Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions-Chapter 653 - 451: "Little Eevee" boasts about crushing opponents but falters at the start, gets proven wrong in 2 minutes!

Chapter 653: Chapter 451: "Little Eevee" boasts about crushing opponents but falters at the start, gets proven wrong in 2 minutes!

Stoke City’s head coach, Mark Hughes, is a true Manchester United legend.

He had a brilliant playing career, spending seven full seasons at Manchester United from 1988 to 1995, playing 334 matches and scoring 114 goals, helping United win two Premier League titles and three FA Cups.

Mark Hughes has always dreamed of coaching Manchester United.

However, even after leaving Manchester City during the 2008-2009 season, and subsequently mingling with lower and mid-tier Premier League teams such as Fulham, Queens Park Rangers, and Stoke City, he still hasn’t gained the favor of his old team.

In recent seasons, under Mark Hughes’ coaching, Stoke City has shown exceptionally stable performance, finishing ninth in the Premier League for three consecutive seasons.

But Mark Hughes knows that advancing further is difficult, and it has to do with the positioning of the Stoke City team.

In the second round of the league, they met last season’s Premier League champion Manchester City. Although Mark Hughes was a bit nervous, he also saw this game against Manchester City as an opportunity to showcase his coaching level.

"If we can beat Guardiola’s team at home and pull them back a bit on their path to the title, maybe Manchester United will start to notice me. I’m already 53 years old, it’s time to get their attention!"

Mark Hughes watched the Community Shield Cup match between Manchester City and Manchester United, and the scenes where Eevee repeatedly bullied Stones stayed fresh in his memory.

Manchester United has Eevee, why can’t Stoke City have one?

The tall center forward Arnautovic, standing at 1.92 meters tall, was already dubbed Little Eevee back when he played for Inter Milan in Serie A.

Mark Hughes called Arnautovic into the technical analysis room to analyze Manchester City’s defender Stones in detail.

"Note, don’t be fooled by Stones’ tall appearance; he’s actually quite thin, especially when defending heavy forwards. He seems rather helpless; you just pressure him like Eevee does!"

The 27-year-old Arnautovic is in his prime, having scored 11 league goals last season for Stoke City, making him the team’s top scorer.

This man is quirky, arrogant, and dismissively said to Mark Hughes:

"Don’t worry, if a 35-year-old geezer like Eevee can bully Stones, then I’ll definitely do better. Just watch how I torment this kid!"

Starting lineup for this match

Home team Stoke City: 433

Arnautovic/Diouf/Bo Yang

Inbula/Whelan/Joe Allen

Peters/Wolshaid/Shawcross/Badley

Jiwen

Away team Manchester City: 433

Tang Long/Agui/Sane

Diego/Ranocchia/Gundogan

Robertson/Stones/Otamendi/Sabaleta

Bravo

...

...

In this match, the teams have quite a few old acquaintances facing each other.

Bo Yang, who is short in stature, stands among his tall Stoke City teammates, appearing very inconspicuous.

At this moment in the players’ tunnel, he intentionally leaned against the wall, half turning his body.

Doing this isn’t out of fear of facing the formidable Manchester City; rather, he heard familiar hasty footsteps approaching him.

These footsteps he knows too well, back in his Barcelona days, he heard them every day; these hurried steps, filled with the spirit of battle!

Guardiola walked straight towards Bo Yang, eyes fixed on him.

"Long time no see, kid, are you doing well here? Ah, you’ve got wrinkles by your eyes now. Well, all my hair is gone too." His tone carried the affection of a father.

Knowing he couldn’t escape, Bo Yang shyly turned around.

But he dared not face Guardiola’s intense gaze.

Guardiola tightly clasped Bo Yang’s hands and started speaking warmly.

Bo Yang was with Guardiola at Barcelona for four seasons.

If you include the time at La Masia, it has been a full five years.

Once upon a time, when 17-year-old Bo Yang made his debut for Barcelona, he amazed everyone with his skills.

In the 2007-2008 season, he appeared for Barcelona 31 times, scoring 10 goals, and was in scorching form, even pushing Messi onto the bench at one point!

Guardiola was very fond of this small forward who had already broken scoring records during his time in the youth team and treated him as a key development player.

Back then, Bo Yang was full of spirit, and his shots in front of the goal were precise. Even Barça’s main center forward, Eto’o, once said he saw his younger self in Bo Yang.

Unfortunately, due to recurring injuries, Bo Yang’s form at Barcelona was up and down.

His career trajectory was far less smooth than Messi’s, and ultimately, after the 2010-2011 season ended, Bo Yang left for Rome, starting the next Chapter of his career in Serie A.

Even with a change of environment, Bo Yang’s talent was not fully unleashed, and injuries still plagued him.

After experiencing ups and downs at AC Milan and Ajax, two seasons later, he moved to Stoke City in the Premier League.

As the tragedy of a wasted talent seemed imminent, Bo Yang managed to adjust his form just in time.

Last season, Bo Yang played 27 times for Stoke City, scoring 7 goals. His form somewhat improved, gradually regaining his confidence.

However, by this time, Bo Yang was already 26 years old. He was no longer a young player, and much of his flair had faded, with his steps far heavier than nine years ago.

Looking at his mentor Guardiola, who had once promoted him from the youth team, Bo Yang was full of shame.

"I’m sorry, Mr. Guardiola, I’ve let you down."

Guardiola pulled the small Bo Yang into his arms, hugged him tightly, and patted his back vigorously.

"Don’t say that, child. I will always believe in your ability! Show yourself freely in the Premier League. I’ve always said that players who leave Barça have the ability to be starters in any team. Keep going, maybe one day we can work together again!"

Bo Yang didn’t respond, just held back tears, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Compared to the melancholic atmosphere between Guardiola and Bo Yang, Chiwo and Arnautovic were much more relaxed.

"Haha, look who I see, a teammate I won the treble with back in the day!"

Before Chiwo could get close, Arnautovic turned around and jumped onto Chiwo’s back.

Chiwo was 1.84 meters tall, while Arnautovic was 1.92 meters and considerably bigger. His sudden weight made Chiwo stagger, almost bringing him to his knees.

"Not bad, not bad, much stronger than when you were 19. Your body has grown into a proper big center forward," Chiwo laughed.

Arnautovic played for Inter Milan in the 2009-2010 season and was teammates with Chiwo for a year.

Back then, Inter Milan was at the peak of its powers, with many outstanding players, and that season they won the treble.

That season, the young Arnautovic didn’t get much playing time at Inter Milan, only appearing as a substitute in three matches without any contributions.

While the treble was also in Arnautovic’s list of honors, it was mostly a trophy he earned by sitting on the bench.

Arnautovic had a quirky personality and loved to make bold statements.

He wrapped his arm around Chiwo’s shoulder, quietly pulling him aside, and then pointed with his mouth towards Manchester City’s starting center back, Stones.

"Christian, I’m telling you, I watched your previous match against Manchester United. That kid Stones really got bullied by Little Eevee. Today, if he messes with me, I won’t hold back. I mean, this kind of guy doesn’t even deserve to play for Manchester City. They should just put you on! I bet Little Eevee wouldn’t stand a chance against you!"

Although they only worked together at Inter Milan for a year, Chiwo understood this little buddy’s personality well.

Chiwo wasn’t angry and even joked with Arnautovic.

"So what do you think, if I were the starting center back today, could I hold you off?"

Arnautovic laughed, threw back his head, and then patted his rock-hard chest, making a loud thumping sound.

"You’re old now, so of course not! If it were you from six or seven years ago, maybe we could end in a draw! Honestly, I’d love to really go head-to-head with you once, instead of with that Stones guy."

Chiwo said calmly, "I’m telling you, don’t underestimate Stones. He might surprise you."

Arnautovic jokingly raised a middle finger at Chiwo, patted his head, and turned to walk away.

He didn’t take the rookie Stones seriously at all.

However, to his surprise, within just two minutes of the game starting, he suffered a setback against Stones, which made him furious, protesting loudly at the referee!