Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions

Chapter 542 - 369: Premier League Debut, Exposed on the First Touch! Tang Long: Speed Up Your Pace! _2

"In the next Premier League match against West Brom, if you and Gundogan both start, make sure to beat him, achieve the best match stats, and surpass him in numbers. If you can’t do it, the thing with Dilata is off!"

...

The 20th round of the Premier League.

Manchester City is at home against West Brom.

In the previous League Cup, it was just a casual play, and Pellegrini fielded a half-main, half-substitute lineup;

But in this return to the Premier League, facing Manchester United’s close pursuit, the Chilean coach dared not relax in the slightest, deploying the main lineup fully.

Caballero returned to the starting goalkeeper position, with Ranocchia and Kompany both holding down the defense line.

On the attacking front, since Agüero did not play in the last match, he’s also starting this one.

Gundogan and Tang Long are also starting.

However, in terms of their positions, Pellegrini let Gundogan remain as the attacking midfielder, putting Tang Long in the defensive midfield position.

Pellegrini has his considerations in doing so!

West Brom, as a mid-level Premier League team, is far stronger than the bottom Aston Villa.

Looking back at the first-leg encounter in the second round of the league earlier in the season, Manchester City only narrowly defeated their opponents 2-1.

West Brom runs very actively, with players having a strong desire to win, causing significant trouble for Manchester City during the first leg.

Especially their midfielders Fletcher, Morrison, and McClean, who are all very experienced Premier League veterans.

The two forwards Lambert and Berahino, one tall and one quick, thrive in the two-forward tactic!

Moreover, West Brom still holds hope for a UEFA Europa League qualification this season, aiming to push hard in the second half of the league.

Therefore, Pellegrini dared not take this match lightly, first needing to stabilize the control in the back field.

Placing Tang Long, who has a stronger sense of the bigger picture and superior anticipation skills, in the defensive midfield position was part of this consideration.

Although Gundogan performed well, it was only against a dispirited Aston Villa in the League Cup.

Coming to the Premier League match, Pellegrini still wanted to play it safe and observe first.

However, after hearing the coach’s tactical arrangement, Gundogan was overjoyed!

"Great! I’ve successfully edged out Tang Long for the starting attacking midfielder position!"

Gundogan certainly knew that compared to the League Cup, Premier League matches are undoubtedly more important.

But he misunderstood!

Replacing Tang Long as the starting attacking midfielder in this more important match and pushing him to the defensive midfield — in Gundogan’s view, Pellegrini’s move was a recognition of his ability!

He even thought that, in Pellegrini’s mind, he might be more important than Tang Long.

So, a day before the match, after hearing Pellegrini’s tactical arrangements on the training ground;

Once the training was over, he excitedly called or messaged friends and family, inviting them to Manchester to watch his career’s first Premier League game!

"Come see my Premier League debut, brothers!"

"Haha, starting attacking midfielder!"

"Tang? I pushed him to defensive midfield!"

"How many assists should I prepare for? No, my goal is to score!"

He invited twenty or thirty people at once, even renting a minibus to drive to the Etihad Stadium on match day, cheering and supporting Gundogan.

7:30 PM.

Manchester City vs. West Brom in the 20th round of the Premier League kicked off on time.

As soon as Gundogan stepped onto the field, before the stadium DJ announced his starting name, Gundogan’s friends and family were already screaming "ah ah ah" and displayed a banner specifically prepared for him.

[The best midfield master in our hearts — Gundogan!]

The broadcast camera keenly captured this moment, showing it to audiences worldwide.

The fans at Etihad Stadium, seeing this scene, also applauded towards the stadium’s big screen.

"Go Gundogan!"

"Get another hat-trick of assists!"

"Send a few more balls to Agüero!"

"Gundogan, destroy West Brom in the first half!"

With his friends and family present to cheer for him, and 60,000 fans at Etihad Stadium roaring with excitement — all of this filled Gundogan’s heart with immense pride and joy.

Adding to that, the starting forward for this match wasn’t Iheanacho or Bony, but last season’s Premier League top scorer, the famous Argentine striker Agüero, which gave Gundogan even more confidence in his performance for this match!

In the last match, he assisted Iheanacho and Bony three times in total;

But these two forwards also wasted some opportunities, so who is Agüero? He is known for his precise positioning and exquisite finishing.

With Agüero on my side, I believe I can achieve even more stunning statistics than in the last League Cup!

The players from both teams took their positions.

Gundogan swiftly glanced at Tang Long behind him.

He saw Tang Long twisting his waist, occasionally moving his neck, as if preparing to warm up.

"Ha, the match is about to start, and you’re still warming up, hilarious!" Gundogan thought amusedly.

The referee blew the whistle, and the match began!

Agüero passed the ball to Sterling, who quickly returned it to Gundogan with a one-touch pass.

The players from both sides started to move!

Gundogan remembered Pellegrini’s instructions before the match, telling him to utilize the field width as much as possible in the attacking midfielder position.

So he immediately looked to the left side at Kolarov, intending to pass the ball to the left back.

But before his foot even made the pass, he suddenly felt a gust of wind, and with a bang, he was knocked to the ground by West Brom’s forward Lambert’s shoulder!

The German midfielder didn’t respond, feeling utterly baffled.

"Lambert was originally in the center circle area, how did he suddenly rush to me?"

He looked over 30, weathered; he didn’t seem the type to run much!

The referee hesitated with the whistle in his mouth.

Perhaps out of protection for the technical midfielder Gundogan, he blew the whistle three seconds later, signaling a foul by West Brom’s player.

Lambert, looking bewildered, hurried towards the referee, jabbering non-stop, seemingly very dissatisfied with the call.

Gundogan, meanwhile, was lying on the ground, feeling sharp pain in his back, even struggling to get up due to shaky legs.

In the previous League Cup match, although he played the full game, he had never been under such strong pressure.

But this was just the beginning!

Tang Long ran over and helped Gundogan up.

"Be careful, this is the Premier League, not the League Cup, the intensity is completely different. You need to speed up your passing, there’s no time to think too much!"