Chapter 368: Consecutive Thrashings, Guardiola's Full-Back Midfield Tactics Shock Europe!
Chapter 368: Consecutive Thrashings, Guardiola's Full-Back Midfield Tactics Shock Europe!
At the start of the second half, Chelsea fans quickly noticed a substitution from their opponents. Kroos came on for Fernando. This substitution was somewhat expected by Chelsea, as Manchester City needed to strengthen their attack due to their lack of offensive power. However, once the second half began, it became clear that this substitution was not so simple.
Kroos wasn't positioned as a defensive midfielder but moved up to the forward position, yet Manchester City's formation still had two defensive midfielders. What was going on? A closer look revealed that Zabaleta had moved up to play as a defensive midfielder, transforming Manchester City's four-back formation into a three-center-back system.
What kind of strange formation was this? A 3-2-4-1? Even Chelsea fans were baffled, and Mourinho on the sidelines was also puzzled. Was Guardiola up to his tactical tricks again? Only he could come up with the idea of having a full-back play as a defensive midfielder. Mourinho decided to observe further to understand Guardiola's tactical intentions.
After several offensive and defensive exchanges, he noticed that Manchester City played with a pure three-back formation during attacks but reverted to a four-back formation during defense, with Zabaleta returning to his defensive position. This adjustment gave Manchester City an extra midfielder during attacks, significantly enhancing their offensive power.
In the 59th minute, Manchester City launched an attack from the left. Lin Quan received the ball and fired a powerful left-footed shot, causing Courtois to fumble the save. Agüero seized the opportunity and tapped the ball into the net. Manchester City regained the lead, making it 2-1!
Chelsea fans were left speechless. Their opponents' offense was simply superior. Before Lin Quan's shot, they had several opportunities to score. If not for Courtois and Chelsea's defenders, they would have conceded even earlier.
Mourinho frowned, recognizing that Guardiola was employing a novel tactic involving full-back midfielders. However, he couldn't immediately figure out how to counter this tactic. Meanwhile, on the field, Chelsea players, now trailing, desperately launched attacks against Manchester City.
In the 62nd minute, Matić was tripped by Navas near the sideline, earning Navas a yellow card. Although the foul seemed unnecessary given its distance from the goal, Guardiola surprisingly applauded Navas' decision, indicating possible defensive weaknesses on the wings that Mourinho suspected but couldn't yet address.
Before Mourinho could adjust, Manchester City scored again. In the 67th minute, Navas sent a cross from the wing, and Lin Quan executed a spectacular half-turn bicycle kick, scoring a stunning goal. Neither Chelsea's defenders nor Courtois anticipated this shot. Stamford Bridge erupted in shock, and some Chelsea fans almost applauded before realizing it was the opponent who scored.
"Damn it, can no one stop this guy from scoring?" Chelsea fans were deeply frustrated. Lin Quan had once again become their nemesis, always performing exceptionally well against Chelsea.
"Damn!" Mourinho, taken aback by Lin Quan's goal, kicked the coach's bench in frustration. The Chelsea substitutes instinctively shuffled away from their furious manager. On the Manchester City bench, Guardiola, overwhelmed by Lin Quan's goal, held his head in disbelief and excitement.
"Torrent, did you see that? Did you see Lin's goal just now?" Guardiola grabbed his assistant coach's arm, almost speechless with excitement. Torrent, feeling the pain, silently wished Guardiola would let go of his arm.
Lin Quan's goal greatly boosted Manchester City's morale. Previously hesitant about Guardiola's new tactics, they now fully embraced the strategy. With newfound confidence, they showed Chelsea just how powerful a fully unleashed Manchester City could be.
In the second half, Manchester City's attacks intensified, frequently threatening Chelsea's goal. Chelsea was forced to stay in their half, focusing solely on defense. In the 76th minute, Manchester City made their first substitution, bringing on Lampard for Fernandinho. In their last encounter at the Etihad Stadium, Lampard had scored a crucial goal against Chelsea, shattering their hopes of victory. Now, back at Stamford Bridge, fans wondered what surprises the former Blue might bring.
In the 78th minute, Milner headed a Navas cross towards the goal, but Courtois tipped it over the bar. A minute later, De Bruyne's long-range effort hit the post and went out. In the 80th minute, Mourinho made his final substitution, bringing on Drogba for Willian. The fans stood and applauded as the former Chelsea hero took the field.
Although 37 years old, Drogba still possessed impressive physical prowess. In the 82nd minute, Chelsea intercepted the ball and launched a quick counter-attack. Drogba, shrugging off defenders, was about to charge towards the goal when Lampard fouled him from the side, earning a yellow card. Lampard quickly helped Drogba up, apologizing. Drogba brushed it off, understanding that both were fighting for their teams.
In the final stages, neither side managed to create significant chances, and Manchester City emerged victorious with a 3-1 win in the top-of-the-table clash at Stamford Bridge.
The final score mirrored the first encounter at the Etihad Stadium earlier in the season, both in scoreline and match progression. With this double victory over Chelsea, Manchester City finally caught up with their rivals on the points table. Both teams now had identical points, and with 15 matches remaining in the league, the title race was set to be decided by the consistency of both teams in the final stages.
Consistency had always been a hallmark of Guardiola's teams. After the match, the media heaped praise on Guardiola and his team, lauding their excellent performance. Guardiola's substitutions and tactical changes in the second half were seen as the key to Manchester City's victory over Chelsea.
On the other hand, Mourinho faced a tough time. His pre-match boasts became a boomerang, hitting him back. Rumors suggested that Chelsea's owner, Roman Abramovich, was very unhappy with Mourinho. The two reportedly had a heated exchange after the loss to Manchester City. While the truth of these rumors was uncertain, those familiar with Abramovich's temperament believed them to be quite likely.
Abramovich was known for his impatience, and Mourinho was known for his high self-regard. The two had always had a challenging relationship. Adding to the tension, Abramovich's ideal coach was not Mourinho but Guardiola. This preference became even more pronounced after Mourinho's repeated losses to Guardiola. Speculations grew that if Chelsea's performance didn't meet Abramovich's expectations, he might fire Mourinho in a fit of anger, as he had done with other notable managers before, such as Ranieri, Mourinho (in his first stint), and Ancelotti.
If Mourinho were to be sacked again, the question remained: where would he go next?
Chelsea's problems were theirs to deal with. After winning the top-of-the-table clash, Guardiola was in high spirits and gave his players three days off to rest. Being eliminated from the League Cup and FA Cup turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Manchester City. With the Champions League knockout stages yet to begin, they only had to focus on one game per week, a comfortable pace that kept the players fresh and reduced the risk of injuries.
Guardiola took advantage of this period to instill his tactical ideas into the players, working towards transforming Manchester City to his liking.
On February 7th, Manchester City hosted Hull City in the 24th round of the Premier League. The match was expected to be one-sided, with Manchester City at the top of the table and Hull City third from the bottom. Even before the match, few gave Hull City any chance. The result was indeed shocking; by halftime, Manchester City had already scored five goals. Lin Quan completed a hat-trick in the first half and was substituted at halftime. Agüero, gradually regaining his form, scored twice, once in each half. The final score was a staggering 8-0, delivering Hull City their most humiliating defeat in their 111-year history.
Meanwhile, Chelsea, reeling from their home defeat, struggled against Aston Villa. Villa led 1-0 at halftime thanks to a goal from Okore. Chelsea, looking lackluster, only managed to mount a comeback in the second half, led by Hazard, narrowly winning the match to keep pace with Manchester City.
However, the contrasting forms of the two teams were evident. Manchester City went on to thrash Stoke City 7-1 in the 25th round, scoring 15 goals in two matches and showcasing their formidable attacking prowess. This stunning display sent shockwaves across Europe, drawing attention to Guardiola's new tactics and their devastating effectiveness.
During the match, Arnautović, who had transferred to Stoke City during the winter break, scored a consolation goal, much to the delight of his former teammates Lin Quan and De Bruyne. Post-match, what was supposed to be a friendly reunion turned into a venting session for Arnautović. He had come with high hopes, eager to show his old friends his progress, only to witness Manchester City's ruthless performance.
"This heading ability of yours hasn't diminished at all. To beat Van Dijk and score a goal is no small feat!" Lin Quan complimented Arnautović, recalling their time at Werder Bremen.
"That guy is strong? I thought he was just a rookie," Arnautović responded, unfamiliar with Van Dijk.
"Yes, very strong," De Bruyne affirmed seriously.
Lin Quan teased, "You should buy a newspaper tomorrow, cut out the part where you outjump Van Dijk to score, and keep it as a memento. When he becomes famous, you can look back at this goal and feel proud."
On the way back to Manchester, Van Dijk, listening to music on the bus, suddenly sneezed. Rubbing his nose, he wondered if he had caught a cold after the match.
(End of Chapter)