The secret weapon rarely appears, but once it does, it must be lethal.
In Guardiola's view, Tang Long is his ultimate secret weapon.
When the stalemate on the field cannot be broken, he is the most trustworthy person for the team!
Not only does Guardiola feel this way, but Mancini and Pellegrini, who have coached Tang Long, also think the sa.
So, when Guardiola's gaze wandered between Agüero and Tang Long, he decided in just two seconds to substitute Tang Long into the match!
Ultimately, Tang Long lived up to the mission, ending the match with an unstoppable volley.
No wonder after the match, Guardiola praised Tang Long to the dia like this:
"He is not only worthy of my trust, but also the entire club's trust!"
...
Three days later.
The sa opponent, still West Brom, but Manchester City is playing an away match.
Before the match, Manchester United's coach Pellegrini made a special call to his friend, West Brom's coach Pulis. The call records are as follows:
"Pulis! Help beat Manchester City!"
"Why?"
"Do I need to say? If you beat Manchester City, the point gap between us will be smaller."
"What's in it for ?"
"You help beat Manchester City, and I'll help you beat Sunderland. This trade sound good?"
Pulis thought for a mont, nodded, and felt that the trade was beneficial, since Sunderland was a relegation rival to West Brom, similar to how Manchester City is a title rival to Manchester United.
But he shook his head again and said, "This won't work."
"Why?"
"Because no matter whether I want to beat Manchester City or not, you have to beat Sunderland, you have no choice, but I do. I can choose to fight Manchester City or just give up."
"... So, what do you want?"
"In the winter transfer window, send Icardi to play for ."
"Can you afford him? You can have anything in your dreams, my dear brother Pulis."
"If I can't buy him, I can loan him. Anyway, he's warming the bench with you. He'll be starting here every ga. Ask if he's willing."
"Beat Manchester City first, then talk."
Having just been knocked out by Manchester City in the League Cup, Pulis was obviously unconvinced.
Of course, his discontent was not due to the last-minute winner by Tang Long—that goal was indeed unstoppable and won the admiration of West Brom's players;
His discontent was with the fact that if it hadn't been for Caballero's extraordinary performance, they'd have taken the lead in the first half, nowhere tang Long would have had the chance for the winning goal?
"Last round's League Cup didn't reflect the true strength of the team. This ti, back at ho, we'll have a good fight with Manchester City!" Thought West Brom's coach Pulis.
But this arrogant coach also used his pig brain to think that if Manchester City hadn't rotated heavily and lacked a strong desire to win, they wouldn't have had the chance to show off their skills at Manchester City's ho?
This ti, Manchester City is coming to The Hawthorns, determined to capture it!
The na of this stadium is filled with romantic vibes; those who haven't been there might imagine hills covered with hawthorn trees upon hearing the na.
Actually, a hundred years ago, this area was covered with hawthorn thickets, which had to be cleared to provide a site for West Brom's new stadium, thus leading to the natural naming of "The Hawthorns."
Similar to so Chinese city place nas, like certain ponds or bays, the hawthorn in The Hawthorns was cleared away a century ago.
Now, only roads, parking lots, and a venue that can accommodate 26,500 spectators remain.
"Don't underestimate this place," Kompany walked down the bus with Tang Long, pointing at the roof of The Hawthorns," This is the highest stadium among England's 92 league teams, standing at 551 feet."
"Really thrilling," Tang Long laughed, "converted to the tric system, it's a full 168 ters, truly a highland stadium."
Ranocchia chid in: "So high, standing at the top of the stadium, can you see the Itihad?"
Kompany shook his head: "Probably not, but you can certainly see the crows circling on the highway."
...
"Hawthorns!"
"Hawthorns!"
"Hawthorns!"
Twenty-six thousand West Brom fans roared.
This season presents an interesting phenonon.
Many stadiums of Premier League mid-to-lower table teams, usually never full, suddenly sell out whenever Manchester City plays!
Although many fans fear Manchester City's strength, worrying they'll be crushed at their own ho ground;
Simultaneously, there's a sense of anticipation in the fans' hearts.
What are they anticipating?
"Tang Long!"
"Tang Long walked out holding a ball boy's hand."
"We see, all around him, West Brom fans stood up, craning their necks, raising their phones, taking pictures of him!"
"The broadcast director captured the mont well, and so fans even held binoculars to clearly view Tang Long's figure from the high stands!"
"Before the match, our colleagues in the United Kingdom inford that tickets for this match sold out a week before the ga!"
"This ga marks the highest attendance for West Brom this season, it's completely packed!"
"A wave of Tang Long fever has swept through the Premier League this season!"
"Not only Manchester City fans; but many other teams' fans are also keeping an eye on Tang Long."
"At 20 years old, he is already the top star in the league!"
"Countless spotlights shine above his head. Historically, no Chinese player has ever garnered such attention in Europe!"
...
Three days later, Manchester City has another Champions League match against Gladbach, so this expedition to West Brom naturally aims for a swift victory.
If they win, they need to conserve energy, and Guardiola has two choices.
The first is to control the ball and use passing to pin down the opponent, with a slow-boiling frog strategy, making West Brom's players unknowingly subdued, realizing late their struggle was futile as they were deeply entrapped in Manchester City's rhythm, powerless.
The second is an explosive opening attack, scoring two to three goals in the first half, clocking out directly, and the earlier the goals, the better!
Guardiola chose the second!
He decided to start Tang Long and Sane, flanking left and right, using speed to overwhelm the opponent;
Agüero inserted through the middle, ready to pounce.
"All in!"
Delph, the fierce warrior, has earned Guardiola's trust, signaling his teammate Diego to join him in tackling Fletcher.
The forr Manchester United player Fletcher has long lost the agility of his Red Devils days, his body lagging behind his mind; just as his foot stretched halfway, Delph charged in from the side like a tiger descending, feet like claws, catching the ball back!
"Well done Delph!" Guardiola gave him a thumbs up.
"Keeping him was the right choice; Delph possesses the relentless tackling attribute others don't," Chiwo said.
Although Delph's footwork cannot compare with teammates like Mkhitaryan, Diego, Gundogan, against West Brom's robust players, he held a certain edge.
Two crisp pops, a Marseille turn, past Chester!
Pfftt— a man-ball split, past Dawson!
Then he passed to Tang Long on the left.
Tang Long dribbled slowly forward, luring Dawson into the penalty area as he "let loose."
First, he stepped on the ball twice like a bike, looking at Dawson's footsteps, knowing this person's foot pace was slow, then suddenly shifted right, startling Dawson into a side-step block, but Tang Long's next step was not a shot, instead, his right boot lightly nudged the ball back!
The simplest moves often contain the most deceptive effects.
The fake shot-true feint sets the direction while Tang Long's feint dribbling instantly swept him past Dawson!
Dawson wanted to chase back, already too late, only to whimper inwardly, "How is he so fast!"
Nearing the corner!
Tang Long, facing a very narrow angle, used his right foot outer instep to blast the ball into the near corner!
The goal was scored with extraordinary precision.
After the goal, Tang Long did not celebrate much, simply high-fiving with his teammates, then walked to the cara, raised his foot, pointed to his outer instep with his finger, tapped the cara, and then turned to leave.
"Hmm? What does Tang Long an by this, what is he trying to convey?"
(Got back late, will post another chapter around 1:30)
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