Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions

Chapter 625 - 430: A treble without the Champions League is still a treble! Tang Long’s last-minute goal, season finale!

"Wow, I didn’t realize how strong Agüero is. I’ve really underestimated him in the past six months!"

Gundogan watched Agüero celebrate his goal majestically, and a sense of admiration for him naturally arose.

Previously, he thought the strongest one-on-one striker in the Premier League was C Luo and Henry, but now, he feels the strongest king ought to be Agüero!

So, ten minutes later, at the same spot;

seeing Agüero lurking in the front, Gundogan imitated Tang Long’s passing technique and sent a high floating ball to Agüero.

Unlike Tang Long’s earlier pass, Gundogan’s pass was made without moving his body.

The quality was higher, mainly reflected in the precision, flying right over Agüero’s head.

"Give us another one, Sergio, break through Arsenal’s fragile defense line!"

As Gundogan anticipated the godlike goal replaying again;

Koscielny behind Agüero applied a forceful "Tai Mountain press", not only did he clear the ball far away, but also pressed Agüero to stagger and fall to the ground, clutching the back of his head, wailing.

Uh...

Gundogan was dumbfounded.

"Hey! Don’t pass blindly, he can’t reach it with your pass." Tang Long shouted at him.

"Ah, I-I was just following you, why didn’t it work for Agüero again?" Gundogan scratched his head, his expression filled with confusion.

What Gundogan didn’t know was that Tang Long sensed Agüero’s rage levels were through the roof, so he quickly passed the ball to Agüero within ten seconds to enable him to unleash the strongest opening attack.

But the duration of this rage level is only ten seconds and cannot be maintained for the whole match.

It’s a state of a player’s temporary condition burst, passing this point, he would return to normal.

Sure enough, after Agüero returned to normal, he began to reduce direct physical confrontations with opponents, focusing on passing conduct, aiming to release the ball quickly while turning his back;

both sides engaged in back-and-forth play, entering a stalemate, the situation began to get tense.

Wenger finally let out a sigh of relief!

Thank goodness, it seems Agüero’s peak was just a coincidental state, which makes sense.

"Don’t be afraid to press forward, attack when needed, and leverage our advantage!" Wenger commanded his team to advance.

This season, any Premier League team that attacks Manchester City hasn’t had good results.

But at Wembley Stadium, falling behind by a goal, Arsenal had no retreat left, being pushed to the edge of a cliff.

Already beaten by Manchester City thrice this season, losing again would make it a fourth defeat!

If Arsenal were defeated by Manchester City four times, it would mark a historic shame for the team—they have never been beaten consecutively by the same team four times in one season.

Wenger’s statement about leveraging their advantage mainly referred to the left flank’s side.

On this side, two Spanish-speaking players, Sanchez and Monreal, both had exquisite foot skills;

particularly Sanchez, as soon as he got the ball, would attract the defense of at least two players, linking up not just with the big forward Giroud, but also creating space for the left-back Monreal to break through.

Look, here it comes!

In the 26th minute of the first half, Ramsey faced Tang Long’s pressure, didn’t linger, but directed the ball sideways towards the left side of the middle.

The ball swiftly rolled past Gundogan, and then looking back, Sanchez had somehow circled around him and successfully took the ball!

Peak Sanchez, not only quick and accurate in shooting, but his flexible positioning always found gaps in crowded areas.

"Wait for me!"

Monreal shouted in Spanish, speeding along the sideline!

Facing Monreal’s call, Sanchez didn’t look back, seemingly unheard, he did a cut-in bringing the ball towards the middle;

Giroud, like a tower, firmly locked Ranocchia behind, signaling he could set up for the Chilean.

Kompany worried Ranocchia wouldn’t be able to guard Giroud, so he instinctively moved two steps towards his partner’s location.

Unexpectedly, Giroud and Sanchez appeared to collaborate, but it was just a feint;

The real attacking point lay in Monreal’s back run!

On this side, facing the left-back Monreal was the right-back Sagna.

To this former Senna’s old teammate, Monreal celebrated his weak spot—liking to play offside traps but prone to mistakes.

Sure enough, Sanchez’s pass was timely, slotted behind, Sagna was a step slow in the offside trap, Monreal took the chance to insert himself!

"Far post!"

Beforehand worried Ranocchia couldn’t solo guard Giroud, the other center-back Kompany, instinctively moved a step towards Giroud’s position;

Unexpectedly Sanchez and Giroud’s central attack was just a decoy, the ball suddenly slotted to the wing catching Manchester City’s defense off guard.

Kompany’s weak point is once the ball exceeds his control range, it’s difficult to adjust his stance, only relying on the left-back Kolarov at the far post.

But Kolarov, aged 31, faced the 25-year-old black forward Welbeck!

The latter jumped high, possessing strong hang-time, pressing over Kolarov and heading it into the goal!

"Yeah!!!!!!"

Welbeck’s equalizing goal ignited the sea of red Arsenal fans on the west side of Wembley Stadium!

The Premier League champions are not invincible; they can concede goals too!

It’s 1-1 going into halftime.

Pellegrini was displeased with this conceded goal, substituting Sagna for the more experienced Sabaleta, instructing the defense to be cautious in using the offside trap.

In fact, apart from this mistake, Manchester City was undoubtedly the more stable side.

Whether in possession percentage or shots on target, they were ahead of their opponents.

Moreover, after suffering from Arsenal’s corner tactics last time, Pellegrini quickly learned and countered by using smaller players to defend against taller ones, combined with Tang Long’s tactical mobility at the penalty spot, effectively dismantling several of the opponents’ set pieces.

As the match deepened, past the 70th minute:

The issue of Arsenal players’ lack of stamina became apparent!

Indeed, Arsenal, having exited the Champions League early, surprisingly showed less stamina than Manchester City, who reached the semi-finals.

Especially Sanchez, who seemed to have an obsession with cutting inside to the middle, seeking the feeling of weaving through Manchester City players, as if addicted, insisting on dribbling circles around them.

Midfield strongman Toure showed no mercy, ganging up with Tang Long to several times topple Sanchez to the ground.

Gradually, Sanchez’s stamina was exhausted, and Monreal on the left flank, under Sabaleta’s seasoned defense, could no longer deliver threatening passes.

As the match reached the 80th minute:

Pellegrini made a sweeping gesture, Sterling was substituted out, and the black center forward Bony came on, switching to a two-forward strategy, continuously pressuring Arsenal.

"Press them, they can’t run anymore!"

Pellegrini deliberately moved close to Wenger’s technical area, shouting onto the field.

"Manchester City has brought on Bony, his movement and physical challenge capability are strong, continuing the pressure up front!"

"We see Tang Long’s position is also advancing!"

"Every time Tang Long gets the ball, Bony and Agüero quickly execute interchanging runs!"

"One forward is easy to defend, but with two forwards interchanging in the penalty area, Arsenal’s defense faces severe challenges!"

Time moved past 85 minutes.

Tang Long, who remained on the field, also felt fatigue setting in.

This season, Tang Long was one of the highest-appearance players in the entire Manchester City squad, second only to Kompany, almost completing full attendance.

But Tang Long is a midfielder; his runs are far more demanding than Kompany’s!

Pellegrini is well aware, after a season of grinding, Tang Long’s stamina reserve has reached its limit?

Yet he dared not substitute Tang Long!

Pellegrini clearly realized that Tang Long was the core of this team.

With Tang Long and without Tang Long, Manchester City are two completely different teams.

In one dash towards the flank while dribbling, Tang Long’s foot slipped, losing his footing, and was seized by Lam to steal the ball.

The tens of thousands of Arsenal fans at Wembley Stadium erupted with mocking jeers~

"Come on, they’re exhausted too!" Wenger gloated, shouting, casting a glance at Pellegrini.

Tang Long fell right in front of Pellegrini, who helped him up, giving a hard thump on his back.

"Tang, hold on, the outcome of the match will be decided in the last few minutes!"

This thump immediately rejuvenated Tang Long’s stamina, he picked up a bottle from the sidelines, took a swift gulp of water, and raced back to the field.

A minute later:

At the same position, the same place, still Ramsey defending.

Tang Long sprinted along the flank, first rushing past Wenger, bringing a gust that forced Wenger to take two steps back;

Then right under Pellegrini’s eyes, shouldering through the persistent Ramsey, knocking him beyond the sideline!

Charging straight ahead, breaking into the rival’s penalty flank!

Facing Bellerin, he first made a horizontal pass to the middle, then cut the ball outward, deftly beating him with two swift touches!

Koscielny and Gabriel closed in, blocking the goal, Tang Long intertwined with them, turned sideways, drew the bow, and with the inside of his foot, curved a shot through a half-meter gap between their shoulders!

Koscielny and Gabriel felt a chill down their necks, sensing a gust passing through—

Turning back, they saw Cech sprawling on the ground, dejectedly pounding the turf!

In the 88th minute, Tang Long struck back against Arsenal, 2-1!

The match ended!

Manchester City defeated Arsenal 2-1, clinching the 2015-2016 FA Cup title!

"We won!!!"

As soon as the whistle blew, everyone rushed madly onto the field, piling onto Tang Long...