Chapter 194: Beckenbauer is not optimistic about Li Chuanqi
After the game, in an interview with the media, Pellagrini believed that winning the game was a fluke. If Li Chuanqi hadn't exploded at the last moment, the outcome tonight would have been unpredictable.
When talking about the next round of competition, the Chilean engineer said: "The battle for the top spot will never be easy.
This will be a difficult game, with both sides eager to defeat their opponents.
It can be seen from this game that the condition of most of our players has not returned to the level it should be.
The reason why Li can maintain such good condition is inseparable from his self-discipline.
As far as I know, during the entire winter break, except for going to Zurich to receive the award, he was training every day!
And practice three times a day!
Such self-disciplined players deserve success."
Pellegrini unconsciously shifted the topic to Li Chuanqi.
Deportivo's coach said very helplessly in an interview with the media: "We have performed well enough, but it is still difficult to win a victory.
In fact, this is very unfair. We performed very well in the first ninety minutes, and the opponent just had a flash of inspiration in the last few minutes and won the final victory.
This is very unfair.
Our situation this season is very serious, and after losing this game, the situation becomes even more serious."
When talking about Li Chuanqi's performance, he shook his head and said: "When he was warming up, I felt the danger.
In the end my feeling proved to be correct.
He has a keen sense of smell in front of the goal, and what makes people most desperate is his ability to seize opportunities.
Three shots, two goals and one hit the crossbar.
Such efficiency is disappointing!”
When talking about the competition between Malaga and Barcelona for the La Liga championship, he lamented: "At the beginning of the season, no one thought that Malaga would enter the championship group. At that time, the media were talking about Malaga's financial chain being broken.
Nick is looking for a new home.
At that time, Malaga gave people a feeling of disengagement.
Who knew that after the start of the season, Málaga shocked the whole of Spain.
In seventeen La Liga games, they only lost one!
The Champions League places are locked in three rounds in advance.
The competition between Malaga and Barcelona is very fierce now. I think after the next round of games, we may be able to see who can finally win the La Liga championship this season."
…
Malaga had a thrilling comeback victory at the Riazor Stadium, but Barcelona easily defeated Espanyol 4-0 at home at Camp Nou and continued to occupy the top spot in the standings.
This is a feeling of despair. Malaga has performed so amazingly, but it has been unable to surpass Barcelona and reach the top of the standings.
Messi scored a goal with a penalty kick during the match against Espanyol and continued to top the scorer list.
His advantage over Li Chuanqi was reduced to one goal.
With the end of the 18th round, the Spanish media and fans focused their attention on Barcelona and Malaga, and on Li Chuanqi and Messi.
Marca said: “This is not just a battle for the top spot, but a battle between Li and Messi!
Just like the competition for the standings, Messi, who just won his fourth Ballon d'Or, competes with Li in the top scorer's list.
Now the Argentine superstar is only one goal ahead, and his top position is in danger.
So another focus of this game is whether Messi and Li can score more goals in this game. Will the number of goals between the two be close, tied, overtaken, or should they remain the same and widen the gap?
?
This suspense will be revealed in this game."
World Sports News has great hopes for its team: "It was also the end of the winter break, and Barcelona easily won 4-0, with most of the main players playing.
Malaga only relied on Li's flash of inspiration at the last moment to reverse the score.
The status gap between the two is obvious.
The only thing Barcelona needs to pay attention to is Li. As long as they defend him effectively, they can win Malaga and consolidate their top position.
In order to prepare for this weekend's game with Barcelona, Malaga put most of their main players on the bench in the game against Deportivo La Coruna.
The only thing this can mean is that they have no confidence in Barcelona.
No matter how amazing Li is, no matter how amazing he is in the game against Barcelona, can he defeat Barcelona by himself?"
The Malaga media encouraged their team: "Despite the poor performance in the match against Deportivo La Coruna, we have reason to believe that Malaga can return to its best condition this weekend.
Li is still the biggest contributor to Malaga's victory. In the match against Deportivo La Coruña, he scored two goals in just four minutes, helping Malaga reverse the victory.
We believe that he can continue to maintain his condition and maintain high efficiency in the game against Barcelona.
Whether Malaga can take advantage of the home advantage to defeat Barcelona and occupy the top spot in the standings will largely depend on Li's performance in this game.
We don't want to put too much pressure on him, because he has just moved from the lowest level league to the highest level league this season and needs time to adapt to the rhythm of La Liga.
Because he is only eighteen years old.
However, the reality is cruel, he must stand up and lead Malaga forward.
Because this is the mission given to him by the history of Malaga!
Come on, Málaga supporters, wait for this weekend!
Come on, Malaga supporters, we need you and your shouts at the Rose Garden this weekend!
Because your players will face a powerful opponent in this stadium-Barcelona!
Let's face Barcelona together!"
Media in Malaga and Catalonia began to produce posters for this focus battle.
This battle for the top spot also attracted the attention of the European media.
French newspaper L'Equipe said: "This game will change the situation of La Liga championship this season!"
Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy said: "The performance of Messi and Li will determine the outcome of this game!"
The British Times said: "Malaga represents a new force in La Liga. Can this new force overthrow the traditional giant Barcelona and start its own era?"
German newspaper Bild said: "Our reporter interviewed the 'Football Emperor' Beckenbauer, and he had his own different views on the highlight of La Liga this weekend - Malaga vs. Barcelona.
'I have watched Li's game videos, and I think he is not yet comparable to Messi. The gap between him and Messi is obvious. I am very surprised, why do many media now discuss him and Messi together?'
'Li's goals are indeed high. A large part of the reason is that La Liga and European teams are not familiar with him. Once they are familiar with him, he will never score so many goals!'
‘So it’s too early to say what Lee will achieve in the future!’”
Beckenbauer's remarks dissatisfied supporters of Malaga and Li Chuanqi, who believed that he was too conservative and unwilling to see newcomers rise.