Eight Hundred and Fifty-One Did We Play a Match-Fix?

In the second round of the third round of the Europa League knockout stage, Manchester City played at home against Aris of Greece.

In the seventh minute of the game, Marcelo had just passed the midfield, looked up at the middle of the field, and sent a precise oblique long pass with his left foot, which went directly behind the Aris defense.

I saw a sky-blue figure like a sharp arrow, pierced through Aris' defense in an instant, caught up with Marcelo's oblique long pass, stopped the ball forward and backward in the chest, and continued to drive the ball into the penalty area. .

"Su Dong!!!!!!"

The whole Etihad Stadium immediately boiled up!

I saw Su Dong rushing into the penalty area with the ball. Facing the attacking goalkeeper Aris, he made a skillful fake move. After passing the opponent, he calmly pushed the empty goal and scored the first goal for Manchester City!

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!"

"In just seven minutes, Su Dong opened the scoring for Manchester City!"

"One to zero!"

...

After leading by a goal, Manchester City continued to pursue Aris.

In the ninth minute, Su Dong was in the top area of ​​the penalty area. After receiving a pass from David Silva, he pulled horizontally and pulled away the defender. The long shot hit the crossbar.

That loud noise spread through every corner of the stadium, as if it was beating on the hearts of the Manchester City fans on the scene, making them more excited and more excited.

Three minutes later, it was Su Dong and David Silva's continuous cooperation at the front of the penalty area. After Su Dong dunked the opponent's central defender Michel, he volleyed with his left foot and pierced Aris' goal again.

Two to zero!

All of a sudden, Aris' players were completely dumbfounded!

Fortunately, they were still complacent about their team's home record before the game. Although they didn't say it clearly, they were somewhat complacent about the 40 years of unbeaten home games in Europe that the media hyped. I feel that it may not be possible to upset Manchester City and advance to the next round.

But at the Etihad Stadium, in just ten minutes of the game, they thoroughly felt the disparity between the two teams.

The Manchester City team they met at their home ground in the first round brought so many misunderstandings to Aris' players that they all mistakenly thought that Manchester City's strength did not seem to be that strong.

At the Etihad Stadium, they really felt the horror of Manchester City.

Don't talk about others, just center defender Michelle. He was the hero of freezing Dzeko in the first round, but this time against Su Dong, he couldn't keep up with Su Dong's movement frequency at all, and he couldn't keep up with Su Dong's rhythm and rhythm at all. brain circuit.

In the ninth minute just now, Su Dong clearly pulled the ball to the right and volleyed with his right foot, but this time in the twelfth minute, it was almost the same position and the same environment, but Su Dong used to pull the ball to the right as In a fake action, he chose to pull the ball to the left, volleyed his left foot vigorously, and directly pierced Aris' goal.

The angle of the shot is also very tricky, and the rebound ball directly hits the left side of the goal.

Michelle is stunned!

He suspects that the Manchester City team he met at home a week ago is fake!

In other words, they deliberately showed weakness in the first round, that is, to paralyze Aris, and then be caught off guard at home.

If Su Dong could read Michelle's mind at this moment, he would surely comfort him with a smile, brother, you really think too much, you are not as important as you think.

We are very busy and don't have time to greet you.

The away game is too far, so we choose to be at home!

Don't worry, our knives are very sharp, our hands are fast, and it won't hurt a lot, just be patient!

...

...

After scoring two goals in a row, Manchester City was still not satisfied and continued to launch a fierce attack on Aris.

The Greek team was completely stunned.

They can't understand at all, why is the difference between home and away so big?

The Manchester City team at their home are obviously very easy to deal with!

But Manchester City did not give them more time to think,

Threats and attacks again and again make Aris players exhausted.

Even if the Greek team took a full-fledged defensive move, it still couldn't stop Manchester City.

Before the end of the first half, David Silva's through ball was sent to the penalty area. Su Dong grabbed the ball in front of the center defender Michelle, stabbed the ball through the attacking goalkeeper, and rushed to the defender. Before, send the ball into the empty goal.

Three to zero!

...

After a three-goal lead, Manchester City still didn't have any hold.

In the second half, we changed sides and fought again. Su Dong sent an assist in the 66th minute. After Sanchez stopped the ball on the right side of the penalty area, he calmly pushed and succeeded, giving Manchester City another victory, 4-0!

In the 75th minute, Manchester City got a corner kick in the frontcourt. Aris made a clearance in the penalty area, but Tony Kroos stopped the ball outside the penalty area and shot from a long distance, piercing Aris' goal, five to zero!

The hapless Greek team was completely befuddled.

Even at the end of the game, they couldn't believe that they were beaten so badly on the road.

Isn't the home game a close match?

…………

…………

Manchester City finally beat Aris 5-0 at home.

This victory made the Greek media completely sober.

A week ago, how excited and arrogant they were shouting, how embarrassing and embarrassing the situation is now.

In the end, many media agreed that it was not that Manchester City performed too well, but that the Greek team performed too much on the road.

The media is right anyway.

The unfortunate Aris players are all confused, they seriously doubt whether they played a match-fix?

Otherwise, why does the media report this?

...

After the five-to-zero bloodbath of Aris, Manchester City can be said to be proud.

But in the subsequent Europa League draw, Manchester City encountered difficulties again.

This time Manchester City's opponent is even further away, going directly to Dynamo Kyiv in Ukraine.

Another opponent more than 2,000 kilometers away, Manchester City was immediately confused.

Are you sure this is not UEFA deliberately tossing Manchester City?

Although each team is not weak after entering the Europa League round of 16, it is indeed a sad reminder to meet Dynamo Kyiv, because this team is not only superior in strength, but also has a long way to go.

Long-distance expedition, this is the biggest challenge of the European war away.

In the words of Manchester City players after their expedition to Greece, the consumption on the road is much higher than the consumption in the game.

This is still in the case of Manchester City going away a day earlier and chartered flight.

After the results of the draw were released, Guardiola and other coaching staff also urgently held a meeting with Su Dong and others, mainly to discuss the team's next schedule and arrangements.

If it is said that in the game against Aris, the opponent's strength is weak, and Manchester City is sure to win the opponent on the road, but in the end it does not win, then this time against Dynamo Kyiv, Manchester City's away game will only be more difficult.

To make matters worse, City are now playing on three fronts.

The league is about to encounter Chelsea, in the FA Cup, due to the Europa League, Manchester City's home game against Aston Villa has been postponed, and there are two games in the Europa League.

It can be said that Manchester City is now an uninterrupted weekly double game.

The rotation of the team has already begun. Otherwise, playing games like this in a row, especially if it is a long journey, will be too much for no one. The next key is that the team must withstand the pressure brought by the three fronts.

If they survive, Manchester City will have a chance to win the championship. If they cannot survive, they will lose the whole game.

Every season over the years, there have been examples of teams wanting to play on multiple fronts but ultimately getting nowhere.

The three captains, Sudong, Zabaleta and Kompany, communicated with their teammates as early as in the locker room.

"All of us have the same opinion, that is, we have a good bench lineup now. We believe that everyone will be able to withstand the combat pressure of the three lines if they grit their teeth." Su Dong said.

"Manchester City lacks heritage, lacks championships, so the fans hope that the team can achieve something, can get more wins and championships, and so do our players, so in this case, I think we should bite the bullet. , working together, not only for the championship, but also for training the team."

A team that can't fight a tough battle can't last to the end at all.

And there is no better time to test a team's cohesion than multi-line battles, especially in March and April when they are still insisting on the devil's schedule of three-front battles.

This brutal season, and the huge external pressure, can help Manchester City further gather players.

Of course, if you can't handle it, it may collapse.

That's why Guardiola asked the three captains for advice.

"I don't think our players are very fragile!" Su Dong seemed very confident, "Before they came to Manchester City, they were the main players of their respective teams, even the core of their own teams. Everyone was very strong and very good. The level, I believe, they all have a strong heart and willpower."

Those players who are slightly weaker, Manchester City can't look at it either.

Even local players are local England players such as Leighton Baines and Gareth Barry. Adam Johnson has also entered the England national team.

A team composed of such players cannot be weak as long as they are united.

"Fans, players, even the coaching staff and management are desperate for the team to stick to the end and win more championships and honors, so I think we should continue to stick to the third-line battle."

"Even if it really comes to the end, we failed to win these three championships, but at the very least, we have gained an iron army, then we will have more hope next season, next season!"

In fact, Manchester City has just restructured this season. Although it has formed competitiveness, it has not actually reached its peak.

Moreover, Dzeko, Leighton Bynes and Thiago all joined during the winter break, and they have not yet fully integrated into the team.

It can be said that Manchester City still has considerable potential that has not been tapped. If the team is cohesive, the potential of Manchester City's outbreak will be extremely amazing.

"You have to trust the dressing room and the players, Pep." Sudong in turn encouraged Guardiola.

"You have to believe that we are going to reach the Champions League next season and make a strong team. We are no longer the Manchester City we used to be!"

Su Dong's confident demeanor infected everyone present, including Guardiola.