novelraw Chapter 535 - 364: Magical Moment! Nasri Turns the Tide with a Decisive Goal, Manchester City Starts the New Year with a Victory!
Chapter 535 - 364: Magical Moment! Nasri Turns the Tide with a Decisive Goal, Manchester City Starts the New Year with a Victory!
When Tang Long scored, Tottenham’s coach Pochettino was instantly flustered!
From leading by two goals to being leveled, no coach wants to see such a situation.
To be honest, losing away to Manchester City isn’t embarrassing, but being equalized after leading by two goals, or even turned around by three goals, that’s truly humiliating!
Not getting three points is fine, but if post-match criticism from media and fans pours in, Pochettino will feel immense pressure.
He quickly discussed with his assistant coach, ready to substitute in a center-back and switch to a five-back formation.
"No matter what, we must hold onto one point, we need at least one point!"
But when he saw Tang Long fiercely rush into Tottenham’s goal, pushing Lori away to grab the ball, then sprint back to the midfield at full speed, forcefully slamming the ball in the center circle, waiting to kick-off.
This act instead made Pochettino calm down.
A center-back, Alderweireld, was already getting up from the bench.
Pochettino waved his hand to let him sit down, but called out Nasri, sitting in the corner of the bench.
"Nasri, you’re on, replace Gualin!"
Nasri jumped up immediately, disbelieving this was really happening.
Just released by Manchester City and returning to the Etihad Stadium, am I playing against my former club now? Am I really going on?
Tottenham’s assistant coach looked at Pochettino with anticipation.
"Boss, didn’t you just say to defend the point desperately? Substituting Nasri, he’s an attacking player, are we going to score another goal?"
However, Pochettino was cunning, calmly told the assistant:
"No, I want Nasri, the technical player, to control the rhythm."
Tang Long’s heavy slamming of the ball made Pochettino realize Manchester City’s team determination for a decisive victory.
Pochettino understood at this moment, at Manchester City’s home ground, the opponent was in strong momentum, whereas our side’s momentum was weakening, trying to defend desperately might not succeed;
Might as well make a risky move, send a technical midfielder, Nasri, to control the midfield with his dribbling and ball control.
From Pochettino’s perspective, Manchester City’s passing and control weren’t played well in this game, their pace was too fast, they didn’t keep the ball at their feet, and Tottenham was also playing with a high tempo.
To stabilize in the last 10 minutes without conceding more goals, controlling the midfield is the only way.
Moreover, although Nasri appeared lazy at Manchester City, Pochettino wasn’t worried about his fighting spirit in this game.
A player rejected by his team facing the former club surely wants to prove himself, Nasri will definitely put all his efforts in this last 10 minutes!
When Gualin was substituted and exchanged with Nasri at the sideline, Nasri’s eyes were somewhat evasive, but Gualin grabbed his collar.
"Nasri, look into my eyes! Play well, preferably score a goal, do you understand?"
At this moment, the Etihad Stadium echoed with overwhelming boos, these boos were aimed at Nasri.
Perhaps angered by the boos, Nasri nodded heavily at Gualin, even embraced him, then turned and ran onto the field.
"Understood, I won’t spare Manchester City’s players!"
Nasri’s appearance also made the fans in the broadcast room extremely excited.
-[Haha, traitor Nasri is on, this is going to be interesting!]
-[What the heck? In the last 10 minutes, is Pochettino betting on Nasri?]
-[I suspect Nasri isn’t here to play, he’s here to fight with Tang Long!]
-[Fight on, even Gualin didn’t manage to fight him, would Tang Long be afraid of a little Frenchman?]
-[Don’t say that, facing his former club, he must be full of spirit, perhaps Nasri will score a decisive goal, that would be a full-fledged show effect!]
-[Wow, I can’t even imagine this scene!]
Like Gualin, Nasri was also an emotional player.
He looked at this group of once familiar teammates, now opponents, memories of the day Belgistan summoned him to the office, forcing him to terminate his contract with humiliating terms flooded his mind.
Anger, depression, unwillingness, jealousy...
Various emotions converged in his heart, the dormant volcano finally erupted at this moment!
Rolling lava surged out, every puff of smoke wrote the word "revenge."
"I must score! Not only will I score, but I’ll also celebrate by taking off my shirt in front of 60,000 spectators at Etihad Stadium with a slide celebration."
Nasri muttered to himself, revealing his inner thoughts.
Tang Long unintentionally heard these words, glanced at him.
Nasri also glared angrily at him.
"It’s all because of you!"
Nasri vented his anger towards Tang Long first.
Within two minutes of coming on, he kicked Tang Long from behind, earning a yellow card.
However, Nasri had one advantage over Gualin, he was sneaky~
Seeing other Manchester City players angrily surrounding him, he swiftly retreated to his team’s half, hiding behind Ali and Dale.
This yellow card was part of his plan, aimed specifically at Tang Long, worth it!
Don’t say, this substitution by Pochettino actually had a miraculous effect.
After all, Nasri was a former Manchester City player, familiar with his teammates after playing for Blue Moon for five years.
He knew the stronger Manchester’s desire to attack, the more urgent their mindset to score, Tottenham should slow down and grind with them, engaging in an all-out attack would only result in a decisive loss.