novelraw Chapter 555 - 380: Wonderful One-Two in the Air, Toure Starts Hugging Tang Long’s Thigh!
Chapter 555 - 380: Wonderful One-Two in the Air, Toure Starts Hugging Tang Long’s Thigh!
Fernando did not appear in the training the next day.
Manchester City’s medical team thoroughly examined the Brazilian midfielder’s injury and found a serious problem.
It was tangled up, and couldn’t be untied from the outside.
To prevent necrosis, he could only be sent to the hospital, where a cut would be made, and a hand could reach in to untangle it.
CEO Belgistan asked Toure in detail about the scene at the time.
Toure firmly asserted that Fernando had drunk too much and fell on his own.
Belgistan went to ask Fernando, but for some reason, he hemmed and hawed and didn’t say anything.
After a detailed investigation, Belgistan immediately decided to put Fernando on ice and signed a confidentiality agreement with him.
...
This incident gave a strong signal to the players who attended Toure’s family banquet at the time.
Toure was abandoning the Portuguese Language Gang!
Perhaps Toure believed that the two players in the Portuguese Language Gang were no longer of any use.
In the conflict between Fernando and Tang Long, Toure sided with Tang Long.
He even asked someone to gift Gundogan a local Turkish wool velvet carpet for his rental home.
On the training field, Toure casually chatted with Tang Long and Ranocchia.
Even Kolarov privately commented to them, "I’ve been playing for Manchester City for five years, and I’ve never seen Toure so enthusiastic on the training field, even running over to pick up the ball for you!"
Toure realized that as the influence of the Italian Language Gang continued to grow, especially as these four guys occupied the main starting positions on the team.
To earn a renewal contract with outstanding performance in the second half of the season, he had to cooperate with the Italian Language Gang.
Entering the contract year, Toure planned to give it his all.
He confidently said on the phone to his agent:
"Yes, I know I’m turning 33 soon. My requirement is that salary can be reduced by up to 20%, and the contract extended by at least two years. This is my last big contract, make sure to keep an eye on it. My ability to live in comfort after retirement depends on this half-season’s work!"
So, in the Premier League’s 25th round, Manchester City’s away game against Sunderland.
Starting, paired with Gundogan as double defensive midfielders, Toure also put a small amount of thought into his playing style.
A whole new Toure presented himself to the fans.
In the first 10 minutes, after taking the ball, Toure reduced his usual reliance on charging and rushing past opponents, instead actively seeking coordination with attacking midfielder Tang Long.
Gundogan’s strength lies in regulation from the backfield, acting as a metronome;
Toure unusually began running around Gundogan, making multiple protective responses, just like Gattuso circling Pirlo.
This change in playing style left Pellegrini bewildered on the sidelines.
Since when would Toure be willing to play such sacrificing football?
Truly rare!
Toure’s sacrificing playing style quickly paid off.
In the 15th minute of the first half, it was Toure’s frequent dragging in the backfield that created an opening for Gundogan, allowing him amidst pressure from Sunderland forwards Borini and Defoe, to pierce with his toe and pass the ball to Toure at the last moment.
Borini is fast, Defoe slower but experienced, immediately shouting for Borini to chase back to Toure.
Defoe has clashed with Manchester City multiple times on the field and is familiar with Toure’s playing style.
Toure, once holding the ball without anyone ahead, would certainly persistently carry a few more steps until blocked before consciously passing the ball out.
But Borini hadn’t chased two steps when Toure, without even showing his back, sent a precise through ball to Tang Long’s feet in the center=!
Even though Toure is skilled in dribbling, his passing technique is not weak, and his vision particularly sharp.
In this match, despite Sunderland playing at home, facing the mighty Manchester City, they primarily defend, setting up five defenders in a 5-3-2 formation, leaving only three midfielders in the middle.
With Defoe and Borini pressing towards Manchester City’s backfield, Sunderland’s midfield appeared empty.
Between midfield and forwards was starkly disconnected.
Toure’s through ball was not only fast and precise, rapidly advancing the attacking line;
but also found a gap between Mvila and Cattermole, allowing Tang Long to approach the penalty arc within two steps.
The starting striker for this match was Aguero.
Seeing the rapid advance, he quickly withdrew from the offside line to parallel the three central defenders Kone, O’Shea, and Kilhoffer.
Due to Manchester City’s fast-paced advancement under Toure’s lead, both David Silva and Navas on the flanks hadn’t approached Tang Long to form effective personnel distractions.
Momentarily, Tang Long and Aguero faced defensive pressure from five defenders.
With his vast experience, Toure aptly judged the situation.
"Gundogan, you quickly advance, I’ll stay back!"
With Toure’s willingness to stay, Gundogan confidently ran forward.
Gundogan’s proactive forward advance significantly influenced the dynamics in Manchester City’s attack.
His running speed was so high and his attack desire so strong that even while trailing Silva by one position, within three to four seconds, he had already rushed ahead.
In Tang Long’s mental construct diagram during the game, Gundogan stood out with a distinctive glow compared to other teammates.
Although facing the goal, Tang Long couldn’t see Gundogan behind him, Gundogan’s running trajectory was vividly looping in his mind.
At this point, Sunderland’s five defenders had skewed creating two layers of defense.
Other players returned to defend, even if Gundogan arrived, he’d find himself trapped in formation battles.
Tang Long did not wish to waste Toure’s wonderful central through pass.
He decided to suddenly change the rhythm!
Just as he had warned Gundogan before, the purpose of passing cannot be too strong; the change in rhythm is the key to victory.
Seeing Gundogan already 5 meters behind him, Tang Long didn’t look back and flicked the ball with the heel of his right foot towards the left, relying on Haw the fullback.
Using the heel to flick the ball is extremely difficult, akin to juggling;
But originally a short pass would suffice, why did Tang Long choose to flick the ball up?
Gundogan too looked puzzled.
Sunderland’s players thought Tang Long made a mistake while passing~
So defenders Kone and Billy came forward, and the backtracking Cattermole actively pressed on.
As long as Gundogan got a good stop on the ball, they would immediately double up and block him, because stopping such a high ball took much longer for Gundogan than a ground ball!
Even though Tang Long had never been teammates with Gundogan before, his understanding of Gundogan was no less than from the midfielders like Mkhitaryan and Reus who partnered with him for years in Dortmund.
Or perhaps, Tang Long’s understanding of Gundogan was more about his deep comprehension of football as a sport!
He deliberately flicked the ball up in Gundogan’s advancing direction because he wanted him to volley instead of stopping the ball!
Against a weaker team like Sunderland, in just over ten minutes of the game, Tang Long did this to see if Gundogan could understand his intent with the pass.
In Tang Long’s expectant gaze.
Initially, Gundogan wanted to stop the ball, but seeing at least three players rushing at him, he instantly changed his mind.
Sure enough!
A few quick shuffling steps, adjusting his footing, raising the white leg, the outside of the foot fiercely struck the upper right side of the ball!
With a thunderous boom, the football traced an uncanny arc in the air, seemingly flying towards the left corner flag area, but at the last moment, it swerved towards the goal!
Goalkeeper Manone stood rooted like a statue, helplessly watching the ball fly into the net!
"It’s in? Gundogan scores from a long-range shot!"
"We see that Tang Long’s pass was not perfect, it was a Sword Mountain Ball for Gundogan!"
"But faced with pressing, Gundogan’s choice was decisive and reasonable!"
"He didn’t stop the ball but struck a volley on the bounce!"
"Let’s take a look at this goal from the perspective of the goal replay."
"Goodness, this curve is a bit exaggerated!"
Gundogan’s long-range shot stunned the Sunderland home fans behind the stands.
Standing behind the goal, these Sunderland fans saw it clearly.
This curve’s bend was no less than Carlos’ free kick back in the day.
Except Carlos’ inside corner free kick was on the ground, Gundogan’s was in the air, so the difficulty was greater!
Tang Long rushed to Gundogan and hugged him.
"Congratulations, this week’s Premier League goal of the week is locked in for you!"
Gundogan laughed and said, "If that pass of yours hadn’t gone up, I might not have struck such a beautiful ball!"
Tang Long smiled and said nothing, not revealing the mystery.
Some things, if Gundogan doesn’t grasp them, even if Tang Long explains, the other side might not understand.
Every step on the football field changes instantly, needing foresight and overall control, which requires comprehension, comprehending slowly.
From this point, Tang Long believes, the 25-year-old German midfielder Gundogan has still a lot of room to improve!
The evening breeze of Sunderland blows over this field, but it doesn’t blow away the fear in the hearts of Sunderland fans.
Because they found, whether on the frontline or the backline, they couldn’t snatch the ball from Manchester City.
Yaya Toure matched with Gundogan is simply perfect;
And upfront, Tang Long, Silva, Agüero, Navas, these players, while not physically towering, have immensely skillful feet, allowing them to effortlessly move the ball around.
Continuously forming triangular formations, one triangle after another shifting around Sunderland’s field, akin to monkey in the middle, toying with Sunderland players.
Near the end of the first half, Manchester City exerted another wave of strength.
Agüero and Tang Long connected with a header relay in the air, Agüero glancing the ball, passing it to Silva advancing on the left, who struck a high ball, then Navas advancing on the flank pushed it into the near corner.
"Wow, even Navas scored!"
"Bear in mind this is his first goal of the season, also the latest among all Manchester City players!"
"Even the Iron Tree is blooming, Manchester City’s offensive firepower is truly terrifying!"
"Although praising Tang Long might seem intentional, I still must say."
"In this attack, although Silva assisted and Navas scored, the key pass was in Tang Long and Agüero’s header relay!"
"This aerial one-two was crucial for Agüero’s escape, providing the key pass to break the deadlock!"
"Ground one-twos are commonplace, but aerial one-twos, it’s the first time I see them this season!"
"I’ve commentated the Premier League for many years, yet I cannot find a second person who understands football like Tang Long!"
"Perhaps Gerrard could have done it back then, but alas..."
"Agüero meeting Tang Long is undoubtedly a fortune in his career!"
"One wonders if Icardi, who plays for the city rival, would be jealous of Agüero."
"De Bruyne’s passing is strong, yet compared to Tang Long, in terms of foresight of the situation, he falls far behind!"