As we all know, Xavi was the midfield controller and court metronome of Barcelona back then.
The most talked-about thing is that Xavi is not fast, and his body is not strong. However, he has strong game reading ability, coupled with super body control ability, which sometimes makes him feel like he is just strolling on the court, but he can often make defensive players play around.
Turn 360 degrees. This skill is actually very simple. When dribbling the ball, you suddenly bring the ball back.
This kind of counter-logical action often causes the opponent's players to fall into a strange thinking circle.
Many times, defensive players follow Xavi in a circle and lose their defensive position.
Because this circle has already deflected the defensive player's sense of direction.
With this skill, Li Mingyu will be able to control and organize the midfield more freely.
The game has begun.
Gabriel Jesus kicked the football backward and ran towards Barcelona's half court.
Li Mingyu received the pass from Gabriel Jesus from behind. Looking at Griezmann who had already rushed forward from Barcelona, Li Mingyu raised the corners of his mouth, pulled the ball back, turned his back to Griezmann, and moved the outside instep of his right foot to his right, making the idea of moving to this side.
Griezmann immediately leaned forward and stretched out his legs to stop Li Mingyu.
But Li Mingyu suddenly dunked the football to his left side with the inside instep of his right foot. At the same time, he used his body to lean on Griezmann who was already rushing to the other side. While turning around quickly, he dunked again with the inside instep. Li Mingyu left Griezmann behind.
The fans at the scene couldn't help but let out a cry of exclamation.
Even Messi, who was standing not far away, was stunned for a while.
The 360-degree turn is actually a very simple technical movement, but it requires high coordination and balance of the body.
It's easy to say, but two consecutive changes of direction and three touches of the ball were all completed quickly in a very small space.
Messi looked at Li Mingyu's series of actions and couldn't help but look at the big brother who was once unknown behind him on the sidelines.
Xavi, who was standing on the sidelines, also looked at Li Mingyu with bright eyes. To him, the series of actions just now were like looking in a mirror.
Xavi, who has been the coach of United Arab Emirates, was just invited back by Barcelona this year to replace Koeman who was dismissed from get out of class, and became the head coach of Barcelona.
I feel very sorry that I could not coach Li Mingyu and Xavi.
Even in United Arab Emirates, Xavi has been paying attention to Barcelona's games. Xavi really loves the player Li Mingyu to the core.
Because Li Mingyu has a trait very similar to his own, the feeling of sympathy for a midfielder.
Today I once again saw Li Mingyu displaying his unique skills on the court. If it weren't for the wrong occasion, Xavi couldn't help but applaud him.
Li Mingyu's series of movements just now seemed very smooth, especially the frequency of his feet, which made people feel very comfortable, without the feeling of panic.
Getting rid of Griezmann's pressing, Li Mingyu took two steps forward and passed the ball to Bernardo Silva on the wing.
Today Bernardo Silva replaces Gundogan to play in the midfield position.
Gundogan's performance in the last game made Guardiola very dissatisfied. Barcelona simply didn't bring him to this game.
This is Guardiola, no matter who you are, as long as you are disobedient, I will not let you play.
Bernardo Silva passed the ball to Sterling in front.
In the past two years, there has been a rumor that Sterling wants to play football at Barcelona.
Originally, Barcelona had Dembele, the France winger, but after Dembele left Barcelona, Barcelona's left wing has been stuck in a situation where no one is available.
However, the arrival of Depay has made up for the lack of left winger.
It seems that the door for Sterling to work for Barcelona has been closed.
However, Griezmann did not perform well this year, and it is already on the sales list of Barcelona.
If Griezmann is sold and Depay can move to the center position, then Sterling may have a chance.
However, Sterling's current transfer fee and annual salary are not low. For Barcelona who has financial difficulties, visa exemption is the most advantageous!
Sterling was very excited when facing Barcelona.
Continuous side breakthroughs, it seems that he wants to show his ability to Barcelona.
There is one thing to say, and again, Sterling, who does not enter the penalty area, is definitely the top left winger in the world.
Barcelona's right back Araujo was no match for Sterling, and was continuously broken through by Sterling. If it weren't for Eric Garcia's complementary defense, Barcelona would have been broken through shortly after the start.
Barcelona's defense is originally a huge hole. Facing such a team with sharp breakthroughs from the wing, they really feel a little stretched.
Midfielder De Jong basically has no role in this kind of wing attack and can only help defend in the middle.
At the eighth minute of the first half, Sterling on the wing once again used a fancy bicycle move to pass Araujo cleanly.
Sterling did not choose to pass the ball directly this time, but made an inverted triangle and passed the ball to Li Mingyu who came to respond.
After Li Mingyu caught the ball, he quickly attracted all the defensive focus of Barcelona.
Li Mingyu flicked it with his toes, and the football fell from the Barcelona player's head into the penalty area.
After passing the ball to Li Mingyu, Sterling did not stop on the wing, but started cutting in along Barcelona's back line. Since he hid behind the back line, and Li Mingyu attracted the attention of Barcelona's back line, the two central defenders did not notice him.
Alba at the far end was a little delayed. He was delayed at the back, causing a huge mistake in the defense that could have caused offside.
Sterling, who succeeded in countering offside, actually faced the overhead ball from Li Mingyu and made a half-volley upside-down golden hook.
However, he is really handsome, but Ter Stegen just raised his hand casually and respected Sterling's beautiful shooting action.
In the stands behind the goal, a player excitedly hugged the football kicked up by Sterling, raised his arms and shouted wildly.
He is indeed the person who brings joy to football!
Li Mingyu was outside the penalty area, looking at Sterling with a wry smile.
Damn it, can't you play this kind of ball honestly?
If you have to use an upside-down golden hook, you will still have time even if you stop and cum again!
Li Mingyu couldn't help scratching his hair, and couldn't figure out what this Sterling was thinking on the court.
Guardiola on the sidelines had already raised his hands when Li Mingyu passed the ball, ready to celebrate the goal.
But looking at the football flying high, Guardiola felt lucky that he didn't have hair. If he had hair, he would definitely fall out in large handfuls.
Xavi on the other side originally looked very ugly, but when he saw Sterling's dramatic upside-down golden hook, Xavi, who had always been serious, was actually amused and laughed.
I have been trained not to laugh no matter how funny it is!
Unless you can't help it!
Sterling got up from the ground with a frown on his face, and stepped on the turf under his feet with a look of displeasure, as if it was the problem of the turf just now, not my problem.
Fortunately, after blaming the blame, Sterling gave a thumbs up to express his gratitude to Li Mingyu.
Tie Zi, you passed the ball well just now, and you will pass it like this again in the future!
Li Mingyu couldn't help but rolled his eyes, if I passed it on to you, I would be a big fool!
As a result, five minutes later, Sterling quickly inserted into the penalty area from the wing. Li Mingyu saw that his position was really cool, and his movement was like a work of art, so he couldn't help but pass a penetrating through ball.
Li Mingyu thought to himself, if you don't score this ball, then I really won't pass the ball to you in the future!
Sterling received the pass from Li Mingyu in the ribs of the penalty area. He secretly exclaimed in his heart that this pass is so cool. With a slight movement of his right foot, he directly faced the goalkeeper Ter Stegen.
At this time, Sterling has many shooting angles and shooting methods to choose from. If Li Mingyu comes, there will be at least a hundred ways to score the goal.
There was no problem with Sterling's choice. He faked a shot, forcing Ter Stegen to make a save and completely lost his position.
Sterling dunked the ball past Ter Stegen and faced an empty goal.
You said that you are facing an empty goal, so you can just hit it in. If you are afraid of it flying, then use the arch of your foot to push it in. If you are afraid of pushing it sideways, then just take the ball and run to the goal quickly. This is always right!
But when the magical Sterling came into the restricted area, it was sealed by a magical force.
Sterling After passing Ter Stegen, his steps became slower. Facing the empty goal, he seemed to be thinking about how he would celebrate later!
But after just such a delay, the defender behind had already rushed in front of Sterling, took a step, and kicked the football at Sterling's feet out of the baseline.
After someone destroyed the ball, Sterling seemed to wake up from a dream. Not only did he show a very angry expression, but he also reached out and pushed Eric Garcia who destroyed the ball.
Espanyol did not expect that Sterling would suddenly push himself, staggered, and sat on the ground.
Ter Stegen on the side rushed over angrily, stared at Sterling's head with his head, and shouted angrily at him.
Sterling's brain may still be in a blank state now, and his eyes are a little dazed. Wasn't he supposed to score a goal just now? Where is the ball?
Li Mingyu, who was standing outside the penalty area with a horrified look on his face, couldn't care less about his own horror. Before more Barcelona players rushed over, he hurried over and stopped in front of Sterling, telling the Barcelona players to calm down.
The referee also blew his whistle continuously and ran over.
Behind Li Mingyu, Sterling continued to spray blow with Ter Stegen. The two of them seemed to be planning to compete in the parking lot after the game was over.
Although Li Mingyu is very angry at Sterling's behavior, as the captain of Manchester City, at this time, he still has to stand on Sterling's side.
Fortunately, Li Mingyu's reputation was big enough, and the Barcelona players who approached him were very restrained.
Listening to Sterling's loud words behind him, Li Mingyu couldn't help but turn around and glare at him, and whispered, "That's enough, Rahim, do you want to be punished?"
Looking at the referee running over with a serious look on his face, Sterling could only shut his mouth, but his eyes were still unconvinced as he waited for Ter Stegen.
The feud between the two is finally over!
The referee comes over and first separates the players from both sides.
Messi also came over and asked Barcelona's players to get out of the way first.
Li Mingyu pulled Sterling out of the crowd.
The referee called Sterling in front of him, showed him a topaz War God card, expressed his appreciation for his pushing behavior just now, and also said that if you make any inappropriate actions next, a Red Gem Promotion Card card will be sent to you.
Sterling waved his hand with a look of displeasure and walked back cursing.
Li Mingyu looked at Sterling's back and shook his head helplessly.
Guardiola's face was livid off the court. Regarding Sterling's irritation, Guardiola said that he could no longer bear it.
It was only the fifteenth minute of the first half, and the fourth official on the sidelines raised the substitution sign in his hand, with two clear numbers on it, No. 7 off, No. 26 up.
Sterling stood in the midfield, looking at the sign on the sidelines with a shocked expression. He pointed at himself in disbelief. After receiving the acquiescence from the head coach Guardiola, Sterling's face showed a strong look of anger.
Substitution in fifteen minutes is simply a huge humiliation for a player.
Not even willing to wait for the halftime break, which shows that the head coach is very dissatisfied with your performance in the first half.
Sterling's eyes were filled with anger, because his current position was on the other side of the court, so he left the court directly from the sideline on that side, walked around the outer circle of the court, and slowly prepared to walk back.
Seeing Sterling withdraw from the field, the referee said that No. 26 Mahrez can play.
Fans of Barcelona are very happy about Manchester City's suspected infighting behavior.
The enemy's pain is our happiness!
Huge boos and mocking applause sounded in the sky above Camp Nou.
This made Sterling feel even more humiliated, and his original desire to work for Barcelona actually faded away a lot.
But his heart to leave Manchester City became firmer.
Although Sterling has just renewed his contract with the team this season, he has already felt the head coach's distrust of him, and he will not be happy staying here any longer.
For me, Sterling, money or not is not important, what is important is happiness.
If it doesn't make me happy, I will leave!