Chapter 713: Chapter 712: Third Title Clash Between Red Devils and Blue Moon, Ribery’s Abnormal Data Raises Fear of Injury Absence
With Manchester City emerging as the biggest winners of this season’s Premier League, it’s natural that people are starting to worry about Manchester United.
After all, the two teams still have an FA Cup final to play.
Really, the phrase "worry about Manchester United"—if you had said this half a season ago, everyone would have thought you were off your rocker, right?
But now, all this has become reality.
Sky Sports: "Manchester United’s recent two seasons against Manchester City have not been advantageous in terms of results!"
BBC: "Deng Kai’s Manchester City won their first Championship Trophy last season in the England League Cup. That time, they defeated the Premier League kings, Manchester United!"
"This season, Deng Kai’s Manchester City’s first Championship Trophy, the Community Shield, also came from a clash with Manchester United."
"Now, it’s the third time Deng Kai’s Manchester City are facing Manchester United in the final."
"Can they win the final Championship Trophy again?"
"And can Manchester United change their downward spiral and end Manchester City’s staggering undefeated streak of sixty-three matches so far?"
Sixty-three unbeaten matches!
The terrifying Blue Moon, who can be their match?
As a master tactician on and off the field, Ferguson naturally couldn’t stand by and watch public opinion distract Manchester United’s team spirit.
He took the initiative to accept an interview with the Manchester Evening.
For the most part, Manchester Evening supports Manchester City; after all, they’re the local media.
If they dare to speak out of turn, Manchester City fans could tear them to pieces in minutes.
But when it comes to Manchester United, the Manchester Evening leans more towards United.
All those years of championships for Manchester United weren’t for nothing.
Manchester Evening: "Ferguson believes that Manchester City have a good chance of winning the Europa League this season, and he considers this to be a glory for England."
"But that’s contingent on Manchester City being able to adjust their players’ fitness levels appropriately."
"It is reported that many players in Manchester City have been underperforming in recent training sessions."
"Manchester City needs to carefully consider the value between the FA Cup and the Europa League!"
Sound familiar?
Such words.
Maxa and Deng Kai said it many times last season.
To Manchester United.
To Arsenal.
But now, it’s Ferguson who’s saying them to Manchester City.
This is an open strategy.
It’s the reality of the situation.
And most importantly, Ferguson’s information is accurate.
Several key players in Manchester City are not in good physical condition; in standard data tests during team training, multiple indicators are below normal.
The most severe case is that of Ribery.
His thirty-meter sprints, hundred-meter runs, shuttle runs, passing accuracy, shooting accuracy, juggling frequency, etc., all have suffered a decline of about ten percent.
At the time, Guardiola was organizing these pieces of data.
Deng Kai had come to consult with him about the FA Cup starting lineup and happened to see these.
Deng Kai’s expression turned serious at that moment.
Yet Guardiola was somewhat indifferent, "What’s the big deal? It’s normal for players’ performance to fluctuate, a decrease of about ten percent is nothing."
"Look at Adriano over here, his pass completion rate has dropped by more than twenty percent."
Deng Kai shook his head, "Adri’s passing has never been great. According to the fluctuation in his performance, even a hundred percent change means nothing to them; it really doesn’t matter."
"But Ribery is different."
"Ribery is the best player in our team when it comes to dribbling. His dribbling, shooting, and passing are all very stable, which is because he has reached a considerable level in these aspects."
"A person won’t have major fluctuations in the areas they excel in, and if they do, that signals a disaster."
"Moreover, it’s not just one or two categories where Ribery has declined, he’s shown a drop of about ten percent in multiple areas."
"Pepu, go work on some left and right foot comparison training with Ribery... Don’t go too hard,"
Guardiola’s expression turned serious as he hurriedly left the office.
"Kai, fancy some tea first?" Maxa then handed Deng Kai a cup of authentic English black tea with milk and sugar.
You might not believe it, but this is his office.
However, the one actually working here has become Guardiola.
He mainly hangs out near the coffee machine and the tea station.
Deng Kai took the milk tea, took a sip, and relaxed a bit.
The importance of Ribery in this team goes without saying.
What is Manchester City’s most dominant offensive point apart from Deng Kai?
It’s their devilish wings!
And what is the soul of the devilish wings?
Many might think it’s two speedsters as fullbacks with a very strong offense.
But in reality, the soul of the devilish wings has always been in two attacking midfielders or wingers!
Arsenal’s devilish wings were so strong because they had Pires and Ljungberg on the left and right midfield.
This season, Chelsea also showcased some of the devilish wings’ flair, thanks to the midfielders Duff and Joe Cole.
On the City side, the left winger position has often changed, starting with Baggio, then moving on to Villa, and now it’s Torres.
But the one who truly frees up Lahm is actually the left midfielder Deng Kai!
If you look at the heat maps of Deng Kai’s movements this season, you can clearly see he’s been very active in the left center and forward areas.
Especially in the second half of the season, his heat map significantly overlaps with that of Arsenal’s Pires.
But in City’s devilish wings, the right wing is even more dynamic.
And the reason lies with the right winger Ribery!
Fifteen goals and fifteen assists in the Premier League!
Ribery’s stats this season are phenomenal.
It’s only in these past two years with the appearances of Deng Kai and Henry that people’s expectations for Premier League stats have increased.
Ribery’s numbers would have been considered top-tier in the past.
Ribery’s importance in Manchester City’s offensive system is second only to Deng Kai.
It’s even slightly better than Adriano’s.
Without this goal-scoring machine Adriano, Manchester City’s other forwards are a bit lacking, but not by much.
In City’s offensive system, players like Villa and Torres—who wouldn’t score twenty goals in a season?
It’s just a matter of being fed the ball.
Ronaldo: I feel like someone is digging at me, but I can’t prove it!
Soon, Guardiola returned with a lock in hand... his brow furrowed deeply!
Guardiola said grimly, "Ribery’s left foot data has dropped dramatically! By more than thirty percent!"
Deng Kai nodded, "That’s to be expected."
Ribery is a rare ’no weak foot’ player who can shoot with both feet, and the level is very high. He can even dribble and control the ball with his weak foot.
The opposite of this are players jokingly referred to by fans as ’completely inverted foot’, like Morata, Sterling, Lukaku, Nunes, and so on, who are not skillful shooters.
However, ’no weak foot’ is not the strongest foot ability.
The strongest is being ’ambipedal’.
If ’no weak foot’ means that the weak foot can do some of the things ordinarily done by the strong foot.
Then an ambipedal player is one whose both feet are the dominant foot.
That’s extremely rare!
It’s an absolute talent.
It exists, but one in ten thousand.
