Messi was so scared that he cried when he maxed out his header talent at the start of the game

Chapter 157

November 20.

After the team experienced a small number of personnel adjustments due to the change of boss.

Manchester City, which was not affected too much, ushered in the 13th round of the Premier League, a home game against Middlesbrough Club.

Like Chelsea, Middlesbrough has a lion element printed on its team logo, but different lions have different fates.

Since its establishment in 1876, it has never won the English Premier League championship. The highest honor is last year's League Cup championship.

This is also the only championship in Middlesbrough's 129-year club history.

In the past few years, Middlesbrough's performance has been wandering in the middle and lower reaches.

This season, Middlesbrough's performance in the first 12 rounds also worried fans. It was barely on the edge of relegation and ranked 14th in the Premier League.

......

Pre-match press conference.

Stewart showed reporters his true spirit. The club has money, and he now feels that he is really strong.

"The team has won 10 games in a row, and we will continue this momentum tonight!"

"Yes, you are right. At present, our lead over Chelsea is only the goal difference."

"So tonight we will try to win a few more goals and keep our top position in the Premier League!"

Stuart turned into an arrogant Englishman, and his words were naturally conveyed to Middlesbrough's current head coach, Steve McLaren, by the media reporters.

Steve McLaren, who is also the chief assistant coach of the England national team, has seen all kinds of storms.

I have never seen a young head coach like Stewart so arrogant before the game.

Is it great to be temporarily ranked first in the Premier League?

Is it great to be rich?

(Stuart: Sorry, it's really great.)

The old man repeatedly emphasized to the media that Middlesbrough won the League Cup in 2004.

"I respect Manchester City's performance this season."

"But Stuart seems to be a little too proud. He forgot that Manchester City has not even qualified for the European Cup in the past few years!"

"And we, Middlesbrough, just won a championship last year!"

The media reporters respect the coach who led Middlesbrough back to the Premier League in 1999.

But they feel that his counterattack is not offensive.

The League Cup is indeed a good championship, but it is just like that, without much gold content.

Many giants have strategically given up for other important championships, which has given many non-giant teams the opportunity to win the championship.

The League Cup championship is not enough to prove Middlesbrough's true strength.

On the court.

It has never been based on past honors, but on the present, on the football under your feet!

........................

The game started soon.

The high-spirited Manchester City fulfilled the bold words of their own coach and staged a massacre against Middlesbrough.

In this game, Stewart boldly put out a 4-3-3 lineup, with Vassell and Knight as left and right forwards respectively. In the midfield, Andy Cole was the central midfielder, and Barton and Reina were the double defensive midfielders.

The 7th minute of the game.

The starting player, Leus Vassell, turned into a fast horse.

Relying on the speed advantage, he broke through the left side of Middlesbrough, dribbled the ball to the bottom, and passed it to the penalty area.

In front of the goal.

Su Fei was stuck between two Middlesbrough central defenders.

Leaped up.

"Bang!"

A familiar explosion sounded, and he easily scored!

The Blue Moon fans who were packed with seats were like seeing Su Fei's unsolvable header for the first time.

They cheered for him generously!

Su Fei's violent header.

No matter how many times you have seen it, it can always ignite passion in an instant!

1:0!

......

The 37th minute of the game.

After Su Fei received the ball with his back to the goalkeeper in the middle, Marseille turned around and passed the Middlesbrough defensive midfielder who was defending him.

A precise diagonal pass in the penalty area.

Found Knight who was trying to get a position in front of the left goal, and Knight fell to the ground and shot into the far corner!

After scoring the goal, Knight excitedly rode on Su Fei's back and performed a classic F-22 take-off celebration.

2:0!

......

The second half started.

Not long after the game started, Middlesbrough completed an extremely clever counterattack.

The defensive midfielder made a long diagonal pass.

Accurately found the winger who was advancing on the right side.

The winger made an inverted triangle pass from the bottom line.

Found the teammate center forward who rushed into the penalty area from the middle.

The center forward's shot was not saved by James, but he did not complete the clearance.

In the chaos.

A volley shot from the Middlesbrough winger in front of the goal.

Helped the team recover 1 point.

2:1!

On the sidelines, Middlesburg head coach Steve McLaren celebrated wildly, as if the team had completed a lore.

However.

Middlesburg was not happy for too long.

......

In the 53rd minute of the game.

Knight received the ball on the right side at the center line.

Facing the Middlesburg winger who came to press, he accelerated after picking up the ball with his right foot and passed his opponent.

Then he passed it diagonally to Su Fei who was advancing in the middle.

Su Fei turned his back to receive the ball, and steadily controlled the ball under his feet to attract defense.

Suddenly, he tapped his right foot and passed the ball to Sun Jihai who was advancing in the right rib area.

Sun Jihai made a long shot in front of the penalty area.

The ball went into the goal.

Sun Jihai, who had not borne fruit for a long time, excitedly clenched his right fist in the corner area to celebrate.

3:1!

......

In the 79th minute of the game, a dramatic scene appeared.

Middlesburg, which did not seek victory but only wanted to lose two fewer goals, made a joke of itself by parking the bus in its own backcourt.

Knight dribbled the ball from the right and tried to shoot.

It hit the left post of the goal.

The ball bounced out, but Middlesburg's own defender slipped and sent it into his own goal.

Own goal!

Middlesburg head coach Steve McLaren, who was on the sidelines, was directly stunned by this scene.

The game had to be suspended.

The medical staff hurriedly carried the old man into the player tunnel.

4:1!

......

In the following time, neither side scored any more goals, and when the referee blew the whistle to end the game.

The players of Middlesburg hurriedly left the court.

They just wanted to end the game quickly and see how their boss was doing now.

The good news is.

Steve McLaren was fine. After recovering from his shock, he attended the post-match press conference.

This time.

The old man finally stopped being stubborn.

After going through the gates of hell, he seemed to have let things go.

"Manchester City does have the top strength in the league today. The team had many problems in this game and they all need to go back and make adjustments."

"As for Su."

"The kid's talent is even better than what you see on TV! His running awareness and finishing ability on the court are both historical!"

In this way, Manchester City successfully defeated a Premier League team.

After the game, the team also learned that Chelsea beat Newcastle 3:0.

Manchester City is still leading the Premier League with a 1-goal advantage.

"Hey! Fortunately, Middlesbrough scored an own goal!"

Knight couldn't help but praise Middlesbrough. The atmosphere in the locker room was joyful and the players were immersed in joy.

In the corner, Su Fei silently turned on his mobile phone to check the next schedule.

This sweet schedule can continue for several more games.

Then.

Before the winter break, the most difficult opponent should be Tottenham.

.......................................