Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions-Chapter 748 - 537: Blue Moon vs Red Army! Milner: You deserve Ballon d’Or third place?

Chapter 748: Chapter 537: Blue Moon vs Red Army! Milner: You deserve Ballon d’Or third place?

Premier League Round 17, Manchester City hosts Liverpool at home!

This is the last battle before Christmas.

This season’s schedule is quite peculiar, with Manchester City facing strong teams consecutively before Christmas. Just after playing Manchester United, they’re up against the Red Army.

"Are they deliberately making it harder for us to win the Christmas championship, those bastards at the English Football Association!"

This was just Manchester City fans’ complaints before the season started, but now it seems to be a thing of the past.

After Round 16 of the Premier League, Manchester City is still 5 points ahead of second-placed Chelsea.

At home, defeating the visiting Liverpool and entering Christmas with a 5-point lead to clinch the mid-term championship is Guardiola’s demand to the players.

In the locker room, everyone is quietly sitting, listening to Guardiola’s pre-match speech.

At this moment, they must maintain absolute silence. There’s only one boss now, and that’s Guardiola!

"Listen carefully, Klopp is a very tricky person. I knew he was difficult when I was in Bundesliga. Although Liverpool won’t pose a threat to our Premier League title this season, they will definitely fight hard for a Champions League spot. For this match, stay alert, we can’t afford any mistakes."

Guardiola glanced at Diego, "Especially you, Diego, make sure to be more active in your running, otherwise, you know."

"And you, Stones," Guardiola clenched his fist and waved it in front of the nose of this local defender, "Be tougher physically, be smarter with the small moves, remember Coach Chiwo’s instructions during training and do as he says!"

"Robertson, your timing for positioning is still an issue..."

"Gundogan, you can advance, but never leave your position unattended. Don’t let Ranocchia face the opponent’s forwards alone during their counterattack..."

In the locker room at Etihad Stadium.

Guardiola went through each and every one of the starting players.

Continuously pointing out their flaws, reminding them to respect the opponents, and to not relax their vigilance.

Except for Tang Long, he just said one sentence: "Tang, Liverpool’s tackling is very aggressive, be very careful not to get injured. The Premier League has no winter break and our schedule is very congested."

Tang Long nodded, "Don’t worry, coach, I know how to handle teams that tackle aggressively. I’ve got experience."

"That’s good, that’s good," Guardiola smiled reassuringly, "Back when I was at Barça, how opponents dealt with Messi is how they’re dealing with you now in the Premier League. Oh, that’s enough chatting, everybody jump a few steps, jump up, let’s go, it’s time to head out!"

...

Tang Long stands at the center circle, foot on the ball, gazing at the bustling Etihad Stadium.

Every time when the game starts at home, a sense of pride wells up from within!

This season, thanks to the team’s outstanding performance, Etihad Stadium is always packed, not a single empty seat left.

Even some tourists from afar come especially for the game. The scalper tickets are skyrocketing, and many are here specifically to see Tang Long.

CEO Belada spotted the business opportunity, and began discussing with Manchester City Hall the idea of expanding Etihad Stadium, increasing the seat capacity from 55,097 to 75,000, equaling Old Trafford Stadium’s capacity, thereby bringing more ticket revenue.

At this moment, the blue ocean is churning, it’s the waves created by Manchester City fans...

"Haha, Milner ran to the back, look!"

Following Agüero’s hand, Tang Long turned his head, and noticed Milner wasn’t in the attacking midfield position but instead switched to right-back.

"How should I treat this former teammate?"

The referee’s whistle blew, Tang Long had no time to think further and touched the ball to Agüero, then ran to the left winger position.

...

Bang!

Just one minute into the match, Tang Long fired from the left track!

The ball rocketed like a cannonball towards the goal but was slightly off by a meter, flying into the stands.

Tang Long was experimenting with his newly learned fusion skill, specifically the fusion of Fierce Tiger Shot and Winged Shooting into Fierce Tiger Spreads Wings.

However, though the ball showed the force of Fierce Tiger Shot, it was a straight line, lacking the elusive curve of Winged Shooting, and goalkeeper Mignolet anticipated the path, not making a save move.

Milner, defending against Tang Long, shouted at him, "Is this the level of a Ballon d’Or third place? Such an awful high shot!"

Tang Long looked at Milner, the two locked eyes, and sparks flew between them.

These two developed animosity as early as last season.

When Tang Long just came to Manchester City, under Pellegrini, he mainly played offensive midfield, which squeezed out last season’s starting attacking midfielder Milner.

Milner is a tough-tackling midfielder. How can he compare to the technically refined, big-picture aware, often making divine pre-judgments Tang Long?

He lost his starting position.

To participate in the European Cup, Milner left Manchester City begrudgingly and had to accept a pay cut to join Liverpool.

"Is your head okay?" Tang Long asked with a smiling face.

Milner tensed up, the pain from being knocked out by Tang Long’s shot previously resurfaced.

However, the Englishman coldly smiled, "Tang, do you know why I’m playing right-back? I specifically requested Klopp, I just want to stop you, I’ll see what level the third Ballon d’Or actually is."

Tang Long was a bit taken aback, then offered him a thumbs-up, "Alright, then I wish you a Merry Christmas in advance."

...

The game starts with Manchester City’s familiar pace, Liverpool mainly defending, Manchester City attacking.

In the 26th minute, Gundogan, Diego, and Ranocchia passed between each other, fully exploiting the width pulled by the two full-backs to pass the ball to Tang Long on the left.

Tang Long waited for a long time, as the ball slowly rolled over, he didn’t move up to receive it but glanced at Milner.

Seeing Tang Long motionless, Milner also smartly didn’t rush forward but pre-emptively positioned himself, thinking:

"Trying to trick me into tackling? Kid, you’re underestimating me too much!"

30-year-old Milner has sufficient Premier League experience, he knew Tang Long’s dribbling on the wing has the feature of extremely fast acceleration combined perfectly with foot frequency and body swaying. Once he loses his balance first, the result will definitely be getting bypassed. He simply held his position, watching the next moves.

Seeing Tang Long with the ball, the fans in the first and second row behind him were shouting:

"Get past him!"

"Tang, beat him and go straight for the goal!"

Tang Long dribbles steadily towards Milner.

A left crossover step, left foot circling the ball, using a skillful bicycle kick, then the right foot’s outside flicked inward as his body moved simultaneously.

Bicycle Kick!

Milner was tricked on the first move yet his balance held, he reacted promptly to the second, closing in on Tang Long.

Both their arms tangled together.

"Get off!"

Milner wouldn’t allow Tang Long to continue cutting inside, he slammed his shoulder into Tang Long!

Tang Long could have evaded but the opponent’s forceful strike made him choose not to dodge, he stood firm and pushed back hard!

Bang!

Both bounced off each other.

With Tang Long’s current robust level, he matched Milner, plus Milner seemed to be fouling, jumping to bump as he widened his stance slightly.

However, Tang Long’s quick foot frequency made him recover his step well, his balance like an unyielding tumbler, lifting his foot for a strike!

As Tang Long suddenly prepared to shoot, Milner couldn’t react in time, internally stunned:

"Why is he so much like Ronaldo? He just won’t fall off!"