Chapter 724: Chapter 723: Guardiola Plays Tricks, Feng Te Gets Kicked Out of the Club
Valencia’s starting lineup is:
Angulo, Mista
Vicente, Alberta, Ruben Baraja, Airma
Caboni, Thunderbolt Machena, Ayala, Garido
Canizares
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Vicente goes without saying, the newly risen Spanish star of these two years, nicknamed the Benicarp Dagger!
There’s no doubt he will be part of Spain’s team in this European Championship, and might even become the core of the front-line offense.
The double defensive midfielders Alberta and Baraja are both renowned generals, the former being tough in style, and the latter all-rounded in offense and defense.
Even if Fabregas is fortunate enough to make it into the Spanish national team, it would be difficult for him to get a chance to play.
The reason is that the partnership of these two is too reliable, and even if Fabregas has the ability to replace either of them, it would certainly disrupt their chemistry.
Unless he is stronger than both of them.
But obviously, that’s impossible.
As for right midfielder Airma, there’s no need to mention him, nicknamed the jester.
He is the second idol of Barcelona’s rookie Lionel Messi.
Messi’s first idol is Deng Kai, who once sponsored him.
In defense, Thunderbolt Machena is extremely famous, also a main player for the Spanish national team.
Almost half of Spain’s starting lineup comes from this team.
The quality is so high, it’s jaw-dropping.
Bear in mind, this is Valencia after having most of its core lineup poached away.
Back in the day, when players like Lopez, Mendieta, Gerard, and Kily were still around, Valencia was even more prominent!
It must be said, from this perspective, Valencia’s talent production capability is indeed strong.
This powerhouse team crumbled during the financial crisis of 2008 and has been languishing for many years.
On the Manchester City side, the starting lineup for this match was somewhat unexpected.
Deng Kai, Adriano, Ribery
Fabregas
Essien, Yaya Toure
Chiellini, Thiago Silva, Kompany, Maicon
Cech
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People didn’t expect Deng Kai to take up the position of left winger once again.
Although in the latter half of the FA Cup final, Deng Kai showed everyone he could be deadly as a winger.
But... after all, he is a midfielder.
Just like Feng Te, although he has scored a decisive goal in the cf position, do you see anyone playing him as a cf?
There’s no need for that.
There’s no need for Deng Kai to leave his preferred position.
Besides, can Fabregas carry the heavy responsibility of the team’s central offensive core?
In Deng Kai’s position, can he do as well as Deng Kai?
It seems impossible.
Additionally, it’s not a surprise for many that the left back isn’t Ashley Young.
Benitez even had the coaching staff gather a large amount of information on Sun Jihai.
Ashley Young on the left wing has too many gaps.
Though he is fast, he’s not strong at breaking through.
Neither is crossing his strength.
His shooting is inaccurate.
And his defense is weak.
What’s the point?
While the versatile Sun Jihai may be much slower, he’s stronger in defense, more stable in passing, and possesses more advantages, though not many, than Ashley Young.
But who would have thought that Manchester City would go with Chiellini!
Letting a center back play as a fullback.
This essentially ruins two positions.
Chiellini almost has no attributes suited for a fullback, if one really had to be found, it would be... that he is a left-footed player.
Huang Jianxiang: "So Manchester City’s game plan is actually quite clear."
"They’ve clearly studied Valencia. Valencia’s main attacking route is down the left, and it’s Vicente."
"That’s why City had Tu Lei drop back to better help defend the right flank. On the other hand, it was probably also a preparation for a head-to-head attack with Valencia."
"Ribery + Maicon as a combination is very likely to be stronger than Vicente + Caboni."
"On City’s left, Chiellini’s defense is solid, which is great for dealing with the likes of Aimar who don’t have much speed."
"Deng Kai seems like a left winger, but he will probably drop back to left midfielder to help with the team’s organization or even defense. It’s pretty much what he’s done before."
"Accordingly, the pressure on Fabregas won’t be that great."
"Play on the right, defend on the left—that’s Maxa’s answer to Benitez!"
It has to be said that Huang Jianxiang would be more suitable as the head coach of Manchester City than Maxa.
Because he understood Guardiola’s layout.
Maxa knew nothing. He even boldly claimed before the game that Deng Kai was the type of player who gets more excited the bigger the match."
He will turn City’s left into an even deadlier presence than the right!"
Soon, within these commentaries, the match reached the ninth minute.
Valencia carried out a number of probing attacks.
But as Huang Jianxiang said, Tu Lei became the key factor in containing Vicente.
He might end up marking Vicente one-on-one throughout the game.
Thunderbolt Machena’s dagger for the time being has been sheathed by Tu Lei’s defensive scabbard.
There you go, under Tu Lei’s pressure, Vicente lost the ball.
Kompany swiftly passed the football sideways to Thiago Silva.
Thiago Silva passed to Chiellini.
Chiellini, after receiving the ball, saw that Airma was not rushing over and casually flicked the ball forward, breezing past Airma.
Airma was stunned.
You’re f***ing a center back, aren’t you!
And you’re carrying the ball forward?
Even if you’re currently in the left-back position, do you really have the capability to advance?
Turns out after a chase, Airma realized Chiellini indeed had that capability!
His speed was not too slow, after all, this seemingly thirty-something old man was actually only twenty, still having a bit of youthful vigor.
And his dribbling level was not bad either, quite commendable.
Chiellini cracked a small smile.
Is my dribbling just fine?
Don’t you know I’m also good with my passing?
In my menacing Sky Blues, there is no player without technical skill under their feet.
Feng Te: ???
Feng Te: Am I being stripped of my club nationality just like that?
Bang!
Confronting Alberta’s cover defense, Chiellini lobbed the ball to the retreating Deng Kai.
Deng Kai trapped the ball with his right foot, stepped forward with his left foot, feigning a motion as if he was going to do a one-touch pass.
Garido, the Valencia right-back, immediately focused, ready to take off.
But the football stuck to the ground like it had taken root, directly adhering to Deng Kai’s instep—he didn’t continue the movement to flick the ball as expected.
His left foot drew back, his center of gravity retreated, suggesting he might carry the ball horizontally behind Garido into the midfield.
After all, Deng Kai was originally a midfielder.
He prefers playing in the center of the pitch.
Bang!
Deng Kai pushed hard with his right foot.
The left foot, which had not been fully retracted, suddenly shot forward again.
Upon landing, his thigh muscles exerted force, accelerating immediately.
Deng Kai’s right foot lifted off the ground while flicking the football towards the front-right.
With a single raise of his foot, he performed both the flick and the sprint in one fluid motion.
This is... a Vertical Flash!
Although you can no longer see the shape of the Vertical Flash, its essence is in the step-steal of the Vertical Flash.
The previous feints and shakes were to break down Garido’s balance.
And just like that, the football slipped through Garido’s legs, rolling diagonally towards Valencia’s penalty area.
