Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions

Chapter 551 - 376 Manchester City’s Monkey Show: Milner’s Red Card Rampage, Zhan Jun’s Heartbroken Roar!

Since taking a goal from Manchester City in the 16th minute.

Klopp’s timely recovery slowed down Manchester City’s attacking power.

The commentator Zhan Jun’s mood also gradually calmed down.

Everyone knows that Zhan Jun is actually a devoted Liverpool fan.

As a KOP, he certainly doesn’t want Liverpool to lose at Manchester City’s home field!

"Now the situation between both sides is gradually showing a trend of being evenly matched."

"Manchester City’s offensive has slowed down, and Liverpool has also gained several good opportunities; both sides are playing back and forth."

"This actually matches the comparison of both sides’ strengths. Although Manchester City is strong, they are far from being able to crush Liverpool."

"As long as Liverpool keeps from conceding another goal in the first half, they still have a chance to win in the second half."

The guest commentator Li Yuankui, of course, guessed what Zhan Jun was thinking.

The gentleman, humorous and witty, suddenly chimed in:

"In the second half, when Benteke comes on, it will be the moment Liverpool sounds the trumpet of counterattack. Right, Zhan Jun?"

Zhan Jun: "...Alright, the broadcast camera is zooming in on the stands! This is the lead singer of Oasis, he’s actually here!"

...

Gundogan and Tang Long agreed to tease Milner a little.

Speaking of teasing, these two are simply a perfect pair.

Of course, adding in Ranocchia.

In the routine circle training at Manchester City.

Tang Long, Ranocchia, and Gundogan are the players who get to be "the monkey" the least.

Because once the ball reaches their feet, it can always be passed away, and no one can catch it.

38th minute of the first half.

Goalkeeper Caballero sent a short ball, Ranocchia took the ball and passed it to Gundogan who was moving back.

Gundogan glanced up — sure enough, Milner was still fixated on Tang Long.

This Milner is quite amusing, not even watching the ball, just staring intently at Tang Long.

If Tang Long looks left, he tilts his head to the left;

If Tang Long looks right, he nudges his head to the right!

It’s as if he couldn’t have spotted Tang Long if his gaze wandered even a bit.

"Tang is being watched dead, quickly connect with the left flank!"

Center-back Ranocchia saw Gundogan hadn’t passed the ball out and hurriedly directed Gundogan to pass to the unmarked Kolarov on the left flank.

But just at this moment, Tang Long suddenly took a step back, pushed off from his spot, created a gap, and as he landed, Gundogan’s pass came through.

"Uh..."

Ranocchia was stunned.

He felt this pass wasn’t great, not up to Gundogan’s standard.

After all, Tang Long was still being surrounded by opponents, not shaking off Milner.

And seeing Tang Long shake free with the ball, Milner rushed angrily to follow.

Tang Long didn’t trap the ball; he nudged it with the outside of his foot back to Gundogan and charged forward.

In this retreat and advance, Tang Long once again received a pass from Gundogan while moving forward, and without a doubt, he played it back to Gundogan.

Milner was quite flustered, momentarily unsure whether to focus on the ball or the man.

His neck turned flush red, and he shouted a few words: "Where is everyone? Hurry up and help me press!"

But his teammates didn’t follow Milner’s steps to press forward.

By this time, the first half was almost over, and the players’ physical stamina was hitting a bottleneck.

Especially for the away team Liverpool, they had to be cautious at this moment and couldn’t push aggressively.

The safest approach was to secure the 0-1 score until the end, and plan again in the second half.

Tang Long and Gundogan’s continuous passing "bang bang bang" let Ranocchia see the trick at once.

They were deliberately teasing Milner.

Such a good opportunity, can’t leave the brother out!

So when Gundogan reclaimed the ball, Ranocchia moved a step forward and waved to him.

"Count me in!"

Gundogan also got the message and passed the ball to Ranocchia.

Thus, a small triangle passing game formed in their backfield.

Bang bang bang bang bang!

Ranocchia and Gundogan passed the ball between them five times, and no one went up to rob it.

At this moment, Liverpool’s forward Firmino had already retreated to the central circle position.

Milner was getting a bit annoyed.

Just as Gundogan was about to pass the ball to Tang Long, Milner simply made a sliding tackle to intercept, but just when he stretched his foot halfway, Tang Long’s foot skillfully dribbled, tiptoe picked up, soared through the air!

Passing both man and ball beside Milner!

As he landed, he purposely jerked his butt high up.

"Hmm, what’s that smell, so foul?"

Tang Long mischievously looked back at Gundogan with a grin.

Lying on the ground, Milner realized Tang Long deliberately farted towards him, and was instantly furious!

He made a crawling leap, pounced towards the soccer ball.

Tease me?

I want to kick the ball away with one swing!

Thus, a four-man circle challenge formed in Manchester City’s backfield.

Tang Long, Ranocchia, and Gundogan stood in a triangle formation, enclosing Milner in a small circle.

Poor Milner, he really was like an angry little monkey~

He ran left, and the ball went to the right;

Ran right, and the ball went to the left;

Ran up, and the ball went down;

When he charged down again, Tang Long made a lob pass, and the ball barely skimmed over Milner’s hair back to Gundogan’s feet.

"Milner, are you crazy? Stop and save your energy!"

Klopp, seeing this comical scene from the sideline, realized Milner was caught in Manchester City’s teasing circle and hurriedly shouted, trying to wake him up.

But Milner, seeing red, could not hear Klopp’s shouting.

His ears seemed deaf, eyes red, chasing the ball like a dog.

Soon, he was sweating profusely.

Yet he couldn’t even touch the ball.

When he finally got tired and braced his hands on his knees to catch his breath, Tang Long and Gundogan were just three meters away, "bam bam bam bam bam" passing six times in a row, treating Milner as if he were air.

In the stands, England’s assistant coach Chiwo, watching the match live, couldn’t help but chuckle.

It reminded him of the time Barça’s Harvey and Busquets toyed with C Luo in a similar fashion at the backfield, passing back and forth and C Luo couldn’t steal the ball.

However, Chiwo admired Milner’s resilience; any other player would have given up long ago, but Milner kept running despite being utterly exhausted, showcasing his burning desire to win.

But in the next second, Chiwo’s face turned to shock!

Tang Long passed the ball to Gundogan. Gundogan returned the ball to Ranocchia, intending to continue toying with Milner.

Milner had been played like a monkey for so long he had lost his sanity!

He charged at Gundogan, who had just passed the ball, and swept him to the ground with one kick, and the referee immediately blew the whistle!

If it ended just like that, it might have been a simple foul, and Milner probably wouldn’t even get a yellow card.

But the problem was, he kicked Gundogan on the back when he was already lying on the ground.

A retaliatory action!

This kick was a big deal; all the Manchester City players rushed over, surrounding Milner in an instant.

Liverpool players also swarmed over, creating a scene of utter chaos.

After the referee finally calmed the situation, he promptly showed Milner a red card.

Intentional injury, red card off the field!

Seeing this, Chiwo shook his head in disappointment, writing a line in his notebook on the Milner page:

[This person is emotionally unstable, unsuitable for important roles]

In Chiwo’s mind, Milner had already been ruled out of the summer European Cup’s squad.

...

With 11 on 11, Liverpool might have been able to defend the whole game, maybe even find time for a little counterattack;

But with one less player on the field, no matter how hard the remaining players tried, what use was it?

Moreover, the one they lost was Milner, the player with the strongest stamina and highest fighting spirit on the field.

In the second half, the match became overwhelmingly one-sided, with Manchester City completely in control.

Liverpool, with one less player, dared not push forward, fearing catastrophe;

Tang Long comfortably sat at the back, allowing Gundogan to advance at the right time.

In the 61st minute of the second half, a corner from Kolarov was headed out during a scramble.

Gundogan, waiting at the top of the penalty area arc, judged the bounce perfectly, and with a high leg bicycle kick, shot the ball on the volley!

The ball deflected slightly off Kolo Toure’s body, creating a subtle curve that threw off Mignolet’s judgment.

2:0!

Having finally opened his Manchester City goal account, Gundogan jumped excitedly!

His teammates rushed up to congratulate him.

"Beautiful, Gundogan!"

"Sealed the game, well done!"

"I knew you had a long shot in you!"

Gundogan pounded his chest twice, roaring to the sky, his cries echoing through the vast Etihad Stadium.

Tang Long was equally happy for Gundogan because, after all, once he joined the team, he’s one of their own.

But poor commentator Zhan Jun!

Gundogan had struck a truly beautiful goal, this amazing volley should be in the Top Five Goals of this Premier League round.

Any fan watching would be thrilled, but Zhan Jun alone was struggling inside.

Liverpool was finished, the match over!

If he were at home watching the game, Zhan Jun might have smashed the remote control;

But at this moment, in a studio, earning a salary from his boss, he had to force out a sliver of enthusiasm, despite his haggard appearance, shouting into the microphone:

"What a goal!"

"A definitively world-class goal!"

"Gundogan has sealed the game!"

"Manchester City lead by two goals now!"

"Whether Benteke comes on or not is meaningless now!"

On the substitute bench.

Benteke, wrapped in a thick winter coat and sipping water, suddenly shivered and sneezed...