Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions-Chapter 721 - 512: Going solo, not passing, going all out! This shot, my fate is determined by me, not by heaven!

Chapter 721: Chapter 512: Going solo, not passing, going all out! This shot, my fate is determined by me, not by heaven!

In this match, the reason Messi invited two of his forward friends to watch together at home, aside from cheering for Celtic, had another purpose.

That was to hope his teammates would learn more about Tang Long, a formidable opponent Barça must face in their quest for the Champions League title.

As Tang Long’s performances in the Premier League and Champions League become increasingly impressive, with miraculous goals appearing one after another;

Many sensationalist media personnel also refer to Tang Long as the third best in football today, trailing only Messi and C Luo!

They even say Messi and C Luo, one being 29 and the other 31, are in the latter stages of their careers. Once their form declines, Tang Long, who is young and rapidly growing, will quickly surpass them.

Suarez and Neymar, upon seeing this news, are quite displeased in their hearts!

Not to mention that at least 10 current players could claim the third position in the world; where does Tang Long stand in that ranking;

I, Suarez, and I, Neymar, haven’t even spoken yet!

Little Tang Long, you score a lot of goals, but outside of a UEFA Europa League and Premier League title, what other championships have you won? Do you have a Champions League?

Furthermore, Suarez and Neymar, though each think they’re more skilled than the other, have immense respect for Messi, Barça’s undeniable king.

"Ryo, you’re only 29, still quite young, but these media have started hyping that Tang will surpass you. It’s absolute nonsense! Listening to it makes me laugh, I wonder if Tang Long feels embarrassed hearing such reports, hahaha!"

Messi is both a humble and a proud person.

Over these past seven to eight years, football has consistently seen a duel between the two stars;

Aside from C Luo, Messi never considered another current player could compare to himself.

He once said, "The competition between C Luo and me will continue for a long time, providing fond memories for the fans."

But there’s an old saying: Only geniuses understand geniuses!

Messi, who reached his peak not long after debuting, possessed talents others found hard to match, a gift to Argentinian football.

Messi found many striking similarities between himself and Tang Long.

Both rose to fame young, debuted early at top clubs, won championships in their first season, and shared similarities in dribbling moves and composure while shooting.

Take the group stage first-leg encounter between Barça and Manchester City for instance, Tang Long’s run from the back where he got past 5 players using quick shoulder drops was precisely the dribbling skill Messi is famous for!

Moreover, Messi noticed Tang Long’s dribbling was just like his own, first making moves then adjusting based on the opponent’s reaction;

Unlike some players who make a move then charge ahead regardless of whether the opponent is fooled.

In the few encounters with Tang Long, Messi realized Tang Long’s game vision and anticipation compare to his own, sometimes even stronger!

Yet Messi is already 29, having won numerous titles with Barcelona and achieved countless personal accolades;

But Tang Long being only 20, Messi knows full well that the Messi of 2007 was no match for Tang Long of 2016.

Does this point suggest, purely from a talent perspective, that he is not as gifted as Tang Long?

Messi, somewhat proud, is reluctant to admit this truth.

He just loudly reminded Suarez and Neymar, "Stop fooling around; the match has started; let’s watch!"

...

The match unfolded exactly as Guardiola anticipated pre-game, completely one-sided.

However, this one-sidedness pointed not to the score but to the possession percentage.

In the opening 20 minutes, Manchester City’s ball possession reached a staggering 85%!

Celtic hardly touched the ball, losing possession to Manchester City almost immediately.

On the sidelines, Guardiola clearly saw that Celtic’s failure to hold the ball wasn’t entirely due to incapability; their financial standing and player strength indeed lagged behind Manchester City, but at their home ground, they were not this lacking.

Guardiola’s mind clicked, "As expected, this is quite tricky now."

Celtic’s coach is Brendan Rodgers, an Irishman.

Before taking over Celtic’s reins, he was Liverpool’s coach for three full seasons.

While Rodgers didn’t lead Liverpool to any honors during a time of decline, he was dismissed midway through the season.

Yet after training with a top club, Rodgers matured significantly, broadened his vision, and became more patient.

Following the Champions League’s first-round group debacle, losing 0:3 away to Manchester City, Rodgers pondered deeply and adjusted tactics upon returning home.

This match, he lined up a conservative 541 formation, intent on a tough defense against Manchester City.

He also instructed his players that even if they gained possession, they should not try to hold the ball or excessively pass laterally;

Because under Manchester City’s powerful high pressing, players would frequently err and concede goals immediately.

Thus, at the start, Celtic hardly touched the ball; their only attacking attempt was a direct long pass from the backfield to find the forwards.