Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions

Chapter 584 - 397 From "Missed Chance King" to "Ball Snatching King", Icardi’s Diving Header Turns into a Laughingstock! _2

Even Van Gaal got splashed with water on his face.

He wiped his face unpleasantly and then subtly told the whole team:

"We actually had quite a few chances in the first half, but when opportunities arise, you have to seize them, tightly hold onto them!"

"Any team that wastes chances will be punished, especially when facing the top of the league, Manchester City!"

After giving a tactical briefing, captain Rooney gathered the whole team around, standing in the center circle, delivering an inspiring speech to encourage everyone to keep going in the second half.

At this moment, Icardi suddenly shouted:

"I think the captain is right. Although we are behind, we have a full 45 minutes to fight back. As long as everyone works together, there’s no game we can’t win!"

...

Having missed a good opportunity, Icardi showed a strong desire to score as soon as the second half started.

On the front line, he didn’t care about his teammates beside him or if the ball could be passed to him. As long as the opponent lost the ball, he’d raise his hand demanding the ball, shouting "Give it to me, give it to me!"

In the 52nd minute of the second half, Rooney advanced with the ball on the left, trying to forcibly break past right-back Sagna.

This Sagna is also a Premier League star, having repeatedly marked Rooney alone during his time at Arsenal.

The two competed in speed and dribbling on the flank, pulling each other’s arms.

Just as he was about to get past Sagna, the final dribble was a bit short, and he stumbled, getting intercepted by Sagna.

Sagna took two steps with the ball and immediately passed it to Navas on the flank. As Navas was about to advance with the ball, he felt a gust of wind behind him, unable to determine if it was friend or foe, his shoulder bumped by Rooney.

Rooney’s full-court chase down drew three heavy claps from Van Gaal, who stood nearby.

"Rooney! Rooney showed his trademark front-field chase down!"

"As a forward, he showed even stronger desire for tackles than a defender in his defense!"

"Such a scene is very common in Manchester United’s matches. As long as Rooney loses the ball in the front field, he will always chase back to his own half!"

"Having Little Fat Lu at home, brings joy and peace!"

"His fighting spirit is a model of professionalism, worthy of learning by every professional player!"

Although Rooney’s front-field chase drew a round of applause, many Manchester United teammates still clapped for him, yet Icardi was unhappy again.

"Just then, I was completely open in the middle. What was Rooney doing messing around on the flank? Just pass me the ball earlier, and it would be done!"

Seizing a dead-ball interval, Icardi immediately shared his thoughts with Rooney.

Rooney, generous and bearing the responsibility of a captain, said nothing to Icardi’s criticism. Instead, he smiled and consoled him.

"Don’t get worked up, Mauro. When I broke past Sagna on the flank, I was thinking of crossing from the baseline so that you could contest in the box. You’ll have scoring chances. I believe in you!" With that, he gave a heavy pat on Icardi’s chest.

With Rooney’s encouragement, Icardi played even harder.

Just 5 minutes later, Rooney returned to the attack.

This time on the left flank, perhaps having listened to Icardi’s earlier words, Rooney did not forcibly go past Sagna again, but instead passed to Icardi, who had come out of the box, then charged forward. His body language was very clear, he wanted to play a one-two with Icardi.

But at this moment, Icardi seemed a bit headstrong!

He even forgot that he was just a poaching-striker, not fast, not strong, with footwork not exactly world-class.

He didn’t pass the ball, but huffed and puffed as he drove forward alone.

No matter how much Rooney shouted, Icardi kept charging dumbly. As he passed through Toure’s defensive zone, he even awkwardly executed a stepover, then tried to break through Toure to the right.

Toure was delighted, stepped forward, and his sturdy hips sent Icardi flying to the ground.

Toure finally got his first tackle of the match and immediately launched a counterattack on the spot.

Rooney instinctively tracked back, hurriedly covering the space behind him on the flank;

As he ran, he was surprised to find Toure in a position unmarked, advancing long with the ball, and saw Icardi not chasing Toure but gesturing and seemingly talking nonsense.

"Icardi, track back!"

Rooney shouted angrily, then quickly approached Toure from the flank, and a side tackle directly knocked Toure to the ground.

Toure clutched his ankle in pain, half seriously, half theatrically rolling on the ground, and the referee showed Rooney a yellow card.

Rooney, shown a yellow card, had no grievances against the referee and stepped over Toure’s body, charging towards Icardi.

At this moment, he finally couldn’t hold back!

He pointed a finger at Icardi’s nose and loudly scolded:

"Whoever loses the ball must track back; that’s our Manchester United rule. Didn’t you see what I just did?"

Icardi looked bewildered, not expecting Rooney to suddenly turn on him, especially since Icardi didn’t feel he’d done anything wrong.

"Wayne, do you even hear what you’re saying? I’m a forward; why should I track back? Shouldn’t I save my energy for scoring?"

Rooney felt a surge of anger upon hearing this, his already thick neck turning instantly scarlet.

He lightly clenched his hand around Icardi’s neck and berated him.

Icardi wasn’t one to back down either, thinking, I’m Manchester United’s top scorer, the record transfer fee in the club’s history, and I’m just 23 years old. You’re almost 31, a player on the brink of elimination. How many more years can you play for Manchester United? Even if you’re the captain, you can’t lay hands on me!