"Are you under a lot of pressure lately?" Ji Ya asked suddenly while shaking hands with Mancini.
"Okay, why do you ask?" Mancini replied.
"Oh, it's nothing. I just want to say that I have never felt pressure, hahahahaha." Ji Ya said.
Although Mancini seemed gentle and gentle as a coach, he had a fiery temper as a player, otherwise he would not have quit the national team at the slightest disagreement. After hearing Jiya's words that were obviously unreasonable, he immediately felt a little itchy in his feet and thought
kick someone...
Fortunately, Ji Ya immediately let go of his hand: "Just kidding, I also want to reduce your pressure. Remember to behave well next time."
Mancini smiled bitterly and nodded. In fact, he really didn't feel too much pressure. The Arabs paid generously and basically would not interfere with the team in the middle of the season. Even if he had to be fired, it would be after the end of the season.
But if we lose this game, this season may really be over.
Therefore, he still sent out a strong starting lineup in this game, with goalkeeper Hart, Zabaleta and Clichy on both sides of the defense, and Xavi Garcia and Lescott as center backs.
Midfielder Yaya Toure and Barry partner in the center, with Nasri and David Silva on the wings, Aguero as the attacking midfielder, and Dzeko as the center forward.
Southampton's starting lineup has not changed much.
Noriya's evaluation of Manchester City's starting lineup is - Mancini is taking it for granted again.
The central defender is paired with a defensive midfielder and a bomb, and a pure shooter like Aguero is transferred to the attacking midfielder. This is completely taken for granted.
If it were Noriya, even if he changed the formation and played with two forwards, he would not do this.
But it’s normal to think about it. Aguero is still Manchester City’s top scorer, and Dzeko has scored five goals in the last six games. When he is in the hottest form, Mancini is reluctant to put either one on the bench, so
We can only use such a lineup that seems to have the best of both worlds.
However, on the football field, sometimes what seems to be the best of both worlds is actually the best of both worlds.
From the beginning of the game, Southampton kept pressing in the midfield, pressing Yaya Toure and pressing Barry.
Yaya Toure is the core of Manchester City's offense, and Barry is the brains responsible for distributing the ball. To press them is to fundamentally disrupt Manchester City's offensive rhythm.
Under normal circumstances, this kind of pressing is actually not very useful. Firstly, Yaya Toure's skills are very good, so it is of no use to him in pressing. Secondly, when Barry gets the ball, he often has a strong player next to him.
Defensive midfield protection, last season it was Joey Barton, this season it is Xavi Garcia.
But now Barton has transferred and left, Garcia has been transferred back to play central defender, and Yaya Toure is not in good condition because he has just returned from the African Cup.
Barry is miserable.
Only seven minutes into the game, Vidal made a beautiful steal in the midfield and intercepted Barry's ball. Then he dribbled the ball forward and passed the ball into the penalty area after approaching the penalty area. Benteke received the ball and leaned on it.
Lescott turned around and shot a ground ball. Hart made a wonderful save and blocked the ball with one hand. However, Ronaldo followed up and scored with a supplementary shot immediately!
Southampton fans burst into loud cheers!
After taking a one-goal lead, Southampton did not stop attacking. They continued to press in the midfield, interfering with Manchester City's attack.
Manchester City can only rely on the breakthroughs of Nasri and David Silva on the wings to create some opportunities, or they can directly launch long passes to the back, allowing Dzeko and Aguero to create some opportunities.
But after all, it is difficult for such an opportunity to really cause huge trouble to Southampton.
Southampton's offensive threat is getting bigger and bigger.
Manchester City's defense is not very good to begin with. Most of the time it relies on Kompany to support the appearance, but now that Kompany is gone, the center back partnership of Lescott and Garcia is sometimes annoying.
When the game reached the 22nd minute, Benteke and Ronaldo played a beautiful two-on-one, broke into the penalty area, and then took a decisive shot in the penalty area before Garcia could make up the position. The ball hit the ground.
Flying to the far corner of the goal, Hart made another flying save and blocked the ball with one hand. However, the ball rolled to the feet of Mkhitaryan who followed into the penalty area. The Armenian easily took a follow-up shot and scored the ball again.
The gate of Manchester City!
"Two to zero! Southampton expanded its lead! The two goals were exactly the same. Both were shot in the penalty area and were saved by Hart, and then the players who followed up scored with a complementary shot... Manchester City's defense in the penalty area was like
It's just a fake! Hart has worked hard enough. He blocked the opponent's threatening ball twice, but he was unable to do anything for the second follow-up shot! Lescott was like a headless fly, and Garcia was also very active in running.
, but as a midfielder, he obviously has poor positioning in the penalty area! Where has Manchester City spent their money over the years? Can't they buy one or two more reliable central defenders? "
The commentators complain about Manchester City's performance, but they are indeed worth complaining. During this period, Manchester City was suppressed by Southampton like a relegation team, although without Kompany, it would not be like this.
It can only be said that in terms of state, Manchester City's overall state is indeed not very good.
But Manchester City does have many good players.
Despite such passivity, they still managed to get a point back in the first half. During the counterattack, Zabaleta passed the ball to David Silva. Silva made a beautiful breakthrough from the wing and then passed the ball to the front post.
As soon as Aguero made a mistake, Dzeko followed up with a volley shot, scoring his sixth goal in the last seven league rounds. Manchester City's recent victory was driven by Dzeko's goals. This is true.
It's not an exaggeration at all.
Unfortunately, this goal cannot change Manchester City's passivity.
Only three minutes into the second half, William made a cross from the wing. Benteke received the ball again in the penalty area, and then easily pushed it into the near corner. Hart was unable to do anything this time, and the ball went into the net!
Mancini finally couldn't stand Lescott being invisible again. Without Kompany by his side, Lescott was just like an amateur player.
He replaced Lescott with Kolarov. Although Kolarov's main job is to play full-back, he is 1.87 meters tall and can be considered good as a central defender.
His appearance temporarily stabilized Manchester City's defense, but in the end Manchester City still lost the game. In the remaining time, neither side scored a goal, and Southampton defeated with a score of 3 to 1.
Manchester City, Manchester City's gap behind Southampton has expanded to six points, and it is ten points behind Manchester United. With twelve rounds left in the league, not to mention that there is absolutely no chance, but the hope is also very slim...
"You have to perform better when you play Manchester United." Noriya said to Mancini after the game.
