Chapter 496: Zidane’s Shock: Lin’s Performance Reminds Me of Figo!

Chapter 496: Zidane's Shock: Lin's Performance Reminds Me of Figo!

"Manchester City's counterattack, are they going to pass to Kroos?" "No, Zabaleta passes directly to Lin Quan!" "Lin Quan on the wing, gets past Griezmann!" "Atlético is retreating fast, Koke steps up to stop him, Griezmann is also chasing back." "Lin Quan passes, who is it for?" "Kanté, he gets the ball and passes it back to Lin Quan. Manchester City is now three against four!" "Atlético is in full retreat!" "Lin Quan makes a through pass, Agüero!"

When Lin Quan made the pass, Agüero had defenders on both sides, making it hard to get the ball directly to him. However, Lin Quan's pass curved around the right-side defender and landed perfectly at Agüero's feet!

On the sidelines, De Bruyne clapped his hands in admiration upon seeing Lin Quan's pass. This was a move he often used, a pass that seemed simple but required great skill to execute.

Agüero had been worried he wouldn't get the ball, but in the next moment, it was right at his feet. Thrilled, he surged past the defenders and headed straight for Atlético's goal.

Seeing the danger, Atlético's goalkeeper rushed out, but Agüero shot before the angle could be blocked, striking with immense power. The ball flew past the goalkeeper with a gust of wind, and a 'swish' sound confirmed it had hit the back of the net.

Goal! The score became 2-0, with Agüero's goal further extending Manchester City's lead.

The Etihad Stadium erupted once again. Overjoyed, Agüero ran to the sideline and performed a sliding celebration, quickly joined by his teammates.

On the sidelines, Guardiola was even more excited. It was still the first half, and Manchester City was already two goals ahead!

This advantage was much larger than expected, even surprising Guardiola himself with how well his tactics were working. If the 2-0 score held, Manchester City's chances of making it to the finals would be over 80%.

Atlético wasn't like Bayern or Real Madrid, teams known for their attacking prowess. Both in the Champions League and La Liga, Atlético didn't score many goals. They had failed to score in both legs against PSV in the Round of 16 and had only advanced through a penalty shootout. In La Liga, Atlético had only scored 59 goals, nearly half as many as Barcelona and Real Madrid.

With Manchester City's defensive capabilities, it would be very difficult for Atlético to score two goals against them in the return leg.

Of course, it was important not to be complacent. Celebrating at halftime never ends well. Despite the huge lead, the rest of the game could still hold surprises.

Since City was doing well, the strategy was to keep pushing and try to score more goals to kill the game completely.

On the other side, Atlético's coach Simeone was on the verge of madness. Lin Quan had been involved in both goals. Agüero's shot was superb, but Lin Quan's pass was what made it possible. Who could have expected Lin Quan to deliver such a precise pass to Agüero, despite him being surrounded by defenders?

Simeone reflected on his pre-game assumptions. Seeing De Bruyne on the bench had initially been a relief, as it meant City's attacking threat would be lessened. De Bruyne's creativity and ability to deliver killer passes were well-known, especially when paired with a forward like Lin Quan.

However, the game's progression left him stunned. Even without De Bruyne, Lin Quan had perfectly filled the role. With excellent vision, passing skills, and additional abilities like top-tier ball control, breakthrough capability, and deadly shooting, Lin Quan was even more dangerous than De Bruyne.

From the stands, Zidane watched Lin Quan's performance and couldn't help but think of Luis Figo, the Portuguese star who once played for Real Madrid. Zidane had been Figo's teammate and knew his skills well. Figo was a winger with exceptional organizational abilities, earning him the nickname "the wing playmaker."

Seeing Lin Quan on the field brought back memories of peak Figo, though Lin Quan was even more versatile and stronger. In modern football, wingers are crucial, often more so than traditional strikers. The value and transfer fees of players reflect this, with the top three players in the world all being wingers.

Manchester City having a player like Lin Quan was a massive advantage, posing a deadly threat to other teams.

"Collect all the information on this kid as soon as we get back," Zidane told his assistant seriously. "If we get past Bayern, he will be our biggest obstacle on the road to the championship."

Zidane knew Real Madrid's chances of winning hinged on stopping Lin Quan, who was central to City's strength.

Aguero's goal lifted Manchester City's spirits. For the remainder of the first half, they controlled the game and launched numerous attacks against Atlético. However, due to Atlético's tenacious defense, City couldn't extend their lead, and the score remained 2-0 at halftime.

Despite not widening the gap, a two-goal lead was significant. The City players left the pitch laughing and chatting, visibly relaxed. Some players even paused to sign autographs for fans in the stands.

Lin Quan didn't stop for autographs, not because he didn't appreciate his fans, but because he felt awkward about his height. Reaching up to take autograph boards while on tiptoe seemed ridiculous to him.

When the players returned to the locker room, Guardiola was already waiting. His good mood was evident. Unlike usual, he didn't start by critiquing their first-half performance or pointing out tactical lapses. With his solid coaching credentials, Guardiola's approach worked well with the team's strong-willed stars.

Clearing his throat, Guardiola began, "Guys, your performance was fantastic. I can't find better words to praise you. Even God would give you a perfect 100!"

The players laughed, having expected praise but not such high compliments. Some couldn't help but feel a bit smug.

Lin Quan, however, chuckled internally. Knowing Guardiola, he predicted that higher expectations were coming next.

Sure enough, after the praise, Guardiola shifted gears. "But," he continued, "I think we can do even better."

Lin Quan had anticipated this. The players, perhaps impressed by Guardiola's tactical success or influenced by his earlier praise, all listened attentively, eager for his instructions. Even seasoned players like Zabaleta, Kolarov, and Aguero paid close attention.

Clearly, after a year and a half with Guardiola, the entire City squad, from veterans to newcomers, had fully embraced their young coach.

"Remember our game plan?" Guardiola asked, pleased with their focus. He reiterated their pre-match strategy.

The players nodded. Despite their success in the first half, they hadn't forgotten Guardiola's instructions. According to the plan, the game's turning point was supposed to come around the 65th minute with City's first substitution.

Although the game hadn't followed the script perfectly, they could still stick to the strategy. "Great," Guardiola said. "In the second half, we can play more aggressively and speed up our plan."

Meanwhile, in Atlético's locker room, Simeone was also making tactical adjustments. A 0-2 deficit was a terrible position for Atlético. If this were a single-match decider, they would make significant changes and bring on more attackers. But with a two-legged tie, they had to think ahead to the home leg.

Going all-out on offense now could backfire if City capitalized on the weakened defense, leading to a worse defeat. So, Simeone was conflicted about how aggressive to be in the second half. They needed to attack but also had to avoid leaving themselves exposed.

In the first half, Atlético's defense wasn't bad. Although the 0-2 scoreline suggested they were overwhelmed, they had managed to repel most of City's direct attacks. Even in the midfield battle, despite City's three-man midfield, Atlético held their ground.

However, Lin Quan's brilliance had undone all their hard work. Especially City's first goal, which was set up with such a clever and sudden pass from deep by Kroos. Atlético's defense, no matter how good, couldn't have stopped that.

Simeone felt a bit unlucky. Drawing the strongest team in the semifinals was tough enough. But City, using their only real chance, managed to score early, putting Atlético on the back foot. Aguero's second goal was just another nail in the coffin.

Forcing himself to set aside these negative thoughts, Simeone urged his players to keep pressing and running. If they couldn't match City's star power, they could compensate with effort and determination. Their desire to win and fighting spirit were second to none.

"Don't lose heart," Simeone encouraged them. "Being behind doesn't mean the end. We've beaten top teams like Real Madrid and Barcelona before, and we can overcome City too. Go out there and fight!"

Perhaps it was Simeone's pep talk, or maybe they just weren't ready to give up. When Atlético's players emerged for the second half, they were filled with fighting spirit.

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