Tang Long Appears on Xinwen Lianbo! Pellegrini Makes One Last Push to Keep His Job!
Everyone went berserk!
So much so that when the referee blew the final whistle...
Agüero continued his dribble forward, unleashing a powerful shot that sent the ball hurtling towards the stands like a cannonball. The ball struck a Bournemouth fan who was about to leave, knocking him to the ground.
The night was dark and gloomy.
A gentle breeze caressed my face.
Tang Long and his ten teammates watched the blinding 10-0 scoreline on the stadium's big screen. The volcano of anger that had been building up inside them erupted at that moment, almost engulfing the entire city of Bournemouth!
In May, the local temperature had already reached above 20 degrees Celsius, so it wasn't cold.
But wisps of white smoke rose from above the heads of every Manchester City player.
This is the barrel of a cannon that has just fired a shell, still radiating residual heat!
Congratulations to Manchester City for securing the 2015-2016 Premier League title with one round to spare!
"Throughout the entire season, they absolutely deserve this trophy!"
"Agüero and Tang Long's performances were as outstanding as ever!"
"Aside from Manchester City fans, I believe the Manchester United team is the most concerned about this match."
"But unfortunately, the once noisy neighbors didn't give their arch-rivals any chance; they killed the game!"
"By the way, Manchester City made history tonight!"
"The biggest margin of victory in Premier League history was Manchester United's 9-0 win over Ipswich in the 1994-95 season!"
"Manchester City have changed the score difference tonight, making it 10-0!"
"Bournemouth become the first team in Premier League history to be brought down to double digits!"
"This is absolutely horrific, utterly inhuman..."
Bournemouth's starting goalkeeper is crying!
Today was his Premier League debut, but he suffered what may be the heaviest blow of his life!
Losing this match has severely diminished the team's hopes of avoiding relegation. They have become a stepping stone for Manchester City to win their third Premier League title at a time when they desperately needed a victory.
Looking at the helpless young goalkeeper, Tang Long was reminded of himself two years ago in Inter Milan's youth team.
He stepped forward to comfort the young goalkeeper, saying, "Morrison, you didn't do anything wrong tonight, you just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. So, hold your head high and keep training hard tomorrow!"
Manchester City players hug and high-five each other.
Everyone was hugging, and everyone exchanged a few words.
There was no excessive celebration, and certainly no frenzied shouting.
Firstly, this was at the opponent's home ground, and a 10-goal victory against them was enough to demonstrate Manchester City's overwhelming strength that surpasses all other teams in the Premier League.
Secondly, even though they secured the Premier League title a round early, many players were not actually very happy.
They would have won this title in the previous Premier League round if it weren't for preparing for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League match against Bayern.
The Premier League title has been the bottom line goal for everyone at this club from day one of the season.
However, they approach the UEFA Champions League with a mindset of aiming for victory.
This aligns with Manchester City's standing in world football.
Since its inception, the club has been relentlessly suppressed by its fierce rivals in the same city for over a century, and has been known as the noisy neighbor.
Eight years ago, the investment from the Abu Dhabi United Group allowed them to gradually grow stronger, from not having to worry about relegation to stepping onto the throne of the Premier League champions.
Manchester City has never won any European competition in its history. Even the Abu Dhabi United Group has never said, "See, if you don't win the UEFA Champions League this season, you're disbanded!"
The UEFA Champions League is the ultimate dream for every Manchester City player.
In terms of results, reaching the UEFA Champions League semi-finals this season is the best result in the club's history, and everyone should be proud of it. The team owner will not have any further criticism of the players.
However, with the two legs ending in a tie, and the away team having scored one less goal, the Manchester City players were far from satisfied with the outcome!
Especially key players like Agüero, Kompany, Tang Long, and Ranocchia were filled with resentment.
These players have higher goals for their careers—always aspiring to the highest honors and striving for greater strength and achievement is a pursuit ingrained in their very being.
Pity?
Yes, there are.
But as Tang Long said to the heartbroken Bournemouth young goalkeeper after the match, "Hold your head high and keep training hard tomorrow!"
Manchester Evening News: Third Premier League title in club history! Manchester is blue tonight!
The Guardian: Victory belongs to the best team, congratulations Manchester City!
The Times: Agüero four goals and Tang scores three, Manchester City brutally thrashes their opponents with a 10-goal thrashing, dominating Britain!
Der Spiegel: 36 goals! Agüero is almost guaranteed the Premier League Golden Boot!
Titan Sports: Following Dong Fangzhuo, another China player has won the Premier League title!
Soccer News: A role model for China players playing abroad! He will inspire more children to love football!
Tang Long even appeared on Xinwen Lianbo that night.
"Beep--beep beep beep--"
Good evening, viewers. Welcome to today's Xinwen Lianbo!
"In the world of sports, there is some exciting news: Manchester City performed brilliantly in the 2015-2016 Premier League season, securing the title with one round to spare."
"It's worth mentioning that in this round of matches, Manchester City defeated Bournemouth by a massive 10-0 score, setting a new record for the largest margin of victory in Premier League history!"
"China player Tang Long won the championship with his team. His outstanding performance not only sets a new example for China players playing abroad, but will also inspire many young people in China who love football to pursue their dreams and inject new vitality into China's sports."
Fans across the country were ecstatic!
Wow, they were even on the Xinwen Lianbo!
- [The man who went from CCTV5 to CCTV1!]
I watched that 10-0 victory! It was so exciting, so brutal, I loved it!
Manchester City have won the league and the League Cup, and reached the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. This season has been perfect. Keep it up next season!
[I never watch the Premier League, but I followed Manchester City for a whole year because of Tang Long. There were so many unforgettable moments!]
Tang Long conquered Serie A, then the Premier League, and next year he'll definitely conquer Europe!
He's not even 20 years old yet, his future is bright, and a great future awaits him!
Pellegrini sat in his office, pacing back and forth.
He walked around for a while, then sat down, and before he could even settle in, he stood up again.
A moment later, I walked to the computer and casually glanced at the latest news;
A moment later, he went to the window and watched the players training downstairs.
At this moment, a sense of tension permeates the hearts of Chile, lingering and refusing to dissipate!
This is his third year managing Manchester City.
From May 2013 to May 2016.
He led the team in a total of 166 matches, with a win rate of 61.2%.
This winning percentage is the highest in Manchester City's history, even two percentage points higher than that of Mancini, the legendary manager who led the team to its first league title!
In three years, Pellegrini left Manchester City with two Premier League titles and two League Cup titles, a total of four trophies.
He has also won the Premier League Manager of the Month award six times.
But Bayern's UEFA Champions League defeat felt like a shackle around his neck, making him breathe more rapidly.
"Alas! It's just bad luck that Bayern had to be the one to eliminate us!"
Pellegrini was quite annoyed and slammed his fist on the large floor-to-ceiling glass. The ceiling shook, and dust fell onto his silver hair.
On the night they were eliminated by Bayern.
In a phone call with Manchester City CEO Begiristain, Pellegrini reported that although being eliminated in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals was a disappointment for the club, the team would rekindle their fighting spirit and ensure a victory against Bournemouth, securing the Premier League title with a game to spare and ending their year-long rivalry with Manchester United.
Pellegrini kept his word; he truly did it.
Whether it was the meticulous pre-match preparation or the passionate speeches in the locker room, he did everything a head coach could do.
However, Pellegrini is still worried about his job!
He couldn't help but walk to the window again, watching Gündoğan training meticulously on the training field.
This player was brought in by Guardiola during the winter transfer window. Although he performed well and helped Pellegrini a lot in the league, the Germany defensive midfielder always felt like a thorn in his side, causing him persistent pain.
Can a Premier League title and a League Cup title really save him his job?
Pellegrini was extremely uneasy.
He even fantasized that even if they didn't win the UEFA Champions League, but defeated Bayern to reach the final, it would prove that his coaching ability was better than Guardiola's, and perhaps the management would have some leeway in selecting a coach for next season.
But it's no use saying all this now.
Bayern and Real Madrid have reached the UEFA Champions League final.
Bayern defeated Manchester City, and Guardiola also defeated himself!
Especially in the latter part of the second leg, Bayern's passing and possession made it impossible for Manchester City players to even touch the ball. Pellegrini was horrified, feeling that this Bayern's skill in ball control was even better than when he was at Real Madrid against Barca.
"Guardiola is only 45 years old. This young man keeps surpassing himself. Why am I still standing still? Am I really getting old...?" Pellegrini was feeling very frustrated.
Thump thump thump--
Teaching assistant Rayne knocked and came in.
He was holding a piece of paper in his hand, intending to hand it to Pellegrini, but seeing his superior's absent-minded look, Rayne silently hid the paper behind his back, looking as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.
Pellegrini saw the paper and asked Rayne what he wanted.
After hesitating for a moment, Rayne finally said:
"Boss, Burton Albion is hiring a head coach. I submitted my resume yesterday, and they replied quickly, agreeing to let me take the job. I'm here to resign."
When Rayne said this, his tone was very hesitant, and you could tell he was embarrassed.
After all, he and Pellegrini have been partners for twelve years, starting from their time at Villarreal in La Liga.
For the past twelve years, the two have weathered countless storms together, ultimately overcoming them all.
But this time, Rayne decided to leave Pellegrini and take over as the head coach of a team himself, becoming the real leader.
"Burton Albion, uh," Pellegrini was taken aback, "What team is that? I've never heard of them. Which country are you going to?"
"Right in England, in a town in Staffordshire," Rayne said. "They finished second in EFL League One this season and will play in the EFL Championship next season."
While Pellegrini was distracted, Rayne handed him his resignation letter.
He had expected Pellegrini to be furious about his sudden departure, since he hadn't told him beforehand.
In fact, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision for Rayne!
After the team's loss to Bayern, Rayne speculated that Pellegrini would most likely lose out to Guardiola next season, and once Guardiola leaves, he certainly wouldn't be able to stay either.
Unexpectedly, Pellegrini, wearing reading glasses, carefully read through his resignation letter, then neatly signed his name on it, and gave him a thumbs-up with a smile.
"Very good, Rayne! After being my teaching assistant for twelve years, you finally have the chance to stand on your own!"
"It's time. You're 50 years old. If you don't take the head coach position now, you might never have another chance."
"Although the EFL Championship is only the second division, it's still a big stage. It's definitely the most competitive place among the Top Five Leagues. As a manager, you have to face everything alone and make all the decisions yourself. No one will shield you from the storm, especially with a newly promoted team like Burton Albion. If you can't keep them in the league in your first season, it will be very difficult for you to stay."
Pellegrini and Rayne talked a lot, and he also talked about his experience in the Argentine Primera División División in the 1990s, leading the relegation-threatened team O'Higgins.
The more Rayne listened, the more guilty he felt!
He left without saying goodbye and secretly contacted other clubs while still employed; this act of betrayal occurred during his superior's most difficult time.
He didn't expect Pellegrini to forgive him, but he didn't expect that Pellegrini wouldn't be angry at all. Instead, he gave him his experience in managing a relegation-threatened team and his blessings for his future career.
Thinking back on the twelve years I've followed Coach Pei, I've watched his hair turn from jet black to white year by year, until it was finally a full head of silver hair;
The two have weathered many storms, but Pellegrini has shouldered most of them on his own, and even opened his arms to shield himself from the wind and rain.
"Boss, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have contacted the team behind your back. It's just that I'm not content to be just an assistant coach for the rest of my life. I really want to be a head coach, I really do, I dream about it..."
Rayne sat on the sofa, rubbing his red eyes.
Pellegrini patted Rayne on the shoulder and laughed loudly.
"Rayne, don't feel guilty. People always strive for better things. Maybe your team will be playing in the Premier League the year after next. Will I still be in the Premier League then? I don't know. I look forward to the day we meet as opponents."
"However, since you haven't left yet, I need your help with something."
"Boss, you say so, and I'll definitely do it!"
"The FA Cup final against Arsenal is in a week. Can you please stand guard until the very end and gather detailed preparation materials?"
"No problem, boss. We absolutely have to win this last championship, let's get a triple crown!"
Triple Crown?
Pellegrini smiled and nodded slightly.
League title League Cup, that's two. If you add the FA Cup, then it's a treble. You could even call them treble winners.
A small fire ignited in Pellegrini's heart.
Manchester City has never won three trophies in a single season.
If I achieve this, it will be a momentous achievement, and will the management use that as a reason to retain me?
Pellegrini believes that anything is possible, and even at 63, he is determined to fight one last time for the managerial position of this top Premier League team!
(Wishing everyone a Happy New Year, academic success, blissful love, prosperous career, good health, and all the best! Only 4300 words today, see you next year!)