Chapter 370: Sweeping Arsenal, Advancing to the Champions League Quarterfinals

Chapter 370: Sweeping Arsenal, Advancing to the Champions League Quarterfinals

Guardiola had just talked about enjoying football, but within three days, Manchester City hit a snag. On March 1st, in a high-stakes match at Anfield, Manchester City suffered a 2-3 defeat against Liverpool.

The match began in heavy rain, forcing both teams to play under challenging conditions. The wet field hampered Manchester City's passing game, causing numerous passing errors. Meanwhile, Liverpool, eager to avenge their previous defeat, played with incredible determination. Despite the risk of injury due to the slippery ground, they ran and sprinted relentlessly, launching counterattacks against Manchester City's defense.

Liverpool appeared to be on the back foot for much of the match, controlling only 32% of the possession, but their counterattacks were lethal, especially those launched from the flanks. In the 11th minute, Henderson opened the scoring for Liverpool. Although Manchester City equalized in the 23rd minute through a De Bruyne long shot assisted by Lin Quan, Liverpool regained the lead just three minutes later. Coutinho, with a brilliant solo effort, weaved through the defense and unleashed a stunning long shot to beat Navas.

In the 75th minute, Lin Quan received a through ball from De Bruyne, evaded the offside trap, and scored to level the match again. As the game seemed destined for a draw, in the third minute of injury time, Liverpool's legendary captain Gerrard, who had already announced his departure at the end of the season, scored a trademark long-range goal, sealing a dramatic 3-2 victory for Liverpool.

After scoring the winner, Gerrard celebrated wildly, stripping off his shirt and rushing towards the stands packed with ecstatic Liverpool fans. His teammates joined him in the joyous celebration, hugging and kissing him, reveling in the hard-fought victory. The Anfield crowd erupted; pre-match, few had given Liverpool a chance against Manchester City, yet they had defied the odds with a thrilling win.

Guardiola scratched his head in disbelief. The timing couldn't have been worse. Just seconds away from the final whistle, a slip by a Manchester City player in the wet conditions had given Gerrard the chance to score.

Gracious in defeat, Guardiola walked over to shake hands with Liverpool's coach. Manchester City's loss invigorated their rivals, who now believed they had found a way to counter Guardiola's innovative tactics.

In the 28th round of the league, Leicester City tried to emulate Liverpool's strategy. They analyzed Liverpool's victory and concluded that Manchester City's defensive weakness lay on the flanks. With fullbacks pushing up into midfield, City's formation often looked like a 2-3-5 when attacking, with five players pressing forward. The two wingers, a center forward, and two attacking midfielders created multiple threats near the opponent's penalty area. This made defending difficult for opponents and allowed City to immediately press and disrupt the opposition's counterattacks, often regaining possession and creating second-chance opportunities.

City's new tactics had led to a high success rate in regaining possession near the opponent's penalty area, resulting in numerous goals from turnovers. However, Liverpool's superior players could sometimes break through City's pressing. When this happened, City's five forward players were too far upfield to retreat in time. As a result, City's four defenders and one holding midfielder would form a compact, layered defensive shape to protect the goal, leaving the flanks exposed.

During the rainy match at Anfield, the conditions had favored Liverpool's counterattacks and played against City's technical style. Moreover, Gerrard's well-timed long shot sealed City's defeat. Leicester, lacking these advantages, suffered a heavy defeat when they tried Liverpool's tactics against City.

By halftime, Manchester City had already secured a 3-0 lead. Guardiola did not substitute Lin Quan, signaling City's continued intent to attack. By the time Lin Quan was finally substituted, the score was 5-0. Leicester City players were left demoralized, questioning why their strategy, which had worked for Liverpool, had failed so miserably for them.

Seeing his team bounce back from the previous defeat with a resounding victory, Guardiola was in high spirits. He engaged in a conversation with Lin Quan, who had just been substituted.

"That winger looks pretty good, doesn't he?" Guardiola asked, pointing to Leicester City's number 26.

"You mean Mahrez?" Lin Quan replied, taking a sip of his energy drink.

"Yes!" Guardiola nodded, showing an interest in the player's potential. "What do you think of his skills?"

"He's got good skills, very technical with excellent dribbling and cutting inside to shoot. He could play as a winger or attacking midfielder. If he develops well, he could become a key player for a smaller team," Lin Quan assessed.

Lin Quan remembered Mahrez's breakout season with Leicester, where he scored 17 goals and provided 11 assists, earning the Premier League MVP award. Although Mahrez was not yet at that level, Guardiola's keen eye had spotted his potential in just one match, a testament to his ability to identify talent. Guardiola's preference for technically gifted players, evident in his recruitment strategy, likely drew him to Mahrez.

Guardiola's conversation with Lin Quan ended on a hopeful note, with the possibility of nurturing more talents like Mahrez under his innovative tactics.

After the match, the media spotlight once again shone on Guardiola and Manchester City. Their tactical adjustments and dominant performances were widely praised, with many commentators hailing Guardiola's ingenuity. In contrast, Mourinho's pre-match bravado had backfired, and rumors of tension with Chelsea owner Abramovich began to surface.

As Manchester City continued their campaign, Guardiola focused on enjoying the beautiful game and developing his team, undeterred by external pressures. His satisfaction was evident, as he guided his players through victories and setbacks alike, ever committed to the joy and artistry of football.

"Really?" Guardiola couldn't help but start thinking.

Manchester City's right winger is Navas, who is already 30 years old. Given his age and the fact that he often plays as a substitute for Lin Quan, he has been considering leaving. Guardiola needs to find a new outstanding right winger for the team. Previously, he had tried to bid for Salah from Chelsea, intending to have Salah replace Navas. Unfortunately, Chelsea was unwilling to sell, and Guardiola's plan fell through.

Now, seeing Mahrez, who is about the same age as Salah, Guardiola once again felt the urge to sign him. Mahrez joined Leicester City last year for only £500,000. Over the past two seasons, his performance has been impressive, and his value has increased significantly. Guardiola estimated that it would take at least £20 million to bring Mahrez to Manchester City.

Spending £20 million on a relatively unknown player seemed like a gamble. So, should he make the move?

"£30 million or less, and you can go for it. Of course, if you can get Salah, that would be even better!" Lin Quan, noticing Guardiola's hesitation, spoke up. At the right winger position, peak Salah's ability is slightly stronger.

After a heartfelt conversation between the "father and son," Guardiola, who had been hesitant, made up his mind. Yes, he would buy! Having saved so much money during the winter transfer window, he felt it necessary to spend during the summer window to satisfy both himself and Manchester City's fans.

Leicester City's loss confused other teams. They were unsure if copying Liverpool's strategy would work. While some teams hesitated, others remained determined.

In the 29th round of the Premier League, Burnley, ranked second to last and in desperate need of points, decided to copy Liverpool's strategy at home. The result was disastrous. By the end of the match, they were down 4-0, and that was after Manchester City had substituted many key players in the second half to prepare for the midweek Champions League knockout match. Had City gone all out, it would have been a massacre.

In another match of this round, league leaders Chelsea faced fourth-placed Southampton. Surprisingly, despite Diego Costa scoring early, Chelsea couldn't secure a win. Matic's foul in the penalty area gave Southampton a penalty, allowing them to escape Stamford Bridge with a draw. This result meant that Chelsea's lead over Manchester City, which had widened after City's loss to Liverpool, shrank back to just one point. The once promising title race for Chelsea was now precarious.

Adding to Chelsea's woes, they were held to a draw at home by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. This match was a nail-biter for Chelsea fans. Their team managed to score in the 81st minute, reigniting hopes of victory. However, David Luiz's goal in the 86th minute dashed those hopes, resulting in a 1-1 draw. Since the previous leg in Paris also ended 1-1, both teams had equal scores and away goals, leading to extra time.

In extra time, Chelsea scored first through Hazard, sending Stamford Bridge into a frenzy. Mourinho celebrated wildly. But PSG's Thiago Silva equalized in the 114th minute, giving PSG two crucial away goals. Chelsea threw everything forward in the dying minutes but couldn't find a winner. The match ended, and Chelsea were eliminated from the Champions League at home, falling in the Round of 16 once again.

"Mourinho's days at Stamford Bridge are numbered!" "Haha, serves him right for being so arrogant!" "With Abramovich's temper, if Chelsea don't win the league this season, I'm betting 50 cents that Mourinho will get sacked!" "If he's sacked again, which team would want him?" "Maybe Manchester United; Van Gaal's doing worse than Mourinho there!" "Good idea, let Mourinho go to United and mess them up even more!"

Following Chelsea's elimination, public opinion turned harsh against Mourinho. The promises he made upon returning to the club now seemed hollow. Since winning the Champions League, Chelsea had been knocked out in the group stage once and the Round of 16 twice, with their performance worsening each time. They seemed far from being on the right track, appearing instead to be on the verge of decline. It's been five years since their last league title, and without any new trophies, they would fail to live up to their status as a top club.

While Chelsea fans were worried, Manchester City fans were jubilant. In the second leg of their Champions League tie, City comfortably defeated Arsenal 2-0 at home, advancing to the quarterfinals with a 5-1 aggregate score. After breaking through in the Champions League last year, City's luck seemed to have turned. Despite facing tough opponents in the previous season, this year they had an easier group and a favorable Round of 16 draw against Arsenal. With no distractions from the League Cup and FA Cup, City could focus on the Champions League in peak condition.

In this round of the Champions League, apart from Chelsea, there were no major upsets. Powerhouses Bayern, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Juventus all advanced to the quarterfinals. On March 19, the draw for the 2014-15 Champions League quarterfinals took place at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. With so many top teams in the last eight, fans eagerly anticipated some heavyweight clashes.

(Chapter ends)