have a one-day trip to Turin and won't even get a chance to play.

During the pre-match press conference, Buffon, who accompanied Allegri, responded to media questions by saying:

"You're asking me what my opinion is that Tang might not be able to play in this game?"

"If he's on the pitch, we'll beat him; if he deserts and sits on the bench, we'll keep him off the pitch and watch Juventus thrash Manchester City!"

Starting lineups for both teams:

Home team Juventus: 433

Morata / Mandzukic / Cuadrado

Marchisio / Pogba / Sturaro

Evra / Chiellini / Bonucci / Lichtsteiner

Buffon

Away team Manchester City: 4231

Agüero

Sterling / Silva / Nasri

Fernandinho / Yaya Toure

Klarov/ Ranocchia / Kompany / Sagna

Joe Hart