ALL NOVEL
Chapter 780: Exhausting End-of-Year Battle
On December 31st, the last day of 2016, Manchester City remained busy as they welcomed Liverpool's challenge for the 19th round of the Premier League at the Etihad Stadium.
Reds coach Klopp deployed a 4-3-3 formation, with Mignolet in goal.
The backline consisted of Clyne, Milner, Lovren, and Klavan.
In midfield were Lallana, Wijnaldum, and Henderson.
Up front were Firmino, Mane, and Origi.
Wang Feng, attempting to play a match on New Year's Eve for the first time, wasn't particularly enthusiastic. Not only him, many veterans who had been battling in the Premier League for several seasons still couldn't adapt.
Both teams failed to fully showcase their abilities, with frequent mistakes on the field and less than ideal chances being capitalized on.
The atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium was lively, not only filled with home team fans enjoying the holiday but also many tourists visiting Manchester joining in the excitement.
The home team created the first significant threat. In the 11th minute, through efficient coordination in midfield, the ball found its way to De Bruyne's feet after a series of passes, with the Liverpool defense in disarray.
Seizing the opportunity, the Belgian midfielder sent a low pass to the left side of the penalty area, where Sane made a shot before the defending players could react. Wang Feng arrived at the back post and attempted a tap-in.
Unfortunately, his shot was slightly off target, and the ball was blocked out for a corner.
"Ah! That should have been a goal. The Chinese superstar shouldn't miss chances like that!"
"Yes, it seems like Wang Feng, just as speculated before, is not adapting well to the end-of-year matches. Among the top five leagues, only the Premier League is not so 'humane'."
Shortly after, Liverpool's counterattack reached the home team's defense. Henderson received the ball on the wing and passed it to Firmino, who then quickly combined with Origi to break through the defense and reach the goal line.
The ball was crossed into the box, intercepted by Mane, who calmly controlled it and slotted it through Bravo's legs, rolling slowly into the net behind him. The Reds took the lead!
After that, the away team played increasingly smoothly. In one counterattack, Lallana managed to surpass Otamendi on the wing and sent a cross into the penalty area.
The Manchester City defense was loose, allowing Origi to receive the ball with his back to the goal, turn quickly, and shoot. The ball grazed the pitch, hit the post, and deflected over the goal line.
0:2! The Blue Moon found themselves in a completely unfavorable situation!
In the second half, the home team also created some good opportunities. Silva switched the play to De Bruyne on the other side, who then delivered a precise through ball.
Wang Feng received the ball in the penalty area and attempted a chip shot, but the ball flew over the crossbar under Milner's interference, missing the goal once again, leaving Manchester City unrewarded.
It wasn't until the 88th minute that the Blue Moon's attack finally paid off. It was a corner kick taken by De Bruyne, and the Chinese superstar waited for his chance in the penalty area.
The ball was delivered into the area, and as Clyne jumped to head it away, the ball flew high but not far.
As it descended, Wijnaldum and Aguero both went for the rebound. Taking advantage of the referee's distraction, Wijnaldum discreetly nudged the Argentine forward, successfully controlling the ball and clearing it away.
Outside the penalty area, Silva chested the ball down and then lobbed it towards the penalty area at a 45-degree angle. Wang Feng moved into position, leaped sideways, and volleyed the ball into the net, finally breaking through Mignolet's defense.
This late goal ultimately couldn't help the team achieve a comeback, and Manchester City lost 1:2 to Liverpool in this peak showdown.
"My performance in the game wasn't very good, and I wasted several excellent opportunities," Wang Feng took responsibility for the loss in the mixed zone after the game.
When asked if his mood was affected by the busy end-of-year period, the Chinese superstar nodded, "I can't deny that. I've never experienced end-of-year battles before this."
"To be honest, it's quite tough. I often think about reuniting with my family, relaxing and having fun around the table. After being busy all year, I need some relief."
"Of course, these are not excuses for losing. I will adjust my mood and physical condition as soon as possible to face the upcoming matches and challenges."
In the press conference, coach Guardiola believed there was no need to blame anyone for the loss, "Perhaps Wang's performance was not as efficient as before, but how can we ignore the threats he created and the goal he scored in the end?"
"He has done well enough; sometimes we just want more."
The Spanish coach stated that this defeat was not the end of the world. The team still had the initiative in the title race, and what they needed to do next was to restart, "There is still half a season of the league to go."
Manchester City's rare loss in a high-profile match against a leading rival naturally attracted great media attention. However, as Guardiola said, they still remained hot favorites for the title.
After all, before this, the team had conquered direct competitors like Manchester United, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Arsenal. As long as they continued their dominant performance in the second half of the season, victory would be within reach.
Regarding Wang Feng's poor performance, even the most critical people couldn't blame him too much, "His performance on the field would be considered excellent for any other forward. It's just because he's Wang, the deity who must lead the team to victory."
Many people also began to discuss the significance of the cruel schedule of the Premier League and why there couldn't be some time set aside for a winter break.
The objective reason was that compared to other European countries, England had one more domestic cup competition, so more time was needed to schedule matches.
But in reality, only one or two games at most were scheduled over a few days, and the main reason was subjective, namely, the extreme emphasis on commercial development, with all actions aimed at making money.
So far, Premier League broadcast revenue was almost equal to the sum of Bundesliga, Ligue 1, and Serie A broadcast revenue combined, with only La Liga barely keeping up.
With Wang Feng leaving Real Madrid to join Manchester City, La Liga's revenue had plummeted, while the Premier League had further increased, widening the gap between the two leagues.
If the Premier League implemented a winter break like other leagues, its commercial value would definitely decrease.
Similar to the NBA's Christmas battles, as the holiday season approached, the entertainment needs of ordinary people increased.
At this time, apart from the Premier League, other leagues had already stopped, naturally attracting the attention of football fans worldwide.
At this time, showcasing unique competitiveness and charm could convert some into long-term fans. Over time, of course, the fan base would grow even larger.
On the first day of the new year, Manchester City rushed to Lancashire to prepare for their match against Burnley in the 20th round of the Premier League on January 2nd.
Fortunately, the two places were not far apart, only about 70 kilometers away, and it took about two hours by bus.
In this game, the Blue Moon swept away their decline, defeating their opponents 6:0.
Wang Feng contributed with two goals, while Aguero, Sane, De Bruyne, and substitute Sterling all found the net.
On January 6th, the prestigious FA Cup ignited the battle, with Manchester City facing West Ham United in the round of 64.
This competition included all member teams of the English Football Association, including the Premier League, Championship, League One, League Two, and amateur divisions.
Therefore, before the round of 64, there were two rounds of qualifying matches and two rounds of knockout matches, all decided by a single game.
Coach Guardiola started with a semi-main lineup, rotating Wang Feng, and brought him on in the 75th minute when Manchester City was already leading 1:0.
Seven minutes later, the Chinese superstar took advantage of a free-kick opportunity outside the penalty area to increase the lead, sealing the victory completely.