In the second leg of the third knockout round of the Europa League, Manchester City faced Greek Aris at home.
When the game reached the seventh minute, Marcelo just passed the midfield, looked up at the center of the frontcourt, and sent a precise diagonal pass with his left foot, directly behind Aris' defense.
I saw a sky-blue figure, like a sharp arrow, instantly penetrated Aris' defense, caught up with Marcelo's long diagonal pass, stopped the ball with his chest, moved forward and back, and continued to dribble the ball into the penalty area.
.
“Sudong!!!!!”
The entire Etihad Stadium immediately burst into excitement!
I saw Su Dong dribbling the ball into the penalty area. Facing the attacking goalkeeper Aris, he made a skillful fake move. After passing the opponent, he calmly pushed the ball into the empty goal and opened the scoring for Manchester City!
"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!"
"Just seven minutes into the game, Su Dong opened the scoring for Manchester City!"
"One to zero!"
…
After taking a one-goal lead, Manchester City continued to pursue Aris.
In the ninth minute, Su Dong received a pass from David Silva in the top area of the penalty area, pulled horizontally, pulled away the defensive player, and then volleyed with his right foot, hitting a powerful and sinking shot.
The long shot hit the crossbar.
That loud noise spread through every corner of the stadium, as if it hit the hearts of the Manchester City fans at the scene, making them even more excited and excited.
Three minutes later, Su Dong and David Silva cooperated continuously at the front of the penalty area. After Su Dong smashed the ball past the opponent's center defender Michel at the top of the arc, he volleyed with his left foot and penetrated Aris' goal again.
Two to zero!
At this moment, Aris' players were completely dumbfounded!
Fortunately, they were complacent about their team's home record before the game. Although they didn't say it explicitly, they were somewhat complacent about the media's 40-year unbeaten home record in Europe. Coupled with the zero-0 draw with Manchester City, they even
I feel that there may not be a possibility of upsetting Manchester City and advancing to the next round.
But when they arrived at the Etihad Stadium, within just ten minutes of the game, they completely felt the disparity between the two teams.
The Manchester City team they met at home in the first round gave Aris' players too many illusions, so much so that they all mistakenly believed that Manchester City's strength was not that strong.
When they arrived at the Etihad Stadium, they really felt the terror of Manchester City.
Not to mention anyone else, it’s central defender Michel. He was the hero who froze Dzeko in the first round, but this time he faced Su Dong. He couldn’t keep up with Su Dong’s frequency of movements, his rhythm and speed.
Brain circuit.
In the ninth minute, Su Dong clearly pulled the ball to the right and volleyed with his right foot, but this time in the twelfth minute, in almost the same position and in the same environment, Su Dong used to pull the ball to the right.
With a fake move, he chose to pull the ball to the left, volleyed hard with his left foot, and directly penetrated Aris' goal.
The shooting angle was also very tricky, and he directly hit the left side of the goal with a rebound ball.
Michelle was completely confused!
He suspected that the Manchester City team he met at home a week ago was fake!
In other words, they deliberately showed weakness in the first round to paralyze Aris and catch him off guard at home.
If Su Dong could read Michelle's mind at this moment, he would definitely comfort him with a smile, brother, you really think too much, you are really not as important as you think.
We are very busy and don't have much time to greet you.
The away game is too far, so we choose to play at home!
Don’t worry, our knives are very sharp and our hands are quick, so it won’t hurt. Just be patient and it will be fine!
…
…
After scoring two goals in a row, Manchester City was still not satisfied and continued to launch a fierce attack on Aris.
The Greek team was completely stunned.
They couldn't understand at all why there was such a big difference between home and away games.
The Manchester City team at their home stadium is obviously very easy to deal with!
But Manchester City did not give them more time to think, and the threatening attacks made Aris players exhausted.
Even if the Greek team then went on the defensive, they still couldn't stop Manchester City.
Before the end of the first half, David Silva's through ball was passed into the penalty area. Su Dong grabbed the ball in front of central defender Michel and poked the ball past the attacking goalkeeper before rushing in behind the defender.
Before, send the ball into an empty goal.
Three to zero!
…
After taking a three-goal lead, Manchester City still had nothing to hold back.
In the second half, the game changed sides again. Su Dong sent an assist in the 66th minute. After Sanchez stopped the ball on the right side of the penalty area, he calmly pushed the shot successfully, giving Manchester City another victory, 4-0!
In the 75th minute, Manchester City got a corner kick opportunity in the frontcourt. Aris made a clearance in the penalty area, but Toni Kroos stopped the ball outside the penalty area and shot a long shot directly through Aris' goal, five to zero!
The unlucky Greek team was completely stunned.
Even at the end of the game, they still couldn't believe that they were beaten so embarrassingly in an away game.
Wasn't it a close match at home?
…………
…………
Manchester City finally beat Aris 5-0 at home.
This victory completely woke up the Greek media.
How excited and arrogant they were shouting a week ago, their current situation is so embarrassing and embarrassing.
In the end, many media agreed that it was not that Manchester City performed too well, but that the Greek team performed too poorly on the road.
The media is right anyway.
The unlucky Aris players were all confused. They seriously doubted whether they had played a match-fixing game.
Otherwise, why would the media report this?
…
After beating Aris 5-0, Manchester City can be said to be proud and proud.
But in the subsequent Europa League draw, Manchester City encountered difficulties again.
This time Manchester City's opponent went even further, going directly to Dynamo Kyiv in Ukraine.
It was an opponent more than 2,000 kilometers away, and everyone at Manchester City was completely confused.
Are you sure this is not UEFA deliberately torturing Manchester City?
Although every team after entering the Europa League top 16 is not weak, it is indeed tragic to encounter Dynamo Kyiv, because this team is not only superior in strength, but also has a long way to go.
Traveling long distances is the biggest challenge in the away game in Europe.
To use the words of Manchester City players after returning from an expedition to Greece, the consumption on the road is much higher than the consumption in the game.
This was even after Manchester City left for the away game one day in advance and chartered a flight.
After the draw results came out, Guardiola and other coaching staff also held an urgent meeting with Su Dong and others, mainly to discuss the team's next schedule and arrangements.
If, in the game against Aris, the opponent was weak and Manchester City was sure to win the opponent away from home, but failed in the end, then this time against Dynamo Kiev, Manchester City's away game will only be more difficult.
What's even more terrible is that Manchester City is now playing on three fronts.
They are about to face Chelsea in the league. In the FA Cup, Manchester City's home game against Aston Villa has been postponed due to the Europa League, as well as the two Europa League games.
It can be said that Manchester City is now playing double matches a week without interruption.
The team's rotation has already begun. Otherwise, playing games continuously like this, especially traveling long distances, will be too much for anyone. The next key is that the team must withstand the pressure brought by the three fronts.
If they can survive, Manchester City will have a chance to win the championship. If they cannot survive, they will lose everything.
Over the past few years, every season there have been examples of teams trying to fight on multiple fronts, but ultimately achieving nothing.
The three captains, Sudong, Zabaleta and Kompany, had already communicated with their teammates in the locker room.
"All of us have the same opinion, that is, we now have a good bench lineup. We believe that if everyone grits their teeth, they will be able to withstand the combat pressure of the three lines." Su Dong said.
"Manchester City lacks foundation and championships, so the fans really hope that the team can achieve something and win more victories and championships. The same is true for our players, so in this case, I think we should bite the bullet
, work together, not only for the championship, but also to train the team."
A team that cannot fight a tough battle has no chance of persisting until the end.
And there is no time to test the cohesion of a team better than fighting on multiple fronts, especially the devilish schedule that still insists on fighting on three fronts in March and April.
This cruel season and huge external pressure can help Manchester City further unite its players.
Of course, if you can't hold it back, it may collapse.
This is why Guardiola wants to seek the opinions of the three captains.
"I don't think our players are very fragile!" Su Dong seemed very confident. "Before coming to Manchester City, they were the main players of their respective teams, even the core. Everyone was very capable and very talented.
level, I believe they all have a strong heart and willpower."
It is impossible for Manchester City to take a fancy to those players who are slightly weaker.
Even if there are local players, they are all England internationals such as Leighton Baines and Gareth Barry. Adam Johnson has also entered the England national team.
As long as a team composed of such players is united, its combat effectiveness cannot be weak.
"The fans, players, and even the coaching staff and management are extremely eager for the team to persevere and win more championships and honors, so I think we should continue to stick to the third-line battle."
"Even if we fail to win these three championships in the end, at least we have gained an iron army. Then we will have more hope next season and the season after that!"
Manchester City has actually just reorganized this season. Although it has become competitive, it has not actually reached its peak.
Moreover, Dzeko, Leighton Baines and Thiago all joined during the winter break and have not yet fully integrated into the team.
It can be said that Manchester City still has considerable potential that has not been tapped. If the team is cohesive, the potential that Manchester City can unleash will be extremely amazing.
"You have to believe in the locker room and the players, Pep." Su Dong encouraged Guardiola in turn.
"You have to believe that we will be a strong team that will enter the Champions League next season and make great achievements. We are no longer the Manchester City we used to be!"
Su Dong's confident demeanor infected everyone present, including Guardiola.
