Chapter 371 The Premier League Championship is just around the corner

Chapter 371 The Premier League Championship is just around the corner

The Daily Mail believes that this series of data not only reflects that Arsenal lost to Manchester City on the technical and tactical level, but also on the mental level of the players.

Otherwise, how to explain the disparity in one-on-one confrontations and the number of fouls?

"Our players no longer actively participate in counterattacks after losing the ball as they did in the past, but more often rely on their teammates around them to counterattack."

The English media pointed out that the offensive combination of Walcock, Sanchez and Welbeck once again had zero blocks in this game.

This isn't the first time, especially for Sanchez, who didn't even get a highlight shot or two!

His scoring efficiency against Guardiola's teams is always particularly low, and this is no accident.

The Daily Mail intercepted a scene from the game. The surrounding Manchester City players were sprinting forward when they intercepted the ball and counterattacked, but Sanchez slowly walked back and then issued a soul torture.

"Sanchez, are you really trying your best?"

Obviously, the English media believes that one of the important reasons why Arsenal lost miserably to Manchester City in this key focus battle is that the attacking players in the frontcourt, especially Sanchez, did not try their best. His relationship with Arsenal The contract renewal did not go smoothly. Arsenal did not agree to the high salary that the Chilean players wanted.

Trailing 0-4, Wenger made continuous substitutions, but there was still not much improvement on the scene.

As the core player of the team, Sanchez played the entire game, but did little, but made Manchester City's Argentinian central defender Otamendi famous in one battle. This makes all media close to Arsenal feel very embarrassed.

In tonight's game, Otamendi took the lead. When facing Walcock and Sanchez, he actually performed at the level of a top central defender.

Manchester City assistant coach Maresca publicly expressed his appreciation for Otamendi in an interview with the media after the game.

"The Argentinian played very well today and was very mature. These prove that he has very good conditions, including physical aspects, including technical aspects. The key is that the decisions he makes on the court will give people a sense of security and make people feel safe." I feel like he is a trustworthy player, which is very important for a centre-back."

Maresca also analyzed Otamendi’s characteristics,

"He is very fast. When he faced Sanchez twice, he used his speed and explosive power to overtake when he was behind. This proves his excellence."

"He has the speed and explosive power of a sprinter and the physique of a track and field athlete. He is already a very mature player in his prime."

Maresca feels that what he likes most about Otamendi is his change in attitude and personality. Now he is calm and calm, and his concentration on the court is also extremely high.

"This is what a top central defender must have."

Manchester City's old captain and Otamendi's partner today Kompany also told the media after the game:

"Otamendi has all the conditions that a top central defender must have. Although he is tall, he is very skilled with his feet and very fast. Especially the two pursuits in the game left a deep impression on me. .”

Kompany believes that Otamendi’s prospects are worth looking forward to.

"He's very lucky because he has a very good manager at Manchester City."

"Guardiola is the best coach in the world at discovering and developing young players. Look at Cancelo, his performance this season is better than one game after another, and look at Otamendi, we have absolutely reason to believe, After being tempered in this game, the Argentinian central defender will usher in his own period of rapid growth."

Manchester City's head coach Guardiola also praised Otamendi by name at the post-match press conference, saying that his team's second hero in defeating Arsenal at the Etihad.

"In the dressing room after the game, I told Otamendi, you played really well in this game!"

Guardiola believes that Otamendi has the potential to become a top central defender, but the premise is that he must have higher requirements for himself, cannot be satisfied with the status quo, and must remain hungry.

"I believe that in the next few years, when we evaluate world-class centre-backs, Otamendi will definitely be one of them."

This is definitely the highest praise given by Guardiola.

As for Manchester City's central defender, Guardiola did not favor one over the other. He also used Otamendi to beat Stones and Laporte.

"If they can maintain the form they had in the first half of the season, they will be a top centre-back."

Later, Guardiola laughed and said,

"Including our captain, we will have four top centre-backs in the world at Manchester City, which for me will be a wonderful thing."

Otamendi also gave an interview to the Daily Mail after the game.

Otamendi expressed his gratitude for the praise from the head coach and promised that he would continue to work hard.

"I feel good about this game, very satisfied."

"It was definitely difficult against Arsenal, but the team played very well. This was the best game I've played since joining Manchester City, and I hope it can continue."

Otamendi also revealed that he received congratulations from head coach Guardiola and his teammates after the game, and what stimulated his outstanding performance in this game was the encouragement and affirmation from head coach Guardiola before the game.

“When he told me that Manchester City needed me to start against Arsenal and that he believed I could do a good job, I felt that my moment had finally arrived!

I have no reason to miss this opportunity. I have been waiting for more than half of the season this year. This is an opportunity that all professional players in the world want! "

Otamendi said that he still needs some time to adapt to this change, but he will continue to work hard.

As for the number one hero of this game, Zhao Jinge, who scored four goals, did not attract as much attention as Otamendi after the game.

According to Blue Moon fans, the big four is just a daily routine for their own king. Is it necessary to brag about such basic operations? !

If one day Zhao Jinge misses an empty goal, it may attract even more attention. Everyone is used to his scoring goals!

On the evening of April 10th, Hull City Kingston Communications Stadium.

In the 32nd round of the Premier League, Manchester City challenged Hull City away from home.

The game has entered eighty minutes, but the score is still zero to zero.

Guardiola stood on the sidelines, watching the action on the pitch.

Manchester City did not try their best tonight, mainly because the players just defeated Arsenal in the middle of the week, and after playing this round of league games, they will soon face the second leg of the Champions League knockout round in the middle of next week, a long double match in a week. Coupled with the extremely high quality of the opponents in the previous period, many players in the team are facing great pressure.

Because of this, he made a vigorous rotation. As a result, the team encountered Hull City's tenacious sniping away from home.

Now, Guardiola knows what it was like when Arsenal faced Manchester City three days ago.

The ball possession rate is as high as 70%, and the number of shots has been 21, but only four shots were on target, including many long-range shots.

Not to mention Hull City's possession rate, they only took two shots and none were on target.

The two sides are not competing on the same level at all. But Hull City had 29 fouls and five yellow cards.

This team put all their efforts into defense and created a defensive formation like an iron barrel.

"A lot of people say that the Premier League values ​​confrontation and attack."

Guardiola turned around and walked back to the visiting team's coaching bench, showing a wry smile at Maresca and others.

"That's because they don't know at all that it's easy for Premier League teams not to set up an iron bucket formation, but once they set up an iron bucket formation, it's really a piece of steel."

The assistant coaches all nodded.

"Hull City is a really tough team, and the opposing central defender performed well."

Maresca said.

Hull City has been following the buy-low-sell-high approach in recent years, and the big financier behind it is Italy's Pozzo family.

Speaking of which, Guardiola also knows the Pozzo family, and they are really good.

Udinese in Serie A, Hull City in the Premier League, and the former La Liga and now La Liga team Granada. These are the properties of the Pozzo family. They have been searching for young talents around the world and have played in several teams. The team goes back and forth to practice, and after playing well, they sell it at a high price.

This business has made them a lot of money, and they can be regarded as an evergreen tree in European football.

Nowadays, Granada is sinking into the second division, and the Pozzo family has only two top league teams, Hull City and Udinese, so Hull City is very determined to avoid relegation this season.

Facing Manchester City at home, they also showed their determination to fight to the end.

Guardiola has just used up three substitutions.

Now on the court, Dzeko and Zhao Jinge form a double forward, with David Silva lying in wait as the No. 10 attacking midfielder.

Guardiola still hopes to use two forwards to open up defensive space and create opportunities for teammates.

But Hull City are really a piece of iron.

Shortly before Manchester City, Chelsea drew with Everton on the road, which gave Manchester City an excellent opportunity to widen the gap. Both Guardiola and the Manchester City players wanted to win the opponent, but Hull The city's defense is really too strong.

As the team's head coach, there is not much Guardiola can do in the face of such an iron-barrel formation.

Broken iron barrels are a common problem all over the world.

When the game progressed to the 86th minute, Hull City tried to pass into the penalty area. After being attacked by Caballero, he held the ball inside the penalty area.

The Manchester City goalkeeper picked up the ball and threw it to the unguarded Kompany.

Kompany, wearing the captain's armband, will continue to partner with Otamendi tonight, while Laporte and Stones are still resting.

After the Manchester City captain stopped the ball, he did not go forward anymore, but took advantage of the situation and made a long pass to the frontcourt.

Dzeko kept rushing forward, judging where the ball would land.

The Manchester City center has never been very good at blocking positions, and his physical confrontation ability is not particularly strong. As a result, after he started tonight, he failed to seize the position when he came into physical contact with Hull City center defender Angres several times. .

But Dzeko is also very smart. This time he took the lead and cut in beside Angres, letting the ball fall directly to the sides of the two. Dzeko relied on his height, long legs and excellent foot skills to take the lead. With one step, he picked the ball up from mid-air.

Angres also reacted quickly and blocked Dzeko immediately, preventing the Manchester City center from turning around.

Dzeko was well prepared. While taking a step forward to control the ball, he also avoided the midfielder Gregg who was trying to grab the ball back. He relied on his skills with his feet and passed the ball under the attack of two Hull City players. come out.

David Silva came in from behind, kept the ball, met Dzeko's pass, and passed directly to the ground.

The ball was accurately passed from the side of the other central defender Diaz. Zhao Jinge made a diagonal stab from the side, successfully countered the offside, grabbed the ball outside the penalty area, stopped the ball, and entered the penalty area.

Facing the attacking goalkeeper Ennio, Zhao Jinge calmly pushed the ball into the Hull City goal.

One to zero!

"GOAL!!!!!!"

"In the 87th minute, Manchester City finally scored!"

"This is Manchester City's 22nd shot in this game, and we finally have a key goal!"

"Zhao Jinge scored a golden goal!"

The Manchester City striker rushed off the pitch in excitement and celebrated his goal.

David Silva is also close behind.

At the critical moment, the Spanish attacking midfielder's calm pass created an excellent opportunity for Manchester City.

And Zhao Jinge, his reactions and movements are really smart!

He is truly a natural shooter!

In the end, Manchester City narrowly defeated Hull City 1-0 with Zhao Jinge's goal in the away game.

As Chelsea drew 1-1 with Everton away from home, Manchester City successfully opened the score gap to 14 points again.

In the 32nd round of the Premier League, Manchester City still leads the way, scoring 92 points, while Chelsea is closely followed with 78 points, and Tottenham, which is in third place, only has 92 points. Seventy-two points.

With the last six rounds of the Premier League remaining, it can be declared that the suspense of this season's Premier League is over, and the champion is almost certain to be Manchester City.

Even if Manchester City loses in the direct dialogue between Manchester City and Chelsea in the next round of the Premier League, as long as Manchester City can score four points in the other five games, they can still win the Premier League championship this season by virtue of their goal difference!

After today's game against Hull City, excited Manchester City fans have already started making celebration props to celebrate Manchester City's championship.

According to Blue Moon fans, they can't wait to come to the end of May to participate in the final championship celebration.

Having already won the League Cup and almost locking in the Premier League championship, they are beginning to look forward to the FA Cup and Champions League championships. If they can really win the latter two championships, then Manchester City will create a new record this year. An unparalleled record to monopolize the English domestic triple crown and European competitions.

(End of this chapter)