Chapter 701: Chapter 700 Poor David
Tu Lei was overworked and caught a slight cold.
Fabregas, who should have been a substitute, happened to break the team’s rules by staying out all night at a nightclub and was banned from a match.
David Silva got a chance to play.
But the outcome was tragic.
In the second half of the game.
Keane, with the team trailing, committed a violent foul and broke David Silva’s right leg with a kick.
What kind of build does Keane have?
What kind of build does David Silva have?
The latter was almost totaled on the spot.
He was carried off on a stretcher in agony,
all the while sobbing heavily.
It wasn’t clear whether it was because of the pain,
or because he knew he was definitely going to miss the European Championship that summer.
His chances of being selected were pretty good.
After all, he had the buff of being one of the "dark horses" of Spain. If Spain brought one, they would inevitably think of the other three.
Now, all was gone.
His future may have been gone as well.
With such a serious injury, who knew when David Silva could return for the next season!
The foul incited a standoff between the two sides, but it didn’t last.
It wasn’t that Ronaldo and Deng Kai had too good a relationship to fight.
It was that David Silva’s injury was so severe it scared many people.
Including the subsequent match, the players on both sides were clearly affected, performing poorly, with a weak desire to score.
After the match, Keane faced criticism from all sides.
Media called him the "leg-breaking villain."
And David Silva became the "poor David."
The media also dug up that Keane had admitted in his autobiography released earlier that year that he did indeed intend to break Harland’s leg.
Harland, a former Manchester City player.
Began serving as Manchester City’s shooting coach last season.
Officially retired this season.
The main reason for the end of his professional career was a sharp decline in form and frequent injuries.
But the trigger was Keane deliberately breaking his leg out of revenge.
Now, David Silva had become the second Manchester City player to have his leg broken by Keane.
The Manchester brothers had completely fallen out because of this.
The tension between the fans of the two teams was also growing stronger.
Of course, deep down, everyone knew that this day was bound to come.
Two tigers cannot share the same mountain.
Manchester United fans used to support Manchester City as well, thanks to good relations between the top players like Ferguson, Beckham, Ronaldo, and Manchester City’s top player Deng Kai.
But the underlying logic was that... Manchester City was too weak.
They did not pose a competitive threat to each other.
Manchester City was no threat to Manchester United.
However, towards the end of last season, things started to change.
Manchester City actually defeated and eliminated Manchester United in some competitions.
There were already some frictions.
And at the start of this season, although the competition between them had not intensified, it wasn’t because there was no rivalry, but because... Manchester City had completely overtaken Manchester United.
At least for now, the only team qualified to compete with Manchester City for the league championship was Arsenal.
Manchester City’s fans were walking tall, finally able to show off in front of those bragging Manchester United fans.
How frustrated must Manchester United fans feel?
Too fast!
The rise of Manchester City had been too swift!
And it was unstoppable!
Manchester United fans hadn’t even had the chance to say "Are you even worthy?"
Before they were left behind by Manchester City.
...
On April 22, Etihad Stadium temporarily put aside its sorrow to welcome the visiting Inter Milan.
The European Union Cup semi-finals kicked off!
Inter Milan’s players were no strangers to everyone.
There was the famous Mr. Nine Hundred Billion Lira, Vieri.
The midfield core was Hugo Viana, Deng Kai’s old teammate from his first year at Sporting Lisbon.
The defense line was even more glamorous.
Cannavaro, Cordoba, Matrazzi, Zanetti!
The goalkeeper was Toldo.
All these were big names of the era.
Matrazzi might have been somewhat less known, but he shared a history with Deng Kai.
When he entered the stadium, he even took the initiative to greet Maxa.
Matrazzi: "Mr. Maxa, my father sends his regards."
Maxa beamed with joy: "Thank you, and please send my regards to Mr. Giuseppe. Next time I go to Italy, I’ll be sure to have a few extra drinks with him."
Yes, Matrazzi Sr. had a brief coaching stint at Sporting Lisbon.
But it wasn’t a pleasant experience for him, so much so that it wasn’t even recorded in Baidu Baike.
However, it was he who affirmed Maxa’s tactical abilities that season.
He nurtured the future "Saint Maxa"!
Quaresma and Jia De’er also put on super high-profile performances that season.
So, there was actually a teacher-student relationship between Old Matrazzi and Maxa.
The first half of the match.
Adriano provided an assist, and Ribery cut in without the ball and scored with a quick shot.
In the second half, Deng Kai scored directly from a free-kick.
Then Viana dribbled past players to score within five minutes, pulling back one goal.
But after that, neither side scored again.
Two to one, Manchester City took an early lead at home.
However, Manchester City couldn’t smile despite winning the match.
Because in the 81st minute, Spanish star David Villa suffered a strain while pressing Inter Milan’s players.
Villa left the field with an injury.
Manchester City’s squad was reduced by one more.
And it was another "unfortunate David"!
By now, people finally confirmed that Manchester City was facing an injury crisis.
All their players were in very poor physical condition, prone to injury at any moment.
Villa’s injury wasn’t serious, but it was estimated that he had no chance of returning to the field this season.
Especially since he might make Spain’s 23-man squad for this year’s European Championship.
Considering this, Manchester City issued a statement after the match: "Following advice from team captain Deng Kai and coach Mr. Maxa, and with the agreement of player Villa, Villa will temporarily leave the pitch and focus on treatment."
"To ensure he is in the best condition to face this summer’s European Championship."
"David Villa is an excellent forward, and the Spanish national team needs him. We wish him to fulfill his wish to be called up by the national team for the first time this summer!"
The Manchester City fans wailed.
But at the same time, it drew applause from many players in the circle.
National team events are extremely significant for players but are undoubtedly a burden for clubs.
Most clubs actually prefer that their players not participate too much in national team events, especially getting injured during them; it’s a severe loss.
But Manchester City’s approach was totally different.
They demonstrated the brilliance of humanitarianism.
They considered what the players needed and acted urgently on their behalf.
To speak frankly, many players had already begun to long to be part of such a team.
At least, with their attitude towards national team events, Manchester City scored extra points, making players more willing to choose them under similar circumstances.
And don’t forget how intense Manchester City’s schedule and situation are right now.
Many teams would force their players to play in such times.
