The Showdown for First Place Kicks Off with a Bang! NoLookingPass Knocks Out Chelsea!
24 Hours News: <The King Returns! The Battle for the Top Spot in the Premier League is About to Begin!>
Manchester Evening News: <Manchester City did not disappoint us; they returned victorious from Camp Nou!>
The Times: <In times of crisis, Don remains Manchester City's most reliable Arthur!>
Der Spiegel: <Don makes Lionel Messi admit his inferiority, he led Manchester City to a miraculous turnaround!>
Titan Sports: <UEFA Champions League match ratings surpass 7! Tang Long becomes a ratings powerhouse for CCTV-5!>
After the match, the media lavished praise on Manchester City's great victory.
In their view, even with one less player, the chances of winning a last-minute victory against a relegation-threatened team are extremely slim, let alone against a Europe Premier League like Barca with their MSN trio!
Tang Long, without a doubt, became the central focus of all the reports.
His long run from the backcourt to the frontcourt, dribbling past five players, has become a popular moment repeatedly broadcast by major television stations in recent days.
UK viewers could see Tang Long's agile figure at Camp Nou no matter which channel they tuned to.
Even Barca's mouthpiece, Diario Sport, wrote an article stating, "A China man, leading an England team, staged a miraculous battle on Spain soil."
Before the match, no one compared it to a battle between Lionel Messi and Tang Long;
However, after the match, analysts believed that Tang Long, who scored twice, surpassed Lionel Messi in terms of statistics, ratings, and contributions to the team.
However, the Premier League teams have such a packed schedule that the focus of reporters' attention is constantly shifting.
Manchester City's UEFA Champions League fever had barely subsided for two days when the focus shifted from international competition to domestic rivalry.
Three days later--
The battle for the top spot in the Premier League is about to begin!
In the past two years, the match between Chelsea and Manchester City has never received as much attention from all Britain media as it has today.
This is a six-point battle!
After this Premier League Round 9 match, Manchester City and Chelsea, who are tied on points, will inevitably see one of them trailing by three points.
This was also Conte's first encounter with Manchester City.
People are eager to see if this Italy, who led Juventus to dominance in Juventus, can bring that winning tradition to Chelsea and to the Premier League.
Conte has a head of messy hair and looks unkempt. He always looks sleepy, but he speaks with a strong voice, especially his English with Lecce Italy. It sounds like he's from the countryside, but it's powerful and resonant.
"Will this match be the deciding factor in this season's Premier League title race?"
I think so!
"From my first day at Chelsea, I made no secret of my desire to win the Premier League title to the players."
"I told them, when you're a kid, if you want to be the toughest kid in the neighborhood, you have to take down the best fighter!"
"I can't wait to meet Guardiola at the Etihad. It's going to be a tough battle, and I'm fully prepared."
In contrast to Conte's aggressive approach, Guardiola has been quite low-key.
He knew that Manchester City was at a significant disadvantage in terms of physical fitness.
In their midweek UEFA Champions League match, Chelsea fielded 8 substitutes out of 11 starters, drawing 0-0 at home against struggling Copenhagen and nearly suffering a shock defeat.
But this is definitely not a true reflection of Chelsea's strength. They rested their key players in order to defeat Manchester City in this top-of-the-table clash in the Premier League!
"I don't know Conte well, but we have a lot in common, such as having both achieved success with our teams and having served as team captains for a long time. He has had success in the Premier League."
"Will this match be the deciding factor in this season's Premier League title race?"
"This is just a regular league match. There are 38 rounds in a league, and each round will determine the final champion."
That being said, Guardiola was well aware that if he didn't defeat Chelsea in this match and dampen Conte's Italy, the league would be even more difficult in the future.
So, despite knowing that Tang Long had cramped up after the match against Barca, Guardiola still called Tang Long over the day before the game and told him apologetically that he would have to start in the league match that weekend.
Tang Long answered readily, "No problem, I'd love to play Chelsea, they're more competitive than Manchester United this season."
Guardiola was pleasantly surprised and decided to grant Tang Long special privileges. "You can stay at the very front, reduce pressing, and use your energy for scoring goals."
"Number 9!"
"Tang!!!"
When the DJ called out Tang Long's name, the fans erupted in cheers, far surpassing those for any other name.
As for his Manchester City teammates, they've gotten used to this kind of situation.
Last season, Agüero and Tang Long took turns being the kings of Etihad;
This season, there is only one king in this stadium, and that is Tang Long!
Although Agüero was quite disappointed, he was also convinced of the defeat.
Because he also had his share of highlights this season – setting a record of scoring in six consecutive games at the start of Premier League season, which only ended in the match against Tottenham Hotspur.
So far this season, Agüero has scored a total of 6 goals, half of which were directly assisted by Tang Long, and Tang Long was also indirectly involved in the attack for the other half.
Agüero knew very well that his consecutive goals were inseparable from Tang Long's help.
However, Agüero also has his regrets.
He stood in the center of the Etihad Stadium, stepping on the ball, and said to Tang Long:
"Tang, I know I've scored a lot of goals, but it's always been one per game. If you score two for me, I'll treat you to the best steak in Manchester, how about that?"
Tang Long didn't speak, but just hummed in agreement and gave him an OK sign.
Agüero was overjoyed. Knowing Tang Long's abilities, he would never say something he couldn't do, and if he said he could, he definitely could. So, as soon as the referee blew the whistle, the Argentina striker ran off happily.
"Sergio!"
Right- Navas started the game with a bang.
Despite being the shortest player on the field at only 170cm, his ability to make runs down the flanks has been on full display since Guardiola converted him into a full-back. Every time he makes a run, it strikes fear into the hearts of his opponents.
This time, he used his signature leg-raising feint on the wing, leaving the left wing-back Moses completely disoriented and anxiously thinking, "Just pass it already!"
But Navas yelled "Sergio" several times in a row, but didn't pass the ball; he just stood there dangling around.
"Stop shouting, I'm right here, just pass it!" In the end, even Agüero himself got impatient, standing in the penalty area and spreading his hands.
Bang!
Navas has been passed!
Instead of a cross, he passed the ball back to Tang Long had dropped back to receive it.
Defender Moses was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but yell at Navas, "You've been playing me for a fool all this time!" Navas shrugged and ran away.
Just as Chelsea's players were laughing at Navas's comical pass, Tang Long met the ball but didn't stop it. Suddenly, he let it pass, turned around, and got past the close marking Fabregas, instantly changing his face from right to left.
The combination of man and ball was so perfect, the feint so realistic, that even Fabregas, who was beaten, was taken aback and secretly praised it.
Agüero's mind went blank for a moment. He exchanged a glance with Tang Long, then made a diagonal cut!
Tang Long suddenly pushed forward into the middle, attracting David Luiz and Kante to block him;
Just as the two players were about to block the line, Tang Long flicked the ball with his left foot. Although his eyes were on Kolarov at the far post on the left wing, the ball passed through the legs of both Kante and Luis and went into the penalty area!
No-LookingPass!
Agüero received the ball sideways, his body seemingly supple and flexible, controlling the ball and swinging his leg in one fluid motion before unleashing a powerful shot!
The ball grazed Courtois's face and nestled into the near corner!
1-0!
"Yo-ho! We've got the minimum goal!" Agüero exclaimed excitedly and hugged Tang Long.