Chi Meiya

Chapter 294 Arsenal Changes Formation, Manchester City Charges Towards Their First Championship

"This is a disgrace! Manchester United has never seen such a disgrace in its entire history! Twelve goals lost over two legs!"

"Mourinho doesn't deserve Manchester United!"

"The entire team, except for Rashford, no one deserves Manchester United!"

"De Gea is a piece of shit!!"

Manchester United fans could no longer bear it and cursed everyone from the coach to the players.

"Zhao is just a villain, always talking about thanking Manchester United, but when facing Manchester United, he kicks us to death! When does he have this kind of spirit in the Premier League? He sees Manchester United like they are his father's killer!"

"Does he deserve the love of us Manchester United fans??"

"He should be expelled from the Premier League, he should be expelled from football! He has no sense of gratitude. Manchester United cultivated him, and he turned around and trampled Manchester United under his feet!"

"Manchester City already had a guaranteed win, but he was still attacking! This is a huge humiliation to Manchester United players, fans, all Manchester United people, and the club!!"

Manchester United fans not only cursed their own people but also Zhao Gang the most fiercely.

They wanted to tear Zhao Gang to pieces.

Part of the reason was because Zhao Gang's performance was indeed fierce, but more of it was jealousy and regret.

If Manchester United had kept this young man, they would have achieved their great revival.

It would be Manchester City fans who were crying.

After the game, Mourinho faced the media and, like the first leg, did not think he had lost to Guardiola, nor did he think Manchester City had won against Manchester United.

"We scored a goal first, our tactics were not a problem, we controlled the situation from the start.

Why did we lose the game in the end?

Because Manchester City is very rich, they are willing to spend a lot of money to buy a young Championship player. No other club would gamble so heavily.

They bet correctly, Zhao delivered on his terrifying talent.

But this kind of management is not healthy. No team would spend nearly a hundred million to buy a young player who hasn't proven himself in the top league.

They have the money, so they have the opportunity to make mistakes. Even if Zhao didn't perform, they still have a lot of money to continue signing players, but other teams don't have this opportunity.

This is not conducive to the development of football.

And they also had three huge signings in the winter transfer window.

These three new players all played a huge role in this game.

It's hard to imagine such a large investment in one winter transfer window.

If the Premier League and UEFA allow this endless investment, losing the most basic fairness and justice of football, it will be terrible for football.

I really have nothing to say."

Mourinho, full of personality, often causes a lot of controversy with his words.

But he usually draws all the criticism to himself. When he finishes expressing his views, even if Manchester United players perform poorly, they will not receive much attention.

This, of course, will cause widespread discussion in the media.

"Mourinho insists that money defeated Manchester United!"

"Manchester City uses money to destroy the Premier League and destroy football!"

"Manchester City's huge signings are likely to trigger a UEFA investigation!"

Many media outlets believe that Manchester City has spent too much on signing De Bruyne, Sterling, and Zhao Gang, and now they have spent over 100 million pounds in one winter transfer window, which is simply treating UEFA's Financial Fair Play as waste paper.

Of course, some media outlets believe that Mourinho is making excuses for losing, and he is unwilling to admit his mediocrity.

He is even more unwilling to admit that he is at a disadvantage in the competition with Guardiola.

But these reports did not disturb Manchester City's players and fans.

They are more focused on the League Cup final three days later.

This will be Manchester City's first title of the season, and it may also be a wonderful start to their multiple title aspirations this season.

Compared to the league and the Champions League, the League Cup is almost incomparable.

But since they have reached the final, Manchester City will definitely go all out.

For Arsenal, they have no hope in the league, and they were beaten 3-1 by Bayern at home in the Champions League, almost stopping in the round of sixteen.

Arsenal fans are even more eager for a title.

Having a title is always better than ending the season empty-handed.

At least, Arsenal has to be above Tottenham this season, right?

The last day of February, at night.

Manchester City went to the Emirates Stadium to challenge Arsenal away from home.

At this time, the Emirates Stadium was already a sea of red.

Unlike Liverpool's red, Arsenal's home jerseys are more vibrant. Of course, their shorts are white, which is different from Liverpool's all-red.

Arsenal's flags were flying, and the fans were shouting.

They hoped the team could win this valuable title.

Unlike Manchester City's high-spirited progress in various competitions, Arsenal can now only rely on this kind of cup to comfort themselves.

The fans sang Arsenal's anthem loudly, the lyrics full of respect for legends and longing for a better future.

"Let us go into the wonderland brought by Bergkamp

Parlour is the light blooming in our hearts

Arsenal... Come on Arsenal... Arsenal!

Ah...

The red and white shirt shows our excellence

This is our season of victory

We are the favorites to win the championship

You don't want to take a point from us

We start scoring goals from now on!"

Under the grand scene, the players from both sides entered the player tunnel.

Arsenal's lineup this time was very different from the league lineup. Among them, Wrightman, who had been personally attacking Zhao Gang on the Internet, believing that Long country (China) players were tarnishing the Premier League and European football, had already been cleaned up by the Professor (nickname for the Arsenal coach, Arsène Wenger) in the winter transfer window, left Arsenal, left the Premier League, and was no longer even in the top five leagues.

He is now showing his excellent competitive level in the Turkish Super League.

Zhao Gang felt a little disappointed that he couldn't teach him a good lesson this time.

When the Arsenal players came out, the fans cheered.

The enthusiastic Gunners fans love every player, love every blade of grass and tree at Arsenal.

"The Gunners fans are among the most enthusiastic and passionate in the entire Premier League. Being there in person at their home stadium makes you feel excited.

These fans are eager for a title, eager to defeat the invincible and powerful Manchester City.

And these young people at Arsenal will not be easily intimidated by Manchester City.

Although Arsenal has no hope of winning the league, and they were brutally defeated 0-5 in their first encounter... well..." Zhan Lu scratched his head. They lost too badly.

It is not realistic to create an evenly matched opponent.

"In this game, Arsenal has made a lot of adjustments to their starting lineup from the last league game. As the season progresses, Arsenal's tactics and style of play have gradually taken shape, and their competitiveness is not weak. And this is not a league game, it is the League Cup final, one game determines the ownership of the title!

I believe the Arsenal lads have mustered their strength to have a big battle with Manchester City!"

"Manchester City has experienced a very tough schedule throughout February, fighting fiercely in the Champions League, playing against Tottenham and Manchester United in the league, and facing Chelsea in the FA Cup. This is a huge test of Manchester City's physical fitness.

Arsenal can use their physical advantage to conduct continuous pressing, which may have a very good effect.

Let's take a look at Arsenal's starting lineup and formation to see Wenger's attitude towards this game.

The classic 3-4-2-1 formation, which is the same formation that Chelsea used when they drew with Manchester City this season.

At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea almost defeated Manchester City, but unfortunately, they fell short at the last moment.

Obviously, Wenger also wants to use this starting lineup to seize the weaknesses in Manchester City's defense.

I wonder if Arsenal can create a miracle today, defeat Manchester City, and win the League Cup!

The one at the very front is Welbeck, with Giroud, who has been starting in the league, waiting on the bench. I don't know if Welbeck will perform very well today.

Behind him on the left and right are Sanchez and Walcott. These two players are extremely impactful, and their roles are almost the same as Pedro and Hazard at Chelsea.

Behind them are Bellerin, Ramsey, Xhaka, and Chamberlain.

Xhaka and Ramsey are both players who are strong in attack and weak in defense, with outstanding organizational skills, but their interception ability is poor. When facing Manchester City's central attack, other players will definitely need to provide cover.

The three defenders at the very back are Monreal, Mertesacker, and Holding.

Goalkeeper Ospina.

Wrightman, a player who Long country fans have been paying close attention to, is no longer in the squad and has gone to the Turkish team Fenerbahce.

Some fans who were hoping to see Zhao Gang face Wrightman will not be able to see it.

Of course, if Fenerbahce is competitive enough to enter the Champions League next season, there may still be a chance to see Zhao Gang and Wrightman face off.

Judging from the current situation, Fenerbahce has no chance to enter the Champions League this season."

"The 3-4-2-1 formation has very high requirements for the two wing-back players. Bellerin and Chamberlain's individual abilities are still good. I hope Wenger's change of formation this time will have a miraculous effect.

On the Manchester City side, it is still a 4-2-3-1 formation. The one at the very front is Jesus, who joined the team in the winter transfer window this season. Agüero is still injured and should return in March.

Behind Jesus are Sané, De Bruyne, and Sterling. Sané has returned to the wing, and his performance in the last game against Manchester United was very eye-catching. The two defensive midfielders are Fernandinho and Zhao Gang.

In Zhao Gang's position, he basically becomes a central midfielder as he plays, and the formation will become 4-1-4-1.

On the defensive line, Clichy, Kompany, Stones, and Walker.

Kompany has recovered from his injury. Let's see how he performs in this game.

Goalkeeper Bravo.

Manchester City once again defeated Manchester United 6-2 in the last league game, and their form is very hot.

Zhao Gang provided three assists and scored twice, once again creating five goals in a single game. He has had two such super performances this season, which also broke the Premier League record for creating five goals in two games in a single season.

Defending him will be the top priority for each team.

In this game, Ramsey and Xhaka's defensive ability... it will be very difficult to limit Zhao Gang.

Let's take a look at Arsenal's specific defensive tactics."

*Drip!*

The League Cup final officially begins!