"Missed a golden opportunity for a sure goal!"

"The goal was within reach... how could he sky it?"

"Čech must be itching to give Sterling a thumbs up."

"World-class positioning."

"World-class acceleration."

"Neighborhood-level finishing."

"Wasted chances will be punished."

Livestream room.

A wave of惋惜 (wanxi, regret).

-【Happy boy!】

-【Sterling is having a blast today, too.】

-【Even if Dīng Dīng (De Bruyne) held his head down and forced him to swallow it... Sterling could still spit it out.】

-【Is Sterling still on the top scorers list? His shooting can't be that bad; we need to have faith in him.】

-【Top scorers list? That's because Dīng Dīng and David Silva, those god-tier midfielders, are forcibly boosting him up!】

-【Guardiola will definitely find a way to unlock Sterling's potential.】

-【I miss Pellegrini; when he coached City, his solution was simple and brutal: reduce Sterling's playing time...】

-【What's the tactical difference between Guardiola's Barca and 16-17 City?】

-【The difference is one has Messi, and the other doesn't.】

...

Guardiola hugged his bald head again.

His expression was no longer confused, but helpless.

Arteta put his arm around his shoulder, and they both sat back down on the bench.

"This is good momentum."

"We're about to take over the game; Xhaka and Schweinsteiger's configuration can't stop David Silva."

"It'll be hard for Arsenal to launch counterattacks next."

That's what he said.

The City assistant coach was still a little uneasy.

The coaching staff all nodded in agreement: Li Kang's performance is too outrageous; his style is becoming increasingly unpredictable. After spending Christmas back in North Rhine, the kid seems to have gotten a lot stronger.

It's okay.

Football is a team game.

As long as the Sky Blues control possession... the number of times they threaten Arsenal's goal will only increase.

On the bench, Fernandinho was eager to play.

Guardiola couldn't sit still on the bench; he dashed back to the technical area in a flash.

On the other side.

Bould said anxiously.

"Boss, we still need to play a low block..."

"Bravo's footwork seamlessly integrates with City's passing system; if we insist on pressing high, we'll have to commit even more players forward."

"If his long passes are even a bit more accurate, he could directly threaten our penalty area through Sané or Sterling."

"Although his shot-stopping ability has declined, as an initiator of attacks... he's terrifying."

"How did Barca sell him to City for such a low price?"

Wenger nodded.

He'd gained experience from being beaten by Barca over the years.

He was also familiar with the passing and movement of Guardiola's City.

"Fortunately... City doesn't have world-class full-backs yet."

That's right.

Guardiola is perhaps the manager on Earth who has developed the details of full-back play to the most extreme extent.

Barca's Alves could transform into a right winger in an instant, rotating frantically to allow the false nine Messi to switch between multiple attacking forms, and turning Villa from a winger into a central killer.

Bayern's Lahm and Alaba could instantly tuck inside and switch to a defensive formation, transforming into top-class double holding midfielders, thus turning Bayern's wing defense into a huge sieve.

But at this time, City's two veteran players, Kolarov and Zabaleta, did not meet his tactical needs.

"Look at Li's gesture; he means we don't need to maintain a low block."

....

Time passed.

Possession changed hands back and forth.

The formations of both sides were also undergoing subtle changes.

City was threatening the goal less and less.

Li Kang kept the battle within thirty to forty meters of his own half.

From a God's-eye view.

Dense red lines stretched out frantically.

All the dynamic information on the field was under his control.

During City's autonomous attack phase, the positions of the two veteran full-backs were very subtle.

Zabaleta would push forward to participate in the attack, and after distributing the ball, he would switch to a defensive formation, forming a double holding midfield with Yaya Touré.

Kolarov would fall back and transform into a "back three" with Kompany and Stones.

Two small changes in the structure of the midfield and defense.

Thus, David Silva and De Bruyne were able to press forward into the half-spaces more boldly.

How to break it?

It was difficult.

Faced with Arsenal's midfield pressing.

De Bruyne wasn't just about attacking and passing.

He had a very good grasp of when to drop back. He could form a triangular passing system with Yaya Touré and Zabaleta to resolve the pressing.

David Silva stayed high, ready to unleash his ultimate move at any time.

City still had four attacking points to threaten.

Ordinary teams simply couldn't handle this tactic.

As for the rotation changes of David Silva and De Bruyne in the half-spaces...

If Li Kang continued to break it down... he would probably run out of shadow energy.

...

38th minute of the match.

Morata, Giroud, and Li Kang played a series of exquisite passing combinations on the edge of City's penalty area.

The ball floated lightly up and down.

The quality of the three players' short passes while running was extremely stable.

"Beautiful."

"Beautiful football!"

"Continuous passing combinations, breaking through City's defense."

"No problem now."

"Giroud!"

"This one's in!"

Bang!

Giroud's long legs lashed out.

The ball roared fiercely towards the top left corner of City's goal.

Bravo soared into the air.

Accompanied by the sighs of the Gunners fans.

His green gloves easily plucked the ball down.

"Oh!"

"Too bad!"

"Bravo seems to have regained his peak form from his Barca days."

"Directly launches a long pass attack!"

"A breathless attacking and defensive rhythm."

"He's looking for Sané!"

The ball rose with the wind, landing accurately on the left side of Arsenal's half, forty meters out.

Not looking for Sané.

But looking for David Silva.

...

"No problem."

"Arsenal has a lot of defenders in the back."

"David Silva is facing Xhaka."

"Slow-motion Messi!"

"Can he get past?"

David Silva didn't like it when people compared him to any version of Messi.

He believed that he and Messi were only somewhat similar in the rhythm changes during breakthroughs.

His right foot lifted.

The dreamlike ball control technique drew applause from the nearby stands.

He started slow dribbling!

In an instant, he lost the best opportunity to break through.

Monreal and Schweinsteiger came to help from different directions, working with Xhaka to heavily surround the Sky Blue magician.

"Too many defenders; he's going to lose the ball."

"Sané, don't rush forward; come back and support..."

"Beautiful!"

"The Sky Blue magician's dream stage!"

In this era.

When it comes to ball control and dribbling skills in small, confined spaces, Messi and David Silva are the two strongest.

Bale doesn't count.

When he's about to be surrounded, he simply presses the acceleration button and charges past with the ball.

...

Time seemed to be slowed down countless times.

David Silva flicked the ball with his left foot, then pulled it back.

His upper body wasn't idle either, opening his arms.

The movement was slow.

The rhythm was just right.

Perfectly separating the opponent from the ball.

Xhaka decisively stuck to him.

The moment the distance closed... he stuck to thin air.

The breakthrough line in a local narrow range appeared!

David Silva gently pushed the ball diagonally.

He leaned to the side, barely avoiding Schweinsteiger's outstretched foot.

He staggered out three steps, leading the ball and pushing forward.

By the time Monreal came to his senses...

He couldn't even touch the Sky Blue Grand Master's backside.

Ultimate.

The ultimate rhythm of getting rid of defenders.

Making the Etihad Stadium boil again.

"Does he have superpowers?"

"Using slowness to overcome speed."

"Taking on three opponents at once."

"The talent... is simply overflowing."

"City's chance is here again!"

...

Guardiola didn't hug his head; he slapped his thigh excitedly with his left hand, and pointed wildly at Arsenal's goal with his right hand.

Wenger was a little nervous, taking his hands out of his pockets and reaching for the zipper.

On the edge of the penalty box.

David Silva didn't get entangled with Koscielny.

With a啪 (pa) sound!

The ball left his right foot.

The trajectory drawn in the air was like a scimitar.

The left side of Arsenal's penalty area.

A mop of curly hair appeared.

Sané!

"Good opportunity!"

"He can shoot directly!"

"Mertesacker's cover is very timely!"

....

Sané and Li Kang were old acquaintances from the Bundesliga.

The young super winger's shooting skills were a little more reliable than Sterling's.

Facing Arsenal's two-meter giant.

He didn't wait for the ball to land.

He flicked it lightly.

Everyone couldn't help but open their mouths in surprise.

So imaginative!

These attacking players from City... are so talented.

Too bad.

How could Arsenal's two-meter giant let the opponent complete a flick-over?

The height advantage was there.

No need to trouble Čech.

I can handle it myself.

Mertesacker jumped high.

The rising ball. Smashed into his forehead and bounced out of bounds.

Applause was long and loud.

"Sané's flick was a bit superfluous."

"How could he think the ball could leap over the head of Arsenal's iron defender?"

"Wasted opportunities will be punished."

"The audience needs to drink a glass of water to calm down."

"The attacking and defensive rhythm of the two teams is too fast."