Everything is happening right before our eyes!
The exhilarated Agüero eagerly waved for Tang Long to come over. The two of them stood shoulder to shoulder, vigorously pumping their fists towards the cheering fans in the stands!
Everyone gathered around to celebrate this goal.
In the stands, Raymond was also left dumbfounded!
He hurriedly crossed out the lines he had just written, his force so strong that it even tore through the paper~
Even the experienced scout Raymond did not foresee Tang Long’s next move in this attack.
He even felt a bit naive and foolish~
It seemed that Tang Long’s intentional passing with Sterling on the left wasn’t to avoid breaking through the defense, but to deliberately draw defenders towards him, creating a local numerical imbalance;
The crucial inner cut at the right moment was the key to this attack!
Raymond also gave Agüero high praise, sketching three stars next to his name.
[As a forward, Agüero’s football intelligence was more dynamic. In this attack, he demonstrated football intellect as high as Muller’s, and in terms of speed, he was faster than Muller]
Off the field, Pellegrini and assistant coach Rein applauded in celebration;
Meanwhile, Bournemouth’s head coach began to feel anxious!
He never expected that as soon as Agüero came on, he would immediately connect with Tang Long.
"Don’t just focus on defending Agüero, keep Tang under wraps too. How did I brief you before the match?"
The players on the field from Bournemouth looked a bit despondent.
Boss, we had four people on him, and he still found a breakthrough point. Four people, how do you expect us to mark him?
We can’t just have four people pin him to the ground and beat him up...
Once Agüero recovers his form and forms chemistry with Tang Long, a crushing defeat for Bournemouth becomes inevitable, serving as a backdrop for Manchester City fans’ New Year celebrations at Christmas!
The goal just now was merely an appetizer.
At the 61st minute, a trademark through ball once again dazzled the fans!
Ranocchia’s previous pass was somewhat unconventional, while Tang Long showed more skill this time.
He seemed to anticipate the accelerated movement of the football on the snowy ground, intentionally making a not-so-powerful through pass.
When the ball rose two centimeters off the ground and fell, its speed increased!
This time, Agüero’s speed advantage came into play. He was momentarily stunned, but quickly followed with a diagonal cut, sprinting 10 meters to shake off the marking defender.
Facing the goalkeeper once again, he unleashed a powerful low shot, aiming through the keeper’s legs!
3:1, Agüero scored twice in just 6 minutes!
The Etihad Stadium was once again bustling with New Year excitement!
Even in the broad daylight, fireworks outside the stadium crackled, echoing through the azure sky.
Tang Long and Agüero’s names resounded like surround sound throughout the stadium, echoing the fans’ cheers for their heroes!
Is it Tang Long we should defend, or is it Agüero?
Bournemouth’s players fell into deep self-doubt.
Actually, there’s no need to doubt; you can’t stop either of them!
If Agüero’s first two goals were fast-paced attacks, the third goal was a collective effort from all Manchester City players.
After adapting to the snowy field, Ranocchia’s passing in the backfield gradually improved, showing the grandeur of a maestro.
He gradually moved up to the holding midfielder position, directing Toure, Delph, and the wingers Kolarov and Sagna back and forth.
Fifteen passes in total were completed in the backfield.
In the stands, Raymond watched intently, full of interest. This passing play felt all too familiar, just like Guardiola’s tactics at Bayern.
The sixteenth pass was a steady ball from Delph to Tang Long who had come back to receive it.
Previously, all the passes were steady short passes, so Bournemouth’s players expected Tang Long to continue passing, but what makes a game-breaker a game-breaker is their ability to exploit changes in rhythm.
He suddenly accelerated and delivered a straight pass!
The football soared over the fullback, with Sterling rushing to meet it.
After the pass, Tang Long didn’t stop but charged forward at full speed.
Sterling saw Tang Long coming and quickly used his left foot to fire a shot towards the near post.
"Watch the near post!"
Under the goalkeeper’s direction, Bournemouth’s center back rushed out, only to be cleanly fooled by Tang Long—
He was cleanly fooled by his own miscue!
Agüero is indeed Agüero, unlike other Premier League forwards, he envisions a dozen possibilities in his mind the second before receiving the ball.
An average forward wouldn’t anticipate Tang Long to let the ball go, but Agüero considered that possibility.
He was ready, and facing the incoming ball, he made a precise push with his left foot, sending the ball back into the net, 4:1!
Agüero achieved a hat-trick!
At this moment, Agüero could no longer hold back his emotions.
He covered his face and cried, his eyes red, then raised his hands to the sky, whispering.
Compared to the passionate celebration of the previous goals, this time Agüero didn’t shout as much.
"It’s back, everything’s back!"
"Tang, did you see," Agüero turned to Tang Long, "thank you for bringing me back!"
"Brother, you’ve always been here, you never left us," Tang Long replied, playfully punching Agüero in the chest. Check latest chapters at n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net
Bournemouth’s coach was getting anxious on the sidelines!
Alright, Manchester City, you win, but do you have to destroy us? It’s Christmas, after all; can’t you let me have a peaceful holiday?
In his desperation, he swiftly subbed in two defenders, changing the formation to a six-man defense.
Pellegrini was astounded from the sidelines.
A six-defender formation?
In his 20-year coaching career, he had never seen a team play .
In reality, six defenders lined up in the backfield reached its limit, extremely crowded, apparently giving up on the midfield entirely to sit back at the goal line?
This strategy was indeed effective; Manchester City made no further gains, but the game continued to the 85th minute.
Bournemouth players, having been besieged the entire match, had reached their physical limits, their focus faltering.
This gave Agüero another golden opportunity!
Tang Long deliberately set up Agüero, probing whether Bournemouth players could maintain their focus for the entire match. This time, his bet paid off!
An obvious play behind the defense, at other times, a quick-thinking player might have intercepted, but they were just too tired, a lapse in concentration, and the ball slipped past with a whoosh.
Agüero once again demonstrated to the world what solo finishing skills a top Premier League forward should possess.
Facing the advancing goalkeeper, he strolled leisurely, slowing his pace, and then a flick with his toe~
The ball arced beautifully through the air, nearly grazing the underside of the crossbar, and with a clang, it crossed the goal line!
This time, Agüero rushed to Tang Long, tears in his eyes, holding him and crying loudly!
"Waaah, Tang, I love you more than my girlfriend!"
Agüero held Tang Long tightly, driven by a conviction in his heart:
What’s so great about Bony? He got a four-goal game while I was injured, and now that I’m back, I can score four in half a match too!