Chapter 494: Front Flip Celebration Again, Manchester City 1:0 Atlético Madrid!

Chapter 494: Front Flip Celebration Again, Manchester City 1:0 Atlético Madrid!

Fernando himself was quite surprised by this turn of events. Since Kante joined the team, his opportunities to play for Manchester City had been very limited. This season, he had only appeared in 15 matches, starting in only 5 of them, and these starts were all in domestic cup games. In the Champions League, he had only come on as a substitute once.

Given his lack of playing time, Fernando had already decided to leave Manchester City and find a new team this summer. Despite the good salary and the chance to win various honors, Fernando felt these honors had little to do with him personally. At 29 years old, he was in his prime and far from retirement. He didn't want to waste this valuable time sitting on the bench.

Therefore, he had already planned to join another team, even considering some lower-tier league giants. Galatasaray from the Turkish Super Lig had contacted his agent with a sincere offer. Given his marginalized status at Manchester City, he believed the club wouldn't create significant obstacles for his departure. Unless something unexpected happened, he would likely leave the Premier League and join the Turkish league this summer.

However, just as Fernando was preparing to leave, Guardiola included him in the Champions League semi-final squad and hinted during training that he might play, advising him to stay in top condition. This unexpected turn left Fernando confused. Could it be that the coach had changed his mind and finally recognized his talent?

So, he quickly informed his agent not to rush into signing with Galatasaray. He wanted to finish this season's remaining games and see how Manchester City responded afterward. After all, who wouldn't prefer to stay in a top league and with a club like Manchester City, if possible?

Although he knew he was far from replacing the main midfielders like Kante and Kroos, there was always a chance they could be poached by other teams offering higher salaries. You never know what could happen in the transfer market.

With excitement, Fernando thoroughly prepared for the match but, unsurprisingly, found himself on the bench. However, another substitute midfielder, Fernandinho, replaced De Bruyne in the starting lineup. This meant Manchester City had three defensive midfielders in their starting lineup, significantly increasing their midfield strength.

"Are they planning to compete with us in the midfield?" Simeone speculated upon seeing Manchester City's formation. His suspicion was confirmed when the match began. Manchester City indeed aimed to dominate the midfield, engaging in a fierce battle for control.

"The pace is fast, and both teams are very aggressive in their tackles!" commented the match commentators, surprised by Manchester City's strategy. While it was typical for Atlético to play this way, seeing Manchester City adopt such a tactic was unexpected.

Without De Bruyne, who would handle the organization and playmaking in the midfield? Kante was primarily a defensive player, and focusing on attack might lower the defensive quality. Fernandinho's positioning was too far back to be an effective playmaker. In the first few minutes, there seemed to be no clear offensive organizer for Manchester City.

Many, including Simeone and the attending coaches of Real Madrid and Bayern, shared this confusion. "What's Guardiola planning? Why would he seemingly weaken his team's strength? Is he afraid his midfield can't compete, hence the three defensive midfielders?" wondered Real Madrid's assistant coach aloud, baffling even Zidane.

On the other side of the stands, Bayern's coach Heynckes closely watched Manchester City's midfielder Kroos, suspecting that Guardiola had special plans for him. Given Kroos's vision and precise long passes, his role might be crucial.

In the first ten minutes, both teams focused on midfield battles, with no clear chances for either side. Manchester City's defensive midfielders covered a lot of ground, making it hard for Atlético to launch effective counterattacks or create significant chances. Manchester City also struggled without De Bruyne's playmaking, with Lin Quan's attempt being easily saved by the goalkeeper.

The match seemed to be at a stalemate, but was it really? In the 15th minute, Lin Quan received the ball on the wing, immediately drawing Atlético's Griezmann, Koke, and Augusto to surround him. Seeing their aggressive approach, Lin Quan retreated and passed the ball back to Kante, drawing them in.

Kante then quickly passed the ball to Fernandinho, who advanced and found Kroos. Kroos, with his exceptional vision, saw the opportunity and sent a precise long ball to the right wing where Lin Quan had repositioned. Lin Quan controlled the ball and cut inside, skillfully evading a defender before unleashing a powerful shot into the top corner of the net.

The crowd erupted in cheers as Lin Quan celebrated with a front flip, a trademark move that thrilled the fans. Manchester City was up 1-0 against Atlético Madrid, breaking the deadlock and putting them in the lead. The tactical gamble by Guardiola paid off, showcasing Manchester City's adaptability and Lin Quan's brilliance.

Torres and Griezmann immediately rushed towards Kante, joined by another Atlético midfielder, Gabi. However, Kante didn't dwell on the ball and quickly passed it to his teammate Fernandinho. Fernandinho then returned the ball, further pulling Atlético's formation and passing it to the team's deep-lying playmaker, Kroos.

When Kroos received the ball, he was positioned very deep, near the right sideline. Despite Atlético's excellent high pressing, they couldn't cover such a deep position. With Fernandinho shielding him, Kroos had ample space to operate. For a passer of Kroos's caliber, an undisturbed long pass has a nearly perfect success rate.

Kroos quickly surveyed the positions of players upfield and, with a precise kick, sent the ball flying toward Lin Quan. Seizing the moment when the defenders were drawn to the ball, Lin Quan sprinted forward into the attacking half. As soon as the ball reached Kroos, Lin Quan accelerated, aiming to beat the goalkeeper to the ball.

Kroos's pass was impeccable, arcing beautifully through the air toward Lin Quan. Lin Quan didn't need to slow down; he just had to keep running and get to the ball before the goalkeeper. Atlético's goalkeeper, Oblak, realized the danger and rushed out, both players sprinting toward the ball. However, halfway through his run, Oblak knew he wouldn't get there first and began to retreat, preparing for a save.

Seeing the goalkeeper's position, Lin Quan wasted no time and attempted a lob shot. The ball soared high over Oblak's head and gracefully descended into the net like a falling leaf.

Boom! As Lin Quan scored, the Etihad Stadium erupted in a deafening roar. The fans were initially unprepared for such a sudden goal, especially after the first ten minutes had suggested a tough match ahead without De Bruyne. They had expected a struggle to break down Atlético's defense. Yet, with one precise long pass from Kroos and a clinical finish from Lin Quan, they breached Atlético's goal with ease.

The attack was lightning fast, taking less than four seconds from Kroos's pass to Lin Quan's shot. Despite Atlético's strong defense, they were powerless against such a rapid counterattack.

"Brilliant!" Guardiola reacted to the goal with exuberant joy, moving like an eight-armed octopus, jumping and celebrating, ready to hug anyone passing by. On the field, Lin Quan was equally excited, performing his signature front flip celebration.

Seeing this, Guardiola, who was celebrating with his assistant coaches and substitutes, suddenly felt a pang of worry. He made a mental note to remind Lin Quan to avoid such dangerous celebrations to prevent injuries.

The fans in the Etihad Stadium and those watching worldwide didn't share this concern. They cheered loudly and applauded Lin Quan for his spectacular goal and celebration.

In a household in Bremen, Germany, coach Schaaf, who was watching the match, shook his head and smiled. "That kid, he's still the same," he thought. As Lin Quan's mentor, Schaaf felt immense pride seeing his former pupil achieve such greatness. Despite only working together for a year, that time had left unforgettable memories.

In Barcelona, watching Lin Quan's lively performance, Messi couldn't help but feel a bit envious. "Youth is wonderful," he thought. "If only I could feel invincible like that again." Unfortunately, time was relentless. This season, injuries had taken their toll on Messi, and with Neymar's departure and Barcelona's transfer ban, it had been a tough year. Winning La Liga under these circumstances was a monumental effort, but Messi felt he had given his all.

In Madrid, someone else shared these sentiments. Seeing Lin Quan, Ronaldo couldn't help but reminisce about his own youth. "I was just as vibrant and confident back then," he mused. "But now, I'm stronger and more experienced than ever, so there's nothing to regret."

Manchester City's goal caught Atlético off guard. Simeone was visibly frustrated, feeling his meticulous defensive plans had been shattered in an instant. Before the game, he had repeatedly emphasized the need to mark Lin Quan tightly, allowing no room for complacency. Yet, the moment Lin Quan sprinted, no defender was close enough to challenge him. By the time they reacted, it was too late.

While Manchester City's play was brilliant, Atlético's defenders bore some responsibility. Simeone knew there was no point in scolding them now; they needed to focus on preventing further goals and finding an opportunity to score an away goal. Before arriving at the Etihad Stadium, Simeone had anticipated a tough match. The Etihad was one of Europe's most formidable grounds, where Manchester City rarely lost and were unbeaten in the Champions League. Even top teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern had struggled here. Atlético's chances of winning were slim, but even if they were to lose, Simeone couldn't accept it being this easy.

(End of Chapter)

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