Soccer: I have the attributes of Messi in his Prime

Chapter 492: Winning the Title Three Rounds Early, the Establishment of the Manchester City Dynasty!

After scoring, Agüero celebrated excitedly, but Lin Quan wasn't in the mood. When he first joined Manchester City, visiting Stamford Bridge, he was once pushed to the brink by Mourinho's Chelsea and only managed a draw with a high-difficulty bicycle kick. Even with such a brilliant goal, Manchester City still couldn't win. But now, just two years later, Chelsea had fallen to this level.

The current Chelsea felt like a scattered sandpile to Lin Quan, with no fighting spirit. Although the team's lineup wasn't weak and players like Diego Costa and Cesc Fàbregas were strong, they played as if they had forgotten how to play football. Lin Quan knew their strength well as they were his national teammates. However, this group of talented players seemed lost in the current Chelsea team, indicating deeper issues within the club.

With the match outcome already decided, Lin Quan was substituted early in the second half. Yet Manchester City's offensive didn't stop. In the 78th minute, Courtois made a mistake, fouling Agüero in the penalty area, earning himself a red card and giving Manchester City a penalty. With Lin Quan, the primary penalty taker, off the field, Agüero stepped up and confidently scored, completing his first hat-trick of the Premier League season.

Seeing Agüero in such good form delighted Guardiola. The better his forwards played, the higher their chances of defeating Atlético in the upcoming matches. The sequence of playing at home first and away second meant they would face immense pressure in the first leg to score goals and secure a significant lead to handle the second leg more comfortably. If they failed to score in the first leg, the second leg away would be much tougher.

While Manchester City was thrashing Chelsea 4-0, Leicester City brought good news. Playing at home, Leicester scored first through Vardy, but he received a second yellow card for diving and was sent off. With Vardy gone, West Ham United capitalized and scored two goals in two minutes in the 85th and 86th minutes, turning the game around.

Although the match wasn't over, it had entered stoppage time. With their main striker gone and a player down, it was almost impossible for Leicester to make a comeback. If Leicester lost, Manchester City would win the title four rounds early!

Upon hearing this news, Manchester City's players took out their phones to watch the live broadcast, eager to see the match's progress.

"Push up, don't let him shoot!"

"Can't you defend properly? The top of the box is wide open, where's the cover?"

"Oh my gosh, are you really tackling like that inside the box?"

In the final moments, the ten-man Leicester launched wave after wave of attacks against West Ham. Despite having a numerical advantage, West Ham was pinned back in their defensive third. The tense situation had Manchester City's players on edge, fearing a last-minute slip-up.

And their fears came true. In stoppage time, a clumsy tackle in the box by West Ham's defender brought down Leicester's Schlupp. The referee awarded a penalty, which Ulloa converted, leveling the score at 2-2.

"Seriously, how can you defend like that?"

"Leading in numbers and still conceding, do you even know how to play?"

"Damn, Leicester really has some luck!"

Seeing Leicester equalize, grumbles filled Manchester City's bus. They had hoped to clinch the title early but now had to wait.

Despite the equalizer, Leicester didn't settle for a draw. Ulloa quickly retrieved the ball and rushed to the center circle, ready to restart. With two minutes of stoppage time left, anything was possible.

"Aren't you worried at all?" the assistant coaches asked, noting Guardiola's calm demeanor.

"Worried about what? We still have a nine-point lead with four games left. Unless we lose all four, who can take the title from us?" Guardiola shrugged, seemingly unbothered.

The others paused and realized he was right. The closer the season's end, the larger their lead. Even if Leicester won all their remaining matches, they wouldn't secure the title unless Manchester City faltered completely. As long as City avoided a disastrous end, the title was theirs.

Leicester didn't manage a miracle. After equalizing, they couldn't score again, ending the match 2-2 with West Ham. This draw was fatal for Leicester, widening Manchester City's lead to 11 points with four games left. In the next match, a win would secure the title three rounds early, regardless of Leicester's results.

The next match, conveniently at Manchester City's home, left no doubt among fans and betting companies. Some bookmakers even stopped taking bets on the title race.

On April 23, the fourth-to-last round of the league commenced. Manchester City, playing at home, faced ninth-placed Stoke City. Given the title situation, the FA brought the Premier League trophy to the Etihad Stadium, preparing for the post-match ceremony to crown Manchester City.

Manchester City had already prepared early on. Die-hard fans made banners and signs, arriving at the stadium early to secure prime spots and cheer for the team. The club also created special championship apparel for the players and staff. Furthermore, the club chairman, Al Mubarak, and the owner, Mansour, attended the match in person, bringing over 10 million euros in cash as a bonus for the players if they won the title.

Everything was set, just waiting for the protagonists to take the stage.

In the Manchester City locker room, Guardiola didn't give a long pre-match speech. Instead, he brought a few items from the team's trophy room—three Premier League championship trophies. The trophies bore the years 2011-2012, 2013-2014, and 2014-2015, representing their winning seasons. Next to these trophies, a pedestal was left empty, inscribed with 2015-2016, clearly reserved for this season's trophy.

Seeing the trophies capture the players' attention, Guardiola looked around and said, "It's time to reap the rewards of our hard work this season. Go out there and bring that damn trophy back!"

There was no need for more motivation. Just one sentence had already fired up the entire team!

"Manchester City!" Lin Quan, wearing the captain's armband, shouted first, raising his hand. "Charge, charge, charge!!" The players echoed loudly, placing their hands together.

"They're coming, Lin Ge and the others are coming!" On the stands, several teenagers excitedly craned their necks towards the players' tunnel. Seeing the Manchester City players in sky-blue jerseys led by Lin Quan, they joined the surrounding fans in cheering loudly. "Lin Ge, go for it!" "Charge, Lin Ge!"

Their voices were loud enough to reach the Manchester City players. Lin Quan glanced in their direction and saw Haaland, Sancho, and Foden among them. These guys were so excited, you'd think they were the ones playing. But their strong sense of honor and belonging to the club was a good thing. With them, Manchester City would remain competitive in the football world for the next decade.

In addition to the youngsters in the stands, Mbappe, who was not much older, sat on the bench, equally excited. Due to his age, he hadn't gotten much playing time since joining Manchester City. Guardiola, wanting to protect him, only let him play in matches where the result was already decided, allowing him to get a feel for the Premier League and gain some experience. But today, in a match where City could secure the title, Mbappe was included in the squad.

This thrilled Mbappe. Playing in such a highly anticipated match was a dream come true. He imagined himself coming off the bench, breaking the deadlock, and leading the team to victory. That would be perfect!

While Mbappe was lost in his thoughts, Guardiola shook hands with the visiting coach and returned to the bench. Seeing Mbappe's eager expression, he nodded slightly. Including Mbappe in the squad wasn't about using him as a secret weapon; it was to make him feel part of the team and increase his sense of honor and belonging.

After the coin toss, choosing sides, and exchanging team flags, the players took their positions, ready for the referee to start the match.

On April 23, at 13:45, the referee blew the whistle, and the match officially began. At the sound of the whistle, Manchester City charged at Stoke City like a fierce tiger. Stoke City was taken aback, unprepared for such an onslaught. Ranked ninth in the league, they had no concerns about relegation or qualifying for European competitions and had nothing to fight for. Expecting them to battle Manchester City for a title that wasn't theirs was unrealistic. However, if City hadn't shown such determination, Stoke City wouldn't have minded spoiling their day.

Seeing Manchester City's intensity, Stoke City realized they had no chance today. City's attacks were relentless, completely suppressing Stoke City and besieging their goal. However, perhaps due to eagerness, City's early shots didn't threaten Stoke City's goal, and Stoke managed to withstand the storm.

Seeing the team struggle to score, Manchester City fans grew anxious. "Score one!" "Score one!" they chanted in unison. Hearing the fans' call, Manchester City adjusted their strategy, adding more long shots and set-piece attempts while becoming more patient and calm in their attacks.

The adjustment paid off. In the 35th minute, Lin Quan scored with a long shot, breaking the deadlock. After scoring, he celebrated wildly, stripping off his shirt to reveal his muscular physique and sliding passionately towards the corner flag. His teammates followed suit, creating a trail of slide marks on the pitch.

Guardiola was equally excited, rushing over to hug Lin Quan tightly, muttering phrases like "Good job, well done, you're like my son." The Etihad Stadium erupted in joy, fans hugging each other, celebrating wildly.

Lin Quan's goal shattered Stoke City's resolve. Following his lead, Agüero, De Bruyne, and Kroos each scored, securing a decisive victory. Manchester City clinched the Premier League title three rounds early, marking the beginning of a new dynasty in English football.

(End of Chapter)

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