Chapter 687: Chapter 686 Really Collapsed
Deng Kai scored eight goals and provided seven assists, retaining his title as the English League Cup’s Best Player Award.
He also led Manchester City to their first-ever consecutive English League Cup victory!
It wasn’t just Deng Kai, a number of players from Manchester City’s reserve team also entered the mainstream media’s spotlight during this series of games.
Under the leadership of Deng Kai, Torres, Villa, Sun Jihai, Fabregas, Neuer, and other Manchester City players were selected for the English League Cup’s Best Team!
Together with the Community Shield they won earlier in the season, Manchester City has early achieved their double crown KPI!
Fans: ???
So you’re counting the Community Shield as part of last season’s treble and also including it in this season’s double, is that it?
One counts as two?
The Manchester City official fan association communicated with the team, wanting to organize a celebration for the victory.
But Manchester City club refused.
It wasn’t that they weren’t cooperating with everyone, nor were they not indulging the fans.
It was simply because a day after the victory, Manchester City had to fly to France.
In the third round first leg of the European League Cup, Manchester City was away challenging the French Ligue 1 team Bordeaux!
After ninety minutes of fierce battle, a clearly out-of-sorts Manchester City failed to score.
If it weren’t for Cech’s high catches and blocks that also prevented Bordeaux’s goals, they would have nearly lost the game.
Zero to zero.
Both sides will play the second leg at Manchester City’s home ground a week later.
This was another draw for Manchester City after their twenty-two-game winning streak was interrupted.
The last time, it was a sniper in the Premier League.
This time, it was a sniper in European competition.
Manchester City and Deng Kai, who were almost unanimously considered invincible until recently, seemed to have entered a period of decline overnight, losing that domineering presence.
Many people were moved to comment, "This is football.
When you’re strong, you really are strong.
But when you’re tired, you really are tired."
Liverpool from 2023 said: You’re right.
France Football: "Manchester City continues to draw, the signs of decline are evident! Competing on four fronts has finally worn down this young team!"
Milan Sport Newspaper: "So far this season, Manchester City has played over fifty games, the most in all of Europe! Even with frequent rotation, the overall pace of games and training for the players is still frightening!"
Sky Sports: "Even twenty players of starting quality can’t withstand competing on four fronts! Moreover, as the competition progresses, Manchester City’s opponents will only get stronger!"
World Sports Daily: "By the rule of thumb, teams like Manchester City that want everything, are likely to lose everything in the coming two months!"
Kicker: "Even without considering the increasingly strong opponents, the upcoming schedule is going to be highly condensed. Manchester City is going to play in the rhythm of two to three games a week! No team can withstand the intensity of such a fixture!"
People recognize Manchester City’s strength.
But they absolutely do not accept Manchester City’s attitude toward competitions.
Competing on four fronts!
Too arrogant!
Too greedy!
February 29th, a rare leap day.
Manchester City vs. Newcastle United.
Deng Kai broke his goal drought that lasted for two games.
But the team still ended up with a two-to-two draw against Newcastle United.
And the worst part, Chiellini suffered an injury and left the field in the 38th minute.
In the 81st minute, Thiago Silva, who had come on to replace Chiellini, also suffered an injury.
Manchester City’s first and reserve center-backs were injured consecutively.
Newcastle United really did the unthinkable.
After the game, Manchester City fans harshly criticized Newcastle’s striker.
But Manchester City had to accept the result.
Manchester Evening: "Chiellini and Thiago Silva’s injuries are not serious, but they need at least a month to return!"
The Times: "Considering Manchester City’s current central defenders, the probable starting duo is Desailly and Kompany. However, both of these central defenders have one fatal flaw: speed!"
Diario Sport: "The slow central defender pairing does not fit Manchester City’s tactics, which require high mobility from the surroundings, and this might affect Manchester City’s offensive rhythm!"
Torino Sport Newspaper: "Two to three games a week! This means that Manchester City’s Feng Te might even appear in the starting lineup!"
Feng Te: Why even???
Record Report: "Four games in twelve days, Manchester City with three draws and one win! They have really pushed themselves to the limit!"
Bola newspaper: "Manchester City is just a civilian team! They lack the heritage of a big club! They do not know what ’moderation’ means."
"They are used to giving their all in every single game. It sounds nice when described as pursuing victory, but crudely put, it is not knowing when to advance or retreat!"
"In the past, when they had fewer games to partake in, they naturally went all-out in each match. They have no idea that when facing four fronts, they must make painful cuts!"
"They are burdened by the myth of being undefeated, trapping themselves on a pyre."
"That’s why I say Manchester City is a civilian team!"
"Sometimes, experience determines your achievements."
"And Manchester City, has none!"
"I know some will say Deng Kai was a superstar player who once won the Europa League five times and the Champions League three times!"
"But so what? It is precisely because Deng Kai and Maxa place too much trust in their experience that they have reached this point."
"They have miscalculated the difference in multi-front battles between the Premier League and the Primeira Liga!"
"In such intense competitions, playing one Premier League game is more exhausting than playing three Primeira Liga games!"
"God, in order to destroy, must first make mad!"
"Manchester City has been crazy for most of the season, so now... it is time for their destruction!"
"Devil’s home ground, the terrifying blue moon! In the end, it’s Manchester that will descend into hell!"
Manchester United: ???
The Bola newspaper’s wording was the most aggressive.
In the whole of Europe, they were the first to vocally hammer Manchester City.
Of course, this had to do with their bad personal relationships with Deng Kai.
But at the same time, they were gambling.
Betting that Manchester City really couldn’t hold on any longer.
If they won their wager, Manchester City would collapse completely afterwards.
Then, as the first to take a stand, Bola newspaper would undoubtedly receive countless praises and have a huge scoop!
And other media outlets, although not kicking Manchester City while they’re down right now, in their hearts, they agree with Bola newspaper’s opinion.
At least... Manchester City should really be unable to hold on any longer.
This point is also evident from the recent activities of Deng Kai.
He didn’t even attend the 76th Oscar ceremony!
...
March 1st.
The 76th Oscar ceremony opened with little fanfare.
There was a last-minute change to the ceremony’s schedule this year.
Some say it was to avoid Deng Kai.
So they deliberately chose a time when Deng Kai couldn’t spare a moment.
The Oscars officials did not respond to this.
At this Oscars, Anne Hathaway received a Best Actress nomination for her role as Elizabeth Swann in "Pirates of the Caribbean."
However, she did not win the award again.
