Chapter 728: Chapter 727: The World’s Number One Winger Confirmed
"This is a great breakthrough for domestic football!"
"In recent years, under the call of Deng Kai, the number of players going abroad has surged, and the achievements they’ve made overseas have gotten better and better."
"Sun Jihai has already become another European star-level player from China, following Wu Xudong!"
Second half.
In the 48th minute, Mista’s shot was saved by Čech.
The camera repeatedly replayed Mista’s expression when he took the shot.
His lack of confidence was almost spilling out of the screen.
Čech was too strong!
In the 56th minute, Sun Jihai delivered a cross from the right.
Young player Mandzukic headed the ball slightly off target, but still received applause from the local Blue Moon fans on site.
63rd minute.
Fabregas sent a skillful through pass to Ashley Young.
After receiving the ball, Ashley Young cut inside and attempted a shot from a tight angle.
The ball hit the side netting, very threatening.
But on the sidelines, Maxa shook his head.
This kid isn’t up to snuff.
Didn’t he see that I, Kai, was open at the top of the arc?
He didn’t pass it?
Was it deliberate or a mistake?
He indeed retained some of that British star quality.
Not yet a superstar, but he’s already playing like one.
Deschamps commented, "That kid probably thinks that since Kai has already scored four goals, that should be enough."
Spittle flying, Maxa retorted, "Enough? What do you mean ’enough’? Are four goals something to brag about? Hasn’t Deng Kai ever scored four goals?"
"Even if Deng Kai scored a hundred goals, if there’s a chance, his teammates should still look for him!"
"That’s what our team’s tactics require, not something anyone can change on a whim!"
"Of course, unless Deng Kai himself doesn’t want to play."
Schmeichel and Guardiola nodded in agreement.
Lately, under Maxa’s guidance, everyone had been reading some of the Four Books and Five Classics.
It mentioned something relevant.
In the mainland, when someone offers a gift, the other person would often say "How could I accept this?" and refuse a few times, but if you think they really don’t want it, you’d be making a mistake.
This subtlety is hard for foreigners to grasp.
But even if you kept passing to Deng Kai and Deng Kai kept passing back to you, being modest with each other would still be better than Ashley Young hogging the opportunity.
This kid will likely be benched next season.
"Sun Jihai, go forward, you move up front. Ashley Young, you play right back!" It was almost the first time this season that Maxa directly interfered with the team’s lineup.
He ordered Ashley Young and Sun Jihai to switch positions.
Sun Jihai didn’t mind; he could play any position.
But Ashley Young was usually a left back, left winger, or right winger, and rarely played as a right back.
Ashley Young was somewhat disgruntled about this.
But the domestic fans couldn’t love the Saint any more.
Worthy of being the Saint, worthy of being the former national coach, he still loves us in his heart.
This was clearly an opportunity for Sun Jihai.
As this season’s undefeated Blue Moon rose, some media criticized Maxa.
They believed that Guardiola was more involved in directing, substituting, giving interviews, etc., this season, and contributed more to the team than Maxa.
But the domestic fans steadfastly supported Maxa.
They believed an undefeated Blue Moon led by Deng Kai was enough; even a dog tied on the coach’s bench could win.
See, could Guardiola be a coach?
He couldn’t!
Didn’t he have the ability, you know.
This season didn’t they just tie him up?
By next season, when everyone has thoroughly analyzed the secrets of undefeated Blue Moon, that’s when the head coach really needs to show his magic.
At that time, Maxa will definitely have to step in.
Guardiola: MMP!
71st minute.
Manchester City made a play on the right flank.
Ashley Young overlapped Sun Jihai and brought the ball down to deliver a cross.
Alas, the cross was of poor quality, blocked by the opposing side.
The ball bounced right back to Sun Jihai’s feet.
Sun Jihai burst into the box from the right side. Despite a decent shooting angle, he lifted a pass towards the far post.
The football soared over the heads of Ayala and Marchena.
Bang!
On the left, Deng Kai, making an off-the-ball run, shook off Garido and leaped at the far post.
The football drilled into the near corner like a cannonball.
The next moment, Deng Kai got up and rushed towards Sun Jihai.
"GOAL! Six to nothing!"
"Sun Jihai! Sun Jihai delivers an essential assist!"
"That’s another assist from a Chinese player in the European Union Cup! The last player to achieve this was Arsenal’s star Wu Xudong!"
"Again from the right wing! Again a full-back playing as a winger! No wonder our ancestors had that saying, ’none can surpass the right.’ This is what it meant!"
"Why is this assist so important?"
"Because that’s Deng Kai’s fifth goal of the match!"
"Five in one match!"
"The Emperor of Manchester City declares the birth of another Five-Crown King in the top five leagues with five goals!"
"Who else?"
The Manchester City fans on site boiled over once again.
They’d never tire.
As long as the team dares to keep scoring, they can keep the excitement going for three days and nights!
All of Europe, at this moment, turned its gaze.
The brilliance of this Blue Moon was too dazzling.
Next season... who can stop them?
Real Madrid? Bayern Munich? Juventus? Milan? Inter Milan? Barcelona? Lyon? Manchester United? Arsenal? Chelsea? Liverpool?
Not to say it out loud, but more than half of these teams have been schooled by Manchester City.
The eighty-second minute.
Vicente earned a penalty on a counter-attack and converted the spot kick calmly.
Six to one.
Valencia scored their first goal of the match.
The Valencia players didn’t celebrate.
There was just no joy in it.
Afterwards, Valencia substituted Baraja with Sissoko.
The eighty-seventh minute.
Thiago Silva took a long shot from outside the arc, testing Canizares once more.
But Canizares, who had been tormented by Deng Kai all match, finally found his form and leaped to push the football out.
The shot was powerful and forceful.
When he pushed it out, the ball rebounded quickly.
So fast that Deng Kai and Mandzukic, who were ready for the follow-up shot and to pounce on goal, both missed the football.
But as the football flew past him, Deng Kai immediately turned and leaned backwards.
Bang!
An overhead bicycle kick.
The football went straight into the net.
The stadium fell silent.
The next moment, it was as if the world exploded.
"GOAL!"
"Overhead bicycle kick!"
"Seven to one!"
"Deng Kai scores his sixth goal of the game!"
"The sixth!"
"My God!"
"I would call him the world’s number one winger!"
"Six goals in a single match! Deng Kai has set a new goal-scoring record for the European Union Cup final! This is just madness!"
"This is an utter rout!"
After ninety minutes of regular play, the referee blew the final whistle, sparing the dispirited Valencia players further agony.
Valencia players collapsed one by one, their faces covered in pain.
They could accept losing.
But losing like this was hard to swallow.
This was the darkest day of their professional careers.
