Tang Long Links Up with Icardi! The Sugar-coated Cannonball Duo Returns to the Premier League!

That was a satisfying shot!

[That was so exciting! It's been ages since we've seen Agüero unleash a powerful one-on-one shot!]

The key point is that Tang Long single-handedly outmaneuvered three Manchester United midfield defenders!

Wow, two goals in 10 minutes! This is going to be a goal-fest!

[Two goals in 10 minutes, at this rate, they'll need 18 goals in 90 minutes!]

-[Okay, you know math, so it's Manchester City 17-1 Manchester United, that's settled then.]

Both Van Gaal and Pellegrini were quite surprised by this start.

Two goals were scored within the first 10 minutes; such a high-octane scene hasn't been seen in the Manchester Derby for many years.

Generally speaking, when two strong teams clash, they usually pull out their best moves later. But unexpectedly, just 10 minutes into the game, both sides revealed their signature strategies.

Whether it's De Bruyne the edge of the penalty area or the brilliant connection between Tang Long and Agüero, these represent their respective signature moves.

However, Van Gaal was clearly more confident, because his team's star striker Icardi, hadn't yet unleashed his full potential!

De Bruyne possesses formidable attacking firepower, which is why Manchester United valued De Bruyne more when choosing between him and Tang Long.

However, in Van Gaal's tactical plan, only when De Bruyne and Icardi are linked together can the Red Devils' overall attacking firepower be maximized!

Therefore, Van Gaal was not satisfied with De Bruyne's brilliant performance.

He shouted at Icardi, who hadn't scored:

"Mauro, keep moving! Try to connect with Kevin online!"

Icardi also gave Van Gaal a thumbs up.

Although he has only been in Britain for a short time, Icardi has already learned a common UK gesture: the thumbs-up, which is used to express agreement with someone's words and actions.

"You hit me first, I'll shoot you dead, you noisy neighbors!" Icardi thought through gritted teeth.

Manchester City and Manchester United are currently ranked first and second in the Premier League standings. This match is not only the Manchester Derby, but also a battle for the top spot in the Premier League, and it foreshadows the fight for this season's Premier League title.

With the addition of numerous qualifying terms, this globally anticipated match has attracted the attention of audiences worldwide.

The two masters exchanged two punches right from the start.

After that, the situation eased somewhat, and both sides chose to temporarily preserve their strength, thus entering a war of attrition.

After all, a 90-minute match is a marathon, and the team that laughs until the very last moment when the referee blows the final whistle is the big winner!

Facing Manchester City, who boast the highest average possession rate in the entire Premier League, Manchester United showed no mercy.

Instead of focusing on counter-attacks, they played a dominant possession game on their home turf.

The three attacking midfielders, Mata, Rooney, and De Bruyne, all possess excellent footwork skills.

The newly arrived defensive midfielder Schweinsteiger, nicknamed "Schweini," has won numerous honors at Bayern and has extremely rich experience in major competitions. He can remain calm and composed even in a big game like the Manchester Derby.

These four players were constantly moving and stretching Manchester United's defense;

Schweinsteiger will not hesitate to push forward when there is an opening, acting as a back-row attacker.

Manchester City, on the other hand, are equally formidable. Possession has always been their strength, and they certainly won't allow anyone else to sleep soundly under their thumb.

Manchester City plays a very self-reliant style of play, whether at home or away.

Sterling, Tang Long, Navas, with Tang Long at the core, constantly changed their triangular formation.

Sterling was particularly active in his running and covered a wider area than Navas;

Just like the Earth revolves around the sun, Sterling was constantly running around Tang Long!

The purpose of this was to disrupt Manchester City's defense and distract Schneiderlin, the defensive midfielder who was marking him.

Although defensive midfielder Yaya Toure's mistake led to the early goal conceded;

However, the experienced Ivory Coast star quickly put these thoughts behind him. As one of Manchester City's few tall players in the midfield and attack, he frequently used his physical advantages to win valuable high balls for the team.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have some amazing information that has emerged so far in the match!"

"By the 30th minute of this match, Manchester United's possession rate had reached an astonishing 48%!"

"That's right, the reason I used the word 'Gundam' is because their possession rate against Manchester City was simply outrageous."

"It's worth noting that Manchester City's average possession rate in the Premier League so far has reached an astonishing 59.1%, the highest among all 20 Premier League teams."

"But at Manchester United's home ground, they only had 52% possession, far below average. In that sense, Manchester United is the toughest opponent Manchester City has faced this season!"

The reason Van Gaal chose to do the opposite in this match, going head-to-head with Manchester City at home and focusing on possession, is because the Netherlands veteran coach understands that once the game falls into Manchester City's rhythm, any Premier League powerhouse will only be slaughtered.

Even so, their possession rate was still lower than their opponents'.

Van Gaal understood that the key was not the players in the midfield and attack!

These players are not much worse than those from Manchester United and Manchester City, and in some positions they are even stronger;

But the key difference lies in the players on the front line!

Compared to Icardi, Agüero has a wider range of movement and more refined footwork. Whether it's one-touch passing or short-range passing combinations, Agüero is superior to Icardi.

Therefore, the differences in the forwards also led to a gap in ball control between the two teams.

"Mauro, if you can't get the ball in the attacking third, drop back to receive it!"

Van Gaal gestured for Icardi to retreat slightly.

In a football match, it is very dangerous for a center forward to not touch the ball for a long time, as it means that his touch and concentration will gradually decline.

In this situation, the center will consciously return the ball to receive it.

Despite the seemingly evenly matched performance of Manchester United and Manchester City in the first 30 minutes, this game didn't fool you.

However, in certain positions, Icardi Ranocchia!

Tang Long was right when he said something before the match: the two people who understand Icardi best in the world are now both at Manchester City.

As a passer, Tang Long knows Icardi's positioning and receiving habits best;

As a defender, former Inter Milan captain Ranocchia is very familiar with Icardi's various tricks.

The two had often clashed during training matches within the team, and back then, Icardi would even proactively share his experiences of battling defenders with Ranocchia.

So when Icardi passed the ball with the outside of his foot, Ranocchia behind him immediately knew he was going to turn, and he leaned in and knocked him over!

As soon as Icardi swung his arm, Ranocchia knew the kid was trying to jump early, so Ranocchia jumped too, determined not to let Icardi get a touch of the ball.

In a one-on-one situation, Icardi subtly flicked the ball to the right, Ranocchia knew without a second thought that it was just a feint.

As expected, in the final step, Icardi used his right foot to cut the ball to the left;

Before he could even follow up with a shot with his left foot, Ranocchia slid in with a long leg, his long legs sending Icardi flying along with the ball!

In short, you can tell what kind of shit Icardi is going to take just by looking at him and Ranocchia.

"Damn it, I just can't get past him!"

Icardi, lying on the ground, complained.

Within just 30 minutes, not a single part of his jersey was clean; it was covered in fresh dirt from Old Trafford.

Ranocchia placed his hands under Icardi's armpits and gently lifted him up from the ground, just like lifting a small teddy bear.

"Keep it up, Mauro! Show me everything you've got, don't let me look down on you!"

He had originally intended to argue with Ranocchia, but when he turned around, he saw his former captain, who was a whole head taller than him, looking at him with a sinister smile.

Icardi muttered a couple of things, then ran off, away from Ranocchia, to try and make his presence felt by targeting another center-back Kompany.

In the 36th minute of the match, De Bruyne midfield, setting up a speed contest between Icardi and Kompany!

After finally winning the ball, he faced a formidable Kompany, who stood before him like a mountain.

Icardi suddenly felt a tightness in his chest, with the dark-skinned Kompany staring at him menacingly like a gorilla.

Icardi unleashed a "Mauro Flip Flap"!

He created the name himself and practiced it many times in his own garden, believing it to be very effective against tall center-backs like Kompany.

But Icardi finishing off easy chances; although he was born in La Masia, his footwork skills are quite average.

But this slow Flip Flap, by some twist of fate, pierced Kompany's crotch!

Just as he was overjoyed, Kompany calmly took a long stride, hooked the ball back, and then turned around, his buttocks hitting Icardi directly in the waist, causing him to yell in pain.

Kompany passed the ball to Fernando, Fernando then exchanged passes with Yaya Toure before passing it to Tang Long without stopping.

At that moment, a cheer erupted from the south stand of Old Trafford!

The cheers weren't for Manchester City's attack, but rather because the Red Devils fans saw Icardi, wearing the number 7 jersey, rapidly tracking back from the attacking third and closing in on Tang Long!

"Catch him, catch up with Mauro!"

"Well done! Chasing back after losing possession shows you have the same sense of responsibility as Rooney!"

"This is the spirit of Manchester United, the never-give-up spirit of Manchester United!"

Go, Icardi!

Icardi knew his chase back in the attacking third had earned him applause from the fans, and he got a little carried away. As he approached Tang Long, he didn't even look where the ball was and kicked Tang Long's ankle.

Tang Long stumbled, glanced at Icardi out of the corner of his eye, and then chose to dunk the ball.

If Tang Long had fallen down with that ball, it would have been a free kick in the attacking third, but he didn't do that, just to mess with the kid.

Icardi is a striker by trade; he is brave in defense but lacks skill.

How could he possibly defend against Tang Long's dazzling array of moves?

With a Matthews Feint dribble and turn, Tang Long's footwork was dazzling, and Icardi was caught off guard, losing his balance and falling flat on his face!

After being repeatedly outmaneuvered by Kompany and Tang Long, Icardi suddenly became desperate.

Are you deliberately messing with me?

One uses their body, the other their technique—are they really trying to take me down?

I'll bite you to death!

So after Tang Long finished his dribble past his opponent, as he made his way down the penalty area, Icardi chased after Tang Long like a mad dog.

Tang Long seemed to have eyes in the back of his head; he flicked the ball with his heel and passed it to the onrushing Kolarov.

"Mauro, keep an eye on Sterling at the near post, I'll cover him!"

Right-back Valencia noticed Icardi's predicament in defense and sent him into the penalty area to mark Sterling with Smalling, telling him not to cause trouble there, and to push out himself to defend Kolarov one-on-one.

Kolarov has faced Manchester United multiple times.

He knew very well that Valencia's full-backs were known for their speed, and that you couldn't force your way past such a defender.

After Valencia created space, Kolarov immediately passed the ball back to Tang Long.

After a series of passes, Tang Long had found an opening at the corner of the penalty area;

After receiving the ball steadily, he simply raised his head slightly and glanced into the penalty area.

That glance sent a shiver down the spines of all the Manchester United players!

Bang!

Tang Long raised his leg and swept the ball forward with the instep of his left foot—aiming directly at Sterling!

This kind of ball sweeping into the penalty area doesn't necessarily have to be aimed directly at the goal, but it's flying towards the goal.

In this process, whether it's one's own player or the opposing player, the moment their foot touches the ground and changes direction, it creates a threat.

"Mine!"

Icardi saw through Tang Long's intention and stretched out a foot before Sterling could touch the ball, calmly tapping it into the goal!

Icardi scored!

Tang Long was the one who assisted him!

Seeing Tang Long and Icardi reunite after many days, the former Inter Milan duo of Sugar-coated Cannonball duo reappearing on the Premier League pitch, filled the live broadcast room with emotion.

-[Tang Long assists Icardi's goal! He's back, the familiar feeling is back!]

-[It feels like I'm back in the old days of watching Serie A at 3:30 in the morning!]

[Aside from Icardi, no one in the entire Premier League can score such a mesmerizing goal!]

-[I knew Icardi would go for the near post; he used to love going for Tang Long's passes when he was at Inter Milan!]

[That was a beautiful tap-in at the near post! The angle and power were perfect; De Gea had absolutely no chance!]

- [Haha, what's De Gea's reaction? Should he punch Icardi?]

-[Icardi is still working hard, but he's been working in the wrong direction.]

Icardi knelt on the ground in frustration and slammed his fist into the ground.

"I... I actually scored an own goal..."

It's from the Tang Long novel series...

He was furious!

Aaaaaah!

He punched a hole in the ground, and when he looked up, he saw that the Manchester United fans who had been cheering for his active defensive retreat just seconds before were now frowning at him, looking at him like he was an idiot.

Icardi achieved a milestone in his career by scoring his first own goal.

I just didn't expect that this milestone would be achieved during the match against Manchester City.

He was so down that he simply waved his hand when his teammates tried to comfort him.

As a former teammate and captain, Manchester City's key center- Ranocchia felt it was his responsibility to comfort his former dressing room buddy.

Ranocchia ran over, put his arm around Icardi's shoulder, and said to him:

"Mauro, I know you were trying to clear the ball, right? But your foot position is wrong. When you clear the ball, your instep should turn outwards. You just volleyed it inwards. How can you not score?"